The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-01 00:00:00

less were they of the rights of humanity to others,
that they sold one another as slaves, He, however,
disregarded sill the persuasions that were used to induce him
to give lip hid, Undertaking, and resolutely determined to
" put his trust in the nine of the Lord, who made both
heaven and earth" (Psalm 127), and to persevere. To
hie agreeable disappointment, his fears were groundless.
The ray of Affghanistan had effected that good. He must
state, although optideed VI that -tear; it had had the effect of
causing the name of " Englishrilan, to he not only feared,
but respected in every extremity of these territories, He
could not help feeling amused when he heard the names of
Major Pottinger and other gallant officers mentioned by the
natiiita. They also made mention of Stoddart, as a most
gallant officer, and there -tits:; another name repeated, which
from the peculiarity of their pronunciation he could not for a
long time make out; but which, after considerable difficulty,
he at last found to be Shakespeare. Every house was glad to
receive him, and having at last arrived at the house of the
Governor, he was informed by him that he had heard that
Colonel Conolly and Captain Stoddart were still
alive. He then continued his journey, and arrived
at a place where they desired him to sleep in the Mosque,
and upon his expressing a disinclination to avail himself of
their kindness, they told him that they looked upon him as
an English Dervise, and, therefore, considered they were only
acting in accordance with what was due to him in permitting
him to do so. lie then continued his journey till he came to
a place which was a resort for pilgrims from Ilindostan,
Persia, and Bagdad, and here he heard the most discouraging
statements respecting the individuals in quest of whom he
had undertaken so much labour. One rumour was that
Stoddart: was murdered, but that Conolly was still alive;
and another that both were alive • and another that both
were dead. He was determined, however, to persevere till
he ascertained the truth. To one distinguished person
among them, who used his best exertions to dissuade him
from proceeding, and who implored him for the sake of God
not to go on to Bokhara, for that if ever he (Dr. Wolff )
came back lie would permit him to cut off his beard. He re-
plied, that whether he ran the risk of cutting off his beard
or not, he would go on. The Rev. Gentleman then proceeded
to give an account of the conflicting statements re-
specting Colonel Conolly and Captain Stoddart, which
he continued to hear as he proceeded on his journey.
At the next stage of his journey, Dowlah, a curious looking
man, came to him, the brother of the party in Bokhara who
had instigated the King to put every European to death that
came that way. He inquired if he (Dr. Wolff) was going
to Bokhara ? to which a reply was given in the affirmative.
He then asked if he had letters from her Majesty the Queen
of England? to which he (Dr. Wolff) replied that he had
not, but that he had letters 'from the Sultan of Constanti-
nople, and from his Prime Minister; also letters from the
King of Persia, addressed to the Mullahs of Bokhara. To
this it was rejoined that all would be of no avail—they would
go for nothing—for that as soon as he (Dr. Wolff) arrived
at the frontier of the kingdom, they would bind his eyes,
chain his limbs, ard in that state take him to Bokhara,
where, on the second das after his arrival, he would be mur-
dered, as had been Captain Stoddart and Colonel Conolly be-
fore. Ile (Dr. Wolff) asked him how he knew that?
when he replied that Captain Stoddart and Colonel Conolly
had arrived at Bokhara with letters from Sir John MtNeill,
but that the King said the letters were good for nothing
and threw them into prison. This person further informed
him (Dr. Wolff) that Captain Stoddart had written to
London for documents to show that he was an accredited
agent of the Queen of England, but that no answer had come
to hand—no letters had been received—except one from the
Governor-General of India, intimating that Caubul was
destroyed, and further stating that these two persons (Colonel
Stoddart and Captain Conolly) were innocent travellers. The
King got angry at this, and immediately after put them to
death. Why, then (continued this person to him, Dr. Wolff )
be so foolish as to go to Bokhara ? His answer was, '• I
shall go ;" and he desired the party in question to leave the
room. On this person leaving another one came, a merchant
in the town, who informed him that there was a person residing
there who had been an agent of Colonel Stoddart, and who re-
ceived from that Gallant Officer sixteen Cashmere shawls,
which he had pawned for a sum of money, and with the pro-
eceds taken gardens and land; and who, besides this, had kept
back several letters sent by him (Dr. Wolff), as also letters
sent by the Sultan of Constantinople two years ago, and letters
from the Jews in London (one of which was from Sir Moses
Montefiore), to the Jews of Bokhara. He sent for this person,
and he immediately came. He was a cringing, ill-minded
looking little fellow. He (Dr. Wolff) inquired if he had in
his possession any letters from the Sultan to the King of Bok-
hara ? At first be answered No, but afterwards admitted that
he had, and said he would bring them to-morrow. He (Dr.
Wolff) insisted that he should bring them immediately. He made
similar inquiries respecting the letters to the Jews of Bokhara.
These also, after some difficulty, and after a threat that the
Sultan would be informed if he refused, he consented to pro-
duce. He produced several letters, one of which was from Sir
Moses Montefiore, enclosing one hundred toumans for Captain
Stoddart. On being asked why he had not forwarded the let-
ters to their proper destination, his answer was that he appre-
hended danger. On being asked what he had done with the
shawls, he said that he had forwarded them to Colonel Shiel.
Having parted with this person, he (Dr. Wolff) called upon
the Viceroy of the place, to whom he was introduced as a holy
man—a dervish from England. The viceroy received him
very kindly, and, after an interim, gave him a guard to Bok-
hara. The bead of the party assigned to this office was a most
horrid character, one of the ferocious tribe of Mirvi, and a
descendant of Gengis Khan. He paid this person in ad-
vance one hundred toumans, and he had hardly gone twenty
miles before he demanded more money. The Rev. Doctor
here described how this person, during the remainder of the
journey, continued to annoy him in a similar way, for money,
and how, on two 'occasions, he (Dr. Wolff) had been under
the necessity of sending back messengers to the Viceroy
of Dowlah, complaining of the extortions which
this person was practising. Answers to both these
messages were returned to the offending party, condemnatory
of his conduct, without effecting any change for the better.
After describing several other difficulties encountered on the
journey, and also of his meeting another person who knew
Stoddart and Conolly, and who stated that they had both been
executed, the Rev. Doctor at last arrived at Bokhara. On his
arrival within twenty miles of the city, the king's chamberlain
came to him, and, after mutual salutations, conveyed him to a
fine house, and placed before him a host of sweetmeats which
had been sent to him from the King, accompanied by a mes-
sage, intimating his sincere respect for him (Dr. Wolff).
On his arrival in the streets of Bokhara, there were at least
100,000 people assembled, who received him in the most cordial
manner, shouting out " Welcome, Welcome," " Peace be upon
you."—(Cheers.) He was then taken before the " King of
Kings" as the King of Bokhara is styled ; but, before receiv-
ing audience, he was asked if he would get down from his
horse and bow before the King three times,
_stroke his beard,
and exclaim " Peace to the King." He (Dr. W.) replied that he
would not only do so three times, but twenty times, if required.
He was then received by the King, and after bowing above
twenty times, the King said, " Enough, enough," and ad-
dressed him in the following terms, " Thou man original—
thou man with the star-like tail (a comet), you must go and lay
your address before my Minister of Foreign Affairs." The Rev.
Doctor then proceeded to describe his interview with the Mi-
nister to whom he was referred—in which he informed that
official of the reasons that had induced him to visit Bokhara, the
belief that Capt. Stoddart and Col. Conolly were not dead, but
imprisoned. " I wish to know," said the Rev. Gentleman, "if
they are alive, and if so, 1 desire that they may be given up to
me ; if they are dead, I wish to know the reasons why
their lives were sacrificed." The interview ended with-
out leading to any satisfactory result, and at the ter-
mination of it he was taken to the house where Colonel
Stoddart and Captain Conolly had lived while in Bokhara,
and a guard placed upon the door. Next morning he was
waited upon by the king's chamberlain, accompanied with
another officer, and a writer. The chamberlain, in a very
pompous manner, said he had come from the King to ask two
questions—first, if he could raise the dead? and second, whether
he knew when the day of judgment would take place ? He
(Dr. Wolff) replied, " God is great, and he alone can raise
the dead—to me he has never given the power. With respect
to the resurrection, the Scriptures say that Jesus will come to
judge the world, but I cannot say what may be the day or the
hour. Having received this answer, and after making some
inquiries about the dress which he (Dr. Wolff) wore, the cham-
berlain and his companions retired. On their leaving, three
soldiers were placed at the door, and he beard from without the
remarks of the people, saying that he was doomed to be an-
other victim. He was next taken before the Nazedan of
Bokhara, who received him in the most cordial manner, and
who had' served up, on
the European style. The information, respecting Captain
Stoddart and Colonel. Conolly, received during this interview,
was, that they had been considered as two spies, being without
letters, and in consequence put to death. The Nazedan de-
scribed their first coming to Bokhara.
according to the usual custom,Captain Stoddart came
his account, a splendid breakfast in
first, and on being introduced to the king, instead of bowing,
sword. He was afterwards thrown into prison, where he re-
canted the Christian faith, and became Mahemetan, and again,
after a short time, relapsed into his old belief. He represented
be resisted and drew his
himself as expecting letters from England, butfor 14 months none
Conolly
came were in course of reconciliation when Col. y
came and upset every thing. He was without letters.aub Theand
arrived from any quarter but one from Lord Ellenborough.
l
two now began to send letters privately away to C
Conran. These proceedings excited suspicion
nßeafrore they
ffewrienre
put to death by having their throats cut..d
F h' g , ear not ing,
Persia, and also letters to excite war betvreenidKtbheivua and
they kissed each ether, when Col. Conolly
Steddart, we go to Paradise, to Jesus.
I ' Capt. Stoddart,
looking at the executioner, said, " Tell tour tyrant, I die a
Christian. lam no believer in Mehemet. After this inter-
view he (Dr. Wolff) still being dissatisfied with the informa-
tion received respecting the object of his mission, and refusing
to take his departure, was watched in the strictest
manner. Every word he spoke was taken to
the King. Fortunately the Jews of the city were
allowed to visit him, and he resorted to a stratagem, in order
to deceive those who were appointed to watch him. He ma-
naged to arrange with these Jews that common conversation
should be carried on with them in Persian, but that on any ex-
traordinary or particular matter, he and the party speaking
with him should each take out a book, and pretend to read in
Hebrew, in question and answer. The Reverend Doctor here
gave a specimen of this mode of defeating the tyrant of Bokhara,
which excited much laughter and applause in the meetino.
Tired out with the delay, he at last, in an interview with
Abdool Sall Khan, the King's Lieutenant, and the brother of
the Persian whom he had seen at Dowlah, charged the latter
with having caused the putting of Captain Stoddart and
Colonel Conolly to death. He admitted having murdered
them, and this admission made, ho surround,d him (Dr.
Wolff) with his soldiers, and forced him to write
out an acknowledgment that he owed him
socft Paetrsliiterty, and
( Abdool
ibanegfore the King, who
Soli Khan), the sum of 6,000 thalers, for services rendered
Cashmere shawl,
arrivediwbbeeedro
aft;trhioooonmna,
opt
uphhreee: Krwa
rich
s
)
gave him a hundred ducats, made him a present of a horse with
placediAntg la
hs
shortlyit
roundlae(f ttEiteerrr:bh eihNi
biro, as
:sae
rlool
silver mountings, and even wanted to send him an ambassador
to bear him company on the way. He said to him (Dr.
Wo'ff ), " You are a wise man, and a man of diseretien, and I
will send you back with
honours. The King further informed
him that Colonel Stoddart and Captain Conolly might have
been well.intentioned men, but that they had acted very im-
prudently while in Bokhara. They were stated to have been
killed in 1843, and not in 1842, as kad been supposed. After
describing very briefly his taking leave of Bokhara, the Rev.
Gentleman concluded his address amidst great cheers, having
ddressed the meeting for two hours and a half.
The Rev. Mr. STODDART, brother of Colonel Stoddart,
next addressed the meeting, and expressed his high admiration
of Dr. Wolff's Christian conduct in undertaking so hazardous
an expedition.
• • He then proceeded to defend his brother, at
some length, from the charge of being a mere soldier, and
gave several instances in which he bad distinguished him-
self for literary acquirements and diplomany. lie con-
cluded by declaring that Captain Grover had made
most false and cruel assertions respecting his brother, in the
boek which he had published on the subject. This unexpected
attack,whicb produced the greatest excitement in the meeting,
called up
Captain GROVER, who said that it was with great pain that
he had originally entered into this matter. In 1841, when it
was believed that Colonel Stoddart was dead, a belief which
he did not anticipate in, and when his family mourned
for him,
The Rev. Mr. STODDART here shouted out, " We did not
mourn for him. There have been many false statements, and
that is one of them."—(C Chair, chair," hisses, and
great upse4r, which w cu suppressed by the
chairman') - •