The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-04-29


lroyed-lhe British commander. General ElPhn-
stone, has been taken Observation-Disclosures ul' En-
gsh officers have fallen The British Envoy, Sir
William M'Naghlen, has been treachernusly assas-
sinaed--lhe murder of Sir Alexander Burnes,
is contirmed--und Lady M'Naghlen and six
teen other ladies are in The power of the Att
shans.
Such is the outline Of the disasters. In order,
however, 10 give your readers Il view Of the whole
circumstances Ofihe case, it will be necessary to
revert to the past. The position of the British in
India, and the extent Of their dominiuns Is but i'm
perfectly known in England and cannot he suppos-
cd to be very familiar to the generality Of Amer
can readers.
The spread of Russian influence in the East,
has ever been source of jealousy TO England
Accordingly, u couple of years ago when Russia
marched on Khirech, and was known 10 be inlr-
gung against us in Persia, the Ang|o-ndan gov
eminent took the alarm. 1t was resolved tina,
grand blow should be struck Russian influence
was dominant N Persia; Affghanis,an lies between
Persia aud British dominions, so that when it was
found that the Russians we've intriguing agains,
them at Herat, and were gradually extending their
influence eastward, England determined to extend
hers westward. Ia doing this, she committed
great and objectionable blunder--she quareed
Of friends. She took up, as her proege and pup
pet an indoent, imbecile old profisate named
Shah Sooj ah-ol-Nlolk, who had been very proper
ly kicked out Of Cabool by his subjects, and in or
der to place him on the throne quaTelled with the
popular chief Dost Aanolnued.
They captured Guyznee, overran Ahghanistan,
and took Dost Nlahommed prisoner, and placed
Shah ah on the throne. Russia received
check, Persia succumbod to British power, and all
apparently went well. This however, was only the
beginning of the end. The Anghans, a turbulent
and warlike race, swore that they would not have
Shah Soojah, and the old tyrant only remained on
throne propped up by British hayones, at an I'M
mense expense, without any corresponding advan-
lage TO the Indian government. In October last
il was thought safe to withdraw portion of those
bayonets, and, though hints had been received OF
an intended rising they were disregalded, and Sir
Robert Sale left with his brigade and reached
Jellalnoad, Il distance of about 80 miles, through
an almos, impossible country. Here he was I'M
medlaiely surrounded by army of 10, 600 or ~
900, and cooped up within the walls. The VIM
ter came on, (and in the mountains OF Afighanlslun
il is almost rs bad as in Russia,) all comnunca-
ton with Cabool was cut of, the nsurrecllon CON-
menced in that city, the house Of the gallant SOL
dler and en,crprlsng traveller, SIR Alexander
murdered. and The British attacked in their en-
nenchuents by hordes of exasperated At'shans--
III provided with amunlion, and short Of Provs-
ions, the English were Obliged to negotiate. Ac-
cordngly interviews took place between the par
lies, and convention was agreed upon, guaran-
leeng the unuoleslcd retreat Of the British TO Jel-
laIahad. Up to this point the British were decl-
dedy in the wrong, the Allshans clearly IN the
right. Things, however, now took different
turn; the British lnrce, TO the amount ol between
1000 and 5000 men, quilted the canp"f Cabool,
and commenced their fatal re.reat. The following
extract Of letter from Bouiba, will give you
an idea of the kind OF country they had to lrav-
erse.
"From Cubool 10 Jealabad is distance of 80
miles. The road lies through n series Of trenen-
dous detiles, where no army, II properly resisted,
could penetrate. In the course of the first IL
miles from Caboo you ascend 100 feet; you then
enter the pass of Koord Cahoo This defile is u
bout six miles in length. and from 100 to 200 yards
in breadth. Here the fighting with Sales brigade
began ON the 9th October. The road crosses The
river which gives name to the pass 20 tunes. IN
the next 10 miles, the road nscends 1000 feet and
descends 1000 fee, over rough jagged stones and
rocks, which cut and bruise the feet. SO on from
pass to mountain, and from mountain to pass, I'LL
il reaches Jellalabad.
"The afghan Merchants, ut Bombay" says an
account, "speak plainly aud openly as to The nl'e-
rior intentions Of their counlrymen. They are per.
feclly aware Of our ability, and have little doubt
Ms TO our intention Of throwing an overwhelming
force into their country. They say they are aware
that they have no chance with our artillery. But
they have sworn on The Koran, from Cnbool to
Iierat that the !lald Kahir shall not hold foot.
ing in the country. They are determined to hold
their passes everywhere against US, They KNOW
and so do we, that il would be easier to carry mr.
,illery to the top Of Mount Blanc, than to move
baggage through seventy or eighty miles oil Doan'
or Of Khyber pass, if properly obs,ruc'ed. They
have resolved, If we should penetrate beyond the
mountains, to drive their nocks and herds before
them They say that they are aware that our ar
tIleiy will NOW them down in Thousands but that
there are tens of thousands more to take the pa
ces Of the fallen. Our reserves aud our supplies
are five hundred miles from the places where
we require them; with the Afghans both are al
hand"
As soon rs the English were fairly euansled
within the de6les, they were trencherous'y Attack
ed by the Afgans. They had only twenty round:
Of cartridge when they entered the koond C"boo
pass, and were obliged to charge behind tho rocks
with the bayonet. The enemy, acquainted VIII
the country, were placed in positions where ont
man was able to keep his ground against dozeo
and the English were slaughtered in all directions
Whhcu, the means Of retaliation, and struggling
through the snow, thew were, according to the nc
counts I" picked of like snipes," their officer
were killed and apinred, sixteen ladies were o
blip.d to be surrendered to m Afghan guard
and only few miserable stragglers reached Je'
alabad
Such is the substance Of this affair The mnr
der Of Sir William McNnghlen Is Stacking epl
sode The son If Dost Mahonmed tAckbar Khan
solicited nm interview, Sir VIM, with lew ON
GERS. gave the desired meeting. The Afghan
had prepared an ambusrade. Sir WIN. was sho
bv Ackbar Khan. his officers cut down or taken
prisoners. after which his head was Gu, of, por
lion Of his person stuck into his mouth hs greer
speciarles placed across his nose and in this gnis
il was paraded through the Caboo'. Meanwhile
the unfortunate mans wife and sixteen females
are in The power ofihose savages, and. II is SAID
have been set 10 grind corn. The only guaranteed
for ihcr derent treatment, is that they are preser
we'd to be exchanged for Dost Mahommed.
Here matters rest at present. The sins OF ma