Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-05-05
NUMBER 10.
THE ENGLISH IN AfreHANIsrAN.

sketch oil the transactions connected with
! the British expedition beyond the Indies,
! may no, be withou, interest and we there
} fore copy the following from the New
} York Express.
As early us 1886 Persia, under the
} supposed influence Of Russia, commenced
tho design Of extending her monarchy
: Southwark, BY the annexation Of afghan
is,an, which she followed up by marching
{ agains, Herat. Mr.. Ellis, the English
resident at Terhersu, wrote 10 Lord Pal
merston that this stepbrought the influence
OF Russia "to the threshold" OF the East
India possessions, and as the influence of
the British Minister at the court OF Schah
rapidly declined, and the sege Of Herat
was undertaken, much alarm was felt by
the Ministry at home. Russian emssa-
RES in The meantime were travelling a.
bout the country, exploring the passes,
and actually assisting in the Persian ar
mics. Ii is said that Col. Harlan, nm
American who has been much at Wash
ington during the past winter, was sought
Out by the Russians while residing at The
court Of Runject Singh, and received
cal moment, Dos, Mohammed, who gov
erned al Cabul addressed a letter to the
Emperor OF Russia, asking him to inter.
iere in the Affairs OF The afghan coun.
try, and TO extend his favorable notice
to himself. He received prompt and
friendly answer, with assurances, as tie
| English assert, of aid and assistance u.
gainsi Runject Singh, himself the ally Of
Englandl Il is also asserted MS a matter
OF history, that treaty was signed be.
tween the Schah Of persiasand the Sidars
or head of,he afghan tribes, guaranteed
by Count Simonish, resident at the Per-
sian capital, by which the Russian in
! fiuence over the conflicting interests OF
! Central Asia was secured. The British
government forthwith demonstrated al this
/ procedure, when Count Nesselrode disa-
vowed the intentions which were a;tribut.
ed TO the Court of ST. Petersburg. Lord
palmerson accepted these dsavowals as
satisfactory in 1888. The seige Of Herat
was discontinued, the Persians re,reated,
and all seemed quiet. Yet strange 10
tell the English deemed il necessary
notwithstanding. 10 send military expe.
dltion forward
Under pretence, as il would seem, OF
restoring a rightiul Sovereign TO his
Throne, the popular ruler Of Afghan,
who is represented to have been man
intelligence and liberal views, was dsplac.
ed for a legitimate "poltroon," and an
expensive three years military occupa.
ton became necessary TO retain country
Of "trackess sands, broad rivers, and
snow covered mountains"
A large force was Subsequently sent
among the barbarians, and alter repeated
successes, thu English made stand at
Cabul. In November M Instruction
broke out among the Shizea tribes, an5
numerous attacks were made upon the
English, which were so effectuhlly re-
sisted, that the atmosphere became pos-
ened by the number Of the slain. Sir
Alexander Burnes was however, murder
cd by some Of the natives, and Moham.
med, the sun Of Dost Mohammed, having
Joined the insurgents, assassinated Sir
William Nay McNaghten, whom he had
invited to meet him under pretence Of
carrying on pacific negotiations. The
latest accounts seem to confirm the ru-,
mors Of the entire destruction of the Eng
lsh forces, by superior numbers. A
general mourning had taken place in the
neighboriug English dependencies; while
on the other hand, fresh troops were or
dered to the spot, which was the scene OF
these horrid disasters.
As the seat OF these transactions has
become highly interesting, even 10 read
ers in this country, we give the following
short account oil it, from the New York
American.
"In order 10 make the matter more in
teligibe to our readers, we may state
that in Affghanistan, high mountainous
region west Of the Indies, lying between
80 and 40 degrees N. latitude, the British
| have been involved in war by interfering
in the dynastic quarrels Of the native
Princes.
Affghsnstan lies between Persia and
Hindoostan, and from time immemoria'
has been the route for the invaoers OF In
dia coming from the West II 10 looked
upon bv England as the barrier (wblle in
the hands OF friendly native powers) OF
her Indian Empire against all European
aggressons, and especially that OF Rus.
sia. Russia, operating through Persia,
and disavowing its own agents whenever
their traces were discovered, is supposed
to be at the bottom ofthe difficulties which
Induced the Indian Government to inter.
fere by an armed interference in Affgha-
nistsn.
For long time ], has been known that,
as would seem, from deficient military
skill, isolated corps Of the British troops
have been cooped up on points in this
country distant from each other. Canda.
har, Ghuzree and Cabul each has its gar.
rison but the SHOWS, and the vigiant
cavalry Of the Afghans, cut off communi-
cations, and columns Of relief sent from
Bombay have failed. and been broken up,
or turned back. The chief command, I'm.
der Sir Wm. III. M'Noghten, was at Ca
bul--amounting to $500 men; OF which,
however, it would seem there was only
one European regiment, the rest BENG
Sepoys, or native troops.
1t is this force, which, decoyed by
, pretended captulation from It's stronghold