The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-05-17
From The N. Y. Express.
THE ENGLISH IN AFFGHANIST TAN.

The recent destruction of an English army
at Cabul has excited the livelicst interest in the
United States. Although there is no very good
feeling existing towards the mother country OF
this moment, yet our sympalhies get the better
of our rcscntmcnts, and we cannot but lament
the LOSS of so many gallant officers and brave
men, even if VIC doubt the corroctress of the
policy which exposed them to such disasters.
A brief sketch Of The transactions connected
with the British expedition beyond the Indus,
may not be without interest TO the numerous
readers Of the Express,
As carly as the year 1886. Persia, under the
supposed influence of Russia, commenced the
design ofextcndng her monarchy southwark
bv the annexation of 'ghanisan. which she
followed up by marching against Herat. Mr..
Fills, the English Resident at Teheran, wrote
TO Lord Palmcrston that this step brought the
influence of Russia ''to the threshold" of the
East India possessions, and as the influence of
he British Minister at the court of the Schah
rapidly declined, and the siege of Herat was
undertaken much alarm was felt by the Min.
istry at home. Russian emissaries in the mean
time were travelling about the country, explor-
ing the passes, and actually assisting in the
Persian armies. 1t is said that Colonel Harlan,
an American, who has been much at Washing
ton during the past winter, was sought out by
the Russians, while residing AT the Court of
Runieet Singh. and received their particular
attention. At this critical moment, Dost Mo-
manned, who governed at Cabul, addressed q
letter to the Emperor of Russia, asking him to
interfere in the affairs of the afghan country,
and 10 extend his favorable notice 10 himself.
Z l.
with assurances, as the English assert, of aid
and assistance against Runjeet Singh himself,
the ally of England Il also asserted as a
matter of history, that treaty was signed be-
tween the Schah of Persia, and the Sidars or
heads of the afghan tribes guaranteed by count
Simonich. resident at the Persian capital, by
which the Russian influence over the conflicting
interest of Central Asia was secured. The
British Government forthwith demonstrated at
this procedure. when Count Nesselrode disa-
vowed the intentions which were attributed to
the Court of ST Petersburgh. Lord Palmers-
ton accepted these disavowals as satisfactory
in 1888 Tie siege of Herat was discontin
ued, the Persians reiterated, land all seemed qui.
ct. Yet strange to tell, the English deemed
il necessary, Notwithstanding, to send militia
~ expedition forward! under a pretence, as it
would seem, of restoring righlfu Sovereign
10 his Throne, the popular ruler of afghan,
who is represented to have been man Of in
teligence and liberal views, was displaced for
u legitimate ''pollroon." and an expensive 3
years military occupation became necessary 10
ratain country of ''trackless sands, broad RI
vers, and snow covered mountains"
large force was subsequently sent among
the barbarians, and after repeated successes,
the English made stand at Cabul. In No
vember an Instruction broke out among The
Shizea tribes, and numerous attacks were
made upon the English, which were so efectual.
y resisted, that the atmosphere became poison
ed by the numbers of the slain. Sir Alexan-
der Burns was however murdered by some of
the natives, and Mohammed, the son of Dos,
Mohammed, having joined the insurgents, as
sassinated Sir William II. McNaghten, whom
he had invited to meet him under pretence of
carrying on pacific negotiations. The latest