Auckland that Colonel Pottinger, the agent at Haidarábád in Sind, should be the officer selected to accompany Sháh Shujá as British representative. It is very clear from the Diary that there was never at any time any question whatever of Burnes, who wrote, in fact, to ask for furlough because he had not been offered high political employment. The next day (July 30) he withdrew his letter; but eighteen days earlier, on July 12, Mr. Colvin had written by Lord Auckland's orders to Mr. Macnaghten in the following words: —
'It is right to let you know, that a strong feeling is growing up here that it will be most desirable for the public interests, at whatever sacrifice to the daily ease and satisfaction of Lord Auckland's administration, that you should assume the diplomatic direction of Sháh Shujá's expedition. The stake is so important that Lord Auckland feels that it may not become him to withhold his best card. Colonel Pottinger might in some respects do well. But (setting aside the possible objection on the score of his hard temper) he wants that general influence which is most essential. There must be free and confidential communication with the Government; and besides this, influence at Lahore, influence at Pesháwar, over Wade, over Burnes, over every officer engaged, as well as thorough cordiality in Lord Auckland's views regarding Sind. All this it is not easy to see how to combine except in yourself. Think over this, and let me be aware as fully as you like of your own inclinations and opinions.'
Mr. Masson's assertion seems to have misled others. In his valuable fragment on The First Afghán War, the late Sir Henry Durand, who, taking a different
