whether by despatching a confidential agent to Dost Muhammad of Kábul merely to watch the progress of events, or to enter into relations with this chief, either of a political or merely, in the first instance, of a commercial character, we confide to your discretion, as well as the adoption of any other measures that may appear to you to be desirable in order to counteract Russian influence in that quarter, should you be satisfied from the information received from your own agents on the frontier, or hereafter from Mr. McNeill, on his arrival in Persia, that the time has arrived at which it would be right for you to interfere decidedly in the affairs of Afghánistán.
'Such an interference might doubtless be requisite, either to prevent the extension of Persian dominion in that quarter, or to raise a timely barrier against the impending encroachments of Russian influence.
'We shall transmit to Mr. McNeill a copy of this despatch for his information and guidance, and you may expect to receive from him intelligence sufficiently full and accurate to assist you in coming to a decision on the important question to which we wish to direct your immediate and most earnest attention.'
It is evident that Lord Auckland's position after the receipt of this important despatch was clearly and squarely laid down for him. First, he was to endeavour to enter into commercial, or into political relations with Afghánistán. He was to adopt any other measures which he thought desirable in order to counteract Russian influence in that quarter, if he were satisfied that the time had arrived for him to interfere decidedly in the affairs of Afghánistán. Such interference might doubtless be required to prevent the extension of Persian dominion in
