fate. The military commanders refused to believe that any harm had befallen the Envoy's party. When the truth became publicly known on the 24th, they requested Major Eldred Pottinger, scarcely yet recovered from his wounds, to take up the dropped threads of Macnaghten's diplomacy, and to treat upon the amended terms which Akbar had just sent in. At the council held that evening with Elphinstone and three of his senior officers, Pottinger besought his colleagues to reject all terms with a faithless enemy, and hold out to the last in the Bálá Hissár, or else cut their way to Jalálábád. But the Council of War had no mind to risk either venture, and Pottinger proceeded to act in compliance with their demands.
The new clauses in the amended treaty bargained for the surrender of all our guns except six field-pieces, of all spare arms and ammunition, of all the coin in the public treasury, and for the payment of all the sums of money which Macnaghten was said to have promised to certain of the Afghán leaders. Six hostages were also required. The surrender of the married men with their families was not then pressed; but, short of this, there was no humiliation which our hapless countrymen had not to endure[1].
On the 29th, Lawrence, who had been kindly treated by his captors, and finally set free by Amínulla himself, came into cantonments and drew up bills for twelve lakhs and a half on the Indian Treasury. On the arrival of the new hostages,
- ↑ Kaye
