1 218 LETTER FROM THE NAWAB,
2 opinion that the plan was not arightone; that
3 although his country and the Afghans were
4 not remarkable for their power of discrimina-
5 tion, while the English were a very acute race,
6 and eminent for wisdom, and had probably
7 come to a just conclusion, yet the accuracy of
8 their decision had eluded the penetration of
9 the Afghans; but from a regard to the welfare
10 of every party it had occurred to him that
11 before an actual collision took place, negotia-
12 tions should be re-opened with the Amir, that
13 he would engage to conclude them, and, please
14 God, peace might yet be satisfactorily esta:
15 blished; that an intimation to that effect was
16 alone wanting, and it would be to the credit of
17 all parties; whereas, if the dispute continued,
18 it was impossible to foresee the consequences
19 to which it might lead.
20 : Right or wrong, these sentiments accorded
21 neither with the policy of the British Govern
22 ment nor that of Shah Shuja. The settler
23 ment of the affair on the expected terms ap-
24 peared very improbable; as nothing short of
25 the continuance of the government of Kabul