THE SHAH'S CHARGES AGAINST MR. M'NEILL. 325 thousand tomans, a statement which was at variance with truth. He was further accused of having sent couriers to Kandahar, Cabul, Seistan, the Hezarehs, and Meimaneh, inviting the rulers of those places or tribes to come to attack and plunder the camp of the Shah. This statement, too, was utterly groundless. He was farther accused of having done his best to produce a scarcity in the Persian camp, and of having persuaded the conduc- tors of caravans whom he met on his way to Meshed not to advance towards Herat, as they would infallibly be plundered, and have to submit to see their cattle seized. This assertion was so entirely the reverse of correct that Mr. McNeill had, contrary to the wish of the commandant of the Persian escort which had accompanied him, in- sisted that that escort should be employed in conducting a caravan back to the camp. The memorandum con- cluded with a solemn declaration that the expedition against Herat had been undertaken without any hostile intention towards England. The king felt sure that the English nation would not sanction the oppression to which he had been subjected. If otherwise, he must seek shelter under the shadow of a great mountain. The threat contained in the last words of the preced- ing sentence was followed by a corresponding act. A few weeks later the Shah caused a letter to be addressed to Count Nesselrode, in which he piteously complained of the restraint put upon him by the British Government. " I beg your Excellency," the letter said, " to examine impartially if ever in this world greater tyranny and oppression than this were practised ; that a powerful monarch, who never broke a treaty, should be prevented from obtaining his objects when on the point of success,
