himself, under the title of Vizier, should exercise the whole authority. The Prince at first consented; but not brooking this mere shadow of royalty, and being, in fact, treated as a kind of state prisoner, he made his escape, and presented himself in the camp of General Pollock, whom he urged to advance upon the capital. Akbar was thus left undisputed master of the country, and the only enemy with whom that commander had now to contend.
This was the state of affairs in Affghanistan when, for the honour of the English name, indeed for the safety of the British empire in India, Lord Ellenborough, then Governor-General, finally decided, after long doubt and hesitation, that General Pollock from Jellalabad, and General Nott from Candahar, should march upon Cabul, display the superiority of the British arms in open warfare, expel Akbar Khan, compel the restoration of the prisoners, and level with the ground all the strong fortresses by which the country could be defended, in case a future expedition should become necessary.
The orders for this advance, however, were not issued till the middle of July, and in the interim our army at Jellalabad had been strengthened by a brigade under General Bolton. The troops, meantime, were somewhat straitened for provisions; the heat became intense, and dysentery, with other diseases, began to be prevalent. Bands of the enemy again hovered round, and rendered it impracticable to stir beyond cover of the fortifications without the danger of being speared: the camels and other beasts of burden perished in great numbers, and the troops were depressed at the little prospect there appeared of avenging the injuries sustained by their countrymen. Detachments were, however, sent out to keep open the passes, and to overawe as well as punish refractory chiefs. On the 20th of June, twenty-five forts of the Goolai tribe, a desperate race of freebooters, were captured, and a considerable supply of provisions procured from them; and on another occasion thirty-five forts were set on fire, belonging to the Shinwarees, another fierce
