of domestic life. I have not repented—that I will seriously assert and maintain. On the contrary, my submission to the 'yoke' has been the source of nearly all the satisfaction and happiness which retrospect presents to me on the chequered map of my sixty years' existence. So, madam, all hail! best of mothers, and not worst of wives, accept my congratulations, and give me credit for the sineerity and the warmth of affection which urges me this day to pray for your temporal and eternal blessedness, and points to you as the foundation of my own best recollections and hopes."

In the following month, General Anson, who had been appointed commander-in-chief, arrived in Calcutta, and Havelock repaired thither to join him. He remained here in the discharge of his duties till fall, when he accompanied the commander-in-chief on a tour of inspection up the Ganges, and proceeded to Delhi. At Agra, in January, he received a telegraph dispatch from Lord Elphinstone, offering him, at Outram's request, command of a division in the war against Persia. He accepted it at once, and immediately set out for Bombay.

CHAPTER VIII.

HAVELOCK'S PERSIAN CAMPAIGN.

Arrives at Bushire-Attack on Fort Mohammerah-Description of the Scene-Havelock ordered back to India-Is shipwreckedGathers Passengers and Crew around him, to return Thanks for their Deliverance-Arrives at Madras, and hears of the Death of General Anson-Proceeds to Calcutta-Appointed Brigadier, and sent forward to Allahabad.

IN 1851 a difficulty arose between England and Persia on the same question that originated the first war in Affghanistan, namely, the threatened occupation of Herat. But the extension of the western boundary of her India possessions had taken away the excuse England then gave for her interference in that quarter, viz.: fear of the invasion of Russia. It is true the Russians had pushed forward their boundaries, and undoubtedly wished to extend them further, but how the present movement of Persia against Herat could tend to the accomplishment of that desire, it would be difficult to determine. Still the governor-general thought he saw the finger of Russia in the affair, and acted accordingly.

The truth is, the fear that seized England at the

projected invasion of Napoleon and Russia had taken such deep hold that no change of circumstances could eradicate it. It had become chronic.

In reply to the remonstrance of England, Persia declared that she had a right to restore tranquillity on her frontiers, and "establish regularity in Herat,” and would do so. She was as good as her word.

A few months after, however, she acceded to the British demands, and the difficulties seemed about to be settled, when the Shah objected to the appointment of a man named Meeza Hashem Khan, as first Persian Secretary to the British Mission at Teheran. This person was offensive to the Persian monarch, and he declined to receive him, giving as his reason, however, that he had never formerly discharged him from his own service. The British minister then gave notice that he would appoint him British agent at Shiraz. The Persian minister replied that if the latter attempted to go he would be seized and detained, and as a preliminary step ordered his wife to be taken charge of. The British minister met this new move with the threat that if the lady was not released by the next Monday noon he would haul down the British flag, and he did so. Then came court scandal about the motives that prompted the British minister to take such extraordinary interest in this lady. The Persian prime-minister openly declared that it was because she was his mistress. Thus the rupture that began with the protection of the frontier, finally dwindled down to the protection of the wife of a man who used to be the king's page. She now became the basis of future negotiations-the first article in

the new bill of conditions. The Persian minister at first haughtily refused "to enter on a discussion regarding such a delicate subject as ladies connected with the royal harem," and thought it disgraceful that the English flag should be struck for a woman. The whole history of this dispute between the Persian court and the English embassy is both ludicrous and disgraceful. The government at home seemed finally to wake up to the worse than childish aspect affairs were assuming, and removed the negotiations to Constantinople. The Persian court sent a minister thither with full powers to settle all questions in dispute between the two governments. Lord Stratford de Radcliffe was directed to communicate with him, and on the 17th of October, 1856, negotiations were opened between the two ministers. The governorgeneral of India, however, did not apparently wish an amicable adjustment of difficulties, and on the 1st of November, issued three proclamations declaring war against Persia. At the very time this news reached Constantinople the Persian ambassador had conceded the most important points demanded by Lord Stratford de Radcliffe. Of course he at once declared all his engagements void, and immediately left for home.

It is needless to state here that England would never have acted in this manner towards a nation able to defend itself.

Major-General Outram was appointed to the chief command of the expedition against Persia, and asked that Havelock might be joined with him in the command of one division. The ships carrying the army

of invasion, put to sea Jan. 14th, and on the 3d ult. reached Bushire, lying at the head of the Persian Gulf, a little east of the mouth of the Euphrates. Immediately on the arrival of the troops, preparations were made to march on the intrenched camp of Brasjoon, about fifty miles distant. The movement was entirely successful, the camp was taken, and the Persian army routed. Outram then returned to Bushire, where he remained till March.

Mohammerah was selected as the next point of attack. This was a strongly fortified place situated on the banks of the Euphrates about a third of the way up from its mouth to the junction of the Tigris. The troops were thereupon reëmbarked, and on the morning of the 8th, made the mouth of the river. Here they lay quietly at anchor, cooped up in the vessels until the 23d. On the 14th however, General Havelock arrived in the Berenice. He was at Agra, as stated in the previous chapter, when the dispatch from Lord Elphinstone reached him. Preparations had been made to have his wife and a part of his family come to India during the year, but this cherished plan had now to be abandoned. In announcing the fact to his wife, he bears this noble testimony to her virtues as a mother: "You have done your duty nobly to your children, as ever, so especially since I left you for India, in October, 1851. This I fully acknowledge on earth, and God's righteous verdict will corroborate it in heaven. But you must postpone all plans of coming out to India." "Her children arise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her."