NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Government has decided that all preparations for the inva- sion of Afghanistan shall be completed, but that Gholam Hussein Khan shall take an ultimatum to Shere Ali warning him of the consequence of his acts, and making British demands more clear. That course is sensible and just enough, though the Anglo-Indians are furious at its " weakness ;" but of course, everything will depend upon the wording of the despatch. If the Government has given up its demand for the reception of an Envoy, or has pledged itself that if received he shall depart in three weeks, then Shere Ali inay give way ; but on the subject of the resident Envoy he will be immovable. The answer, it is said, may be received in a fort- night; but Afghans, like other Orientals, are in no hurry, and it is more likely to be delayed three months. Meanwhile, the danger is greatest at Quettah. That poet has been reinforced by aepoys only, and the Ameer's brother at Candahar may think an attack would prove once for all his loyalty to the Afghan cause. No one tells us whether Quettah has been made easily defensible, praise which could not be given to it in the first Afghan war, when it consisted of a few mud-houses, dominated by a small old fort defended by one rusty piece of ordnance. We presume it has been strengthened, but what is its strength ?
