SPAIN AND AFGHANISTAN.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,-Will you permit me to invite your consideration of the striking historical parallel which exists between the seizure of
Spain by the First Napoleon and our invasion of Afghanistan ? Napoleon, when master of the continent of Europe, was not satisfied to have the Pyrenees as a boundary of France, and invaded his neighbour's kingdom. We, when masters of all India, were not satisfied with the Indus and a contiguous mountain range as a sufficiently " scientific frontier," and have done the same. In both cases, the native princes were hurried away into captivity, and new rulers imposed on an indignant nation. In both cases, there were, at first, military successes over a brave, though partially disciplined enemy. But these were soon counterbalanced by the effects of cold, hunger, and disease, in a poor, mountainous country, and by the perpetual attacks of an exasperated people, who prized their independence, and would be on no terms with foreign invaders. Napoleon continued his struggle to the bitter end, and the consequences were an enormous waste of blood and money, his expulsion from the invaded country, and a fatal blow to his power in the world. Is this to be our fate, or is there a hope that we may adopt wiser counsels under the present Ministry, and withdraw from an unprofitable, if not an unjust, contest, especially now that a favourable opportunity for doing so presents itself ? Are we not to learn from a former terrible lesson the wisdom of leaving Afghanistan alone, and strengthening ourselves within our own frontier, where, with a command of the sea, uo
threatened attack need alarm us ?—I am, Sir, &c., CIVIS.
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