NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THYdeath of Shere All is officially confirmed in a letter from akoob Khan to Lord Lytton, in which he speaks of his father as an old friend of the British, and alludes to some previous letter of negotiation. It is imagined, therefore, that Yakoob Khan will come to terms ; but this is not certain, and the very latest rumour is that he has gone to Herat, where his personal influence is strongest. His people certainly are not negotiating. On the contrary, the withdrawal from Girishk has been the signal for a furious attack on General Biddulph's rear-guard, in which a clan belonging to the Donranees or dominant sept of Afghanistan, fought with desperation, and were only defeated by repeated charges of the Scinde Horse. This attack, it is telegraphed from Calcutta, has stopped the return to Candahar, as it is now felt necessary to maintain our hold on Girishk. All this looks as if the Douranees, though willing to negotiate if we keep nothing, will wage a long war rather than formally surrender Candahar, making Herat, for the campaign, their capital. That is good policy for them, and most embarrassing for the British Government, which, as the war excites no enthusiasm, desires to stop the expenditure.
