§ MR. HENRY SEYMOURsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If the Government have received intelligence that Herat has been taken by Dost Mahommed's forces, if the Persians are preparing to retake it, and if Dost Mahommed be still alive?
§ MR. LAYARDsaid, in reply, that there appeared to be a great deal of mystery hanging over the affairs of Herat. Some time ago the Government received a telegram stating that Herat had been taken, but since then no continuation had been received of that statement. As to the Persians having re-taken Herat, he was not aware of any steps having been adopted by the Persian Government to send troops there for that purpose. With regard to whether Dost Mahommed was dead or alive, very contradictory intelligence had been received on that point.