text:  But where was such a government to be found? Who in the distracted state of Affghan society was the man presumptuous enough to guarantee any general submission to his authority? And if no man could say this for himself could we say it _for_ him? Was there any great Affghan philosopher in a cave for whom Lord Auckland could become sponsor that he should fulfil all the purposes of British diplomacy? We are come upon evil ground where not a step can be taken without cutting away right and left upon friend and foe