Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 35.djvu/246

Macnaghten in November 1818, and as judge and magistrate of Shahabad in February 1820. In January 1822 be became deputy-registrar of the Sudder court, and having at his own request been examined in Hindu and Mohammedan law, and having proved his proficiency in both, he was appointed registrar of the Sudder Dewanny, a post that he held for nearly nine years. During this time he published at Calcutta his 'Principles and Precedents in Mohammedan Law,' in 1825, which reached a third edition in 1864 ; his 'Reports of Cases in the Court of Nizamut Adawlut,' in 1827 ; his ' Principles and Precedents of Hindu Law,' in 1829, which was republished in 1866 ; and, beginning with 1827, 'Reports of Cases in the Court of Sudder Dewanny Adawlut,' all legal works of high value.

His political career began towards the close of 1830, when he accompanied Lord William Bentinck as secretary during his tour in the upper and western provinces of India. This tour lasted until the beginning of 1833, and at the meeting of the governor-general with Runjeet Singh, maharaiah of Lahore, at Roopur, he gained his earliest practical insight into the diplomacy of the then north-western frontier of India. Returning to Calcutta, he was appointed to take charge of the secret and political departments of the government secretariat, and held that post for four years, until the end of Lord Auckland's first year of office [see ].

In October 1837 he quitted Calcutta for the last time, to accompany Lord Auckland during his tour of the north-west provinces, and was thenceforth one of Lord Auckland's most trusted advisers. He largely determined the policy of intervention in the affairs of Afghanistan, which was to effect the deposition of Dost Mahomed and the restoration of Shah Soojah to the throne of Cabul. He was well fitted both for secretarial and diplomatic work. 'With a profound knowledge of oriental languages and oriental customs,' says Kaye, 'he combined an extensive acquaintance with all the practical details of government, and was scarcely more distinguished as an erudite scholar than as an expert secretary.' Accordingly, Lord Auckland despatched him to Lahore to gain the goodwill of Runjeet Singh, and ultimately he was directed in May 1838 to sound him as to joining in an Afghan expedition. He had an interview with the maharaiah at Adeenanuggur on 31 May, was received in full durbar on 3 June, and on 26 June succeeded in obtaining the execution of the tripartite treaty between the governor-general, Runjeet Singh, and Shah Soojah, 26 June 1838. By this treaty the British government was not pledged to send a single soldier beyond the frontier, but only to provide European officers to discipline and command an independent army of the shah. From Lahore he visited Shah Soojah at Loodiana on 13 July, and, after securing the shah's assent to the treaty, returned to Lord Auckland at Simla. The governor-general's policy soon expanded, and it was decided to despatch not European officers only, but a large force of troops, and to make the expedition practically a British one, reducing the shah to the position of a puppet in English hands. With this policy Macnaghten was thoroughly identified. He assisted in the preparation of Lord Auckland's manifesto of 1 Oct. 1838, signed it in his secretarial capacity, and was gazetted envoy and minister at the Afghan court of Soojah-ool-Moolk.

On 10 Dec. the army of Bengal, which was to co-operate with the Bombay force moved forward from Ferozepore, and was joined by the new envoy at Shikarpore. In spite of the news that the Persians had raised the siege of Herat, it was decided to send the expedition forward into Afghanistan, though reduced in numbers. Macnaghten's task was one of extreme delicacy and difficulty. Shah Soojah, personally disliked by the Afghan tribes, was doubly unpopular on account of the support of British arms. He was himself of untrustworthy character, and was galled by the restrictions placed on his liberty of action by his British allies. The geography and resources of Afghanistan, and the temper and views of its people, were alike almost unknown in India. To add to Macnaghten's difficulties, the military and diplomatic arrangements were entrusted to different hands, and he soon found himself in almost open collision with the military authorities. Macnaghten, like the shah, was anxious to press on with all speed to Candahar, but had no authority over the military commanders, Sir John Keane [q. v.] and Sir Willoughby Cotton [q. v.] According to the governor-general's directions, the new ameer was to accompany the main body of the invading army, and Macnaghten accordingly sent to Cotton, when he was at length ready to advance on Afghanistan, a message requiring him to provide a thousand camels for the conveyance of the shah and his suite. Cotton thereupon accused Macnaghten of wishing to interfere in the command of the army, and a stormy interview took place between them on 20 Feb. 1839. This friction lasted until the expedition reached Candahar on 25 April. With the success of the enterprise Macnaghten's prestige and popularity with the force increased. His success was, however, more specious than real, for by the excessive