THE SECOND AFCHAN WAR.
29
under a “ Secretary of State for India ” and the governor-general,
whose name was now changed to that of viceroy. The Euro-
pean troops of the old Company’s army became the 1015t to
the rogth regiments of the British establishment, and a new
native army was organized to replace that which had ended so
disgracefully in the mutiny,
From 1858 to 1878 the history of India was comparatively
uneventful, A policy of“ masterly inactivity ” was pursued as
regards the external neighbours of the empire, and no fighting
was on foot, except for the purpose of repelling the intermittent
raids of the wild tribes of the north-west frontier and the savages
of Bhootan. "The time was one of quiet internal development,
and agricultural improvements, railways, canals, and the pre-
vention of famines were the main topics that engrossed the
attention of successive viceroyS.
This period came to an end with the accession to power of
Lord Lytton (1876-80), a pupil of Lord Beaconsfield, and a
strong Imperialist. His viceroyalty opened with
the proclamation of the Queen as Empress of Lord Lytton
"ni proclaims the
[ndia in a great durbar held at Delhi on January Queen
t, 1877, one of the first developments of the “ New Fmpress of
[mperialism.” But the most important event of
the time was the second Afghan war (1878-80). It was a
direct consequence of the political conflict of
England and Russia at Constantinople after the ht second
ghan war.
Turkish war of 1877-78. While hostilities
between the two powers seemed probable, a Russian
embassy went to Cabul and enlisted the Ameer Shere
Ali as a confederate of the Czar. Lord Lytton, resolved to
stop this new development, declared war on the Afghan ruler,
and sent three expeditions across the frontier into the Ameer’s
dominions. (Candahar having fallen, and Sir Frederick
Roberts having stormed the Peiwar-Kotal pass and advanced
close to Cabul, the Ameer fled towards Russian territory, and
died soon after. His son and successor, Yakub Khan, at once
