As the new system developed, lawyers appeared, evolving from the old advocates who represented the Church and the judicial assessors elected by the litigants who had sat among the judges.

Nevertheless these suspicions resulted in his being removed from his position as president in 1844 and given the post of judicial assessor, which meant, in effect, becoming second-in-command to a governor appointed by the Colonial Office.

In 1848 he became captain-general of the native levies; in 1855 judicial assessor in native causes; and, in 1856, on the remodelling of the Natal government, secretary for native affairs and a member of the executive and legislative councils.