The life of Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington

Front matter

Woodboume Library

£TF*To be returned in.

ARDOR

Preface

The “ Memoirs” and “ Lives” of tlie great Duke of Welling- l ton already before tke public are so numerous and so varied in character, that some explanation may appear to be necessary why another candidate for public favour should appear in the field, and presume to hope for patronage.

In the first place, it is respectfully submitted that a complete

“ Life” of the immortal Duke does not exist. Closing with the

Battle of Waterloo, the works of Maxwell, Moyle Sherer, and

of Jackson and Scott, embrace merely the military view of his

Grace’s career, and offer but few elucidations of the adminis- ' \

trative character of the mighty soldier.

In the second place, the greater portion of the abridgments tell but very imperfectly the story of the eventful life here minutely pourtrayed, while the larger works, deriving illustra¬ tion from military despatches, are too much fraught with tech- * nicality to be intelligible to the general reader.

In the third place, no work hitherto extant contains pictorial embellishments of a truthful character. The imagin¬ ation of the artists, uncontrolled by experience, has been suffered to revel in absurdity, and nothing has come of the exu¬ berance of fancy but anachronism, falsehood, and incongruity.

In the fourth place, so entirely are the authors of contempo¬ rary works absorbed in the subject of their biography, that the multitudinous accessories important in the history of a man, whose history is that of Europe, for the time, and of war in all its phases, are lost sight of.

These four objections point directly to the peculiar features of the work now offered to the public. With the second vol¬ ume, the Life of the Duke of Wellington will be brought down to the hour when his remains were conveyed to the tomb,

VI

PREFACE.

amidst tlie lamentations of a grateful and sorrowing people. The Work will thus offer, for the first time, a complete history of the marvellous career of the unapproachable soldier and the sagacious statesman. The numerous illustrations, some of which (as Badajoz, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, &c.,) are con¬ tributed by the graceful pencil of Colonel John Luard, author of a “ History of the Dress of the British Soldier,” an actor in the scenes delineated, and the remainder by Messrs Gr. and R. Thomas, the eminent artists and engravers, have the unusual advantage of truthfulness in the matter of scenery, costume, and portraiture. The stories of battle are told with the slightest possible reference to official detail, that they may be rendered familiar to unprofessional readers, and copious anecdotes of military existence in the camp and the bivouac are supplied, that just ideas may be formed of the quality of the “ service” to which a soldier is exposed. Finally, every line which the Duke wrote and published, every word which he publicly ut¬ tered, illustrative of his character and his principles, has been cited, referred to, or reproduced, that general inferences may the more readily be drawn of the springs and motives of action by which his public life was influenced, and that he may in a great measure be made the interpreter, exponent, and apologist of his own miraculous deeds.

It will be a satisfaction to the writer to find that, in all these respects, he has contributed to supply a desideratum, and not produced a work altogether unworthy of the exalted theme.

Contents

CHAPXEE I.

Birth, Parentage, and Education, of Arthur Wellesley — Enters the Army — Serves in Holland with the 33rd Regiment — Proceeds to Iudia — Capture of Seringapatam — Becomes Governor of the place — Attacks Dhoondia Waugh, the freebooter — Promoted to Major-General — Conducts the Cam¬ paign against the Mahratta Chieftains — Gains the Victories of Assaye and Argaum — Takes the Fortresses of Ahmednuggur, Asseerghur, and Gawilghur — Created a Knight of the Bath — Receives Addresses and Rewards — Returns Home . I

Chapter II

Appointed to the Staff as Commander of a Brigade — Becomes Secretary for Ireland — Joins the Expedition to Denmark — Distinguishes himself at Kioge — Proceeds to Portugal — Gains the Victories of Rorifa and Vimiero — The Convention of Cintra — Returns to England. . . . .

Chapter III

French Invasion of Portugal — Occupation of Spain — Sir Arthur proceeds to Portugal — Battles of Rori^a and Vimiero — Convention of Cintra — Sir Arthur returns Home . . . .• .85

Chapter IV

Sir John Moore in Spain, and Sir John Cradock in Portugal — Memorandum on the Defence of Portugal — Departure for Portugal — Reception at Lis¬ bon — Advance upon Oporto — Passage of the Douro — Battle of Talavera —

The British wounded — Lines of Torres Vedras — Massena’s Advance — Guerrillas — Battle of Busaco i . . . 4T viii CONTENTS.

Chapter V. Page

Massena before the Lines — His Retreat — Pursuit by the Allies — Affairs at Redinha, Pombal, Foz d’Aronce, and Casal Nova — Wellington’s Corre¬ spondence . . • .78

. CHAPTER YI.

Affairs in the South of Spain — Siege of Cadiz — Battle of Barossa — Retreat of Massena — Attempt on Almeida — Battle of Fuentes d’Onoro — The Wounded at Fuentes d’Onoro . . . . . 94

Chapter VII

Escape of the Garrison of Almeida — Contrast between Wellington and Napoleon — Caution to Officers to repress injudicious zeal — Marshal Beresford — Investment of Badajoz — Battle of Albuera — Abandonment of the Siege of Badajoz — The Spanish and Portuguese allies . . . .111

Chapter VIII

Position at Guinaldo — Affair of El Bodon — Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo — Sur¬ prise of the French at Arroyo del Molinos — Character of Sir R. Hill — Advice to Lord W. Bentinck — Winter Costumes — Defence of Tarifa . 122

Chapter XII. Page

Advance upon Madrid — Reception at Madrid — The French in the East, the South, and the North of Spain — Departure for Burgos — Proclamation to the Spaniards — Attack upon, and Retreat from Burgos — Hill and Soult at Albade Tormes — Circular on the subject of Discipline — Feeling excited by the Circular . 179

Chapter XIII

Feeling in England regarding Salamanca and Burgos — Meeting of Parliament — Speeches — Lord Wellington becomes Commander-in-Chief of the Spanish Armies — Goes to Cadiz to meet the Cortes — Obtains the Colonelcy of the Royal Horse Guards — Goes to Lisbon . 199

Chapter XVIII

Battle of the Nivelle — Proclamation of Louis NVIII. — Lord Wellington’s view of the French feeling in respect to a Successor to Napoleon — The War in Germany — The Battle of Leipsic — Advance of the Northern Allies to Frankfort — Declaration of the Allies . . 296

X

CONTENTS.

Chapter XIX. Page

The Feeling in England — Canning’s Speech — Passage of the Nive — Combats of Barrouilhet, Arcangues, and St. Pierre — Battle of Orthes — Declaration for the Bourbons — Remonstrances with the Due D’Angoulcme . . 309

Chapter XX

Dissolution of the Congress at Chatillon — Napoleon resists the Allies at Craone, Laon, and Soissons — Revolution in Holland — Failure of Graham at Bergen-op-Zoom — The Affair at Aire — The Battle of Toulouse, and In¬ vestment of Bayonne . 323

Chapter XXI

Lord Wellington created a Duke — Honours to his Generals, Lords Combermere and Hill — The Duke visits Paris and Madrid — Fresh Parliamentary Grants — The Allied Sovereigns and their Generals visit England — The Duke of Wellington also returns to England . 335

Chapter XXII

Discussions on Slavery — The Duke moves Louis XVIII. to procure its aboli¬ tion — The Congress at Vienna — Lord Castlereagh . 355

Chapter XXIII

The news of Napoleon’s Arrival in France received by the Congress at Vienna — Project for meeting -the new invasion — The Duke’s plan of fortify¬ ing the Netherlands . 368

■A

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

tk «»

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, WHEN LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR ARTHUR WELLESLEY • •»...« Frontispiece.

CONVENTION OF CINTRA . Vignette.

MAHRATTA SOLDIERS . . . . . . . . .11

MARCH OF A BRITISH ARMY IN INDIA. THE DROOG, 1803 . . . 15

ADVANCE OF THE BRITISH LINE AT ASSAYS. WELLESLEY’S HORSE

A VIEW OF COPENHAGEN . . . . . , . . 33

MAP OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL . 35

RIFLEMAN AT RORI9A . 41

THE CONVENTION . . . . . , . . .46

PASSAGE OF THE DOURO . 53

MARSHAL VICTOR ......... 58

GENERAL CUESTA INSPECTING THE SPANISH ADVANCED POSTS, 1809 59

MARSHAL MORTIER . . . . . . . . .67

- *

BRITISH HEAVY DRAGOONS . . . . . . . . 70

GUERRILLAS CAPTURING A FRENCH PRISONER . , . .72

MARSHAL MASSENA ' . . . . . . . . 75

BATTLE OF BUSACO. “CHARGE!” CRIED CRAUFURD. SEPT., 1810 . 76

LINES OF TORRES VEDRAS . . . . . . . . 78

REINFORCEMENTS ......... 79

ATTACK ON MASSENA’s REAR . . . *. . . . 100

NORMAN RAMSAY AT FUENTES D’ONORO . . . . .105

LORD WELLINGTON IN THE TRENCHES BEFORE BADAJOZ . . .119

GENERAL HILL

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

••

X1L

PAGE

CIUDAD RODRIGO AFTER THE SIEGE, JANUARY, 1812 . . . .140

BADAJOZ AFTER THE SIEGE, 1812 . 161

SALAMANCA, 1812 169

TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO MADRID, 1812 . 179

SPANISH LADIES . 180

RETREAT FROM BURGOS . . . . , . . .193

PONTOON BRIDGE . 236

PLUNDERING BAGGAGE - VITTORIA . . . . . . 243

MARSHAL JOURDAN - VITTORIA . . . 244

SOULT - PYRENEES . 253

PYRENEES . 263

DESCENT FROM THE PYRENEES, NEAR THE BIDASSOA, 1813 . . 287

FRENCH SOLDIERS . . . 298

LORD COMBERMERE . 337

MARSHAL PRINCE BLUCHER . . . . . . . 344

LIFE OF

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

Chapter I

Birth, parentage, and education, of Arthur Wellesley— Enters the Army— Serves in Holland with the 33rd Regiment— Proceeds to India — Capture of Seringapatam — Becomes Gov¬ ernor of the place — Attacks Dhoondia Waugh, the freebooter — Promoted to Major-General — Conducts the campaign against the Mahratta chieftains — Gains the victories of Assaye and Argaun — Takes the fortresses of Ahmednuggur, Asseerghur and Gawilghur — Created a Knight of the Bath — Receives addresses and rewards — Returns home.

generally falls to the lot of a Dio-* grapher to start with his subject from an obscure point, and to enjoy the satisfaction of travelling with him to the eminence which has given his early history a claim upon public re¬ spect and curiosity. Nothing is more agreeable than to track an adventurous spirit through all the difficulties and obstructions which beset the path of the friendless, and to share, in imagi¬ nation, in its honourable struggles, to glide over its smoother passages, to depict its patience and fortitude, and, finally, to participate in its noble triumphs.

The writer who should undertake to narrate the history of Wellington is deprived of a portion of this satisfaction, because the career of the great warrior and statesman commenced under circumstances of peculiar advantage. Nobly von. i.

LIFE OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

born, carefully educated, and connected with people enjoying consid¬ erable political influence, he was subjected to no early wrestlings with fate. He was launched upon the stream of life under the most favourable auspices, tasting neither the bitterness of poverty nor the humiliation of obscurity. His public life, from first to last, was one uninterrupted chain of glory, each link more brilliant than its predecessor, and unlike other great adventurers, whose course from insignificance to splendour was broken, through a series of mischances or their own unsteadiness of character, his progress knew no culminating point — his fame no tarnish — his fortunes no reverse.

But the even tenor of his career is no disparagement of the vast merit of the Duke of Wellington. If his antecedents were less humble than the public beginnings of other men, let it be remembered that he reached a higher eminence than any personage of whom the annals of England possess a record — always excepting John, Duke of Marlborough, his prototype in all things but political virtue. Nor has his upward path been free from a thousand obstructions, which none but a gigantic mind and a firm heart could surmount. His diffi culties begin with his direct responsibility. His triumphs followed as the results of his indomitable perseverance, his unflinching courage and his amazing constancy.

Irrational and exacting must be the biographer who is not contend with such materials for his story !

It was in March, 1769, that Arthur Wellesle}7 first saw the light. Biographers differ as to the date and the locality ; but it appears by the evidence taken before a Parliamentary Committee in 1791, to inquire into a petition against his return for the borough of Trim, on the ground of his being a minor, that he was really born at Dangan Castle, in the county of Meath, Ireland, at the time alleged above. His father was the second Earl of Mornington, who enjoyed much celebrity for his nice musical taste ; his mother, Anne, the eldest daughter of Viscount Dungannon. Early in life Arthur Wellesley was sent to Eton College for his education, in conjunction with his afterwards distin¬ guished brother Richard. Richard, at Eton, displayed an aptitude for the acquisition of knowledge, and was gifted with good taste and poetic fancy. There are extant several of his juvenile compositions, and even to a late period of his life he did homage to the Muses in the hours of leisure and retirement. The obvious bent of his genius and inclinations led to his removal to Oxford.

Arthur, on the other hand, gave no promise of excellence, and was therefore deemed fit for the army. In those days, younger brothers,

PROMOTION AND PARLIAMENTARY DEBUT.

whose talent was slow in developing itself, were considered by sagacious friends only adapted to professions in which, it was most erroneously supposed, there was neither scope nor necessity for intellectual activity. They were sent into the army to acquire rank and position without effort. But it was considered, in the case of Arthur Wellesley, that he ought at least to have the advantages of some military preparation, and he was therefore sent to the College of Angiers, directed by Pignard, a celebrated French engineer, — for England at that time did not possess such an institution as the Col¬ lege at Sandhurst.

At the age of eighteen, after he had gone through a course of French military instruction, Arthur Wellesley was gazetted to an ensigncy in the 73d Begiment. This was in March, 1787. Nine months later he was promoted to a lieutenancy in the 76th. Sub¬ sequent exchanges carried him into the 41st Foot, and the 12th Light Dragoons.

In 1791 (30th of June), being then twenty-two years of age, he procured a company in the 58th Foot, whence, four months later, he exchanged to a troop in the 18th Light Dragoons. Under the system in force in the British army, officers, avid of rapid promotion, must seek it in other regiments than their own, if their immediate seniors are prepared to purchase advancement. As Arthur Wellesley had had no opportunities of displaying zeal and gallantry in the field during these four years of service, his quick progress may be fairly set down to the combined action of ministerial favor, and a sufficiency of pecuniary means. Neither at school, nor college, nor in the per¬ formance of the easy regimental duty peculiar to a time of peace, and incidental to five exchanges, did he display any of those qualities which developed themselves in so remarkable a manner a few years later.

Previous to obtaining his company, Lieutenant Wellesley was re¬ turned a member of the Irish parliament. He sat for three years, during a portion of which time he was an aide-de-camp to the Earl of Westmoreland, then Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.

The young member occasionally spoke, always in opposition to liberal measures ; and his oratory was characterized more by a curt and decided form of expression than by the efflorescence then popular among the Grattans, Cuffs, Parnells, and other members of the legislature. His opinions were of the Tory cast ; and, even at that early period, he opposed himself to any consideration of the Catholic claims, and to schemes of Parliamentary Reform. As an aide-de-camp, and a member of a Protestant family, his sentiments were, of course, colored by the opinions of the noblemen and statesmen with whom

LIFE OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

he continually associated ; but there can be little reason to suppose that he was altogether under the dominion of partisanship. Freedom of thought was an early habit with Arthur Wellesley, and he sought on all occasions the independence of action which was its proper ac¬ companiment.

On the 30th of April, 1793, Captain Wellesley was gazetted Major of the 33rd Foot. On the 30th of September, of the same year, he succeeded to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the corps.

It was as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 33rd that the military career of Arthur Wellesley may be said to have fairly commenced.

In 1794, the French Republic was in arms to propagate the opinions upon which its existence was based, and to meet the forces of Austria and Prussia who had assembled to fight the battle of order and legitimacy. Some parties in Holland, who had imbibed the modern French doctrines, sought the aid of the Republicans in the establishment of a system of government and institutions akin to their own ; and the Directory, recognising the appeal, menaced the Stadtholder with the invasion of his provinces. Alarmed for the integrity of Holland, the Stadtholder sought the assistance of England. Pitt, the British Minister, caught at the opportunity of assisting to check the dissemination of principles which threatened the social disturbance of Great Britain ; and an army was at once equipped and dispatched to Holland under the orders of the Duke of York, the second son of King George III.

While this army was operating in the Netherlands, a separate expedition, under the Earl of Moira (afterwards Marquis of Hastings, and Governor-General of India), was directed to make a descent upon the coast of France. Of this expedition, the 33rd Regiment formed a part, Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Wellesley commanding. The troops had embarked on board the transports, and awaited a wind, but the arrival of the intelligence of the failure of the Duke of York, the surrender of Tournay, and the repulse before Oudenarde, induced the Government to change the destination of the expedition, and to direct Lord Moira to proceed to Ostend.

. Lord Moira’s aid encouraged the Duke of York to persevere in his operations, but it did not in any way promote their success. Wherever the French Republican troops encountered the British, the latter, after a vain contest, were compelled to give way. At Mechlin, the Duke was forced to retreat ; first upon Antwerp, then upon Breda and Bois le Due. Occasionally a stand was made, and the French were attacked in their turn, but the result of the struggle was invariably unfavorable to the British.

SERVICE IN HOLLAND.

These episodical affairs, however, gave scope for the display of good soldiership on the part of Lieutenant-Colonel Wellesley. At Schyndel, Lieutenant-General (afterwards Sir Ralph) Abercrombie was engaged with a large body of the Republicans, who had contrived to mask them¬ selves, until the British, consisting of the two regiments of Guards, the 33rd and 44th Regiments of the line, and some squadrons of Dragoons, were brought within the range of a deadly fire of artillery, under cover of which the French Hussars prepared to make a despe¬ rate charge. In the retrograde movement rendered necessary by the cannonade, the British fell into some confusion, the Dragoons mingling with the Guards. At this juncture, with the promptitude which ever afterwards marked his movements, Lieutenant-Colonel Wellesley deployed the 33rd into line in rear of the household troops, in order to occupy the road, and hold the French in check.

The Hussars continued to advance, with their usual impetuosity, and when within a suitable distance furiously charged. The 33rd reserved their fire until the cavalry came within one hundred yards ; then, delivering a murderous volley, they threw back the assailants, and followed them, as they in turn retreated, with a succession of destructive fusillades. Upon a subsequent occasion at Meteren, — Walmoden having intermediately succeeded to the command of the allied Hanoverian and British forces, — Lieutenant-Colonel Wellesley did good service in forcing a confident body of Republican troops to abandon an attack upon the position of Generals Dundas and Dalwick.

Occupying Meteren with a wing of the 33rd, two field pices, and a squadron of Hussars, Colonel Wellesley was obliged by superior numbers to fall back upon the British lines, losing his cannon in the retrogression. Reinforced by the other wing of his regiment, he, in turn, became the assailant, regained the guns, and repulsed the enemy; then, falling back upon the post of Geldermalsen, he main¬ tained himself with the 42nd and 78th Highlanders, and the 33rd, until the French retired after repeated efforts to dislodge him.

Returning to England at the close of the disastrous campaign in Holland, the 33rd Regiment commenced recruiting, for what between sickness, and the ordinary contingencies of war, the corps had been reduced to a skeleton. It had scarcely been reported effective, ere, in the autumn of 1795, it was ordered to the West Indies as part of an expedition, and had actually embarked. Stress of weather, however, prevented the departure of the expedition, and the 33rd re-landed under instructions to prepare for service in the East.

If the optimist wished for an elucidation of his doctrine that tout est pour le mieux dans ce meilleur des mondes , he might triumphantly

LIFE OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

point to the “ ill-winds” which diverted the West Indian expedition from its destined course. But for the happy accident of the return of the 33rd to port, Wellesley would have lost the admirable oppor¬ tunity for the display of his talents which India was shortly to open to him.

In the month of April, 1796, the 33rd sailed for India, the Lieu¬ tenant-Colonel remaining for the moment in England, in ill health. The regiment put into the Cape for provisions, and here it was joined by Lieutenant-Colonel Wellesley, who proceeded with it to Calcutta.

In those days, voyages to the East Indies were tedious operations, and they were not expedited by a stoppage at the Cape of Good Hope. It was February, 1797, before the 33rd Regiment disembarked at Calcutta.

For nearly two years subsequent to his arrival in India, the time of Colonel Wellesley was passed in the performance of garrison and district duty, if we except the preparation for an expedition to Manilla, which was abandoned before it was carried into execution. At the close of 1798. however, Lord Mornington (Colonel Wellesley’s brother), who had become Governor-General of India, having acquired information that Tippoo, the Sultan of Mysore, was negotiating with the French Republicans at Mauritius (then called the Isle of France) for the establishment of an offensive and defensive alliance having for its object the expulsion of the English from India, his lordship deter¬ mined on assembling a large body of troops in the vicinity of Tippoo’s territories.

Colonel Wellesley was, on this occasion, appointed to a responsible command; and in November, 1798, we find him at the head of all the disposable troops assembled and encamped at Wallajabad. This responsible duty he fulfilled until February, 1799, when General Harris, who had been nominated to the chief direction of the opera¬ tions which Tippoo’s contumacy and treachery seemed to render ad¬ visable, joined the army, and took the command. He immediately addressed himself to the necessary preparations for the campaign. From no individual in the army did he derive greater aid than from Colonel Wellesley, as his first report of that officer’s masterly arrange¬ ments to the Governor-General expressed in the following letter :

“ Camp, nkar Vellore, 2nd February , 1799.

“ My Lord,

“ Having had leisure since my arrival here to inspect the division of the army which has been since its formation under the

SERINGA PAT AM.

orders of the Honorable Colonel Wellesley, I have much satisfaction in acquainting your lordship that the very handsome appearance and perfect discipline of the troops do honor to themselves and to him ; while the judicious and masterly arrangements in respect to supplies, which opened an abundant free market, and inspired confidence into dealers of every description, were no less creditable to Colonel Wellesley than advantageous to the public service, and deservedly entitle him to my thanks and approbation.

“ I have the honor to be, with great respect, &c.,

“G. Harris.”

Soon after General Harris had joined, the army, consisting of upwards of 50,000 fighting men, formed into three large divisions, one of which was placed under Colonel Wellesley, moved towards Seringapatam.1 Tippoo, confident in his own resources, and the bravery of his troops, advanced to meet them. He had no alternative, he considered, but to attack himself, or to remain in his capital to be assailed. He adopted the former. At Sedaseer (6th March, 1799), he encountered the Western or Cannanore army, under General Stuart. Falling furiously upon a brigade of Sepoys, commanded by Colonel Montresor, he hoped to annihilate it by the superiority of his numbers. But Stuart coming to his aid, Tippoo’s troops, after a five hours’ attack, gave way with great loss. Three weeks sub¬ sequently, Tippoo affronted the allied army under General Harris at Mullavelly. The brunt of the battle was borne by the infantry of the Nizam under Colonel Wellesley, supported by the cavalry under General Flojd. The conflict lasted for some hours. At length the elite of Tippoo’s divisions came in contact with the 33rd, and halting, coolly delivered its fire. The 33rd, Colonel Wellesley’s regiment, returned the volley, and charged with the bayonet. The enemy wavered, broke, and fled ; General Floyd’s cavalry pursued and destroyed them.

Tippoo now retired to Seringapatam, whither he was followed by the allied army. General Harris was not long in investing the city, and making arrangements for a siege. These siege operations com¬ menced upon the junction of the Bombay army with that of the Madras force on the 14th of April, 1799, and continued unceasingly until the 4th of May, when breaches having been effected, the general assault was made, under the personal command of Sir David Baird. Intermediately some minor operations had taken place, connected

1 A fortified town in Mysore, then the capital.

LIFE OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

with the occupation of villages, the attack upon the citadel, and the repulse of sorties, and in all of these Colonel Wellesley displayed great judgment, coolness, and gallantry.

In an attack upon a tope or grove, occupied by the enemy, Colone* Wellesley was struck on the knee by a spent ball, and narrowly escaped falling into the hands of the Sultan’s troops. On the day appointed for the attack on Seringapatam a circumstance occurred which illustrated the habit so long conspicuous in Wellesley in after life, of adhering rigidly to the orders of his superiors ; a principle of action he was sedulous to inculcate when he came to exercise superior command. When all was ready for the assault, Colonel Wellesley was not present, and as General Harris had ordered that he should command, he could not comprehend why the Colonel was absent, especially when so much time had elapsed whilst the additional forces were marching down to their allotted stations. After waiting a little longer, and inquiring from his staff what could be the reason of Colonel Wellesley’s absence, General Harris became uneasy and apprehensive that the favorable moment for the attack would be lost ; and lie directed General Baird, who was on the spot, to take the command, and proceed to the attack. General Baird immediately drew his sword, and, turning his horse, rode towards the column for this purpose. He had not moved many paces when General Harris called him back, and said, “ On further consideration I think that we must wait a little longer for Colonel Wellesley,” in which General Baird expressed his hearty concurrence. Colonel Wellesley appeared in a few moments afterwards, having, by an omission in the Adjutant- General’s Office, been only just then warned for the duty. He instantly took the command of the troops, and proceeded to the attack.

Seringapatam fell after a short but murderous conflict.

After the capture of Seringapatam, Colonel Wellesley was placed in command of the fortress. In this responsible position it became his duty to see to the interment of the dead, the stoppage of the plunder of houses and the molestation of the inhabitants, and the re-establishment of bazaars throughout the city.

The inclination of the soldiery to indulge in every kind of debauchery and violence compelled the Colonel to resort to measures of severity, and it was not until several men had been executed for marauding, that the plunder ceased. Colonel Wellesley then applied himself to the task of conciliating the adherents of the Sultan, and of restoring the general confidence of the Mussulman population, a duty which he discharged with consummate sagacity,

THE COMMAND OF SERINGAPATAM.

A commission having been appointed to partition the conquered territories among the allies, in conformity to preliminary treaties, Colonel Wellesley was named one of the commissioners.

As soon as the Hindoo family which had been displaced by the Mussulmans was restored to the Musnud, or throne of Mysore, the grand army was broken up, General Harris returned to Madras, his head quarters, as Commander-in-Chief, and Colonel Wellesley was left in command of the troops serving above the Ghauts, a command with which were associated certain civil duties of an important character.