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you back in safety, and we present ourselves in person to express our joy. As your labours have been crowned with victory, so may your repose be graced with honours. May you long continue personally to dispense to us that full stream of security and happiness, which we first received with wonder, and continue to enjoy with gratitude; and when greater affairs shall call you from us, may the God of all castes and all nations deign to hear with favour our humble and constant prayers for your health, your glory, and your happiness!"

The General now went on to Calcutta, whither he had been called to assist in the deliberations on certain military and economical plans for the final establishment of the country. It was not long, however, before the fresh successes of Holkar in Hindustan seemed likely once more to recal him to the scene of action. The Mahratta chief having re-collected, in an incredibly short space of time, the broken fragments of his army, had again been able to make head against the English, and so successfully as to become more dangerous than ever. It was reported too, that Scindiah, whose hatred of Holkar had been proverbial, and who had united with the Company for his destruction, had now actually joined his enemy against his ally, in direct opposition to his own interest and avowed opinions. Such a combination, if true, required speedy and decisive measures from the Bengal Government for its suppression. The General, therefore, though anxious to return to England, was re-invested with the powers he had so lately resigned, and postponing his own inclinations and wishes to the public benefit, he sailed in the Bombay frigate for Madras. From

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this presidency, after a brief delay, he hastened to Seringapatam, when he learnt that Holkar had suffered two signal defeats by Lord Lake's army in Hindustan, and for a time at least there seemed to be little fear of Scindiah and the Rajah of Berar combining with him in any hostile design against the English. It was, therefore, no longer an object of importance to march a corps of horse into Malwa, an enterprise which, in this advanced season, would be difficult and dangerous for the cavalry, besides being likely to compromise the safety of the Deccan. The cause that made the chief necessity for his presence being thus superseded by events, he determined to delay his march to the northward, and the rather as he was attacked by fever on the day fixed for his departure. His reluctance, indeed, to serve any longer in India seemed to increase every day, and though prepared to sacrifice his private wishes and return to the Deccan, should there be any absolute occasion for it, he yet made up his mind not to be drawn thither by mere suspicions or surmises. But this necessity did not occur, and after the lapse of a few weeks, he a second time resigned the powers entrusted to him, and set out once more for Madras. Here, as before, addresses flowed in upon him from all quarters, from soldier and civilian, from native and European, and it was proposed to place his picture in the Exchange Room of Madras, amongst the other portraits of noble and illustrious characters. From England yet greater honours awaited him. In the general orders issued by the Bengal Government, a letter was published to the army, from Earl Camden, the Secretary of State, announcing that the King had commanded the

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insignia of the Order of the Bath to be transmitted to General Wellesley. As a yet more decided mark of the royal approbation, it was especially directed that the ceremony of investiture should be performed in the most honourable and distinguished manner; and, that it might not be delayed for a succession to a regular vacancy, he was created an Extra Knight Companion of the Order. Nor was this all. The thanks of the House of Lords were returned to him as well as to the native and European officers, for the late brilliant and memorable campaign.

With these events ended the Indian career of MajorGeneral Wellesley, which had been marked by a long succession of victories, uninterrupted by a single disaster or defeat. From the battle of Assye to the siege of Gawilghur we see him fighting but to conquer, and that too amidst the jealousies of weak and false allies and the natural difficulties of the country. But it is not only in the battle-field that we are called upon to admit and admire his superiority. With a grasp of mind that has been rarely equalled, he conciliated the jarring interests of the native princes, superintended the internal affairs of the Mysore, which, under his wise rule, obtained unexampled prosperity, upheld the weak, put down the strong, and conducted to a happy end the most difficult and intricate negotiations; the provinces, over which he directed this multitude of complex operations, being divided from each other by more than the extent of many a European kingdom.

About the middle of March 1805, he embarked on his Majesty's ship Trident, and in the September of the same year arrived in England.]

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HANOVERIAN EXPEDITION.

CHAPTER VI.

1805 to 1808.

Expedition to Hanover.-Sir Arthur Wellesley appointed Colonel of the 33rd Regiment.-Returned to Parliament.-Commands a Brigade in Sussex.-His Marriage.-Expedition to Copenhagen.-Battle at Kioge.-Settlement of Preliminaries. Return to England.-Irish Bills brought in by Sir Arthur Wellesley.— Appointed to the command of troops destined to the Peninsula.

Lands in Mondego Bay.-Portuguese General refuses to cooperate. Skirmish at Obidos.-Battle of Roliça.-Battle of Vimiera.

I

In the autumn of this year an expedition was fitted out for Hanover, under Lord Cathcart; and, by a singular disregard of policy and justice, the victor in so many battles, the leader of so many thousands, was appointed to the command of a brigade. But Sir Arthur Wellesley was no less prompt to yield than to enforce obedience, according to his relative position; and when asked by a friend how he, a Knight of the Bath, could submit to such degradation, he bluntly replied-" For this plain reason: am nimmukwallah, as we say in the East, that is, I have eaten of the King's salt, and therefore, I conceive it to be my duty to serve with unhesitating zeal and cheerfulness when and wherever the King and his government may think proper to employ me.' The expedition, however, was speedily recalled, in consequence of the French triumph at Austerlitz, and the troops composing it were dispersed about the English coast, to be ready for future operations, or to defend the country if requisite against invasion. Sir Arthur himself remained with a brigade of infantry

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stationed at Hastings in the Sussex district, and the energies of a mind, that only a few months before had controlled all India, were now concentrated upon the petty details and duties of a subordinate command. In the meantime, however, upon the death of Lord Cornwallis, he had been advanced to the Colonelcy of the 33rd Regiment, of which he had so long been the Lieutenant-Colonel.

The year 1806 forms an era, not in the life of the soldier, but of the individual. For the first time Sir Arthur Wellesley appeared in the English Parliament, when, as he had before defended his brother's government in the field, so he now supported it in the senate. Mr. Paul, a gentleman more ambitious of popularity than regardful of justice, attacked with bitterness the Indian government of the Marquis, and endeavoured to reward his brilliant services with impeachment; but the honest and spirited defence of the soldier defeated his attempt.

In the April of the same year he married Miss Elizabeth Packenham, the daughter of Lord Longford, whose ancestors, originally of Saxon descent, had gone over to Ireland in 1642 with the army sent to suppress the rebellion of that period. Their services on this occasion secured for them a grant of the lands of Tullinally, in the county of Westmeath.

In the April of 1807, a change took place in the ministry, on which occasion the Duke of Richmond was nominated Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and Sir Arthur Wellesley, being appointed Chief Secretary, was sworn of the King's Privy Council. For many months his time was spent partly in Dublin in attending to the duties of his office, and partly in London, where his presence was required as a mem