THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON A COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE.—A story ran
the round of the journals this week, which presented an in- teresting exemplification of the great things that spring from little causes. The refusal of Mr. PITT, it was said, to make Mr. Manua WELLESLEY Commissioner of Excise, converted an humble Captain into the Hero of Waterloo, and finished by making him First Commis- sioner of the Treasury ! Nothing could be more interesting than the views which such a story opened up. But welladay ! when our imagi- nations were picturing to us what a noble exciseman the Great Cap- tain would have made—how he would have drilled the officers and tickled the smugglers—out comes the disagreeable truth, that the whole affair is unfounded from beginning to end; that the Duke owes his honours to no " curious coincidence," but has arrived at them by the straightforward commonplaces of great talents successfully exerted !
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