LIVES OF WELLINGTON.

THE high position the Duke of WELLINGTON just now occupies in the political world—the publication of his voluminous despatches— and the mature age he has reached, with, perhaps, some sinister reports touching his failing health, that were prevalent a short time since —have rendered his Grace a prey for those literary caterers who, perhaps, consider the public appetite, fully as much as their own qualifications for gratifying it, in the tasks they undertake. Hence the advertising columns are teeming with Lives of the Great Captain, in the old and suspicious form of publication in numbers. Three of these are now before us- 1. Life and Campaigns of the Duke of Wellington, by the Rea. G. N. 'WRIGHT.

2. The Life of Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington, by Major JACKSON and Captain SCOTT. 3. Life of his Grace the Duke of Wellington, by W. H. MAXWELL. It requires no revelation to tell us that the materials for a proper biography of the Duke of WELLINGTON do not at present exist— perhaps never will exist. An account of the disastrous campaign in Holland under the Duke of YORK, compiled from Annual Registers and Gazettes, forms no part of the Duke's biography merely because he happened to serve in it, and once particularly

distinguished himself by covering the retreat of two or three

regiments that were thrown into confusion. The state of India at the close of the last century, the designs of Theo°, the policy of the Marquis of WELLESLEY to counterwork them, the march of the army on Seringapatam, the capture of the place,and the death of the Sultan, have no proper connexion with the life of WELLINGTON; although Colonel WELLESLEY was present at the siege, and com- manded an unsuccessful night attack on a tope, (grove or extended thicket,) and a day attack which succeeded. The iiromptitude and decision which he displayed when appointed commandant of the captured capital, is to be noted as characteristic of the man ; but what we should greatly like to have settled, is, why General Munn, who commanded the storming party and carried the city, was superseded in favour of the brother of the Governor-General,-- whether it was a usual proceeding, or whether General BAIRD spontaneously desired to be " relieved," if desire he did. The results of the "settlement of Mysore," (a diplomatic way of ex- pressing the division of the plunder of Theo()) and the general character of the campaign against Dimosinimi, a brigand chief, are to be told, so far as they in anywise exhibit the qualifications of WELLESLEY and contain indicia of his character as it afterwards developed itself: but accounts of the marches of his forces, or of a series of manoeuvres to bring on the final action, scarcely form a part of history, much less of biography. The campaign against SCINDIAH, crowned with the victories of Assayc and Argaum, admits of fuller treatment, but in a general way, for there the sub- ject of the biography is the principal figure in the action. But personal characteristics, after all, are the chief features of a life. We should like to know, (and this only WELLINGTON himself could tell us,) to what extent lie profited by his studies at the French military college of Anglers ; how far the experience of actual war he gained in the Holland campaign had an influence upon his future career. It is not a dry, and sometimes a not very intelligible account .of military operations, in technical terms, that constitutes biography. We want to know the appearance and bearing of the hero himself during the anxious preparation ; the excitement of battle, and the exultation of victory as NAPIER incidentally marks them after Vittoria. Above all, the reader would be gratified with his occupations during his earlier and obscurer years, and the impressions he made upon his associates, or those with whom he came in contact : but these it is useless to expect just now. After his death, no doubt, the world will have plenty. of penny-a-lining reminiscences ; but two things will still be requisite—authenticity, and characteristic discrimination in the reporter. Examining it with a view to methodical arrangement, the life of WELLINGTON may be divided into five epochs. The first would embrace his school-days, his entrance into the Army, and rapid promotion by interest and purchase ; his characteristics during his sojourn in Dublin as Aide-de-camp to the Lord-Lieutenant ; and his subordinate service in Holland and India. The second period would treat of his civil administration and military exploits in India, when in separate command. The third (1805 to 1808) in- volves his English House of Commons career, his Irish Secretary- ship, and the infamous invasion of Denmark with the bombardment of' Copenhagen, in which Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY held a com- mand. The fourth would comprise the Peninsular war and the battle of Waterloo ; the fifth his civil and senatorial career since the peace.

Of the Lives before us, only one comes down as far as the beginning of the Peninsular war, both the others breaking off in India. Reserving any specific remarks we may have to offer upon these publications, we will proceed to glean from them such parti- culars as they furnish respecting his family and his obscurer years.

The WELLESLEYS are undoubtedly what " the ladies, and mile., men who judge like ladies," call a '' talented family." Lord MARY. BOROUGH'S talent, indeed, lay amongst stable matters ; and of the divine the public have never heard much — the Church was chosen for him, perhaps, on the principle which is held to stock it with aristocratical members ; whilst HENRY Lord COWI EY tl • 9 lough employed in diplomacy, and reputed " clever," would not of himself have either embroiled or pacified a world. But the Marquis of WELLESLEY, when distance of time shall enable posterity to esti- mate the real magnitude of events and the exact proportions of contemporaries, will perhaps stand out superior to his brother, WELLINGTON : and their father was a born genius, who only wanted the spur of necessity to have taken a foremost place amongst musi- cians ; the station he now occupies being none of the lowest. Here is the Reverend Mr. WRIGHT'S account of' the musical prodigy. "During the peaceful times in which he flourished, Garret, Earl of Monies.- ton, acquired a singular celebrity. In him was illustrated one of those in- stances of precocious musical talent which astonish all who witness them, mid remain inexplicable by metaphysical or other rules. While yet in the arms of his nurse, and before he was able to put a complete sentence together, he dis- tinguished the performance of his father, who was an excellent violinist, from that of Dubourg' a professor, so nicely, that when the latter visited at Dan,min Castle, the child would not suffer his father to play ; and during the perform- ance of the must difficult pieces, he heat time with so much accuracy, as to lead those present to conclude that he could not mark it untruly. At the age of nine years lie was persuaded, by a painter employed in the mansion, to take up a violin and attempt to play ; and, in the space of a few hours, he learned the old catches of The Christ Church Bells ' and ' Sing one, two, three—come follow me.' A neighbouring clergyman MU much applauded for the compo- sition of a new country dance ; and this little circumstance secretly worked upon the feelinos of the embryo musician so acutely, that he now turned com- poser, and, without the assistance or knowledge of any one, produced a minuet, the bass of which he wrote in treble clef. Ile next composed a simulate, con- sisting of three parts, not yet having hail any instruction, nor even having heard music, except his father's playing on the violin and his sisters' on the harpsichord, and not having attained his fourteenth year. His father, observ- ing, the extraordinary musical genius of his son, told him that he had an in- tention of presenting an organ to the parish-church' if his son had been capable of acting as organist. The youth immediately promised that it' his father would only order an organ to be built, he would be fully prepared to play the most difficult music by the time of its erection ; which promise he actually fulfilled, playing fugues extempore, the moment the instrument was set up, to the amazement of his father and friends, who had never before heard him execute a single bar, nor had he an instrument to practise on. "In process of time, his lordship read, studied, and composed music; and although he never received any instruction in that pleasing science, Bosengrare and Geminiani, who examined his compositions, declared that they were agreeable to all the established rules, and that he seemed intimately acquainted also with their proper exceptions. In the early part of his life, lie was always most pleased with simple melodies, but subsequently he exhibited a strong pre- dileetion for church music and full harmony. lie was ultimately so distin- guished as a musical composer and performer, that the University of Dahlia conferred upon him the degree of Doctor and Professor of Music ; and a chant whieli lie composed continues, to this day, to he performed in the churches of Amongst the most admired of his vocal compositions arc,' Here in cool grot,' 'Whim for the world's repose,' "Twits you, Sir,' Gently bear me, charming maid," Come, fairest nymph,' and 'By greenwood tree.' Writers of musical biography have distinguished five from among those that were most conspicuous by a display of musical talent in infancy : they are, Mozart, Charles Wesley, Samuel Wesley, Little Crotch, and Lord Mom- ington " Of the early days of his celebrated fourth (surviving) son, ARTUTIII WELLESLEY, little is known ; at least little is told by the writers before us. He does not seem to have displayed any promise at Eton; and at Augiers the specific result of his professional or gene- ral studies is unknown,—though all our biographers declare the professional must have been great, and Major JACKSON and Captain ScoTr assert that there "he must have acquired that perfect know- ledge of the French language which proved of' so much service to him in after life." Ills days in Dublin as a young officer are not quite so blank ; but the anecdotes are not many. The few that exist have been collected by Mr. MAxwEr.r,; which we give without passing any judgment upon their authenticity.

" The first time I ever visited the gallery of the House [an informant is speaking,] was on the opening of the session of 1793; and I was accompanied

by a friend, it barrister of high standing, and a person of' acknowledged jadg- meet. Be was one of a celebrated society, termed "The Monks of the Screw; and consequently was on intimate terms with all the leading Inca of the day,

including Grattan, Cuff, (afterwards Lord Tyrawly,) Langrish, Parnell, Wolf,

&c. &c. As each Member entered the House, my friend namedthem in suc- cession, and generally at the same time rapidly sketched their characters. A young man, dressed in it scarlet uniform with very large epaulets, caught my eve, and I inquired who he was. "That,' replied my friend, ' is Captain Wel- lesley, a brother of Lord Morningtoo, and one of the aide-decamps of the Lord-Lieutenant. I suppose he neva. speaks,' I added. ' You are wrong; he does speak sometimes ; and when he does, believe me, it is always to the pur- pose. The subject which occupied the attention of the House that night was one of deep importance in Irish politics. A further concession to the claims of the Roman Catholics had been recommended in a speech from the Throne, and an animated debate resulted. Captain Wellesley spoke on the occasion; and his remarks were terse and pertinent, his delivery fluent, and his manner unembarrassed. I particularly recollect a casual allusion to Parliamentary Beffirm produced from him the parenthetic. observation—' By the by, MO such a measure introduced, I should most strenuously oppose it.' " On another occasion I was present when a property qualification fur Mem- bers of Parliament was first brought under the consideration of the House. The Honourable John Monk Mason opposed it. He held a large roll of papers hi his baud, which he flourished vehemently, to the manifest alarm of the Members immediately beside him. In winding up his speech, he emphatically concluded by saying, ' I give may determined opposition to this invidious mea- sure, in the name of all the younger brothers m the House ; ' striking Cuptam Wellesley, who sat beside him, so sound at whack between the shoulders with his parchment baton, as to be heard distinetly:in the gallery. The occurrence produced an instant and uproarious burst of laughter through the House."

GRATITUDE OF WELLINGTON.

The princely display of the Lords-Lieutenant of those days entailed a heavy

expenditure upon the numerous attach6s of the Court, and too frequently plunged young men of high family mid limited fortunes in very distressing embarrassments. Captain Wellesley's patrimony was small, his staff appoint- ment more fashionable than lucrative ; and it is not surprising that, soon after had come of age, he found himself involved in pecuniary difficulties. At the time, he lodged in the house of an opulent bootmaker, who resided on Lower Ormond Quay. The worthy tradesman discovered accidentally that bia young inmate was suffering annoyance from his inability to discharge a pressing demand. Ile waited on Lieutenant Wellesley, told bins that he was apprized of his embarrassments, mentioned that he had money unemployed, and offered a loan, which was accepted. The obligation was soon afterwards duly repaid ;'and the young Aide-de-camp was enabled in a few years to present his humble friend to an honourable and lucrative situation. Nor did death cancel the obligation : the Duke's patronage, after his parent'. death, was ex- tended to the son of his early friend, fur whom he obtained a valuable appoint- ment DEBTS, DIFFICULTIES, AND HONESTY.

Among other regiments that received orders of readiness for the coast of France, the Thirty-third was included. Ardent as Lieutenant-Colonel Wel- lesley was for an opportunity of meeting an enemy in the field, and that, too, in the command of a battalion, one cause alloyed his satisfaction and occa- sioned him painful uneasiness. His circumstances were embarrassed, he wanted means to discharge his debts, and lie determined not to quit the country and leave unsatisfied creditors behind him. It is true that his Parliamentary pri- vilege secured him ';rom personal annoyance ; but to have obligations he was unable to discharge, to one with his seesitive feelings, was intolerable. One course only was left, and without hesitation he adopted it. Ile called upon a gentleman with whom lie had extensive dealings, enumerated his debts, stated his inability to pay them, and proposed to allecate the whole of his dis- posable income fur their discharge, that the whole !night be liquidated by de- grees. The honourable proposition was accepted; a power of attorney left with

Mr. ; that gentleman accepting the trust, which lie continued to hold until the last shilling of Colonel Wellesley's liabilities was discharged.

This picture of the sufferings of the retreat in Holland, the first taste that WELLINGTON had of actual war, is from the Life by JACKSON and SCOTT.

" Great as had been the fatigues and sufferings of the army for the two pre- ceding months, they were far exceeded by those it was called upon to bear during the remainder of this retreat. The route lay over a dreary, barrels waste, on which the covering of snow was so deep that the roads could not be traced even by those who were well acquainted with the country. The wag- gons with the sick could not proceed, owing to the deepness of the ruts ; and in many instances these unffirtunate beings were unavoidably left to perish. Scarcely a house or peasant's but reared itself above the level of the cheer- less fiat that extended far and wide, to serve as a landmark ; the miserable vil- lages to which the worn-out troops looked for rest, shelter, said refreshment, were thinly scattered over the country, and often, when reached, afforded them bat scanty shelter ; the cold was intense ; and a piercing wind, that drove be- fore it a cutting sleet, came directly in the soldiers' faces ; mid at the termi- nation of the first night's march, the want of fimd, fuel, and shelter being super- added to their already intense said( rings, they became almost insupportable. "On the following day numbers of the men began to lag ; and the column once lost sight of, the fast-falling snow soon obliterated all traces of its march, and deprived the unfbrtunate strareglers of all chance of rejoining it ; many of whom giving way to the feeling of drewsineee, which under such circumstances is apt to creep over the benumbed a ad feitished sufferers, lay down and closed their eyes in perpetual sleep. Such was the fate of hundreds, as we know from living testimony ; whilst others, aware of the danger of yielding to this feeling, wandetel ever the wide expanse of mew, vainly seeking to recover the lost they 140P1,4d 40%11 iYJin akigliaG CAltaustion, soul

perished."

Each of the three publications is readable, and not without inte- rest; owing probably as much to the character of the subject and the greatness of the events as to any particular power in the writers. Two general kilts equally pervade them all,—wordiness, and a dis- position to narrate events at length which do not belong to the bio-

graphy of the hero. As regards the particular merits and defects of each publication, we think Mr. .1Ia X.NV ELL has collected most original

anecdote, and availed himself most of the Wellington Despatches ; but his digressions are the most numerous, and his rhetoric is pitched too much in the showman's note—" Now you shall see what you shall see." The Reverend Mr. Wamier has also anecdotes, and is fluent, but his rhetoric runs upon a classical mode, without always classical knowledge. Thus, he says of Wel.mxieries in Ifolland, that 'here he first practised that patientia inedhe, algoris, vigilise, supra euiquain credibilis,' which raised the Roman conqueror to the high- est pinnacle of military renown :" in which sentence there are in effect two blunders,—it was not the " Roman complerer," but the Roman conspirator whose corpus was palicus inedire ; and it is but an in- different compliment to the " British Scipio " to compare him to

CATILINE. The Life by the two military men is a more brief and

business-like production than either of the others; with more dis- tinctness, we think, in the narrative of military matters, though perhaps a little dryer than those of the two divines. Not but that the Major and the Captain are rhetorical; but they arc not so well !hulled in their art as the other gentlemen,—sometimes flying off

Into twaddling reflections of a " truly British" kind; at other tones eyed:lying their principal images with subordinate or remote ideas. We will give a single example of what we mean, from tine campaign in Hollaud- "The British army, which throw:bout the previous operations had nobly performed its part, and notwithstanding the reverse which the Allies hail sus-

tained still lnoked up with confidence 'to the gallant young Prince to whose command it had been intrusted, was exposed to imminent dan,,eer in effecting the retrograde movement ; having to penetrate between two hostile armies, each of greatly superior force."

If not a lumbering, this is by no means a strong period ; because the mind hats two distinct subjects presented to it. The necessary, and therefore the principal topic, is the difficulty of time army ; the subordinate one is, its feelings and general conduct, present and past. Let us present the principal idea alone, and see how the composition is strengthened-

" The British army was exposed to imminent danger in effecting this retro- grade movement; having to penetrate between two hostile armies, each of greatly superior force."