BOOKS.

THE SECOND SUPPLEMENTARY VOLUME OP THE wELLINGTON DESPATCHES.• IF anybody wishes additional evidence as to the wonderful indus- try and enormous power of work possessed by the late Duke of Wellington, here it is. With a few explanatory letters from the original Despatches, inserted to complete the story of the business, this volume contains 639 ample pages, extending over only a year and a half, from the 6th June 1800 to the 11th December 1801. This would be composition enough to employ many people; but be it remembered it is only supplementary writing; for as much again was published years ago. Neither is it mere brain effusion. The business recorded had to be first done ; the plan or policy suggested had to be well considered before it was written down: the various questions settled had to be examined or heard; the exploits narrated had to le performed, all this writing being only the essential result of "work and labour." Nor was the business done by sitting still, or by leisurely progresses through the pro- vince of Mysore. In addition to tours of inspection, there are a journey from Seringapatam to Madras, a voyage thence to Trill_ comalee followed by another voyage to Bombay, and then, after an attack of fever, a return to Mysore. The stake was greater in the Peninsula. Events and their results were vastly larger and more important; the responsibility was infinitely heavier ; the obstacles of incapacity, timidity, and corruption more difficult to overcome ; as well as more trying to the temper and the patience. Still we suspect that this period of Arthur Wellesley's Indian ca- reer was distinguished by as great an extent and variety of work as he ever afterwards went through. It certainly was admirable training for the Peninsula.

The chief public events that form the subjects of the period are —1. The campaign against Dhoondiah Waugh—which has a pre- sent interest, since similar freebooters may yet spring up in India from the remnants of the Bengal army and the native contingents. 2. The disturbances in Malabar, which were difficult to put down from the nature of the country, and the operations against which the then Colonel Wellesley only directed, exercising no personal command. 3. The preparation and organization at Madras, Trin- comalee, and Bombay of the army designed to act as a diversion and demonstration in Egypt against the French invaders ; and in the command of which he was finally superseded in favour of Baird. 4. The civil, military, judicial, financial, economical, architectural, and it may be said socio-moral business that con- tinually came before the Proconsul of Mysore. Here, in the way of ethical arbitration, is a story of horse-stealing, and of knowingly receiving by an officer.

"It appears that this officer bought a horse from two men on the road from this country to Malabar, which two men were afterwards appre- hended, by desire of Captain Symons, for stealing another horse at Seringa- patam.

"It appears by Lieutenant —'s letter to Captain Symons of the 11th September, that he had some reason to suspect that the horse sold to hen load likewise been stolen, as the persons from whom he purchased it differed in the account they gave of the price which they had paid for it. "Lieutenant --, however, in that first letter, proposes to give up the horse providcd the rightful owner will pay for him the price which Lieute- nant —had paid, and all the expenses which had been incurred on account of his keep, &c., to the day that he should be given up. He departs from this proposition afterwards, and proposes to give up the horse provided his expenses only are paid. "As far is I can learn, it is the custom of all countries, particularly of our own, that a man has a right to take his property wherever he can find it ; and it follows therefore that a demand for keep for a horse which is known to all parties to have been stolen cannot be a very admissible one, particularly when, as in this case, the demand amounts to more than the value of the animal in question and more than the person in possession paid for him. However, as Lieutenant — was not liable to the jurisdic- tion of the Foujdarry Court, Captain Symona was desirous to drop the subject, and leave it to Lieutenant — to do as he pleased ; but, as he has renewed it, Captain Symons has referred it to me. All I can say upon the subject is, that I have no doubt whatever but that Lieutenant — ought to give up the horse free of cost to the rightful owner, and that if I were in his situation I should do so. I have no power, however, over Lieutenant -S property, and the legal tribunal to which recourse might be had on this occasion, and from which relief would certainly be obtained, is at such a distance, and the expense of an application to it is so great, that I have no reason to believe that the rightful owner of the horse will apply there. It will rest with Lieutenant —, therefore whether he will give up the horse or not ; and upon this point I must say that, if he does not give hnn up, shall be much disappointed, and concerned that any officer should entertain an opinion on this subject different from that which I have above stated. If however, he does not mean to give him up, the best mode of proceeding will be to drop all correspondence upon the subject, particularly with the Judge of the Foujdarry at this place, with whom Lieutenant — can have no concern."

It is in the miscellaneous rather than in the historical passage that the interest of the book chiefly consists. There is nothing 11 it of equal importance to the war against Tippoo and the fall of Seringapatam contained in the first volume. The campaign against Dhoondiah, though as already intimated not without at- traction, is deficient in completeness as a story, from the went of papers already published in the previous work, besides which a single correspondence can only contain materials for his- tory, and not a history itself. The preparation of the force for Egypt was not history or even war, but only business arrangements owing its interest to the light it throws upon the forethought, at-

tention to details, comprehensiveness in plan, and other traits in

• Supplementary Despatches and Memoranda of Field Marshal Arthur Duke of Wellington, K.G. India 1797-1805. Edited by his son, the Duke of Welltngten• [June 6, 1800—December 11, 1801.] Published by Murray. the character of the writer. In fact it is this character, exhibited ander various aspects, which really constitutes the feature of the present volume. This feature, indeed, may be rather accumu- lative than novel. It confirms by additional evidence what was already known of the penetration, judgment, prompt decision, and practical common sense of the Duke of Wellington, as well as of his dry humour and occasional causticity of style. If any fresh trait appears, it is in an approach to warmth in recom- mendation, and something like spontaneous proffer of patronage. It would almost seem as if the sudden influx of position and pros- perity had thawed the genial current of his soul, such current as there was. Some light is thrown upon the manner in which he accumulated his wonderful variety of knowledge, by a curious extract from a sort of commonplace book he kept of all he could gather about Malabar. This kind of minute industry, however, would have been useless without great memory, and a faculty of selecting the matter for use as well as of arranging it.

A prominent topic, now as formerly, is Colonel Wellesley's supersession by General Baird in the command of the army de- signed for Egypt. He makes use of language to veil his thoughts, for he terms it the most interesting period of his life. He writes to everybody about it ; and will not be comforted. General Brathwaite addresses the Colonel sympathizingly, and explainingly so far as he can guess.

"I am convinced that the sending General Baird to command the expedi- tion bad become unavoidably necessary from circumstances which were to- tally unexpected and unforeseen. What these circumstances were I do not know, nor, I believe, does anybody here, [at Madras] though many reports have been circulated upon the occasion, as is usual in such eases; as that the King's General officers on the staff had individually stated their situa- tions to the Duke of York and had requested their recall, as they saw no disposition in the government in India to employ them in any way suitable to their rank, and to what must have been the intention of his Majesty in subjecting the Company to so great an expense; and that, in consequence of this, it had been signified to Lord Wellesley, from very high authority, that they must be suitably employed. Another report says that Sir James Craig and General Baird only addressed a letter to his Royal Highness in the language above recited, and presented it to Sir Alured Clarke to for- ward it to his Royal Highness, and then the letter was given back to them with an assurance that the services of Sir James Craig would be immediately required for the command of the army in Bengal, as Sir Alured was on the eve of departure, and that General Baird would be sent to command the ex- pedition, which was accordingly determined."

This excuse, however, was partly cut away by the orders them- selves ; if such an intimation came in public orders.

"I have not heard from Lord Wellesley since my arrival in answer to my letters from Bombay, but I have received a letter from Henry. He appears to be of the same opinion with everybody else regarding my disappoint- ment, of which he gives no reasonable solution.

"It is not true, as everybody says, that orders came from home for General Baird's appointment. I saw the ordeis, and they don't contain one word about it."

The letter to the Marquis Wellesley alluded to in this extract seems to be one in which the sufferer resolved his own case, and taking up what he thought a tenable position, held it with his wonted tenacity. It is a rather long letter, but this is the pith.

"On the 21st December you first announce your intention to appoint Sir James Craig or General Baird to the command. I don't deny that I con- ceive that they had reason to complain when I was appointed to this com- mand, and I believe they did complain; but, in order to do justice to them, why should a greater injury and injustice than they complained of be done to me, and why should reasons for my- appointment be publicly given to the whole world, which at least tend to show that you conceived I was fit for the equipment of the expedition, but not to conduct it after it was equipped ? "if the change in the command were made only because I had not suffi- cient rank, and because others had the rank required, and complained of the preference shown to me at that time, it would have been fair towards me to state it, (although, by the by, I don't conceive those to be any good reasons for superseding a man when he has been appointed to a command) The next best thing would have been to give no reason at all for my appointment or my supersession. In either of these cases I should have lamented only that the impropriety of the appointment had not been found out before it was made, the expense which I had unnecessarily incurred, and that I had been induced to remove officers from a situation which they did like to one they do not. But I have a right to complain when I am superseded, and the reason stated for the supersession amounts to a charge of incapacity.

"The supersession has astonished, and is the conversation of, the whole army and of all India, and numbers of my friends have urged and written to me to request that I would have it explained. Let Henry [Wellesley] ask any indifferent man what is his opinion of it."

The Duke's dislike of the Anglo-Indian practice of seizing the utile in disregard of the honestuni is well known from a stock quotation, in which, by the by, the larger utile of public charac- ter is the basis of his reasoning. In a letter addressed to Kirk- patrick, who seems to have been inoculated with the ludo- Machiavellian system of politics, Arthur Wellesley lays down the right and wrong of making war with the clearness of a jurist.

"I am obliged to you for the communication of your sentiments regarding the situation of our affairs with the Mahrattas. I agree entirely in your opinion that it is most desirable that they should be speedily brought to an issue ; that the present period appears favonrable to bring them to a crisis ; and, that, parficularly at this moment, there is no reason to apprehend the consequences even of an appeal to arms for that purpose. " The only questions then are the propriety and justice of commencing a war to obtain our ends. "As to the justice of such an appeal ; our governments in India are strongly prohibited from commencing wars excepting in case of attack, or e oration for an attack, by one of the native powers. The refusal of the ttas to accede to our terms of closer alliance cannot be deemed an attack, and I have not heard of any circumstances in their late conduct Which can be deemed one. Hostility then on our part might be thought a breach of the laws for the government of this empire. " But not only. might it be considered in that light., but as an act of great political injustice. In fact, one country has no right to commence a war upon another because at some time or other that other may form an al- liance with its enemy prejudicial to its interests, and because it refuses to draw close the terms of its alliance with the country which proposes it." Man years after the following passage was written, the Duke

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of Wellington delivered another opinion of martial law. It did not, however, exceed in force or clearness this youthful exposi- tion, while it wanted the living application of 1800.

" I am fully aware that the military gentlemen in Malabar are exceed- ingly anxious to establish what they call military law. Before I should consent to the subversion of one system of law, and to the establishment of another, I should be glad to know what the new law was to be; and I have never procured from any of those gentlemen yet a definition of their own idea of military law. I understand military law to be the law of the sword, and, in well-regulated and disciplined armies, to be the will of the General.

" I should not wish to have the trouble of managing a country like Mala- bar myself, and I acknowledge that I should not think it very proper to commit the management of that province. (by the establishment of military law) to any other officer under my orders. "The question then is, whether the systems of revenue, of jurisprudence, of police, now established will not be either suspended, if I give to Colonel Sartorius the power of trying offenders by military process, or they will be supposed to be suspended, and the officers of the army will deem it their right and their duty to interfere in them all, in consequence of the establish- ment, as they will imagine, of their favourite system of military law."

A distinguishing trait of the Duke's mind was the clearness with which he saw his end and the true means of attaining it; and that this means, how slow and expensive soever it might seem in the outset, was in reality the quickest and cheapest mode. The trait turns up in some remarks on a depreciated currency, but is more fully developed inlaying down the principles of jungle war.

"The result of my observations and considerations upon the mode of carrying on war in jungly countries is just this, that as long as the jungle is thick, as the enemy can conceal himself in it, and from his concealment attack the troops, their followers, and their baggage, the operations must be unsuccessful on our side. You propose, as a remedy, to move in small com- pact bodies in different directions, in order that the enemy might have no mark, might be in constant fear of falling in with some party, and might lose confidence. I agree in opinion with you that your remedy might an- swer some purposes for a body of troops which could move without baggage or iucumbrances of any kind ; I say only some purposes, because their suc- cess would not be complete; our troops cannot move to all parts of the jungle as the Nairs can, and it might always be expected that at some place or other our detachment would get into a scrape. But as we know that no troops can move without baggage so as to answer any purpose for which an operation might be undertaken, and as that mode of carrying on the war will avowedly not answer where there is baggage, we must look for some system the adoption of which will enable us to bring on in safety that ne- cessary evil."

"I know of no mode of doing this excepting to deprive the enemy of his concealment by cutting away the lower part of the jungle to a considerable distance from the road. This, you say, 3S a work of time ; it is true it is so, but it must be recollected that the labour of every man turns to account, that the operations, however long, must in the end be sueeessfuloind we shall not have to regret, after a great expense of blood and treasure, that the whole has been thrown away, and the same desultory operations are to be recommenced in the following season, as has been the case hitherto, and as will always be the case until some such mode of carrying on the war with

security to the followers is adopted. * •

"1 should push forward my advanced posts, well strengthened in different directions, as you propose in your letter of the fith instant. Under their cover strong working-parties should be employed in clearing the jungle. When they should have cleared forward to the distance of two or three miles, I would move the camp that distance, and remain in that new posi- tion till more road and country should have been cleared for me. By de- grees I should get forward to the most advanced of my posts, and the result of my labours would be, that no Nair would venture into a country where I had deprived him of his advantage, viz, his concealment."

Here are some remarks on surprise in war, deriving force from the instance that gives rise to them.

"I am glad to hear that the expedition to the Mauritius is to be given up. Stokes's plan is the greatest nonsense that ever entered the head of man, and yet it cannot be said positively that it would not succeed. It de- pends entirely upon a surprise, of which it may be observed, that it may succeed anywhere ; but there is every reason to believe that it would not succeed in this instance ; and if it did not succeed, it would be impossible to employ, on a regular attack, any of the troops which should have been em- ployed on the surprise; this ma evident from the state of the winds and cur- rents.

" Stokes is radically ignorant of everything relating to any other point of attack, or mode of making it, excepting that by surprise, which is at- tended with so much risk that no officer in his senses would attempt it. I had a full conversation with him upon the subject at Bombay, in the pre- sence of General Baird, the result of which was a conviction on the minds of both of us that Stokes knew nothing of the matter."

Thus far the traits of the Duke, though personal, have rather applied to his public character. The following are of a more in- dividual kind.

The Duke on an advance.—" I am well acquainted with Mr. Cobb's family, and I should be very sorry to see an opportunity for his advance- ment passed by for want of money to purchase it. But as I am not over- burdened therewith, before I consent to advance this money I must he to know from Mr. Cobb in what manner he proposes that I should be repaid ; whether he will make an arrangement with the paymaster of his corps to stop a certain sum monthly till the money is paid, or whether he will de- pend upon some of his relations, and upon which, for its payment. I men- tion this circumstance only because the sum is larger than I, or any man, can in these times afford to throw away.

"I have before now advanced money to officers of my own regiment to enable them to purchase, and they have invariably made an arrangement such as that I have above stated, and have besides written to their Mende to pay the money for them. If the latter should comply with their request, they have had, of course, all the advantages of the arrangement made with the paymaster."

"My dear Campbell" with a good prospect.—" I wish you joy most sincerely of your appointment to take Tranquebar ; and I hope also I may congratulate you on having taken that place. You will get some plunder there, which, when it falls in a man's way, is not a bad thing. Let me know how you have got on."

The old beau.—" How does Jack Murray get on in the world? He must be waxing old for the pursuits of gallantry ; and if he has no other, he must be like a fish out of water."

How to lire in India.—" I know but one receipt for good health in this country, and that is to live moderately, to drink little or no wine, to use exercise, to keep the mind employed, and, if possible, to keep in good humour with the world. The last is the most difficult, for, as you have often observed, there is scarcely a good-tempered man iu

Pktures and Co»tplintents.—" I tlrink you for the picture, of which, how- ever, I must observe, with my friends here, that the two or three glances which you mention, made very little impression upon the fair artist, as the picture is as like anybody else as it is to the person for whom itis intended. I shall write to her, nevertheless, and I propose to tell her that I am glad to find that those few glances made an impression upon her memory so ex- ceedingly favourable ; and I have employed a gentleman here to draw the picture of a damsel in the character of a shepherdess, which I shall also present as the effect of the impression made upon my memory by the fair artist."

The editing is confined to a few brief notes, mostly geographi- cal. An index is probably reserved till the close of the collec- tion; but a list of the letters and persons addressed, perhaps with some indications of the leading subject, would have been an ad- vantage to the volume.