The National Register. — London, England, 1808-09-11 00:00:00

T7°. • s .:,r - r,-.' rrrIT.W II U U THE o . NATIONAL REGISTER: Ott In - • r . * -• • • : OE king, eanatitution, anb Latuo. • 6 , . , , • ~ No. 31. • 64 , SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1808. Paula 8(1. ;e, a , LIFE OR LIEUT.-GENERAL THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR ARTHUR WELLESLEY, K. B. 1 THE public enthusiasm respecting the gallant Hero of Vi talent has induced us to spare neither Pains nor Ex pence in pro curing a Correct Likeness of this distinguished Warrior; we _ _ are also happy to meet the general burst of applause, by pre senting to our readers an accurate .Military Sketch of his ex tended and various services, procured by particular favour, and the authenticity of which is indubitable. Sir Arthur is brother to the present Marquis of Wellesley, and the Hen. W. W. Pole, and is third son of the late Earl of Alornington ; he was born on the Ist of May, 1769, and went to Eton at an early age, where he laid the foundation of a classical education, but his genius prompting him to the profession of arms, his father, at the Peace of 1789, permitted bim to proceed to Angers, in France, in order to study fortification and the other scieuces coppected with a military life, under the tuition of the celebathlititigne-• rol. On finishing his studies he received his Ensistacy, sit* as many young Officers do, merely to sport a sword antleqchade, but in order to make the army his profession; here hp..pAid that strict attention to his military duties, spending his hours Aff, relaxation in studying t works of the best Authors on the Art of War. that he not only gained the esteem and confidence of his superiors, but prepared himself for those arduous situations in which he has so often gallantly acquitted himself. ills rise to the rank of Field Officer was rapid, for at the age of four and twenty, we find him Major in the army, and embarked with that force, which was intended, under the command of Lord Moira, to assist the Royalists in Britanny ; but the unfortunate turn of altars in the Netherlands, rendered it necessary for his Lfgaatiptiproceed to Ostend, where he arrived' just in time rIL—Po T. I - - ~r,- . .r.., • ..,,,,, . . . . . .. , . 4 ftile . . 0. I 4., -...e. ....., , , . i , 0... f .'5. . • . i \ N '. . 't" .• : ... / \ '' \ ~.„., \'''...".:°5;7 : .. 411.. , . --•,.......,. ( t t. . . 1 . . -4 (0. s • . . .:-.-.: to assist in the evacuation of that post. Hitt Lordship baiting ,-formed a junction with the. British army, was ordered to cover the retreat with his force of 10,000 men, and in this service Major Wellesley had many opportunities of distinguishing him self, particularly at Alost, where they bud taken post on the retreat of the Duke of York from Gmmmont. On the 6th of July the French army had advanced near to Alost, and haVing attacked the out-posts, drove in all the picquets; but the British rapidly forming kept them in check for a considerable time, and at last obliged them to retire, leaving a number of killed and wounded behind them. During the whole of this memorable retreat, Major Wellesley commanded the rear-guard of this little army, and covered it with a spirited and judicious activity, under the most trying difficulties ; so as not only to acquire the approbation of his superiors, but also to raise the admiration of all his brother Officers ; some faint idea of the suPrings of the whole detachment may be formed, when wo recollect that from the time of their landing at Ostend, they had marched until their embarkation, without either tents or bag. gage. Shortly after being promoted to the 33d regiment, Lieut.. Colonel Wellesley accompanied his brother, the then Lord Mornington, to India, and immediately on his arrival was put in orders to embark with his regiment along with the force destined for the attack of Manilla, but the intrigues of France with the native Princes, obliged the new Governor General to change his plans on the instant, and reserve his troops for the defence of the British territories. It was now Ascertained that the friendly protestations of Tippets Sultaun were merely ti cloak for his ambitious designs, the Governor General therefore resolved on decisive measures, stud the Madras army, under Lieut.-General Harris, received orders to concentrate at Vel lore, about which time also the Nizant's contingent, amounting to about 8000 of the Company's troops, and an equal number of his own native infantry, marched from Hyderabnd, under the command of Meer Allton Baltauder, and arrived At 'Venom in time to joie the British army. In order to place the Nizam's force on the most respectable footing, and render it es efficient as possible, the Commander in Chief thought it prudent to aug ment it with the 33d regiment, giving the command of till the British troops serving trith Meer Allum, to the Hon. Colonel Wellesley, an arrangement which was highly gratifying to the native 'General, and gave additional confidence to his army. Having learnt that Tippoo had moved from Periapatam on the 14th of Marc!,, 1799, with his whole force, in order to meet the British ; our troops at day break on the morning of ~the 27th marched towards hlallavelly, Colonel Wellesley's division moving so as to corer the army on the left Hank, pre pared to act according to circumstances. Our army had ad vanced but a small distance from its ground, when Tippoo's forces were seen drawn up in order of battle; a cannonade im mediately commenced on the part of the enemy, which, as the line formed, was answered by our on n artillery and soon 4cnerul. The crafty Stilt:tun determined to make a bold push en the Nizaut's force, expecting an easy victory; he however only gave Colonel - Wellesley an opportunity Of distinguishing himself, for a column of two thousand men having moved for ward in excellent order, were unexpectedly opposed by the 13d regiment, who coolly reserved their fire, and having teceived that of the enemy at the distance of 80 yards, gallantly advanced with, the bayonet, when the column gave way, and being thrown iuto disorder, the whole of Tippoo's army 11° "as_ 1 I