The Press.
London, England, 1858-02-06 00:00:00

Yittratare.

Supplementary Despatches and Memoranda of
Field Marshal Arthur Duke of Wellington,
K.G. India, 1797-1805. Edited by his
Son, the Duke of Wellington. Vol. I.
London: Murray.
THE military exploits and the political life of
the Great Duke have been so fully and fairly
treated, that another work relating to any
period of his illustrious career would seem at
first sight superfluous. There never lived a
man whose motives and actions and whose
feelings and views have been laid so open to
public scrutiny, and whose character has been
so severely tested, as the Duke of Wellington.
But the public interest in all that relates to
him is far from being satiated. Every anec-
dote which bears directly or relatively upon
the habits or opinions of "the Duke " is eagerly
sought after and carefully treasured. It is
known, also, that many valuable memoranda
which have yet to see the light lay stored in
Apeley-house. We apprehend, therefore, that
the public will be gratified with the appear-
ance of these documents, " derived from
sources of the highest value," as throwing
much light upon the important events which
took place in India during the period between
1797 and 1805, as well as affording us " lessons
" of practical wisdom for guidance in war and
" peace applicable to moat times and circum-
" stances."

When Colonel Wellesley—or Wesley, as he
then spelt his name—arrived in India, the peace-
ful government of Sir John Shore was drawing
to a close, and the fourth and last Mysore war
was about to he beque i•hed to his successor,
Lord Mornington. Tipi, )n Saib, early in 1798,
concluded an alliance otionsive and defensive
with France, the main object of which was to
be the expulsion of the English from India
This was first made known to us by a procla-
mation from the French Governor of the
Mauritius; and though Lord Mornington
treated it at first with derision, the invasion of
Egypt by Napoleon aroused his suspicions.
The foresight of the Colonel of the 33rd had
detected the coming storm. " There is not a
" doubt," he writes, in his observations upon
Lord Mornington s minute on the question,
" but that Tippoo offered to conclude, and
" that he, in fact, has concluded with that
" Government, an alliance offensive and defen-
" sive against the British nation, and that
" the immediate object of that alliance is to
" drive us out of India." Lord Mornington,
mainly upon the advice of Colonel) Wellesley,
began to prepare for war. He demanded ex-
planations of Tippoo, and desired Colonel
Wellesley to draw up a memorandum respect-
ing the collecting au army iu the Barahrnahal
preparatory to an attack upon Mysore.
Then it was that a fertile genius and prac-
tical mind gave evidence of the groat abilities
of Arthur Wellesley. He drew up masterly
memorandums upon aggressive and defensive
wars, exhibiting in the right application of
resources to every emergency such profound
forethought as marked him a man of no mean
Capacity, and of great powers of strategic com-
bination.

Passages in this memorandum apply so
well to the species of guerilla warfare now
carried on in Central India and the Duab
that we shall offer no excuse fur extracting
them. Colonel Wellesley is considering the
irruption into the Barahmalial of a body of
loottes ,
These operations are usually carried on by barbarously
bad cavalry, who carry with them the provisions they may
want until they can live by their plunder. The greatest
injury they do is driving off the cattle and inhabitants, and
generally they encourage these last to erect themselves
into a body of the same kind, who plunder either their own
district or that of their neighbours. Their numbers in.
crease in proportion to the length of time they remain in
the country, and to the want of means of defence. If there
were a fortress at every tenth mile, this evil would not be
entirely prevented, and would not be so in any degree
unless these had strong garrisons who would patrol the
country. The inhabitants and cattle might take shelter in
them and in their immediate neighbourhood ; but still the
business of the country must be at a stand when such a
tome as I have desoribed invades it.

As the best defenoe against the looties, he
recommends, first, than wherever there is a
MO fort it Ouuld be put iu repair