The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-13
The EIers Memoirs.


ia presented in the Memoirs OF George Elers,
Captain in the Twelfth Regiment OF Foot
(Appletons). We learn from the editors,
Lord Monsoon and MIR. George Leveson
Cover, that the manuscript Of this auto
biography was recently discovered in the
library at Burton Hall. The narrative was
well worth publishing, if only for the fire.
quent references to the Duke of Wellington.
with whom. when he was Colonel Wellesley,
and serving in India, Capt. Elers was init
mately associated, as letter printed in this
volume shows. Other letters, also repro
duced in an appendix, from Capt Elerss
cousin, Miss Maria Edgcworth, will possess,
no doubt. a certain attraction for those
who admire the writings of that novelist,
The author of this autobiography was
horn in l777 and died in 1912. He was
descendant OF distinguished German
family, an offshoot of which settled in Eng
land about 1888. Capt Eers's grandfather
married Miss Hungerford. and his father
Miss Debonaire, through whom he be-
came a near relative Of Lord Monson.
At the age of nineteen our author, having
received a tolerable education at private
school, became an ensign in the Ninetieth
Regiment OF Foot and shortly afterward
purchased a Lieutenancy in the Twelfth
Regiment. which presently embarked for
India,
At Cape Town the officers were allowed
to go on shore, and here young Elers made
the acquaintance of Colonel the Hon.
Arthur Wellesley, who then (September.
1890 had just turned 81 years of age.
We read that "at this time, he Welles-
levi was all life and spirits. In height
he was about S feet inches, with a long,
pale face. a remarkably large aquiine
nose, a clear blue eye and the blacklist
beard l ever saw. He was remarkably
clean in his person, and have known him
shave twice in one day, which l believe
was his constant practice. His features
always reminded me Of John Philip kemble,
and. what is more remarkable, observed
many year. after the great likeness be-
tween him and the performer Mr.. Charles
Young, which he told me he had often heard
remarked. He spoke at this time remarka-
bly, quickly, with. think, very, very
slight lisp He had very narrow jaw bones,
and there was great popularity in his ear,
which / never observed but in one other
person, the late Lord Byron the lobe of the
ear uniting to the cheek. He had par
ticular way, when pleased, of pursuing
UP his mouth. | have often observed it
when he has been thinking abstractedly.'
Capt Elers relates that Col. Wellesley
was very muct. in debt and embarrassed
when he left England, and a small trades
man in Dublin was of great assistance 20
him, lending him four or five hundred
pounds, which on his arrival in India was in
due course Of time repaid On his return
| from India, being then Sir Arthur Welles-
| ley, secretary 10 he Duke Of Richmond,
| Lord Lieut. nant of Ireland. he walked into
! the shop Of the tradesman, boot and
! shoe maker. and asked if he recollected him
! The man said No" We'll" said Sir
| Arthur, "can | be Of any service TO you?"
f! The man said. Il want nothing for myself
| but have son" Give me his name
said Sir Art hur you did me a kindness
! once, and do not forget it" He got the
mans son place worth EsO0 per annum
| Our author adds: at gives me pleasure
| to record this anecdote OF the Duke Of
| Wellington, who has not q very tender or
| feeling heart. In this instance, ! think he
felt himself under an obligation to the man
he did not forget, and it was his pride, as
well as principle, together with the man +
answer, ! want nothing for myself, that
determined Sir Arthur to provide so hand
somely for the SON."
| Musing upon the trifes that may turn
| the scale in a mill airy career and exercise
a decisive influence upon an officers flu
ture fortunes, Capt, Elers points out that
| had Col Wellesley been an obscure soldier
of fortune he would have been brought
! to court martial on u cert ain occasion
while he was in India, and perhaps have
received such n reprimand for bad man.
agement as might have impelled him in
disgust TO have resigned from the British
! service, and one of the greatest gen.
erals England ever produced would haey
been lost 10 his country Fortunately
for Col. Wellesley and for England, he
was brother to the Governor General
Of India, a circumstance which caused
| his neglect, or bad management, II
any existed to be overlooked The Incl
dent to which our author refers was the
following, Not far from the fort of Ser.
| ingapatam was a large wood in which a
| hostile force was strongly posted Col
| Wellesley was ordered to dislodge it, but
he made the mistake Of attempting TO ex.
ecute he order on pitch-dark night and
the attack was repulsed. Gen. Harris
the officer In command. having next morn.
| ing received an account of the affair, sen,
! for Gen Baird and ordered him to take
the command Of II new force for the pur.
! pose of dislodging the enemy Baird de-
cined, saying: mo, col. Wellesley has
failed, not through any want Of skill OF
| bravery, but from circumstances He i.
young man, and II | supersede him i,
NAV cast a slur on his future career MS 4
military man, Let him have the comnanc
by daylight and will answer for i, u,
will carry the wood and drive the 81 en-,
out Ar well as can" The command wa,
again given 10 Wellesley, and he achieve.
success M Baird had foretuld Wrl!rslr,
never forgot Bairi's Kindness, and ncvr,
forgav. Gen Harris for subsequently, or
dering him 10 -up"rs 'dr Baird IN the com
! mand Of SrringaIatHln Cap; Itort
heard from Wellesley hpe sooh ifrrr,
| ward al account Of the scene which iool
! place Oh That OCCASION Col. NrllrSl.,
said, In his rapid manner Of speaking ."
went Down 10 Baird, one morning early
and found him AT breakfast with his 81 afr
General Baird said, I am appointed