and, after a very laborious journey, about three o'clock in the afternoon reached the verge of an immense desert, called the Welaw, when, instead of having a resting place for the night, as we expected, we were informed that we had fifteen miles further to go. Upon this information many began to be very much dejected, and not without reason; for several of us, besides suffering the severity of the weather, and fatigue of the march, had neither eat nor drank any thing, except water, that day.

"For the first three or four miles such a dismal prospect appeared as none of us was ever witness to before; a bare sandy desert, with a tuft of withered grass, or solitary shrub, here and there. The wind was excessively high, and drifted the snow and sand together so strong, that we could hardly wrestle against it: to which was added a severity of cold almost insufferable. The frost was so intense, that the water which came from our eyes, freezing as it fell, hung in icicles to our eyelashes; and our breath, freezing as soon as emitted, lodged in heaps of ice about our faces, and on the blankets or coats that were wrapped round our heads.

"Night approaching fast, a great number, both men and women, began to linger behind, their spirits being quite exhausted, and without hope of reaching their destination; and if they once lost sight of the column of march, though but a few moments, it being dark, and no track to follow, there was no chance of finding it again. In this state numbers were induced to sit down, or creep under the shelter of bushes, where, weary, spiritless, and without hope, a few moments consigned them to sleep; but, alas! whoever slept waked no more; their blood instantly congealed in their veins, the spring of life soon dried up; and if ever they opened their eyes, it was only to be sensible of the last moments of their miserable existence.

"Others, sensible of the danger of sitting down, but having lost the column, wandered up and down the pathless waste, surrounded with darkness and despair; no sound to comfort their ears but the bleak whistling wind; no sight to bless their eyes but the wide trackless waste, and shapeless drift; far from human help, far from pity, down they sunk-to rise no more!"

6

The sufferings of the British army, at this period, were indeed great in the extreme. Removing the sick in wagons without sufficient clothing to keep them warm, in that rigorous season, had sent some hundreds to their graves; whilst the shameful neglect that then pervaded all the medical departments had rendered the hospitals nothing better than slaughter-houses.

Without covering, without attendance, and even without clean straw, and sufficient shelter from the weather, they were thrown together in heaps, unpitied and unprotected, to perish by contagion, whilst legions of vultures, down to the stewards, nurses, and their numberless dependants, pampered their bodies, and filled their pockets with the nation's treasure.

Though the sufferings which Colonel Wellesley must now have endured were great in the extreme, in common with the whole army, yet these were to him a school of experience; and he has ever since directed his best attentions to the comfort of his troops, whose conduct, under the most trying circumstances, have always tended to their glory.

At this period the diminished British army had every disadvantage to encounter; for through the activity of the French commanders, and the inhospitable feelings of the Dutch, whose hatred was never concealed when they had fair and safe opportunities of manifesting it, they were totally unable to make any thing like a determined stand. On the 27th of January, 1795, they were able to reach Deventer, after one of the most fatiguing and distressing marches which perhaps was ever experienced by a retreating army. Here, then, they fondly hoped to enjoy some little respite from their sufferings, and from the absolute necessity of the most sedulous attention; for, notwithstanding all their sufferings, such had been their courage and perseverance, as to enable them in the midst of their arduous trials to convey with safety to this rendezvous all the ammunition and military stores, artillery, and implements of war of all descriptions belonging to the army.

Further than this, however, from the unwillingness of the country people to supply them with cattle and wagons, and from the rapid diminution of their strength, they were unable to convey

them, and were therefore obliged to destroy great part to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy, whose rapid approach made it necessary to evacuate Deventer on the 29th.

On the 10th of July they were able to cross the Vecht, and two days after to reach the Ems; still pursued by a harassing enemy, who, however, never dared to attack them seriously until the 24th of the month, when a large and superior body of the French army came up with the rear. An action immediately took place; but our little band displayed such firmness that the assailants were totally unable to make any impression upon them, and were obliged to allow them to resume their march, and to pursue it unmolested into the country of Bremen, where the kindness of the German boors formed a most pleasing contrast to the sullen apathy, or more spiteful enmity of the Dutch.

During the whole of this arduous retreat, Lieutenant Colonel Wellesley, at the head of three battalions, had covered all the movements; aud, even under circumstances of the greatest and most peculiar difficulty, acted in such a manner as to excite the applause of all, and to gain the approbation of his superiors.

SECTION II.

Arrival in India-Projected attempt on Manilla-Expected war in the Car natic-Preliminary observations-Religious customs and manners of the Hindoos-Political state of society---Tippoo Sultaun's politics--His negotiations with France--French troops landed at Mangalore-Governor General's reasons for engaging in the war-Insidious conduct of the Sultaun-Formation of the army for the Mysore-Nizam's subsidiary contingent put under the separate command of Colonel Wellesley-Anecdotes of Lieutenant General Harris-Advance of the army-Skirmishes and attacks of the enemy--Battle of Mallavelli-Advance to Seringa patam-Siege of that important city and fortress-- Brilliant attacks conducted by Colonel Wellesley-Affair of the Sultaunpettah---Storm and surrender---Anecdotes of forlorn hope, &c.---Anecdotes of Colonel Dunlop---Tippoo's conduct and fall-- Anecdotes of General Sir David Baird---Discovery of Tippoo's body--Anecdotes of Tippoo Sultaun---Anecdotes of the Storm---Changes in the Mysore government---Tippoo's sons sent prisoners to Vellore, and the rightful Rajah reinstated on the throne of his ancestors----Treasure found in the palace, &c.--.Beneficial consequences of the fall of Tippoo---Gratitude of the army to Lord Mornington, and his exemplary self denial--Callant and judicious conduct of Colonel Wellesley against Dhoondia Waugh Battle of Conahgull, &c. &c. &c.

A NEW era now arrived in which the splendid abilities of Colonel Wellesley had an opportunity of being brought forward, his brother, the Earl of Mornington, (now Marquis of Wellesley,) being appointed to the high and important station of governor general of our oriental empire, whither the colonel, with his own regiment, accompanied him; and they arrived at Kedgeree at the mouth of the Ganges, on board the Virginie frigate, on the 17th of May, 1798, when the governor general proceeded for Calcutta, went through the usual ceremonies, and took on him the execution of his arduous office.

The Spanish war having then been commenced, an attack on their settlements at the Philippine Islands was determined on, and a large force not only assembled, but partly embarked for that service, in which Colonel Wellesley would have enjoyed a high command; but the intrigues of the French with the native princes of India, obliged the governor general to change his plang on the instant, and reserve his troops for the defence of the British territories.

Notwithstanding the friendly protestations of Tippoo Sultaus the experience of the campaigns under the Marquis of Cornwallis had shown that the loss of the Coimbatoor country and other districts, and even of many of his hill forts in the Mysore, had produced no steady effect on his mind, and he seemed to fear nothing whilst he possessed his capital; the Earl of Mornington, therefore, determined on decisive measures; and the reduction of Seringapatam was considered as an object of the first considera tion.

The important operations which now took place in India require a few preliminary lines.

Tippoo Sultaun, impelled by his rooted enmity to the British nation, had already despatched two ambassadors, who embarked at Mangalore for the Isle of France, and arrived at that island towards the close of January, 1798. These ambassadors were re ceived publicly and formally by the French government, with every circumstance of distinction and respect; and they were entertained at the public expense during their continuance on the island.

Previous, indeed, to the arrival of the ambassadors in that island, no idea, nor even rumour, existed there of any aid to be furnished to Tippoo by the French, or of any prospect of a war between that prince and the company; but, within two days after their arrival, a proclamation was issued by the governor general, stating that an embassy had arrived with letters from Tippoo Sultaun, addressed not only to the government of the Isle of France, but to the executive directory at home, proposing to conclude an offensive and defensive alliance, to subsidize whatever troops France might send to his assistance, and to commence against British India a war, for which the Sultaun was described as fully prepared; and stating at the same time that he was waiting with anxiety the moment when the assistance of France should enable him to satisfy his ardent desire of expelling the British nation from that country.

Such a proclamation was no doubt very impolitic, as giving full warning to England of what she might expect, and thereby enabling the Company's servants in India to be upon their guard,