Song of gratitude. and respectful addresses from all quarters ;* from the army, from the garrison of Seringa patam, and from the native inhabitants of that city; to all which he returned answers highly expressive of his gratitude for their good wishes, as well as to his own regiment, the 33d, who from their head-quarters at Vellore testified their grateful feelings for his unremitted attention to their happiness and welfare, during a period of twelve years that he had been their Lieutenant-Colonel. He shortly after proceeded for England, and, late in 1805, arrived once more in his native country. * On the 5th of March, he was particularly honoured by a grand dinner, given by the officers of the garrison of Madras, to which the Governor and every petson of distinction were invited. After dinner the following song, composed for the occasion, was sung in full chorus to the tune of the "British Grenadiers :" Begin the song of triumph, resound the marshal strain! To Britain's shores returning, brave Wellesley quits the plain! Our enemies reviving, rejoice in his return; But soon shall fade the flatt'ring hopes that in their bosoms burn; We mourn the gallant soldier, that for his country bleeds, Then Wellesley, though retiring from yon ensanguin'd field, Then sing the song of triumph, once more the marshal strain, It gives him all a soldier asks-his King and Country's praise. SECTION Expedition to Hanover. SECTION. IV. Preliminary observations- Expedition to Hanover-Attack on the Marquis of Wellesley by Mr. Paull-Marriage of Sir Arthur WellesleyGenealogical anecdotes of the Longford family-Parliamentary conduct of Sir Arthur in vindication of the Marquis― Elucidation on Indian politics-Speech on the financial affairs of India-Appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland-Official and parliamentary dutiesWar with Denmark-Policy of France towards that country--Expedition prepared for Copenhagen-Sails for the Sound-Arrival at Copenhagen-Landing of the army-Proclamation by the Commanderin-Chief, commencement and operations of the siege of Copenhagen -Danish army formed in the Interior-Sir Arthur Wellesley detached with a separate command-Operations of his army-Battle of KiogeDefeat of the enemy-Copenhagen bombarded-Capitulation-Generous and prudent conduct of the conquerors-Fléet and arsenals taken possession of-Military anecdotes of the siege, &c.-Return to England-Thanks of both houses, to the officers employed-Modest eloquence of Sir Arthur Wellesley-Speeches of political conduct of Arthur respecting Ireland, &c. &c. &c. IN the latter end of 1805, Great Britain having agreed to a partial support of her friends on the continent, a considerable force was accordingly embarked at Ramsgate; consisting of the German Hanoverian legion, near 8000 strong, the brigade of the Coldstream guards, and other regiments, amounting in the whole to about 13,000 men; and having sailed on the 4th of November, from the Downs, under the command of General Don, with a fair wind, they reached the Weser river on the 20th, and landed at Bremen, where they were welcomed by the inhabitants with every mark of kindness; and a proclamation in the name of his Majesty to his Hanoverian subjects was immediately issued. On the 17th of December 9 Lord Anecdotes of the Cathcart family. Lord Cathcart* arrived there from England and took the command of the British army, then quartered in Bremen and in Hanover; and at this period Sir Arthur Wellesley, having been placed upon the staff, was promoted to the command of a brigade. The circumstances of the time prevented this small force from accomplishing any thing; and accordingly they soon after returned from the continent, landing at Yarmouth in February 1806. After his return from Hanover, Sir Arthur Welles ley * Lord Cathcart is descended from a family in which military glory may be considered as a part of its inheritance. In latter times his grandfather was Commander-in-Chief of the land forces, sent out with Admiral Vernon to the attack of Carthagena; but died before the capture, under the very walls of that fortress, in 1740. His father, during the whole of his life, was employed in the active exercise of the military profession. He was wounded in the cheek at the memorable battle of Fontenoy; and was afterwards compelled to wear a patch to conceal the wound. The Duke of Cumberland was standing by his side when the ball struck him; and the traditionary memorials of the family record the brief soldierlike words, in which the Duke noticed it, "Cathcart! they have marked you.” In the battle of Colloden, he again fought by the side of his Royal Highness; and indeed, both he himself, and his son, the present Viscount, seem to have been always personally attached to the Royal family. The present noble Viscount, though originally a Scottish Peer, was born at Petersham in 1753; was educated at home under a private tutor, and afterwards sent to Edinburgh, to study the Scottish law; but in 1771 may be said to have embarked in public life, by accompanying his father on his mission to the court of Petersburgh, though not before he had acquired an extraordinary fund both of legal and histori cal information. On succeeding to his father's title in 1776, Lord Cathcart entered the army; and, having raised a regiment, went to America, where he served the greatest part of the war, and there married the daughter of Lord Minto. When Lord Cathcart returned to England, he was favourably received at court, and continued to rise, not only in the army, but in public estimation; and it is perhaps not his least praise, that his virtue and self denial then enabled him to overcome the pernicious habit of garing, which was too much fostered among our officers during the American war. In fact, his private and domestic character now throw a lustre on his military reputation.] Becomes Colonel of the 33d. ley for a short period had a command upon one of the coast districts; and then his discipline and 'management were as creditable to his military character as a tactician, as his general deportment towards the officers under his command was to his reputation as a soldier and a gentleman. On the death of the Marquis of Cornwallis, then Colonel of the 33d regiment, Sir Arthur Wellesley was named to succeed him, having been its LieutenantColonel thirteen years, and present with it for almost the whole of that time, during a period of active ser vice. We have now seen Sir Arthur Wellesley in the characters of a military Chief, and of an able Diplomatist; a new scene, however, now opened to him as a politician, he having taken his seat in the House of Commons for Newport in Hants, in which situation he shewed equal abilities as in the field, particularly in the defence of his brother from the attacks of some disappointed partizans. To trace him through all his senatorial services would, indeed, far exceed our limits; we must, notwithstanding, notice the first important display of his oratorical powers, when called on to his brother's vinnication, both as a matter of public duty and of private friendship. Previous to this, however, a slight retrospect is necessary. When Mr. Paull came forward in the House of Commons, as the accuser of the Marquis of Wellesley, in 1805, and had obtained orders for the production of various papers to substantiate his charges, the absurdity of such an obscure individual bringing forward a measure of such apparent importance would have had no other effect than exhibiting, in a more glowing light, the brilliancy of the Governor-General's administration, had not the eagerness of party gladly seized upon it as food for rancorous debate and Marriage of Sir Arthur. and frequent wilful misrepresentation.* Stimulated, however, by purposes, which afterwards appeared not to be of the most honourable kind, he continued in the ensuing year, 1806, to urge his accusation, certainly with unabated constancy and perseverance. Unluckily for him, amongst his other deficiencies, he wanted judgment, temper, and discretion; and though the want of these qualifications is often useful to a man whose object is merely to gain the applause of a mob, yet it will ultimately tend to his defeat in the opinions of the thinking and judicious. Sir Arthur Wellesley, being now in the senate, took frequent opportunities of vindicating the character of his brother from the wild and unfounded aspersions thrown upon it; and his eloquence and intimate knowledge of the subject were irresistible on the minds of all who were not warped by party or by prejudice. Such was the state of the question in the beginning of 1806; early in which year, after a life of such activity, he now sought for the calm delights of domestic happiness, and was married to the Honourable Miss Elizabeth Pakenham, daughter of the late Lord Longford, to whom he was united on the 10th of April 1806; but his talents were not permitted 7. U to *The principal of these charges were for having applied one and a half million for purposes not sanctioned by the Company; and for having expended 25,000l. per annum illegally, to purposes of ostentation and splendid profusion, in his official establishment, which ought to have come out of his own salary. This very ancient noble family is originally of Saxon descent : and we find that in the reign of Edward III. Sir Lawrence Pakenham, Knt, married Elizabeth, second sister and co-heiress of Thomas Engaine, Baron of Blatherwick, in Northamptonshire. From him descended Sir John and Sir Hugh Pakenham, brothers, in the reign of Henry VIII, and the consequence of the family may be drawn from the fact that Sir John, the eldest, was possessed of the manor of Lordington in Sussex; and his only daughter and heiress, Constance, was married to Sir Geoffry de la Pole, Knt. second son of Sir Richard de la Pole and Margaret Plantagenet, only daughter of George Duke of Clarence, brother of King Edward IV. Sir |