cution, as speedily as possible, the capitulation for De Meuron's regiment. Believe me, my dear Sir, &c. THE EARL OF MORNINGTON TO THE HON. T. NORTH, &c. "MY DEAR NORTH, (Private.) "Fort William, January 20th, 1800. "When you are apprised that since my arrival here I have framed the entire foundation of a code of Lord Clive's subjects and, indeed, of an entirely new constitution for his government, and that I have also immersed myself up to the neck in a question of radical reform for Cude, you will excuse my long silence; and you will further pardon me if I now merely assure you that I most cordially approve all your proceedings, and will strenuously support you and them, though I expect no opposition, particularly from Fort St. George, where I really believe Lord Clive's administration to be most able and honest. I must reserve the question of General M'Dowall's allowance, with all others, for a few days; only premising that I have the highest opinion of General M'Dowall, and that I entertain the most just sense of his late conduct in Ceylon. Your engineer and artillerymen shall be sent to you soon, but I do not know whether we can give you him whom you name. The alarm of the * * The following letter explains the rumour here referred to : the "I have the honour to enclose, for your Excellency's information, copy of the report made by the commander of an American ship just French fleet was false, but it has served to manifest your activity as well as the security of the island, and you may rely on receiving a public testimony of my applause on that subject. "The news of our Easter triumphs reached England on the 13th of September. The sensation far exceeded my expectation; it was universal and high to a degree of exultation: all is glorious in Europe; and if we live two or three years, we shall see Great Britain arbitress of the world. Ever yours most affectionately, "To the Hon. Frederick North,* "Governor of Ceylon." (Signed) "MORNINGTON." arrived at this port, relative to a large fleet which he fell in with on the 7th of July last, in latitude 5° 28′ north, and 16° west of London. "I judge it proper to annex to this report the copy of an article of news which appears in the Frankfort Journal of the 22nd June last. "Having personally examined the American commander, I have every reason to rely on the fidelity of his communication. I have the honour to be, &c. "MORNINGTON." The above letter was forwarded, on the 27th of October, to Mr. Uhthoff, to the Commissioners in Malabar, to the Commanding Officer in Mysore, and to the Commanding Officer in Malabar.' * Mr. North, afterwards Earl of Guilford, was the third son of the celebrated Lord North, the minister so familiar to the readers of Junius. He was born in 1764, and was, at an early age, one of the chamberlains in the Tally Court of the Exchequer. After the capture of Ceylon from the Dutch, Mr. North was appointed Governor, greatly to the satisfaction of Lord Mornington, by whom he was highly esteemed. In 1829, Mr. North, then Earl Guilford, died without leaving issue, and was succeeded by the Rev. Francis North, whose father had been Bishop of Winchester. The Hon. Frederick North is frequently referred to in the course of Lord Wellesley's private letters and official communications. CHAPTER XVII. The State Sword of Tippoo Sultaun presented to General Baird.-The Army forward for Presentation to Lord Mornington a Star and Badge of the Order of St. Patrick, composed of Tippoo's Jewels. Lord Mornington declines to accept them.-Private Letter of Hon. Henry Wellesley (Lord Cowley) to Mr. Canning, respecting these Jewels.They are presented to Lord Wellesley by the East India Company.Lord Wellesley declines to accept One Hundred Thousand Pounds from the Booty offered to him by his Majesty's Government and the Court of Directors.-Division of the Spoil of Seringa patam.—Unfair Distribution.-Conduct of General, afterwards Lord Harris, open to Censure.—Letter of Lord Castlereagh to Lord Wellesley.—Statement of the East India Company as to the Over-Payment.-Written Opinion of the Attorney-General (Mr. Spencer Perceval), the SolicitorGeneral (Sir T. Manners Sutton), and Mr. Wm. Adam, on this Question. -Opinion of the King's Advocate (J. Nicholl).—Memorandum on the Amount of Booty in Seringapatam.—Memorandum on the French Corps in the Deccan. Ar the suggestion of Colonel Wellesley, and by the directions of the Prize Committee, the state sword of Tippoo Sultaun, which had been found in his bedchamber, was presented to General Baird in the name of the army, as a testimonial of their high admiration of his courage and conduct in the assault. The army also expressed their desire to present to the Governor-General a star and badge of the order of St. Patrick, composed of Tippoo's jewels:* but Lord Wellesley, from motives of delicacy, declined to accept The star and badge had been prepared, and was forwarded by the Prize Committee to the Commander-in-chief in a gold box. them. The annexed private note from Mr. Henry Wellesley (the present Lord Cowley) to Mr. Canning on this subject, will be read with interest : TO GEORGE CANNING, ESQ., SPRING GARDENS, LONDON. (Original and Duplicate.. Overland via Aleppo and Bagdad.) "MY DEAR CANNING, "From a general opinion entertained in the army that the successful termination of the war in Mysore is principally to be attributed to my brother's measures, they have come to a resolution to present him with a diamond star in testimony of their esteem and gratitude. "Although he cannot but feel gratified at the favourable opinion which the army entertains of his conduct, he has, upon full consideration, determined to decline accepting this mark of their approbation; and it is his intention to signify to the army the grounds on which he declines accepting this distinction whenever it shall be publicly offered to him. At present, the intention has appeared in the resolutions of the Prize Committee, but the star has not yet been offered to my brother in the name of the army. Believe me, &c., "H. WELLESLEY." The Court of Directors duly appreciating the Governor-General's sense of propriety and delicacy, themselves requested his Excellency to accept the star and badge "as a testimony of the very high sense which they entertained of the distinguished services to the Company of the most noble the Marquess Wellesley, by the superior wisdom and energy of whose counsels the late war in Mysore was brought to so speedy and glorious a termination." Thus enhanced by the approbation of the East India Company, Lord Wellesley gratefully accepted the splendid trophy. It was proposed by the president of the Board of Control, and the chairman and deputy chairman of the East India Company, to grant 100,000l. out of the spoils taken at Seringapatam to the Marquess Wellesley; but the noble Lord, with his characteristic high-mindedness and generosity, at once refused to accept it. In a letter to Mr. Dundas his Lordship remarks on this subject:-"I understand that if the reserved part of the prize taken at Seringapatam, consisting of prize-money and ordnance, should come into the possession of the Company, it is their intention to grant the whole to the army, reserving 100,000l., to be afterwards granted to me. I am satisfied upon reflection you will perceive that the accepting such a grant. would place me in a very humiliating situation with respect to the army: and, independent of any question of character, or of the dignity and vigour of government, I should be miserable if I could ever feel that I had been enriched at the expense of those who must ever be the objects of my affection, admiration, and gratitude, and who are justly entitled to the exclusive possession of all that a munificent King and an admiring country can bestow. Even if the independence of my family were at stake, which I thank God it is not, I never could consent to establish it on an arrangement injurious to the conquerors of Mysore." VOL. I. Z |