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men for these different points would require an establishment of at least 20,000 rank and file.

I would therefore propose that the European infantry for India should be fixed at twenty-five regiments of the present establishment of strength 1,200, (making altogether 30,000 rank and file) which number, according to past experience would be requisite in order at all times to furnish a force of 18,000 men for field service. This calculation however, supposes an improved degree of attention to the regular supply of recruits from Europe.

The whole of this European infantry should consist of King's troops; and the Company's European regiments in Bengal, at Fort St. George and Bombay, should be converted into artillery as far as the men might be found serviceable in that branch of the army. The remainder might either be drafted into his Majesty's regiments, or returned to Europe.

I am not of opinion that it will be necessary that the European regiments of the Company, which I propose to be reduced, shall be replaced by new regiments of native infantry raised merely for that purpose. The course of our subsidiary engagements, and the extension of dominion to which they are likely to lead, by means of the commutation of subsidy for territory, will necessarily require some increase of the native infantry, and consequently afford sufficient means of disposing of the officers belonging to the reduced European corps. But whatever augmentation of the native infantry may hereafter be requisite on account of our new subsidiary engagements, and the augmentation of our territorial resources. You will observe that the expense will not prove any additional burthen to the Company, but will be defrayed either in money or cession of territory by the state, for whose service or protection the additional troops shall have been raised.

An augmentation of our European cavalry in India is scarcely less necessary than that of our infantry. I am of opinion that we ought to maintain at least eight complete regiments of dragoons. Of the additional regiments, two should be stationed in the Peninsula of India, and two in the province of Oude.

I have already stated the alarming deficiency of our artillery throughout India; and the expedient to which I intend to

resort for the remedy of this serious evil. But the best remedy which I may be enabled to apply will be insufficient, on account of the great deficiency of officers of artillery; some companies have now no more than one commissioned officer doing duty with them. This deficiency proceeds in a great measure, from the original inadequacy of the establishment in point of commissioned officers; and partly from the neglect of a regular supply of cadets. Of the establishment of officers, defective as it is, nearly one-third are either on furlough, or employed in staff offices which preclude them from the performance of regimental duty. One additional subaltern at least should be posted to every company of artillery; and I most particularly request your attention to the necessity of sending out to India without delay, both an ample supply of private artillery men, and of cadets for the artillery corps.

As connected with the subject of artillery, I beg leave to call your particular attention to the declining state of the foundery at Fort William, which, owing to the ignorance of those in charge of that department, is no longer able to supply the ordnance required for the use of this, and of the other Presidencies. This failure has made it necessary that we should apply to England for a supply of field ordnance, and I earnestly entreat you to adopt the requisite measures for enforcing a complete compliance with the Indent of the military board for this purpose. I also most particularly recommend to your immediate consideration the absolute necessity of sending as soon as possible to Bengal one or more scientific persons properly qualified to conduct the foundery at Fort William, this is an evil which requires the most serious attention, and the most prompt remedy.

Believe me, my dear Sir,

with the greatest regard and esteem, ever

Yours most faithfully,

WELLESLEY.

No. LXXXIX.

The Marquess Wellesley to the Chairman of the Honourable Court of Directors.

SIR,

Fort William, August 18th, 1800.

I have the honour to transmit to you the copy of a law,* which I have passed for the better instruction of the junior civil servants of the Company, in the arduous duties of their respective stations in India; I also enclose an extract from my notes,† explanatory of the grounds and objects of the law in question.

Although this communication cannot be considered strictly official; and although it is my intention to forward a regular official despatch to the Court of Directors by an early conveyance, I am anxious that they should receive the earliest possible intelligence of the nature of the institution, which I have founded at Calcutta. I, therefore, request you to have the goodness to communicate the enclosed papers to the members of the Court; to the copy of the law and of my notes, I have added a copy of the Report of the Committee, appointed to examine the young gentlemen, who had been directed to attend Mr. Gilchrist's lectures in the Hindostannee language.

The early support of the Court of Directors will tend to give animation and spirit to the new Institution.

I have the honour to be, &c.

WELLESLEY.

P.S. Lord Wellesley requests that the Chairman of the Court of Directors will have the goodness to transmit a copy of the "Extract of the Governor-General's Notes," to Lord Cornwallis, and another to Lord Teignmouth.

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No. XC.

The Marquess Wellesley to the Right Honourable Lord Clive.

MY LORD,

Fort William, August 23rd, 1800.

I have had under my consideration Mr. Secretary Webbe's letter of the 5th instant in the secret department to the chief secretary of this Government, together with the enclosure which accompanied it.

I think it expedient to furnish your Lordship with my directions on the points referred to me by order of your Lordship in Council, in the form of a separate official despatch to you.

I concur in opinion with the honourable Colonel Wellesley, that the power and success obtained by Dhoondia since his repulse in 1799, are to be principally, if not entirely attri buted to the contests which have arisen between the Mahratta Chiefs on the southern frontier of the Mahratta State. If we could always direct the conduct of those Chiefs, their concord would be well calculated to prevent the return of any danger or alarm, either from Dhoondia, or from any adventurer of a similar description on that part of the frontier.

But the practicability of effecting a permanent or sincere reconciliation between the Chiefs in question is doubtful, and it is evident that a precarious or fallacious reconciliation could not produce the advantages which were in Colonel Wellesley's contemplation.

If a sincere concord between these Chiefs could be attained, its general policy would be questionable; such a pacification might conduce to the temporary security and tranquillity of Mysore; but in the rapid succession of revolutions in the Mahratta Empire, the reconciliation of the Chiefs now contending in the southern part of that Empire might ultimately tend to consolidate a power in that quarter, which, singly or combined, either with Dhoondia, or with some adventurer of a similar description, might hereafter become an established and perpetual source of disquietude and vexation to the frontier of Mysore, and might produce mischiefs of

a more permanent nature than can be apprehended from the desultory efforts of any vagrant adventurer.

Independently of these considerations, your Lordship has justly observed, that in the actual state of affairs at Poonah, we must regulate our proceedings in regard to the measures suggested by Colonel Wellesley with a view to the probable course of events in that quarter. My latest advices from Colonel Palmer indicate an approaching crisis of a nature which may demand our speedy and active interference in support of the just authority of the Peishwa. It is probable that I may receive an early and urgent application for that purpose from the Peishwa himself. In such an event, it may become necessary for a large proportion of the troops under the command of Colonel Wellesley to proceed (in concert with those of the Nizam, and with a detachment from Bombay,) towards Poonah. The intermediate motions of Colonel Wellesley must be guided with a view to this probable contingency.

The necessity of guarding against the revival of Dhoondia's rebellion, and against the possibility of other commotions on the frontier, render it advisable that Colonel Wellesley should continue to occupy the Mahratta territory, and to hold several posts from which he has expelled Dhoondia's forces until all reasonable apprehension of further disturbances shall have been removed. In either of two possible events, it would be wise and just to proceed still further:first, the flight of Baagy Rao from Poonah; second, the seizure of his Highness's person by Dowlut Rao Scindia. In either of these cases, Colonel Wellesley's secure establishment, within the Mahratta frontier, would facilitate his advance towards Poonah, whenever he might receive my orders to that effect, conveyed through your Lordship, or directly from Fort William through Hyderabad.

I, therefore, request your Lordship to inform Colonel Wellesley, without delay, that on his receiving authentic and unquestionable intelligence either of the flight or imprisonment of Baagy Rao (unless some obstacle should exist from the position of Dhoondia or some other force), the British army is directed and authorised to take immediate possession, in the name, and on the behalf, of the Peishwa, of all the country as far as the Bank of the Kistna. Colonel Wellesley will

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