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THE

DESPATCHES,

MINUTES, AND CORRESPONDENCE,

OF THE

MARQUESS WELLESLEY, K. G.

DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION IN

INDIA.

EDITED BY

MONTGOMERY MARTIN.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

WM. H. ALLEN AND CO. LEADENHALL-STREET.

MDCCCXXXVI.

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INTRODUCTION.

The first volume of the Marquess Wellesley's despatches, &c., contained the documents relating to the origin of the war in Mysore, and to the series of measures and events which terminated in the death of Tippoo Sultaun, and in the occupation of his capital and kingdom by the British forces. This volume contains, in a similar form, the proceedings of the Marquess Wellesley, which followed the reduction of Mysore down to the commencement of the Mahratta war. The contents of this volume may be enumerated in the following order.

The settlement of Mysore, as explained in the documents noted beneath.*

The treaties of Hyderabad arose out of the settlement of Mysore.†

The discoveries made in the palace of Seringapatam, disclosing the treachery of the Nabobs of the Carnatic, led to the final settlement of that part of India, on the principles detailed in the treaty of 31st July, 1801, which, together with a similar arrangement in Tanjore,§ placed our territories in the south of India on a footing of permanent tranquillity, prosperity, and security.

Letters, &c. numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 15, 16, 23, 24, 26, 45, 107; the treaties of Mysore, page 26, of Seringapatam, p. 43, and in the Appendix, p. 736.

↑ See letters No. 41, 73, 79, 102, and Appendix, p. 709 and 726. Nos. 1, 69, 70, 72, 133, 134, 136, and Appendix, p. 720 and 740. § No. 69, and Appendix, p. 705.

The settlement of Oude, so essential to the security of our north-west frontier, after a protracted negotiation with the Vizier Saadut Ali Khan, terminated in the conclusion of the treaty of cession under date 10th of November, 1801.*

The settlement of Surat was effected on a principle corresponding with that of the Carnatic and Mysore, by a treaty concluded with the Nabob of Surat, under date 13th of May, 1800,† and with the Guicowar, by articles of agreement dated 6th of June, 1802.‡

A treaty with the Rajah of Nepaul, under date 30th of October, 1801,8 placed our alliance with this frontier state on an amicable basis.

The political and commercial treaties with Persia afforded a check to Zemaun Shah.||

The policy pursued towards the Peishwa and Mahrattas is detailed in the documents specified.¶

The Egyptian expedition, by which the combined troops of England and of India co-operated in the delta of the Nile for the expulsion of the French army from the East, was a useful sequel to the destruction of the French influence at Hyderabad and in Mysore.**

The foundation of a collegiate establishment at Fort William for the instruction of the civil servants of the East India Company is explained in the following documents.††

See letters, No. 20, 40, 44, (p. 145,) 47, 48, 64, 69, 109, 110, 124, 126, 135, 137, 139.

↑ No. 57, and Appendix, p. 708.

See Appendix, p. 728, 729, 730, 731.

|| No. 29, and Appendix, p. 715 and 717.

§ p. 726.

¶ See letters, No. 6, 10, 18, 26, 32, 36, 54, 69, 78, and 90.

** No. 30, 42, 43, 62, 63, 69, 71, 80, 81, 83, 84, 98, 100, 103, 104, 105, 106, 111, 113, 114, 117, 118, 120, 122, 123, 125, 127, 135, 136, 137, and Appendix, 753, 755, 758, and 759.

++ Letters, &c. No. 39, 85, 86, 87; Appendix, p. 732 and 738.

The measures adopted for the regulation of the private trade of India appears in the several papers noted below.*

The rebellion of Doondiah Waugh,† in which the Duke of Wellington (then Colonel Wellesley) distinguished himself by his able conduct and brilliant successes, is so fully explained in his Grace's despatches as to render a repetition in this work unnecessary.

The Poligar insurrection § which resulted from the fall of Mysore was temporary in its duration and circumscribed in its operation.

The finances, taxation,¶ and police** of India required and received the minute attention of the Governor-General. The naval and military armaments assembled at Trincomalee for the conquest of Java, Mauritius and Bourbon, were subsequently employed in the expedition to Egypt, but the policy of the measure was fully recognized by the Marquess Wellesley's plans being carried into execution before the close of the war.††

The power vested (for the first time) in the Governor-General,‡‡ as Captain-General of the Forces, gave his Lordship full authority over all military operations. The reduction of the military charges on the ratification of the peace of Amiens,

* No. 60, 69, 94, and Appendix, p. 736.

+ See Nos. 31 and 78.

See Vol. I. of the Duke of Wellington's despatches, p. 52, 56, 60, 66 and 79. § No. 45 and 183.

¶ No. 69.

** No. 69.

No. 56 and 59. ↑↑ Admiral Rainier doubted the power of the Governor-General to send an expedition against the French islands without special orders from home, and refused to proceed thither with the ships under his command. The authority assumed by his Lordship on this occasion was afterwards approved by the King's Government at home. See Lord Hobart's letter, No. 185, and the Marquess Wellesley's Letters to Admiral Rainier in the Appendix, p. 753.

1 Letter, No. 121.

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