THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. [From the Times, September 28.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 788, 19 February 1853, Page 3

THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. [From the Times, September 28.]

The difficulties experienced in making a satis* factory division of the Duke of Wellington's offices suggest some remarkable considerations on the constitutional position of that great man, who in his single person united them all. Copious, indeed, as have been the reflections on his life and services, it has perhaps not occurred to any one to consider what an extraordinary accumulation of political power was lodged in bis hands. There have been certain offices of State either suppressed or modified on account of the dangerous influence they were thought to confer. There has been no Lord High Steward of England since the reign of Henry 111., and when the agency of such an officer is required for a coronation or a State trial, he is created for the duration of the occasion only. There has been no Lord High Treasurer since the Duke of Shrewsbury, in 1714, and the practice of recent years has always tended rather to the distribution of power among the members of a commission than to its concentration in the hands of an individual. But the great Doke really held appointments like those of a mediaeval noble, — like those of a supreme favourite under some P'antagenet or Tudor Sovereign. As commander-in-Chief he disposed of the army, as Warden of the Cioqe Forts he held what were term the keys of the kingdom, as Constable of the Tower he governed the only strong place of the metropolis. In those and other functions he would have been controlled, it is true, by the present operation of the constitution ; nor do we mean to intimate that any such offices could dow invest an individual with much substantial power over the country at large. But it must be remembered that to these Royal appointments the Duke added the realities of mo- ! dern authority. He was at one time the Prime Minister of England, and, in that capacity, the director of the House of Commons ; he held somany proxies that these, combined with his own personal weight, enabled him to lead the House of Peers ; and be was always known to possess agreater and more deserved influence with the Sovereign than any other subject in the laud. Rarely, of late, has an administration been formed without his advice, and there actually was a moment when he constituted of himself the whole Administration of the kingdom, holding the seala of all three Secretaries of State, and five Government offices buiiles. As far as place, position, and influence could confer power, the Duke erfjoyed it in a greater degree than any man of mo-

dern times, and yet it is perfectly certain that such a contingency as an abuse of this power in bis bands was never dreamt of by any Englishman living. There is nothing, indeed, more remarkable in the great Duke's character than the contrast which, in this^ respect, his views presented to those of some of his contemporaries. While others were advocating repression, talking of " strong measures," and pretending to disparage the weight of public opinion as compared with the traditions of Government or party, the Duke himself — the very repository aud instrument of the power appealed to, took a different estimate of affairs. As far at that force which we now see dominant in continental Europe could ever have been exercised in England it must have been exercised through the Dnke alone. Not only was he Com-naander-in-Cbief by style and title, but he was the veritable toldier on whom reliance must have been placed. Nowhere in the country or the world was there a man »o competent to make military force effective, and yet nowhere was there a or. an so averse to its employment or so distrustful of its consequences. He gave up his opinions rather than coerce Ireland, and infringed upon long standing usages rather than hazard a disturbance in London. " Don't talk to me," said he, when people told him that the visitors to the Lord Mayor's feast couSd be easily protected, 11 Don't talk to me; I ktioio what Street fighting is." The man who most resolutely denounced the issue of the sword was the man to whom the issue must needs have beeu intrusted. Not was there any person to apprehensive of civil war, and so desirous of conciliation, as that very General to whom, if necessity came, the enemies of conciliation must have resorted for support. When it was really and seriously a time for resistance, •i on the 10th of April, the Duke showed that he knew both what should be done and how to do it ; but, when the alternative was fair concession or civil conflict, there Was do one so prompt to concede or so loth to fight as our stern and successful soldier. It happens rather singularly that the great Duke's constitutionalism has been called in question, on grounds very different from those of imputed arbitrariness. When the repeal of the Corn Laws was proposed, and the Ministry of which the Duke was a member had, after resignation, resumed their offices, the^Duke presented himself to the House of Lords as a sincere convert to the pending measure. " I decided," said he, " that I, for one, would stand by my right hon. friend. I felt it my duty. I wat of opinion that the formation of a Government in which ber Majesty would have confidence was of much greater importance than the opinions of any individual on the Corn Law, or any other law.", With this preface bis Grace claimed an acquiesence from their Lordibips " in the principle laid down, that I positively could not refuse to serve my Sovereign when thus called upon." On this the biographer of Lord George Bentiuck remarks, that " it may be an excellent principle, but it is not a principle of the English constitution. To be prepared to serve a Sovereign without any reference to the policy to be pursued, or even in violation of the convictions of the servant, is not th« duty of a subject of a monarchy modified in its operation the co-ordinate authority of the estates of the giealm. It is in direct violatioa of the Parliamentary constitution of England, and is a principle which can only be practically carried into effect in the cabinets of absolute monarchs." The exposure of these fallacious objections will not require many words. Nobody supposes, or supposed then, tbat the Duke meant to say be would give effect as Minister to any possible dietates of the Sovereign. He expressed himself, as usual, hyperbolically, having intended merely to say that he waived certain of his own feelings in deference to the apparent necessities of the State ; for it was not a command or desire of the Sovereign which the Duke was thus consenting to promote. It was a desire of the people, expounded through the mouth of the Prime Minister, and about to be supported by a majority of the House of Commons. The " convenience" was tbe convenience of the State, not of the Queen. The Duke would have preferred, perhaps, a different kind of policy, but he saw that the country desired the measure, that Sir Robert Peel was prepared to carry it, and that it would be better carried by him than any other Minister. He had no "convictions" to violate ; he had but personal predilections' to surrender, and of these he made a sacrifice for what he then saw was a public necessity, and what has since proved a public blessing. He knew tbat in this kingdom and in this generation the course of affairs was modified by something more than " the co-ordinate authority of estates of the realm," and upon this knowledge he acted. In the same spirit did he tell the House of Lords, on the same occasion, tbat " there was an end of their functions," and that they had only to comply with the projects sent up to them. Very likely this was " unconstitutional" language, and, as ihe writer whom we have quoted remarks, not very distinguishable from a certain vote of the long Parliament. The simple excuse for the Duke is that it was the truth, and known to be the truth by those whom he was addressing. His plain strong sense discerned the realities before him, and his intrepid honesty disdained concealment or disguise. He saw what time and events bad done, and he recognized it ; but it affords a signal illustration of his character that a confession which political precisians condemn, and which even leas punctilious speakers would endeavour to avoid, should have been thus bluntly made by tbe greatest and most powerful Peer in England.

A correspondent of the Examiner furnishes the following anecdotes of the late Duke :—: — ! " As a boy be went to Eton with bis brothers, but remained there only a short time. His mother, Lady Mornington, then took him abroad ; bat, finding him troublesome in the carriage, dropped him at Douay. Here, luckily, there was an artillery school and arsenal, and, as the town is fortified and protected by a fort on the Scarpe, and was also taken by Marlborougb, these circumstances may in some measure account for bis early military studies. Lady Mornington did not see him for two years after this separation, and when be returned to England recognized him at the Haymarket Theatre, saying, * I do believe there is my ugly boy Arthur.' 11 When still at Eton, I hnvt been told that Lord Wellesley, Ldrd Maryborough, and the Dukt, were invited to pass their holidays with Lady Dungannon, in Shropshire, and, being full of fun, they asked each other what news they •Jionld tell wh,n tli-y ;::!«:!. Oa* « worn

proposed that they should say (a pure invention) that their sister Aiine bad run off with the footman, thinking it wa* likely to produce some sensation. This "they accordingly did, and shock* ed Lady Dungannon most dreadfully ; they entreated, however, that she would not mention the circumstance to any one, hoping, as they said, that their sister might come back again. Lady Dungannon now excused herself, haviDg promised to pay a visit to her neighbour, Mrs. Mytton ; and, unable to keep this secret, of course told it to her. On her return she nearly killed them by saying, ' Ah, my detr boys, ill news travels apace. Will you believe it? Mrs. Mytton knew all about poor Anne.' This story is worthy of Sheridan, and if he had heard it he would certainly have introduced it into one of his plays. " The Duke's manner in society was not as brilliant as Lord Wellesley's, and he seldom j spoke except to those who were immediately about him. I can remember, however, bis describing, apparently with great interest, the circumstance of a young ensign who had been embarked with troops from the Cape, and who, when the medical officer happened to die on board the ship, in which there was great sickness, had taken upon himself ithe duties, instructing himself, and acting to the best of his abilities. The Duke remarked that be certainly deserved his promotion ; admitting, however, that it was very difficult to advance an officer out of his turn, but he hoped that it still might come under Lord Hill's notice. " Speaking of the tree under which he was said to have taken np his position at Waterloo, some one mentioned that it had nearly been all cut away, and that people would soon doubt if it bad ever existed. The Duke at once said that he remembered the tree perfectly, and that a Scotch sergeant had come to him to tell him that he had observed it was a mark for the enemy's cannon, begging him to move from it. A lady ' said, ' 1 hope you did, Sir.' He replied, ' I really forget, but I know 1 thought it very good advite.' " On another occasion his deafness was alluded to by Lady A — , who asked if she was sitting | on his right side, and if he had been benefited by the operations which ahe beard bad been performed, and had been so painful to him. He said, in reply, tbat the gentleman bad been bold enough to ask him for I certificate, but that he had really been of no service to him, and that be could only answer him by saying — ' I tell you what, I won't say a word about it.' " He sometimes read aloud, commenting upon such works as were interesting to him, and was never seen to lounge about, or to be entirely idle. I have heard that Lord Douro one day found him reading bis own early despatches, and that he said — ' When in India I thought I was a very little roan, but now I find that I was a very considerable man.' What greatness there is even in this simplicity ! " His letters after the battle of Waterloo to Lord Aberdeen, on the death of Sir Alexander Gordon, and to the Duke of Beaufort, on Lord Fitzroy Somerset losing his arm, show how much he was attached to those about him. Lord Fitzroy landed with him in Mondego Bay, and was with him in all bit great actions. It was during the long figbCJJCT'alayera that the Duke, turning to him, said— -*% ell, Fitzroy, how do you feel V To which the other quietly answered — ' Better than I expected.' " The one-armed were among the Duke's greatest favourites. Sir Felton Hervey, who beaded a charge of the 14th Light Dragoons, when the French officer was magnanimous enough dot to cut him down, and Lord Hardinge, are instances tbat will be easily remembered. " General Alava, as an old friend, and one who bad been with him constantly during the war, bad always, when he chose it, a room at ApsleyHouse. " The Duke took Colonel Anson as his aide-de-camp from the Duke of York, and reappointed him a second time to bis staff on again succeeding Lord Hill as Commander-in-Chief, saying that no difference in politics ought to separate them, and tbat, if be thought so too, he was to come to him. " I do not think that the Duke's opinion was in favour of msdals and decorations, as be said we bad always done our duty without them, and that the feeling throughout the army was that they would be given (perhaps with few exceptions) to the aides-de-camp and relations of such general officers as were serving. He also described the difficulty he himself experienced in distributing the orders conferred by the allied Sovereigns. " He asked for the Waterloo medal to commemorate a great period, but was well aware that issuing them to all could not confer honour upon every individual who obtained them. These medals, however, as they became rare in the ranks, give a certain esprit to the old soldier, and I dare say may influence his conduct for bis own good towards the end of bis service. " The Duke to the last often visited Lord Wellesley ; who would as frequently keep him waiting ; but his only remark was, ' I believe my brother thinks be is still Governor-General of India, and that I am only Colonel Wellesley.' "On asking Sir Charles Napier to take the command in India, I bave been told tbat the Duke handed him a short paper of instructions, and on bis returning them to him, he said, ' Well, then, if you understand them, go ont and execute them.' " All who knew Apsley-H,ouse must have seen the celebrated statue of Napoleon bearing a Fortune upon a globe in the right hand, a tribute often paid to successful commanders. Lord Bristol, when he first saw the statue in Canova's studio, admired it excessively ; his only criticism was that the globe appeared too small for the figure. Candva, who was a great admirer of Napoleon, answered this very happily, ' Vouspensez bien. my Lord, que la Grand Bretagne nest pas comprise.' " On the day that intelligence reached Vienna of Napoleon's escape from Elba it happened that a great diplomatic dinner was given (I believe by Prince Metternicb), and, as the guests arrived, all were anxious to detect by the Duke's manner if be had heard the news. His coun- i tenance, however, gave no sign ; but waiting patiently till all the company had assembled, be •aid, ' Gentlemen, have you heard of the Emperor's escape V Then, approaching Prince Talleyrand and placing bis baud on his shoulder, bt added, 'Quant & moi, Monsieur de Talleyrand, we sun ioldui dv lloi dc Francs ;* thus promptly

I declaring bis resolution, and leading the minds of all to that alliance which proved so successful in all its results. I "As an old Etonian I went down to be prei sent at Lord Wellesley's funeral in Henry Vl.'s Chapel at Eton, and was in the organ loft, when I saw the four brothers standing at his graye — the Duke with a calm, serene, but serious look, a short black military cloak orer his sboulden, and not the sign of a riband or star to be seen. Ten years have elapsed, and he, the last of his family, is now numbered with the dead." Original Letter of the Late Duke. — The following characteristic letter of the late Duke appears in the Banner of Ulster. It is stated to be a veritable document, and was addressed to a gentleman residing near Belfast, who at the lime of its receipt was not a little annoyed at the curt phraseology of his illustrious correspondent :—: — " Belfast, June 17, 1851. " FIELD-MARSHAL THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. " May it please your Grace, — I have taken the liberty of requesting your opinion, — Was ' Napoleon ' guilty or not of the murder of his prisoners at Jaffa, and if there is any military law or circumstance which would justify the deed? " Yours respectfully, "J. H. REPLY. "London, June 23, 1851. , " F. M. the Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr. H. He has also received Mr. H.s letter, and begs leave to inform him he is not tlie historian of the wars of the French Republic in Egypt and Syria." Among the scores of anecdotes, says the Spectator, which are flying about just now of Wellington, so many of which are untimely, there is one which may be tolJ, for the smile it raises is of no irreverent kind. In the country one day the duke saw in the garden a young boy whom he recognized as belonging to the gardeners, but who was busily engaged in some inscrutable occupation on the ground. The duke went close and looked, but still could not solve the mystery. " What are you about ?" be asked in his point-blank way. "It's a pet toad I'm feeding," answered the boy ; " and they're going to send me to school and the toad will die." " Never mind ; go to school," siid the great captain : "77/ take care of the toad." And so he did. The boy went to school, and subsequently he received a letter which reported the wellbeing of the toad, in the well-known autograph writing of " F.M. the Duke of Wellington."

Scene in a Winconsin Prairie. — " I was once strolling on the beautiful prairies, and perceived in my path, a little in advance, a tall gaunt Yankee. He stood eject leaning on his rifle, watching my approach. As I never met anything but the utmost civility and attention on my rambles, I went up to him with my usual confidence. On approaching he addressed me as follows :: — • Well Captin, How are you V ' Very well,' replied I, ' How does the world wag with you V ' I have a duty to perform, Captin, 1 he replied. ' Fire away, and do your duty,' rejoined I, wondering what duty my stalwart Yankee h»d to perform. ' Well Captin,' he continued,' ' you ate not at all starched up as I thought ill Britishers were. You wear tow breeches, and don't 'think more of yourself than any of us. Moreover, I see you carry a large jar the other day, and I know you have lots of dollars. Well then, it is my duty to aik you to drink.' ' With all my heart returned I ; and we repaired to my friend's log-house. After a social glass and sundry shakiog of hands, my Yankee friend told me his history. *lfit'm Mexico,' said he. I likewise fit the Injuns in California, and have bad a good deal of experience in savage warfare. My name is Ctipiia Ezekiah Conclin Brum, and I think you are the best Yankee Britisher I ever seed. Now then Captin, I have a proposal to make to the British Government ; but before I tell it you, I'll explain what made me fust think of it. When I returned from fitting Injuns in California, I read in the papers the accounts of your fitting the Injuns at the Cape of Good Hope. Well, I wanted to find out all about it, so I sent to England, by a relation of mine who is mate oi a liner, for a British infantry musket, with all the fixins. About six weeks ago it arrived here, and here it is, Captin,' (going to a corner and bringing out a regulation musket). * Well, Captin, did ever you see such a clumsy varment in all your born days ? Now, Captin, look out of the doorway, do you see that biased stump ? It is seven feet high, and broader than any man. It's exactly one hundred and fifty yards from my door. I have fired that clumsy varment at the stump till my head ached, aud my shoulder was quite sore, and have hardly hit it once. Now then, Captio, look'ee here,' (taking up his seven-bar-| relied, revolving rifle, and letting fly one after 1 * another). ' I guess you will find seven bullets in the biased stump. I will, however, stick seven playing cards on the stump, in different places, and if you choose will hit them all.' ' You are very skilful,' I exclaimed. ' There are plenty more quite as skilful as me,' he responded ; 'but, Captin, let me ask you, would you fit me with that machine, bagnet and all, against my rifie at one hundred and fifty yards !' ' No, thank you,' I hastily answered, 'I had rather not.' 'Would you like to be one of two, or three, or even six, with bagnet fixed ana" all V urged he. ' No, I replied, ' certainly not.' You would have the best chance by far.' ' Now then comes my offer to the British Government. Will you make it to them for me V ' No,' replied I. *If I make the finest offer in the world to the British Government, tht chances are they would not read it. If they did, they would only sneer at me, and call me officious and impertinent, and very likely put a black mark against my name. — I cannot therefore, present your offer ; but I will pot it in print if you like, and the public may judge of its merits. * * * ftjy o ffer to the British Government is as follows: — I, Ezekiafa Conclin Brum, have learned by the papeti, that the late war at the Cape of Good Hone cost ten million dollars (two millions sterling) to the British Government ; and that it is likely the preient war will cost quite ai much, and be a protracted affair. I, Ezekiah Conclin Brum, have a high opinion of the bravery of the British soldUrt, bat a very contemptuous opinion of their arms. I, Ezekiah Conclin Brum, will undertake to enlist five thousand Yankn marksmen, each armed with a seven-barrelled revolting rifle- or »njr better weapon that m»» »n ; « sp, and kill, or disperse a!! Injaas on the Bntish

territory at the Cape of Good Hope, within six months of our landing there, conditionally, that the survivors are paid the sum of five millions of dollars on the extirpation of the Injuns, and settlement of peace : thns saving half the expense, and great numbers of British soldiers. In course, the British Government must send us over in their brass-bottomed sarpents. This will be easy and we can stow ye:y close having l»"' e or no ba S" gage.' 'You think that your five thousand marksmen could do it in six months,' said I. * Sartio,' he replied ; we could be ekal to thirty thousand troops with such tarnal, stiff, clumsy cousarns as them reg'latibn muskets is. We should do it slick, right away.' ' Suppose you were successful,' I rejoined, ' what would you and your Yankee marksmen do afterwards ? 'Do afterwards,' echoed be ; ' why many would settle in the country, and shaw them how to go a-hesd.' ' And,' added I, ' tarn it into a repuhlic before long.' 'In course, that is sure to follow afore long, whether we go or stay. But I tell 'cc what it is, Captin, this here gold in Australy will bring on a republic there, while you Britishers are dreaming about it.' ' Good bye, Captain Ezekiah Conclin Brnm.' I exclaimed, at I shook his hands heartily at parting. ' I will print your proposal. It will have the advantage of novelty, at any rate.' 'Good bye, Captin. Won't you take a chaw ? But mind you write and tell me all about it.' " — Mackinnoris Atlantic dud Transatlantic Sketches.