DECEIVING WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1494, 27 September 1883, Page 2

DECEIVING WELLINGTON.

" I got famously taken in on that' . occasion," said the Duke of Wellington ; once, "The troops had taken to', plundering a good deal. It was . : necessary to stop it, and I issued n - order announcing that the first man' taken it? the act should be hanged upon the spot. One day, just aa we were sitting down to dinner, three men were brought to the door of tho tent 'by the 1 provost. The case against them was clear, and I had nothing for it but to- i. desire that they should be taken flwuj" and hanged in some place where they ' might be seen by tho whole column in' its march next day. I had a good - liiany guests with me on that occasion," among the rest, I think, Lord Nugent. They seemed dreadfully shocked, 0 and could not cat their dinner." I did'nt like it myself, but, as I told them, I had no time to indulge my feelings; I ' must do my duty. Well, the dinner ;. went off rather 'gravely-j' and; next morning, sui'e enough, three men in uniform were seen- hanging from the branches of a trefi close to tho ; high road.-. It was ar terrible example, and produced the desired effect; there waa no more plundering y . when, some months afterwards, I learned that one of my staff took council with; Dr. Hume, and as three men - had just (lied in the hospjtal they hung them up and let the three culprits return to: their regiments.--' ' " Weren't yoii very angry, Duke f " Well, I suppose I was at first; but as I had no wish to take the ;poor fellow's lives and only wanted' the example, and as the example had the desired effect, my anger soon died out,. and I confess to you that I. am very glad, now that tho three lives were pared." - ■> " •