details of which are too voluminous for a work like this, he succeeded in compelling Holkar to yield to the decided superiority of the British arms, after having experienced all the perils and distress, which were the natural consequences of his temerity, in hazarding an unprovoked aggression against the company's government. The defeat of Holkar's armies, the capture of his guns, forts, territories, and the reduction of his power and resources were effected, under circumstances equally calculated to augment the glory of the British name, and to perpetuate the important benefits which have resulted in every quarter of India, from the successful efforts of our counsels and arms. For a considerable period of time, previously to the appointment of lord Cornwallis to the government of India, in the month of December, 1804, it was well known to his majesty's ministers and to the court of directors, that lord Wellesley was desirous of returning to England, his lordship having applied to the government for that purpose. In the year 1802, lord In the year 1802, lord Wellesley actually resigned the government of India and signified his intention of embarking for Europe, at the close of the year 1803, but at the special request of his majesty's ministers and of the court of directors, his lordship consented to postpone his departure, until the month of January, 1804. At that period of time however, the treaties of peace which had been recertly concluded with the Mahrattas, by sir Arthur Wellesley, had not reached Calcutta and the settlement of the conquered territories, together with the consolidation of our new alliances in various quarters of India, required the superthe superintendance of a vigorous and established authority, combining all the advantages of practical experience, with the confidence arising from the long and brilliant success of the tried administration. At the same time the principles of public duty, which in compliance with the request of the government and the court of directors, (conveyed to lord Wellesley, under date the 29th of September, 1802,) had induced his lordship to prolong his continuance in India after his resignation in 1802, appeared to lord Wellesley to demand his further residence in that quarter, while the state of public affairs was so unsettled as at the commencement of the year 1804. Lord Wellesley therefore determined to remain in India until the year 1805; but the necessary preparations were made for his departure, at an early period of that year, and accordingly in the month of March, (which is a favorable season for leaving Bengal,) the St Fiorenzo frigate was actually detained in the river Hoogley, for the purpose of conveying lord Wellesley to England. The events however of the war in Hindostan, combined with the despatches, which, it is stated, and confidently believed in England, his lordship received at that time from his majesty's ministers, rendered it necessary for the marquis Wellesley again to postpone his departure, and the St. Fiorenzo frigate was accordingly ordered upon a cruise. Lord Wellesley remained at Calcutta till the 22nd of August, when he 1805. embarked on board the frigate, which (under the orders of the admiralty, in consequence of the marquis Wellesley having particularly requested, as early as 1802, for one of his majesty's ships,) had been prepared for his accommodation. On the 29th of July, ten days after lord Cornwallis's arrival in India was publicly known, an address was voted to lord Wellesley by the inhabitants of Calcutta. Peace with the rajah of Burtpore having been concluded, on the submission of that chieftain to the British power, on the 17th of April, lord Lake immediately pursued Holkar, who had fled from Burtpore, and who never, from the month of May 1805, ventured to approach within 100 miles of any of the British detachments. Holkar was left without territory or resources of any description, Scindiah's power was reduced to the lowest state, and Auméer Khan, who was a common robber, never made any attempt against the company's possessions, after his expulsion from the doab, by general Smith, and his ignominious flight, followed for 40 days by the British cavalry Previously to lord Wellesley's departure, orders were also issued by his lord ship for the distribution of the army at its permanent stations, in different parts of the country, for the reduction of all extra expenses, and for every arrangement necessary to the final and entire consolidation of our alliances in every quarter of India; not an enemy had appeared in the Deccan for many months, and the company's paper, which, on lord Wellesley's arrival, bore a discount of fifteen per cent. was nearly at par. During the course of the administration of the marquis Wellesley, the general state of public credit in India was improved in a proportion of more than twelve per cent. at each of the three presidencies; while the resources of India not only kept pace with the growing demands upon them, and she not only paid her own expenses, but ac tually contributed, (exclusive of the increase of commerce and duties,) upwards of 10,000,000 sterling, in aid of the mother country: the various sources of commerce also were materially extended and improved, the defective part of our frontier considerably strengthened, our political relations so defined and consolidated, as to preclude all probability of future war with any of the native states, and the permanent revenues of India raised from 7,000,000 to upwards of 15,000,000 sterling. The general condition of our power and resources was established on a firm basis, which bade defiance to the hostile projects of all our enemies, and which, under a firm system of government, equally conduced to the af fluence of the parent country, and to the uninterrupted and progressive prosperity of our Indian empire HISTORY OF THE WAR. CHAP. XLI. Indisposition of Mr. Pitt-His death-Honors paid to his Memory-His Political and Moral Character-Change of Administration-Conduct of the new MinistryMr. Windham's Militia-Bill-Parliamentary Proceedings on the Slave TradeTrial and Acquittal of Lord Melville--Proposals to Mr. Fox for the Assassination of Buonaparte, and the consequent renewal of Negotiations between the French and English Governments-Treaty of Buonaparte with the Russian Ambassador-Conclusion of the Treaty of Presburg between France and Austria-Naval OperationsProceedings in Italy and Sicily-Battle of Maida-Memoirs of Sir J. Moore. THE English parliament met, after by a large majority, were the splendid 1806. of January, but the discussions of the eminent character to whom it related. the session were chiefly devoted to The objections of the opposition were the internal situation of the kingdom, the founded on the plea, that it was not cusconsideration of foreign politics having tomary to confer public honors unless where been postponed in consequence of the merit was conjoined with success, and that severe and fatal indisposition of Mr. Pitt. in the only instance where such honors had That celebrated statesman had left Bath been conferred on a statesman, (that of on the 8th of January, and on his arrival lord Chatham,) the success was not less at Putney Heath, he was advised to seclude indisputable than the merit. Mr. Windhimself entirely from business. The ex- ham, in a speech replete with his usual periment was unsuccessful; he was seized corruscations of wit, and vehemence of arwith symptoms of typhus fever, his pulse gument, dissented from the motion, al-rose to 130, he became incapable of rational leging that the prolongation of the war and and coherent conversation, and early on its consequent pressure on the English the 23rd of January, he expired. people, was to be attributed exclusively to the unskilfulness and pertinacity of the pilot who had assumed the direction of the helm of state. Mr. Fox contrasted the successful issue of lord Chatham's measures, with the disappointment and disgrace attaching to the administration of his son, and was answered by lord Castlereagh and Mr. Wilberforce, who attributed the stability of the throne and the salvation of the country to Mr. Pitt's prompt, continued, and energetic exertions against the aggressions of revolutionary violence, and the diffusion of republic principles. On the 27th of January, Mr. H. Lascelles moved in the house of commons that an humble address be presented to his majesty, that "he will be graciously pleased to give directions that the remains of the right honorable William Pitt be interred at the public expense, and that a monument be erected in the collegiate church of St. Peter, Westminster, to the memory of that excellent statesman, with an inscription expressive of the public sense of so great and irreparable a loss." The chief arguments for the motion, which was passed VOL. I. 4 Q |