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WEL against the French settlements in that quarter; but by a series of occurrences of a strangely providential character (taken in conjunction with subsequent events), the transports after being tossed about in the channel for six weeks, were compelled to return to Portsmouth; the destination of the regiment was changed, and the services of the young colonel were reserved for another and much more important sphere. In April, 1796, the 33rd was directed to proceed to India, but the health of Colonel Wellesley (who about this time changed the spelling of the family name) suddenly failed, and he was unable to embark with his regiment; but soon becoming convalescent he succeeded in joining it at the Cape of Good Hope, and landed at Calcutta in February, 1797. At this period the state of India was most critical. The peaceful and penurious policy which had been prosecuted by the East India Company, during the government of Sir John Shore, had proved most injurious to its influence. As recruiting had ceased, the army had become greatly reduced in strength, while its guns, ammunition, stores, and military equipment had been allowed to wear out without being replaced or repaired. The resources of the treasury were scanty; our allies had been cooled or alienated, while our enemies had been strengthened and encouraged. French influence was everywhere at work among the neighbours of the East India Company. The nizam who ruled over the Deccan, maintained a large force disciplined by more than a hundred French officers under M. Raymond, and was burning with indignation against the British, because the Indian government had ungenerously and unwisely deserted him in his recent war with the Mahrattas. Tippoo Saib, sultan of Mysore, who hated us even more cordially, had also raised a powerful army, organized, equipped, and disciplined by French officers; had made overtures to the directory for an alliance, offensive and defensive, and had even taken a small body of French troops into his pay, and the great and powerful confederacy of the Mahrattas had engaged the services of a considerable number of French officers and artillerymen, and was evidently preparing for war. At this critical moment Colonel Wellesley's elder brother, Lord Mornington, afterwards the marquis of Wellesley, was appointed governor-general, and reached the seat of government in May, 1798. He went out with an earnest desire to maintain peace, but soon found that this was impossible. Enemies were gathering round the government on all sides, and threatening its very existence. He saw at a glance that if the system were not changed all was lost; and with characteristic energy and resolution determined to anticipate the movements of his adversaries by striking the first blow. Tippoo Saib was at once the most formidable and the most inveterate of these hostile powers, and with him Lord Mornington resolved to begin. The sultan of Mysore had an army of seventy thousand men admirably equipped, and was in communication with Bonaparte, who had just disembarked a French army on the shores of Egypt. He positively refused to give any explanation of his conduct, and persisted in sending his agents to negotiate with the French at Bourbon. The government had therefore no alternative but to engage in a life and death struggle with their determined foe. General Harris was nominated commander-in-chief of the army destined to act against Mysore, and Colonel Wellesley, with his regiment, formed part of this force. The nizam had meanwhile been persuaded to get rid of the French officers in his service, and to renew his old amicable relations with the British. He now furnished a contingent towards the war, to which the 33rd regiment was attached, and at the express wish of the nizam's minister, the command of the whole contingent devolved upon Colonel Wellesley. From the moment of his arrival in India Wellesley had set himself to acquire a thorough knowledge of the state of the various provinces of that vast country, and of their resources—observing everything, pondering everything—and as soon as he perceived that a rupture with Tippoo was inevitable, he had devoted the whole of his time and his energies to prepare for the coming contest. Stores and equipments of every kind were incomplete; but such was the effect of his vigour and activity that in the course of three months the division under his charge, which at first was both weak and ill provided, had become conspicuous for its equipment and organization.

The allied British and native army took the field in February, 1799, and marched towards Seringapatam, the capital of Mysore. On the 27th of March they encountered, and totally defeated, the forces of Tippoo near Malvelly, the brunt of the action being sustained by Wellesley's division. On the 5th of April the victorious army arrived before the ramparts of Seringapatam, which was defended by a picked garrison of twenty-two thousand men, and had two hundred and forty guns mounted upon the works. Operations were immediately commenced. The enemy was first of all dislodged by Colonel Wellesley from some strong posts in front of the town. The trenches were then opened, the first battery began to fire on the 12th of April, and on the 4th of May the place was stormed by a party under General Baird. Tippoo, as is well known, was killed in the contest. An immense booty fell into the hands of the victors, and the city presented an appalling scene of rapine, terror, and confusion; but on the appointment of Colonel Wellesley to the command of the place it was speedily restored to a state of tranquillity and safety. Two months later (July, 1799) he was nominated governor of Seringapatam and Mysore, and the command in chief of the army of occupation was also intrusted to him. He exercised the great powers conferred upon him in such a way as to deserve and obtain the gratitude and respect of the natives, and to display his own extraordinary talents for organization and command. While thus employed in settling the political and military affairs of the province, establishing courts of justice and revenue, clearing the jungles, making roads, and carefully providing for the comfort of his own troops, he found it necessary, in May, 1802, to take the field against a notable robber named Doondiah-Waugh, who had collected a large body of horsemen, and assuming the title of "king of two worlds," made himself master of various fortresses, and laid the whole country under contribution. This marauding adventurer, who, if neglected, would soon have become very formidable, moved from place to place with extreme celerity, and doubling through three or four columns of troops which were sent after him, contrived for a considerable time to elude his pursuers. At length, after a harassing chase of more than two months. Colonel Wellesley came up with him on the 10th of September, and putting himself at the head of his dragoons, about twelve hundred in number, instantly attacked and routed five thousand horsemen under Doondiah himself, who was left among the slain. This successful enterprise delivered the country from a considerable danger, and confirmed the great reputation which Colonel Wellesley had already acquired, both with the native courts and among his own countrymen. Soon after this brilliant exploit the Indian government gave him the command of a body of troops at Trincomalee, destined to act against the French army in Upper Egypt. On reaching Bombay, however, he was superseded in his post, which was conferred upon General Baird, while he was offered the post of second in command. Though a good deal mortified at this treatment, his sense of public duty led him at once to accept the offer; but he was seized with a fever before the expedition sailed, and was in consequence obliged to remain in India. With characteristic candour and generosity of feeling, he wrote General Baird, inclosing him a plan of his intended operations in the Red Sea, which showed the extraordinary research and reflection he had expended on that enterprise.

Colonel Wellesley returned to his duties in Mysore, and remained there nearly two years. He was raised to the rank of major-general in April, 1803, and soon after the first of the Mahratta wars broke out. The peishwa, the nominal head of this powerful confederacy, was at this time in imminent danger from three of his lieutenants, Scindiah, Holkar, and the rajah of Berar, who were all competitors for his place. In this extremity he solicited the protection of the British government, and the governor-general resolved at once to grant him assistance. Dowlat Rao Scindiah, a restless and enterprising chief, who had collected a powerful army, disciplined and commanded by French officers, was the most formidable member of the Mahratta confederation, and had obtained a great ascendancy over the Peishwa; but Holkar, his rival, suddenly crossed the Nerbudda, defeated the combined army of Scindiah and the peishwa, and placed one of his relations on the seat of power at Poonah. The deposed peishwa fled to Bassein, and put himself formally under British protection. The governor-general having concluded with him the celebrated treaty of Bassein, resolved to take immediate steps for his restoration. Major-general Wellesley was appointed to command the force destined for that object, as well as to act against the Mahratta chiefs, who, alarmed at the treaty of Bassein, laid aside their mutual jealousies and feuds, and were making common cause against the British government. Accordingly, while General Lake took the field in Hindostan, Wellesley commenced active operations in the Deccan. By a skilful and rapid movement he