Yet though at times he is thus carried away by his feelings, his ultimate judgment of a measure is not impaired by it.  He can cauterise or cut out the cankered part, and yet preserve all that was not offensive to his sense of right and wrong.

Those who have read the speeches of the Duke, will have remarked the intensely British feeling that pervades them.  He is like the old Romans in his admiration and love for his country and her institutions.  The same feeling breathes in all his speeches.  The same magnanimous brevity that marked the public declarations of that haughty people, dignifies the addresses of the Duke of Wellington.  Some of his sayings, as, for instance, “that a great nation can never wage a little war,” will he embalmed in history.  His denunciations are like the alarum of a war trumpet.  The same character of simplicity which marks the Duke’s speeches pervades his whole conduct, public and private.  Though no man is more capable of enjoying the refinements of modern society, luxury has not enervated his mind or his manners.  His dress, his equipage, his habits, all partake of the same indifference to effect—­all have a cast of the hardy self-denial of the camp.  A mattress bed, constant horse exercise, rising with the lark, not unfrequently remaining up twenty hours out of the twenty-four, and the daily use of cold shower baths, winter and summer,—­these contradictions to the usual habits of men, when their age approaches to fourscore, bespeak no ordinary carelessness of ease, and a singular determination of purpose.  Well, indeed, has he been named the Iron Duke.

MAXIMS AND OPINIONS OF HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

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INDIA.

To offer a public reward, by proclamation, for a man’s life, and to make a secret bargain to have it taken away, are very different things; the one is to be done, the other, in my opinion, cannot by an officer at the head of the troops.

Dispatch, July 8, 1800.

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As for the wishes of the people, particularly in this country (India), I put them out of the question.  They are the only philosophers about their governors that ever I met with, if indifference constitutes that character.

Dispatch, August 20, 1800.

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In military operations time is everything.

Dispatch, June 30, 1800.

Articles of provision are not to be trifled with, or left to chance; and there is nothing more clear than that the subsistence of the troops must be certain upon the proposed service, or the service must be relinquished.

Dispatch, Feb. 18, 1801.

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Indignant rejection of a proffered Bribe.

You inform me that the Rajah, or Dessaye of Kittoor, has expressed a wish to be taken under the protection of the British Government; and has offered to pay a tribute to the company, and to give you a bribe of 4000 pagodas, and me one of 10,000 pagodas, provided this point is arranged according to his wishes.