One reason was undoubtedly the
poor state of the army in equipment and discipline. Another was the
fact that he owed his brother money on account of promotions in the
service, and his officer's pay was not enough to repay it. He was
always scrupulous in matters of debt.
His application for discharge, however, was not accepted. England had
need of all her trained men at this time. In addition to the trouble
in France, there were other affairs demanding attention in Spain and
India. The whole world seemed to need readjusting at once.
Wellesley's next assignment was to accompany an expedition against the
French settlement in the West Indies, which set sail in October, 1795.
But when only two days out the ships encountered a terrible storm. One
ship sank with all on board, others were badly crippled, and hundreds
of sailors perished. The expedition put back to England.
Although Wellesley escaped the full effects of this storm, the exposure
left his health undermined. His regiment was ordered abroad in the
Spring, this time to the East Indies, and when they set sail, in April,
he was too ill to accompany them. It was not until February, 1797,
that he joined them in Calcutta.
Arthur Wellesley was now in his twenty-eighth year. All that had
passed hitherto might be regarded as his schooling.
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