406 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
The following letters relate to those two actions. The first from Sir 
Arthur to Sir John Sinclair,— 
Holyhead, 
October 18,1808. 
Dear Sir, 
I have had the pleasure of receiving your two letters, and I am much concerned 
that I was not at home when Lieut.-Colonel Shrapnel did me the favour to call 
upon me in London. I shall have great pleasure in testifying at any time the 
great benefit which the army lately under my command derived from the use of 
spherical case shot in two actions with the enemy—a benefit which, I am convinced 
will be enjoyed, whenever they will be judiciously and skilfully used. 
I consider it however, to be very desirable that this invention, and the use 
which the British have made of it should not be made public. Our enemies are 
not aware of the cause of the effect of our artillery, of which they have complained ; 
and we may depend upon it, that any public mention or notice of the benefit we 
have derived from this description of shot would induce them immediately to 
adopt it. 
At the same time I consider Colonel Shrapnel to be entitled to a reward for his 
ingenuity, and the science he has proved he possesses by the perfection to which 
he has brought this invention; and more particularly so, because I am of opinion 
that the public interests require that the advantage which we have derived from the 
use of the shot should not be made public, and he be thus deprived of the fame and 
honor which he would have enjoyed * * * 
I have the honor to be, &c., 
ARTHUR WELLESLEY. 
The next is to Colonel Shrapnel:— 
AbranteS, 
June 16, 1809. 
I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that the spherical case shot were used by 
the artillery with the army under my command last year in Portugal, and I have 
every reason to believe that they had the best effect in producing the defeat of the 
enemy at Vimieraj on the 21st August, 1808. 
ARTHUR WELLESLEY. 
From Sir John Sinclair to Colonel Shrapnel:— 
My dear Sir, 
As the crisis is so fast approaching, I am making every exertion I can possibly 
think of to bring your shot into more general use. You will have received a copy 
of Sir Arthur Wellesley’s letter to me. I have written an answer, a copy of which 
I enclose. I have also written to Mr Percival on the subject of a public reward 
to which you are so justly entitled * * * What can I do more f 
(Signed) JOHN SINCLAIR. 
Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, 
November 15, 1808; 
