The Letters of the Duke of Wellington to Miss J., 1834-1851

"Again on the 12th of March the Duke writes 'He has received her note and the Tract on one leaf; for which he returns his thanks.' Again on the 19th of March the Duke writes—'The Duke of Wellington presents his Compliments to Miss J. and returns his thanks for the Tract and other papers received from her.'

"The Duke's next letter likewise acknowledges—'His thanks for her letter of the 20th and its Enclosures.' To which he adds—'The Duke is happy to learn that Miss J. is sufficiently recovered to be able to walk out.'

"In the Duke's next letter dated, March 25th he writes 'The Duke of Wellington presents his Compliments to Miss J. and returns thanks for her Note and the Tract which she enclosed to him.'

"Again London, March the 29th, the Duke writes—He 'returns his thanks for her letter of Sunday and the enclosures.'

"The next letter from His Grace is dated April 2nd, 1836, thanking me for two letters, one received on Good Friday and the other written on Good Friday,—which last, of course, treated on our Lord's Sufferings for us sinners, as usual on such occasions.

"On the 11th of April the Duke again writes 'He has received her Note with some Tracts.'

"The next letter from the Duke is dated April 12th, 1836, in which he returns me, as requested, a letter I had sent for his perusal and consideration, addressed to a Minister of the Gospel by my dear friend Mrs. L.

"The Duke's next letter is written on and dated June 18th, 1836. 'The Duke of Wellington presents his regards to Miss J. and returns thanks for her letter and its enclosure. The Duke is happy to learn that Miss J. is in good Health. He was apprehensive that she was unwell, and had gone out of Town, as so much time had elapsed since she had written to the Duke.' I need scarcely remark that this was the day on which the Duke gave his yearly Banquet—yet The great Lord of Lords compelled him to find time thereon to write to me, thus verifying His own Divine declaration, 'Them that honor ME I will honor.'"

One wonders where the busy statesman could have found time to read not only the letters, but the hymns and tracts Miss J. constantly showered upon him. There seems a tone of resignation, if not actual despair, in the notes wherein he acknowledges the receipt of this flood of pious literature.

"In the Duke's next letter of June 21st he writes—'The Duke of Wellington presents his Compliments to Miss J. and he acknowledges the receipt of, and thanks her for her letter of the 19th inst. and enclosures. Miss J. does not advert to the state of her health, but as she says that she walks in the Park, the Duke hopes that she is entirely recovered.'

"His Grace's letter of June 23rd returns his thanks, adding: 'When Miss J. mentions her walks in the park The Duke concludes that she means in what is called the Regent's Park, in the neighborhood of the Street in which she lives.' Which was the case yet of which beautiful Park I knew nothing until dearest Mrs. L. took me into it for the benefit of the air, after the illness herein alluded to.

"The next letter from the Duke is dated June 27th, 1836, in which he writes—'Miss J. complains of the change of the style of the Duke's letters; although she does not express a wish that the former style should be renewed.'

"I certainly had a great objection to the formality attending the Duke's letters when written in the third person, feeling restrained in replying to such in like manner."

CHAPTER VI.

COMPARATIVE CALM

The next letter is copied from the original:

London, June 28, 1836.

The Duke of Wellington presents his Comps to Miss J. The Duke has this morning received her very kind Letter of yesterday for which he returns His thanks. The Duke begs leave again to assure Miss J. that whatever may be the form in which he writes to her; the motive in doing so is the same as ever; and that he is ever sensible of and grateful for her kindness.

The Duke will with the greatest pleasure go to see her whenever it may suit Miss J. to receive him.

The Duke did not say anything upon the Letter which Miss J. had written to the Gentleman in question because he was unwilling to obtrude His opinion upon a matter which Miss J. considers one of Duty; in which the Duke is so unfortunate as to differ in opinion with her.

Prudence and Discretion would appear to require that Miss J. should not rebuke a Gentleman for words spoken not to Her; not even in Her Presence; but to Her Landlady in the relation of a Lodger in the House.

The Duke may be wrong. But he considers the exercise of Prudence and discretion virtues; not unbecoming to any Character however exalted.

The Diary continues:—

"Judging by the contents of the Duke's next letter dated June 29th, 1836, I presume I had felt from circumstances under the necessity of putting aside his proposed visit adverted to in his last, as follows 'The Duke will with the greatest pleasure go to see her whenever it may suit Miss J. to receive him'—for in this of the 29th he writes—'I cannot but concur in your decision to postpone to receive my visit. Nothing would distress me more than to give you any pain. I sincerely hope that your journey to the Country will reestablish your health and spirits.'

"I perceive by this that the Duke had again commenced addressing me in the first person.

"It would appear by the Duke's next, dated July 1st, 1836, that I had changed my intention concerning receiving him, as he wrote—'Since I wrote you this morning I have had a fall by which I have bruised my knee so that Leaches have been applied. I am not otherwise hurt but it is quite obvious that I shall not be able to wait upon you to-morrow. I hope to be able to do so however at the same hour on Monday.' That such was not the will of the Lord of lords I now perfectly recollect proving to the Duke that 'The way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps,' a divine lesson which I was so anxious from time to time, as circumstances permitted, to impress on his mind."

The Duke probably had a vivid realization of this truth just at this juncture, although possibly not in the sense intended by Miss J. She seems to have been devoid of any sense of humor, and saw nothing but the spiritual application of this one of her favorite quotations.

"In the Duke's next, of the 4th of July, he writes; 'I am much recovered from the accident under which I suffered on Friday—but I am afraid that I shall not be allowed to quit my House this day. Indeed I am convinced that I could not do so without increasing the risk of being confined to my house for weeks or months. I lament this particularly as you are going out of Town early to morrow. I am very sensible of your Confidence in attending to my opinion in sending your letter to Mr. B.'

"This was a letter written by me to a Minister of the Gospel whose worldliness was justifiably condemned. It is still I believe in my possession among my papers, the Duke having received it for perusal and at my request returned with advice not to forward it.

"In the letter dated the 5th the Duke acknowledges a packet from me to which he adds 'I continue to improve and hope to go out tomorrow or next day.'

"I presume this was a very thick letter. In that of the 9th of July, the Duke writes; 'I am better and I am in hopes that on tomorrow I shall be able to put my foot to the ground.'

"The Duke's next letter is I see directed to me at Hastings, in which he writes on July 11th, 1836—'I am so much better that I am going to the House of Lords and I hope soon to be able to go about without inconvenience' to which the Duke again refers in his next thus; 'I continue to recover from the effects of the Accident and I hope to be able to go out in a day or two. I am happy to find that you are settled at Hastings to your satisfaction.'

"The next of the 13th of July refers to my letters being overweight—apparently, but judging by the letter of the 28th I must have been mistaken, as the Duke writes;

"'You did not send me a letter overweight. But I warned you of the necessity of taking care not to do so because I was apprehensive that if I should be absent my servants would decline to receive the letter.'

"The next letter from the Duke is dated July 30th wherein he writes; 'I am much better and can walk a little. But my Knee is bandaged up; and some time will elapse before I shall have the use of it as heretofore.'

"The next letter from the Duke is dated Aug. 3rd 1836 in which he writes 'I am much flattered by the anxiety which you express respecting the injury which I received in my knee. I am getting the better of it and I hope soon to be quite well.'

"Alas! it grieves me as I thus proceed, running my eye over so many references to God's mercies to observe such were not adverted to by the Duke—a subject I did not omit expatiating upon occasionally, however reluctant to irritate whilst laboring under indisposition, as my Diary will doubtlessly imply.

"On the 5th of August the Duke writes; 'I am very much obliged to you for your letter and flattered by your desire to see me. I am so far better as to be able to walk and I can go to see you when you will come to Town.'

"By that of the 8th of Aug. I presume I had made enquiries concerning his seal as the Duke writes—'I use black wax to seal my letters as a Relation of mine died lately.'"

Immediately after the receipt of the last letter quoted, Miss J. left Hastings for Tunbridge Wells. The Duke's letters followed her here. She writes:—

"The Duke's next letter is directed to Tunbridge Wells, thanking me for my letter to him dated Aug. 11th, 1836. In the Duke's next he again adverts to his knee thus—'My knee continues to improve and I hope to walk as well as ever in a few days.'

"In the Duke's of Aug. 16th he writes—'I entertain some doubt whether a letter which I wrote to you yesterday was sent to the Post. If not, I laid it by in one of my writing cases and in the uncertainty I think it best to write again. I hope that the waters will prove beneficial to your Health and that you will remain at Tunbridge as long as it may be necessary that you should drink thereof.'

"In the Duke's letter of the 20th of Aug. he writes—'I have found in one of my writing cases the letter which I had omitted to send on the day before yesterday. I rejoice to learn that your health improves so much at Tunbridge Wells.'

"The Duke's next letter is directed to me at Brighton wherein he writes 'My Knee continues to improve but it has not yet all its strength and elasticity, but I hope that it will soon. I am much obliged to you for enquiring about it.'

"Judging by the Duke's next letter, dated Aug. 22nd, I must have requested him to send me the letter he had placed in one of his writing cases, for he replies—'You will have seen that I had destroyed the letter not sent.'

"In the Duke's next, dated Aug. 31st, the Duke writes—'I received in due course a letter which you were so kind as to write to me on nineteen sides of paper under three covers.'"

One ceases to wonder at the slowness of the poor man's recovery, under such circumstances as these.

"Upon the 6th of September a letter arrived from the Duke in which he again refers to his accident as follows—'I am getting better every day—but slowly, as is the case with recovery from such accidents. I hope however to recover entirely and to be quite well.'"

Another cause of offence had been found by Miss J. The Duke's letter explains it:—

Walmer Castle, Sept. 17, 1836.

My dear Miss J.,—I was much surprized at not hearing from you; and I am still more surprized now that I learn the Cause of your Silence.

Begging Your Pardon you don't repeat accurately what I wrote respecting Your Hand writing; and you have consequently misrepresented my Meaning; which was however not worth attending to.

I totally forgot that your Mind is occupied with affairs of more Importance; the Hand writing in which you convey your thoughts to others, is a matter of but little Importance to you; and that at all events you are seldom in a disposition to allow any body to complain; much less to find fault with you.

Accordingly I beg your Pardon for having ventured to tell you that I experienced great Difficulty in reading your Hand writing.

I hope that you will not give yourself the trouble of writing to me; if it should be at all irksome or inconvenient to you.

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfullyWellington.

The unmistakable irony of the above seems to have been quite thrown away upon Miss J., for she placidly remarks:—

"I am well aware that the poor Duke was justified in finding fault with my writing, through finding my pen could not keep pace with my feelings, more especially as I generally sent off whatever I wrote just as it was thus written.

"Again I see by the Duke's letter of Sept. 26th that he has returned to the third person in addressing me, which may have been accidental as his next dated Oct. 1st, 1836, is again in the first and on the 11th he writes—'I have received your Note and two Covers containing Tracts, for all of which I return my thanks.'

"In the Duke's letter of Oct. 14th he writes—'I am, I assure you, very sensible of the kindness of your motive in writing to me.'

"The Duke's next letter is as follows 'I did not arrive in London in time to be able to wait upon you this evening but I will wait upon you to-morrow afternoon as soon after five as it may be in my power.'

"On October 19th the Duke called, after an absence of about two years. So seldom did The Lord of Lords allow personal interviews to take place which doubtlessly was wisely ordered for His Glory Who knows the end from the beginning and is consequently too jealous of His Holy Name to suffer it to be tarnished. Of this holy jealousy I was rendered especially sensible on the visit above alluded to. I accosted the Duke accordingly on his entering the room. He exclaimed 'You shall do this and you shall do that!' without any reference to God's holy Will, expatiating accordingly until dear Mrs. L. who was only separated from us by folding doors said afterwards she pitied the Duke and was glad when I had said whatever I considered my duty. Nor was it until then that I even asked him concerning his knee, although that was the first visit since the Accident. When I did so, he appeared delighted, brushing up his chair nearer to me, which of course met with the withdrawal on my part due to Christianity. I bless God for the grace and strength afforded me on that occasion, causing the Duke to sink into the utmost insignificance in comparison with His favor which is better than life.

"The next letter from the Duke is dated Nov. 3rd, 1836, wherein he writes, 'I am much flattered by your desire to have my opinion whether you should send the letter you had written to a gentleman, but had refrained from putting it into the Post.'

"The Duke alludes again to this in his next letter of Nov. 10th. The next letter from the Duke is dated Nov. 11th, 1836, entreating me to date my letters.

"In the Duke's next letter dated Nov. 12th he writes—'It is true that I burn every letter the preservation of which is not of importance, but I do not forget their contents as you will have perceived, at least, those that are material.' With this letter I see one of mine thus written and which I presume consequently was forwarded.—'I had imagined My Lord Duke this day would have brought with it an acknowledgement of my two last letters whereas I have only received a brief reply to that addressed to you on Sunday. However as it is my duty to acknowledge the receipt of that this day received—I do so subscribing myself

"'Your Grace's faithful Christian Friend

"'A. J.'

"The above looks very formal but I presume it was all right, yielding up my heart to God as I did and do to govern as seemed good in His sight.

"The next letter from the Duke is dated Nov. 14th, 1836, wherein he writes; 'I shall be in London in the end of this week, that is on Friday, and I beg you to write to me if you should wish to see me.' How little did the poor Duke think when he wrote thus that the great Lord of lords had decreed he should not behold me again for nearly eight years, namely until the summer of 1844—O how mysterious are His unerring ways!!

"During the year 1836 I received from the Duke fifty-six Letters.

"1837.—I do not see any letter from the Duke until Feb. 26th in this year when he writes therein as follows from Hartford Bridge; 'I am very much obliged to you for your letters, and I assure you that I always receive with thankfulness whatever you think proper to write to me. I do not like to trouble you when you do not write to me lest my intrusion should be considered offensive.'

"The next letter from His Grace is dated March 2nd, wherein he writes; 'I have now got such a cold that I cannot quit the house. I have no fever however and I shall be quite well, I hope, in a day or two.'

"The Duke's next letter is dated March 5th wherein he writes—'I am much obliged to you for your enquiries. I came down to the Country to get rid of the cold and I am much better, indeed, nearly well. I will return the letter enclosed in yours the next time.'

"The Duke's next letter is dated March 12th 1837 in which he again notices my letter, as follows; 'I return you the enclosed which I ought to have sent you when I wrote last.'"

Still another dispute is now chronicled. Miss J. states that she wrote the Duke a letter in which she referred to his "brushing up his chair to me with so much familiarity during his last visit." The Duke's answer shows his irritation very plainly:—

London, April 18, 1837.

The Duke of Wellington presents His Compliments to Miss J. She is quite mistaken. He has no Lock of Hair of Her's. He never had one.

The Duke is not aware that he has been guilty of presumption, of daring presumption.

Miss J. wrote to him a letter in which she expressed displeasure at his having omitted to call upon Her as she expected he would.

The Duke was extremely concerned that Miss J. was displeased. But he considered it best not to aggravate the Offence by writing again. If he had ventured to approach Miss J., or had written to her; he might have been accused of daring presumption. But he purposely avoided both; in order not to give fresh grounds for Irritation.

The Duke is exceedingly concerned that Miss J. should consider that she has reason to complain of Him.

He thinks that upon reflection she will be opinion [sic] that she has no reason to be offended.

Miss J. does not mention what ground she had for supposing the Duke to be in possession of a lock of her hair. He had bestowed one of his upon her, and it is only natural to surmise that she had given one of hers in return. The matter was apparently smoothed over, as there is no cessation of letters.

London, April 27, 1837.

The Duke of Wellington presents his Compts to Miss J. and is very sensible of the kindness of her expressions on the loss which a part of His family has recently sustained.

The Duke is much concerned to learn that Miss J. still thinks that she has cause to be displeased with the Duke.

The Duke trusts that Reflection and time will convince her; that no such cause [sic]. The Duke assures her, Miss J., that he is not sensible that he has given her such cause; by anything that he has said written done or omitted.

"In a letter dated April 29th the duke writes 'He is very grateful for the interest which Miss J. has been pleased to express about the health of the Duke's brother. The Newspapers were misinformed. The Duke's brother has not been seriously indisposed. His niece however has lost her daughter which is the misfortune to which the Duke imagined that Miss J. had referred.'"

London, May 1, 1837.

The Duke of Wellington presents His Compts to Miss J. He returns many thanks for Her Note. The Duke will make enquiries respecting that of the 22nd addressed by the Duke to Miss J. which she had not received in due course.

It is wonderful that there should be so little delay and so few mistakes in an establishment of this Description. But the few that do occur should render letter writers cautious not to write in a moment of Irritation; that which would not be written if time were taken for reflection.

Some coolness followed this letter. The Duke wrote once again saying, "He does not know what to do to please her." Miss J. adds, "Which it was quite impossible he could do while in and of 'the world.'"

A silence of over three months followed this latest tiff. Miss J., as usual, re-opened the correspondence. The Duke's reply was not cordial:—

London, August 14, 1837.

The Duke of Wellington presents His Compts to Miss J. He returns His thanks for her Letter of the 13th.

The Duke is going out of town; and he intends to go to Walmer Castle in a few days.

The Duke assures Miss J. that he has not published an Intention of giving what is called a grand Dinner at Walmer Castle.

In general he would recommend to Miss J. not to believe one Word that she reads respecting the Duke of Wellington.

London, August 16, 1837.

The Duke of Wellington presents his Compts to Miss J. He returns His thanks for Her letter of the 15th.

The Duke is much concerned that Miss J. should have had the trouble of writing a second time upon the subject of misrepresentation in the Newspapers. They are really not deserving of Notice.

"The next letter from the Duke is dated Aug. 16th, with which I see a copy of a letter referring to a parcel containing Tracts, etc. for his acceptance, from which I copy as follows—'Miss J. trusts the accompanying Tracts may not be considered an intrusion, but received and perused with the prayerful consideration they deserve as not from man but from That God Who has put it into her heart to send them; relying on His own gracious Word which runs thus, "My Word shall not return unto ME void but it shall accomplish that which I please and shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."—Miss J. begs to be excused giving her address, being desirous to avoid all observation etc. but if on her return to Town it should be the will of God that she should make His Grace acquainted with her abode, wherever that may be, (respecting which there is at present great uncertainty,) she will then give him an opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of the parcel and its consequences, hoping they may be of a gratifying nature; that is, beneficial to His Great Soul which Miss J. is still desirous to behold robed in the only Robe of righteousness that can render it safe for Eternity.'

"The letter written on Aug. 26th is as follows 'He has received and returns His thanks for her Note of Friday and the Tract enclosed therewith.'

"In the Duke's next letter dated Sept. 1st he writes—'He is happy to learn that her health is so far reestablished as that she can go to the Country.'

"The next letter from His Grace dated Oct. 5th, 1837, acknowledges the parcel referred to in mine as follows 'He returns thanks to Miss J. for Her Note of the 3rd inst. received this morning, with a Hymn for which he is very grateful. He received the Parcel containing Tracts etc, some time ago.'

"Finding a copy of the letter which called forth the above enclosed with it I am induced to give it a place herein, more especially as I perceive one portion is almost defaced, regretting exceedingly that I do not recollect the title of the Hymn alluded to and forwarded.

"'Miss J. having promised His Grace the Duke of Wellington the accompanying Hymn, takes the present opportunity for sending it, however unsuited to the taste of any but the Regenerated Soul, which blessed state Miss J. has no good reason for believing His Grace the Duke of Wellington has yet experienced. However, as there is nothing too hard for The Lord of Lords, it is not impossible that the period may arrive when the accompanying Hymn will be experimentally understood, consequently admired and valued, being one of the most beautiful to be found.

"'Miss J. is not in the habit at present of seeing any Newspaper, and is consequently unacquainted with His Grace's present proceedings. She concludes they are as worldly as ever, therefore calculated to draw from her pen nothing but a repetition of what she has so frequently written, namely; "What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and LOSE his own SOUL? or what shall a man give in exchange for his SOUL?" An important enquiry sent by her for a long time almost without interruption in every letter to His Grace,—but Alas! with how little effect!! Rest assured, the moment will arrive when a fervent desire will be experienced that such advice, entreaties, observations, Scriptures, etc, etc, etc, had been practically attended to. Yes, there is a period, and an awful one which must induce the trembling soul that has been swelled up by earthly splendor and earthly adulation, (both equally empty and unsatisfying) to exclaim in the words of Cardinal Wolsey, "Had I but served my GOD with HALF the zeal I served my King, etc."