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

Most faithfully,Wellington.

"The Duke's next letter, dated July 23rd, 1846, is expressive of concern at my having caught cold, adding; 'I am very sorry still to be unable to fix a time at which I can go to see you.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Aug. 13th, he writes—'I have to express my acknowledgments for several letters which I have received from you since you left London and I am very happy to learn that you like your situation there. I am still very much occupied by my duties in London but hope the Parliament will soon be prorogued and that I may be enabled to quit London and move to other parts of the Country where my presence is required;' and in the Duke's next, dated Aug. 17th, he writes; 'My duties will require my removal at a distance from London for at least two months or more.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Aug. 25th, he writes; 'I am under the necessity of going out of Town early tomorrow.'"

Sept. 1st, 1846.

I am concerned to find that my silence is considered unkind and that this unkindness is aggravated by my having travelled up from Portsmouth on Sunday! It is true! I did so. I was sorry for it. But my services to the Public rendered necessary my being in London early Monday morning which I could not have performed if I had not travelled on Sunday. However you shall not again have reason to complain of disappointment. I announce to you that I will write no more. If you could have attended to anything so trifling as what you might read in the Newspapers about Me! You might have seen that in the last week I was occupied at a distance from London during five days out of the seven and that in that space of time I have travelled and rode little short of 800 miles.

Indorsed by Miss J. "Who is he that saith and it cometh to pass when THE Lord commandeth it not?"

And now came the storm, springing from a misunderstanding pitifully out of proportion to the furore it excited! Miss J. and her friend Mrs. L. had engaged a cottage, and were about to move into it. Miss J. wrote to her guardian, desiring him to advance her funds for the furniture of her new abode. A day or so later, in writing to the Duke, Miss J. told him of the transaction, in her usual involved style, and asked his opinion of the matter. The rest of the note was, as usual, filled with incoherent reproaches for his lack of promptness in writing. The unfortunate Duke probably perused the letter hastily, and comprehended nothing but that Miss J. found fault with him about something, and that she wished a loan from somebody. His patience had been worn threadbare by much carping and criticism, and he answered her letter in that given below. The whole affair is so absurd, as sketched in Miss J.'s Diary, that the account is given in her own words, only omitting a few of the superfluous and irrelevant quotations from Scripture.

London, Sept. 23, 1846.

In order to prevent Irritation; and to avoid the receipt of repeated Letters expressing the same; I determined that I would inform Miss J. that I would write no more.

I had before repeatedly assured her, that I could not answer Her Letters regularly; but nothing would do, She continued to be angry and to complain with bitterness.

I have therefore been under the necessity of announcing that she is not to expect to hear from me! She has now mentioned to me that she had written to me to desire that I would assist Her with a Loan of Money. I have not received the Letter containing that Desire.

But I answer at once; that I will give her any reasonable assistance she can require from me; when she will let me know in clear distinct Terms what is the Sum she requires.

But I announce again; that I never will write upon any other Subject.

Wellington.

"Friday, September 26th, 1846. O my God, Wherefore hast Thou thought proper to let Satan try and distress me in this unanticipated manner?

"I did not ask Thee to bestow the Duke upon me! I did not think of ever writing to him until Thou madest me do so! and therefore I marvel at his being allowed to torture me first in one way and then in another for the last twelve years of my life, and above all by what he has now so insultingly done in pretending to think that I have written to him for a Loan, which Thou knowest, for Thy honor and glory I would not do under existing circumstances, for a thousand worlds! And I bless Thee for influencing me to Copy the letter addressed to my Guardian, word for word in my Diary, commencing my letter to the Duke as follows:

"'Having just written to my Guardian requesting him to oblige me with a Loan to purchase the furniture required for my Cottage I resume my pen, My dearest Duke to acquaint you thereof feeling still influenced to let you know how things are going forward respecting it. Which Loan he will be at liberty to deduct out of my Dividends being by no means large as I propose furnishing it so simply, being all that is necessary living in such retirement as we shall always do,' etc.

"At which, the more I look, the more unlikely it would appear that the Duke would understand it in any light that would for a moment lead him to suppose I could so far forget myself or the honour I have for His great name Which is above every name as to bow down thus, God having declared, 'It is abomination for the righteous to bow down before the wicked.' Consequently my indignation at his insulting letter led at once to my treating it as it deserves, telling him that nothing upon earth could have astonished me more than such insult, conveying an idea that I had purposed condescending receiving any Loan from his hands, which I would rather starve than do! and so I would! Yes, I would if I had no other means of subsistence die with starvation sooner than ask any favor of that kind from him! knowing as I do that Christ's Great Holy Name would be so dishonored thereby. Consequently, since it would be for His Holy Name sake, as well as knowing what was due to my high calling in Him, starvation would be comparatively sweet! rejoicing in being considered worthy, whilst so unworthy, so utterly unworthy of suffering for His Great Holy Name sake. I have called upon the Duke to apologize to me as the unwarrantable insult offered to me demands. Having given this over with himself into God's Hands to undertake the whole cause for me in whatever way is most for His own honor and glory, He will doubtlessly make him do as HE pleases,—and if not, HE will deliver me, I hope from him for ever. After such a letter as this, displaying more of his character than I have ever yet seen, I have too much contempt for him to desire any further communication with him, despising him accordingly.—

"Having given a little vent to my feelings by writing the above, I will now attempt to describe the circumstances concerning this insulting letter.

"The first thing on awaking I was influenced to get up however unwell, in case a letter by the earliest Post should arrive from the Duke, little imagining what was in store for me, when God thought proper to attract my attention to so remarkable a Scripture, namely. 'The preparation of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.' HE permitted me sensibly to feel His 'strength made perfect in weakness,' otherwise I should have sunk under the blow! But as his letter was put into my hands, such an upholding power was exercised over me that however astonished at its contents and indignant thereat, The Lord was with me....

"I lost no time in answering the Duke as he deserved, my heart glowing with all the holy indignation such an insulting offer so coarsely conveyed was calculated to call forth. I then hurried off to Mrs. L. with that and the one just before received, which she viewed in like manner, considering it disgraceful treatment in his daring to write to me thus. She only waits his reply to mine (which I read to her and on my return home enclosed and forwarded, hastening off myself to a Post Office for that purpose) and the Lord's influence in order to take up her powerful pen and address him as his offered insult deserves.

"On my return from the Post Office I opened my loved Bible at the words; 'The wicked fleeth when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion,' encouraging me to think increasingly that my bold indignant fearless reply to the Duke was justified."

Then follow other "Scriptures," all applied to her credit and the Duke's disadvantage, and a prayer in which she beseeches the Almighty to "take this man into Thy Hands and compel him to do me the justice I deserve."

A tempest in a teapot! That the Commander-in-chief of the British armies, the greatest soldier of his age, should have been subjected to the attacks of a peevish woman's tongue, is ridiculous; but there is a pitiable side to the affair as well. One cannot help feeling compassion for the poor old man,—seventy-seven years of age now,—even while one laughs at the absurdity of the situation. Miss J., as usual, could not let matters rest, but prepared for another attack. Her Diary describes her sensations of suspense as she awaited a reply from the Duke, and "the Scriptures" with which she fortified her position. On Sunday she writes:—

"I have written another indignant letter to the Duke, in which I purpose enclosing his hair and picture, which last being made of sealing wax is of course of no value. These being the only things ever received or required by me, I am solicitous to relieve myself from the burthen they necessarily become under present circumstances. Consequently, after considering or reflecting that it may perhaps be more for the honor and glory of God to return them in silence, I have enclosed them in two blank covers, waiting now only to ascertain their weight in order that they may be stamped accordingly and reach him in safety."

It may be stated that even after receiving the Duke's letter of apology Miss J. remained firm in her intention to return these gifts of the Duke's. Mrs. L., however, who was constantly taking the part of a deus ex machina in Miss J.'s affairs, succeeded in persuading her to keep both the hair and the picture.

The fiercely demanded apology arrived on Monday. Miss J. writes:—

"I have to thank my good and gracious God for his indulgent kindness in sending me not only a letter from my Guardian with Enclosures, but also one from the Duke, apologizing fully."

Sept. 27, 1846.

I am very much concerned to find by a letter which I received this Morning from Miss J., that I was so unfortunate as to have read incorrectly or to have misunderstood Her letter!

It appears that it was from Her Guardian and not from me that she intended to borrow money! I confess that it frequently happens to me to be unable to make out Miss J.'s handwriting! and I sometimes do not exactly comprehend what it appears to me that she intended to write! This is to be attributed to the Celerity with which she writes!

I beg leave to apologize for my mistake and above all for thinking it possible that she might want to borrow money from me! I beg her forgiveness for this Error!

Miss J.'s Most faithful

Humble ServantWellington.

P.S. I will never offend again in any manner.

Miss J. delayed acknowledging the Duke's reply for several days, but finally sent off the following epistle, which she no doubt regarded as a model of Christian forgiveness.

Oct. 3rd, 1846.

My Lord Duke,—I am grieved to say that it has taken a much longer period to subdue my indignation than as a Christian I could wish: consequently as I am incapable of dissimulation I have been reluctant to resume my pen since the day on which I received your merited apology, when I hastily answered it. But that reply was not permitted to be forwarded, therefore I sealed it up with the articles intended to accompany it until I could further learn what God would have me do, nor is it until this moment that He has given me even a capability of addressing you again!

Yet as life is uncertain with all! it would, I doubt not, eventually have grieved me if anything had happened in the interim to rob me of the power of granting your request respecting my forgiveness. This I now do and sincerely hope God will forgive also! and far more perfectly and freely than I alas! as a Creature am enabled to do! HE condescendingly assures them Who offend Him yet seek forgiveness … that their sins and iniquities are remembered "no more."…

That you, My Lord Duke, may experimentally feel this, not only as regards this offence to one hitherto so devotedly bestowed upon you by Himself,—but any and every other transgression that can ever become an impediment to your eternal happiness is the earnest wish of

His devoted Child and ServantA. J.

Should it be the will of God to allow this to call forth a reply, it becomes my duty to add that I am still in the same lodging, my Cottage not yet being ready for our reception, nor will it be until Thursday the 8th Inst. if so soon,—having required more time than anticipated for our entrance which I hope will be blessed.

P.S. The idea, My Lord Duke, that there may come a moment when any spiritual consolation on my part may be sought for by you, induces me to place it in your power in that case to obtain such by adding that the address with which you are so familiar will always find me or my Guardian as follows.... Having said this, I hope that I have now done all that God requires from me, leaving it with Him accordingly.

Apparently the Duke did not feel the need of any spiritual consolation from Miss J., for she did not hear from him again for two months. Even then he only wrote because of her request that he would return a letter she had sent him, announcing the death of her guardian.

Dec. 15th, 1846.

Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his Compliments to Miss J. He assures her that whenever she has expressed a Desire to have back a paper enclosed to Him, he has invariably complied with her desire immediately on his having perused it. Letters addressed by the Duke to Miss J. have been returned to him: and he has invariably thrown them into the fire, and possibly the enclosed Letter!

CHAPTER X.

A BREATHING SPACE

The first letter from the Duke for 1847 was not written until the year was nearly two months old.

London, Feb. 22, 1847.

Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents His Compliments to Miss J.; and acknowledges the receipt of two letters from her one on Saturday last; the other of the 21st Inst this morning.

He writes only for this purpose! He declines to anything [sic] further to Miss J. Being convinced that as usual any correspondence will end in his giving Her Offence, However much he may desire and endeavour to please her.

"I remarked to him in reply to this style of addressing me that I cared no more for his Field Marshalship than his Generalship,—which I dare say amused him. He was well aware of this, knowing it is written, 'If any man will be a pleaser of man then is he not the servant of Christ,' consequently however solicitous to render 'honour to whom honour,' my chief concern then as now consisted in obedience to this Divine enquiry, 'Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?' delighting in the same accordingly."

London, May 6, 1847.

My dear Miss J.,—I am very much obliged to you for the kind letter which I have this morning received without date! upon the subject of the Misfortune by which I have lately been afflicted in the loss of my Brother!  [Endnote 11]

I am very sensible of your kindness in writing to me; for the consolation upon which you suggest my reflection and for your enquiry about my health! I thank you! I am by the Mercy of the Almighty quite well!

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfullyWellington.

This letter is, as Miss J. states in her Diary, "clad in deep mourning," or in other words, with a black seal, and written on black-edged paper.

"The Duke's next letter is dated May 11th, in which he writes—'I am very much obliged to you for your letter of the 9th. I answered the last which you wrote to me on the day I received it.'

"Having had an objection to the Notice which the Duke's letters, seal, etc., attracted I was in the habit generally of receiving them through my friend Mrs. L.'s hands however aware that the Duke preferred addressing me at my own residence which the following paragraph from his letter dated May 14th implies."

London, May 14, 1847.

My dear Miss J.,—I have received your Letter dated Wednesday night.

I have directed all my Letters lately and covers to Mrs. L. excepting one to – and will direct this under cover to the same Gentleman.

You feel an anxiety respecting my Welfare and write to me accordingly! for which I entertain a grateful Sense: and I am in the habit of returning My thanks; which Letters you are anxious to receive.

This is all very right and proper; and there can be no reason for which you should not send your Letters to me; and for which I should not send you answers directed to yourself at your own Residence!

But you desire that my Letters should be sealed with my own Seal! which having a Coronet; and other usual Marks of Distinction, occasion some observation in your Lodgings and your Neighborhood! which you do not much like! You therefore desire that the letters addressed to you by me should be sent to one of your friends.

Your friends know nothing about me! and do not like to receive Letters for you from an unknown Person! Of this I am quite assured and to tell you the truth I don't like to send a letter addressed to you to one of your friends, unless I should be able to cut off part of your Letter directing me to do so, the name of that friend in your hand writing!

I therefore tell you that I will not write to you unless I am enabled to direct to yourself at your own Residence; or I should have in your hand writing the name and address of your friend, which I can include with your Letter.

I will not be guilty of the unpardonable act of writing a letter to a Lady or Gentleman addressed to another; without showing that I have Authority for so doing!

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfullyWellington.London, May 19th, 1847.

My dear Miss J.,—I have received your Letter of the 17th. I have already acknowledged all that I had received from you! at least I believe so!

But you write at great length; with much celerity, in light colored Ink, and much time is required to read one of your Letters! However I am sensible of your Motives for and your kindness in writing them!

I peruse them with attention as soon as I can! and I answer them when in my power.

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfullyWellington.

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Aug. 3rd, he writes; 'I have received several letters from you the dates of which you will find at the bottom of this. I am very sensible of and grateful for the interest that you feel and express in my welfare.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Aug. 14th, he writes—'I am much obliged to you for your letters my dear Miss J., particularly for the last of Thursday afternoon in which you inform me that you are better which I am rejoiced to hear. I trust that you will keep yourself quiet and follow the advice of your Medical Attendant.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Aug. 21st, he writes; 'I write to thank you for your letters and to express my congratulations upon the improvement of your Health, which I trust in God will soon be restored entirely.'

"The Duke's next letter is dated Sept. 9th wherein he writes; 'I am very much concerned to learn that you are again indisposed, but as you tell me that the Medical gentleman who attends you thought well of you I hope that this relapse is only accidental.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Sept. 11th, he writes—'Since I last wrote to you I have received your letters of the 8th & 9th and I am much concerned that you are still unwell, suffering from cold. I hope that you will soon be quite well.' Again in the Duke's next letter he writes, dating it Sept. 22nd; 'I have been very much concerned to learn from the perusal of the several letters which I have received of different dates up to the 20th Inst. that you are still suffering from indisposition, although at times rather better. I trust you will avoid to tire yourself by writing. There is nothing like Rest for ailing remedies, and the bounty of Providence in a recovery from sickness.'

"In the Duke's next letter he again refers to my indisposition, for I had been dangerously ill at that time. It is dated Sept. 28th. 'I am very much concerned to hear that you continue to feel indisposed.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Oct. 2nd, he writes—'I hope that you will continue in good health. You will if you keep yourself warm in the severe weather of the Autumn and commencement of the winter—and in tranquillity.'

"In the Duke's next letter dated Oct. 7th he writes—'I have and thank you for your letters of the 2nd & 3rd, the last finished on the 4th, and I am happy that you are in your new dwelling which I hope you will find satisfactory to you, and above all that the Air will be salubrious.'

"Judging by the Duke's next, I think that he must have misunderstood my intentions, as he writes in his letter, dated Oct. 16th; 'I am concerned to learn that you are again about to change the place of your Abode. I should think that these constant changes must fatigue you.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Oct. 12th, which I now perceive ought to have been introduced above that of the 16th, he writes—'I am very much pleased that you are not otherwise than comfortable in your new residence.'

"I presume, judging by the Duke's next letter, dated Dec. 18th, that I had referred to my poor Jane's illness, as he writes; 'I am sorry to hear that your favorite companion disturbs your rest as rest is especially necessary after the recovery from any illness.'"

The correspondence had in 1848 dwindled down almost to nothingness, at least on the Duke's side. It is only doing Miss J. justice to believe that her zeal and industry continued unabated. There had apparently been no other dispute. Miss J. herself remarks upon the fact that during the entire year she received but three letters from the Duke.

"It may be seen judging by these letters, that there was not any other cause for the fewness of such but the full occupation of his time alluded to so frequently. Therefore I presume this was permitted by The Great Lord of Lords for unerring purposes known only to Himself.

"The first in this year is dated May 8th, wherein the Duke writes—'It is perfectly true that much time has elapsed since I have written to you and that I have received many letters from you for which I ought to have returned my thanks, but the demands upon and the employment of my time in the service of the Public has been so constant that I really have not had leisure. I hope that you are well and that the weather will re-establish your health entirely, and by enabling you to go out into the Air fortify against future attacks.'"

London, July 30, 1848.

My dear Miss J.,—I have received many Letters and this morning one of yesterday with copies of many others before written! I was and am sorry to learn that you are unwell. Your letters are extremely difficult to read, and my time is and has been much occupied by my Duties!

Believe me Dear Miss J. ever

Yours most faithfullyWellington.

P.S. I have frequently entreated to write your Address, your place of Abode on each Letter. It is not possible for me to recollect every thing!

"In the next letter from the Duke, dated Dec. 24th, he writes; 'I am really much concerned that my time has been so much occupied lately and I have been so much in movement as that I have not been able to write to you.'"

1849.

London, Feb. 2, 1849.

My dear Miss J.,—I am really much concerned that the Newspapers should insert statements of my being sick, of which the Editors can know nothing. I thank God! I am & have been as well throughout the Winter as I have been in my Life.

Ever Yours Most FaithfullyWellington.London, Feb. 20, 1849, Morning.

It is very true My Dear Miss J. that some time has elapsed since I have been able to go to see you, and that I have omitted to write to you. The reason of this last mentioned omission is, that I could not go to see you or fix a time at which I could and as I had not heard from you, I thought it best not to write. I beg you observe likewise that I have been time [sic] at Windsor Castle; and also at my own House in Hants since I saw you.