The Letters of the Duke of Wellington to Miss J. 1834-1851 Part 21

I am concerned to read in this same letter received this Morning the report of the illness of your friend Mrs. L.; and that of your young and protected companion Jane! and even that you had not yourself been well! I trust that the Almighty will restore them to Health as well as by His favor your Health may likewise be reestablished and secured.

I have been quite well! and am as strong and hearty as ever.

Believe me ever yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

Miss J. appends a word of explanation to this letter:--

"The Lady here referred to by the Duke is older than myself, therefore the Duke is in _that_ respect mistaken, never having seen her."

WALMER CASTLE, Sept. 13, 1849.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I received your Letter dated Sat.u.r.day 8^th and this morning that of the 11^th in which you communicate to me the sad Intelligence of the loss which you had sustained in your friend Mrs. L.! I sincerely condole with you! She was a good and sincere friend of yours and I felt sincere respect and esteem for Her Character! You do not mention your young friend Jane; who was suffering also when you wrote before. I sincerely hope that she is better and progressing towards recovery as you could wish!

Believe me My Dear Miss J.

Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

"I presume by the Duke's next letter, dated Sept. 26th, that I made previous enquiries concerning some letters previously forwarded as he writes; 'I cannot now lay my hands on that letter but I must have received it. I think that you need not make yourself uneasy about any letter which you may address me.'"

The caustic tone common in the Duke's letters now reappears. Miss J.'s habit of enclosing to him letters she had written to others, with the request that he would read and return them, had long been a source of annoyance to him; and now his irritation breaks bonds.

WALMER CASTLE, October 22, 1849.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have received this evening your Letter dated September 30^th which was Sunday, Inclosing in a colored cover, two Letters addressed to Miss Coutts which I return in the same cover according to your desire without loss of time.

I have not received a book, and considering the uncertainty of receiving a letter from you; which you have only to direct, stamp; and put into the Box at the Post Office; which it is not certain that you can do with precision! I don't recommend you to endeavour to send me a Book. I am happy to learn that you will see your sister!

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Nov. 15th, he writes--'I have no recollection of having failed to write an answer to any letter of which you desired to receive an acknowledgment.

"'I receive thousands of letters, a vast proportion of which I am under the necessity of answering, and I am of course desirous of avoiding to write more than is necessary; particularly to a person so particular as you are in respect to the forms and contents of the letter addressed to you.'

"The Duke's next letter is evidently an angry one. It is dated Nov.

21st, wherein he writes--'I have received your letter of the 17th Inst. in which you have enclosed certain letters which you have written to Sir Robert Peel which I return! I am not the Post Man!

nor the Secretary of Sir Robert Peel nor your Secretary!'"

Miss J. retained a copy of her answer to the last.

November 25th, 1849.

MY LORD DUKE,--Your unmerited angry letter astonished me inexpressibly, being a reply to one as kind and affectionate as my heart could dictate. Nor had I the most remote intention of taking the unwarrantable liberty of considering you in either of the characters you mention, but simply in that of a valued and beloved friend whose kind advice I was desirous to receive before taking a step which I had feared may otherwise vex you. This feeling my Letter to Your Grace plainly expressed, nor could I have believed after such affectionate disinterested devotedness to you for the last sixteen years such a simple confidential request would meet with the answer received. That letter, as is my custom in the time of perplexity, distress and trouble, I prayerfully spread before The Great "Lord of lords," beseeching Him to undertake for me, showing me how I ought to act under such circ.u.mstances, relying upon Him accordingly. Since then I made an attempt to address you not wishing you to remain ignorant of the safe arrival of those enclosures, but had I been given worlds I could not proceed. Consequently I laid aside my pen, fancying The Lord did not mean me to write at all. However, finding myself this morning thus influenced, I purpose, if HE permit forwarding what I write, promising should it be His good will and pleasure ever to allow me to intrude on Your Grace again, to procure such paper, etc., etc., as you require, apologizing for any _apparent_ want of respect on such points, which, loving you as I have done, I did not consider was expected. But as "it is written," "Honour to whom honour," I shall sedulously avoid every repet.i.tion of the kind, such being the command of Him "with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning," "Who is the same yesterday, to-day and forever," consequently One I must ever love _above all_ remaining to the latest moment of my existence,

His devoted Child and Servant

A. J.

This note did not call forth a reply of equal amiability from the Duke.

"I have felt no displeasure nor anger and was not even surprised by your letter complaining of my answer in which I returned the volumes of letters which you had sent for my perusal. Considering the Numberless occasions which you have quarrelled with me because of some omission of Seal or Signature or even of a word or a letter. I thank G.o.d that I am never angry with anybody; upon any subject.

"Many would think on reading the above that I had treated the Duke unkindly, but as I can appeal to Him Who seeth not as man seeth, I have nothing to fear from any erroneous impressions, having depended upon The Great Lord of lords throughout my acquaintance with him to direct and influence my heart and pen to fulfil all His good will and pleasure by working in me for that purpose, for His Holy Name sake! which I trust will be glorified and Magnified accordingly!"

The Duke's last letter for this year is not marked by increased suavity:--

STRATHFIELDSAYE, Dec. 14, 1849.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have nothing to add to what I stated in my former Letters regarding your sending me your Letters addressed to others!

I beg that you will not do so.

To read one letter from you is as much as I can do.

Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

Miss J. adds:--

"This in all probability was the case, as he advanced in years, consequently I never intruded any others upon him afterwards."

CHAPTER XI.

THE FINAL RUPTURE.

Early in 1850 Miss J. accidentally received a painful blow in the breast. A tumor soon developed, that caused her great suffering.

Frequent references to her "affliction" are found in her Diary for this year and the next. She wrote an account of the occurrence to the Duke, and received the following reply, quoted from the Diary:--

"'I was much concerned on receiving this intelligence, but I hope that the consequences will not be so serious as I had apprehended.

I hope that you will take care of yourself and not move at this severe season from your comfortable dwelling till you will be well.'