The Letters of the Duke of Wellington to Miss J. 1834-1851 Part 14

My object in writing to you was to thank you for the kind Interest which you had not ceased to feel for my welfare; and which you have expressed with so much sincerity. I am very grateful to you; and I hope that I do not fail in expressing what I feel.

It is true! You are quite right my Time and attention are much occupied by the Publick Duties which I have engaged to perform, and I have very Little of the leisure to write upon subjects upon which I can have but an imperfect knowledge.

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

"I presume by a portion of the Duke's next letter dated June 22nd, 1844, that I had expressed uneasiness concerning some of mine reaching him, as he writes--'If you should have any apprehension of your letters not reaching me, you have only not to sign them. I know your handwriting perfectly and moreover should know from their purport that they could come from you alone.'

"In the Duke's next letter dated June 24th, he writes; 'You are very kind my dear Miss J. in writing to me so frequently. I have to thank you for two letters received, the last on this morning. I a.s.sure you that I am very sensible of the constant interest which you feel in my welfare.'

"The portion about to be copied in the Duke's next letter dated June 26th requires some explanation on my part previously, as it refers to a short separation which took place between my dear friend Mrs. L. and myself--arising from a circ.u.mstance that wounded me concerning a letter which interfered with my gratifying a request therein made by my dear Father before his death.

"'I am much concerned likewise to learn that you do not feel yourself on the same satisfactory terms as usual with your old friend Mrs. L. I regret this, because the Impression on my mind is, that she was your friend and that you were much attached to her. I hope therefore that before long that confidence in your mind will revive and that you will return to your old Habits of friendly intercourse with that lady which were heretofore so satisfactory to you.'

"These remarks on the part of the Duke had the desired effect and my intimacy with Mrs. L. was speedily renewed.

"In the Duke's next letter dated June 28th, 1844, he writes--'I am happy to learn that you are likely to be reconciled to Mrs. L. It is impossible that you should be otherwise than of a forgiving temper and disposition, particularly as I hope in this Case no voluntary cause for Irritation could have been given.'

"In the Duke's next letter dated July 1st he writes--'I am delighted to hear that you have renewed your old relations with Mrs. L. which I am convinced will prove satisfactory to you.'

"In the Duke's next letter dated July 3rd he writes--'I beg that you will have no scruple about writing to me on any paper, or at the moment most agreeable to you. I am aware of your occupations, that you write as well as read a great deal, that you write your thoughts as they occur to you, and that you do not attend to penmans.h.i.+p or Hand writing which however I a.s.sure you that I peruse with the greatest facility and always with satisfaction on account of the great interest which you express for my welfare.'"

LONDON, July 6, 1844.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have received regularly and have thanked you I believe for all the kind Letters which you have written to me, excepting one commenced on Wednesday night, and finished on thursday which reached me yesterday afternoon: and another commenced thursday afternoon which I received last night. I thank you for them all; you are most kind in writing to me: I beg you not to scruple about telling me what you think and feel. I can read your hand writing with great facility; particularly by day light, and I feel your kindness for me; and all that you express.

The Publick Duties in which I am employed occupy most of my Time: but knowing that it is satisfactory to you to receive a Note from me, I do not omit to write to you whenever I hear from you; as soon as the opportunity of doing so is afforded to me.

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

"The next letter from the Duke is dated July 10th, 1844, wherein he writes--'Your two letters reached me on Monday night. As I was occupied all day yesterday by the marriage of my Son [Endnote 3] it was not in my power to write to you and thank you for your letters, which I do now and for your continued kindness to me.'

"In the Duke's next letter dated July 12th he writes--'It is true that my time is much occupied by the various public duties which I have to perform and that it frequently occurs that I am under the necessity of postponing to thank you for your kindness and continued interest for my welfare. But you may rely upon it that however I may fail or rather delay to make my acknowledgments I feel your kindness and your expressions of it.'"

LONDON, July 15, 1844.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have to thank you for a very kind Letter commenced on friday evening and ended on Sat.u.r.day; which I received on that night. I think that I answered in a former letter all the queries which you had stated in yours?

But if I have been mistaken and you will let me know on what subject I will write upon it upon the first occasion.

I beg you not to attend to Interruptions at least so as to annoy you. I should not perceive such in your letters: which are invariably uniform in the expression of a kind Interest in my Welfare of which as well as of your kind expressions I am very sensible.

As I was going into Divine Service yesterday morning; a gentleman who met me told me that it had been reported on the previous day that I had met with a serious accident.

As this false report might reach and would annoy you; I avail myself of the first opportunity of telling you that I thank G.o.d!

there is not the slightest foundation for it. I have met with no accident and have not been better for twenty Years than I am at this moment.

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

"In the Duke's next letter of July 19th he writes; 'I hope that you will continue to write to me all that you feel and think. I cannot express to you how grateful I am for your anxiety for my welfare.'

"In the Duke's next letter dated July 24th he writes--'I am very much obliged to you for your continued anxiety for my welfare and I read with pleasure your expressions of kind interest for me.'"

LONDON, July 27, 1844.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--Since I last wrote to you; I have received one letter from you of the 24^th and two of the 25^th for all of which; and your continued kindness I thank you. I am very sensible of the freedom with which you write to me and tell me all that occurs to your Mind.

I do not yet know at what time the parliament will be prorogued: I should think in the end of August.

Notwithstanding the continued attendance; I continue thank G.o.d!

as well as ever.

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

"In the Duke's next letter dated July 31st he writes doubtlessly in reply to some enquiry on my part--'It is impossible for me to say at what period Parliament will be prorogued. I thank you for the beautiful lines which you have sent me.'"

LONDON, August 10, 1844.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--Many days have elapsed since I have been able to write you; but I have been again at Windsor Castle, upon the occasion of the Queen's confinement; and have besides been much occupied in Parl^t and elsewhere. I have received and thank you for your letters, the last received having been commenced on the 4^th and ended on thursday morning the 8^th. I am very sensible of your kindness in writing to me; notwithstanding that you had not heard from me.

I hope you are a.s.sured that when I do not write the cause is that I am much occupied and not that I am insensible or less sensible of your kindness.

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

"In the Duke's next letter dated Aug. 12th he writes--'I have just now received your kind letter written yesterday Morning, the 11th, and according to your desire I do not delay to acknowledge the receipt thereof as I understand that you are going out of Town to morrow.'

"The next letter of the Duke's of Aug. 14th--'I am sorry to hear that you do not feel very well but hope the Indisposition will be but short. The weather has been and still continues very bad and is but little inviting for a journey.'

"The Duke's next letter is dated Aug. 16th 'I am very sorry indeed to learn that any of your letters have been returned from the House to the Post Office opened and sent back to you. I have frequently told you to beware of the weight of your letters and to take care that each of them had upon it the proper stamp, etc. You who do not trouble yourself with the affairs of this world can form no idea of the extent of the occupation of those whose duty it is to attend to them.'

"In the Duke's next letter dated Aug. 22nd he writes 'I have been out of Town at Portsmouth and at Oxford with the Prince of Prussia since I wrote to you.'" [Endnote 4]