The Letters of the Duke of Wellington to Miss J. 1834-1851 Part 9

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 Comp^ts 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 a.s.sures 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 Comp^ts to Miss J. He returns many thanks for Her Note. The Duke will make enquiries respecting that of the 22^nd 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 Comp^ts to Miss J. He returns His thanks for her Letter of the 13^th.

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

The Duke a.s.sures 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 Comp^ts to Miss J. He returns His thanks for Her letter of the 15^th.

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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 t.i.tle 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 _repet.i.tion_ 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 a.s.sured, 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 G.o.d with HALF the zeal I served my King, etc."

"'That such may not be His Grace the Duke of Wellington's fearful state when the things of Time are giving place to those of Eternity, Miss J. continues fervently to hope, however _groundless_ at present such hopes may appear.

"'Nor would she hesitate to address him more frequently if she had not from long experience proved how little impression anything she writes or says is permitted to make either in his life or conversation, having no reason to imagine the slightest alteration has taken place in his worldly feelings from the moment she first beheld him to the present--on which account G.o.d seems to think proper to restrain her pen, and address--thus preventing her from being subject to receiving Notes as formal as they are unsatisfactory, the loss of which she cannot,--does not regret, being happier, infinitely happier when allowed by her gracious Heavenly Father to indulge in, and enjoy her former as well as present loved occupations. Yet when HE thinks proper to make her do either, she submits, and only then--as the pleasure once enjoyed on such occasions has long since fled, giving place to others more satisfying.

"'Miss J. does not for a single moment by the above acknowledgments mean to offend or displease His Grace which were she to find him labouring under any _serious_ afflictions either of body or mind she trusts her conduct would prove, as in the hour of necessity her desire would be to afford him comfort and consolation: and since he is so public a character as to insure such circ.u.mstances being _generally_ known Miss J. trusts they will be obliged to meet her eye or ear whenever G.o.d thinks proper to occasion the one or the other--which HE _can_ do at any moment, and to any extent, and WILL _if His Holy Name can be magnified thereby_.'

"I have underlined the above just as forwarded to His Grace.

"The Duke's next letter is dated Oct. 6th, in which he writes--'He returns his thanks for her letter of Sat.u.r.day just received' also the next, dated Oct. 11th contains his thanks.

"In the Duke's next letter of the 12th of Oct. he writes--'He returns many thanks for her letter of the 10th inst.,' and his letter of the 14th of Oct. acknowledges another from me.

"In the Duke's letter of Nov. 1st he writes 'The Duke is unable to give any other answer to Miss J.'s letters excepting His thanks for taking the trouble of writing them.'

"The next is dated Nov. 7th also containing his thanks, followed by one of the 15th, the last of that year."

CHAPTER VII.

ASPIRATIONS AND REBUFFS.

"The first letter I find for this year is dated Aug. 21st 1838 which I see contains an Enclosure of three sheets addressed to Her Majesty Queen Adelaide, sent for the Duke's perusal, also to be delivered by him into Her Majesty's hands, which he felt under the necessity of declining, consequently returned it to me--having written therein as follows.

"'It is impossible for me to be at all instrumental in transmitting a letter to the Queen Dowager. Her Majesty has Chamberlains and Ladies in attendance upon Her Whose duty it is to receive and lay before H. M. the letters addressed to Her. I could not interfere in the performance of their Duties. I could not be instrumental in forwarding an anonymous Letter however proper, respectful and dictated by the Highest Motives. I could not say that I did not know that the Letter was sent; or the Writer thereof if enquiry should be made; and I should make myself liable to the Imputation of being instrumental in the forwarding to the Queen Dowager an anonymous letter! I hope therefore that you will excuse me for declining to forward this Letter and for returning it to you.

"'You are mistaken give me leave to observe in respect to the Subject to which this Letter relates. The House in which the Queen resides is Royal property; if not a Royal Palace! It is Her Majesty's Jointure House. The Royal Palaces used as such are not liable to the payment of Rates and Taxes. Her Majesty would not have been justified in making the payment on demand without reservation of the Right to Exemption. But she pays the money as a Gift which was improperly and illegally demanded as a Right. You will see it is the Parish and not the Queen which has contravened the Lord.'

"Having thus introduced so much of the Duke's letter it will be necessary to quote some pa.s.sages from that referred to by him, which as implied still remains in the same position and will continue to do so among my papers for further investigation should such be resorted to after my decease; with the six cards that accompanied it, upon which are written in full: Matt. ii. 28, 29; Luke xvi. 15; Romans xii. 2; Isaiah xliii. 21; Acts xiv. 22; Hebrews xii. 6; John iii. 3; 2 Cor. v. 17; Rev. iii. 12; 1 John v.

3, 4; and James iv. 4.

"After addressing Her Majesty _at length_ on the subject alluded to by the Duke with every desire to render 'honour to whom honour,' I next refer to the necessity of reverencing the Sabbath, adding; 'I recollect on one occasion seeing in a Newspaper that the Duke of Wellington quitted Your Majesty at Hastings for Dover on The Lord's Day and slept at the s.h.i.+p Inn, on his way home.