The Letters of the Duke of Wellington to Miss J. 1834-1851 Part 15

LONDON, Sept. 2, 1844.

Morning.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I write to you now as I am under the necessity of going out of Town to Windsor Castle from whence I shall not be permitted to return till late on Wednesday.

I found a crowd around my horses after I quitted you on Sat.u.r.day and I was followed away by the same persons who had followed me to your part of the Town.

I enclose what I told you that I would send you; it appears to me to be a good likeness, judging from the recollection of other Busts.

I will write to you as soon as I am certain at what time I can call upon you.

Ever Yours most faithfully,

WELLINGTON.

Miss J. writes in her Diary for this date:

"The Duke told me that a _boy_ from his _own_ door called after him, attracting others accordingly all the way. This annoyed him particularly on my account, as he was aware of my objection to notice, notwithstanding that I was at the time under Mrs. L.'s roof, where all the visits referred to took place and under her protection."

Of the picture to which the Duke refers, Miss J. thus writes, after his death:--

"This was his own Picture in wax, made by himself and was an impression conveying a striking resemblance. It is made upon one of his own Cards, cut in _half_. On this is engraved 'Field M. The Duke of ----.' How this valuable Article is eventually to be disposed of, I wait upon The Lord of Lords, who permitted it to be bestowed upon me, to point out. He must determine whether it is to be sent to the British Museum, as a remembrance of one who in His Hands was permitted to become the preserver of our nation, or to be disposed of for the propagation of Christianity among the Jews in whom I am so deeply interested. Whichever it may be I trust that His Holy Name will be magnified, on account of its having been bestowed on one so devoted to the poor Duke's everlasting welfare, during the last eighteen years of his life,--his _eventful_ life!"

LONDON, Sept. 6, 1844.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I did not return from Windsor Castle till late on Wednesday. I was in the field with the Troops yesterday Morning; in the House of Lords from one o'clock till the Parliament was prorogued and in the Public Offices till between six & seven in the evening. Now I am about to return to Windsor Castle this afternoon for the Christening of the Infant Prince and I shall not return till night or possibly to-morrow. Here they are crying out for me in the levee Robes. Under these Circ.u.mstances I cannot fix a time at which I could go to pay you a visit.

Ever Yours most faithfully,

WELLINGTON.

The infant prince here referred to was Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh.

LONDON, Sept. 7, 1844.

Morning.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I write you thus early; as I see clearly that it will not be possible for me to go to see you this day.

I did not reach Home from Windsor Castle last night; till after half past twelve, and I am now required to go into the Cinque Portes.

Continue to direct to My House in London. I shall be back in a few days.

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

"In a letter of Sept. 9th the Duke writes from Walmer; 'My duty has obliged me to come to this part of the Country. I will return to London as soon as it will be in my power and with your permission will call upon you. It is very true that I am as well known everywhere as in my own House and that I am followed everywhere, and all that I do observed and commented upon according to the inclinations of those who think proper to follow and observe me. I am therefore anxious not to expose you or your abode to such observations.'

"The Duke's next letter is from Walmer, dated Sept. 11th, wherein he writes, after thanking me for my letter; 'I am as usual very much employed but I thank G.o.d, quite well.' In the Duke's next letter, dated Sept. 12th, he writes; 'I again express my grat.i.tude to you for your continued kindness and good wishes. I will go to see you as soon as I shall return to Town, of course giving you Notice.'

"The next letter from the Duke is dated Sept. 21st, in which he writes--'I am under the necessity of going out at a very early hour in the Morning and I do not return till night. But your kindness is always welcome to me and I wish that it was in my power at all times immediately to acknowledge the receipt of it.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Sept. 24th, he writes--'I am very grateful for your constant and continued kindness: you may rely upon it that if not immediately responded to it is because my time is so much occupied at a distance from my Residence.' In the Duke's letter of the 27th of Sept. he thanks me for my letters of the 24th and one concluded on Wednesday afternoon, purposing to call if in his power.

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Sept. 30th, he writes--'I am very happy to learn that you are not separated from Mrs. L. as soon as you expected.'

"The commencement of Oct. brought me a letter from the Duke dated Oct. 1st, acknowledging mine previously forwarded.

"I see there is a letter dated Oct. the 5th in which the Duke writes; 'I write one line to apprize you that I am in Town and that I will endeavour to go to see you at three this day.'"

WINDSOR, Sat.u.r.day Evening, Oct. 12, 1844.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have been here since the day after I left London; having gone to and returned from Portsmouth.

I have received two letters from you the last commenced on Wednesday evening and finished, on Friday morning or rather later in the day on Friday after you had taken a Lodging No. 4 Fitz Roy Street Fitz Roy Square.

There is no Post from hence to London this evening and I am going this night to my own House in Hamps.h.i.+re, where I shall put this letter in the Post tomorrow; and it will reach you on Monday. I am going there on my way to Portsmouth for the embarkation of the King of the French. I shall go there please G.o.d! on Monday morning.

I cannot say when I shall be able to return to London. But I will write to you; I am very sensible of your kindness in writing to me although I have been so much occupied and so constantly in movement that I have not been able to thank you.

I hope that you will find your new Lodgings quiet; and comfortable.

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

WALMER CASTLE, Oct. 17, 1844.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I arrived here yesterday evening having been in movement since I quitted my own House in Hants on Monday morning to go to Portsmouth to meet the King of the French. I was out during the thunder, Lightning and Rain on that day; and travelled afterwards: and thank G.o.d! after all this movement and exposure I am just as well as ever. [Endnote 5]

I have to thank you for all your Letters; the last in answer to mine written before I quitted Windsor Castle; but sent from my House in Hamps.h.i.+re in which I enquired how you liked your new Residence.

I am much obliged to you for your continued kindness. I will go to see you as soon as I shall return to London. But I cannot yet say at what time that will be: as I am called away so frequently for other Affairs; and I have still much to occupy my attention in this part of the Country.

Your last letter was commenced on Monday the 14^th and ended on Tuesday.

I am very certain that I have received all your Letters, and I am very sensible of your kindness in writing to me; particularly one on five sheets of paper commenced on the 7^th of Octo^r.

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.