The Letters of the Duke of Wellington to Miss J. 1834-1851 Part 26

And so on through pages of pious abuse.

The Duke's answer to this is characterized by a calm dignity in noticeable contrast to the petulance of most of his notes of this period.

LONDON, Feb. 12, 1851.

I beg Miss J.'s pardon if I misunderstood Her Letter; in which she understood what pa.s.sed on the day on which Parliament met! I understood that she had adverted to my attendance upon the honorary Service of the Queen!

In my Answer I observed that unless such services as well as other worldly Offices were attended to; the Affairs of the World would not go on so quietly as might be wished by those who like Miss J. thought more of Spirituals and of the next World! I hope that I do not fail in feeling due Humility upon all occasions!

And most anxious to merit approval where alone such can be of any avail! I have thought it proper to explain this to Miss J.; as I wish not to be misunderstood!

Her Most faithful Servant

WELLINGTON.

LONDON, Feb. 20, 1851.

F. M. the Duke of Wellington presents His Comp^ts to Miss J.! He has received Her Letter of the 17^th of which he acknowledges the receipt; in order to save her the trouble of making farther enquiries about it!

But he really entreats Her not to give herself the trouble of writing to him again!

It is obvious that the act of doing so irritates Miss J.! which cannot be beneficial to Her Health! He hopes that she will not write again!

Miss J. in her Diary for February 21st gives a copy of a note she wrote the Duke at this time:--

MY LORD DUKE,--I wrote to you on the 13th Inst. Whether you received it I know not, therefore acquaint you that such was the case. Feeling a.s.sured that there was nothing in that letter which in the sight of G.o.d ought to have displeased your Grace, I leave the consequences with Him accordingly, remaining Ever

His devoted Child and Servant

A. J.

The Duke's reply is as follows:--

LONDON, Feb. 22, 1851.

I received in due course Miss J.'s letter, but as I did not consider that its contents required any observation on my part; or tended to manifest Miss J.'s desire or wish to hear from me again, I did not think it really expected I acknowledge the receipt.

She did not in that letter and has not in this last mentioned Her Health, which I therefore hope continues to improve!

Her obedient Humble Servant

WELLINGTON.

Miss J. gives a copy of the letter she wrote the Duke after receiving the above, but, as she tells us, postponed sending it until she had laid the matter before the Lord:--

"Having written a long letter of four sides to the Duke, referring so unexpectedly and unintentionally to his neglect from time to time of one bestowed upon him by G.o.d Himself for his Spiritual aid, I now commit the same into His gracious Hands, beseeching Him to deal with it in whatever way is most calculated to promote His own honor and glory, preparing me accordingly for His great holy Name sake."

This letter was never sent, but in its place Miss J. despatched a shorter one, given below:

March 4th, 1851.

MY LORD DUKE,--As it is written, Yea, declared by Him "Who spake as never men spake" "By Me kings reign and princes decree justice" may that "Holy One" in this time of especial need incline Your Grace to look to and honor Him accordingly, for His great holy Name sake, and may HE graciously and condescendingly enable you to advise, direct, influence and comfort our beloved Sovereign bestowed upon us by Himself, as the first portion of Scripture quoted implies, (who appears at the present moment in so additionally interesting a light), in the way that is most agreeable to His unerring will, and in that most calculated to promote His honor and glory as "The Governor among the Nations;"

prays

His devoted Child and Servant

A. J.

LONDON, March 4, 1851.

At Night.

I have this night received Miss. J.'s letter written this day!

I had received in due course the Note written on the Monday in the previous week! I did not send an acknowledgment of the Receipt as I wished to avoid to give Miss J. the trouble of writing again!

However little Miss J. cares for the Affairs of this world, I entertain that she is satisfied with any arrangement calculated to be satisfactory to Her Majesty the Queen!

Her obedient Humble Servant

WELLINGTON.

MY LORD DUKE,--As you say that your silence arose from a desire to prevent my having the trouble of writing to you again, I presume such is not agreeable to Your Grace. Consequently until it pleases The Great "Lord of lords" to influence you to request me to do so I purpose, if HE permit, intruding on you no more, knowing that I have never given you any cause to make such a remark, considering nothing a trouble which G.o.d pleases me to do.

In reply to Your Grace's observation concerning my interest in Her Majesty I have only to observe that I consider it the duty of every real Christian to stand by the Sovereign G.o.d has thought proper to bestow upon us, in every time of necessity and danger, for His sake.

I remain, Ever His devoted Child and Servant,

A. J.

LONDON, March 10th, 1851.

It has so frequently occurred that I have unintentionally offended Miss J. that whenever I write it is with Caution! I confess likewise; that I don't much like to send letters through the hands of a third Person; of whom I know nothing! It is a liberty in my mind which I ought not to take!

I therefore wished that the correspondence should cease of itself; and that all friendly feeling should be continued! I know well that Miss J.'s Mind is occupied by Reflections on Spiritual things; and that she must despise the occupation of one who considers it His duty to serve the Public to the best of His Ability!

With due respect for Her Higher occupations, I hope she will excuse my adhering to my own Course of duty!

Ever Miss J.'s most faithfully obedient