=Source.=--_The Life of the Duke of Wellington_, by G. R. Gleig.
_Letter from the Duke of Wellington to the Rev. H. M. Wagner._
"Hatfield, 10th October, 1824.
"My dear Sir,
"I have received your letter of the 7th, to which I proceed to give
an answer; and I request you to communicate it to my sons, which
will save both me and them trouble.
"After all inquiries which I have made, I believe that the
allowance which they ought to have, and which would go nearest to
provide for their education at Oxford, excluding a private tutor,
but including everything else, would be for Douro, who will be
entered as a nobleman, £800 per annum, including his half-pay; and
for Charles, who will be entered as a gentleman commoner, £500 per
annum, besides his half-pay. I therefore, by this post, direct
Messrs. Coutts to pay Douro £200, and Charles £125, on the 1st
October, 1st January, 1st April, and 1st July, each year, beginning
with the 1st inst.
"I beg that Charles will observe that I make him this allowance, at
present, in order that he may defray the expenses of his education.
He must recollect, however, that he is only a younger brother, and
that it is not at all clear that he will ever have so much again,
unless he should make it by his own industry and talent; and I beg
you will tell them both that when I entered the world I had just
the sum for the whole year which I now give Charles every quarter.
"I intend that these allowances shall cover all expenses of every
description; and I have reason to believe them so ample that I
expect they will not run in debt; particularly as I begin by paying
them in advance, and as I will take upon myself the following
expenses:
"The entrance fees at the college and university for both.
"The expenses of the nobleman's and gentleman-commoner's gowns.
"They must pay for the furniture of their rooms themselves, but if
you should think the expense too heavy upon them immediately, I
would advance the money, and they can repay me hereafter.
"I give them the horses which they now have with them, of which
they may dispose as they may think proper; and they may take any
servants they please out of my house or stables, they, of course,
paying their wages, and also their expenses, from the time of their
leaving me.
"Accordingly, if you let me know what the entrance-money is, and
the expense of the gowns, I will send you the money.
"I beg you to impress upon them that there is but one certain and
infallible way of avoiding debt, that is, first, to determine
to incur no expense, to defray which the money is not in their
pockets; secondly, to pay the money immediately for everything they
get, and for every expense they incur. They will then be certain
that everything they have is their own, and they will know at all
times what they can and what they cannot do. There is nothing so
easy, provided they begin in time; and I give them these ample
allowances, and pay them beforehand, purposely that they may at
once pay for everything the moment they get it.
"They should, in adopting this system, advert to the expenses
of the college, which they have to defray themselves, their
servants' wages and clothes, the keep of their horses, and lay
by a sufficiency to defray their expenses till the 1st January.
The remainder will be their own, and they will lay it out as they
please; observing always, that if this remainder is laid out
uselessly or idly, and they act up rigidly to the system of paying
for everything at the time they get it, they may want clothes or
other necessaries, or reasonable gratifications, before the quarter
will expire.
"I think it best to remind them of all this, because I hope that
they and I will have no further discussion upon these subjects.
In respect of their studies, I am very anxious about their
mathematics, as essential to those who serve in the army. If you
will let me know what the course is in the university, I will give
you my opinion upon other matters. They should likewise have a
perfect knowledge of modern geography and history, of course, but I
shall hear further from you on these points. I will go and see them
shortly after they shall have gone to Oxford, where they ought to
be on the 14th. They had better probably go to Strathfieldsaye to
make their arrangements for their departure, as soon as you will
receive this letter.
"I wish you would let each of them keep a copy of this letter, and
send me one."