SMOOTH WATERS.
LONDON, June 2, 1835.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I received your Note. We perfectly understand
each other; and with your permission I will call upon you
to-morrow at three o'clock.
There is only one point that I wish to explain in reference to
our last meeting. There might have been a difference of Manner.
There was none of feeling.
You told me that you had written to me; and I certainly was
anxious to possess your Letters. You certainly wished to take
them out of the Paquet; but if I had thought that your reluctance
to give them was deeply felt, you may rely upon it that I would
not have pressed to have them.
At all events my perusal of them has occasioned an explanation
which can do no Harm.
Believe me ever Yours most sincerely
W.
From this it appears that the personal interviews had recommenced. The
letters now follow one another closely.
LONDON, June 15, 1835.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have received your Letter of this Day, for
which I return many thanks.
I was not able to go to see you last week as I intended. I was
confined to my Home by Indisposition for some days; and I was
much occupied. I am going out of town to-morrow. But I hope to be
able to go to see [_sic_] on Saturday at three o'clock if you
should not at that time have left town for the Seaside?
I will bring with me the Letters and Books which you lent me. I
have read that one which you wish that I should return to you.
If you should go before I shall see you again I hope that you
will let me know where.
Believe me Ever Yours most sincerely
WELLINGTON.
Miss J. states that the book here alluded to was an account of the
conversion of the criminal Cook, and touches upon her instrumentality
in bringing about this result.
LONDON, June 22nd, 1835.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have read all your Letters since I saw you on
Saturday. Why do you not send each of them to me when you write
it?
I think that you will have perceived on Saturday that you was
mistaken in the Notion under which you wrote some of them.
We may differ in opinion and I may be in Error. But I assure you
that I cannot feel otherwise than grateful to you for your
kindness to me; and respect and veneration for the Motives for
it.
Let me know before you go out of town that I may not misdirect a
Letter to you.
Believe me Ever Yours most sincerely,
WELLINGTON.
In the latter part of June Miss J. went to Ramsgate. The Duke's letter
of July 1st is directed there:--
LONDON, July 1st, 1835.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I am very sorry if in my Letter of Monday I
should have said a Word which could have hurt your feelings. I
think that by this time you ought to be convinced that I could
not intend to do so.
I might have done so erroneously. I might have been misled by
circumstances. But I could not willingly hurt the feelings of any
body.
In this particular case you forget that you asked the Question
whether your letters were not overweight. I told you that they
were.
I likewise informed you of a Rule which we are all under the
necessity of adopting; that is of returning Letters over weight;
because too many Persons are in the habit of thinking that they
may inclose their Letters to a well known Person; and the Charge
becomes enormous. Under these circumstances my Porter has the
usual order not to take in Letters overweight; which he generally
returns; unless I should happen to be in the House when he
enquires. I stated the fact very shortly, as I generally do; in
answer to a question from yourself; and I pointed out to you that
if you desired to write to me more than you could put in two
Sheets, you should put your Letter in two or three or more
covers.
You must not be so susceptible. Rely upon it, that many many
Years will pass over your Head; before I shall intentionally
offend you.
Believe me Ever Yours most sincerely
W.
July 7, 1835.
I have received your two Letters My Dear Miss J., and according
to your desire I write immediately.
My writing is not very legible by a person not accustomed to it.
But I never could have intended to apply the word mistrust to
you.
You expressed apprehension that your Letters might be seen by a
third person; as they might have been returned to the Post
Office.
I did not write the word _relatives_ but _relations_, and that
not in the meaning of relatives. I adverted to your ordinary
relations with other persons, which I said must be attended by
some observance of their Habits and Customs.
However, there is an end of this matter. I hope that your writing
to me will never be disturbed again by any checks or
difficulties; or expressions which I assure you can never be
intended to convey any meaning but one of kindness towards you,
and of admiration of your Talents, your character and your
Devotion to what is good. Believe me Ever Yours most sincerely
W.
Of the following letters Miss J. gives extracts in her Diary. There are
few of his epistles in which the Duke fails to express his thanks to
Miss J. for her kindness in writing to him. However gratifying this may
have been to her, the constant repetition becomes monotonous to the
indifferent reader. Miss J. writes:--
"The next letter from His Grace is dated July 11th, 1835, in which
he writes--'You are mistaken in thinking that I at all disapprove
of the independence of character and conduct which I had observed.
I hope that you may never feel otherwise towards me than in the
State of Independence to say and write to me whatever your mind may
suggest.'
"In his letter of July 18th the Duke writes--'I thank you for your
Letter received this morning. What I meant by reflection was not to
call your attention to anything particularly passing in the world,
but to the impressions made upon your own mind by any circumstance
you might have observed.----You will tell me that God will direct
you. So He will. But He has given us a Mind, the power of comparing
and reflecting, of deciding what is true and what is false and He
requires us to exercise our judgment in Matters on which He has
given us the capability of forming judgment. You'll tell me that I
am acting your part and teaching you instead of attending to you.
But I beg you observe it is only in explanation of what I wrote to
you in a former letter upon the subject of your change of opinion
respecting an individual at Ramsgate.'
"The Duke here refers to a Preacher who had spoken in the open air
at Ramsgate of whom I had previously written."
"The Duke's next letter implies that he understood I was about to
return to Town, inducing him to express an intention of calling on
me but such was not the will of The Lord of Lords, therefore I did
not accede to it, but proceeded expeditiously from Ramsgate to
Harrowgate. Here His Grace's letters followed me."
LONDON, July 24th, 1835.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I received your Letter by the Post written on
Wednesday; and have this day received that written in London to
inform me that you was about to go to Harrowgate. I am much
obliged to you for both.
It is true that I am in the habit of writing Answers to all
Letters. But I feel great satisfaction in writing to some; to
those in particular from whom I am desirous of receiving Letters;
and who express a Desire to hear from me.
I am very glad that you corrected your first Impressions
respecting your Preacher. I believe that we cannot too frequently
pass in review our opinions upon what passes before us. We shall
find ourselves frequently in Error.
I sincerely hope that the Waters of Harrowgate, may have the
effect of restoring Your Health entirely. Believe me Ever Yours
most sincerely
W.
LONDON, August 3, 1835.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have received your letter of the 31st and I
am really much concerned to learn that I have again created a
feeling of displeasure in your Mind by having omitted to notice
the Inconvenience which you felt upon your Journey to Harrowgate.
There is always Inconvenience in travelling in a Stage Coach. It
cannot be otherwise. Indeed it is wonderful that there should be
so little; and I must observe that there is less of a physical
and personal Nature in travelling in this Manner in England than
elsewhere. The Inconvenience felt in England is of a moral and
mental description. It is formed of the trash and nonsense which
a traveller is condemned to hear in these vehicles; because every
body talks; and says not what he thinks but what the fancy of the
Moment suggests. For this which was the particular Inconvenience
which you suffered upon this Journey, there is no remedy, but
_Patience;_ and I would add _Silence_.
You would practice neither. You would not sit _patiently_ and
hear the stupid Irreligion of the Talker; you would reply to Him;
and this occasioned much of the Annoyance which occurred.
I find that I am again taking your part, instead of my own. I do
so in my own satisfaction. If you are not satisfied with my
observations, you will at least perceive that I had read, nay
more reflected upon your Letter and the account you gave of
yourself.
But why should you torment yourself by thinking that I did not
read, and did not care for what you represented that you
suffered. You must be aware that you are mistaken! Believe me
Ever Yours most sincerely
W.
"I presume from the Duke's next letter that I had given him a
description of my interview and acquaintance with Major and Mrs. P.
as he therein writes--'I am very happy that you have again seen
Major and Mrs. P. I don't wonder that they should have been
desirous of finding you.'
"In his next, dated the 4th, he writes--'I hope, indeed I am
certain that you will not cease to write to me what you feel and
that you will excuse me if I sometimes venture to act your part
although not exactly in your department. I came down to the house
of Lords directly after the Post arrived and I am writing to you
from thence.' Judging by the next letter, dated August 6th, I had
made some enquiry concerning Major P. as the Duke replies thus, 'I
don't recollect Major P. But as nearly every officer in the Army
who has served has served with me I don't doubt that he has. Ask
him in what regiment he served.'"
LONDON, August 7, 1835.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I beg pardon again for having omitted to notice
the personal Inconvenience you suffered in your Journey to and
your arrival in Harrowgate. I should have thought the impertinent
Blasphemy of the Travellers in the Stage Coach would have annoyed
you more than any personal inconvenience.
I see no chance of my quitting London; or of having one moment's
respite from Business. I passed twelve Hours yesterday; and I am
going to pass twelve Hours this day in the House of Peers. I hope
therefore that I shall see you even though your stay in
Harrowgate should be prolonged more than you expect.
Believe me Ever Yours most sincerely
W.
This, with the other letters given entire, is copied from the original
MS. in the Duke's handwriting. Miss J. quotes only a line from the
above, and goes on to one written the next day:--
"In that dated the 8th of August the Duke writes 'I don't consider
with you that it is necessary to enter into a disputation with
every wandering Blasphemer--much must depend upon the
circumstances. But I must say that the Meekness of the Christian is
better displayed by silence on such an occasion, and more good is
done by contempt than by any disputation. However I may be wrong
and you right and I only suggest my own opinion.'
"In the Duke's letter dated August 8th he alludes kindly to my
health, adding 'I am very much flattered by your letters but I hope
that you will not think it necessary to write when it will produce
pain or uneasiness to make such an exertion. As long as your
silence will not be attributed to your being offended at anything I
may have done or written, or may have omitted I shall regret it as
it will prove to me that you are indisposed but I shall not feel
that you are displeased.' By the Duke's next letter, dated August
12th, I presume I had referred to his time being so much occupied
as he in reply writes 'It is true that I am very much occupied, and
cannot tell when I shall be less so. But I am at all times happy to
hear from you and to write you an answer in return.'
"In the Duke's little lecturing letter of the 13th of August he
writes; 'I beg you not to hesitate about writing to me whenever it
can be agreeable to you. I am not capable of answering you and
quoting Chapter and verse in support of my answer but I take from
your own letter a word which I think supports my opinion, "Charity
beareth all things." You will quote much to show that you ought to
enter the lists upon every occasion that offers or rather that is
intruded upon you, etc, etc, etc. You see that I am fast taking
your part from you.'
"O that you could! for it was my desire that the Duke should become
a Paul in his generation, sitting at his feet accordingly.
"In the Duke's letter of the 14th of August he writes--'My
attendance in the House of Lords is not at this moment so constant
as it was some days ago. Yet its business occupies much of my time
in the morning but I have some for other purposes.'
"By the Duke's letter of the 17th I must have assured him of my
intention to return to Town--for he writes--'I shall not have left
London when you will return and I will certainly call upon you as
soon as I shall have heard where you will be. I shall still be as I
am now, much occupied with the Business of Parliament but I don't
doubt that I shall be able to find a moment to call upon you either
in the morning or the evening.'
"In the Duke's letter of the 18th he kindly advises me not to
travel at night fearing it may prove injurious adding 'I have more
experience than most persons in travelling.'
"In the Duke's letter of August 19th he writes as follows--'I write
to you constantly in return for your letters and I find time to do
so without inconvenience, but I am afraid that I shall not be able
to go to see you with so much fidelity. A visit takes time, to
write a letter is an affair of a few minutes. I am never in Town
excepting during the sitting of Parliament and then only when there
is much business to be transacted which occupies my whole time.'
"By the Duke's of the 20th I must have complained of the
worldliness, etc. around me for he writes after remarking thereon;
'But if you should recover your health there you must not mind the
annoyance of the irregularities of what is called the Company.' The
Duke kindly says in his next, dated August 21st, 'I hope you are
not coming away sooner than is good for you.'
"In the Duke's next letter of the 22nd of August he writes--'I
shall expect to hear from you when you will arrive and will be
settled in London and I will pay you a visit as soon afterwards as
it will be in my power.'
"The next letter from the Duke is dated August 26th, implying he
proposed calling when in his power, but adds 'You arrive at a
moment in which I am much occupied. You are at some distance from
hence; and I don't think that from nine in the morning till 12 at
night I could easily find half an hour which I can call my own and
at my disposition.'
"In the Duke's letter of the 27th he writes; 'I will endeavor to
call upon you this day before three. I cannot afterwards. If I
should call when you don't expect me I will send up that I am the
Gentleman to whom you wrote; unless I should previously hear from
you that I may mention my Name.'
"Which of course I did not allow, as it was not my desire to be
noticed in the neighborhood, shrinking from it then, as I do now,
when it can be avoided. I recollect the Duke's visit well for he
had to wait until I was dressed by dear Mrs. L. who was in the
house at the time, as usual, for I think he came earlier than I had
expected. Consequently in his next of the 29th he writes; 'I don't
see why you are to take the trouble of dressing to receive me. But
that is your own affair. If you should do so I can wait with
Patience.'
"This was very pretty in His Grace, but as my dress was always very
simple, it did not require any great exercise of that virtue.
"By the Duke's next letter of Sept. 1st I fear another letter is
missing as he writes therein 'Mine of yesterday morning will have
informed you that I was obliged to attend the King at Windsor on
Saturday and a part of His family at Kew on Sunday.--I did not say
that _all_ my time was passed in the House of Lords. Much of it is
certainly passed out of the House, but a great part of it is passed
in receiving and talking to the Hundreds, I may say, of the persons
who have business in the House and come to converse on the business
with me.'
"In the Duke's next letter of Sept. 4th he writes; 'I received this
morning your letter of yesterday, but have not received the Tract
that you mention. It is possibly too heavy for the 2nd Post.'
"Perhaps this was the case, as I do not recollect hearing any more
of it. The next letter from His Grace is dated the same, Sept. 4th,
Noon, in which he writes; 'I will endeavor to fix and let you know
the time in which I can wait upon you again.'
"The Duke's next is dated Sept. 5th, in which he writes; 'I was in
the House of Lords from 5 in the evening till two this morning. I
am much obliged to you for the Tract which I will return as soon as
I shall have perused it.' I presume this must have been a little
book entitled The Joy of Israel as I only _lent_ that to people,
its having been a Gift, for it is still in my possession. In the
Duke's next, dated Sept. 7th, the Duke writes--'I have received
your letter written on Saturday for which I return you many thanks.
I am very sorry that I am so much occupied as to be unable to make
my acknowledgments in person.'
"The Duke's next letter of Sept. 9th acknowledges one from me
wherein I presume I have shown submission to the Divine will
concerning the difficulty attending his visits for he writes;
"'This could not be otherwise. In the mean time be assured that I
am anxious to have the pleasure and benefit of conversing with you
as often as it may be in my power to see you.'"
A few passages taken from Miss J.'s Diary at this time are interesting
as displaying the intimate friendship that at this period existed
between her and the Duke. On the 6th of September she writes:--
"I have been here (in London,) nearly a fortnight, yet have seen
the Duke only twice, but receive letters daily,--and last night a
particularly kind one. I have been expecting him, but he comes not,
being so occupied with his Parliamentary business. What can I say
to such things but this,--'Shall not the Judge of all the earth do
right?' and, 'Has HE not a right to do what HE will with His own?'
"_September 10th._ I wrote to the Duke to-day and hope the Lord
will permit him to receive and answer it kindly. The Subject on
which I addressed him was on Christ becoming sin for us and bearing
the wrath of the Father. O Lord, I pray Thee, have mercy upon his
precious soul!
"_September 14th._ I shall have been here three weeks to morrow,
during which I have seen the Duke four times, and will just allude
to the subjects introduced during each visit.
"The first brought with it remarks on TRUE Nobility, obliging me to
declare it is to be found only in _Christ_ and _His Righteousness_
in man. I mentioned what St. Paul said when contrasting the Bereans
with the Thessalonians, namely, 'These were more NOBLE than those
_in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness_
of mind, and _searched the Scriptures_ DAILY, _whether these things
were so_.'
"During the second visit, I read to him the 49th Psalm and
particularly called his attention to the last verse thereof thus
written--'Man that is in honour and understandeth not, is like the
beasts that perish,' reminding him they were GOD'S _Words_.
"During his third visit I told him I should like to be hated of all
men for Christ's sake! and during his fourth and last that he did
not believe Christ to be The Son of God! since which I have written
to him daily and the first reply I receive is one calculated to
produce another check to my feelings, all of which I give up
entirely to the Lord, imploring Him to govern and actuate them just
as HE sees His own honor and glory require, causing me to make
nothing a consideration in comparison therewith."
One can hardly imagine the Iron Duke, the conqueror of Napoleon, the
representative of the nation in foreign councils, the ex-Prime
Minister, the man upon whom his country delighted to heap honors,
hearkening meekly to these homilies from pretty lips upon what
constituted true nobility. It is impossible to believe that his secret
feelings were not those of amusement, however respectful his outward
semblance. Nor is there much room for question as to whether he would
have listened with as commendable patience had his lecturer been a man
or a plain-faced woman advanced in years.