THE FINAL RUPTURE.
Early in 1850 Miss J. accidentally received a painful blow in the
breast. A tumor soon developed, that caused her great suffering.
Frequent references to her "affliction" are found in her Diary for this
year and the next. She wrote an account of the occurrence to the Duke,
and received the following reply, quoted from the Diary:--
"'I was much concerned on receiving this intelligence, but I hope
that the consequences will not be so serious as I had apprehended.
I hope that you will take care of yourself and not move at this
severe season from your comfortable dwelling till you will be
well.'
"Anyone would perhaps conclude by the Duke's remark that he had
seen my house but as such was never the case I presume my
description thereof had made this impression, alluding to it
accordingly, for however much I may and did wish it to be honored
with his presence, I found such was not apparently His will Who
declares the Way of man is not in himself.
"In the Duke's next letter, dated March 18th, he refers to my dear
Sister being with me as follows--'I am very sensible of this last
circumstance and of the kindness and necessity of her attention to
you during your illness.'
"A parcel from me having been left at the Duke's house he writes
referring to the same."
STRATHFIELDSAYE, April 3, 1850.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I received a letter from you yesterday evening;
another this morning dated the 2^nd Ins^t, both about a Parcel
left at my House by your Sister!
I am very much concerned that the regulations which I have been
under the necessity of making and enforcing in respect to the
Reception of Parcels at my House should have been inconvenient to
you or your sister.
But I have been under the necessity of ordering my Servants not
to receive parcels; without previous orders from me! in order to
prevent my private dwelling being made the Deposit of all the
Trash that is written, invented, or in any manner made up! You
find that I am frequently out of town. You wrote me that you
would send a parcel but I received the notification only last
night, and this morning one later; complaining that the Porter
refused to take the Parcel. I am very sorry for any thing that
can annoy you!
But I cannot prevent this now that my Duties and avocations call
me to a distance from London! But I have not yet acquired the
practice of being in two places at the same time: that is to say
in London to receive your letters and Parcels or those of your
sister; and in the Country, about my Duties and avocations.
If you will only reflect upon this! You will relieve yourself
from great anxiety, and me from the vexation of annoying you.
Ever Yours most faithfully
WELLINGTON.
I will review the contents of the Parcel as soon as I shall
return to London in some days hence.
LONDON, April 5, 1850.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I returned to London this day and immediately
enquired for the Parcel. I will peruse the Books which you have
sent as soon as I shall have leisure.
Ever yours most faithfully
WELLINGTON.
"This largest book was a book of my brother-in-law's on Prison
discipline. What other books accompanied it I have forgotten.
"In the Duke's next letter, dated April 26th, he writes--'I
anxiously hope that you will soon be quite well.' Again, in his
next letter, dated April 29th, he writes--'I hope that this fine
weather which may be expected at this season of the year will
altogether reestablish your health.'
"By the Duke's next letter, dated May 21st, I must have referred to
some thoughts of leaving England--as he writes--'I can understand
your desire to avoid separating from your sister. I hope that you
will let me know of your safe arrival in the United States and
State your correct address in legible Hand writing if you should
wish that I should write to you.'"
LONDON, June 5, 1850.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have this morning received your Note directed
to me, in which you ask to know whether I had before received a
letter to inform me that your Voyage to the United States had
been set aside.
I had answered every letter I had received. I do not recollect to
have received a letter containing this information!
I am very glad to learn that you had set aside this Intention.
Ever Yours most faithfully.
WELLINGTON.
"In the Duke's next letter, dated June 15th, he writes 'I have just
now received your letter of the 15th. As I receive thousands of
letters in a week it is impossible for me to say whether I received
one from you put into the Post Office Friday Week.'
"'I answer invariably, as I do this night at midnight, as soon as I
receive your letter if due. I am much concerned but hope that you
may recover entirely.'
"It is very evident that from this period Satan was permitted to
work in the Duke's mind, weakening consequently the power I had
been permitted to exercise, by rendering my communications tedious,
for in his next letter, dated May 14th 1850 he writes, 'Knowing
your extreme sensitiveness about letters, their contents, the
manner in which signed, sealed and folded up, I have always been
most cautious about any letters sent you! Indeed, such Caution is
quite laborious!'"
LONDON, July 4, 1850.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I am very sensible of your kindness in
recollecting that I should feel exceedingly the loss of Sir
Robert Peel!
I assure you that I write to you whenever there is occasion and
that I can have a moment's leisure! But a person who does not see
it can have no notion of the Numbers of letters which I receive
at all times of the day and night. Every body who hears of this
applies to me; the least that I can do is to read and take care
of and return the required acknowledgment. I am not surprised
that you should be disappointed and complain! But I really write
when I can!
Your most faithful Servant,
WELLINGTON.
"In the Duke's next letter, dated July 9th, he writes--'I am much
concerned to learn by the perusal of your Note of the 8th that you
are still suffering. I am very sorry to hear that you are likely to
lose the society of your Sister.'
"In the Duke's next letter, dated July 12th, he writes--'I entreat
you to write legibly and to avoid fatiguing yourself by writing too
much.'
"Part of the Copy of a letter written to the Duke, July 8th, 1850,
in reference to my dear Sister's leaving me.'
"'I dare not on this occasion indulge the hope of my dear Sister's
continuation in England, she having this morning received a letter
which renders it necessary that she should return home and I must
pray to God to give me grace and strength to bear such a
separation, Who alone can prevent my sinking under these various
surrounding perplexities, for when she is gone I shall not have
anyone but Himself to look to, with the exception of yourself to
whom I have much to say if I could but consider it His Will that I
should repose in you accordingly. O that HE may direct me and
influence you to receive all I have to communicate in whatever way
to His unerring Will prays yours devotedly.'"
The final quarrel was now approaching. The account of it is best given
in Miss J.'s own words, omitting, as heretofore, a large proportion of
the Biblical quotations.
"May The Lord enable me to proceed as HE would have me do for His
great holy name sake! for when, or how, to commence a description
of the circumstances in which I was placed with regard to pecuniary
matters, I know not. However, having besought the Lord to aid me I
will at once state that my own Income, limited at best, had become
still more so through a fire which took place on the property
mortgaged, rendering it so small that it was impossible to live
upon it without further help added! Meanwhile, the landed property
we had expected to possess appeared, through a Will drawn out at a
later date to belong to the younger branches of our family, which
was a dreadful disappointment to my beloved Sister. She had buoyed
up her hopes that _her_ portion thereof, united to mine would
compensate for hopes which could now no longer be anticipated. This
rendered her grief on my account additionally distressing, causing
her to reason with and beseech me to spread the whole affair before
the Duke. From the very thought of this I recoiled unutterably,
thus inducing her to reproach me with a want of due affection and
consideration for herself, as my death would be insupportable and
must necessarily take place if she left me in England so situated.
At length, considering as she had justly remarked that the Duke's
abundant riches were bestowed upon him by God to do good with when
in his power and that any aid afforded me could never be
sufficiently great to admit of his feeling the loss thereof; also
considering the gold and silver are _The Lord's_ Who could
consequently dispose of it accordingly, ... therefore it appeared a
_duty_ due to God and man to appeal to the Duke Who in _God's_
sight may _justifiably_ have been expected to become a father unto
me under _such_ circumstances. That, too, as above observed,
without feeling the consequences thereof any more than the Ocean
would miss a bubble that had appeared on its surface and then
vanished forever.
"O that I could pass over this part of my life in silence! But such
does not appear to me consistent with the will of God. Therefore I
must proceed and prepare to introduce the letter first addressed to
His Grace on this subject.
"July 11, 1850.
"After waiting all day yesterday, desirous to resume my pen, yet
unable to do so through conflicting feelings, I deferred it until
to day, hoping to make a commencement to the details and complete
it by degrees as my strength may admit. First of all, I thank you
for your prompt reply to my last, which becomes my encouragement
for thus intruding upon you particulars to which nothing but the
most absolute necessity could ever have reconciled me....
"I resume my pen after a brief interval to tell you that a remark
made in one of your letters after my dear Mrs. L.'s death,--namely,
'I do not know your circumstances,' combined with the remembrance
of your never to be forgotten kindness in once affectionately
exclaiming 'My Child!'--unite in encouraging me to think that you
have but to know them (the circumstances,) in order to take such
into due consideration and act thereon accordingly. O that God may
enable me to relate and you, My dearest Duke, to receive the
relation in whatever way is most agreeable to His unerring will!
And may any and every valued attention extended to me be regarded
by Him in the light which is calculated to call down upon your
precious head eventually the consequences springing from those
blessed words. 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these
My children, ye have done it unto ME.' '_Enter thou into the joy of
thy Lord!_'
"When I had arrived thus far I was too much affected to proceed and
was relieved by a burst of tears,--for who among all your earthly
friends will feel half so rejoiced at your being so distinguished
by the Great 'Lord of Lords' as one who has loved you so
disinterestedly and devotedly? But since my own feelings as well as
your wishes require brevity I must proceed.
"At my beloved Mother's death, a Deed of Gift entitled me to a
small Income which afterwards for my advantage was placed on a
Mortgage by my Trustees, but which through a dreadful fire proved
the reverse eventually, as I have found since my poor Guardian's
death that the expenses or losses deriving therefrom were deducted
from the principal of the Property. This leaves me, consequently,
when again sold into the Funds, entitled to an Income quite
inadequate to my support, although hoping that some landed Property
would sell advantageously and become compensation for the same. My
Sister felt most anxious that at such a time as this I should have
every advantage, my _life_ depending upon nourishment and support.
She therefore wrote to make enquiries concerning the sale of the
Property, when to our disappointment a letter arrived showing that
neither my sister or self were entitled to any portion thereof, it
having been at a later period made over to the younger branches of
the family. Consequently all her fondest wishes to render me
through such means all that aid which her affectionate heart could
desire have been hereby frustrated, leaving her in the greatest
distress of mind at the thought of being obliged to quit me thus
situated, namely, with two wounds arising from the blow and another
about to break. These occasion a drain on my constitution which
threatens to take away all my strength, reducing my frame
accordingly.
"The Medical Gentlemen impress upon my dear Sister the idea that I
must die if I do not receive sufficient nourishment to supply the
loss such occasion. These produce the most violent and continued
perspirations, requiring the most strengthening things, namely,
jellies, wines, soups, etc., etc., as they say it is a complete
battle between the disease and the constitution. Which will conquer
remains for Time to prove. Dr. P. further tells her that I may go
on thus for three years and yet recover if great care is taken of
me, as the lump since it has broken is considerably smaller. It is
hoped that the linseed poultices will eventually draw it entirely
away if my strength can only cope therewith. He also says that I
ought to have a Nurse with me by night as well as by day,
continually, as I am much too exhausted and debilitated to be left
alone. This expense would in itself be more than the whole of my
Income is adequate to defray. Consequently, it would appear that it
is the will of God to place my life humanly speaking, in your
hands, as the friend, next to Himself most dear to the heart of--
"Yours Devotedly,
"A. J."
The Duke's reply was energetic and to the point:--
LONDON, July 12th, 1850.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have just now received from you a letter
dated July 11^th written upon four sides of letter paper, and I
am concerned to learn, after a most difficult Perusal thereof
that your Health is still in a bad and precarious state! and your
pecuniary affairs very much deranged! You had never before
mentioned this last to me! You frequently named to me in your
letters Your Guardian and your receipt through his hands of your
Dividends, and I therefore concluded that your worldly affairs
were well managed, while your Mind was occupied by reflecting on
the future! But I have seldom read of such a state of pecuniary
affairs as that you give in the letter which I have at last been
able to read and to which I am endeavoring to write an answer!
I beg you to let me know what sum it is you wish, at what time or
times to be paid? Whether an order at a Banker would suit you? If
Payable at a Banker usually employed by you, will you be so kind
as to let me know his Name? All this _legibly written!_
Ever yours most faithfully.
WELLINGTON.
I entreat you to write _legibly!_ and to avoid fatiguing yourself
by writing too much!
This letter of the Duke's, if hardly gracious, is at least not unkind.
The answer he received was of a nature to drive a man of his
practicality to the verge of distraction:--
MY DEAR DUKE,--As "for me to live is Christ, but to die is gain,"
you may rest assured however surrounded by pecuniary
difficulties, I should have preferred the latter to making known
my circumstances to you. Had I not been so continually urged by
my dear Sister telling me that it would kill her, that she could
never bear to leave me in England thus situated and that she
hoped for her sake that I should use the only means in my power
for prolonging my life I never could have told you such truths. I
am not surprised that they drew forth the remark that you had
never read of such a state of pecuniary affairs. Nor would I
offer so great an insult to my Christianity as to do more than
add that the same God Who has thought proper thus to situate me
knows that I would never dishonor His great Name by the slightest
misrepresentation. Therefore, My dear Duke, if you read that
letter carefully you will be much better able to calculate what I
require than I am to tell you. I would not do so, nor am I able
to tell you by what means I am to receive it as I never did such
a thing and know nothing of money arrangements. Consequently I
must leave all to God and yourself, beseeching Him to guide,
influence and direct you to treat me in whatever way is most
agreeable to His unerring will and to bless you accordingly.
Your kind wish that I should not fatigue myself with writing too
much is, rest assured, appreciated as it deserves, as every other
mark of kindness and consideration shown to
Yours devotedly,
A. J.
A Harold Skimpole in petticoats! The ineffable condescension to the
worldly-mindedness of the Duke, the tone of spiritual pride that
pervades the letters, would be exasperating if they were not absurd.
That the humorous side of the affair was not apparent to the Duke is
shown by his reply:--
LONDON, July 16, 1850.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I am very sorry indeed if I should have
offended you. But when you wrote to me a description of the State
of your affairs, I concluded that you intended that I should form
an opinion upon them and communicate the same to you!
It is very true that you and I are of a different opinion. I
think that God having endowed Men with reason, and the Power of
judging Right from wrong! Has made Him responsible for the care
of _Himself_ and for good will to all!
You think that Man is responsible only for His Duty towards the
Almighty! who charges Himself with the Rest! I dare say that I am
mistaken! notwithstanding my Studies. You know more of this
matter than I do!
Ever Yours most faithfully,
WELLINGTON.
Miss J. does not give a copy of her next letter to the Duke, but she
remarks that it consisted principally of observations upon complete
reliance on God, and disregard of earthly means; taking as her text,
"Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and HIS righteousness and all these
things shall be added unto you."
The Duke's answer does not savor of things spiritual:--
LONDON, July 23, 1850.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I am very much concerned to observe from your
last letter that notwithstanding that you feel that you require
my Worldly assistance; and are willing to accept and receive the
same, you will not state to me the mode in which I am to render
the Assistance required! I know that you have a Banker in London!
Why don't you then let me know His Name? or state in whatever
mode of those stated by me you would wish to receive what I
should send. You may rely upon it that unless precautions are
taken you will not receive the money sent! It will fall into the
hands of thieves!
Ever Yours most faithfully
WELLINGTON.
Miss J. writes:--
"In my reply to the Duke I assured him that I had no Banker in
London to my knowledge, never having had to do more than
occasionally receive my _Dividends_, when my Guardian transacted
business, which generally speaking he forwarded by letter. But in
order to give the Duke a clear idea how things stood, I promised to
enclose two letters for his perusal, one from my Guardian _before_
his death and the other from his wife _after_ it! Alas! by doing
this I brought upon myself more trouble and sorrow than can ever be
forgotten, through the untoward, unlooked for circumstances that
attended them. These I would willingly omit if faithfulness to God
and the world did not call upon me to proceed regularly as
occurrences took place, however torn and wounded my mind may be!...
I feel even now as I write that I wonder at myself for ever
addressing the Duke again. However, I was then laid upon a bed of
sickness and apparently approaching death, therefore it is probable
that the eternal welfare of one to whom I had dedicated myself for
so many years increased in importance in my estimation, if this
were possible. Nor can I ever account for such devoted feelings to
any individual beyond concluding that God had so decreed it.
"Of course I lost no time in sending the letters promised and
required, but they miscarried."
Hearing nothing from the Duke, Miss J. wrote again:--
"July 23, 1850.
"As I cannot think it possible, My Dear Duke, that you _could_
treat me with so much cruelty in my present state as to have
received two such letters as my last without noticing them, I write
to enquire whether you have heard from me twice since I heard from
you. I entreated you not to keep my mind in suspense, as I was not
in a State to bear it.
"I have a Physician twice a week, and yesterday, on finding my
pulse in such a State he seemed very dissatisfied, saying if my
mind were not kept free from all anxiety it will kill me.
Therefore, My Dear Duke, you surely cannot hear this without using
every means in your power to relieve it.
"You ask me in your Letter of the 12^th Inst. in what way I should
like you to acquiesce with my wishes? or through what Bank? I
answered that I should be guided entirely by your advice, yet not a
word did I receive in your next on the subject, nor from that time
to this have you referred to it. This to me is quite
incomprehensible, as you in the same letter imply it is your
intention that I shall have all that is necessary. I cannot help
adding I consider this the least _God_ would have me expect from
_Your_ hands, My dearest Duke, under present trying circumstances,
feeling towards you as HE knows I have done so many years such
disinterestedness dedication and affection."
The Duke's next letters show his irritation.
LONDON, July 25, 1850.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have received your Letter of the 24^th that
is yesterday, but not the one which you state in that letter that
you had written to me yesterday--it is on Tuesday--containing
_two enclosures_ being a letter from your Guardian and another
from his Wife.
These letters when forwarded will enable me to judge of what it
is you require! and the mode in which I am to send you what you
require!
It is indeed very difficult to supply the daily wants of those
who will not state what they are; or adopt any means of receiving
what she requires!
However I shall be able to form a judgment when I shall receive
the letters you received from Mr. & Mrs. ----
Ever Yours most faithfully,
WELLINGTON.
LONDON, July 26, 1850.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have received your Note of the 25th and the
number inclosed of the Shop at which the Post Office is kept, ...
and I wish you to make Enquiries after your own Letter! If I am
to make enquiries they will be forwarded as a letter from
yourself which I must send to the Post Office; and I beg you to
write accordingly in plain simple Terms reciting the fact! and as
your letter must be sent to the general Post Office I beg leave
without intending any Offence to request that all endearing
expressions which do not suit the Relations in which we stand
towards each other should be omitted! as they might lead to false
conclusions injurious to you! I must observe to you that the
General Post Office will probably answer that if the last letter
contained papers of consequence; it ought to have been marked and
paid for as a registered letter; when put into the Post! The cost
is sixpence!
This is the mode in which I proposed to send you Money! You would
have to do no more than sign the printed receipt for the letter
which would be sent to you with it.
The Post Office would know nothing of the Contents of the Letter!
Living in the World and with the Wants and necessities incident
to Human Nature! it is necessary that _even you_ should comply
with its simple Rules and Customs.
Yours most faithfully,
WELLINGTON.
The missing packet was at last found and forwarded. The enclosures
stated about the same explanation of Miss J.'s affairs that she had
herself given in her letter to the Duke. They also stated that the
amount of her income from this time would be only _L_12 10_s._ 1_d._
every half year. At the same time these came to hand, the Duke received
Miss J.'s letter of July 23rd, given above.
LONDON, July 30, 1850.
_Miss J._,--Since I addressed you last your letter of the 23rd of
July which had been refused or missing reached me with the
enclosed letters returned. I confess that I cannot admit of the
Christian Justice of your _Reproaches_.
I told you that I was ready and willing to give you pecuniary
assistance if you would say what you required, and would adopt
one of several Modes in which I offered to send it to you! But
you have given no answer either as to warrant, a means of sending
you this; and yet you reproach me! This is not just or fair!
In truth according to the statement in these letters there is no
absolute _necessity_ for any Assistance at present!
Your most obedient Humble Servant
WELLINGTON.
Miss J. writes,--
"To describe how I recoiled from this letter received from His
Grace would be impossible. My feeling was both on his account and
my own. On his, to think that while possessed of thousands yearly
he could thus have reconciled himself to imply that the utterly
insufficient sum alluded to in those enclosed letters was enough
for me in that truly distressing helpless state. On my own part, I
lamented deeply that I should ever have been _influenced_ under ANY
circumstances to ask a favor at his hands. This I would rather have
died than do, had not the affection of so fond a Sister, who judged
of others by her own generous heart overcome every selfish feeling
and at length prevailed!"
Miss J. immediately prepared and sent off the following letter to the
Duke.
July 30, 1850.
MY LORD DUKE,--Having placed my cause in His Hands "Who judgeth
righteously and Whose Countenance beholdeth the thing that is
right," consequently Who will not, I am assured, suffer you with
impunity to treat me with greater coarseness and want of due
consideration than I under similar circumstances should have
extended to a common menial that I had known or who had served me
for the same number of years, I leave you in His Hands
accordingly. I resume my pen merely to inform you that as you
thought proper after reading my Guardian's letter written several
years ago and his wife's of later date, _yet_ can at the
conclusion of your most unwelcome letter write as follows, "In
truth, according to the contents of these letters there is no
absolute necessity for any assistance at present,"--I desire to
remark that if it were not necessary _then_ it will _never_ be
necessary from _Your_ hands. Consequently, should you at _your_
good will and pleasure think proper to take the liberty of
sending me a _Registered_ letter with an _Enclosure_, I shall not
only decline receiving it but likewise refuse to sign the paper
that accompanies it in the Post Man's charge, let the
consequences be whatever they may. It is to prevent such an
Intrusion on your part and such a due mortification on mine
towards Your Grace that I have now resumed my pen--for ill as I
still feel I would rather beg my bread from door to door than
receive a favor at _such_ hands! preferring to trust myself
wholly in _His_ Hands Who declares "The silver is Mine and the
gold is Mine."...
May God in His infinite mercy, My Lord Duke, give you Grace to
understand this Divine assertion, "Whoso shall offend one of
these little ones which believe in ME, it were better for him
that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were
drowned in the depth of the Sea."
May HE before it is too late incline you to draw near unto Him
accordingly prays,
His devoted Child and Servant,
A. J.
LONDON, August 7, 1850.
Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents His Compliments to
Miss J. He is much concerned at her answer and that he has given
her Offence, however unintentionally! The Duke may have been
mistaken! But it certainly appeared to him that the Money lent
upon Mortgage; of which the Interest was in arrears of a year,
and paid very irregularly might with advantage have been called
in and the rest of the Sum might with advantage have been applied
to defray the expenses attending Miss J.'s illness! More
particularly as Miss J. was unwilling to adopt any of the modes
suggested by which pecuniary assistance might have been sent her!
The Duke assures her that he is not disposed to expose her to any
thing inconvenient by desiring that she should sign any papers!
He was anxious that she should receive the pecuniary assistance
which might be useful or necessary to Her in the manner least
tiresome to Herself and least likely to occasion the inquiries of
busy and impertinent curiosity!
However Miss J. may rely upon it that he will not interrupt her
repose excepting in consequence of her own expressed desire!
One fancies a mocking tone in the last sentence of the Duke's letter,
as though he surmised Miss J.'s silence would not be of long duration.
He did not reckon without his host. Miss J. held her peace for three
weeks. Then, seeing by the "Times" that the Right Hon. Charles
Arbuthnot had died suddenly at the house of the Duke of Wellington, she
wrote a letter of condolence which in its expressions of deep sympathy
and its religious consolations would not have been out of place if
indited upon the death of the Duke's nearest of kin. [Endnote 12] To
this effusion the Duke sent no answer. Nothing daunted, Miss J. only
waited for an excuse to write again. This she soon found in a newspaper
paragraph stating that the Duke had been thrown from his carriage. Her
letter and the Duke's reply follow:
Sept. 16, 1850.
MY LORD DUKE,--Notwithstanding my changed feelings I am deeply
concerned to hear of your late accident, and still more deeply
grateful to Almighty God for your preservation. I sincerely hope
that such gracious interposition of Providence in your favor may
eventually lead you to glorify Him in your life and conversation
accordingly, 'seeking Him while HE may be found, and calling upon
Him while HE is near," ever bearing in mind that _HE_ is "no
respecter of persons." Consequently none but those who through
His Grace have undergone "a new birth unto righteousness," can
justifiably expect to enter into His Kingdom. That HE may enable
you to understand this experimentally is the earnest wish of
His devoted Child and Servant,
A. J.
P.S. I do not give you my address, My Lord Duke, in order to
elicit an answer, but merely to imply that should my Christian
advice be required you may know where to find me.
By the Duke's answer, he apparently feels no need nor desire for
Christian advice.
WALMER CASTLE, Sept. 17, 1850.
Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington begs leave to acknowledge
the receipt of Miss J.'s Note of the 10^th Ins^t.
He is thankful that he received no injury by the overturn of his
carriage a week ago! He returns his thanks to Miss J. for
noticing the accident!
Miss J. was so delighted at the receipt of this note that she
immediately replied to it in four sheets of closely written note-paper.
She began by explaining elaborately that she had seen the notice of his
accident only a few days before, although by his letter she learned it
had occurred a week ago. After ringing the changes on this, she
proceeded to bestow Christian admonition in her usual liberal fashion.
The Duke's reply was little more effusive than the note he had sent
last.
WALMER CASTLE, Sept. 20, 1850.
Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents his Comp^ts to Miss
J. He is very sensible of her kindness in writing to him. He
merely mentioned as a fact that the accident to which she
referred had occurred in the preceding week!
He is happy to learn that Miss J. is improved in Health!
In Miss J.'s next she reprimands the Duke for having misdirected the
envelope of his last note to her, and inquires if he ever received her
letter on the death of _Charles_ Arbuthnot, as she now calls him.
WALMER CASTLE, Sept. 24, 1850.
F. M. the Duke of Wellington presents His comp^ts to Miss J.! He
has received Her note without Date in which she encloses the
Cover which the Duke returns!
He regrets much that he made a mistake; which has given her the
trouble of writing again!
The Duke does not recollect to have received a letter from her
upon the Subject of the Death of Mr. Arbuthnot!
But he thanks [_sic_] for having thought of writing to him upon
the melancholy occurrence.
There were no letters exchanged after this for many weeks. Miss J.'s
health improved slowly, and through her sister funds were supplied for
her maintenance. The next entry of any interest in the Diary is dated
November 9th:--
"I have felt _dreadfully shocked_ to day at reading a report of the
Duke's death which thank God, is false! [Endnote 13] O that I may
be enabled to write to him expressions of my feelings, if such be
The Lord's will! I find I feel more than I had imagined was
possible! having suffered exceedingly at this report and at length
have addressed him as follows: 'O My dear Duke, for I cannot use
formality under my present excited, distressed feelings, having
been so shocked by that dreadful Advertisement in the Times of this
day, saying you were gone forever! This God in His infinite mercy
has proved to be false, having spared you, I trust, for a far more
glorious end than the one therein described. For this I can never
thank him sufficiently, subscribing myself consequently with
additional gratitude
"'His devoted Child and Servant
"A. J.
"'P.S. I have been six weeks confined to my room, inflammation
having taken place on the day after I wrote you last. O that God in
these troublous threatening times may guide and counsel you to act
as He would have you do to Whom I beseech you to look for the same
most prayerfully.'"
As Miss J. received no reply to the above, she wrote again. This time
her epistle was in sharp contrast with her preceding semi-affectionate
note. She arraigned the Duke for his silence, and succeeded in
provoking a response:--
STRATHFIELDSAYE, Dec. 21, 1850.
Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents His Compliments to
Miss J.! He understood from a former letter; that it was Miss
J.'s desire never to hear from the Duke again!
Therefore he did not write! nor should he write now! excepting a
mere matter of Courtesy! He thus finally takes His leave!
WELLINGTON.