Chapter X: A Breathing Space

The first letter from the Duke for 1847 was not written until the year was nearly two months old.

LONDON, Feb. 22, 1847.

Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington presents His Compliments to
Miss J.; and acknowledges the receipt of two letters from her one
on Saturday last; the other of the 21^st Ins^t this morning.

He writes only for this purpose! He declines to anything [_sic_]
further to Miss J. Being convinced that as usual any
correspondence will end in his giving Her Offence, However much
he may desire and endeavour to please her.

"I remarked to him in reply to this style of addressing me that I
cared no more for his Field Marshalship than his Generalship,--which
I dare say amused him. He was well aware of this, knowing it is
written, 'If any man will be a pleaser of man then is he not the
servant of Christ,' consequently however solicitous to render
'honour to whom honour,' my chief concern then as now consisted in
obedience to this Divine enquiry, 'Lord, what wilt THOU have me to
do?' delighting in the same accordingly."

LONDON, May 6, 1847.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I am very much obliged to you for the kind
letter which I have this morning received without date! upon the
subject of the Misfortune by which I have lately been afflicted
in the loss of my Brother! [Endnote 11]

I am very sensible of your kindness in writing to me; for the
consolation upon which you suggest my reflection and for your
enquiry about my health! I thank you! I am by the Mercy of the
Almighty quite well!

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

This letter is, as Miss J. states in her Diary, "clad in deep mourning," or in other words, with a black seal, and written on black-edged paper.

"The Duke's next letter is dated May 11th, in which he writes--'I
am very much obliged to you for your letter of the 9th. I answered
the last which you wrote to me on the day I received it.'

"Having had an objection to the Notice which the Duke's letters,
seal, etc., attracted I was in the habit generally of receiving
them through my friend Mrs. L.'s hands however aware that the Duke
preferred addressing me at my own residence which the following
paragraph from his letter dated May 14th implies."

LONDON, May 14, 1847.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have received your Letter dated Wednesday
night.

I have directed all my Letters lately and covers to Mrs. L.
excepting one to ---- and will direct this under cover to the
same Gentleman.

You feel an anxiety respecting my Welfare and write to me
accordingly! for which I entertain a grateful Sense: and I am in
the habit of returning My thanks; which Letters you are anxious
to receive.

This is all very right and proper; and there can be no reason for
which you should not send your Letters to me; and for which I
should not send you answers directed to _yourself_ at your own
_Residence_!

But you desire that my Letters should be sealed with my own Seal!
which having a Coronet; and other usual Marks of Distinction,
occasion some observation in your Lodgings and your Neighborhood!
which you do not much like! You therefore desire that the letters
addressed to you by me should be sent to one of your friends.

Your friends know nothing about me! and do not like to receive
Letters for you from an unknown Person! Of this I am quite
assured and to tell you the truth I don't like to send a letter
addressed to you to one of your friends, unless I should be able
to cut off part of your Letter directing me to do so, the name of
that friend in your hand writing!

I therefore tell you that I will not write to you unless I am
enabled to direct to yourself at your own Residence; or I should
have in your hand writing the name and address of your friend,
which I can include with your Letter.

I will not be guilty of the unpardonable act of writing a letter
to a Lady or Gentleman addressed to another; without showing that
I have Authority for so doing!

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

LONDON, May 19th, 1847.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have received your Letter of the 17^th. I
have already acknowledged all that I had received from you! at
least I believe so!

But you write at great length; with much celerity, in light
colored Ink, and much time is required to read one of your
Letters! However I am sensible of your Motives for and your
kindness in writing them!

I peruse them with attention as soon as I can! and I answer them
when in my power.

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Aug. 3rd, he writes; 'I have
received several letters from you the dates of which you will find
at the bottom of this. I am very sensible of and grateful for the
interest that you feel and express in my welfare.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Aug. 14th, he writes--'I am much
obliged to you for your letters my dear Miss J., particularly for
the last of Thursday afternoon in which you inform me that you are
better which I am rejoiced to hear. I trust that you will keep
yourself quiet and follow the advice of your Medical Attendant.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Aug. 21st, he writes; 'I write to
thank you for your letters and to express my congratulations upon
the improvement of your Health, which I trust in God will soon be
restored entirely.'

"The Duke's next letter is dated Sept. 9th wherein he writes; 'I am
very much concerned to learn that you are again indisposed, but as
you tell me that the Medical gentleman who attends you thought well
of you I hope that this relapse is only accidental.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Sept. 11th, he writes--'Since I
last wrote to you I have received your letters of the 8th & 9th and
I am much concerned that you are still unwell, suffering from cold.
I hope that you will soon be quite well.' Again in the Duke's next
letter he writes, dating it Sept. 22nd; 'I have been very much
concerned to learn from the perusal of the several letters which I
have received of different dates up to the 20th Inst. that you are
still suffering from indisposition, although at times rather
better. I trust you will avoid to tire yourself by writing. There
is nothing like Rest for ailing remedies, and the bounty of
Providence in a recovery from sickness.'

"In the Duke's next letter he again refers to my indisposition, for
I had been dangerously ill at that time. It is dated Sept. 28th. 'I
am very much concerned to hear that you continue to feel
indisposed.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Oct. 2nd, he writes--'I hope that
you will continue in good health. You will if you keep yourself
warm in the severe weather of the Autumn and commencement of the
winter--and in tranquillity.'

"In the Duke's next letter dated Oct. 7th he writes--'I have and
thank you for your letters of the 2nd & 3rd, the last finished on
the 4th, and I am happy that you are in your new dwelling which I
hope you will find satisfactory to you, and above all that the Air
will be salubrious.'

"Judging by the Duke's next, I think that he must have
misunderstood my intentions, as he writes in his letter, dated Oct.
16th; 'I am concerned to learn that you are again about to change
the place of your Abode. I should think that these constant changes
must fatigue you.'

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Oct. 12th, which I now perceive
ought to have been introduced above that of the 16th, he writes--'I
am very much pleased that you are not otherwise than comfortable in
your new residence.'

"I presume, judging by the Duke's next letter, dated Dec. 18th,
that I had referred to my poor Jane's illness, as he writes; 'I am
sorry to hear that your favorite companion disturbs your rest as
rest is especially necessary after the recovery from any illness.'"

The correspondence had in 1848 dwindled down almost to nothingness, at least on the Duke's side. It is only doing Miss J. justice to believe that her zeal and industry continued unabated. There had apparently been no other dispute. Miss J. herself remarks upon the fact that during the entire year she received but three letters from the Duke.

"It may be seen judging by these letters, that there was not any
other cause for the fewness of such but the full occupation of his
time alluded to so frequently. Therefore I presume this was
permitted by The Great Lord of Lords for unerring purposes known
only to Himself.

"The first in this year is dated May 8th, wherein the Duke
writes--'It is perfectly true that much time has elapsed since I
have written to you and that I have received many letters from you
for which I ought to have returned my thanks, but the demands upon
and the employment of my time in the service of the Public has been
so constant that I really have not had leisure. I hope that you are
well and that the weather will re-establish your health entirely,
and by enabling you to go out into the Air fortify against future
attacks.'"

LONDON, July 30, 1848.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have received many Letters and this morning
one of yesterday with copies of many others before written! I was
and am sorry to learn that you are unwell. Your letters are
extremely difficult to read, and my time is and has been much
occupied by my Duties!

Believe me Dear Miss J. ever

Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

P.S. I have frequently entreated to write your Address, your
place of Abode on each Letter. It is not possible for me to
recollect every thing!

"In the next letter from the Duke, dated Dec. 24th, he writes; 'I
am really much concerned that my time has been so much occupied
lately and I have been so much in movement as that I have not been
able to write to you.'"

1849.

LONDON, Feb. 2, 1849.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I am really much concerned that the Newspapers
should insert statements of my being sick, of which the Editors
can know nothing. I thank God! I am & have been as well
throughout the Winter as I have been in my Life.

Ever Yours Most Faithfully

WELLINGTON.

LONDON, Feb. 20, 1849, Morning.

It is very true My Dear Miss J. that some time has elapsed since
I have been able to go to see you, and that I have omitted to
write to you. The reason of this last mentioned omission is, that
I could not go to see you or fix a time at which I could and as I
had not heard from you, I thought it best not to write. I beg you
observe likewise that I have been time [_sic_] at Windsor Castle;
and also at my own House in Hants since I saw you.

I am very sorry; but my Time is so much occupied; and while the
Almighty will Deign to permit me to live, will be so occupied; as
that I shall not have leisure to pay visits. I have frequently
expressed my regrets; that it shd be so; and repeat them now. I
received a letter on Saturday night last; commenced that morning;
and ended in the afternoon. I wrote an answer; and just as I was
about to close it and send it off on Monday; I received the
Report of the occurrence of a severe Family misfortune; which
prevented the execution of my purpose.

I received a second note from you last night dated yesterday
afternoon, and I am delighted to learn that your Eyes are better.
I wish to thank you for these Letters. But I cannot hold out any
prospect of being able to go to see you. I will not deceive you.
I am employed every day at this time by Candle Light from six in
the Morning till twelve at night! After all! God Almighty has so
framed all His Creatures, that even that noble, Animal Man!
requires refreshment food & Rest as well as others.

At my Age I feel that I require it: and I asked you not to press
me to do that which I cannot do; without neglecting Duties which
I have engaged to perform. I will go to see you; notwithstanding
that I tell you fairly that nothing can be more disagreeable to
me than to be followed by a Mob; as I invariably am; when I go to
the part of the Town in which you reside.

But I don't care: I will go to see you when I find that I can do
so; and I will give you previous notice as usual.

Ever My Dear Miss J.

Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

In spite of this sudden resumption of cordiality, Miss J. did not hear from the Duke again for over five months. But the letter then is kindly, bearing no trace of the harshness that marked his epistles written a couple of years earlier.

LONDON, July 31, 1849.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have been at Windsor Castle since Monday from
whence I have only now returned. I have to acknowledge the
receipt of several letters from you written with your usual
kindness, of motive as well as of sentiment and expression.

I congratulate you upon your success upon Mrs. L.'s Nephew!

I hope that you may go to the Seaside during the period of the
fine season. Whether you are to derive benefit from the air or
Bathing; it will be more beneficial during fine weather than
after or even during the Storm of the Equinox.

It is impossible for me to say at what period Parliament will be
prorogued.

I thank you for the beautiful Lines which you have sent me.

One of your Letters was written on Sunday the 28^th, another on
Monday the 29^th, and a third on Tuesday the 30^th.

I hope that this may reach you this evening. But it is late, and
I am afraid it may not.

Ever yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

WALMER CASTLE, Sept. 7th, 1849.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have this day received your letter dated
Wednesday; as you did not know the day of the month. I am writing
to you on Friday the 7^th You ought to receive this on Saturday
the 8^th inst.

I had not heard of the Indisposition, still less of the death of
your Guardian! But I have been for some time absent from London
and it is possible that letters may have been missent. But they
will reach me at last.

I sincerely condole with you upon the loss which you have
sustained! I hope that this loss will not be an inconvenience to
you in the management of your pecuniary affairs.

I am concerned to read in this same letter received this Morning
the report of the illness of your friend Mrs. L.; and that of
your young and protected companion Jane! and even that you had
not yourself been well! I trust that the Almighty will restore
them to Health as well as by His favor your Health may likewise
be reestablished and secured.

I have been quite well! and am as strong and hearty as ever.

Believe me ever yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

Miss J. appends a word of explanation to this letter:--

"The Lady here referred to by the Duke is older than myself,
therefore the Duke is in _that_ respect mistaken, never having seen
her."

WALMER CASTLE, Sept. 13, 1849.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I received your Letter dated Saturday 8^th and
this morning that of the 11^th in which you communicate to me the
sad Intelligence of the loss which you had sustained in your
friend Mrs. L.! I sincerely condole with you! She was a good and
sincere friend of yours and I felt sincere respect and esteem for
Her Character! You do not mention your young friend Jane; who was
suffering also when you wrote before. I sincerely hope that she
is better and progressing towards recovery as you could wish!

Believe me My Dear Miss J.

Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

"I presume by the Duke's next letter, dated Sept. 26th, that I made
previous enquiries concerning some letters previously forwarded as
he writes; 'I cannot now lay my hands on that letter but I must
have received it. I think that you need not make yourself uneasy
about any letter which you may address me.'"

The caustic tone common in the Duke's letters now reappears. Miss J.'s habit of enclosing to him letters she had written to others, with the request that he would read and return them, had long been a source of annoyance to him; and now his irritation breaks bonds.

WALMER CASTLE, October 22, 1849.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have received this evening your Letter dated
September 30^th which was Sunday, Inclosing in a colored cover,
two Letters addressed to Miss Coutts which I return in the same
cover according to your desire without loss of time.

I have not received a book, and considering the uncertainty of
receiving a letter from you; which you have only to direct,
stamp; and put into the Box at the Post Office; which it is not
certain that you can do with precision! I don't recommend you to
endeavour to send me a Book. I am happy to learn that you will
see your sister!

Believe me Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

"In the Duke's next letter, dated Nov. 15th, he writes--'I have no
recollection of having failed to write an answer to any letter of
which you desired to receive an acknowledgment.

"'I receive thousands of letters, a vast proportion of which I am
under the necessity of answering, and I am of course desirous of
avoiding to write more than is necessary; particularly to a person
so particular as you are in respect to the forms and contents of
the letter addressed to you.'

"The Duke's next letter is evidently an angry one. It is dated Nov.
21st, wherein he writes--'I have received your letter of the 17th
Inst. in which you have enclosed certain letters which you have
written to Sir Robert Peel which I return! I am not the Post Man!
nor the Secretary of Sir Robert Peel nor your Secretary!'"

Miss J. retained a copy of her answer to the last.

November 25th, 1849.

MY LORD DUKE,--Your unmerited angry letter astonished me
inexpressibly, being a reply to one as kind and affectionate as
my heart could dictate. Nor had I the most remote intention of
taking the unwarrantable liberty of considering you in either of
the characters you mention, but simply in that of a valued and
beloved friend whose kind advice I was desirous to receive before
taking a step which I had feared may otherwise vex you. This
feeling my Letter to Your Grace plainly expressed, nor could I
have believed after such affectionate disinterested devotedness
to you for the last sixteen years such a simple confidential
request would meet with the answer received. That letter, as is
my custom in the time of perplexity, distress and trouble, I
prayerfully spread before The Great "Lord of lords," beseeching
Him to undertake for me, showing me how I ought to act under such
circumstances, relying upon Him accordingly. Since then I made an
attempt to address you not wishing you to remain ignorant of the
safe arrival of those enclosures, but had I been given worlds I
could not proceed. Consequently I laid aside my pen, fancying The
Lord did not mean me to write at all. However, finding myself
this morning thus influenced, I purpose, if HE permit forwarding
what I write, promising should it be His good will and pleasure
ever to allow me to intrude on Your Grace again, to procure such
paper, etc., etc., as you require, apologizing for any _apparent_
want of respect on such points, which, loving you as I have done,
I did not consider was expected. But as "it is written," "Honour
to whom honour," I shall sedulously avoid every repetition of the
kind, such being the command of Him "with Whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning," "Who is the same
yesterday, to-day and forever," consequently One I must ever love
_above all_ remaining to the latest moment of my existence,

His devoted Child and Servant

A. J.

This note did not call forth a reply of equal amiability from the Duke.

"I have felt no displeasure nor anger and was not even surprised by
your letter complaining of my answer in which I returned the
volumes of letters which you had sent for my perusal. Considering
the Numberless occasions which you have quarrelled with me because
of some omission of Seal or Signature or even of a word or a
letter. I thank God that I am never angry with anybody; upon any
subject.

"Many would think on reading the above that I had treated the Duke
unkindly, but as I can appeal to Him Who seeth not as man seeth, I
have nothing to fear from any erroneous impressions, having
depended upon The Great Lord of lords throughout my acquaintance
with him to direct and influence my heart and pen to fulfil all His
good will and pleasure by working in me for that purpose, for His
Holy Name sake! which I trust will be glorified and Magnified
accordingly!"

The Duke's last letter for this year is not marked by increased suavity:--

STRATHFIELDSAYE, Dec. 14, 1849.

MY DEAR MISS J.,--I have nothing to add to what I stated in my
former Letters regarding your sending me your Letters addressed
to others!

I beg that you will not do so.

To read one letter from you is as much as I can do.

Ever Yours most faithfully

WELLINGTON.

Miss J. adds:--

"This in all probability was the case, as he advanced in years,
consequently I never intruded any others upon him afterwards."