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

everal months. She was greatly encouraged by receiving an answer from the duke by return post. This letter is unfortun

lace and a blot in two,-betraying consequently, I should imagine, feelings which overwhelmed him on the receipt of my Epistle; and since it is not at all unlikely that the same L

he 24th of April carried a Bible to the town-house of the Duke, and with her own hand

s, ma'am.' I then asked, 'Is he engaged?' He told me Lord-I forget his name-and Sir Thomas Somebody were with him. I then inquired, 'Who delivers parcels into His Grace's hands?' He respectfully said, 'I

iss J. She says, "I presume he was in doubt on the subject whether I was a married or single lady, as my signature could not decide on that point." In this note the Duke asks if he may not have the pleasure of meeting her; and Miss J., acting under the advice of

evident that she had corrected his uncerta

stle, Oct

. The Duke has received her Letter in which she expresses

nt subject and with the same beneficent object in view, although the desire to see the Duke was not expre

ainted, he will not decline to attend Miss J. He is at present at a distance from London, and he

nd will let him know whether she will be in Lond

took such an interest in his welfare, and informing Miss J. of his intention to call upon her the twelfth o

an's real character, and making plain how completely all that concerned her was subordinated to her conception of what constituted the glory of God. The full statement was not written immediately after the Duke's visit, although the main facts were noted in her Diary. The follo

writ

the honor due to the holy name so justly declared to be above every name demands the effort; and may HE, as I have upon my knees especially implored him, be with my pen accordingly, influencing it to write only what is agreeable to his unerring will, and likely to obtain the end in view above alluded to, for his holy name's sake! Since he must have influenced the Duke of Wellington to love me above every other lad

he Lord of Lords' for the purpose of receiving instruction from his holy word, never spoke, all power of speech seeming to be withdrawn, unt

is induced me to receive him accordingly, praying to God to be with me every moment of the time, directing even my dress. This He did, letting me be dressed on the occasion as HE pleased, which, as my Diary relates, wa

airs after the Duke was announced, with these words from dear Mrs. L. following me: 'Now if the Lord should send his arrow into his soul!' (She had fancied from the commenc

to be seated, two chairs having been placed for that purpose each side of the fire,-and occupied one of them myself; when recollecting the purport of his visit, I immediately rose, saying, 'I will show you my Treasure!' He also rose, standing until I re-seated myself with this large beautiful Bible in my arms. I placed it upon the table between us, opening it at the Third Chapter of Saint John's Gospel, announcing the same. On arriving at the sevent

o in my estimation. Nor can I find any language adequate to display the same, for God appeared to have struck the Duke dumb on beholding me, giving him no power of speech until he betrayed the effect such had on him. He s

Almi

woman as Miss J. Yet the length of time that the correspondence endured, as well as the tone he generally observed of interest in her plans, of solicitude for her health, and the readiness with which he renewed his letters when some misunderstanding had for a while interrupted them, al

ness of heart, even among those who knew him well, may b

times in the last few years, and has not now been to see Lady Anne, though she has been in such affliction for the death of her only son, and he passes her door every time he goes

le, who was always too apt to let his personal prejudices color his statements. M'Carthy declares that while the Duke was cold and brusque in manner, his affections were warm

eral days, but would call upon her on his return. At his request she promised t

estrained that I was obliged at length to relinquish all th

answer; but in spite of her silence she received another note, dated London, December 22, announcing the Duke's return, and inf

,' which he evidently interpreted to mean The King of kings. He left me hastily, saying he purposed returning in a short time. In the interim I locked my door and knelt down, beseeching God to be with me and protect me, showing me what he would have me do under such marvellous circumstances. Forgetting that the door was fastened, I was obliged on the Duke's return to explain wherefore, stating that it is written, 'When thou hast shut thy d