Part 5 (1/2)
A copy of the letter is appended:--
Sept. 15th, 1835.
MY DEAR DUKE,--As you only acknowledge in yours of the 13th, two letters, I beg to say there were addressed to you by yesterday, three; One, written on Thursday, another on Friday and the last on Sat.u.r.day. And I take this opportunity of making two enquiries respecting which my mind is not at all satisfied.
The first is; Why I am to receive a change of style in the appearance of your letters with regard to the Seal thereof? and the next, _called forth thereby_; _Why_ you _ever_ ceased to sign your _Name_ at the conclusion of your letters? If either of these changes sprang from disrespect or want of confidence in my integrity, confidence, Christianity and friends.h.i.+p, I shall without hesitation or delay return Your Grace every letter I have in my possession, as in _that_ case they will cease to have any value in _my_ estimation. I will also beg to decline all further intercourse, knowing that the sincerity and purity of my friends.h.i.+p merits both consideration and respect.
You will perhaps wonder at my noticing your omission with regard to Signature after the receipt of so many letters. I should not have done so, however incomprehensible the same may have been and _was_ to me, had not _this additional_ circ.u.mstance tended to _strengthen_ a momentary feeling experienced when your first letter signed W. reached me. But this I overcame, fancying you were in the _habit_ of doing so to all your correspondents of any and every rank, and imagining you superior to the _capability_ of taking advantage of circ.u.mstances. If I am mistaken with regard to this being a _general habit_, I am _justified_ in asking--Why such an unwarrantable liberty was taken with me? I a.s.sure you that however great my affection may be, it is not of a nature to submit to ANY feeling that is not accompanied with the _deepest respect_ as well as esteem, nor could the latter be either durable or _acceptable_ under OTHER circ.u.mstances.
Waiting your reply before I can decide what further line of conduct to pursue, praying in the mean time to be directed BY HIM Who knows _all_ the _secret_, hidden motives of the human heart without exception, I inscribe myself,
Your sincere Christian friend,
A. J.
P.S. Since writing the above, my antipathy to the omission of _either_ your NAME OR seal is so _increased_ that I beg to decline receiving _any_ letter which does not bring with it _these_ marks of DUE respect.
Not satisfied with sending off this letter, Miss J. followed it with another no less severe. In her Diary she describes the feelings that swayed her while she awaited a reply to her missives:
”_September 16th--Morning._ I have risen this morning (my first in this place--Hampstead--) strong in The Lord and in the power of His might. I am prepared to meet whatever HE may see fit, casting my burthen wholly on him and desirous of nothing in comparison with His honor and glory. O may He be magnified powerfully both in my life and death, and may every period of my remaining days be dedicated more devotedly unto Him than any hitherto spent; 'growing up in Him as a tree planted by the waterside' bringing forth fruit plentifully, knowing that 'it is written' 'He that abideth in ME and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit,'--Be with me graciously and mightily when I hear from the Duke today--if I do--and especially tomorrow when the reply comes to that sent off yesterday, strengthening me 'in the inner man' to treat it as Thou wouldst have me do in every respect, having no will of my own and loving Thine above all things. Thou knowest, O Gracious G.o.d, what is in the Duke's heart, and why he has recourse to the ways which have occasioned my displeasure. Therefore I give him up into Thy Hands to deal with accordingly, beseeching Thee to have mercy on his precious Soul, bringing it from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto Thyself for Christ's sake!
”_September 16th 1835.--Evening._ The whole of this day has been marked with such divine strength from Him Who causes me to feel the force of this pa.s.sage of Holy Writ 'When I am weak then am I strong,' that it is impossible to be sufficiently thankful. No letter has arrived from the Duke. However I suppose tomorrow will bring with it the antic.i.p.ated answer. O may I be strengthened additionally to bear it if unkind! and prove myself ready to pluck out a right eye or cut off a right arm for Christ's sake! which we may be understood to do when we resign those dearest upon earth at His command.
”_Friday September 18th 1835._ It is now between 11 and 12 o'clock and I am sitting at my pretty window with it open, waiting to know whether the Lord sees fit to allow me to receive a letter today from the Duke in reply to my two last which have received no answers yet. O may I be strengthened 'in the inner man' to receive whatever is agreeable to the will of G.o.d, as His Child, dependent on Him for all things!
”The paragraph noticed in the paper of yesterday was marked with that presumption which is ever more or less perceivable in 'the natural man,' who seems to act without any reference to the will of G.o.d whatever, declaring 'I will do this and that,' instead of remembering that their lives are in His Hands and that He can s.n.a.t.c.h them away at any moment. To see the Duke thus presumptuously reckoning on several weeks to come proves how little what I have written on that subject is alluded to, showing me still further the inefficacy of all man's endeavors until accompanied with the mighty power of G.o.d to the soul. The time I trust is at hand for this rebellious one when he will doubtlessly exclaim 'Thy mercies are infinite and Thy ways past finding out,' also 'Lord, what is man that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that Thou visitest him?'”
The Duke's replies to both Miss J.'s effusions followed one another in rapid succession:--
STRATHFIELDSAYE, Sept. 17, 1835.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I always understood that the important parts of a Letter were its Contents. I never much considered the Signature; provided I knew the handwriting; or the Seal provided it effectually closed the Letter.
When I write to a Person with whom I am intimate, who knows my handwriting I generally sign my Initials. I don't always seal my own Letters; they are sometimes sealed by a Secretary, oftener by myself.
In any Case as there are generally very many to be sealed; and the Seal frequently becomes heated, it is necessary to change it; and by accident I may have sealed a Letter to you with a blank Seal. But it is very extraordinary if it is so, as I don't believe I have such a thing! You will find this Letter however signed and sealed in what you deem the most respectful manner.
And if I should write to you any more; I will take care that they shall be properly signed and sealed to your Satisfaction.
I am very glad to learn that you intend to send back all the letters I ever wrote to you. I told you heretofore that I thought you had better burn them all. But if you think proper to send them in a parcel to my House; I will save you the trouble of committing them to the Flames.
Believe me Ever Yours most sincerely
WELLINGTON.
I believe that the letter with the blank seal and signed with my Initials was sent off last Sunday night from Hartford Bridge and was franked by me; I hope that this was not deemed disrespectful.
STRATHFIELDSAYE, Sept. 18, 1835.