Part 5 (2/2)
The Duke of Wellington presents his Compliments to Miss J. The Duke wrote an answer to Miss J. as soon as he received her Letter complaining of Disrespect in His having been in the habit of signing the Initials of His Name to the Letters which he had written to her; and in having sealed a letter addressed to her and franked by the Duke, with a plain seal.
If Miss J. had waited till she would receive the answer to a letter which she wrote on Tuesday she might have been satisfied with the reasons of the Duke for the Marks of Disrespect of which Miss J. complained.
The Duke has to add that since his return here, he has found upon His Table, a plain seal which it is probable was used by accident. He apologizes for having used it. At the same time he a.s.sures Miss J. that he could not have intended to be disrespectful.
The Duke requests that Miss J. will be so kind as to have a parcel made of the Letters from the Duke; that she will direct it to Him in Piccadilly; and have it booked at Hampstead and sent by any Coach to London.
Miss J. resolved to lose no time in returning the Duke's letters, and went so far as to put them up in a parcel preparatory to sending them off by coach. She thus comments:--
”In returning the parcel I send away 60 letters, received in less than 12 months.
”_Sat.u.r.day, Sept. 19, 1835._ I have been to the Post Office with my last letter to the Duke and leave the result thereof with the Lord, 'Whose ways are in the deep waters and whose footsteps are unknown'. I have acknowledged myself thankful for the strength still imparted--thus fulfilling that gracious promise made to me when on my knees before I came to this place 'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' I have just risen from my knees, after spreading the Duke's letters before the Lord, beseeching Him to do under present circ.u.mstances whatever seemeth good in His sight for Christ's sake. And I feel, as a prayer-hearing G.o.d He will--causing even this unkindness to work together for good, since 'His ways are not our ways' but as high above such as the heavens are above the earth--That He moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform, who can doubt that watches His divine finger in this great work?
And since His purposes must stand, all I have to say is, Let them be whatever they may, I desire His Holy Will alone to be done!
”My feelings will not allow me to copy this letter of the Duke's; it is so unkind; but as those words were powerfully applied at the commencement of my correspondence, 'The haughtiness of man shall be brought low etc. and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.'”
Apparently it was not the will of ”The Lord” that the letters should be returned, for Providence interposed in the shape of Miss J.'s friend, Mrs. L. Miss J. writes:--
”_Sat.u.r.day Night._ Just as my day had been filled with all the duties my G.o.d had graciously permitted and I was about to take a walk, dear Mrs. L. arrived, and on my telling her all strongly advised my _not_ returning the Duke his letters--which struck me forcibly, as I had asked the Lord to put it into her heart to advise me agreeably to His will.
”On my return home I found a note from the Duke addressed to me in the third person, like the last, but thanking me for the trouble I had taken respecting his Men's Book Bill. Thank G.o.d my feelings are so subdued as to be resigned to His divine Will concerning seeing or hearing from him, and I heartily pray to be directed in every single particular, knowing if left to myself I cannot stand a moment in safety.
”The Duke seems more indifferent respecting the return of his letters--consequently as dearest Mrs. L. so strongly advised my retaining them I mean to do so without noticing that formal note received to night, leaving everything as it stands in the Lord's Hands. Having cast my burthen upon the Lord all I now have to do is to dedicate my time more exclusively to my usual daily duties as before intended, endeavoring to recall perfectly to memory all my hymns--360--and the Gospels of St. Matthew and John, with my beautiful Psalms--which latter have been neglected more than either of the former, although none have been allowed so much time as if I had not been so occupied with the Duke.
”_Sept. 22nd._ My disinclination to write to the Duke continues. O may the Lord bless him by quickening his dead soul and call him forth to glorify Him mightily for Christ's sake!
”_Oct. 1st, 1835._ How wonderful are the dealings of G.o.d. Last night I came home fully determined to write and send off a letter to the Duke and this morning, although it is ready for the Post Office, I am restrained from forwarding it. Therefore I keep it until I see why my mind is acted upon thus, feeling 'it is the Lord.' I knelt upon the bed in the night and implored Him to let His honor and glory alone be considered, and before I rose this morning, on again calling upon Him to direct me these words seemed to follow--'Be still and know that I am G.o.d, I will be exalted in the heavens, I will be exalted in the earth.' So, as this is the case, it is my duty quietly and patiently to submit to the way He may condescendingly choose for that glorious purpose. In the mean time, in order to satisfy my feelings towards the poor dear Duke I can indulge in writing them at all events and thereby proving it is no want of feeling or friends.h.i.+p for him that keeps me silent, but the consideration due to ONE as far above Himself not only _in reality_ but I trust through the Grace of G.o.d in _my_ estimation also as the heavens are above the earth. Nor would I resign one of His gracious glorious smiles to become the Empress of a million worlds, even were my loved precious Duke the chosen individual to partic.i.p.ate in such honors.
”Perhaps the Duke's conversion is at hand! Lord, if this be the case permit me through Thy Power and Grace to become the source of deep spiritual consolation to his precious soul, by being unto me a mouth and wisdom which all my adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist 'for without Thee I can do nothing!'”
MY LORD DUKE,--Judging from your silence to my last that all communication between us is about to cease, having written the accompanying Hymn for your acceptance, I take this opportunity of bidding you Farewell! being enabled through G.o.d's Grace which is all sufficient! to exclaim in _Scripture_ language, ”THE LORD GAVE and The Lord hath taken away _and_ BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!” That HE brought you to me in the _first_ place I feel convinced and heartily hope that I have omitted no faithful Christian duty towards you consistent with my ”high calling in Christ Jesus,” _consequently_ shall not have cause to reproach myself of neglect when _that_ AWFUL period arrives which MUST bring us once more together, however separated on _earth_ by His ALL WISE _decrees_, ”Whose paths are in the deep waters and Whose footsteps are not known,”--and Who knoweth FAR _better_ what is GOOD for us than we do for _ourselves_. Consequently it is our duty, and doubtless for our future and eventual happiness under any and all circ.u.mstances, however trying and painful such may be, to say THY will, O G.o.d, NOT MINE BE DONE! Trusting that you will not suppose any unkind feelings are experienced towards you by such DUE resignation to the Divine will or conclude that my future silence renders me forgetful of you _when kneeling_ before Him ”Whose eyes are in EVERY place _beholding_ the evil and the good,” with Whom the darkness is no darkness at all but the night is as clear as the day, I subscribe myself with much serenity as in His sight Ever My Lord Duke.
Your faithful Christian Friend,
A. J.
The hymn enclosed is ent.i.tled--
THE SHORTNESS OF TIME AND FRAILTY OF MAN.
ALMIGHTY _Maker_ of my frame!
TEACH ME _the number of my days_!
TEACH ME _to know how_ FRAIL _I am_ AND SPEND THE REMNANT TO THY PRAISE.
<script>