Part 11 (2/2)
”1839.--The first letter received during this year 1839 is I see enclosed in a cover addressed to Her Majesty the Queen of England, Buckingham Palace, to whom I must have written, forwarding it to the Duke to deliver, but which as with that to Queen Adelaide was returned to me in his dated May 14th, 1839.
”Another letter in Aug. I see in like manner contains an Enclosure addressed to Her Majesty, but which was also returned under the same impression that he was not ent.i.tled to deliver such. In the Duke's next dated Nov. 17th 1839 he writes--
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I am much obliged to you for your letter of the 15th in which you have enquired about my health as you had heard or read a report that I was indisposed. I am and have been quite well, thank G.o.d.
Ever yours most faithfully,
WELLINGTON.
”The Duke's next letter is dated Dec. 14th 1839 in which he writes--'I return a letter which I opened thinking it was addressed to me but I now find it was intended for another, as I find the Name in a Note to myself.'
”The Duke's next letter is dated Dec. 18th in which he writes--'I beg you not to make yourself uneasy about the missing letter.' This was a letter which miscarried and lost.
”The Duke's next letter is dated Dec. 24th, 1839, judging by which I presume some mistake had been made in a former epistle as he writes therein--'I receive so many letters and have so many directions to attend to; that you must not be surprised if I sometimes make a mistake.'
”The Duke's next letter is directed Dec. 28th in which he writes--'I have received your Note of the 26th. It certainly does not appear that both Notes have been opened.'
”This arose from my enclosing the Duke some covers forwarded to me which Mrs. L. thought had been unsealed.
”Another letter from the Duke on the same subject after making enquiries of his servants is dated Dec. 31st 1839.
”Letters received from the Duke of Wellington during this year EIGHT.”
”1840.--The first letter from the Duke of this year is dated Jan.
the 16th, thanking me for mine of the 15th and on the 18th the Duke again writes--'I am much obliged to you for your letter of yesterday of which I acknowledge the receipt immediately with many thanks.' The Duke's next letter is dated the 20th of Jan. in which he writes--'You may rely upon it that I shall not misunderstand your communications and I am much obliged to you for the confidence reposed in me.'
”The Duke's next letter is dated Jan. 30th, 1840, by the contents of which I presume that I had expressed a wish concerning my letters being confined to his perusal as he writes: 'You may rely upon what I tell you. n.o.body sees your letters. They reach me as regularly as is possible considering the greatness of the transactions of the Post Office.'
”Again in the Duke's next dated Jan. the 31st he writes 'You may rely on it your letters reach me in safety.'
LONDON, February 3, 1840.
In the Morning.
MY DEAR MISS J.,--I received on Sat.u.r.day night the 1^st Inst.
Your Letter of the 31--Jan--; of which I acknowledge the receipt this Morning according to your Desire.
I always write as you Desire. But you must not be surprized if a letter sealed with a seal bearing the Impression of a Coronet; received for you every day at the same place should occasion some curiosity.
Nothing can be more innocent than those Letters or more praiseworthy than those, to which they are an answer. But the existence of such a correspondence is calculated to excite curiosity; and Inquiry.
Believe me Ever Yours
Most faithfully,
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