Part 25 (2/2)
It is very satisfactory to me to learn from the receipt of this Day of a Letter of the 16^th that Miss J. is better! And I write to thank her for giving me the satisfactory Information!
I hope to hear of her continued convalescence and perfect Recovery of her Health!
Most faithfully Her Obedient Humble Servant
WELLINGTON.
The Duke's next note was less amicable:--
LONDON, January 21, 1851.
In order to avoid to create irritation in the Mind of Miss J. and the receipt of a Note expressing such irritation in strong terms!
I write to acknowledge the receipt of Miss J.'s letter! written on four sides of letter paper; in the Night of the 19^th of January! I entreat her to avoid the Irritation of writing again!
Most faithfully Her Obedient Humble Servant
WELLINGTON.
All the entreaties of the Duke proved futile, however, when Miss J. had convinced herself that it was her duty to write. The occasion she desired soon came. She says in her Diary for February 6th:--
”I have been pondering over the account given in the Times paper of this day wherein the Queen's visit to the House of Peers is noticed and among other things the following remark in reference to the Duke--'His Grace appeared to shrink from the attention and respect of which he was the object.'--This induced me to marvel whether The Great Lord of lords has not at length begun to exercise His G.o.dly Power over his precious soul, making him consequently feel the nothingness of all things in comparison therewith!”
Upon the strength of this impression Miss J. wrote to the Duke, asking him if he recollected where he was and how he was occupied at the time she mentions. His answer came promptly, although Miss J. did not find it at all satisfactory.
LONDON, Feb. 8, 1851.
I have received Miss J.'s Letter! And I hope that Her Health continues to improve! But she does not mention it! I thank her; I am quite well!
I was employed on Tuesday in the usual Manner in giving attendance upon the Sovereign when she opened Parliament! I perform all my worldly Duties to the best of my ability! Miss J.
despises things of this world, but I fear that if all followed her good example strictly they would suffer.
Her Humble Servant.
WELLINGTON.
Miss J.'s reply begins as follows:--
”Alas! My Lord Duke! it is grievous to me to find that the remarkable expression in the Newspaper on Wednesday referred to in my last, namely; 'His Grace appeared to _shrink_ from the attention and respect of which he was the object' did not come from the impression I had hoped of Regeneration--or Divine Grace having begun its work in your precious Soul, to which at present you are so evidently a stranger. Judging by the latter portion of your reply you never desire or expect to be otherwise, as you seem to imply if all were to follow my example you fear you should not be improved. This a.s.sertion is but too true except the Great Lord of lords put forth His Almighty Power for that purpose.”
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