Part 27 (1/2)
Humble Servant,
WELLINGTON.
The above is the Duke's last letter to Miss J. Although he lived until September of the following year, he never wrote to her again. Miss J.'s efforts did not cease, however. She sent letter after letter to the Duke, without being discouraged by his utter silence. Indeed, a note directed to him was lying on her table ready to be sent to the post the morning that she received the news of his death. She gives an account of her reception of the tidings:--
”_November 28th, 1852._ I dare not trust my pen to refer to the unantic.i.p.ated dreaded end which has caused me so much deep sorrow although nearly three long months have rolled over my head since that awful blow was given and which, had it not been for divine support would I fear have deprived me of my reason, for it was so unexpected that when my Physician called to acquaint me thereof, I said, pointing to a letter on the table: 'That is for the Duke,'
intending to ask him to put it into a Post Office, being sealed and ready.
”On perceiving my doctor silent, instead of offering with his usual kindness to post the letter, I enquired wherefore? he replied that he thought it had better be postponed. This made me still more anxious, eagerly asking, if he were ill? when Dr. P. said he had not been well, and thus by degrees unfolded the awful truth that he was indeed No more.
”O I can never forget my feelings! continuing after his departure as if riveted to my seat and speechless.”
Miss J. then laments that the Duke had never given any marked proof of his conversion, and recapitulates her efforts to lead him into the way of righteousness. She dwells upon the longing she had felt to be a.s.sured that he had known a ”new birth,” but adds:--
”Alas! this satisfaction was not afforded me. Nevertheless as before expressed, I build my hopes on the last five hours of His Grace's life, however insensible to all around, knowing nothing to be impossible with G.o.d, consequently that even at this the eleventh hour his precious soul may through a Saviour's righteousness have been permitted to wing its flight to Mansions of eternal glory.”
The remainder of Miss J.'s life was of little interest. She became more bigoted as she advanced in years; and although not long after the Duke's death she joined her sister in the United States, her peculiarities had developed so unpleasantly that the two could not live peacefully in the same house. Miss J. resided in New York until her death in 1862.
A list of the Duke's letters is appended, copied from Miss J.'s Diary.
_List of Letters received from the Duke._
In 1834 6 1835 78 1836 56 1837 25 1838 (one being double) 23 1839 8 1840 25 1844 (and Picture) 55 1845 32 1846 18 1847 19 1848 3 1849 10 1850 24 1851 8 --- Total Number 390
APPENDIX.
NOTE 1, page 105.
In a sermon preached at the Chapel Royal, Hook (afterwards Dean of Chichester) told the Queen that the Church would endure, let what would happen to the Throne. On her return to Buckingham House, Normanby, who had been at the chapel, said to her, ”Did not your Majesty find it very hot?” She said, ”Yes; and the sermon was very hot too.”--GREVILLE, _Memoirs_ (1837-1852), vol. i. p. 116.
NOTE 2, page 112.
The Duke of Wellington had an attack the other night in the House of Lords, and was taken home speechless, but not senseless. It was severe, but short; and after the stomach was relieved, he rapidly recovered, and in a day or two _p.r.o.nounced_ himself as well as ever. Of course the alarm was very great.--GREVILLE, _Memoirs_ (1837-1852), vol. i. p. 267.
NOTE 3, page 126.
Charles, the second son of the Duke of Wellington, married, July 9, 1844, Augusta Sophia-Anne, daughter of the Right Hon. Henry Manvers-Pierrepont. The marriage took place at St. George's Church, Hanover Square, and was followed by a grand wedding-breakfast, given at Apsley House by the Duke of Wellington.
NOTE 4, page 129.