The Letters of the Duke of Wellington to Miss J., 1834-1851: Edited, with Extracts from the Diary of the LatterWellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of
History
The Letters of the Duke of Wellington to Miss J., 1834-1851: Edited, with Extracts from the Diary of the Latter
Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of
Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852 -- Correspondence
The Duke is not aware that he has been guilty of _presumption_,
of _daring presumption_.
Miss J. wrote to him a letter in which she expressed displeasure
at his having omitted to call upon Her as she expected he would.
The Duke was extremely concerned that Miss J. was displeased. But
he considered it best not to aggravate the Offence by writing
again. If he had ventured to approach Miss J., or had written to
her; he might have been accused of _daring presumption_. But he
purposely avoided both; in order not to give fresh grounds for
Irritation.
The Duke is exceedingly concerned that Miss J. should consider
that she has reason to complain of Him.
He thinks that upon reflection she will be opinion [_sic_] that
she has no reason to be offended.
Miss J. does not mention what ground she had for supposing the Duke to
be in possession of a lock of her hair. He had bestowed one of his upon
her, and it is only natural to surmise that she had given one of hers
in return. The matter was apparently smoothed over, as there is no
cessation of letters.
LONDON, April 27, 1837.
The Duke of Wellington presents his Comp^ts to Miss J. and is
very sensible of the kindness of her expressions on the loss
which a part of His family has recently sustained.
The Duke is much concerned to learn that Miss J. still thinks
that she has cause to be displeased with the Duke.
The Duke trusts that Reflection and time will convince her; that
no such cause [_sic_]. The Duke assures her, Miss J., that he is
not sensible that he has given her such cause; by anything that
he has said written done or omitted.
"In a letter dated April 29th the duke writes 'He is very
grateful for the interest which Miss J. has been pleased to
express about the health of the Duke's brother. The Newspapers
were misinformed. The Duke's brother has not been seriously
indisposed. His niece however has lost her daughter which is the
misfortune to which the Duke imagined that Miss J. had
referred.'"
LONDON, May 1, 1837.
The Duke of Wellington presents His Comp^ts to Miss J. He returns
many thanks for Her Note. The Duke will make enquiries respecting
that of the 22^nd addressed by the Duke to Miss J. which she had
not received in due course.
It is wonderful that there should be so little delay and so few
mistakes in an establishment of this Description. But the few
that do occur should render letter writers cautious not to write
in a moment of Irritation; that which would not be written if
time were taken for reflection.
Some coolness followed this letter. The Duke wrote once again saying,
"He does not know what to do to please her." Miss J. adds, "Which it
was quite impossible he could do while in and of 'the world.'"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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