The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-09
THE DUKE AND MRS. MAJOR GENE.

Mrs. Major --, or Mrs. Major General ---,
we know not which, took it into her head that she
ought to see the Duke OF Wellington on some mat
ter that interested her. She made morning call
Apsley-house, and was informed that his Grace was
frustrating at Strathfedsaye. Forthwith "four
barbed steeds from the Bulls Head" as George
Coleman has it, were appended to hertravelling car
rage, and at the close Of summers afternoon saw
her at the end of the long oftrees (the finest
by the by, in Engand) end at the very vestbule Of
Strathfeldsaye. st Fsns
~ wish to see the Duke. Take up my card
am Mrs. Major General ----." 81 have no orders,'
said the porter Sand the Duke sees no one who has
not previously written to him." "Oh, nonsense''
replied the lady, descending from her carriage, and
with stately bearing and the cool nonchalant inn
prudence of fashion, she fairly pooh poohed the por
ter, and passing him, entered the mansion.
She had crossed the noble hall, and was advance
ing up the grand staircase when page Ia stad man.
called page at Strath6edsaye, on the same princ-
pie veteran jockeys of seventy years are called post
boys) placed himself before her, with the question,
ssMay take the liberty, madam Of asking whom
you want to seer "Oh, want to see the Duke;
must see the Duke, have very particular business
with his Grace My name is Mrs. ---, the lady
of Major General -. Take in my card; the Duke
will see me Instantly
"You must excuse me, madam" was the polite
reply, shut my instructions imperative. | must
request you to retire and write to his Grace.o
s.Oh, dear, mo-; certainly not. ! shall go on now
l am here am determined to find my way to his
Grace" N
Then, madam, shall be compelled to obstruct
your passage"
Much more such conversation ensued. In vain
did the lady demonstrate and indignantly exciaim
at the impossblity Of page turning Mrs. Major
General -- out of the house, but she went; and, il
the report says true, the page was obliged to take
her gently BY the shoulders and guide her to the
hall door. ss
The next mornings post brought blazing letter
from the Major General ----, and flaming one
from Mrs. Major General --, stating the atrocious
conduct of the page, and recommending his punish
ment to his Graces consideration. A military exc
cuton, with Dead March in Saul by the band of the
Horse Guards, (Blue, and volley over his grave,
was the only thought Of the lady. The major gene
raj, who had Witnessed the doings of his Grace's
provost marshal, on the march from Toulouse to
Paris, and who knew the iron sternness Of the
Dukes mind looked forward to something like a
page hanging on the elms of Strathfeldsaye after
the feudal fashion.
No soaner had his grace received the letters, than
the delinquent page was summoned to the presence
of Napoeon's conqueror His heart sunk within
him as he entered the room. There was an unspeak-
able camness in the dukes eye which marked de-
cisve step, and that speedily. 43
$50, c., you refused admittance to Mrs. Ma
jor General --, though she announced herself by
namein sGtsI
With half hesitation the page answered, 81 must
acknowledge that ! did your grace, butt
General ---- refused to depart from my house at
your bidding, you positively took Mrs. Major Cen
eral --- by the shoulders, Gas learn in a letter
from Major General - and you actually con-
veyed-l will not say forced---Mrs. Major General
-- out Of the door. Answer me, sir, did you do
ths:', M A
81 must acknowledge, your grace, that did so."
"And good thing for you that you did; and il
you had not turned her out, should have turned
you out" was his grace's conclusive reply.