The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-11-15
THE DuK OF YELLING ron.
Charles Greville on the Iron Dukes Character and
Peculiariiies.
TGrpvtlie'a Momoiro

OhaIies urefite on the Iron Dukes Character AMI
Peculiariiies.
tGreville's Memorial
1t was at Doncaster, Wednesday morning last thai
heard Of tho Duke OF Wellingtons death. when nj
nrst nobody believed but they speedily teegrapheJ
TO London and the answer proved that the reporl
was correct Doncaster was probably the only piacf
IN the Kingdom where the sensation caused by thls
event was not absorbing anu profound; but there
on tfe morning OF the ST. Leger, most people were
too much occupied with their own concerns TO be-.
SLOW SLOW much thought or Iamentaon on this great ma
and regret have been unexdmped, and the press
as pean admirable. especially the Times, the bio
grapnical notice aud article In which paper were
oo,n composed many months ago and shown 10 me.
Indeed, the notices OF the Duke ami the Characters
drawn OF him have been able aud elaborate In nil
be said. Sill there were minute traits OF charastcr
anu peculiariiles about the Duke which 1t was i'm
possible lot mere pnbllc writers and men personally
uhacqualnteh with him to seize, but the knowledge
and appreciation OF which necessary in order 10
form lust aud complete conception OF the man.
al doubt. very great MANTLE only great man OF
me present tlInean'l comparable In point OF great
ness TO the most eminent Of those who have lived
before num- HIS greatness was the result OF few
Striking qualitlcs-a perfect simplicity OF character
without particle OF vanity or conceit but with thor.
ness never misled by fancy or exaggeration and nm
sense duty aud obligation made
nun the humblest OF citizens and most Obedent Of
suoJects me crown never possessed more faith
full, devoted. and dlsnteresled subject Without
personal attachment to any OF the monarchs whom
their individual merits and demerlts he alike reyer-
enced their great ofces In the PERSONS OF each OF
, n,s ana We would at any time have sacrificed
the Sovereign and the state. Passing almost M
whole lie IN command and authority. and regarded
was never turned by the exalted positions he occl,
pem an no there was no duty however humble he
ding his lawful superors whose behess he eIs a D
never have hesitated to obey. NotwlthstaninS HI
age ana his diminished strength he would most as
post In which his personal assistance might have
been essential TO tue safety or advantage of the
realm, ne had more pride 10 obeylng than In COM
manuing, anu ne never for a moment considered
Inai ms great position and elevation above ali other
subjects released him from the same obligation
utterly devoid OF personal and selfish ambition, and
!nere never was q man whose greatness was go
thrust upon him. 1t was In this dspassionate un-
that he was so superior to Napoleon i3onapare Who
with more genius and fertility of invention was the
restraint. indifferent to the wel-being and happi.
ness Of his fellow-creaures and who, In pursuit OF
any object a. which MS mind grasped tranpled un.
laws, and bore down every obstacle and scorned
every e; consideration which opposed themselves to
good-natured but not an amlabe man; he mad no
!encSrne M n ms aisposton and never evlnced
aSare wss arS Gr my Of a his relations s
to have had any real aTeciion for anybpSy.
man NJ or s,n woman during the latter years
&c OI.
ne probably was attached and TO whom he certainly
conaded. Domestic enjoyment he never possessed,
And ms wife was lntoleratle to him, though he al
ways kept on decent terms with her. at least, Osten.
sibly he sought the pleasure OF women 4 society in
variety OF capric!ous ,fdfsons from which his age
and changed "a fancy ana inclination prom ed him
x ~ intimate friends and adherenis used to smile al
. aese seniie 9ngg"eents, but sometimes had to
posed him II general reverence and regard mad not
made him privileged person, and permitted him 10
lity. In his younger days he was extremely adj. |
iieled TO gallantry, and had great success with |
women OF whom one In Spain gained great Influence
lver MIN, ana his passion for whom very nearly
involved him In serious difficulties lIIsOther ladies
ilu lttle more than anusc his Idle hours and sub
'erye his social habits, and with most OF them His
fdisons were certainly very Innocent, lie had
,een very fond OF Grassn aud the successful lover
y some women OF fashion, whose weaknesses have
These habits OF female Intimacy and gossip led him
Q .ake great Interest IN thousand petty AFFAIRS
10 was always ready to enter into any personal
a! sases n, ans ,a or sar.e political Or social
though not Invariably was very sound and good;
tut latierly he became morosc and inaccessible and
ursed and sworc at the people who sought 10 an
loach him. even on the most serlousand necessary
Although the Dukes mind was stu very vigorous,
nd ne wrote very good papers on the various sub,
plnion. his preJudces had become soinuch stronger
20 more unassaiable that he gave great annoyance
-. ~ koou hcni VI uIHCulty 70 tnb ministers who
nd TO Transact business with him. lie was opposed
almost every sort Of change and reform In the
mall difficulty to steer between the cxlgencles OF
nblic opinion and his objections and resistance.
q y was always deemed an object to keep him in
God humor, and many conside ratlons forbade any.
nlng ike dssension with him, or an appeal
galnst MN 70 the public, the late ministers often
cicn or RETAINED from acting, In deferonce to his
plnon and against their own, and took on them
elves al inc responsibility OF maintaining his views
nj measures, even when they Thought ho waa
,rong. iils habits were lntterly very solitary. and
iter tie death OF Arhuthnot, he had no Intimacy
'lll any one, nor any friend to whom he could talk
conlded everything TO him, and those who Wished
comn'unicate with the Duke almost always aid so