Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-08-31
THE wArERLoo BREECHEs.
An Interesting Episode in the Lives
0fTvv0 Great Men.

An Interesting Episode IN bAe Lives
of TWO Great Men.
from Cassell-s Magazne.J
One morning when the Duke of Yelling
ton was at breakfast he received letter In
an unknown and rather illegible handwriting.
With view to obtaining clew to its con-
tents he put on his eye glasses and scrutf-
nized the signature, which he read, sc. j.,
London" "Ohi" said his grace, "the Bish-
op of London to be sure. What does the
bishop want of me I wonderi" Then he be-
gan at the beginning and read the note care
fully through, an expression OF beWilder-
ment and perplexity gradually overspreading
his face as he did SO. The writer craved his
grace's pardon for the intrusion and request
ed as pereonal favor that the duke would
kindly permit him to come and see his ta-
nous Waterloo brooches. "Why, the bishop
must have gone nadi" exclaimed the duke,
as he let his glasses fall. "See my Waterloo
breechesl What il the world does the man
want to see my breeches fort However, I'm
sure I've no objeotion if he has curiosity
about them. A queer within though for
bishop to take into his head"
Next morning the Bishop of London, on
sorting his pile of correspondence, found
among it letter bearing ducal crest. He
opened 1t and read as follows: my Dear
Lord-You are perfectly welcome, as far as
am concerned, to come and inspect the
like. It's true haven't notion where they
are, but daresay my valet knows, and viii
communicate with you more definitely in a
day or two. Yours very faithfully, Yelling
ton" "The poor duke!" calculated the
Bishop of London, in a voice of the pro-
foundest commiseration. 81 always thought
it was foolish of him to enter political life
after his military career. He must be hope
lessly insane. What a dreadful thing for
the country to be surei" So the worthy
bishop, with many signs, went into his
study and wrote a kind letter to Duke of
Wellington, remembering that persons who
are mentally afflicted must be dealt with
tenderly. He thanked his grace for his
kindness, but assured him as delicately as
he could that he was not in the least anx-
ious to inspect the historical relics in ques-
ton, and begged that the duke would give
himself no further trouble in the matter as
far as he, the Bishop. of London, was con-
cerned.
It was now the dukes turn to be aston
ished. ST can't have been dreaming" he
said in his perplexity. "And yet the bish-
ops first letter was plain enough" Then he
did what he ought to have done in the first
instance-he called his secretary, Colonel B.
and laid the whole matter before him.
'sI'm afraid it's your grace who has made the
mistake" said Colonel B., an irrepressible
smile fitting over his face as he examined
| the two letters. "The first letter is not from
| the Bishop of London at all, nor does the
writer say anything about the breaches you
wore at Waterloo" 'Not from the bishop!'
exclaimed the duke. Eyes it is. The sigma
| ture is as clear as can bee. J., London.
| s'The initials stand for Charles James. 1t is
1 from Mr.. G. J. London, scientific gentle
man who is preparing an important work on
forest trees" replied the secretary; "and
what he wants to see is your grace's avenue,
1 the Waterloo beeches, as they are called,
| leading up to your front door at Strapth
| fieldsaye. Shall write and give him your
| permission?" And thus it fell out that both
1 duke and bishop were ultimately convinced
1 of each others sanity.