New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-17

12n1o pp. 224 Dodd. Mead d 10
Tli. book deserves to be enrolled among the
curiosities of literature, for IL is certainly the
stransest one that has been published Tor long
time. In these days of universal puOhcly the
most intimate relations are tolerahy certain 20
be exposed sooner or later, but probably the most
proliAc imagination never conceived of such
correspondence as is here set forth between the
Iron Duke and beautiful young lady,
who believed herself commissioned from
on high to pluck him as brand
from the burning Miss j.. who must hence
forth take her place rs the Duke Of Welhngton's
Inconna," was young Englshwoman, whose
parents, rs her editor puts it, I" were from among
the smaller English gentry" From an early age
she appears to have exhibited what some people
would have called an exalted piety, and others
a morbid tendency. Miss Herrick says oil her
She appears never TO have had any tostc lor
general society. A woman OF deeply devotlohaI
nature, her fervor in spiritual matters hso been
heightened by associations into which she had peen
thrown soon after quitting school, and further
strengthened by the example and precepte oil hcr
bosom companion Mrs. l.. But while the latter
evidently possessed strong common-sense anu
well-balanced mind Miss j. was 1mpulslVe, en-
thusiastio, undisciplined. Whatever she ala WIS
done with all her might. In her slshs there eou1u
he no mi idle courss no halfway measures by
much introspeotion and bordering Of the scriptures
she developed into o religious zealot, tanatcslV
anxious for the conversion OF those ABOUT ber'
And this conversion was in her mind no'hhg iess
than the turning aside from all worldly pursuits
and the entire dedication Of time and self TO re-
ligous avocations."
Miss j. seems to have been the first TO INTRO
duce that modern practice OF pettlna condemned
murderers which after her time blossomed so
rankly She hnd another young zealot devoteu
Themselves to the conversion Of desperate crln-
inal who had rejected the ministrat1ons oil Gath
clio and Protestant clersymen. Miss j. and her
friend succeeded when the men had failed and
under their soothing manipulation, to use the
language OF Miss j., poor Cook rapidly riPencd
for the eternal kingdom" and in due time SUI
fered" after which Miss j. writes: can now
fancy him glorious spirit, lowering near, MIN
istering to those who are to be heirs Of salvation
The editor intimates that this incident turned the
girls head She felt heheeforth that she had
been called to q great work, and LOOKING around
her for an object her attention was drawn to the
Duke Of Wellington" 1t is said that she had
received good education but, as she states that
when she first made the acquaintance OF the Duke
she did not know that he was the conqueror OF
Napoleon nor when the Battle of Waterloo was
fought, some doubts may be entertained as to the
thoroughness of her instruction. The Duke was
at this time sixty five years Of ase and widower.
1t is necessary TO bear this last fact in mind, be
cause the motives of Miss j. in the correspondence
which followed were avowedly Mixed and one Of
the most amusing features Of the case is the in
nocence with which, while most obviously oon-
trolled by purely mundane and feminine emotions,
she continually ascribes her actions to single.
minded religious impulses and insplrstions.
Such nature is difficult to snalyze, more par
tcularly since it is open TO question whether it
was an entirely sane one. The assumption. how
ever, that Miss J. contemplated nothing less than
marriage with the Duke OF Wellington Is not
sratuitous She frankly acknowledged 1t. holding
that it was the of Providence to elevate her
TO q great position, both for the salvation OF the
Duke and for the sake of her own example. For
like many extremely pious people, she was salts
fed of her own perfection, and only vexed herself
about the feelings of Others. There is some mys
terry about the opening of 1.-THE acquaintance. She
wrote to the Overwhelmingly her letter has
not been preserved, but it was an expression OF
deep concern for his soul, beyond doubt-and, what
is really surprising the Duke answered by return
post. That is 1t would have been surprising iii
almost any other man, but the Duke of Wellington
made it q rule to answer nearly all letters. pro.
vided they were respectful. and what is more.
TO write the answers with his own hand To this
N habit he owed a correspondence which chung to
finite annoyance, and from which he only sue
ceeded in disembarrassng himself year before
his death Miss ]. thought the Duke must have
been strongly impressed by her first letter for she
notes in her diary that he put wrong date to
his reply and that it had also mistake in one
place and blot in two-betraying, consequently.
should ina CINE, feelings which overwhelmed him
on the receipt Of my Epstle" Greatly encouraged
by this essay, she next carried Bible TO the
Dukes house, "and with her own hand gave 1t
into the charge OF a servant The Duke was not
so prompt in acknowledging the Bible but he did
acknowledge it, and in doing so requested the
pleasure Of an interview.
The story Of this first interview is decidedly Oh
scure The account given by Miss j. is simply
not credible, and the Dukes version is not on
record She says that at first he was evidently
stricken speechless by the sight of her and that
ON recovering himself he said How love you
How love you !" in q distinctly ungrandfatherly
way. though Miss j.. in her innocence. thought his
emotion proof that Heaven had seen fit to bless
her endeavor by softcnng his hard heart. What
really passed between these oddly assorted com
panions must be loft TO conjecture, for 1T is i'm
possible 10 dsentangle Miss Us piety from her
righteousness, in this and many other instances
or to determine how far she WAS really carried
away by the religious fervor which was the IN
variable assumed motive OF her conduct AT all
events she was offended with the Duke, and wrote
scolding letters The Duke ever, or almost
ever. was polite and patient and deprecating. We
cannot tel what he really thought of Miss j., but
il s evident that for some time his feeling toward
her was stronger than that Of liberation lie
visited her many times. Once again he fell under
her displeasure by vehturing to hitch his chair
nearer TO her, manoeuvre which compelled her
10 a retrograde hitching" movement and con-
frrhed her in the opinion that the Duke WAS
bold bad man. AS correspondent sho seems to
have lacked several desiderata. She wrote very
fast, very much, and very illegibly She was
constantly sending overweight letters She
showered notes upon the much enduring Duke until
even his colossal patience gave way. She was
apparently always on the watch for causes Of Of