"The Duke's next letter is dated March 12th 1837 in which he again notices my letter, as follows; 'I return you the enclosed which I ought to have sent you when I wrote last.'"
Still another dispute is now chronicled. Miss J. states that she wrote the Duke a letter in which she referred to his "brushing up his chair to me with so much familiarity during his last visit." The Duke's answer shows his irritation very plainly:—
London, April 18, 1837.
The Duke of Wellington presents His Compliments to Miss J. She is quite mistaken. He has no Lock of Hair of Her's. He never had one.
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.