My dear Miss J.,—I am much obliged to you for your letter of the 15th in which you have enquired about my health as you had heard or read a report that I was indisposed. I am and have been quite well, thank God.
Ever yours most faithfully,
Wellington.
"The Duke's next letter is dated Dec. 14th 1839 in which he writes—'I return a letter which I opened thinking it was addressed to me but I now find it was intended for another, as I find the Name in a Note to myself.'
"The Duke's next letter is dated Dec. 18th in which he writes—'I beg you not to make yourself uneasy about the missing letter.' This was a letter which miscarried and lost.
"The Duke's next letter is dated Dec. 24th, 1839, judging by which I presume some mistake had been made in a former epistle as he writes therein—'I receive so many letters and have so many directions to attend to; that you must not be surprised if I sometimes make a mistake.'
"The Duke's next letter is directed Dec. 28th in which he writes—'I have received your Note of the 26th. It certainly does not appear that both Notes have been opened.'
"This arose from my enclosing the Duke some covers forwarded to me which Mrs. L. thought had been unsealed.
"Another letter from the Duke on the same subject after making enquiries of his servants is dated Dec. 31st 1839.
"Letters received from the Duke of Wellington during this year eight."