My dear Miss J.,—I am very much concerned that my affairs should render it necessary for me frequently to go into the Country; and that as you don't receive an answer to your Note you should still think it must have been perused by my Servants or someone else.
If you cannot divest yourself of this suspicion you would act more wisely in not writing to me again; if you should care one Pin who sees your Letters!
I received last night on my return to London your Letter of the 4th and I acknowledge the receipt thereof this morning.
Believe me Ever Your
Most faithful Servant,
Wellington.
"The Duke's next letter dated March 9th wherein he writes: 'I am really much concerned that you should suppose that my last note to you was what you call Cross. But I am not so foolish as ever to be cross much less in writing.'"
The Duke seems in his next letter, dated March 11, to return to the third person again, wherein he writes after presenting his compliments: "The Duke has received her letter of the 10th, Inst. which does not appear to him to require any answer."
London, March 13, 1840.
½ past 11 a.m.
The Duke of Wellington presents His Compliments to Miss J. Miss J. thinks proper to write to the Duke; but complains of the inconvenience attending the observations of the Curious among the Publick, upon the frequency of the Correspondence.