“London, March 20, half-past six, P.M.
“My Lord,
“Sir Henry Hardinge has communicated to me a memorandum, signed by your lordship, dated one, P.M., and a note from Lord Falmouth, dated three, P.M. Since the insult, unprovoked on my part, and not denied by your lordship, I have done every thing in my power to induce your lordship to make me reparation, but in vain. Instead of apologising for your own conduct, your lordship has called upon me to explain mine. The question for me now to decide is this—Is a gentleman, who happens to be the King’s minister, to submit to be insulted by any gentleman who thinks proper to attribute to him disgraceful or criminal motives for his conduct as an individual? I cannot doubt of the decision which I ought to make on this question. Your lordship is alone responsible for the consequences, I now call upon your lordship to give me that satisfaction for your conduct which a gentleman has a right to require, and which a gentleman never refuses to give. I have the honour, &c.
“Wellington.”
(15.) FROM LORD FALMOUTH TO SIR HENRY HARDINGE.
“London, March 20, 1829, half-past eleven, P.M.
“Sir,
“When I received the favour of your note, with its enclosure, soon after eight o’clock this evening, I had just sat down to dinner, and being in company I could not read it without exciting some suspicion, till some time afterwards. I had then to find Lord Winchilsea. All which I mention in excuse for delay, in case you should think it of importance; but I apprehend that, after an arrangement made before five o’clock this afternoon, his grace’s letter to Lord Winchilsea, calling upon him for satisfaction in the usual way, was meant merely as a customary form on such occasions. All matters will take place of course to-morrow morning at eight o’clock, according to that arrangement. I have the honour to be, &c.
“Falmouth.”
(16.) FROM LORD WINCHILSEA TO THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.