LETTERS OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. 135 



Up his hands in strong emotion, exclaiming, " Oh, my poor 

 friend !" and could not proceed. The regard he entertained 

 for the late Duke of Wellington has already been adverted 

 to, and his friendship was warmly reciprocated. Once a 

 report getting abroad that Mr. Smith was dead, his Grace, 

 who was then in London, dispatched the Marquis of Douro 

 immediately from Strath fieldsaye to Ted worth, to make 

 inquiries, and finding to his satisfaction that the squire was 

 enjoying his usual robust health, the Duke wrote to him 

 the following letter : — 



London, Nov. 12, 1851. 



" My dear Smith, — They have killed you again in these 

 last days ! But I have been happy to learn that the report 

 is without foundation. 



" They treat you in this respect as they do me. I con- 

 clude that it is in your capacity of Field Marshal of Fox- 

 hunting. 



" Ever yours, most sincerely, 



" Wellington." 



Another note written by the Duke is characteristic oi 



the writer : — 



London, 3Iay 11, 1840. 



" My dear Smith, — I have received your note. I 

 attend in Parliament four days in the week. At the 

 Ancient Musick on Wednesdays. There remain Sunday 

 and Saturday. 



" Every animal in the creation is sometimes allowed a 

 holiday, excepting the Duke of Wellington. There the 

 days are, take any Saturday or Sunday that you please. 



" I should certainly like to have occasionally a day's 

 leisure, while the Ancient Concerts are going on, and the 

 pressure of business is so heavy in Parliament. 



" But ray convenience, likings, or dislikings, have nothin^y 

 to do with the matter ; they are not worth discussing. I 



