Literary Byways Part 21

One Highlander wrote to another the following smart letter:--

"My dear Glengarry,--As soon as you can prove yourself to be my chief, I shall be ready to acknowledge you. In the meantime

I am yours, MacDonald."

The Duke of Wellington engaged an intelligent Scotch farmer, named Heriot, to act as his private secretary.

"Walking in the city one day," says the Rev. Dr. Charles Rogers, "Mr.

Heriot met an old acquaintance from Scotland."

"Hallo! Heriot," said his friend, "what are you doing in London?"

"I am secretary to the Duke of Wellington," answered Heriot.

"You are nothing of the sort," said the Scotsman; "and I fear you're doing little good, since you would impose upon me in this fas.h.i.+on."

Returning to Scotland, it occurred to Heriot's acquaintance that he would write to the Duke, warning him that one Heriot "had been pa.s.sing himself off as his secretary."

He received the following reply:

"Sir,--I am directed by the Duke of Wellington to acknowledge the receipt of your letter; and I am,

Your obedient servant,

J. Heriot, Private Secretary."

A captain being ordered with his regiment to the Cape, made application to the Duke of Wellington for permission to try and arrange for a transfer to another corps. The "Iron Duke" merely turned up his letter and wrote "Sail or sell," and returned it to the applicant.

Mr. George Seton, who has devoted much attention to this theme, tells an American story in which a brief letter holds a prominent place. He states that "in 1693, the Rev. Stephen Mix made a journey to Northampton in search of a wife. He arrived at the Rev. Solomon Stoddard's, and informed him of the object of his visit. Mr. Stoddard introduced him to his six daughters, and then retired. Addressing Mary, the eldest, Mr. Mix said that he had lately settled at Wethersfield, was desirous of obtaining a wife, and concluded by offering his heart and hand. The blus.h.i.+ng damsel replied that so important a proposal required time for consideration; and accordingly Mr. Mix left the room in order to smoke a pipe with her father, while she took the case to 'avizandum.' On her answer being sent for, she requested further time for consideration; and it was agreed that she should send her answer by letter to Wethersfield. In the course of a few weeks, Mr. Mix received a reply, which was soon followed by the wedding:--

"Northampton, 3rd November, 1693.

Rev. Stephen Mix,--Yes.--Mary Stoddard."

We will bring to a close our examples of laconic letters with another specimen from the other side of the Atlantic. A notable dark day at Boston, on the 19th March, 1790, induced a lady to write to Dr. Byles, an eccentric but clever notability, the following note:--

"Dear Doctor,--How do you account for this darkness?"

He simply said:--

"Dear Madam,--I am as much in the dark as you are."

THE END