THE LESSER WELLINGTON DESPATCHES.
A SUPPLEMENTAL volume of the Wellington Despatches should be published, containing the replies of "F. M. the Duke of Welling- ton" to the private notes of the British public. The Globe com- municates the richest that we have seen of these amusing epis- tles—
"A Dr. Orpen has, it seems, been publishing some plan relative to the payment of the National Debt, by Government taking in hand the working of all the railroads in the kingdom. Amongst others to whom he wrote on the subject, was the Duke of Wellington: his Grace's reply is perhaps the best that has yet ap- peared, as it certainly is one of the most characteristic. Here it is
" 'London, November 7, 1843. F. M. the Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Dr. Open; he has received his letter. The Duke has no relation with any railroad, and declines to interfere, in any manner, in their concerns. He entreats Dr. Orpen to communicate his opinions to any other individual in the community whom he pleases to select. He cannot address one who is more determined than the Duke not to interfere in affairs over which he has no control."
People are getting to think the Duke very rude ; but they pass it off with an indulgent smile, and say that he is also grow- ing old. They forget, too, how he must be pestered with this importunity of notes ; scarcely a day dawns for him without its urgent " Billy-do." Every great inventor who has a new plan of paying off the National Debt, blowing up the French fleet, writing music for love-songs, or cutting corns, submits his plan for the Ducal approval and concurrence. It is no joke to be the universal referee of all the quacks in the United Kingdom. How would you like that kind of incessant intrusion ? Not at all. You too would be apt to tell people to mind their own business, and leave you to mind yours. The only wonder is that the Duke puts his homely rebuff into so very formal a shape. Imagine the nuisance of being treated by the public with as much familiarity as if you were Wright or Widdicombe, exchanging nightly pleasantries with them over the foot-lights ; when in fact you are up to your ears in national business, and exchanging nightly unpleasantries with the Opposition. Depend upon itq, you too would grow bitterly facetious, and would fling back rail/- way projects, ballad, or quack corn-plaster, with something worse than a Wellington note.
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