[To Tea Eorron or rem "serouror.-1 Sta,—Against the popular belief
that the Duke of Wellington was tall, and your correspondent "Seventy-eight's" suggestion that his height was five feet ten inches, may be set the valuable testimony of Thomas Carlyle. I call it valuable because, as every reader of Carlyle knows, a piercing vision for physical characteristics was one of the facets of his genius. At the only ball he ever attended, given at Bath House, June 24th, 1850, Carlyle saw the Duke at close quarters, and on the morrow he wrote in his Journal:— "By far the most interesting figure present was the old Duke of Wellington, who appeared between twelve and one, and slowly glided through the rooms—truly a beautiful old man; I had never seen till now how beautiful, and what an expression of graceful simplicity, veracity, and nobleness there is about the old hero when you see him close at band. His very sin had hitherto deceived ma He is a :Modish, slightish figure, about five feet eight, of good breadth however, and all muscle or bone. His legs, I think, must be the short part of him, for certainly on horseback I have always taken him to be tall."
This report of the Duke's stature seems the more trust- worthy because Carlyle expressly corrects his own previous impression and finds a reason for it.—I am, Sir, do., WILFRED WHITTEN.
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