Bekendorf, visibly embarrassed, answered, that, some time ago, it was reported to the emperor that the noble marquis had been present at a baU given for the relief of the Polish refugees in London. That the emperor was so much surprised at such a report, that he would not at first believe that the son of the Duke of Wellington could have attended at such a ball, and that it must have been a mistake; but that the news of his being actually present was subsequently officially confirmed to his imperial majesty: he thought, therefore, that this circumstance might probably have displeased the emperor, and that this might perhaps be the real cause of the latter not having manifested to him those marks of kindness uniformly extended by the emperor to all foreigners of distinction. After this explanation, the Marquis of Douro, to the great regret of the inhabitants of Kalisz, left Poland, and returned to England, Setting aside the paramount respect of right due to his illustrious birth, let it be also remembered that the marquis was not a Russian but a British subject; and, consequently, that he was not obliged to adopt the political views of the Russian autocrat, or to partake of his imperial antipathies.
Let it be remembered that the noble marquis was not at that time married to his splendid and virtuous spouse; and as he is a nobleman who undoubtedly possesses a certain amiability of character, with pleasing manners, and had not the reputation to be insensible to the fair sex, he might have appeared at the Polish ball, not for any political motive hostile to Russia, but for seeing either a lady of his acquaintance, or some of his brother officers; or he might have had a whim of contributing to the support of those Polish exiles who, having fought for their country, oppressed beyond all power of description, claimed British hospitality, and were without the slightest means of existence.
The emperor has never spoken to him since. It seems, however, that, on the last visit of the Emperor Nicholas to England, some sort of reconciliation must, indirectly, have taken place, as it is a well-known fact that, by the exertions of the Marquis of Douro, Count Mostowski, a Pole, received permission to return to his country, and was well received by the emperor, who at a levee shook hands with him, and bade him welcome M back to Poland, where he remains to this time iinmolested.
As soon as it was known at Kalisz that the Marquis of Douro was there, some persons attempted to bribe the waiter to give them the opportunity of catching a sight of the son of the conqueror of Napoleon. I guarantee the veracity of all the particulars of the above anecdote, which was communicated to me by Lord Dudley Stuart, and by some persons well acquainted with the neighbourhood of Kalisz. I venture to mention it without thespecial authorisation of the marquis alluded to.
I shall probably resume the history I have already commenced, of the life of the Duke of Wellington, in the PoUsh and English languages. Being neither an Enghshman nor a Frenchman, and consequently, in the position of an impartial observer, I shall treat the subject without bias towards either side; and although I may perhaps diflfer in some particulars from the historians of the latter nations, who have given biographies of the noble duke, I shall conscientiously endeavour to discharge the task without favour or prejudice.
I intend to dedicate the above work to the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Hardinge, who contributed so much to the glory of the British name in India.