Page:The Marquess of Dalhousie.djvu/47

Rh which he addressed to the wife of Colonel Lawrence on her release from captivity during the Sikh war: nor could any words be better fitted to inspire a man with the strength of a noble appreciation of his own worth, than those with which he comforted John Lawrence on his sick bed. As I shall have to explain clearly the strained relations between Lord Dalhousie and members of the Lawrence family, and not to disguise the somewhat irksome domination which his imperious will laid upon the equally strong natures of the illustrious brethren, it may be well to reproduce these two letters. They will suffice to show how he won the love of those whom he most resolutely controlled.

'Madam,' he wrote in 1849 to the wife of Colonel Lawrence on her release from the Afghans, — 'Since I cannot have the pleasure of seeing you here, I am sure you will permit me to take the liberty of addressing to you myself my hearty and cordial congratulations on your being once again in the midst of your family, and of those who have been long watching your fate with painful interest.

'The kindness of your friends has permitted me during that time to see many of your notes which you never meant for any mere official eye; and I trust you will not think I take too great a liberty in saying — for even at the risk of your displeasure I must say it — that the perusal of them during the long course of your captivity, showing to me the