London: 1837. Addressed to an unidentified recipient, this signed letter concerns the appointment of an officer with hearing loss, which the Duke relates to his own experience of deafness. "My Dear Sir, Captain ??? must be named first in the Commission. The question in respect of deafness is the degree? If I am to leave out the name of Mr Cutfield, I ought to think of myself!! Yet I get on ??? well in every description of business with one ear destroyed.
The best thing I do is to nominate the Commision is with Capt ??? at the head. I will write to Capt ??? to request him ??? ??? if Mr Cutfield and Capt ??? are ??? and ought to be left out. Ever yours most sincerely, Wellington."

Like many exposed to the sound of artillery fire, the Duke of Wellington suffered from noise-related hearing loss. Subsequently he underwent a botched treatment which resulted in permanent deafness in one ear. This ALS is dated London, 16 April 1837. This was the year that Queen Victoria ascended the throne, and was written when the Duke was in his late 60s. Expected fold marks. Whole written in brown ink. 2pp. with integral blank leaf. 185 x 118 mm (7¼ by 4¾ inches)