Personal correspondence from the desk of Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, one of the British commanding officers responsible for the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Correspondence from such illustrious historical figures is rarely found in such pristine condition outside of a museum. Addressed only to "My dear lord," the double-sided letter is dated 1823 and signed "Wellington." By this time, the Duke's military career had ended. Although he was appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Army after Waterloo, he did not return to active military life, but instead became a politician and 'elder statesman'. He was important as a diplomat in the years following the defeat of Napoleon, serving as Britain's delegate to the