The Wellesleys are only Wellesleys—­or Wesleys, as the name was formerly spelt—­in the female line.  Richard Colley, son of Henry Colley, of Castle Carbery, county Cork, succeeded on the 23d of September, 1728, to the estates of his cousin, Garrett Wesley, Esq., of Dangan, county Meath, assumed the name and arms of “Wesley,” and was created baron of Mornington July 9, 1746.  He married, December 23, 1819, Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Doctor John Sale, M.P. for Carysfort, and died January 31, 1758, when he was succeeded by his only son, Garrett, father of the duke of Wellington, who was created in 1760 Viscount Wellesley and earl of Mornington.

In October, 1748, Mrs. Delany writes:  “Last Monday we set out for Dangan, Lord Mornington’s.  He is the same good-humored, agreeable man he was seventeen years ago.  My godson, Master Wesley [Wellington’s father] is a most extraordinary boy:  he was thirteen last month, is a very good scholar, and whatever study he undertakes masters it most surprisingly.  He began with the riddle last year, and now plays everything at sight.” [In after years Lord Mornington acquired considerable distinction as a composer.]

“This place, Dangan Castle, is really magnificent:  the old house that was burnt down is rebuilding.  They live at present in the offices:  the garden (or rather improvements and parks, for it is too extensive to be called a garden) consists of six hundred Irish acres, between eight and nine hundred English.  There is a gravel-walk fifty-two feet broad and six hundred yards long from the house to the great lake.  The lake contains twenty-six acres, is of an irregular shape, with a fort built in all its forms.  My godson is governor of the fort.  He hoisted all his colors, and was not a little mortified that I declined the compliment of being saluted from the fort and ship.  The ground, so far as you can see every way, is waving in hills and dales.”

Dangan stands about seven miles from Trim and twenty from Dublin.  The Marquis Wellesley (husband of Miss Caton of Maryland), who succeeded his father as second earl of Mornington, sold it to a Mr. Burroughs, who, after greatly improving it, let it to Mr. Roger O’Connor, a near relative of the Chartist agitator of the name.  Whilst in his possession the house and demesne were stripped of everything that could be turned into money; the timber, which was remarkable both for quantity and quality, was cut down; and the gardens were permitted to run to waste.  At length the house—­being heavily insured—­was found to be on fire, and was burnt before assistance could be obtained.  One part of the building, of which the walls were extraordinarily thick, is now inhabited by a farmer who superintends the property.

The present duke of Wellington (whose wife, formerly well known as Lady Douro, is a daughter of Lord Tweeddale, and sister of the wife of Sir Robert Peel) is childless.  His only brother, Lord Charles Wellesley, left two sons, but if these should die issueless the dukedom will be extinct, and the Irish earldom of Mornington will pass to Lord Cowley.