CHAPTER III
1834
_Thursday, 16th January._—About a fortnight or three weeks ago I received the Order of Maria Louisa, accompanied by a very flattering letter from Her Majesty the Queen Regent of Spain, in the name of her daughter Queen Isabel the 2nd. Having some time ago asked for the handwriting of Her Majesty for my collection, the Queen hearing of it, sent me the Order accompanied by a very gracious letter. The Order is a violet and white ribbon, to which is suspended (en négligé) an enamel sort of star, and in high dress one superbly studded with diamonds.[146]
_Sunday, 13th April._—At 10 we went to prayers with Lady Theresa[147] and Lehzen. The service was performed by the Dean, who gave us likewise a very good sermon. It was taken from the 3rd chapter of Acts, 23rd verse: “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” At 1 we lunched. At 7 we 3 and Lady Theresa also dined. After dinner came Aunt Sophia. I stayed up till a ¼ to 9.
_Monday, 14th April._—I awoke at 7 and got up at ½ past 7. At ½ past 8 we all breakfasted. As I am now about to return to my usual studies, I must not omit to mention how very anxious my dear Mamma was throughout my indisposition, and how unceasing _dear_ Lehzen was in her attentions and care to me....
_Saturday, 19th April._—I awoke at 7 and got up at 8. At 9 we breakfasted. At ½ past 9 came the Dean till ½ past 10. At 12 we went out walking. At 1 we lunched. At ½ past 2 came the Duchess of Northumberland. At 3 came Lady Robert Grosvenor[148] with her little girl Victoria. She is a dear little child, so clever and intelligent. At 4 came Mrs. Anderson till 5. At 6 we dined. At a ¼ past 7 we went with Lady Conroy, Lehzen and Sir John to the Opera. We came in just at the beginning of the Opera of _Anna Boulena_. The characters were: Anna Boulena, Mdlle. Guiletta Grisi.[149] She is a most beautiful singer and actress and is likewise very young and pretty. She sang _beautifully_ throughout but particularly in the last scene when she is mad, which she _acted_ likewise _beautifully_. Giovanna Seymour, Mrs. E. Seguin, who sings very well. Enrico, Signor Tambourini, who sang beautifully. Ricardo Percy, M. Ivanhoff, who sings very well. He has a very pleasing though not a very strong voice. Between the acts there was a divertissement, in which Mdlle. Theresa Elsler danced a pas de deux with Mons. T. Guerinot, and Mdlle. Fanny Elsler with M. Perrot. Mdlle. Fanny danced beautifully; she ran up the stage on the tips of her toes in a most extraordinary manner. She likewise made many other pretty little steps. M. Perrot (whom I had never seen before) danced likewise quite beautifully. We went away as soon as the 2nd act of the opera was over. We came home at 12. I was VERY MUCH AMUSED INDEED!...
_Saturday, 26th April._—I awoke at 7 and got up at a ¼ to 8. At 9 we breakfasted. At ½ past 9 came the Dean till 11. The Duchess of Northumberland was present. At 12 we went to pay a visit to Aunt Gloucester. At 1 we lunched. At 3 came Mr. Steward till 4. At 4 came Mrs. Anderson till 5. At 6 we dined. Sir John dined here. At a ¼ past 7 we went with Lehzen and Sir John to the Opera. We came in just at the beginning of the opera of _Otello_. The characters were: Otello, Signor Rubini who sang quite beautifully and acted very well. Iago, Signor Tambourini who sung likewise _beautifully_. Rodrigo, M. Ivanhoff who sung _very well_.——Signor Zuchello. Desdemona, Signora Giuletta Grisi. She _sang_ and _acted_ quite beautifully! and looked lovely. She acted and sang _most sweetly and beautifully_ in the last scene; and also in the two trios in the 1st and 2nd acts. When the opera was over she was called for, and she came on, led by Rubini. At that moment a wreath of roses with a small roll of paper inside was thrown on the stage; Rubini picked it up and placed it on her head. They were very much applauded. We came away directly after the opera. Lord Ilchester[150] and Lady Theresa joined us there. We came home at a ¼ to 12. I was VERY MUCH AMUSED INDEED!!!...
_Monday, 28th April._—I awoke at 7 and got up at a ¼ to 8. At a ¼ to 9 we breakfasted. At ½ past 9 came the Dean till a ¼ past 11. The Duchess of Northumberland was present. At 12 Lehzen and I drove out. At 1 we lunched. At 3 came Mr. Steward till 4. I then went to the painting room. At 7 we dined. After dinner while we were playing on the piano, arrived Uncle Ferdinand[151] and Charles.[152] Uncle Ferdinand is Mamma’s second brother and she had not seen him for _16 years_! I have now seen all my uncles, except Uncle Mensdorff[153] (Aunt Sophie’s husband), for Mamma’s eldest brother, Uncle Ernest,[154] was here 3 years ago, the same year Uncle Leopold went to Belgium. Charles is looking very well and is grown much fatter. Uncle Ferdinand is not at all like my other Uncles. He is fair. It is a great pleasure for me to see both Uncle Ferdinand and Charles. I stayed up till 9....
_Thursday, 5th June._—At 11 arrived my DEAREST sister Feodora whom I had not seen for _6 years_. She is accompanied by Ernest, her husband, and her two eldest children Charles and Eliza. Dear Feodora looks very well but is grown much stouter since I saw her. She was married on the 18th of February 1828 and went away to Germany a week after and she never came here again since. Hohenlohe looks also very well. As for the children they are the DEAREST little loves I ever saw. Charles is 4 years and a half old. He is very tall and is a sweet good-tempered little fellow. He is not handsome but he is a very nice-looking boy. He has light blue eyes and fair hair. Eliza is 3 years and a half old; she is also very tall and is a _perfect_ little beauty. She has immense dark brown eyes and a very small mouth and light brown hair. She is very clever and amusing. We then showed her their rooms, and afterwards, at ½ past 12, we went to see the dear children take their dinner. They took it with Mr. Rol, Charles’s tutor. At 1 we all lunched, that is to say, Mamma, dear Feodore, Ernst Hohenlohe, Charly, Lehzen, and I. After luncheon, Feodore and the others went upstairs. At 2 Charles and Eliza came down and stayed with us alone. They are _dear sweet_ children; not at all shy and _so_ good; they never hurt or spoil anything. At a little after 2 came Lady Westminster.[155] The _dear_ children behaved _so_ well. They are so very sensible. They staid till after 3. Eliza speaks German and French very nicely. She has a French Swiss bonne called Louise who speaks French with her. At ½ past 4 we went out driving with _dear_ Feodore and Lehzen. We came home at 6. At 7 we dined. Besides dearest Feodore, Ernest, Charles and Lehzen, Sir J. Conroy dined here. When the 2nd course was put on, Charles and Eliza came in, and staid there. They were very funny and amusing and talked immensely. They staid up till ½ past 8. At ½ past 9 we went to the Opera with Ernst Hohenlohe, Charles, Lehzen, and Sir John Conroy, poor _dear_ Feodora being too tired to go. We came in at about the middle of the 2nd act of Rossini’s Opera of _L’Assiedo di Corrinto_. It is in 3 acts. The principal characters are: Mahomet (Emperor of the Turks), Signor Tamburini, who sang beautifully and looked _very well_. Cleomene (Governor of Corrinto), Mons. Ivanoff who likewise sang very well. Nioclene, Signor Rubini who also sang quite beautifully. Pamira, Mdlle. Giuletta Grisi, who sang quite beautifully and acted and looked _extremely well_. It was Laporte’s benefit, and the first time this opera was ever performed in this country. Then followed the 2nd act of _La Sylphide_ in which Taglioni made her first appearance since an absence of some months. She danced quite beautifully, quite as if she flew in the air, so gracefully and lightly. She looked also very well. There was also a Pas de Trois danced by Mdlles. Theresa and Fanny Elsler and Mons. Theodore. Mdlle. Fanny danced _beautifully_. We came home at 10 minutes to 1. There is only one thing wanting to my happiness in being with my dear sister and her children, that is that I cannot share that happiness with one whom I love so very dearly but who is far far away—that is my _most dear_ Uncle Ferdinand....
[Illustration: _H.S.H. Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe-Langenburg from a portrait by Gutekunst_]
_Wednesday, 11th June._—_Dear_ little Eliza and Charles came down to breakfast. Eliza came into my room and staid with me for some time. She is a dear good little girl. At 1 we lunched. Eliza came again into my room and staid with me for nearly an hour. At 3 we went with Lady Flora Hastings[156] and Lehzen to Windsor on a visit to their Majesties. We were very sorry to leave the dear children. At a ¼ past 5 we arrived at Windsor. The Queen, _dear_ Feodore, Ernest and several ladies and gentlemen of the court, received us at the door and conducted us upstairs to the Queen’s room, where the King was. I was very happy to see my _dear_ sister again. Some time afterwards the Queen conducted us to our rooms which are very handsome. At 7 we dined. Besides the King and Queen, Feodore and Ernest, Mamma and I, Lady Flora and Lehzen, there dined there: George Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Richmond,[157] the Duchess of Northumberland, the Duke of Grafton,[158] the Duke of Dorset,[159] the Duke of Cleveland,[160] the Marquis and Marchioness of Conyngham,[161] Lady Clinton (Lady of the Bedchamber in Waiting), Lord and Lady Frederick Fitzclarence,[162] Lord Denbigh,[163] Lady Sophia Sidney,[164] Miss Eden,[165] Miss Hope Johnston, Miss Wilson, Lord Albemarle,[166] Sir Frederick Watson, Colonel Lygon,[167] Mr. Wood,[168] &c., &c. The Queen went first with Ernest, then came the King who led Mamma and I in, and then came Feodore with the Duke of Richmond. The rest I do not recollect. I sat between the King and the Duke of Dorset. I stayed up till ½ past 9.
_Thursday, 12th June._—I awoke at 7 and got up at a ¼ to 8. At ½ past 9 we breakfasted, with the King, the Queen, Feodore, Ernest, George Cambridge, the Duchess of Northumberland, and Lady Clinton. All the other ladies breakfasted together. We then went into the Queen’s room. At a ¼ past 12 we went to Ascot Races with the whole company in 9 carriages. In the first went the King, the Queen, Mamma and I. In the second Feodore, the Duchess of Richmond, the Duchess of Northumberland and Lady Clinton. In the third Lady Flora, Lady Sophia Sydney, the Duke of Richmond, and the Duke of Cleveland. In the fourth Lehzen, Miss Hope Johnston, the Duke of Grafton, and the Duke of Dorset. How all the others went I do not know. At about 1 we arrived on the race course and entered the King’s stand with all our party. The races were very good and there was an immense concourse of people there of all ranks. At about ½ past 2 we had luncheon. At a little after 6 we left the stand and returned to the castle in the same way as we came except that, as it rained very hard, we came home in shut carriages. At 7 we arrived at the castle. At ½ past 7 we dined. The company at dinner were the same as yesterday with the exception of Lord and Lady Conyngham not dining here, and a few other gentlemen having dined here. We went in in the same way. I sat between the King and the Duke of Cleveland. I stayed up till a ¼ to 11. I was very much amused indeed at the races....
_Sunday, 27th July._—At 9 we breakfasted. How sad I felt at breakfast not to see the door open and DEAR Feodore come in smiling and leading her dear little girl; and not to get the accustomed morning kiss from her. At 11 we went to the chapel with Lehzen, Lady Conroy, and Victoire. The Bishop of London preached a very fine sermon. Victoire Conroy stayed till ½ past 2. At 1 we lunched. I missed dear Feodore here again terribly. I miss her so much to-day. She used to be with me so much on Sunday always. We used to talk together so pleasantly. Last Sunday afternoon she painted in my room. At ½ past 3 we went with Lehzen to visit Aunt Gloucester, and then drove home through the park. How dull that drive appeared to me without dear Feodore. We came home at ½ past 5. At 7 we dined. After dinner came Aunt Sophia. We passed a sad dull evening. I stayed up till a ¼ to 9....
_Sunday, 5th October._— ... The news were received a few days ago that Dom Pedro, Regent of Portugal,[169] was dead. He expired on the 24th instant, at the age of 35. His daughter, Donna Maria, the young Queen, though only 15, is declared of age and able to govern by herself. The lovely young Empress is left a widow at the age of 22 only. It is a sad situation both for the young Queen and the poor Empress, in whom both I take the greatest interest as I know them personally. I saw Dom Pedro when he was in England about 3 years ago. At 11 we went to church. At 1 we lunched. At ½ past 3 we went out driving with Lady Flora and Lehzen, in the pony-carriage. We came home in the large carriage at 6. At 7 we dined. Lady Conroy, Jane, Victoire, Sir J., Messrs. E., S., and H. C. dined here. I stayed up till ½ past 9....
ST. LEONARDS, _Wednesday, 4th November_.—I said in my last journal book that I would describe in this book all what passed yesterday. We reached Battle Abbey at about a ¼ to 1. We were received at the door by Lady Webster.[170] Battle Abbey was built by King William the Conqueror and stands on the site where the famous battle of Hastings was fought. The place is still preserved where Harold fell. She showed us first into a large hall supposed to be the highest in England. There are portraits of King Charles the 2nd, King William the 3rd, and Queen Anne in it, &c. &c. There is also a very large picture of the battle of Hastings. Some old suits of armour are also in the hall. We saw also what were the cloisters now turned into a room. We saw the Beggars’ Hall, a curious walk of the monks, and the garden. We lastly partook of some refreshment in a very pretty room in which there was a picture of the Emperor Napoleon, not full length, only to the waist; which is said to be very like. The outside of the abbey is very fine too. We left it again at ½ past 1. The tenants again accompanied us till Broadeslowe. There some gentlemen from Hastings met us and accompanied us to St. Leonards. We passed under an arch formed of laurels and decorated with flowers and inscriptions. As soon as we passed the 2nd arch the Mayor got out of his carriage and came to our door asking leave to precede us in his carriage. An immense concourse of people walking with the carriage. The mayor and aldermen preceding us in carriages as also a band of music. Throughout Hastings the houses were decorated with flowers, ribands and inscriptions, and arches of flowers and laurels. Ladies and children waving handkerchiefs and laurels on the balconies and at the windows. Cries of “Welcome, welcome, Royal visitors,” were constantly heard. We reached Hastings at ½ past 2, and it was 4 o’clock before we arrived at our house at St. Leonards. It was indeed a most splendid reception. We stepped out on the balcony and were loudly cheered. One sight was extremely pretty. Six fishermen in rough blue jackets, red caps and coarse white aprons, preceded by a band, bore a basket ornamented with flowers, full of fish as a present for us. We found _dear_ Dashy in perfect health. Our house is very comfortable. At 6 we dined. Lady Conroy, Jane, Victoire, Messrs. E., S., H., and Sir J. C. dined here. After 8 the fireworks began and lasted till 9. They were very fine. I stayed up till 9.
_Thursday, 5th November._—I awoke this morning at 7 and got up at ½ past 7. At 9 we breakfasted. At 12 Mamma received an address from the Mayor, Corporation, and Inhabitants of Hastings and St. Leonards. After 1 we lunched. At 7 we dined. Lady Conroy, Jane, Victoire, Messrs. E., S., and Sir J. C. dined here.
_Tuesday, 11th November._— ... At ½ past 11 we went out driving in the barouche with Lady Flora and Lehzen. We got out and walked and sent the barouche home. We afterwards got into the close landau with a postilion and horse in hand. As we came to the commencement of the town where a seminary is to be built, the hand-horse kicked up and getting entangled in the traces fell down, pulling the other with it; the horse with the postilion however instantly recovered itself but the other remained on the ground kicking and struggling most violently. Two gentlemen very civilly came and held the horse’s head down while we all got out as fast as possible. I called for poor dear little Dashy who was in the rumble; Wood (our footman) took him down and I ran on with him in my arms calling Mamma to follow, Lehzen and Lady Flora followed us also. They then cut the traces, the horse still struggling violently. The other horse which had been quite quiet, being frightened by the other’s kicking, backed and fell over into a foundation pit, while Wood held him, and he (Wood) with difficulty prevented himself from falling; the horse recovering himself ran after us and we instantly ran behind a low stone wall; but the horse went along the road, and a workman took him and gave him to Wood. The other horse had ceased kicking and got up. We ought to be _most grateful_ to Almighty God for His merciful providence in thus preserving us, for it was a _very narrow escape_. Both Wood and Bacleberry behaved very well indeed. The names of the two gentlemen who held the horse’s head are Rev. Mr. Gould and Mr. Peckham Micklethwaite.[171] The latter I am sorry to say was hurt, but not very materially. The poor horse is cut from head to foot; but the other is not at all hurt only very much frightened. We walked home....
_Sunday, 30th November._— ... We went to church with Lady Flora and Lehzen. Mr. Randolph preached a most beautiful sermon. It was taken from the 6th chapter of St. Paul’s 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians, 1st and 2nd verses. “We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” At 1 we lunched. At 3 came Victoire Conroy till a ¼ past 6. At 7 we dined. Jane, Victoire, Messrs. E., H., and Sir J. C. dined here.
_Tuesday, 2nd December._—I awoke at 7 and got up at ½ past 7. We received this morning the news that my poor Uncle, the Duke of Gloucester,[172] was dead. He expired on Sunday evening, the 30th of November, 1834, at 20 minutes to 7. I am very sorry that we have lost him as he was always a _most affectionate_ and _kind_ Uncle to me. Aunt Mary, I hear, bears her loss wonderfully. Poor Aunt Sophia Matilda, his only sister and who was excessively fond of him, is dreadfully distressed at losing her only brother. But her piety will enable her to bear this great loss. He was so kind to think of us the morning before he died. Aunt S. Matilda told him that we had asked how he was, upon which he answered, “Tell them that I say, God bless them, and that I love them.” This kind message proved the quiet state of mind he was in. He showed such piety, such peace and resignation, that that proved a great comfort to his poor sister. He was in his 59th year....
_Tuesday, 23rd December._— ... I received from _dear_ Uncle Leopold this morning some most interesting autographs which are: Louis Seize’s, Marie Antoinette’s, Henri IV.’s, the Duke of Marlborough’s, the Empress Maria Theresa’s and her husband’s, and Lafayette’s....
_Sunday, 28th December._—I awoke at 7 and got up at 20 minutes to 8. At 9 we breakfasted. At 11 we went to church with Lady Flora and Lehzen. Mr. Randolph preached a very fine sermon. It was taken from the 1st chapter of St. Matthew, 21st verse: “And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” At ½ past 1 we lunched. I forgot to mention that I received this morning a very kind letter from dear Uncle Leopold, accompanied by a beautiful shawl and the autographs of Louis XV., his Queen, Marie Leczinska, and the Dauphin, father to Louis XVI. At ½ past 2 we went out with Lady Flora and Lehzen and came home after 3....
INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO CHAPTER IV
The Princess attached importance to this year of her life. It appeared to her that she benefited more fully by her lessons, and began to realise their importance. About a month after her birthday she was confirmed at the Chapel Royal, St. James’s, by the Archbishop of Canterbury. She was impressed by the solemnity of the occasion and frightened by the austerity of Archbishop Howley. This year marked an epoch in ways other than spiritual. She was allowed more freely to mix with her mother’s guests. Personages of distinction were asked to meet her, and she had an opportunity of seeing some of the more eminent of those who were to be her future subjects, although she had scant opportunity of getting to know them well.
She went to Ascot this year in the Royal Procession, and then, in the autumn, her mother arranged for her a Progress on the lines of that which is recorded in her Journals of 1832. There is nothing, however, to show that she was alive to the trend of public events. The existence of Lord Melbourne’s second Ministry was precarious. It was said that Lord Melbourne had against him the King, the Church, the Bar, the Agricultural and Monied interest, and a large minority in the House of Commons; whereas he only had in his favour a small majority in the House of Commons, the manufacturing towns, and a portion of the rabble. This was the Tory analysis of the political situation in 1835. “Threatened men and threatened Ministries enjoy a long life,” and Lord Melbourne’s was no exception.
The Princess was in frequent communication by letter with her Uncle, King Leopold. He sent her many interesting autographs for the collection she at that time was forming. They corresponded about books. It was he who recommended her Sully’s _Memoirs_, which, as her Journals show, she assiduously read, and he now and then referred in admonitory terms to her future regal responsibilities and duties.
On one occasion he sent her an extract from a French Memoir containing a severe criticism on the political character of Queen Anne, to which she replied that as he had endeavoured to point out to her what a Queen “ought not to be,” she hoped he would give her some idea of what a Queen “ought to be.” Those who are familiar with the character and disposition of King Leopold can imagine that he responded willingly to the invitation. It was upon this note that the year 1835 came to an end.