_Thursday, July 27_--This being a Court-day, we went to town. The queen
dresses her head at Kew, and puts on her Drawing-room apparel at St.
James's. Her new attendant dresses all at Kew, except tippet and long
ruffles, which she carries in paper, to save from dusty roads. I forgot
to tell you, I believe, that at St. James's I can never appear, even
though I have nothing to do with the Drawing-room, except in a sacque:
'tis the etiquette of my place.
Mrs. Schwellenberg, Miss Planta, and myself went about an hour before
the king and queen. Mrs. Schwellenberg went to the queen's dressing-room
to give orders about the dress, Miss Planta went to the princesses' room
for the same purpose, and I was shewn to mine for no purpose.
Mine are two small rooms, newly and handsomely furnished, one of which
has a view of the park, over the stable-yard, and the other only of
the passage to the park from St. James's-street. I had now the great
satisfaction to find that there was a private staircase, from that same
passage, that leads straight up to my apartments, and also that I may
appoint any friend to meet me in them on the court-days. I hope never to
be there again without making use of this privilege.
Having now neither companion nor book, I sent John, who came with me
to town, to borrow some writing implements of one of the pages, and I
employed myself in answering some letters, till the queen arrived, and
I was summoned, by Mrs. Leverick, the town wardrobe woman, to the
dressing-room. There the queen put on her court dress, and as soon as
she was attired sent for the princesses royal and Augusta, who came to
attend her to the Drawing-room.
Mr. Nicolay, the page in waiting, then came to beg a little audience
for the Duchess of Aancaster.... The queen went to her in the
ante-room---The moment I was left with the princesses, they both came up
to me, and began conversing in the most easy, unaffected, cheerful, and
obliging manner that can be conceived.
When the queen returned, the bell was rung for the bedchamber woman;
the etiquette of court-days requiring that one of them should finish her
dress.
It happened now to be my acquaintance, Mrs. Fielding. She only tied on
the necklace, and handed the fan and gloves. The queen then leaves the
dressing-room, her train being carried by the bedchamber woman. The
princesses follow. She goes to the ante-room, where she sends for
the lady of the bedchamber in waiting, who then becomes the first
train-bearer, and they all proceed to the Drawing-room.
We returned to Kew to dinner, very late.