before he must have sent his excuses. The Queen was all animation, and
the rest of the party most chatty and agreeable. The King bowed to the
Queen when the ladies were to move.
'Our evening was short, as they went at half-past ten. The Princess
played on the piano, and my brother and Mrs. Bullock sang one of
Ariole's duets at the Queen's request. When they went the sweep was
full of people to see them go, and their Majesties were cheered out of
the grounds.
'We had with us our little nephew Salkeld,[*] whom my brother puts to
Dr. Morris's school. He came in to dessert, a day the child can never
forget. The King asked him many questions, which he answered
distinctly, with a profound bow, and then backed away. He looked so
pretty, for the awe of Royalty brought all the colour to his cheeks. I
felt rather proud of him, he did it so gracefully. The Queen told him
she hoped he would make as good a man as his excellent uncle. After
dinner the Princess Augusta called him to her in the drawing-room,
saying, "I like that little fellow's countenance; he is quite a
Clitherow." She talked to him of cricket, football, and hockey, telling
him when she was a little girl she played at all these games with her
brother, and played cricket particularly well.
[*] He became a hero in the Indian Mutiny, losing his life in
volunteering to blow up the Cashmere Gate at Delhi in 1857.
'That we are proud of this day we cordially own, for my brother is the
first commoner their Majesties have so honoured; but we feel we ought
not to have done it. When Jane, with her honesty, told the Queen we
were not in a situation to receive such an honour, her answer was:
"Mrs. Clitherow, you are making me speeches. If it is wrong I take the
blame, but I was determined to dine once again at Boston House with
you.'
'The absurd conjecture of people at the expence of the day to my
brother induces me to tell you what it actually was, as we should be
ashamed at the sum guessed at. I have made the closest calculation I
possibly can, which includes fees to borrowed servants, ringers,
police, carriage of things from and to London, and I have got to L44.
Never was less wine drank at a dinner, and that I cannot estimate, but
L6, I think, must cover that. We had two men cooks, for he brought his
friend, and we got all they asked for. Really, I think we were let off
very well at L50.
'And now a word of our delights at the Abbey. The good Bishop of
Landaff, Copleston, gave us six reserve tickets, and we bought three.
Mrs. Bullock, Jane, and myself went twice, my brother three times, and
we all four went to the first rehearsal. We did enjoy it most
thoroughly!
'I delight in the thought of you surrounded by your family party, and
wish I could peep in. Remember us most kindly to them.
'Ever yours affectionately, 'MARY CLITHEROW.'
VII
LUNCHEON AT WINDSOR--VISITS TO WINDSOR AND ST. JAMES'S
'BOSTON HOUSE, 'August 28 [1834],
WE have been absent a week visiting different friends, and on our
return this morning took a Royal luncheon at the Castle. Our dear Queen
received us most kindly, and we sat with her for half an hour before
luncheon. Her conversation was most interesting. I wish I could give it
you word for word. It showed such a feeling, religious, good mind. It
was about her loss in one whom she termed a faithful servant, indeed a
friend--old Barton (only sixty-four, but he had a paralytic stroke two
years since, which had aged him very much), her treasurer. He was their
factotum at Bushey. The painful part of it, she said, was feeling that
she in a manner had been the cause; for the good old man was so
over-excited with joy at witnessing the enthusiastic reception she met
with on her return, he went out to meet her. The fatigue and excitement
were too much for him, and, after he got home, he had a stroke. He lost
all power of speech, but retained his senses, and, by pointing to
letters, made himself understood, and a dutiful and affectionate
message to the King and Queen was written and sent. The dear Queen
immediately wrote to him herself a letter, which was beautiful, so
kind, so pious. He answered his hour was come, and he was resigned.
Now, had you heard the manner in which she, in her pretty English,
described all this, you never would have forgotten it.
'I never saw her or the King look better. He had all his daughters with
him but Lady Mary Fox, who is abroad, and a swarm of grandchildren
running about the corridor, and Her Majesty playing with them, and
making them all happy and at ease.'
From the above we clearly see that Queen Adelaide had the power of
feeling and inspiring sympathy with dependents as well as friends, with
young as well as old. The following month the Clitherows again stayed
at the Castle in quite homely fashion.
'WINDSOR CASTLE, 'September 27, 1834.
'There is no company but ourselves and the Duke of Dorset;
consequently, we really enjoy the Queen. We set at her work-table in
the evening with the King, Princess Augusta, and the Duke of Dorset,
and really the cheerful, good-humoured conversation that goes on is
most agreeable. The Ladies-in-Waiting have two work-tables. The
gentlemen sit and chat with them, and there are generally four at
whist, the Queen's beautiful band playing in the anteroom.
'We came on Thursday. Friday we were on Virginia Water, with the
Guards' band playing in a barge moored. The weather was actual summer,
and we were rowed about for two hours--the King, Queen, and ten of us.
'To-day the Queen, Lady Isabella Wemyss, Mrs. Clitherow, and myself in
a barouche, my brother, with Miss Hope Jolynson, in a phaeton, drove
out for two hours in Windsor Park and Forest. The evening was lovely,
though we had heavy rain in the night and morning. The scenery is quite
magnificent, and the dear Queen's conversation was so interesting,
giving an account of her journey and adventures abroad. It was a drive
to be envied.
'We do not think the Queen looking well, though it is uncourtly to say
so. She is most miserably thin, and has a sad, wearing cough. However,
she assures us she is better. The oppression on her chest is removed by
a German medicine, which she has great faith in. I dread Brighton for
her, which never agrees.
'The King is uncommonly well. He is out all the morning inspecting his
farms, which they say he is getting into beautiful order, and to-day he
returned to them after luncheon, instead of driving out with the party,
as he generally does.
'Lady Augusta Kennedy and her four children are here. Lady Sophia
Sydney[*] and her three children live here. Sir Philip is backwards and
forwards. He is going on slowly at Penshurst, feeling, I suspect, that
it will be time eno' to live there should anything happen to prevent
their all living on "papa." Lady Augusta has a house at Isleworth near
us, which "papa" gave her, but lives a great deal here. Lady Falkland
is sadly out of health, and in town for advice. Her fine boy is left
here, and the King and Queen have all the children in the corridor
after luncheon to run about. It is so pretty to hear them lisp, "Dear
Queeny," "Dear King." She plays with them with such good-humour.
[*] The King's eldest daughter; born 1800, married, 1825, Sir Philip
Sidney, who was created Lord de Lisle and Dudley in 1835, his father
having in 1824 claimed that barony, though without success.
'Mademoiselle d'Este is here. Lord Hill is coming to-day. We are to
leave on Monday.'
The next letter reminds us that, about this time, there were several
political crises, more or less acute. The tide of enthusiasm, which had
carried many measures of social importance, was beginning to abate, and
the first signs of the reaction that was setting in showed themselves
in differences among the Ministers. Mr. Stanley (afterwards Lord
Derby), Sir J. Graham, and two others disagreed with Lord Grey as to
the Act to compensate the Irish clergy, while Lord Althorp opposed Lord
Grey on the question of coercion in Ireland. Lord Grey, who was an old
man, retired in July, and Lord Melbourne succeeded to his place. These
dissensions led the King to believe that there was a Conservative
reaction, so he determined to dismiss the Ministry and send for the
Duke of Wellington. In the end, on the Duke's advice, Sir Robert Peel
became Premier, but only held office till April, 1835, when Lord
Melbourne was recalled to power. Again rumour was busy with the Queen's
name, and many suspected that the dismissal of the Whigs was due
largely to her influence. The following letter deals plainly with this,
and incidentally mentions the constitutional practice of the King
respecting even the Court appointments:
'BOSTON HOUSE, 'November 23, 1834.
'How do you feel on the sudden change in the political world? I
rejoice, but cannot envy the party who have taken the reins in these
ungovernable times.
'It is very sad they will not let the dear Queen alone. I believe from
my heart she has no more to do with it than you or I. Mrs. Clitherow
sat half an hour with her at St. James's, and she, who, is truth
itself, declared the first she knew of it was the King coming to her
room and telling her the Duke of Wellington was to dine with them, for
there was going to be a change of Ministers.
'She has not named a single person for any appointment, and will not,
she is determined. Jane expressed her hope that the Duke of Dorset
would again be Master of the Horse. The Queen replied: "There never was
a better; but, in the present state of the country, favouritism must be
quite out of the question." They must select the most influential men
in a political point of view. She regretted extremely that the King's
children, instead of rallying round the throne, were the first to send
in their resignations and to show such strong opposition to their
father's wishes. And we do hear from every quarter their conduct is
abominable, and the manner in which they speak of the Queen
unpardonable. Lord Erroll[*] went on so bad in a public coffee-room
that a gentleman cried out: "Shame! shame!" As far as we have ever
seen, she has shown them nothing but kindness, and their return is
ingratitude. Poor soul! her cough continues to wear her sadly, and she
is hardly stout enough to contend with all her annoyances,
notwithstanding the support of a clear conscience.
[*] William George, the Seventeenth Earl, had married Lady Elizabeth
Fitz-Clarence, the King's third daughter, and was Master of the Royal
Buckhounds.
'The Bishop of London and Mrs. and Miss Blomfield dine here to-morrow.
I mean to get this franked.
'I hope you are not annoyed with your winter cough, and that your
family are all well. Accept a trio of best wishes, and believe me,
'Yours sincerely, 'MARY CLITHEROW.'
VIII
DINNER AT KEW--FETES AT SYON HOUSE--QUEEN ADELAIDE'S FUND
'BOSTON HOUSE, 'July 13 [1835].
'WE were invited on Saturday to dine at Kew with their Majesties. It
was quite a social party, no company but ourselves and the Landgravine;
the rest were the ladies in attendance, the household, and the King's
family. We mustered thirty at dinner. They came down early in the day
to thoroughly enjoy the country. They walked about till luncheon; then
the Queen had her horse to ride, and little carriages, and they all
went to Richmond Park, and returned to dress for seven o'clock dinner.
They both seemed remarkably well. I had not been seen by the King for a
long time, and when I went in he expressed himself most glad to see me
quite well, and at dinner drank wine with me.
'When we went in to dinner, the Queen said: "Mrs. Clitherow, you must
sit by Lord Howe." The fact was she was expecting her sister to land
Sunday morning, and would have been at the water-side to receive her,
but she felt she ought to go to church with the King. Lord Howe told
her certainly; she could drive and meet her sister after church. Still,
her wish was to go to Deptford early, and she wanted somebody to second
that wish. She bid Lord Howe ask Mrs. Clitherow--"She will _say
honest_." The Queen is so quick, she discovered when they were
conversing on the subject, though they were at the very bottom of the
table, and addressed Mrs. Clitherow, "Are you for me, or against me?"
"I must agree with Lord Howe," was her answer. Now, I suppose there are
few women but my Jane who would not have advised according to the
Queen's wishes, and I am certain it is her honesty, so unlike a
courtier, that makes the Queen so partial to her. After dinner she
called Mrs. Clitherow to sit by her, and they conversed together the
whole evening. Her ideas and right way of thinking are quite delightful.
'I had a very amusing evening, for the good-humoured Landgravine called
me to her, and was full of fun and chat. She has a sweet countenance,
but her figure is extraordinary. "My dear," she said, "Augusta charged
me to tell you a charade--
'"Three shakes and a grin, Shake your tail and you're in."
She was in such a hurry to tell me I had not time to find it out; but
you may take your time, I shan't tell you. She laughed so hearty. She
seems to enjoy herself most exceedingly in her native land, and must be
in excellent health to go about as she does. Yet her figure looks as if
she was dropsical. She cannot stand long, and walks with difficulty; at
the Drawing Room she sits.
'The whole party left Kew for London at ten.
'We have been wondrous gay at both the fetes at Syon House. As to the
first fete, I think it was the most perfect thing of the kind that
possibly could be. We were invited to a breakfast at three o'clock to
meet their Majesties, and we went according to orders; but the
breakfast proved a good dinner at seven. The day was lovely, the
company of the very first order, and the dresses most elegant morning
costume.
'The King did not come; he was overfatigued at the Waterloo dinner. The
Queen came at five. She and the Duchess of Northumberland led the way
to the famous conservatory, and all the party followed. I believe it is
reckoned the finest in Europe. The flower-garden, filled with all the
smart and the pretty, was really a sight of sights. There were chairs
and benches innumerable on the lawn, the Blues band of music, and
people amused themselves till dinner was announced. It was certainly
the most elegant party I ever was in, for the whole 524 guests followed
each other into the tent as quiet and orderly as into the dinner-room
at Windsor. The dinner was sumptuous. Three turkeys were drest, and
eight men cooks employed. A seat for everyone, a napkin, three china
plates, three silver forks, knife, and spoon. The waiters had only to
remove your plate. And such quantities of waiters! yet so quiet, no
bustle or clatter. We all came out of the tent together, when the house
was lit up, and you went in or staid out as you pleased. The great
drawing-room for tea and coffee, tables each side. And so the time
passed till it was dark enough for the fireworks, which were most
magnificent.
'The Queen was then ushered into the tent, which, like magic, had been
prepared for dancing. A very good floor, as clean as if no soul had
dined in the room. The tables were laid round the room on the floor to
make a platform to raise the sitters to look at the dancing. There were
two tiers of benches, so that really the room seemed hardly full. There
was a noble space for the dancers 180 feet long. Weippert's beautiful
band. I quite longed to dance. It was lit the whole length by large
handsome glass lanthorns, and round the tent was a broad border of
growing flowers and coloured lamps in festoons. Nothing could be
prettier. They had waltzes, quadrilles, gallopade, and reels. The Queen
went at eleven, and everybody was gone by one. Refreshments of all
sorts were provided at each end of the tent.
'The second fete rather failed, as the day it was to have been held was
so wet it was obliged to be put off; and then Royalty had gone to
Windsor, and thought it too far to come. Numbers also were engaged. We
were only asked in the evening, but everything was in as good style as
the first, only a different style of company. The fireworks equally
good, and the dancing, but the night was cold.
'The papers will have told you of my brother's success in Queen
Adelaide's Fund. It is most particularly gratifying to him. Ever since
the lunatic asylum was finished he has been wishing to establish this
fund, and was brought about by the Queen signifying to him that she
wished to subscribe to the lunatic asylum, about which he interested
himself so much. He told her it was a county asylum, not supported by
subscriptions, and then named this plan, which she eagerly acceded to,
and gave L100 and her name as patroness. He has got near L700, and does
not mean to be satisfied till he has L1,000, and as much more as he
can. I must conclude, as the man has called. Lucky for you.
'Your affectionate friend, 'M. C.'
The fund mentioned at the close of this letter was founded to assist
patients at the Hancock Asylum on their discharge, and is still in
existence. As this was due to Colonel Clitherow's initiation, it may be
well to mention here that another trace of his influence also remains
in the system of employing patients in occupations with which they were
previously acquainted, which was established during his chairmanship,
with very successful results.
IX
DEATH OF THE KING
AFTER a short illness, William IV. died at Windsor Castle on June 20,
1837. On July 17 Miss Clitherow wrote as follows:
'Thank you very much for writing to me. I always enjoy your letters,
and delight to hear from you. I feel I did not deserve it, so much time
has elapsed since I wrote to you. But I dislike writing when the
spirits are below par, and how could they be otherwise with the
afflicting event which has befallen the country? Great were our
apprehensions for the dear Queen when she was so ill and could attend
none of the State entertainments, but the King's death never entered
our ideas. On June 3 my brother went by command to Windsor. He sat with
the King while he ate his early dinner. He was cheerful and chatty, and
had only sent for him for the pleasure of seeing and conversing freely
with him, which he did for above an hour, and the last thing his
Majesty said was, "Thank you for coming; it always does me good to see
you, and very soon you and Mrs. Clitherow must come to Windsor for a
few days and your sister.' How little he thought his days were
numbered, and that he should never see him more! He then appeared so
little ill my brother returned home quite in spirits, and on the
twentieth he was dead--only seventeen days.
'Since the Queen Dowager got to Bushey Lady Gore has written to us. The
description of her resigned pious mind is beautiful, and Lady Gore[*]
assures us she really hopes her health has not materially suffered from
all she has gone through, particularly the last sad ceremony.
[*] Wife of General Hon. Sir Charles Gore, G.C.B., K.H., third son of
the second Earl of Arran, a Waterloo officer.
'My brother was deputed to present the address of condolence from the
magistrates to the Dowager Queen. He dreaded it, but he wrote to Lord
Howe to know how and when, and was answered--Queen Adelaide receives no
addresses; but those she received on the throne from the City, etc.,
those she must receive. We are delighted at this, as it was too much to
impose upon her. Addresses are pouring in from all quarters, and Lord
Howe is to receive them.'
As Queen Adelaide received no visitors, except such as she could not
refuse, in her widowhood, the King's death closed her intimate
intercourse with the Clitherows. It seems, however, just to the memory
of both the King and Queen to insert the following testimony to her
tender affection for her husband, and her delicacy of feeling
respecting his previous relations with Mrs. Jordan.
'BOSTON HOUSE, 'September 23, 1837.
'I dare say you look to me for some true account of our dear Queen
Adelaide. We have not seen her, but have been much gratified by her
recollection of us. She sent a most kind message by Mr. Wood, with the
little book he wrote at her command of William IV.'s last days--a copy
to my brother and one to me.
'Very lately we began to doubt whether we ought not to go to Bushey as
we used to visit her Majesty at Windsor, and Mrs. Clitherow wrote to
consult Lady Denbigh. She acted most kindly to us, for she waited an
opportunity of showing the note to the Queen. Her Majesty's answer was,
it would be a 'real comfort to her to see Mrs. Clitherow, but it would
open the door to so many; she could not without giving great offence.
Lady Denbigh added Her Majesty had received no one yet, except those
whom she was obliged to admit.
'Mrs. Clitherow dined in company with Miss Hudson, one of the Dowager's
Maids of Honour, whom we know very well. She gave a delightful account
of the dear Queen, her mind so peaceful, always occupied, much
interested with her sister and her children, constantly doing
charitable acts, and for ever talking of the King, and hoping she had
thoroughly done her duty. Miss Hudson was in waiting for five weeks,
and the first three she was very uneasy about Her Majesty's health, and
thought her sadly altered; but the last two her cough had almost
entirely ceased, and she had slept remarkably well.
'You have no doubt seen the book I allude to, for 'tis now to be had
for sixpence. Could anything be so extraordinary as the conduct of the
Bishop of Worcester? Her Majesty sent him a copy, and he sent it to the
editor of a newspaper. When the Queen read it in a public paper she was
very indignant, and the gentleman who was told by her to discover who
"the high dignitary in the Church" was, told us Carr, Bishop of
Worcester. The man who has been quite the _Court Bishop_ should have
known better.
'One act of the Queen Dowager I must tell you: the Queen sent a message
by Colonel Wood and Sir Henry Wheatley requesting she would take
anything she chose from the Castle; she selected two--a favourite cup
of the King's, in which she had given him everything during his last
illness, and the picture from his own room of all his family. It was a
singular picture, all the Fitz-Clarences grouped, and in the room Mrs.
Jordan hanging a picture on the wall, the King's bust on a pedestal,
and all strikingly like. I think it shows a delicacy of feeling to her
King which was beautiful. It was a picture better out of sight for his
memory. Now, this you may believe, for Colonel Wood told us. He
transacted the business, and Queen Adelaide has the picture.
'Believe me, 'Yours very truly, 'MARY CLITHEROW.'
Neither Queen Adelaide nor the three friends long survived the kindly
monarch they loved so well. Colonel Clitherow died in 1841; his sister,
who became totally blind, early in 1847; and his true and honest wife,
the last of the Boston House trio, died in March of the same year.
X
AN APPRECIATION OF KING WILLIAM IV. AND HIS REIGN
TO the letters already given, which cover the seven years of William
IV.'s reign, it seems appropriate to add two public utterances on the
occasion of his death. The cuttings containing them are pasted in a MS.
book belonging to Miss Clitherow's correspondent, himself a writer of
repute,[*] and are preceded by the following notes:
[*] The Rev. Edward Nares, D.D., Rector of Biddenden, Kent, and Regius
Professor of Modern History in the University of Oxford.
'No King ever departed this life with less of blame attached to him as
a King, or with more credit as a well-meaning, good-natured,
high-minded man. No King ever more truly acted upon the noble
principles of Louis XII. in forgiving, as King, all offences committed
against him while Duke of Orleans. When the Duke of Wellington was the
Minister of George IV., he saw fit, with a view to retrenchment in the
public interest of unnecessary expenditure, to remove H.R.H. the Duke
of Clarence from the office of Lord High Admiral. When H.R.H. succeeded
to the Crown, not only was this not resented, but nothing could exceed
the attentions the Duke of Wellington was in the way of receiving from
His Majesty on all anniversaries of the Battle of Waterloo. He
constantly honoured the Duke with his company at dinner, and lamented
the necessity of being absent on June 18, 1837, only two days before he
died.