[102] See ante, p. 54.
[103] John William, Lord Duncannon. A Whig placeman. As Earl of Bessborough (1846) he became Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and died in office in 1847.
[104] Hugh, Lord Ebrington, afterwards second Earl Fortescue. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1839–41.
[105] Sylvain Van de Weyer (1802–74), Belgian Minister at the Court of St. James’s, a trusted friend of King Leopold and of Queen Victoria. He had been a prominent leader of the Revolution in Belgium, 1830, and a protagonist of the separation of Belgium and Holland. His wit and charming personality gave him a prominent place in London society. He married the daughter of Joshua Bates, senior partner in Barings.
[106] Edward Geoffrey Stanley (1799–1869), the Rupert of debate, at this time Secretary for the Colonies, afterwards (as Earl of Derby) three times Prime Minister. Mrs. Stanley was Emma Caroline, daughter of Edward, first Lord Skelmersdale.
[107] Mr. Ellice (1781–1863), born at Montreal, M.P. for Coventry and Secretary at War. He had been a very successful Government Whip; nick-named “Bear” Ellice from his connection with the Hudson Bay Company. He married a sister of Earl Grey.
[108] James Abercromby (1776–1858), son of the gallant Sir Ralph Abercromby, who died in the moment of victory at Alexandria in 1801. At this time M.P. for Edinburgh. Became Speaker of the House of Commons in 1835, and was created Lord Dunfermline four years later.
[109] The Baroness Späth, Lady-in-Waiting to the Duchess of Kent.
[110] General Sir Robert Gardiner was Principal Equerry to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg at his marriage with Princess Charlotte. In later life he was Governor and Commander-in-Chief at Gibraltar.
[111] William George Maton, M.D., Physician Extraordinary to the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria.
[112] George (1819–1904), afterwards Duke of Cambridge and Commander-in-Chief. He was two months older than the Princess, so that he was now fourteen years old.
[113] Arabella, wife of the fourth Earl, a Lady-in-waiting to Queen Adelaide. She was a Miss Mackworth Praed.
[114] Daughters of the eleventh Earl of Pembroke. Lady Emma afterwards married the third Viscount de Vesci, and Lady Georgiana the fourth Marquess of Lansdowne.
[115] Daughters of the fifth Earl of Jersey. Lady Sarah afterwards married Prince Nicholas Esterhazy (see p. 190), eldest son of the famous diplomatist. Lady Clementina died unmarried in 1858.
[116] Younger son of Prince and Princess de Lieven. The Prince had been for over twenty years Russian Minister or Ambassador in London; the Princess was the inveterate correspondent of Earl Grey.
[117] George Guy, afterwards fourth Earl of Warwick, and an A.D.C. to Queen Victoria. Died 1893. At this time he was fifteen years of age.
[118] Charles Henry, Earl of March, afterwards sixth Duke of Richmond and first Duke of Gordon of a new creation. He held several high offices in Conservative Administrations, being Lord President of the Council 1874–80, and Secretary for Scotland 1885–6. He, like Lord Brooke, was about fifteen at this time; and was at Westminster School. In after-years the Queen relied much upon his excellent political judgment.
[119] George, eighth Earl of Athlone (1820–43). The first Earl was Godert de Ginkell, the well-known General of William III.
[120] A younger brother of Lord March; drowned in the President steamer in 1841. He was at this time thirteen years old.
[121] John Frederick, afterwards M.P. for Pembrokeshire and second Earl Cawdor.
[122] Their father was Alexander, Duke of Würtemberg. Prince Alexander afterwards married Princess Marie, daughter of King Louis Philippe; she died in 1839, less than two years after their marriage.
[123] A cousin of the Princess Victoria and of Princes Alexander and Ernst, the mother of the Duchess of Kent, having been a Princess of Reuss-Ebersdorff.
[124] Afterwards Duchess of Argyll.
[125] Afterwards Lady Blantyre.
[126] Lady Caroline Lascelles, and her daughter, afterwards Mrs. Grenfell.
[127] Madame Malibran was now about twenty-five years of age. See post, p. 168.
[128] Henry Lynedoch Gardiner, son of General Sir Robert Gardiner. He was afterwards Equerry in Ordinary to Queen Victoria.
[129] Sir Colin Campbell (1792–1863), afterwards F.-M. Lord Clyde, Commander-in-Chief in India. He saw more active service than any British Field-Marshal before or since. No soldier was ever braver, more merciful, and more modest.
[130] Admiral Williams had rendered valuable services in conjunction with the army in the Low Counties, 1794–5; he was knighted in 1796, and became G.C.B. in 1831.
[131] John George Lambton (1792–1840), the first Baron (and afterwards first Earl of) Durham, son-in-law of Lord Grey, had been Ambassador to St. Petersburg, and was now Lord Privy Seal. Lord Melbourne sent him subsequently to Canada at a critical juncture in the history of British North America. The Ministry afterwards recalled him, but the report which he presented on Canadian affairs is regarded as having laid the foundations of all colonial self-government. He was a statesman of noble, unstained character; but his high-strung temperament made life difficult both for him and his colleagues.
[132] He was sixty-two years of age. See ante, p. 78.
[133] Vice-Admiral Sir Graham Moore (1764–1843), G.C.M.G., afterwards Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth. He had been ordered in 1807–8 to escort the Royal Family of Portugal to Brazil; he married Dora, daughter of Thomas Eden.
[134] Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Lewis Maitland (1776–1839). He commanded the Bellerophon when Napoleon surrendered after Waterloo.
[135] Richard (1764–1839), second Earl, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall.
[136] Sir William Hargood had commanded the Belleisle under Nelson at Trafalgar, becoming an Admiral and G.C.B. in 1831.
[137] Captain Charles Philip Yorke, R.N., then M.P. for Cambs., afterwards fourth Earl of Hardwicke.
[138] Sir John Cameron had had a distinguished record in the Peninsula. From 1823 to 1833 he commanded the Western District.
[139] Adjutant-General, 1830–50.
[140] Donna Maria da Gloria, then aged about fourteen. She was the daughter of Dom Pedro, who had been proclaimed Emperor of Brazil in the lifetime of his father, John VI., and abdicated the throne of Portugal in favour of Donna Maria. Dom Miguel, a younger brother of Pedro, claimed the throne. Pedro had designed a marriage between Donna Maria and Miguel, who in 1827 had been appointed Regent, but, having been himself driven from Brazil by a revolution, Pedro endeavoured to gain the throne decisively for his daughter. His second wife, now known as Duchess of Braganza, was sister to Augustus, Duke of Leuchtenberg, who at the age of twenty-five had married Donna Maria, then barely sixteen, and died two months later. See p. 110.
[141] The death of Ferdinand without male issue caused a disputed succession in Spain. His brother Don Carlos relied on the Salic Law as established by the Pragmatic Sanction of 1711, which Ferdinand had revoked. Don Carlos and Dom Miguel subsequently entered into an alliance, while the young Queens Maria and Isabella mutually recognised each other, and were supported by England and France.
[142] William Charles Macready (1793–1851), afterwards successively manager of Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatres.
[143] An actress, and mother of Helen Faucit.
[144] Benjamin Webster, an excellent and humorous comedian from about 1819 to 1874.
[145] Frances Maria Kelly (1790–1882), for many years a popular favourite at Drury Lane, and a friend of Charles and Mary Lamb.
[146] This was the first of many Foreign Orders received by Queen Victoria. They have been carefully collected and arranged by King George and Queen Mary, and are displayed in Queen Mary’s audience room in Windsor Castle.
[147] Lady Theresa Fox-Strangways, elder daughter of the third Earl of Ilchester, afterwards wife of the ninth Lord Digby.
[148] Afterwards Lady Ebury. Sister of the first Earl Cowley. See p. 50.
[149] Giulia Grisi (1815–69) made her début at Florence, aged fourteen. Théophile Gautier said of her that under her spell what was only an opera became a tragedy and a poem. She first appeared in London in 1834. She was afterwards married to the Count of Candia (Mario).
[150] Henry Stephen, third Earl (1787–1812).
[151] Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg (1786–1851), uncle of the Prince Consort.
[152] Charles Emich, Prince Leiningen, son of the Duchess of Kent by her first husband, and half-brother of Princess Victoria.
[153] Emmanuel, Count Mensdorff-Pouilly (1777–1862), husband of Princess Sophia, eldest sister of the Prince Consort’s father and of the Duchess of Kent. An emigrant from France in 1793, he attained high rank in the Austrian service. His sons were intimate companions of the Prince Consort.
[154] Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Coburg (1784–1844), father of the Prince Consort.
[155] See ante, p. 49.
[156] Eldest daughter of Francis, first Marquess of Hastings, Lady of the Bedchamber to the Duchess of Kent. This unfortunate lady died in 1839.
[157] Charles, fifth Duke (1791–1860). As Lord March he is often mentioned in the Duke of Wellington’s correspondence. He was one of the very few male human beings ever alluded to by the Iron Duke in terms of affection. The Duchess was Caroline, daughter of the Marquess of Anglesey.
[158] George Henry (1760–1844), fourth Duke. An obscure Whig potentate.
[159] Charles, fifth Duke, but fourteenth Earl of Dorset, K.G. Master of the Horse in various Tory Administrations. On his death, unmarried, in 1843, his honours (including the Earldom of Middlesex) became extinct. A favourite of George IV. One of the first gentlemen jockeys. He and his brother Germaine were famous at Newmarket as race riders. He established Bibury races. He was of tiny physique, but smart, and a great favourite with ladies.
[160] William Harry, first Duke of Cleveland, of a new creation, a great-grandson in the male line of a daughter of Barbara Palmer, Duchess of Cleveland. He died in 1842, and his income was computed at £110,000 per annum. See ante, p. 68.
[161] Francis, second Marquess (1797–1876), who, three years later, brought to the Princess at Kensington the news of her accession. Lady Conyngham was a daughter of Lord Anglesey.
[162] Second son of William IV. and Mrs. Jordan. The eldest son was created Earl of Munster, 1831; the younger children (except those who had attained higher rank by marriage) were granted the style of younger children of a marquess. Lady Frederick was a daughter of the Earl of Glasgow.
[163] William Basil Percy (1796–1865), seventh Earl of Denbigh, Chamberlain to Queen Adelaide.
[164] Lady Sophia Fitzclarence, daughter of William IV. She married Sir Philip Sidney, afterwards created Lord De l’Isle and Dudley of Penshurst.
[165] Emily, sister of the second Lord Auckland.
[166] See ante, p. 69.
[167] Edward, fourth son of the first Earl Beauchamp.
[168] Afterwards Sir Charles Wood (1800–85) and first Viscount Halifax. Married the daughter of Charles, Earl Grey. He served in many administrations; finally as Secretary of State for India and Lord Privy Seal. A typical Whig statesman of high probity and wisdom.
[169] See ante, p. 86.
[170] Charlotte, daughter of Robert Adamson of Westmeath and wife of Sir Godfrey Vassal Webster, of Battle Abbey, formerly M.P. for Sussex. Sir Godfrey’s mother, Elizabeth Vassal, eloped from her husband with Lord Holland, and was the famous “Old Madagascar” of Holland House coteries.
[171] He was made a baronet in 1838 for this act. See post, p. 355.
[172] William Frederick (1776–1834), second Duke, was the son of William Henry, first Duke, by Maria, Countess-Dowager Waldegrave, illegitimate daughter of Edward Walpole, a younger son of the great Minister. The Duke was an inoffensive man of quiet and mild disposition, familiarly known as “Silly Billy.” He married his cousin, Princess Mary, daughter of George III. He was proud of his rank, but of little else. See ante, p. 65.
[173] Brother of the Duchess of Braganza. See ante, p. 86.
[174] Princess Elizabeth (1770–1840), daughter of George III., widow of Frederick, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg. This Princess settled down into an atmosphere of venerated old age at Homburg. A statue was recently erected there and unveiled by the German Emperor to commemorate her virtues.
[175] Emma Sophia, daughter of the second Earl of Mount Edgecumbe, second wife of John, first Earl Brownlow.
[176] Daughter of William IV. Her husband had been raised to the Peerage in Jan. 1835. See ante, p. 99.
[177] Another daughter of William IV., wife of Lucius, tenth Viscount Falkland.
[178] Richard William Penn (1796–1870), first Earl Howe, Chamberlain to Queen Adelaide. He was believed to have encouraged her in inciting the King against the Ministry of Lord Grey.
[179] William Basil Percy, seventh Earl of Denbigh. See ante, p. 99.
[180] Adelaide Cottage, built for Queen Adelaide, but never occupied by her except as a tea-house. It has been used ever since by successive Sovereigns for a similar purpose. The Cottage stands surrounded by charming gardens in the eastern corner of the private grounds of Windsor Castle.
[181] Luigi Lablache (1794–1858), a first-rate comedian and the finest bass singer of his time. He made his début in London in 1830, in Cimarosa’s opera Il Matrimonio Segreto. He taught Princess Victoria singing, and of all her teachers he was the favourite.
[182] Michael (afterwards Sir Michael) Costa, for many years the conductor of the orchestra at Covent Garden. His musical taste was considerable, but he was famous for his dominating personality, the hauteur of his demeanour, and above all for the perfect fit of his spotless white gloves.
[183] General Sir Frederick Trench had served in Sicily and in the Walcheren expedition, and was afterwards Aide-de-Camp to George IV. He was M.P. for Scarborough at this time. A man of discernment and taste. He advocated a scheme for making an embankment along the Thames from Charing Cross to Blackfriars. He was half a century ahead of his contemporaries!
[184] Augusta, youngest daughter of the Landgrave Frederick of Hesse. She was married to H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge in 1818. “I am the happiest of men,” wrote the Duke to Lady Harcourt from Cassel, soon after his engagement, and he added, “The Princess is really everything both as to heart, mind and person that I could wish.” There never was a happier marriage. This Princess was the mother of George, Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies, of the Dowager Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and of Princess Mary, Duchess of Teck. She was the grandmother of Queen Mary, and died, regretted by all, in 1889.
[185] Joseph Goodall (1760–1840), Provost of Eton for thirty-one years. An excellent but obscure scholar. It was his misfortune to be the nominal superior of Dr. Keate. He had the temerity on one occasion at Windsor, in the presence of William IV., to tell Sir Henry Halford, who was vain of his scholarship and fond of quoting Latin, that he ought to be whipped for having made a false quantity.
[186] Dr. Hawtrey (1789–1862), Headmaster of Eton for 18 years, he then presided over the college as Provost for another 10. A profound and elegant scholar, a man of lofty ideals, intrepid soul and warm heart, he raised the tone of masters and boys by sheer force of his delightful personality. He doubled the numbers of the school as well as its efficiency and influence.
[187] Countess Mensdorff was the sister of the Duchess of Kent, a Princess of Saxe-Coburg. See ante, p. 95.
[188] Grand Duchess Marie, daughter of the Emperor Paul I. of Russia, married Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, in 1804.
[189] Dr. Charles James Blomfield (1786–1857), a fine scholar, and a Bishop of unusual administrative capacity. His influence in the Church of England, both as Bishop of Chester and Bishop of London, was second to none, until the day of his retirement in 1856. He died at Fulham Palace in August 1857.
[190] She married in 1856 Duke Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein, and was the mother of the present German Empress.
[191] Fanny Kemble, daughter of Charles Kemble, the actor, after attaining considerable success on the stage in England, went to America, and in 1834 married Pierce Butler. In 1835 she published an indiscreet journal which had considerable success.
[192] Edward Vernon-Harcourt (1757–1847), Archbishop of York, was the third son of the first Lord Vernon. He assumed his mother’s name of Harcourt on succeeding to the family estates of Stanton Harcourt and Nuneham Courtenay. He married Anne, third daughter of first Marquess of Stafford. A most sumptuous prelate. He was the grandfather of Sir William Vernon Harcourt, M.P.
[193] Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Granville Harcourt, and wife of Montagu, Lord Norreys, M.P. for Oxfordshire, afterwards sixth Earl of Abingdon.
[194] Sir John, second Baronet (1799–1869), father of Lord Derwent. His wife was Louise, second daughter of Archbishop Harcourt.
[195] George Granville Harcourt, M.P. for Oxfordshire and eldest son of the Archbishop. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of the second Earl of Lucan. She died in 1838, and in 1847 Mr. Harcourt married Lady Waldegrave, the well-known and much-liked chatelaine of Strawberry Hill. The last of the great Ladies (she was the daughter of John Braham, the singer) who knew how to combine hospitality with fine political and social discernment.
[196] See p. 135.
[197] Owner of Newstead Abbey, bought from Lord Byron in 1818.
[198] Matthew Camidge, organist at York Minster 1799–1842. For five generations the family of Camidge supplied organists in the county of York.
[199] She afterwards married Major-General George A. Malcolm, C.B.
[200] At Nuneham there is a snuff-box, inset with diamonds, given by Queen Victoria to Col. Francis Harcourt, and engraved “for services rendered to her while still at Kensington.”
[201] Rev. William Harcourt (1789–1871), Canon of York. He inherited the Harcourt estates and was the father of Sir William Vernon Harcourt, M.P. His wife was Matilda Mary, daughter of Col. W. Gooch.