ation at every stage of the work.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

Ancestry of Queen Victoria--Houses of Brunswick, Hanover, and Coburg
--Family connections--The English Royal Family--The Royal Dukes--Duke
of Cumberland--Family of George III.--Political position of the Queen
(Pages 1-7)

CHAPTER II

Queen Victoria's early years--Duke and Duchess of Kent--Parliamentary
grant to Duchess of Kent--The Queen of Wuertemberg--George IV. and the
Princess--Visits to Windsor--Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
--Education of the Princess--The Duchess of Kent's letter to the
Bishops--Religious instruction--Result of examination--Speech by
Duchess of Kent--The Princess's reminiscences of Claremont--William IV.
and the Princess--The accession--Queen Victoria's character and
temperament--Her sympathy with the middle classes (Pages 8-21)

CHAPTER III

Queen Victoria's relations and friends--King Leopold's influence
--Queen Adelaide--Baroness Lehzen--Baron Stockmar (Pages 22-26)

CHAPTER IV
1821-1835

Observations on the correspondence with King Leopold and others--First
letter received by Queen Victoria--Her first letter to Prince Leopold
--Birthday letters--King Leopold's description of his Queen--His
valuable advice--The Princess's visit to Hever Castle--King Leopold's
advice as to reading, and the Princess's reply--New Year greeting
--On autographs--The Princess's confirmation--King Leopold's advice as
to honesty and sincerity (pages 27-42)

CHAPTER V
1836

Visit of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg--Invitation to the Prince of
Orange--Arrival of Princes Ernest and Albert--The Princess's
appreciation of Prince Albert--King Leopold's advice as to
conversation--Crisis in Spain--Farewell letter--The Princess and the
Church--Death of Charles X.--Abuse of King Leopold--Revolution at
Lisbon--The Princess's name--Newspaper attacks on King Leopold
(pages 43-55)

CHAPTER VI
1837

Spain and Portugal--Music with Princes Ernest and Albert
--Parliamentary language and political passion--The throne of Greece
--Queen of the Belgians' dowry--The English Press--The Princess's
establishment--Young Belgian cousins--Irish Municipal Bill--Whig
Ministers--Birthday rejoicings--King Leopold's advice and
encouragement--Accession imminent--Condition of the King--Reliance on
Lord Melbourne--The Princess and the Church--The Accession--The
Queen's journal--Interview with Lord Melbourne--The Queen's first
Council--Letter from the