self
knew how difficult it was to get steady riding horses, and besides
that, she could not be attended by any female, and that this would
appear indelicate.

[Pageheading: QUEEN ADELAIDE]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _7th July 1837._

MY DEAREST NIECE,--I must, before I leave this dear Castle, once more
express to you the grateful sense I entertain for the kind treatment I
have experienced from you since it has pleased our heavenly Father to
put you in possession of it. You have contributed much to my comfort
under all the painful and distressing circumstances of this time
of woe, and I assure you that I ever shall remember it with sincere
gratitude.

I hope that you continue quite well and do not suffer from the
exertions and duties of your new position. My best wishes and prayers
attend you on all occasions, for I shall be for the rest of my
life devoted and attached to you as your most affectionate Aunt and
Subject,

ADELAIDE.

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._

KENSINGTON PALACE, _10th July 1837._

The Queen regrets very much to hear of Lord Melbourne's indisposition,
and trusts it will be of no duration.

The Queen has just seen the Lord Chamberlain and has given him all her
orders. The Lord Chamberlain says that he will do everything in
his power to facilitate the Queen's going into Buckingham Palace on
Thursday.

The Queen fears that there may have been some mistake with respect to
the Chapter of the Garter, for Lord Conyngham,[60] as well as several
others, imagined it would be held on _Wednesday_ instead of _Friday_.
The Queen requests Lord Melbourne to rectify this mistake, as it is
the Queen's intention to hold the Chapter on _Friday_.

[Footnote 60: The Lord Chamberlain.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_11th July 1837._

MY DEAREST, BEST UNCLE,--... I have got very little time and very
little to say. I _really_ and _truly_ go into Buckingham Palace the
day after to-morrow, but I must say, though I am very glad to do so, I
feel sorry to leave for _ever_ my poor old birthplace....

_25th._--I shall not go out of town, I think, before the 20th or
thereabouts of next month. Windsor requires thorough cleaning, and I
must say I could not think of going in sooner after the poor King's
death. Windsor always appears very melancholy to me, and there are so
many sad associations with it. These will vanish, I daresay, if I se