ot even Lehzen as
a companion, in Albert's absence, but I thought she and also Lord
Gardner,[54] and some gentlemen should remain with little Victoria for
the first time. But it is rather a trial for me.

I must take leave, and beg you to believe me always, your most devoted
Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 52: The house of Edward Vernon Harcourt, Archbishop
of York.]

[Footnote 53: To receive an address at Commemoration.]

[Footnote 54: Alan Legge, third and last Lord Gardner
(1810-1883) was one of the Queen's first Lords-in-Waiting.]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE VISITS OXFORD]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _16th June 1841._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has just
received your Majesty's letter, and will wait upon your Majesty at
half-past five. Lord Melbourne is sorry to hear that your Majesty has
been at all indisposed. It will suit him much better to wait upon
your Majesty at dinner to-morrow than to-day, as his hand shows some
disposition to gather, and it may be well to take care of it.

Lord Melbourne is very glad to learn that everything went off well at
Oxford. Lord Melbourne expected that the Duke of Sutherland[55] would
not entirely escape a little public animadversion. Nothing can be
more violent or outrageous than the conduct of the students of
both Universities upon such occasions; the worst and lowest mobs
of Westminster and London are very superior to them in decency and
forbearance.

The Archbishop[56] is a very agreeable man; but he is not without
cunning, and Lord Melbourne can easily understand his eagerness that
the Queen should not prorogue Parliament in person. He knows that it
will greatly assist the Tories. It is not true that it is universal
for the Sovereign to go down upon such occasions. George III. went
himself in 1784; he did not go in 1807, because he had been prevented
from doing so by his infirmities for three years before. William IV.
went down himself in 1830.[57]

Lord Melbourne sends a note which he has received from Lord Normanby
upon this and another subject.

[Footnote 55: Who was, of course, associated with the Whig
Ministry.]

[Footnote 56: Archbishop Vernon Harcourt, of York, the Queen's
host.]

[Footnote 57: The Queen prorogued Parliament in person on 22nd
June.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _17th June 1841