er
morally. Certain it is that the young girl was adored by the British
people generally; her simplicity, her prettiness, her fresh girlishness
appealed to them, and the thought of what she would probably be called
upon to do lent more than a touch of romance to all that concerned her.
Nathaniel P. Willis, the American writer, who had seen Victoria during a
visit to England, wrote: "The princess is much better looking than any
picture of her in the shops, and for the heir to such a crown as that of
England, quite unnecessarily pretty and interesting."

Her "Uncle King," as she called William IV, was very wrathful because
his young niece was not allowed to appear at all court affairs, and at
one time when the Duchess of Kent and Victoria were present, with about
a hundred other guests, at his birthday celebration, he made a most
remarkable speech.

"I only hope," he said, "that I may live for nine months longer, until
the Princess Victoria is of age, so that I may leave the power in her
hands and not be forced to entrust it to a regent in the person of a
lady who sits near me."

At this insult to her mother, Victoria burst into tears, but the Duchess
herself made no reply.

In 1837 Victoria became of age, and her birthday was celebrated with
rejoicing throughout the country. Schools were closed, feasts were held,
and the city of London was brightly illuminated. But at the great ball
which was given that night, the king could not be present; for he was
that very day taken ill, and in less than a month he died.

Early in the morning of June twentieth, the Archbishop of Canterbury and
the Lord Chamberlain hastened to Kensington Palace to acquaint Victoria
with the fact that she was queen of England. They reached there in the
gray dawn and found no one stirring. After much waiting and knocking,
they were shown into the palace, and finally succeeded in having the
princess's special attendant sent to them. They asked her to inform her
mistress that they desired to see her immediately on very important
business; whereupon the attendant told them that she preferred not to
waken her mistress, who was sleeping soundly. With great dignity then
the Archbishop said, "We are come on business of State to _The Queen_";
and thus, startled out of her sleep, Victoria was told by her attendant
that she was now the first person in Great Britain.

Hastily taking off her nightcap and throwing a shawl over her nightgown,
Victoria descend