the Queen. It has been remarked that when applications
are made to Her Majesty, she seldom or never gives an immediate
answer, but says she will consider of it, and it is supposed that
she does this because she consults Melbourne about everything,
and waits to have her answer suggested by him. He says, however,
that such is her habit even with him, and that when he talks to
her upon any subject upon which an opinion is expected from her,
she tells him she will think it over, and let him know her
sentiments the next day.

[9] [The Queen, in a letter to her uncle, King Leopold,
published with Her Majesty's sanction, speaks
significantly of what she terms 'my sad childhood.']

The day she went down to visit the Queen Dowager at Windsor, to
Melbourne's great surprise she said to him that as the flag on
the Round Tower was half-mast high, and they might perhaps think
it necessary to elevate it upon her arrival, it would be better
to send orders beforehand not to do so. _He_ had never thought of
the flag, or knew anything about it, but it showed her knowledge
of forms and her attention to trifles. Her manner to the Queen
was extremely kind and affectionate, and they were both greatly
affected at meeting. The Queen Dowager said to her that the only
favour she had to ask of her was to provide for the retirement,
with their pensions, of the personal attendants of the late King,
Whiting and Bachelor, who had likewise been the attendants of
George IV.; to which she replied that it should be attended to,
but she could not give any promise on the subject.

She is upon terms of the greatest cordiality with Lord Melbourne,
and very naturally. Everything is new and delightful to her. She
is surrounded with the most exciting and interesting enjoyments;
her occupations, her pleasures, her business, her Court, all
present an unceasing round of gratifications. With all her
prudence and discretion she has great animal spirits, and enters
into the magnificent novelties of her position with the zest and
curiosity of a child.

No man is more formed to ingratiate himself with her than
Melbourne. He treats her with unbounded consideration and
respect, he consults her tastes and her wishes, and he puts her
at her ease by his frank and natural manners, while he amuses her
by the quaint, queer, epigrammatic turn of his mind, and his
varied knowledge upon all subjects. It is not therefore
surprising that she should