'The absurd conjecture of people at the expence of the day to my brother induces me to tell you what it actually was, as we should be ashamed at the sum guessed at. I have made the closest calculation I possibly can, which includes fees to borrowed servants, ringers, police, carriage of things from and to London, and I have got to £44. Never was less wine drank at a dinner, and that I cannot estimate, but £6, I think, must cover that. We had two men cooks, for he brought his friend, and we got all they asked for. Really, I think we were let off very well at £50. 'And now a word of our delights at the Abbey. The good Bishop of Landaff, Copleston, gave us six reserve tickets, and we bought three. Mrs. Bullock, Jane, and myself went twice, my brother three times, and we all four went to the first rehearsal. We did enjoy it most thoroughly! 'I delight in the thought of you surrounded by your family party, and wish I could peep in. Remember us most kindly to them. 'Ever yours affectionately, 'MARY CLITHEROW.' VII LUNCHEON AT WINDSOR--VISITS TO WINDSOR AND ST. JAMES'S 'BOSTON HOUSE, 'August 28 [1834], WE have been absent a week visiting different friends, and on our return this morning took a Royal luncheon at the Castle. Our dear Queen received us most kindly, and we sat with her for half an hour before luncheon. Her conversation was most interesting. I wish I could give it you word for word. It showed such a feeling, religious, good mind. It was about her loss in one whom she termed a faithful servant, indeed a friend--old Barton (only sixty-four, but he had a paralytic stroke two years since, which had aged him very much), her treasurer. He was their factotum at Bushey. The painful part of it, she said, was feeling that she in a manner had been the cause; for the good old man was so over-excited with joy at witnessing the enthusiastic reception she met with on her return, he went out to meet her. The fatigue and excitement were too much for him, and, after he got home, he had a stroke. He lost all power of speech, but retained his senses, and, by pointing to letters, made himself understood, and a dutiful and affectionate message to the King and Queen was written and sent. The dear Queen immediately wrote to him herself a letter, which was beautiful, so kind, so pious. He answered his hour was come, and he was resigned. Now, had you heard the manner in which she, in her pretty English, described all this, you never would have forgotten it. 'I never saw her or the King look better. He had all his daughters with him but Lady Mary Fox, who is abroad, and a swarm of grandchildren running about the corridor, and Her Majesty playing with them, and making them all happy and at ease.' From the above we clearly see that Queen Adelaide had the power of feeling and inspiring sympathy with dependents as well as friends, with young as well as old. The following month the Clitherows again stayed at the Castle in quite homely fashion.