Glimpses of King William IV. and Queen Adelaide: In Letters of the Late Miss Clitherow, of Boston House, Middlesex. With a Brief Account of Boston House and the Clitherow FamilyClitherow, Mary
History
Glimpses of King William IV. and Queen Adelaide: In Letters of the Late Miss Clitherow, of Boston House, Middlesex. With a Brief Account of Boston House and the Clitherow Family
Clitherow, Mary
Adelaide, Queen, consort of William IV, King of Great Britain, 1792-1849; William IV, King of Great Britain, 1765-1837
The next letter reminds us that, about this time, there were several
political crises, more or less acute. The tide of enthusiasm, which had
carried many measures of social importance, was beginning to abate, and
the first signs of the reaction that was setting in showed themselves
in differences among the Ministers. Mr. Stanley (afterwards Lord
Derby), Sir J. Graham, and two others disagreed with Lord Grey as to
the Act to compensate the Irish clergy, while Lord Althorp opposed Lord
Grey on the question of coercion in Ireland. Lord Grey, who was an old
man, retired in July, and Lord Melbourne succeeded to his place. These
dissensions led the King to believe that there was a Conservative
reaction, so he determined to dismiss the Ministry and send for the
Duke of Wellington. In the end, on the Duke's advice, Sir Robert Peel
became Premier, but only held office till April, 1835, when Lord
Melbourne was recalled to power. Again rumour was busy with the Queen's
name, and many suspected that the dismissal of the Whigs was due
largely to her influence. The following letter deals plainly with this,
and incidentally mentions the constitutional practice of the King
respecting even the Court appointments:
'BOSTON HOUSE, 'November 23, 1834.
'How do you feel on the sudden change in the political world? I
rejoice, but cannot envy the party who have taken the reins in these
ungovernable times.
'It is very sad they will not let the dear Queen alone. I believe from
my heart she has no more to do with it than you or I. Mrs. Clitherow
sat half an hour with her at St. James's, and she, who, is truth
itself, declared the first she knew of it was the King coming to her
room and telling her the Duke of Wellington was to dine with them, for
there was going to be a change of Ministers.
'She has not named a single person for any appointment, and will not,
she is determined. Jane expressed her hope that the Duke of Dorset
would again be Master of the Horse. The Queen replied: "There never was
a better; but, in the present state of the country, favouritism must be
quite out of the question." They must select the most influential men
in a political point of view. She regretted extremely that the King's
children, instead of rallying round the throne, were the first to send
in their resignations and to show such strong opposition to their
father's wishes. And we do hear from every quarter their conduct is
abominable, and the manner in which they speak of the Queen
unpardonable. Lord Erroll[*] went on so bad in a public coffee-room
that a gentleman cried out: "Shame! shame!" As far as we have ever
seen, she has shown them nothing but kindness, and their return is
ingratitude. Poor soul! her cough continues to wear her sadly, and she
is hardly stout enough to contend with all her annoyances,
notwithstanding the support of a clear conscience.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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