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
'My brother was deputed to present the address of condolence from the
magistrates to the Dowager Queen. He dreaded it, but he wrote to Lord
Howe to know how and when, and was answered--Queen Adelaide receives no
addresses; but those she received on the throne from the City, etc.,
those she must receive. We are delighted at this, as it was too much to
impose upon her. Addresses are pouring in from all quarters, and Lord
Howe is to receive them.'
As Queen Adelaide received no visitors, except such as she could not
refuse, in her widowhood, the King's death closed her intimate
intercourse with the Clitherows. It seems, however, just to the memory
of both the King and Queen to insert the following testimony to her
tender affection for her husband, and her delicacy of feeling
respecting his previous relations with Mrs. Jordan.
'BOSTON HOUSE, 'September 23, 1837.
'I dare say you look to me for some true account of our dear Queen
Adelaide. We have not seen her, but have been much gratified by her
recollection of us. She sent a most kind message by Mr. Wood, with the
little book he wrote at her command of William IV.'s last days--a copy
to my brother and one to me.
'Very lately we began to doubt whether we ought not to go to Bushey as
we used to visit her Majesty at Windsor, and Mrs. Clitherow wrote to
consult Lady Denbigh. She acted most kindly to us, for she waited an
opportunity of showing the note to the Queen. Her Majesty's answer was,
it would be a 'real comfort to her to see Mrs. Clitherow, but it would
open the door to so many; she could not without giving great offence.
Lady Denbigh added Her Majesty had received no one yet, except those
whom she was obliged to admit.
'Mrs. Clitherow dined in company with Miss Hudson, one of the Dowager's
Maids of Honour, whom we know very well. She gave a delightful account
of the dear Queen, her mind so peaceful, always occupied, much
interested with her sister and her children, constantly doing
charitable acts, and for ever talking of the King, and hoping she had
thoroughly done her duty. Miss Hudson was in waiting for five weeks,
and the first three she was very uneasy about Her Majesty's health, and
thought her sadly altered; but the last two her cough had almost
entirely ceased, and she had slept remarkably well.
'You have no doubt seen the book I allude to, for 'tis now to be had
for sixpence. Could anything be so extraordinary as the conduct of the
Bishop of Worcester? Her Majesty sent him a copy, and he sent it to the
editor of a newspaper. When the Queen read it in a public paper she was
very indignant, and the gentleman who was told by her to discover who
"the high dignitary in the Church" was, told us Carr, Bishop of
Worcester. The man who has been quite the _Court Bishop_ should have
known better.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account