The Greville Memoirs, Part 2 (of 3), Volume 1 (of 3): A Journal of the Reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1852Greville, Charles
History
The Greville Memoirs, Part 2 (of 3), Volume 1 (of 3): A Journal of the Reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1852
Greville, Charles
Great Britain -- History -- Victoria, 1837-1901
I remember when George IV. died, seven years ago, having been
struck by the small apparent sensation that his death created.
There was, however, at that time a great deal of bustle and
considerable excitement, which were caused by the activity of the
new Court, and the eccentricities of the King; but in the present
instance the Crown has been transferred to the head of the new
Queen with a tranquillity which is curious and edifying. The
first interest and curiosity to see the young Queen and observe
her behaviour having passed off, there appears nothing more to do
or to think about; there are no changes, and there is no talk of
change. Her Majesty has continued quietly at Kensington, where
she transacts business with her Ministers, and everything goes on
as if she had been on the throne six years instead of six days.
Animated panegyrics were pronounced upon the late King in both
Houses of Parliament by those who had served him; and Peel
repeated in the House of Commons, in more set phrases, the
expressions of his admiration of the conduct of the Queen on her
first public appearance, which he uttered to me when I saw him
after the Council on Tuesday. Melbourne's funeral oration over
William IV. was very effective because it was natural and hearty,
and as warm as it could be without being exaggerated. He made the
most of the virtues the King undoubtedly possessed, and passed
lightly over his defects.
[Page Head: CHARACTER OF WILLIAM IV.]
King William IV., if he had been born in a private station, would
have passed unobserved through life like millions of other men,
looked upon as possessing a good-natured and affectionate
disposition, but without either elevation of mind or brightness
of intellect. During many years of his life the Duke of Clarence
was an obscure individual, without consideration, moving in a
limited circle, and altogether forgotten by the great world. He
resided at Bushey with Mrs. Jordan, and brought up his numerous
children with very tender affection: with them, and for them, he
seemed entirely to live. The cause of his separation from Mrs.
Jordan has not been explained, but it probably arose from his
desire to better his condition by a good marriage, and he wanted
to marry Miss Wykeham, a half-crazy woman of large fortune, on
whom he afterwards conferred a Peerage. George IV., I believe,
put a spoke in that wheel, fortunately for the Duke as well as
for the country. The death of the Princess Charlotte opened to
him a new prospect, and the lack of royal progeny made his
marriage as desirable an event to the public as it was convenient
to himself. The subsequent death of the Duke of York, which made
him heir to the throne, at once exalted him into a personage of
political importance, and when the great Tory schism took place,
upon the death of Lord Liverpool, Mr. Canning thought the Duke of
Clarence's appointment to the office of Lord High Admiral would
strengthen his Government, and at the same time relieve him from
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