Additional Grant by Parliament for the Maintenance and Education of the Princess--Wise Lessons learned at her Mother's Knee--A Visit to George IV. at Windsor--Assiduous Pursuit of Knowledge--Accession of William IV.--Victoria becomes next in Succession to the Crown--Regency Bill-- Satisfaction of the Good Grandmother at Coburg--Her Death-- Joy of Victoria at the Elevation of her Uncle to the Belgian Throne--Parliamentary Inquiry into the Progress of her Education--Satisfactory Report in Response--Presented at Court--Great Ball on her Twelfth Birthday at St. James's Palace--Court Scandal and Baseless Rumours--The Duchess of Northumberland appointed Governess--The Princess and the Poet Southey 37 CHAPTER VI. THE PRINCESS IN HER TEENS. Visits paid to many parts of England--Love of Cathedrals and Church Music--Trip to North Wales and the Midland Counties-- Visit to a Cotton Mill--To Oxford--Gala Day at Southampton-- Interview with the Young Queen of Portugal--Confirmation of the Princess--Tour to the North--York Musical Festival--At Ramsgate with the King of the Belgians--A Noble Deed at Tunbridge Wells 47 CHAPTER VII. EARLY DAYS OF PRINCE ALBERT. Birth--Melancholy Story of his Mother--Brought up under the Care of his Two Excellent Grandmothers--His Winning Ways as a Child--His Tutor, Florschuetz--The Brothers, Ernest and Albert--Visit to Brussels, and its Beneficial Effects--Hard Study--Tour through Germany, &c.--First Visit to England, and Meeting with Victoria--Studies at Brussels--Enters the University of Bonn--Tour to Switzerland and Italy--Public Announcement of Betrothal--Leaves Coburg and Gotha for his Marriage 52 CHAPTER VIII. THE PRINCESS VICTORIA BECOMES QUEEN REGNANT. First Meeting of the Princess Victoria and Prince Albert-- Coming of Age--Festivities on the Occasion--Death of William IV., and Accession of Victoria--The Queen holds her First Privy Council--Her Address--Proclamation as Queen at St. James's Palace--Beautiful Traits of Character displayed by the Queen--Stirring and Gorgeous Scene--Delight of the People at the Queen's Accession 61 CHAPTER IX. THE MAIDEN QUEEN. Removal to Buckingham Palace--First Levee--Dissolves Parliament--Beauty of her Elocution--Splendid Reception by the City of London--Settlement of the Queen's Income--Her Daily Life--Her Admirable Knowledge of, and Devotion to, the Business of the State--Reverence for the Lord's Day 69 CHAPTER X. THE QUEEN CROWNED.