Page:Life of Her Majesty Queen Victoria (IA lifeofhermajesty01fawc).pdf/63

 sion upon her on the occasion of the last of the unfortunate disputes which took place between William IV. and the Duchess of Kent. Early in June, 1837, Princess Victoria, having then attained her majority, the King offered to settle £10,000 a year on her. The Duchess wished that £6,000 of this should be for herself, and £4,000 for the Princess. There were the usual unseemly squabbles, and neither would give way. Melbourne conducted the business on the part of the King, and although he must have known that the Princess Victoria would be Queen in a very short time, he yet defended his master's views and interests with a warmth and tenacity which proved him to be no time-server. It is equally to his credit and to that of the young Queen that this circumstance was the foundation of the full confidence and esteem which she afterwards placed in him. Greville describes their relations as being almost like those of father and daughter. "I have no doubt he is passionately fond of her, as he might be of his daughter if he had one, and the more because he is a man with the capacity for loving, without having anything in the world to love. It is become his province to educate, instruct, and form the most interesting mind and character in the world. … It is a great proof of the discretion and purity of his conduct and behavior that he is admired, respected, and liked by the whole Court."

If Melbourne was, in the eyes of the world, the Queen's tutor in statesmanship, there was another behind the scenes no less assiduously devoting himself to her instruction. Shortly before the late King's death, Peel had expressed a hope that Leopold would not come over immediately on his niece's accession, as his influence and interference would cause jealousy and heart-burning. Leopold did not come, for the