Page:Life of Her Majesty Queen Victoria (IA lifeofhermajesty01fawc).pdf/80

 sion to have the declaration made public. She bowed assent, placed the paper in his hands, and then retired."

The Queen describes the same scene in her Journal; it will be seen she confirms Greville in every particular. "Precisely at two," the Queen writes, "I went in; the room was full, but I hardly knew who was there. Lord Melbourne I saw looking kindly at me, with tears in his eyes, but he was not near me. I then read my short declaration. I felt my hands shake, but I did not make one mistake. I felt most happy and thankful when it was over. Lord Lansdowne then rose, and in the name of the Privy Council asked that this most gracious and most welcome communication might be printed. I then left the room, the whole thing not lasting above two or three minutes." She adds that the Prince's picture in her bracelet "seemed to give me courage at the Council." The Prince, with the Queen's entire approval, determined to take no English title, thinking that bearing his own name would more distinctly mark his individuality and independence. At this time he felt, as he expressed it in one of his family letters, that whatever changes were in store for him, he should always remain "a true German, a true Coburg and Gotha man." However sincere and natural this feeling may have been, he learned later thoroughly to identify himself with the country of his adoption, and that the true realization of his personality lay in sinking his own individual existence in that of his wife.