Page:The Annals of Our Time - Volume 1.djvu/21



1837.

June 20.—Accession of Queen Victoria. On Tuesday morning, shortly after 2 o'clock, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chamberlain (Marquis of Conyngham) left Windsor for Kensington Palace—where the Princess Victoria was residing with her mother—to inform her Royal Highness of the King's death. The details of the interview current in society at the time were thus set down by Miss Wynn:

"They reached Kensington Palace at about 5: they knocked, they rang, they thumped for a considerable time before they could rouse the porter at the gate; they were again kept waiting in the courtyard, then turned into one of the lower rooms, where they seemed forgotten by everybody. They rang the bell, and desired that the attendant of the Princess Victoria might be sent to inform her Royal Highness that they requested an audience on business of importance. After another delay, and another ringing to inquire the cause, the attendant was summoned, who stated that the Princess was in such a sweet sleep she could not venture to disturb her. Then they said, 'We are come to the Queen on business of state, and even her sleep must give way to that!' It did; and to prove that she did not keep them waiting, in a few minutes she came into the room in a loose white nightgown and shawl, her nightcap thrown off, and her hair falling upon her shoulders, her feet in slippers, tears in her eyes, but perfectly collected and dignified."

Lord Melbourne was immediately sent for, and the Privy Council summoned to assemble at Kensington at 11 o'clock. At that hour the Queen, with the Duchess of Kent, entered the council chamber, attended by her officers of state, and took her seat on a throne erected for the occasion. The Lord Chancellor then administered to her the usual oaths, binding her to govern the kingdom according to its laws and customs. She thereafter received the homage of her uncles, the Dukes of Cumberland and Sussex, the Queen with admirable grace standing up and preventing the latter from kneeling. The Cabinet Ministers and other privy councillors present took the oath of allegiance and supremacy, kneeling before the throne. The former surrendered their seals of office, which her Majesty returned, and Ministers kissed hands on re-appointment, A declaration was drawn up, and signed by all present, stating that, "Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His mercy our late Sovereign Lord King William the Fourth, of blessed and glorious memory, by whose decease the imperial crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Princess Alexandrina Victoria, saving the rights of any issue of his late Majesty King William the Fourth which may be born of his late Majesty's consort: we, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this realm, being here assisted with those of his late Majesty's Privy Council, with numbers of others, principally gentlemen of quality, with the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and citizens of London, do now hereby, with one voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim that the High and Mighty Princess Alexandrina Victoria is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawful and rightful liege, Lady Victoria, by the grace of God, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, saving as aforesaid. To whom, saving as aforesaid, we do acknowledge all faith and constant obedience, with all hearty and humble affection; beseeching God, by whom kings and queens do reign, to bless the Royal Princess Victoria with long and happy years to reign over us." Her Majesty was pleased to make the following declaration:—"The severe and afflicting loss which the nation has sustained by the death of his Majesty my beloved uncle, has devolved upon me the duty of administering the government of this empire. This awful responsibility is imposed upon me so suddenly, and at so early a period of my life, that I should feel myself utterly oppressed by the burden were I not sustained by the hope that Divine Providence, which has called me to this work, will give me strength for the performance of it, and that I shall find in the purity of my intentions, and in my zeal for the public welfare, that (1)