Page:The Queens of England.djvu/584

 530 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. though, from the bias of the Queen's character as exhibited in subsequent events, it is supposed that this great enactment was by no means agreeable to her, and might have met with her resistance, had she possessed the power. Their majesties honored the musical festival at Westminster Abbey with their presence during four several performances in the year 1834. During the months of July and August, Queen Adelaide paid a visit to her mother on the Continent. Her sister, the Duchess of Saxe Weimar, came over to Eng- land in the following year, and accompanied the queen on a state visit to Oxford. The court of England, during her short reign, was a model of purity, and a fitting resort for the young. Her virtues won the respect of all classes of the community. Her affectionate heart was doomed to bear its two severest trials in rapid succession, in the year 1837. The first was the death of her mother; the second, the loss of her husband. King William had himself sustained a heavy affliction in the sudden decease of his child, Lady de Lisle. During his last illness, of some weeks' duration, Queen Adelaide devoted her- self exclusively to attendance upon him. For twelve days she is reported never to have changed her dress, nor to have taken more than a brief repose at a time. Her hand chafed the cold hand of the king, and her voice responded to the religious offices performed at his bedside. She supported him for a whole hour before the fatal moment, and he died in her arms. But such a paroxysm of grief then fell upon her, as threatened her life. She privately attended his funeral. Adelaide, now Queen Dowager, resigned the pomp of her regal station without a sigh, and retired to Bushey, between which place, Marlborough House and St. Leonard's, she di- vided most of the remaining twelve years of her life. She was present at the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, early in the year 1840. Her name, throughout her life, appeared before the public at the head of lists of subscribers for the relief of the distresses of different classes, as well as for the erection of new churches and other religious objects. But her health now rapidly declined, and she made a voyage to the islands of Madeira and Malta. At the latter island she founded and endowed the Church of Valetta. She was nine- teen years a wife, r.nd fifty-seven years of age., when she died. That event took place at Bentley Priory, on December 2, 1849. the princess, her sister, being present. The humility exhibited