“Thursday, October 10.- Got up at ½ p.10 and saw to my astonishment that a stone or rather 2 stones had been thrown at my dressing room window and 2 glasses broke; the stone was tound under the window, in the llle diue room next the audience room another window broken and the stone tound in the room, in the new strong room another window broke, and in one of the lodging rooms next to this, another broke and the stone found in the middle of the room. This is a very strange thing, and Lehzen told Lord Surrey of it. Breakfasted at 11. Wrote to Lord Melbourne and the Queen Dowager, and Lady Normanby. Lord Uxbridge and Lady Sandwich came into my room, to see the broken window, and we went with them to look at the other rooms, where the windows were broken. Lord Surrey had been in with one of the Policemen before. Wrote to Lady Burlington. Wrote my journal. Signed. Wrote my journal. At 3 came my good Lord Melbourne and stayed with me till 20 m. to 4. He was well; talked of my having a headache and sore eyes &c. Lord M.had a letter from Lady Holland; “I don’t think you can read it”, said Lord M.; and he read it to me; she wishes one wouldn’t ride under trees at the time of the fall of the leaf – which made us laugh; and Brunow she thinks a great bore. Lord M. then asked if he might propose it to Lord Huntingdon (to be Lord in Waiting). I said he might. Talked of these windows being broken and it’s being such a strange thing; and a disagreeable thing; 1 said I would show them to him afterwards. Talked of that; of my having a headache; my having slept well; these stones; &c. He showed me a letter Lady Holland had sent him from C. Wood. I feared I had kept Lord M. from riding by asking if he would go out with us. He said not at all, and “I could hardly have ridden”. Talked of it’s being right that I should ask Mª, to go out with me; &c.; of Lord Mi’s footman who is come, as his own servant has lost his mother and went away on Tuesday till Saturday. I then asked if he would go and see these windows; “I should like to see it,” he said; and we took him first to the strong-room, then to the little blue room, and then to my dressing-room (where my 2 bonnets were standing) and where Islay was lying on my chair. Lord M. patted him. Lord M. looked at the window, and we talked about it, and he said: “It’s a very odd thing.” He thought the room comfortable. Dearest Daisy is quite recovered, thank God! – At 41 drove in the pony-carriage with Ma. and Lady Sandwich; Lord Melbourne following in the next carriage with Lady Charlotte and Mrs.Campbell,- and Matilda and Miss Cocks going in the next, to the Farm, where we got out and went over the Piggery and the Dairy &c. We then got in again, and drove round by Inglefield Green (i think) and crossed over into the Long Walk and home. We stopped and got out at the gate of the Terrace, and walked on the terrace and new walk; Lord Melbourne walking near me the whole time. He thought it cold; he had met Brunow in the Quadrangle, who directly said he was ready to play at cards with Ma. after dinner. As we were returning along the new walk, one of my Pages came running with a letter from Uncle Leopold, saying my cousins would be here very soon; they sent on the letter announcing their arrival. I said to Lord M. I was sure they would come this day, but he would never believe it.- Received another letter from Uncle Leopold, one from Louise, &c. Read despatches. Wrote my journal. At ½ p.7 I went to the top of the staircase and received my 2 dear cousins Ernest and Albert,- whom I found grown and changed, and embellished. It was with some emotion that I beheld Albert – who is beautiful. I embraced them both and took them to Mª.; having no clothes they couldn’t appear at dinner. At 8 we dined. Besides our old party, Lady Claricarde, Lord and Lady Granville, Baron Brunow, Lord Normanby, the Hon. William Temple and Mr. Murray (who returned), dined here. I sat between Baron Brunow and Lord Melbourne. Talked to Lord Melbourne of my cousins having no baggage; Lord M. wasn’t tired; I said I found my Cousins so changed. Lord M. was quite well; talked of my having a headache; “I must confess” said Lord M., “I think that pork disagreed with me yesterday”. I said I was sure it did, as nothing was so unwholesome; “I didn’t like to own it before,”; he continued. And what made him own it? I asked; “A fit of candour”. he said. I observed he often said he was well, when he wasn’t, as it made him impatient to be asked how he was. – Talked of my cousins bad passage; their not appearing on account of their négligé, which Lord M. thought they ought to have done, at dinner and certainly after. “I don’t know what’s the dress I would appear in, if I was allowed”, said Lord M., which made us laugh so. Talked of Brunow being rather a bore; Lady Clanricarde looking well; Lord M. hadn’t slept, we Normanby had come to him; I said laughing it was unallowable his sleeping full length on the sofa as he did one night in the Gallery. After dinner, my Cousins came in, in spite of their négligé and I presented them to Lord Melbourne. I sat on the sofa with Lady Claricarde; Lord Melbourne sitting near me; and Ernest near us and Albert opposite; (he is so handsome and pleasing), and several of the ladies and gentlemen round the sofa. Lord M. wasn’t quite well, and I said his stomach was out of order; He talked of “Minny” and Ashley not going to Chatsworth; I asked him if he thought Albert like me, which he is thought (and which is an immense compliment to me). “Oh! yes, he is,” said Lord M., It struck me at once. – ac. Stayed up til a p. 1.”
RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) 10 October 1839 (PRINCESS BEATRICE’S COPIES) retrieved 9 October 2024