tedly be well
received by me, the more so as I have _real_ confidence in them, and
in particular in Lord Melbourne, who is a straightforward, honest,
clever and good man.

I need not add much more, dearest Uncle, but that I trust that the
all-powerful Being who has so long watched over my destinies will
guide and support me, in whatever situation and station it may please
Him to place me!...

[Pageheading: THE ACCESSION]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _20th June 1837._

Viscount Melbourne[50] presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
being aware that your Majesty has already received the melancholy
intelligence of the death of his late Majesty, will do himself the
honour of waiting upon your Majesty a little before nine this morning.
Viscount Melbourne has requested the Marquis of Lansdowne[51] to
name eleven as the hour for the meeting of the Council at Kensington
Palace.

[Footnote 50: Lord Melbourne, so far as can be augured from
his handwriting, which is extremely difficult to decipher,
appears always to have written his own name _Melburne_. But
it is not the correct spelling, and no one else seems to have
employed it.]

[Footnote 51: Lord President of the Council; formerly for a
brief period (1806-7) Chancellor of the Exchequer.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_20th June 1837_ (_half-past eight_ A.M.).

DEAREST, MOST BELOVED UNCLE,--Two words only, to tell you that my poor
Uncle, the King, expired this morning at twelve minutes past two.
The melancholy news were brought to me by Lord Conyngham[52] and the
Archbishop of Canterbury[53] at six. I expect Lord Melbourne almost
immediately, and hold a Council at eleven. Ever, my beloved Uncle,
your devoted and attached Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 52: Francis Nathaniel, second Marquis of Conyngham,
had been M.P. for Westbury and Donegal, and was now Lord
Chamberlain.]

[Footnote 53: William Howley (1766-1848), Bishop of London
1813-1828, Primate 1828-1848.]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _20th June 1837._

MY DEAREST NIECE ... I feel most grateful for your kind letter full of
sympathy with my irreparable loss, and thank you with all my heart for
your feeling expressions on this melancholy occasion. I am, as you
may suppose, deeply affected by all the sad scenes I have gone through
lately; but I have the great comfo