,
Valetta.]

[Footnote 2: John Charles, third Earl, Chief Justice-in-eyre,
North of Trent. His successor, who had been Minister to Spain
since 1833, was afterwards the celebrated Foreign Secretary.]

[Footnote 3: Lord Normanby, at this time Lord-Lieutenant of
Ireland, became successively during the year, Colonial and
Home Secretary. Lady Normanby, who had been a Lady-in-Waiting
since the accession, was a daughter of the first Lord
Ravensworth.]

[Footnote 4: Eliza, daughter of George Baillie of Jerviswood.
Her brother afterwards became tenth Earl of Haddington.]

[Pageheading: MURDER OF LORD NORBURY]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_6th January 1839._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
returns his best and warmest thanks for the very kind and gracious
communication which he had the honour and pleasure of receiving from
your Majesty yesterday evening. Your Majesty will have seen in the
newspapers that Lord Norbury was shot at in his own grounds and
dangerously wounded.[5] Lord Melbourne learns to-day by a letter
from Lord Morpeth that Lord Norbury is since dead. This is a shocking
event, and will, of course, create a strong sensation, much stronger
than the death in the same manner of several persons of inferior
degree. It is almost the first time that an attempt of this kind has
been directed against an individual of that rank or station....

Lord Melbourne has seen Sir Henry Halford,[6] who says that his pulse
is low and his system languid. He has prescribed some draughts, which
Lord Melbourne trusts will be of service, but he feels much depressed
to-day. He dined yesterday at Lady Holland's, where he met Mr
Ellice,[7] civil and friendly enough in appearance, but Lord Melbourne
fears hostile at heart, and a determined partisan of Lord Durham. Lord
Durham has not yet made to Lord Glenelg the promised communication of
his report and plan, but it is said that he will do so soon....

[Footnote 5: At Kilbeggan Abbey, County Meath. The murderer
escaped.]

[Footnote 6: The celebrated physician: he attended George IV.
and William IV., as well as Queen Victoria.]

[Footnote 7: Son-in-law of Lord Grey, as was also Lord
Durham.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _11th January 1839._

MY DEAR UNCLE,--The dreadful moment has arrived, and dear Marie[8] is
no mor