Day of the
coronation of Queen Victoria! ... We were up at six, and Lizzy,
Bob'm, and I, being the Abbey party, dressed in all our grandeur.
The ceremony was much what I expected, but less solemn and
impressive from the mixture of religion with worldly vanities and
distinctions. The sight was far more brilliant and beautiful than I
had supposed it would be. Walked home in our fine gowns through the
crowd; found the stand here well filled, and were quite in time to
see the procession pass back. Nothing could be more beautiful, the
streets either way being lined with the common people, as close as
they could stand, and the windows, house-tops, balconies, and
stands crowded with the better dressed. Great cheering when Soult's
carriage passed, but really magnificent for the Duchess of Kent and
the Queen. The carriages splendid. Did not feel in the Abbey one
quarter of what I felt on the stand.

MINTO, _November_ 4, 1838

This morning brought us the sad, sad news of the death of Lady John
Russell. God give strength to her poor unhappy husband, and watch
over his dear little motherless children.

The only event of importance which occurred in the family during 1838 was
the marriage of the eldest daughter, Mary, to Ralph Abercromby, son of the
Speaker and afterwards Lord Dunfermline. It was a very happy marriage, but
Lady Fanny missed her sister very much, and her accounts of the wedding and
the last days before it are mixed with regrets. She speaks of it as "an
awful day," though it seems to have ended merrily enough in dancing and
rejoicings.

In May, 1839, the Government resigned in consequence of the opposition to
the Jamaica Bill. The object of the Bill was to suspend the constitution of
Jamaica for five years, since difficulties had been made by the Jamaica
Assembly in connection with the emancipation of slaves. The Radicals voted
with the Conservatives against the Government and the Bill was lost.

ADMIRALTY, _May_ 7, 1839

We are all out!!!!

Papa was summoned to a Cabinet at twelve this morning. Mama and I
in the meantime drove to some shops, and when we came home found
him anxiously expecting us with this overpowering news. We bore,
and are still bearing it with tolerable fortitude; but we are all
very, very sorry, and every moment find something new to regret.
Mama, notwithstanding all she has said, is n