VIII
DINNER AT KEW—FÊTES AT SYON HOUSE—QUEEN ADELAIDE'S FUND
'BOSTON HOUSE, 'July 13 [1835].
'WE were invited on Saturday to dine at Kew with their Majesties. It was quite a social party, no company but ourselves and the Landgravine; the rest were the ladies in attendance, the household, and the King's family. We mustered thirty at dinner. They came down early in the day to thoroughly enjoy the country. They walked about till luncheon; then the Queen had her horse to ride, and little carriages, and they all went to Richmond Park, and returned to dress for seven o'clock dinner. They both seemed remarkably well. I had not been seen by the King for a long time, and when I went in he expressed himself most glad to see me quite well, and at dinner drank wine with me.
'When we went in to dinner, the Queen said: "Mrs. Clitherow, you must sit by Lord Howe." The fact was she was expecting her sister to land Sunday morning, and would have been at the water-side to receive her, but she felt she ought to go to church with the King. Lord Howe told her certainly; she could drive and meet her sister after church. Still, her wish was to go to Deptford early, and she wanted somebody to second that wish. She bid Lord Howe ask Mrs. Clitherow—"She will say honest." The Queen is so quick, she discovered when they were conversing on the subject, though they were at the very bottom of the table, and addressed Mrs. Clitherow, "Are you for me, or against me?" "I must agree with Lord Howe," was her answer. Now, I suppose there are few women but my Jane who would not have advised according to the Queen's wishes, and I am certain it is her honesty, so unlike a courtier, that makes the Queen so partial to her. After dinner she called Mrs. Clitherow to sit by her, and they conversed together the whole evening. Her ideas and right way of thinking are quite delightful.
'I had a very amusing evening, for the good-humoured Landgravine called me to her, and was full of fun and chat. She has a sweet countenance, but her figure is extraordinary. "My dear," she said, "Augusta charged me to tell you a charade—
'"Three shakes and a grin, Shake your tail and you're in."
She was in such a hurry to tell me I had not time to find it out; but you may take your time, I shan't tell you. She laughed so hearty. She seems to enjoy herself most exceedingly in her native land, and must be in excellent health to go about as she does. Yet her figure looks as if she was dropsical. She cannot stand long, and walks with difficulty; at the Drawing Room she sits.
'The whole party left Kew for London at ten.
'We have been wondrous gay at both the fêtes at Syon House. As to the first fête, I think it was the most perfect thing of the kind that possibly could be. We were invited to a breakfast at three o'clock to meet their Majesties, and we went according to orders; but the breakfast proved a good dinner at seven. The day was lovely, the company of the very first order, and the dresses most elegant morning costume.
'The King did not come; he was overfatigued at the Waterloo dinner. The Queen came at five. She and the Duchess of Northumberland led the way to the famous conservatory, and all the party followed. I believe it is reckoned the finest in Europe. The flower-garden, filled with all the smart and the pretty, was really a sight of sights. There were chairs and benches innumerable on the lawn, the Blues band of music, and people amused themselves till dinner was announced. It was certainly the most elegant party I ever was in, for the whole 524 guests followed each other into the tent as quiet and orderly as into the dinner-room at Windsor. The dinner was sumptuous. Three turkeys were drest, and eight men cooks employed. A seat for everyone, a napkin, three china plates, three silver forks, knife, and spoon. The waiters had only to remove your plate. And such quantities of waiters! yet so quiet, no bustle or clatter. We all came out of the tent together, when the house was lit up, and you went in or staid out as you pleased. The great drawing-room for tea and coffee, tables each side. And so the time passed till it was dark enough for the fireworks, which were most magnificent.
'The Queen was then ushered into the tent, which, like magic, had been prepared for dancing. A very good floor, as clean as if no soul had dined in the room. The tables were laid round the room on the floor to make a platform to raise the sitters to look at the dancing. There were two tiers of benches, so that really the room seemed hardly full. There was a noble space for the dancers 180 feet long. Weippert's beautiful band. I quite longed to dance. It was lit the whole length by large handsome glass lanthorns, and round the tent was a broad border of growing flowers and coloured lamps in festoons. Nothing could be prettier. They had waltzes, quadrilles, gallopade, and reels. The Queen went at eleven, and everybody was gone by one. Refreshments of all sorts were provided at each end of the tent.
'The second fête rather failed, as the day it was to have been held was so wet it was obliged to be put off; and then Royalty had gone to Windsor, and thought it too far to come. Numbers also were engaged. We were only asked in the evening, but everything was in as good style as the first, only a different style of company. The fireworks equally good, and the dancing, but the night was cold.
'The papers will have told you of my brother's success in Queen Adelaide's Fund. It is most particularly gratifying to him. Ever since the lunatic asylum was finished he has been wishing to establish this fund, and was brought about by the Queen signifying to him that she wished to subscribe to the lunatic asylum, about which he interested himself so much. He told her it was a county asylum, not supported by subscriptions, and then named this plan, which she eagerly acceded to, and gave £100 and her name as patroness. He has got near £700, and does not mean to be satisfied till he has £1,000, and as much more as he can. I must conclude, as the man has called. Lucky for you.
'Your affectionate friend, 'M. C.'
The fund mentioned at the close of this letter was founded to assist patients at the Hancock Asylum on their discharge, and is still in existence. As this was due to Colonel Clitherow's initiation, it may be well to mention here that another trace of his influence also remains in the system of employing patients in occupations with which they were previously acquainted, which was established during his chairmanship, with very successful results.