In 1834 the Queen went on an extended tour to her home in Saxe-Meiningen, taking with her presents of no less than eleven carriages and many other things, much to the anger of the people, who were then in a starving condition. On her return in September she was ill, being quite knocked up with the festivities in Germany, and a report was started—being first whispered at the Lord Mayor’s banquet—that the Queen was with child. This was confirmed by her ladies, and in February the medical men, though still uncertain, leaned to the decision that such was the case. The Court Journal went so far as to announce that her Majesty was said to have derived peculiar benefit from drinking at a spring in Germany known as Child’s Well; so the papers all debated the facts, and the Royal hangers-on were in a state of great commotion.
Lord Howe’s name was on everyone’s lips, and the less dignified papers did not hesitate openly to hint what society people were whispering. Alvanley, the wit of the time, suggested that the psalm, “Lord, how wonderful are Thy works,” should be generally sung, and cartoons and ribald verses appeared everywhere. One of the latter ran:
“How(e) wondrous are thy works, my lord,
How(e) glorious are thy ways!
How(e) shall we sing thy song, my lord?
How(e) celebrate thy praise?”
Another such rhyme tells us how
“Poor little Vicky, in a fright
Disjointed feels her royal nose.”
and goes on to explain that