“Buckingham Palace, July 27th, 1839.
“My Dear Lady Selina,—My servant returned only the day before yesterday, or I would have written to you sooner to enquire how your excellent mother was after that most sad ceremony. I feel quite sure it is not necessary I should tell you how sincerely I felt for her, for you, and your sisters on that melancholy day. Also your poor sister Sophia; I fear she was very unwell on that day. Your and my severe loss appears to me still a dream! Alas! a very painful dream. I shall be very much obliged to you and your sister Adelaide to let me know how you are all. I heard from your dear sister Sophia to-day that your mother is still at Loudoun. I hope she will soon be able to go near the sea. Be so good as to give her my most affectionate regards, also to remember me most kindly to your sister, and to give my compliments to Captain Henry, who I am sorry I did not see before I left town. I was really not in a state to see him. Your dear sister Sophia was not very well when she left town, but I hope the change of air and scene will be very beneficial to her. I hope, my dear Lady Selina, you will not quite forget the friend of our beloved Flora, and believe me always to remain,
“Your very sincere friend, Victoria.”
Lady Hastings died six months after her daughter. Sir James Clark did his best to prove himself innocent of all harshness and indiscretion, but the attempt was not very satisfactory. He retained the Queen’s favour until he died, in 1870. Lady Portman also held Her Majesty’s friendship until 1865, when her death occurred. As for Victoria, she never, as has been said, broke her silence, and something like general hatred was felt for Baroness Lehzen, who was believed to have been her adviser all through. As Sir Sidney Lee says in his Biography of the Queen, however cogently Victoria’s attitude might be explained, the affair “came near proving a national calamity through the widespread hostility which it provoked against the Court.”
Urged by some members of his family, the Marquis of Hastings sent a full account of all that had occurred to the Morning Post, his letter occupying eleven columns, and in this Melbourne was entirely exculpated, also Baroness Lehzen, but it did not elucidate the name of the person with whom the first suggestion arose; many believed the Queen’s youthfully autocratic ways were at the root of the offence, while others did their best to distribute the blame.
Lady Flora was the author of many pretty verses, and her collected poems were published after her death. The following, “Lady Flora Hastings’ Bequest,” which was found among her papers, was not, however, included in the collection:—
“Oh, let the kindred circle,
Far in our Northern land,
From heart to heart draw closer
Affection’s strength’ning band;