People are apt to consider that the sewing machine is an invention of our own time. But the Times of March 8th says otherwise—
"A master tailor of Amsterdam, named Weiland, a German by birth, has invented a machine which performs the task of sewing a garment as well as it can be done by hand. The King of Holland has just presented him with one hundred ducats, but the tailors have vowed vengeance against him."
The old King felt his health failing him, and his fervent wish was to live until the Princess Victoria was of age. As Greville writes, May 23rd—
"The King prayed that he might live till the Princess Victoria was of age, and he was very nearly dying just as the event arrived. He is better, but supposed to be in a very precarious state. There has been a fresh squabble between Windsor and Kensington about a proposed allowance to the Princess."
The King's present to the Princess, on her birthday, was a magnificent grand pianoforte by Broadwood, of the value of two hundred guineas.
The coming of age of the Princess, on May 24th, was kept with festivity throughout the kingdom, but especially at Kensington. At six a.m. the union jack was hoisted on the summit of the old church, and also on the green opposite the palace. At this latter place it was surmounted by a splendid flag of white silk, on which was inscribed, in sky blue letters, the Princess's name "Victoria." From the houses of the principal inhabitants of the High Street were also displayed the royal standard, union jack, and other flags of all colours and dimensions. Soon after six, the gates of Kensington Gardens were thrown open to the public, and it having got wind that her Royal Highness would be serenaded at seven (the hour when she was born) the place was thronged with a large assemblage of well-dressed people.
As early as nine a.m. visitors arrived to enter their names in the Duchess of Kent's book, and during the whole day, up to a late hour in the evening, the palace was crowded with company, so much so, that they were obliged to leave it by another gate. Their Royal Highnesses received their household at half-past twelve, and the following members of the royal family at two: the Princess Sophia, the Princess Sophia Matilda, the Princess Augusta, and the Duke of Sussex. In the course of the afternoon the Duchess of Kent, the Princess Victoria, and the Princess of Leinengen drove through the parks in an open carriage.
At night a State ball was given at St. James's Palace, the Princess Augusta receiving the company on the part of the Queen. The ball opened with a quadrille, the Princess Victoria being led off by Lord Fitzalan, eldest son of the Earl of Surrey, and grandson of the Duke of Norfolk. Her Royal Highness subsequently danced with Prince Nicolas Esterhazy, son of the Austrian ambassador.
The following is the Times account of the celebration of the birthday in London:—
"Yesterday being the anniversary upon which the heiress presumptive to the throne of these realms attained the age of eighteen, considerable expectation had been raised amongst the holiday seekers and sightseers of the metropolis that the day would be celebrated by military displays, reviews, and those attractions usually put forward on those occasions. Early in the morning dense crowds were seen wending their way from all parts of the metropolis, in the direction of Hyde Park, in anticipation that their 'weary walk' would be remunerated by one of those displays of military manœuvres which, in times of peace, delight those who wish to live at ease, and in the reality of which so many Britons have participated, to the honour, the glory, and the best interests of the land that gave them birth. So general was the anticipation that such would commence the festivities of the day, that crowds of artisans who had proceeded towards the usual scene of action at an early hour, were followed towards the same arena by vehicles of every description conveying their fellow-subjects, who, though more wealthy, were equally devoted to loyalty and amusement. Great was the disappointment when hour after hour passed and brought no military relief to the greensward, and eventually the multitude assembled diverged homewards, or proceeded in search of other attractions. It is proper to state that, at the dawn of day, salutes were fired from the ordnance depôts of the metropolis, and to this only was the military display confined.