'Yours sincerely, 'MARY CLITHEROW.'
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.