'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.
IX
DEATH OF THE KING
AFTER a short illness, William IV. died at Windsor Castle on June 20, 1837. On July 17 Miss Clitherow wrote as follows: