Monday, 8th July.—At about 10 we went on board the Emerald with Alexander, Ernst, Lady Charlotte, Lady Conroy, Jane, Victoire, Sir John and Henry. We were towed up to Southampton by the Medina steam-packet. It rained several times very hard, and we were obliged to go down into the cabin very often. When we arrived at Southampton, Mamma received an address on board from the Corporation. We then got into the barge and rowed up to the new pier. The crowd was tremendous. We went into a tent erected on the pier, and I was very much frightened for fear my cousins and the rest of our party should get knocked about; however they at last got in. We then got into our barge and went on board the Emerald where we took our luncheon. We stayed a little while to see the regatta, which was going on, and then sailed home. It was a very wet afternoon. We came home at ½ past 5. At 7 we dined. Lady Conroy, Jane, Victoire, Sir John, and Henry dined here....
Friday, 12th July.—I awoke at 6 and got up at ½ past 6. At 7 we breakfasted. It was a sad breakfast, for us indeed, as my dear cousins were going so soon. At about a ¼ to 8 we walked down our pier with them and there took leave of them, which made us both very unhappy. We saw them get into the barge, and watched them sailing away for some time on the beach. They were so amiable and so pleasant to have in the house; they were always satisfied, always good humoured; Alexander took such care of me in getting out of the boat, and rode next to me; so did Ernst. They talked about such interesting things, about their Turkish Campaign, about Russia, &c., &c. We shall miss them at breakfast, at luncheon, at dinner, riding, sailing, driving, walking, in fact everywhere.
About two hours after my cousins had gone, Mamma received the distressing news that my cousins’ father, the Duke Alexander of Würtemberg,[132] who had been ill for some time, was dead. I was extremely sorry for them. Mamma immediately dispatched an estafette after them to Dover with the news. At 1 we lunched. It was a dull luncheon. At 4 we went out riding with Lady Charlotte, Lady Conroy, Jane, Victoire, Sir John and Henry. Victoire rode Alice, and Lehzen Isabel. The ride would have appeared to me much pleasanter had Alexander and Ernst been there. We came home at 6. We heard from a servant of ours, who had crossed over with them to Portsmouth, that they had had a very quick and good passage and that they had not been at all sick. At 7 we dined. Lady Conroy, Jane, Victoire, Sir John, Edward, and Henry dined here. Here again they were missing....
Thursday, 18th July.—At a ¼ to 10 we went on board the Emerald with Lady Charlotte, Lady Conroy, Jane, Victoire, Lehzen, and Sir John, and were towed by the Messenger steam-packet up to Portsmouth. We then got into the Admiral’s barge, and landed in the docks. We then saw from an elevation, the launch of the Racer, a sloop of war. We then re-entered the Admiral’s barge and went to the Victory, his flag-ship. We there received the salute on board. We saw the spot where Nelson fell, and which is covered up with a brazen plate and his motto is inscribed on it, “Every Englishman is expected to do his duty.” We went down as low as the tanks, and there tasted the water which had been in there for two years, and which was excellent. We also saw the place where Nelson died. The whole ship is remarkable for its neatness and order. We tasted some of the men’s beef and potatoes, which were excellent, and likewise some grog. The company consisted of Lady Williams, the Admiral’s lady, Sir Graham and Lady Moore,[133] Mr. and Mrs. Ricardo, Sir Frederick and Lady Maitland,[134] etc., etc. We then partook of a luncheon at the Admiral’s House and then returned on board the Emerald. We got home by 5. We both wished so much that dear Alexander and dear Ernest had been there, I think it would have amused them....
Friday, 2nd August.—I awoke at about a ¼ to 6 and got up at ½ past 7. At ½ past 8 we all breakfasted. We then saw several ladies and gentlemen. At about ½ past 9 we went on board the dear little Emerald. We were to be towed up to Plymouth. Mamma and Lehzen were very sick, and I was sick for about ½ an hour. At 1 I had a hot mutton chop on deck. We passed Dartmouth. At about 4 we approached Plymouth Harbour. It is a magnificent place and the breakwater is wonderful indeed. You pass Mount Edgecumbe, the seat of Lord Mount Edgecumbe.[135] It is beautifully situated. The Admiral, Sir William Hargood,[136] Captain Falkland his flag-captain, and Mr. Yorke[137] came on board. Captain Brown, who is on board the Caledonia, and Captain Macay, on board the Revenge, also came on board. As we entered the harbour, our dear little Emerald ran foul of a hulk, her mast broke and we were in the greatest danger. Thank God! the mast did not fall and no one was hurt. But I was dreadfully frightened for Mamma and for all. The poor dear Emerald is very much hurt I fear. Saunders was not at all in fault; he saved us by pulling the rope which fixed us to the steamer. We arrived at Plymouth at 5. It is a beautiful town and we were very well received. Sweet Dash was under Saunders’s arm the whole time, but he never let him drop in all the danger. At 7 we dined. The hotel is very fine indeed. After dinner Sir John saw Saunders, who said that the mast of the Emerald was broken in two places, and that we had had the narrowest escape possible; but that she would be repaired and ready for us to go back in her on Tuesday.
Saturday, 3rd August.—At 10 came Sir John Cameron,[138] the Governor, and his officers. At ½ past 10 came Sir William Hargood and his officers and captains. Soon after came Lord Hill, who is over here to inspect the troops, and Sir John Macdonald,[139] Sir Richard Jackson, and Captain Hill. At ½ past 11 Mamma received an address from the Mayor and Corporation of Plymouth, downstairs in a large room full of people. At 12 we went with all our own party to a review of the 89th, the 22nd, and the 84th regiments. Mamma made a speech, and I then gave the colours to the 89th regiment. The names of the two Ensigns to whom I gave the colours are Miles and Egerton. We then saw them march by in line. We then went to the Admiral’s house where we had our luncheon, and then proceeded to the docks. We went in the Admiral’s barge on board the Admiral’s flag-ship, the St. Joseph, taken by Lord Nelson from the Spanish, in the battle of St. Vincent. We received a salute on board. She is a magnificent vessel of 120 guns. We saw her lower decks and cabins, which are extremely light, airy, roomy and clean. We then returned in the Admiral’s barge, rowed round the Caledonia 120 guns, and the Revenge 76 guns. We landed at the Dockyard and went home. At 7 we dined....
End of my third Journal-book. Norris Castle, August 11th, 1833....
Monday, 16th September.—At 10 we went on board the Emerald with Lady Catherine, Lady Conroy, Jane, Lehzen, Victoire, and Sir John, and sailed to Portsmouth, where we were going to pay a visit to their Majesties the Queen of Portugal[140] and the Duchess of Braganza (her step-mother). We got there at ½ past 11. We entered the Admiral’s barge with Lady Catherine, Lady Conroy, Lehzen, and Sir John, and were rowed ashore. We landed at the stairs in the dockyard. Mamma and I got into a close carriage, and our ladies followed in an open carriage. The whole way from the dock-yard to the Admiral’s house, where their Majesties reside, was lined with troops and various bands were placed at different distances. We were received at the door by the gentlemen and ladies of the court. Inside the hall we were met by the Queen and the Duchess. The Queen led Mamma, and the Duchess followed leading me into the room. The Queen was in England 4 years ago; she is only a month older than I am and is very kind to me. She was then already very tall for her age, but had a very beautiful figure; she is grown very tall but also very stout. She has a beautiful complexion, and is very sweet and friendly. She wore her hair in two large curls in front and a thick fine plait turned up behind. The Empress (or Duchess as she is now called) was never before in England. She is only 21 and is very pleasing. She has beautiful blue eyes, and has a fine tall figure. She has black hair and wore ringlets in front and a plait behind. She was simply dressed in a grey watered moire trimmed with blonde. Their Majesties arrived at Portsmouth from Havre on the morning of the 8th of September; and proceeded to Windsor on the 10th, on a visit to the King and Queen, from whence they returned last Saturday, and they intend leaving Portsmouth to-day at 2 o’clock for Lisbon. The Queen and Duchess having desired us to sit down, talked some time with us. The Duchess then went and fetched her little girl, a child of 21 months old. We soon after went, the Queen leading Mamma and the Duchess me in the same manner as before. We returned in the same way. We lunched on board the Emerald and then were towed by the Messenger home. We came home at 3....
Monday, 14th October.— ... Ferdinand the 7th of Spain[141] died on the 29th of September, and his young and lovely Queen Christina instantly became Regent for the infant Queen Isabella the 2nd, her daughter, and who is only 3 years old. The Queen has a powerful enemy in Don Carlos and his wife, but she is very courageous and very clever. It is a singular coincidence that there should be a young Queen in Spain as well as in Portugal. At 7 we 4 dined. I stayed up till 9....
Monday, 9th December.—At 5 we dined. Sir John dined here. At ½ past 6 we went to the play to Drury Lane with Lady Conroy, Lehzen, and Sir John. It was Shakespear’s tragedy of King John. The principal characters were: King John, Mr. Macready,[142] who acted beautifully; Prince Arthur, Miss Poole, who acted delightfully; Hubert, Mr. Bennett who acted well; Faulconbridge, Mr. Cooper, who also acted well; Philip King of France, Mr. Diddear; Louis the Dauphin, Mr. Brendal; Archduke of Austria, Mr. Thompson; Queen Elinor, Mrs. Faucit[143]; the Lady Constance, Mrs. Sloman; Blanche of Castile, Miss Murray. The second piece was the melo-drama of The Innkeeper’s Daughter, which is very horrible but extremely interesting, but it would take me too much time to relate the story of it. The characters were: Richard, Mr. Cooper, who acted very well; Frankland, Mr. Ayliffe; Monkton, Mr. Thompson; Langley, Mr. Tayleure; Harrop, Mr. Webster,[144] who looked horrid but acted well; he was one of the leading characters in the play; Edward Harrop, Mr. Richardson; Wentworth, Mr. Baker; Hans Ketzler, Mr. T. P. Cooke, who acted very well; Tricksey, Mr. Hughes; William, Mr. Howell; White, Mr. East; Smith, Mr. Henry; Allsop, Mr. S. Jones; Mary, Miss Kelly,[145] who acted quite beautifully; she is quite mature. Marian, Mrs. Broad. We came to the very beginning and stayed to the very end. We came home at 10 minutes past 12. I was very much amused....