Tuesday, 11th April.—Heard that poor Lady De L’Isle,[258] the King’s eldest daughter, had expired at 10 o’clock the night before. On the death of old Mrs. Strode last February, the King made Lady De L’Isle housekeeper of Kensington Palace; and she arrived here about 2 or 3 days after we came from Claremont, was confined with a daughter about a month ago, and was going on very well, when she was taken so alarmingly ill, I think on Sunday. It is very awful and very dreadful for her 4 poor children.
After 9 we breakfasted. At a little before 10 came the Dean till 12 minutes to 11. Read with him in the N.T. and in Hume. At 11 came my good Lablache and stayed till 6 minutes to 12. He was as good-humoured, kind, ready, and gentlemanlike as ever; there never is any difference in his manners or ways, may he be ill, well, tired or not tired, he is always in the same ready good-humour. He is perhaps a little greyer, mais voilà tout. He was in splendid voice and sang beautifully. It was quite a delight for me to hear his fine and unique voice again and to sing with him; it is such a support to my voice and he accompanies so agreeably. I sang first with him the favourite duo of mine: “Voglio dire,” from L’Elisire d’Amore; then “Una furtiva lagrima,” a pretty little Aria from the same opera, which I repeated and which Catone used to sing so nicely, as also “Quanto è bella quanto è cara” from L’Elisir, which I also sung. After this Lablache sang with Mamma and me “Se il fratel stringere” from Belisario, which he had never seen or even heard before!...
Thursday, 20th April.—I got up at 8. Read in the Exposition while my hair was doing. After 9 we breakfasted. Played and sang; practised for Lablache. Drew. At 20 minutes to 2 we went to the Drawing Room with dear Lehzen, Lady Mary Stopford,[259] Sir George Anson &c. The poor Queen not being well, the King held the Drawing-room, and (strange to say) Princess Augusta represented her. There were several young ladies presented, amongst whom were Lady Wilhelmina Stanhope (daughter to the Earl and Countess Stanhope),[260] a beautiful girl; Lady Fanny Cowper[261] (daughter to the Earl and Countess Cowper), also pretty; Lady Mary Grimston,[262] Miss Louisa Percy,[263] Miss Wynn (niece to the Duchess of Northumberland), Victoire Conroy, &c. The poor Duchess of Northumberland was unable to attend me, having a bad cold. We came home at 20 minutes p. 3....
Friday, 19th May.—Got up at 8. Wrote the brouillon of a French letter to dearest Aunt Louise while my hair was doing. After 9 we breakfasted. The children played in the room. At 10 Mary,[264] Lehzen, I and the children went out walking and came home at 10 minutes to 11. Wrote my letter to dearest Aunt Louise. At ½ p. 11 came M. Guazzaroni till 12. Received a letter from the King by Lord Conyngham....
Read in W. Scott’s Life. Received an address from the Mayor and City of Lincoln, which was presented by Colonel Sibthorp[265] and Mr. Edward Lytton Bulwer,[266] the two Members. I was attended by my dearest Lehzen, and Mamma by Lady Flora. Played and sung &c. Wrote my journal. Drew. Felt very miserable and agitated. Did not go down to dinner, but dined in my own room at 8 o’clock. Stayed up till 10.
Saturday, 20th May.—Got up after 8. After 9 we breakfasted. The dear children were in the room and played very merrily. Wrote a letter to the King, which Mamma had previously written for me. At 3 minutes past 11 came my buon Maestro Lablache, looking pale and coughing, and complaining he was still unwell and feared he would remain so till the weather became warmer....
Lablache
from recollection.
P.V. del:—
Kensington
Palace Aug. 1836.
LUIGI LABLACHE.
From a sketch by Princess Victoria.
Wednesday, 24th May.—Today is my 18th birthday! How old! and yet how far am I from being what I should be. I shall from this day take the firm resolution to study with renewed assiduity, to keep my attention always well fixed on whatever I am about, and to strive to become every day less trifling and more fit for what, if Heaven wills it, I’m some day to be!... At ½ p. 3 we drove out with Mary and dear Lehzen and came home at 5. The demonstrations of loyalty and affection from all the people were highly gratifying. The parks and streets were thronged and everything looked like a Gala day. Numbers of people put down their names and amongst others good old Lablache inscribed his.... At ½ p. 10 we went to the ball at St. James’s with the Duchess of Northumberland, dear Lehzen, Lady Flora and Lady Conroy &c. The King though much better was unable of course to be there, and the Queen neither, so that, strange to say, Princess Augusta made the honneurs! I danced first with Lord Fitzalan,[267] 2ndly with Prince Nicholas Esterhazy,[268] who is a very amiable, agreeable, gentlemanly young man; 3rdly with the Marquis of Granby[269]; 4thly with the Marquis of Douro[270] who is very odd and amusing; and 5thly and lastly with the Earl of Sandwich[271] who is an agreeable young man. I wished to dance with Count Waldstein who is such an amiable man, but he replied that he could not dance quadrilles, and as in my station I unfortunately cannot valse and gallop, I could not dance with him. The beauties there were (in my opinion) the Duchess of Sutherland, Lady Frances (or Fanny) Cowper, who is very pleasing, natural and clever-looking.... The Courtyard and the streets were crammed when we went to the Ball, and the anxiety of the people to see poor stupid me was very great, and I must say I am quite touched by it, and feel proud which I always have done of my country and of the English Nation. I forgot to say that before we went to dinner we saw the dear children. I gave my beloved Lehzen a small brooch of my hair.