Thursday, 16th November.— ... At a ¼ p. 2 Lord Melbourne came to me and stayed with me till 12 m. p. 3. He read me the Speech again, as it is settled to be now; and became touched to tears in reading the concluding part which alludes to my youth and reliance on the Loyalty of my People—kind, excellent, good man. Talked over various things....
Friday, 17th November.— ... After dinner I went at ½ p. 6 with all the dinner party, except Lehzen (who again went with Mr. Rich to the play in a box opposite), Miss Davys (who did not go), and Lord Alfred Paget (who was on the escort and rode by the carriage), to the play to Covent Garden, the Duchess of Sutherland and Lord Albemarle going with me in the carriage. I met with the same brilliant reception, the house being so full that there was a great piece of work for want of room, and many people had to be pulled out of the Pit by their wrists and arms into the Dress Circle. I never saw such an exhibition; it was the oddest thing I ever saw. My Ladies took it by turns, (their standing behind me, I mean). Mamma sat near me, and Lady Mary stood behind her. The performances were the fine but dreadful tragedy of Werner by Lord Byron, and the 1st act of Fra Diavolo....
Monday, 20th November.—Got up at a ¼ to 9 and breakfasted by myself at a ¼ p. 10. Played on the piano. Saw Mr. Spring Rice. Dressed for going to the House of Lords, exactly in the same costume as last July. When I was dressed I saw the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Augusta[348] and little Mary.[349] At ½ p. 1 I went in the State Carriage with the Duchess of Sutherland and Lord Albemarle; Lady Lansdowne, Lady Barham, and all my gentlemen (except Lord Conyngham who went as a Peer and not in my suite), and 3 Pages, going in 6 other carriages, to the House of Lords to open Parliament. I arrived there at 2, and was conducted to the Library—all the Great Officers of State, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord President, the Lord Privy Seal, preceding me—Lord Melbourne walking quite close before me bearing the sword of state. I robed in the Library, all the above-mentioned people, my ladies and gentlemen, being there, and then proceeded into the House of Lords—the manner of going in being the same as before—and seated myself on the Throne; Lord Melbourne standing quite close to me on my left; I feel a satisfaction in having this excellent man near me on such important public occasions. I read the Declaration about Transubstantiation, or rather repeated it after the Chancellor—the Commons having been summoned to the Bar. After this I read the Speech (which I think an excellent one) and which people were pleased to say I read well. The House was very full. I then returned to the Library and unrobed. Good, kind Melbourne was quite touched to tears after I read the Speech. I could only say a very few words to him. I came home, as I went, at a ¼ p. 3. Lehzen was at the House, which I am very glad of, and she was pleased with my manner.... The Duke of Sussex was the mover of the Address in the House of Lords, and made a very able and judicious speech, Lord Melbourne wrote me word. I got Lord Melbourne’s despatch while I was at dinner, and I left the table for a minute to read it. Lord Melbourne likewise informed me that “the Address was voted without a dissentient voice”; and that the Duke of Wellington spoke fairly; adhering to his declaration of last Session, and saying that the manner in which the Measures for Ireland were mentioned in the Speech would facilitate his intention to support Ministers in their measures. None of the Ministers spoke. I hail this bright and unanimous beginning as an auspicious augury of the coming Session and I trust that all will do well....
Friday, 24th November.— ... Saw Lord Conyngham and Edwin Landseer, who brought a beautiful little sketch which he has done this morning, of a picture he is to paint for me of Hector and Dash. He is an unassuming, pleasing and very young-looking man, with fair hair. At 1 Lord Melbourne came to me and stayed with me till a ¼ to 2. Talked over various things....
Tuesday, 28th November.— ... At 20 m. to 1 came Lord Melbourne and stayed with me till 2. I was glad to see him looking well and in high spirits. He said it was “a very good debate” in the House of Lords; that the Duke of Wellington had been somewhat eager but had been put down. The House sat till p. 11, and Lord Melbourne only got his dinner then. I showed him Lord John’s account of the Debate in the H. of Commons. He said there was a good deal in this large majority as the Opposition had made rather a point of it to carry it. Lord Melbourne was quite touched in saying this, as he knows how anxious I am the Government should be firm for the peace of the Country and for my own peace and happiness; as also when he spoke of the readiness with which the Civil List would be voted. He is so kind to me; I have the greatest confidence in him. He is so truly excellent. I cannot say how happy I am at this good beginning! Lord Melbourne even said, everything went much better than they expected. I trust most fervently that all will continue thus well....
Wednesday, 29th November.— ... At 20 m. p. 12 Lord Melbourne came to me and stayed with me till 2. He told me there had been a very short debate upon the Duke of Newcastle’s[350] bringing in a Bill for the Repeal of the Catholic Emancipation Act (a most absurd idea). He (the Duke of Newcastle) was only supported by Lord Lorton[351] and Lord Winchilsea. Lord Melbourne and Lord Brougham spoke. I read the speech of the former (Lord Melbourne) in the papers; it is, as all his speeches and sayings are, remarkably judicious and clever.... At ½ p. 7 we dined.... I sat between the Duke of Wellington and the Marquis Conyngham. The former I thought looking very old, and silent and out of spirits. I think he does not feel à son aise dans sa position; he fears to displease his friends and does not wish to oppose the Ministry violently.... I sat on the sofa with Lady Mulgrave and Lady Barham; Lady Wilhelmina Stanhope[352] and Lady Caroline Strangways[353] sitting near me. Lady Wilhelmina is not so handsome as she was; she is not to be compared, in my opinion, to Lady Fanny Cowper, whose great charm, besides her lovely face, fine complexion and beautiful figure is her great quietness, and unaffected manners, and unconsciousness of her beauty. Lady Wilhelmina is nevertheless an agreeable, clever girl....
Monday, 4th December.—Got up at ½ p. 9.... At about 10 m. to 1 came Lord Melbourne and stayed with me till 2. Talked about many things, and amongst others about the Pensions which give so much trouble. Lord Melbourne said he thought it “quite an abomination to meddle with the pensions” which people now had; that upon the whole, hereafter, he was rather against giving pensions, for he said, “if people know that you have the power to grant them, they apply without end, and it is very difficult to refuse”; “it requires,” he added, “nerves of iron to refuse,” and “if you have none to give away, why there is an end of it.” I think this is all very true....
Wednesday, 6th December.—At 1 came Lord Melbourne and stayed with me till a ¼ p. 2. He told me that there was a good deal of speaking in the House of Lords yesterday, upon the 2nd reading of the Imprisonment for Debt Bill, and that they sat till 10 o’clock. The bill, though opposed in detail, by some, was read a 2nd time, and was referred to a Committee. In the House of Commons, the Municipal Corporation Bill for Ireland was introduced without opposition. There was some debate upon an affair of the dismissal of a Col. Verner in Ireland (which was done, as Lord Melbourne told me at Windsor, against his (Lord M.’s) wish, and which he still dislikes, but which cannot be helped now), on account of a toast he gave at a public dinner. Lord Morpeth quite put him (Col. Verner) down, by “a triumphant speech,” as Lord John wrote me word; I always shew these reports of Lord John to Lord Melbourne.... Lord Melbourne led me in, and I sat between him and Lord Canning, who is exceedingly shy. Lord Melbourne was in good spirits and we talked a good deal upon various subjects; I made him laugh very much by telling him what the Duchess of Sutherland told me he had told her about Lord Brougham’s speech on education, which was: “That it was tiresome to hear, tiresome to educate, and tiresome to be educated.” He said, “I think it is very true....”
Thursday, 7th December.—Went into the Drawing room where Mr. Landseer showed me two most beautiful pictures, done by himself, one large, the other small, which he had brought for me to see; the figures and animals are all most beautifully painted and grouped; and most exquisitely finished, so that I looked at them through a magnifying glass; I never saw anything so exquisite in every way. He also showed me a sketch in oils (small) of Lord Melbourne which is like, but too fat, and though flattered is not in my opinion half pleasing enough. It is very well done; he also showed me a sketch of Mrs. Lister done in one sitting, and exceedingly pretty. He had only had two sittings of Lord Melbourne. He certainly is the cleverest artist there is. Sat to Mr. Hayter for a long while. Showed him some of my drawings which he praised and told me where they were in fault. Drew. Tried to sketch little Mary Barrington while her mother amused her....
Friday, 8th December.— ... After dinner I sat on the sofa with Lady Ashley,[354] who was very agreeable and talked to me of her children &c. One of her charms is her being so natural. Lord Melbourne sat near me the whole evening. He talked to me about the play, about Joan of Arc, whom he admires, and said, “It is clearly proved that what she did is not to be attributed to any impropriety of conduct.” Many historians have chosen to blemish the character of this poor, innocent maid, who was so great. He asked me if I had ever read Barante’s History of the Princes of the House of Burgundy, in 8 vols., which gives a whole account of Joan; which I have not. M. de Barente is French Ambassador at St. Petersburg. Lord Melbourne also spoke to me of Lord Ashley, who he says is a very good man; and less eager in Politics than he was; Lord Ashley is a high Tory. He “adores” Lady Ashley, Lord Melbourne says. Lord Melbourne also told me that when I first came to the Throne, Lord Ashley “wrote to Emily” (Lady Cowper) “and said, ‘Why, it’s shocking that Lord Melbourne has only put Whig ladies about the Queen’; upon which Lady Cowper said, ‘Why, Lady Barham is not such a great Whig’; ‘Oh!’ said Ashley, ‘she is quite terrible, she is the worst of all.’” This amused me much. There is no end to the amusing anecdotes and stories Lord Melbourne tells, and he tells them all in such an amusing funny way. Spoke to me about horses; he told me his pretty black mare is rather crippled by his having travelled her about so much, and that she must get rest. Lady Ashley says that Lady Cowper dotes upon her grandchildren and would give them and let them do anything. Stayed up till 11. It was a very pleasant evening.