[307] Lord Mulgrave was created Marquess of Normanby in 1838. A member of Lord Melbourne’s Administration in 1834, he was sent to Ireland as Viceroy, and then returned to the Cabinet as Secretary of State. While the Whigs were in office he was never without a place. He was subsequently Ambassador in Paris, and under Lord Palmerston supported Napoleon III. through the stormy days of the coup d’état.
[308] Lady Mulgrave was Maria Liddell, eldest daughter of the first Lord Ravensworth. She had married, in 1818, the second Earl of Mulgrave, who was created Marquess of Normanby in 1838. See p. 205.
[309] Sarah, daughter of the second Earl Spencer and widow of the third Lord Lyttelton. Afterwards Lady Superintendent to the Princess Royal and the Prince of Wales and the other Princes and Princesses. A shrewd observer and a woman of fine judgment and high ideals.
[310] There is no record of any previous Sovereign wearing the robes of the Bath on such an occasion. Certainly they have never been worn since. A little later in her reign the Queen was always reluctant to exchange the red ribbon of the Bath for the blue ribbon of the Garter. By the advice of Lord Melbourne, however, she was in the habit of wearing the red ribbon when holding an investiture of the Order.
[311] He had just been created Earl of Yarborough. Lady Charlotte was the wife of Sir Joseph Copley. He died in 1846.
[312] The Queen always retained a strong sentiment for Kensington Palace. Part of the old building had been condemned by the Office of Works to be pulled down, but the Queen refused her sanction. During the last year of her reign the Queen made an arrangement with Lord Salisbury and Sir M. Hicks-Beach that, in consideration of Her Majesty giving up the use of Bushey House and the Ranger’s House at Greenwich, the Government should purchase and place at her disposal Schomberg House, and should restore Kensington Palace. Parliament voted £36,000 for this purpose, on the understanding that the State Rooms should be opened to the public.
[313] Louisa, daughter of the thirteenth Viscount Dillon, afterwards wife of Sir Spencer Ponsonby Fane.
[314] These are the rooms now occupied by Queen Mary. The “audience” room opened out of the sitting-room.
[315] Hon. Harriet Elizabeth Pitt, younger daughter of the third Lord Rivers. She married in 1841 Charles Dashwood Bruce, nephew of the Earl of Elgin.
[316] Mary Alicia Spring Rice, eldest daughter of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. She afterwards married James Garth Marshall of Headingley and Monk Coniston.