Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria.
Panshanger, 21st October 1841.
Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He received here yesterday your Majesty's letter of the 19th inst., and he earnestly hopes that your Majesty has arrived quite safe and well in London. Besides the family, we have had hardly anybody here except Lady Clanricarde.132 Yesterday Sir Edward L. Bulwer133 came, beating his brother hollow in ridiculousness of attire, ridiculous as the other is. He has, however, much in him, and is agreeable when you come to converse with him....
Lord Melbourne is rather in doubt about his own movements. Lord Leicester134 presses him much to go to Holkham, where Lord Fortescue,135 Mr Ellice136 and others are to be, and considering Lord Leicester's age, Lord Melbourne thinks that it will gratify him to see Lord Melbourne again there. But at Holkham they shoot from morning until night, and if you do not shoot you are like a fish upon dry land. Lord Melbourne hardly feels equal to the exertion, and therefore thinks that he shall establish himself for the present at Melbourne, where he will be within reach of Trentham, Beau Desert,137 Wentworth,138 and Castle Howard,138 if he likes to go to them. The only annoyance is that it is close to Lord and Lady G——, whom he will be perpetually meeting.
Footnote 132: A daughter of George Canning, the Prime Minister.
Footnote 133: Afterwards Lord Lytton, the novelist.
Footnote 134: The famous country gentleman, "Mr Coke of Norfolk."
Footnote 135: Hugh, second Earl, K.G.
Footnote 136: The Right Hon. Edward Ellice, M.P. ("Bear" Ellice).
Footnote 137: Near Lichfield, a seat of Lord Anglesey.