Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria.
THE ACCESSION
South Street, 20th June 1837.
Viscount Melbourne50 presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and being aware that your Majesty has already received the melancholy intelligence of the death of his late Majesty, will do himself the honour of waiting upon your Majesty a little before nine this morning. Viscount Melbourne has requested the Marquis of Lansdowne51 to name eleven as the hour for the meeting of the Council at Kensington Palace.
Footnote 50: Lord Melbourne, so far as can be augured from his handwriting, which is extremely difficult to decipher, appears always to have written his own name Melburne. But it is not the correct spelling, and no one else seems to have employed it.
Footnote 51: Lord President of the Council; formerly for a brief period (1806-7) Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.
20th June 1837 (half-past eight a.m.).
Dearest, most beloved Uncle,—Two words only, to tell you that my poor Uncle, the King, expired this morning at twelve minutes past two. The melancholy news were brought to me by Lord Conyngham52 and the Archbishop of Canterbury53 at six. I expect Lord Melbourne almost immediately, and hold a Council at eleven. Ever, my beloved Uncle, your devoted and attached Niece,
Victoria R.