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recollections of the happiest days of my otherwise dull childhood - days when I experienced such kindness from you, dearest uncle; Victoria plays with my old bricks, and I see her running and jumping in the flower garden, as old (though I feel still
little
) Victoria of former days used to do.”
    About the same time, Miss Lehzen, the daughter of a Hanoverian clergyman, who had come over to England in charge of the Princess Feodore, was appointed governess to the Princess. She was her constant guide and companion and devotedly attached to her young charge, by whom the feeling was cordially returned. Pier great influence was exercised with tact and judgment, and the bond of union between teacher and pupil was only severed by death. In recognition of her distinguished merit, Miss Lehzen was created a Baroness of Hanover by George IV. After the accession of her pupil to the throne, the Baroness remained with the Queen till her marriage. Two years later, she retired to Germany, and died, much regretted, in 1870.
    In 1826, when the Princess was seven years old, she received, for the first time, an invitation from the King to accompany the Duchess of Kent on a visit to him at Windsor. His Majesty was then living in the Royal Lodge in the Park. As there was no accommodation for visitors in the Lodge, the Duchess and the Princess stayed at Cumberland Lodge, close at hand, where they remained for three days. The King was much pleased with his niece, and with the affection she exhibited towards himself. Before she left, he gave her the badge worn by members of the Royal Family and promised an early renewal of her visit to him - a promise afterwards fulfilled. The Princess thus for the first time had the opportunity of seeing the stately castle, which then, after a century’s neglect, was being restored as a fitting abode for the Sovereign, and has for sixty years been her chief home of state.
    One day, during her first visit to the Royal Lodge, the King entered the drawing-room, holding his niece by the hand. The band was playing in the adjoining conservatory. “Now, Victoria,” said His Majesty, “the band is in the next room, and shall play any tune you please. What shall it be?” “Oh, Uncle King,” quickly replied the Princess, “I should like ‘God save the King.’” Another time, His Majesty asked her what she had enjoyed most during her stay in Windsor. “The drive I took with you, Uncle King,” was the answer, the King having himself driven her in his pony phaeton, in company with the Duchess of Gloucester.
    The Earl of Albemarle, who was in attendance on the Duke of Sussex at Kensington, thus describes in his recollections the appearance of the Princess at this time. “One of my occupations on a morning, while waiting for the Duke, was to watch from the window the movements of a bright, pretty little girl, seven years of age. She was in the habit of watering the plants immediately under the window. It was amusing to see how impartially she divided the contents of the watering-pot between the flowers and her own little feet. Her simple but becoming dress contrasted favourably with the gorgeous apparel now worn by the little damsels of the rising generation - a large straw hat and a suit of white cotton; a coloured
fichu
round the neck was the only ornament she wore.”
    The education of Her Royal Highness was now conducted on a regular system. Besides the instruction she received from Miss Lehzen and the Rev. George Davys, Mr. Steward, the writing master of Westminster School, was engaged to teach writing and arithmetic; Mr. J. B. Sale, who had been in the choir of the Chapel Royal, came to assist in the singing lessons, which were afterwards given by the famous Lablache. Lessons in dancing were given by Madame Bourdin, to whose teaching may be due in some measure the grace of gesture and dignity of bearing which has always distinguished Her Majesty. Drawing was entrusted to Mr. Westall, who had been a Royal