The Sun.
London, England, 1837-05-31 00:00:00

OF KENT.

" We, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the
City of London, in Common Council assembled, approach
your Royal Highness to offer our congratulations upon the
happy occasion of your Royal daughter the Princess Alezan-
drina Victoria having attained the age of 18 years. It is
scarcely possible for us to appreciate the feelings of your
Royal Highness upon this joyful event ; but we beg to ex-
press our unfeigned hope that you may long witness the fruits
of your care and attention, bestowed in so exemplary a manner,
upon the education of your Royal daughter, in the admiration
and affections of a free people."
Her Royal Highness made the following answer:—
•' My Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, of the City
of London,

" If I consulted my own feelings, I would abstain from a reply,
except to assure you, that my heart is filled with gratitude.
" The Disposer of all human events has vouchsafed to allow
me to be rewarded, far beyond what I deserve, by witnessing,
at this epoch, so dear to my maternal feelings, such general
expressions of loyalty to our King, hope and confidence in my
child, and approbation of the way in which I have brought her
up. It makes me feel, I should add a few words more, as what
I say on this occasion may reach many who take a lively inte-
rest in the event you congratulate me on; and as this is most
probably the last public act of my life, I feel called on to do so.
" I pass over the earlier part of my connection with this
country. I will merely briefly observe, that my late regretted
consort's circumstances and my duties obliged us to reside in
Germany. But the Duke of Kent, at much inconvenience, and
I, at great personal risk, returned to England, that our child
should be born and bred a Briton.'

" In a few months afterwards my infant and myself were
awfully deprived of father and husband. We stood alone, al-
most friendless and unknown in this country. I could not even
speak the language of it. I did not hesitate how to act. I
gave up my home, my kindred, my duties, to devote myself to
that duty which was to be the whole abject of my future life. I
was supported in the execution of my duty by the country—it
placed its trust in me, and the Regency Bill gave me its last
act of confidence.

" I have in times of great difficulty avoided all connection
with any party in the state ; but if I have done so, I have
never ceased to press on my daughter her duties, so as to gain
by her conduct the respect and affection of the people. This
I have taught her should be her first earthly duty, as a con-
stitutional sovereign.
" The princess has arrived at that age which now justifies
my expressing my confident expectation that she will be found
competent to execute the sacred trust which may be reposed
in her; for communicating, as she does, with all classes of
society, she cannot but perceive that the greater the diffusion
of religion, knowledge, and the love of freedom in a country,
the more orderly, industrious, and wealthy is the population ;
and that with the desire to preserve the constitutional preroga-
tives of the crown ought to be co-ordinate the protection of
the liberties of the people."
The Recorder also read the address from the Lord Mayor,
Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, to her
Royal Highness the Princess Victoria, as follows :

" TO HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS
VICTORIA.
" We, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the
City of London, in Common Council assembled, approach
your Royal Highness upon the happy occasion of your Royal
Highness having attained the age of 18 years.
" We confidently anticipate with the liveliest satisfaction
the benefits to be derived from the excellent education your
Royal Highness has received under the exemplary care of
your illustrious Mother, and in the full assurance that, in
whatever station your• Royal Highness may be called upon to
occupy, you will continue to afford an example of those virtues
that dignify and adorn the female character. And we fer-
vently hope that you may long continue to live in the enjoy-
ment of health and in the admiration and affection of a free
and happy people."
Her Royal Highness made the following answer
" I am very thankful for your kindness, and my Mother has
expressed all my feelings."
The Lord Mayor, Aldermen, the Recorder, the Sheriffs,
and the principal civic functionaries, the mover and seconder
of the Address, were afterwards severally presented to the
Duchess of Kent.and the Princess Victoria.
After partaking of refreshments, which were served in the
ante-room, the deputation left the Palace.
After receiving the City Addresses, the Duchess of Kent
presented to the Princess of Victoria the following :
The Bishop of Bangor, with an Address from the Chapter
of Bangor.
Lord Godolphin, with an Address from the Mayor and Cor-
poration of Cambridge.
Lord Leveson, with an Address from Morpeth.
Lord Foley, with an Address from the Mayor, Magistrates,
and burgesses of the borough of -Droitwich.
Mr. Fectorpl. P., with an addreis from Dover.
Sir John Scott Lillie, with an address from Hammersmith.
Lieut. - Colonel Rushbrooke, M.P., with an address from
the Mayor, Aldermen, and Council of Sudbury.
The Mayor and Members for Norwich, with an address from
the Town Council of the city of Norwich.
Mr. Steuart, M. P., with an address from the borough of
Ha ldington.

Dr. John Nicholl, M.P., with an address from the gentry,
Clergy, and Magistrates, and other inhabitants of the borough
and neighbourhood of Cardiff'.
Mr. J. H. Vivian, with an address from the inhabitants of
Swansea.

At the drawing-room held at St. James's Palace, on Mon.
day, in celebration of the King's birth-day, Lieutenant-Col.
Wright was among the Queen's Gentlemen Ushers in wait-
ing. The Countess of Stradbroke and the lady Harriet
Mitchell were among the company present, and the Hon.
Mrs. Raikes Currie was presented by the Lady Harriet
Mitchell.

Lord Glenclg gave a state dinner, in honour of the King's
birth-day. The company included the Commander of the
Forces, the President of the Board of Control, the Adjutant-
General of the Forces, Mr. Burge, agent for Jamaica, Mr.
Colquhoun, agent for St. Vincent, Mr. Mayers, agent for
Barbadoes, and several officers of the Board of Ordnance.
At Viscount Melbourne's dinner party on Monday, to cele-
brate his Majesty's birth-day, his Royal Highness the Duke of
Sussex, the Dukes of Somerset, Grafton, Sutherland, and 20
other Peers, were present.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave a State dinner, in
honour of the day, at his residence in Mansfield-street. Among
the company were the Governor and Deputy Governor of the
Bank, the Chairmen of the Customs, Excise, and Stamps, the
Lords and Secretaries of the Treasury.
The Duchess of Gloucester arrived in town yesterday from
Windsor Castle. The Princess Augusta visited her Royal
Highness in the afternoon.
The Duke of Cumberland came to town yesterday, from his
residence at Kew.
A Cabinet Council, which was attended by most of the
Ministers, was held yesterday afternoon at the Foreign Office,
Toe Council sat an hour and a half.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer bad an audience er the