I feel most grateful for your kind letter full of sympathy with my irreparable loss, and thank you with all my heart for your feeling expressions on this melancholy occasion.

I am, as you may suppose, deeply affected by all the sad scenes I have gone through lately; but I have the great comfort to dwell upon the recollection of the perfect resignation, piety, and patience with which the dear King bore his trials and sufferings, and the truly Christian-like manner of his death.
Excuse my writing more at present, my heart is overwhelmed and my head aches very much.

Accept the assurance of my most affectionate devotion, and allow me to consider myself always as your Majesty's most affectionate Friend, Aunt, and Subject, ADELAIDE.
[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S JOURNAL] [Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S FIRST COUNCIL] _Extract from the Queen's Journal._ _Tuesday, 20th June 1837._ I was awoke at 6 o'clock by Mamma, who told me that the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham were here, and wished to see me.

I got out of bed and went into my sitting-room (only in my dressing-gown) and _alone_, and saw them.

Lord Conyngham (the Lord Chamberlain) then acquainted me that my poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and had expired at 12 minutes past 2 this morning, and consequently that I am _Queen_.