INDIA-L Archives

From: "tessa bardo" <>
Subject: Re: "The much abused Flora HASTINGS"
Date: Sun, 3 Sep 2000 17:36:52 -0400
References: <003e01c013ac$9d87cfc0$9e5f58cb@sylvia>

Dear Listers,

In Sylvia's recent 'BENGAL ALMANAC - SEPTEMBER 1839' - I always find them
fascinating; thank you Sylvia! :-
Item 25. 'This day died the much abused Flora HASTINGS'.

Listers may be interested to know that this refers to:

THE CONTROVERSY OF LADY FLORA HASTINGS.
Lady Flora Hastings (1806-1839) was the eldest daughter of Lord Hastings,
Gov.Gen'l. of India (1813-1822).
"Her unhappy life severely shook the monarchy and Whig government in 1839.
Queen Victoria had come to the throne in 1837 at the tender age of 18. She
was determined to change what she saw as the undesirable laxity of the
Regency court, of which her mother, the Duchess of Kent, was perceived to
have been a part."

"Victoria fell out with her mother, whom she felt was more concerned with
her own affairs than the good of Great Britain.... Lady Flora Hastings was
Lady of the Bed Chamber to the Duchess of Kent (Queen Victoria's mother). In
the background was Sir John Conroy, Comptroller of the Duchess' household.
Queen Victoria was shocked to learn that Lady Flora and Conroy travelled by
coach together from Scotland without a chaperon. Shortly after, Lady Flora
contracted a liver disorder, one of the outward effects of which appeared to
suggest pregnancy, and court gossip raged. Medical opinion confirmed her
illness, but her family were understandably angry at the way Lady Flora had
been treated, and demanded some reparations. Lord Melbourne (then Prime
Minister), in a rare failing, did not deal with the matter adequately. There
was a surge of public opinion in Lady Flora's favour, and Queen Victoria's
early popularity vanished in a few weeks, as a result of her perceived
mistreatment of Flora Hastings."

"There was a reconciliation in June 1839, when virtually on her deathbed
Lady Flora thanked the Queen (still in her teens) for her help during her
illness, and received from the Queen the 'Lady Flora Bracelet' which is
still in the family."

[The above from the Dictionary of National Biography, and the Loudoun Castle
website]

Best wishes,
Brian Duncan
temporarily in steamy Gettysburg, PA, USA

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