He then related to me the following incident which, I think, may truly be said to have been the first act of Her Majesty's reign.
"When her predecessor, William IV, died, a messenger was immediately dispatched by his queen (then become by his death queen dowager) to Victoria, apprising her of the event.

She immediately called for paper and indited a letter of condolence to the widow.

Folding it, she directed it 'To the Queen of England.' Her maid of honor in attendance, noting the inscription, said: 'Your Majesty, you are Queen of England.' 'Yes,' she replied, 'but the widowed queen is not to be reminded of that fact first by me.'" Writing to his daughter from Havre, on July 26, 1838, while on his way to Paris, after telling her of the unjust decision of the Attorney-General, he adds:-- "Professor Wheatstone and Mr.Davy were my opponents.

They have each very ingenious inventions of their own, particularly the former, who is a man of genius and one with whom I was personally much pleased.

He has invented his, I believe, without knowing that I was engaged in an invention to produce a similar result; for, although he dates back into 1832, yet, as no publication of our thoughts was made by either, we are evidently independent of each other.