Queen and Prince would receive the Addresses of the University in Trinity hall, and a procession was formed, in which I had a good place, as I claimed rank with the Professors.  A throne and canopy were erected at the top of the hall, but the Queen did not sit, which was her own determination, because if she had sat it would have been proper that everybody should back out before presenting the Address to the Prince:  which operation would have suffocated at least 100 people.  The Queen wore a blue gown and a brown shawl with an immense quantity of gold embroidery, and a bonnet.  Then it was known that the Queen was going to service at King’s Chapel at half past three:  so everybody went there.  I saw the Queen walk up the antechapel and she looked at nothing but the roof.  I was not able to see her in chapel or to see the throne erected for her with its back to the Table, which has given great offence to many people. (I should have said that before the Queen came I called on Dr Haviland, also on Scholefield, also on the Master of Christ’s.) After this she returned to Trinity, and took into her head to look at the chapel.  The cloth laid on the pavement was not long enough and the undergraduates laid down their gowns.  Several of the undergraduate noblemen carried candles to illuminate Newton’s statue.  After this the Prince went by torchlight to the library.  Then I suppose came dinner, and then it was made known that at half-past nine the Queen would receive some Members of the University.  So I rigged myself up and went to the levee at the Lodge and was presented in my turn; by the Vice-Chancellor as “Ex-Professor Airy, your Majesty’s Astronomer Royal.”  The Queen and the Prince stood together, and a bow was made to and received from each.  The Prince recognised me and said “I am glad to see you,” or something like that.  Next to him stood Goulburn, and next Lord Lyndhurst, who to my great surprise spoke very civilly to me (as I will tell you afterwards).  The Queen had her head bare and a sort of French white gown and looked very well.  She had the ribbon of the Garter on her breast; but like a ninny I forgot to look whether she had the Garter upon her arm.  The Prince wore his Garter.  I went to bed dead tired and got up with a headache.—­About the degree to the Prince and the other movements I will write again.

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Here is a note from Cubitt relating to the blasting of the Round Down Cliff at Dover referred to above: 

                                                  GREAT GEORGE STREET,
                                                  Jan. 20th, 1843.

MY DEAR SIR,

Thursday next the 26th at 12 is the time fixed for the attempt to blow out the foot of the “Round Down” Cliff near Dover.

The Galvanic apparatus has been repeatedly tried in place—­that is by exploding cartridges in the very chambers of the rock prepared for the powder—­with the batteries at 1200 feet distance they are in full form and act admirably so that I see but little fear of failure on that head.