The date of the document is a fairly marked one in Victoria's reign. It was 8 weeks or so after a failed assassination attempt by John Francis and a month after a second attempt had been made on her life. Her mentor, Lord Melbourne, had been driven from power, the Whigs had been defeated in the election and Sir Robert Peel had become Prime Minister. Many of her former Whig courtiers were displaced. Victoria's household had, until this time, been largely run by her childhood governess, Baroness Louise Lehzen from Hanover.  She had become, by this time, a sort of secretary to the Queen but her influence ran far deeper. "Dear, good Lehzen" had been a formative influence on the young Victoria and she had largely replaced Victoria's mother, both in terms of influence and affection. Lehzen had opposed Coburg ambitions of Victoria marrying Albert, believing the princess to be a "second Queen Elizabeth", virgin and independent of male influence and she had also protected and supported her against the Kensington System.  Albert, however, thought that Lehzen was incompetent and that her mismanagement threatened his daughter's health. After a furious row between Victoria and Albert over the issue, Lehzen was pensioned off in 1842, and Victoria's close relationship with her ended.