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[Illustration:

  _E. Burney._        _A Dawson Ph.fc._        _C. Turner_
  _Frances Burney._
]

                              FANNY BURNEY
                            AND HER FRIENDS


                  _SELECT PASSAGES FROM HER DIARY AND
                            OTHER WRITINGS_






                               EDITED BY

                           L. B. SEELEY, M.A.

            _Sometime Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge_

                               AUTHOR OF
                     “HORACE WALPOLE AND HIS WORLD”






                             _NEW EDITION_






                                 LONDON

                         SEELEY AND CO. LIMITED

                          ESSEX STREET, STRAND

                                  1895




                               CONTENTS.


                               CHAPTER I.

                                                                    PAGE

 Birth—Parentage—The Macburneys—Early Life of Dr. Burney—Fulk       1-31
   Greville—Esther Sleepe—Lynn—Poland Street—Frances Burney’s
   Brothers and Sisters—Her Backwardness in Childhood—Her
   Mother’s Death—David Garrick—The Old Lady—The Wig-maker—
   Neglect of Fanny’s Education—Her Taste for Scribbling—
   Samuel Crisp—His Early Life—His Tragedy—Its Failure—His
   Chagrin—His Life at Hampton—His Retirement from the World—
   Crisp renews his Acquaintance with Burney—Becomes the
   Adviser of the Family—Burney’s Amiable Temper—Chesington
   Hall—Its Quaint Interior—Contrast between Fanny and her
   Elder Sister—Burney’s Second Marriage—Change of Plans—Mrs.
   Burney lectures Fanny—An _Auto da Fé_—Origin of ‘Evelina’—
   Burney takes his Doctor’s Degree—His Essay on Comets—
   Preparations for the ‘History of Music’—Musical Tour in
   France and Italy—House in Queen Square—German Tour—Fanny’s
   Occupation during his Absence—Removal to St. Martin’s
   Street—Newton’s House—The Observatory—Fanny’s Arrival at
   Womanhood

                               CHAPTER II.

 Life in St. Martin’s Street—Increase of Fame and Friends—         32-59
   Garrick’s First Call—Confusion—The Hairdresser—‘Tag-rag
   and Bobtail’—The History of Histories—Imitation of Dr.
   Johnson—The Great Roscius—Mr. Crisp’s Gout—Correspondence
   between him and Fanny—Dr. Burney’s Concerts—Abyssinian
   Bruce—Supper in St. Martin’s Street—Italian Singers—A
   Musical Evening—Visit of Count Orloff—His Stature and
   Jewels—Condescension—A Matrimonial Duet—The Empress’s
   Miniature—Jemmy Twitcher—Present State of St. Martin’s
   Street—Mr. and Mrs. Thrale—Dr. Johnson—Visit of the
   Thrales and Johnson—Appearance of Dr. Johnson—His
   Conversation—His Contempt for Music—Meeting of Dr. Johnson
   and Mr. Greville—Mrs. Thrale Defiant—Signor Piozzi

                              CHAPTER III.

 ‘Evelina’—Date of its Composition—Negotiations with               60-99
   Publishers—Dr. Burney’s Consent—Publication—Illness of the
   Author—Visit to Chesington—Her Father reads the Book—Mrs.
   Thrale and Mrs. Cholmondeley—Exciting News—Fanny’s
   Success—Nancy Dawson—The Secret told to Mr. Crisp—
   Characters in ‘Evelina’—Dinner at Streatham—Dr. Johnson—
   David Garrick—The Unclubbable Man—Curiosity as to
   Authorship of ‘Evelina’—The Bookseller in the Dark—Visits
   to the Thrales—Table Talk—Mr. Smith—Goldsmith—Johnson and
   the Scotch—Civil for Four—Sir Joshua Reynolds—Mrs.
   Montagu—Boswell—The Branghtons—Mrs. Cholmondeley—Talk with
   Sir Joshua—Is it True?—Mrs. Cholmondeley’s Whimsical
   Manner—Visit to her House—Mr. Cumberland—A Hint for a
   Comedy—A Charmed Circle—Sheridan—Not a Fair Question—
   Pressed to Write for the Stage—Flattered by Compliments

                               CHAPTER IV.

 Return to Streatham—Murphy the Dramatist—A Proposed Comedy—     100-131
   ‘The Witlings’—Adverse Judgment of Mr. Crisp and Dr.
   Burney—Fanny to Mr. Crisp—Dr. Johnson on Miss Burney—A
   Visit to Brighton—Cumberland—An Eccentric Character—Sir
   Joshua’s Prices—Tragedies—Actors and Singers—Regrets for
   the Comedy—Crisp’s Reply—The Lawrence Family at Devizes—
   Lady Miller’s Vase—The Gordon Riots—Precipitate Retreat—
   Grub Street—Sudden Death of Mr. Thrale—Idleness and Work—A
   Sister of the Craft—The Mausoleum of Julia—Progress of
   ‘Cecilia’ through the Press—Crisp’s Judgment on ‘Cecilia’—
   Johnson and ‘Cecilia’—Publication of ‘Cecilia’—Burke—His
   Letter to Miss Burney—Assembly at Miss Monckton’s—New
   Acquaintances—Soame Jenyns—Illness and Death of Crisp—Mrs.
   Thrale’s Struggles—Ill-health of Johnson—Mr. Burney
   Organist of Chelsea Hospital—Mrs. Thrale marries Piozzi—
   Last Interview with Johnson—His Death

                               CHAPTER V.

 Mrs. Delany—Her Childhood—Her First Marriage—Swift—Dr.          132-166
   Delany—The Dowager Duchess of Portland—Mrs. Delany a
   Favourite at Court—Her Flower-Work—Miss Burney’s First
   Visit to Mrs. Delany—Meets the Duchess of Portland—Mrs.
   Sleepe—Crisp—Growth of Friendship with Mrs. Delany—Society
   at her House—Mrs. Delany’s Reminiscences—The Lockes of
   Norbury Park—Mr. Smelt—Dr. Burney has an Audience of the
   King and Queen—The King’s Bounty to Mrs. Delany—Miss
   Burney Visits Windsor—Meets the King and Queen—‘Evelina’—
   Invention Exhausted—The King’s Opinion of Voltaire,
   Rousseau, and Shakespeare—The Queen and Bookstalls—
   Expectation—Journey to Windsor—The Terrace—Dr. Burney’s
   Disappointment—Proposal of the Queen to Miss Burney—Doubts
   and Fears—An Interview—The Decision—Mistaken Criticism—
   Burke’s Opinion—A Misconception—Horace Walpole’s Regret—
   Miss Burney’s Journals of her Life at Court—Sketches of
   Character—The King and Queen—Mrs. Schwellenberg—The
   Queen’s Lodge—Miss Burney’s Apartments—A Day’s Duties—
   Royal Snuff—Fictitious Names in the Diary—The Princesses—A
   Royal Birthday—A Walk on the Terrace—The Infant Princess
   Amelia

                               CHAPTER VI.

 Royal Visit to Nuneham—A Present from the Queen—Official        167-188
   Exhortations—Embarrassments at Nuneham—A Laborious Sunday—
   Hairdressing—The Court visits Oxford—Journey thither—
   Reception by the University—Address and Reply—Kissing
   Hands—Christchurch—Fatigues of the Suite—Refreshment under
   Difficulties—A Surprise—The Routine of Court Life—The
   Equerries—Draughts in the Palace—Early Prayers—
   Barley-water—The London Season—Mrs. Siddons—Mrs.
   Schwellenberg’s Apartments—Her Tame Frogs—Her Behaviour to
   Miss Burney—Cruel Treatment—A Change for the Better—
   Newspaper Reports—Conversation with the Queen—Miss Burney
   as Reader—Her Attainments, Tastes, and Power

                              CHAPTER VII.

 The Trial of Warren Hastings—Westminster Hall—Description of    189-200
   it on the Opening Day of the Trial—Edmund Burke—The other
   Managers—Procession of the Peers—Entrance of the
   Defendant—The Arraignment—Speech of Lord Chancellor
   Thurlow—Reply of Warren Hastings—Opening of the Trial—Mr.
   Windham—His Admiration of Dr. Johnson—His Reflections on
   the Spectacle—Bearing of the Lord Chancellor—Windham on
   Hastings—William Pitt—Major Scott—Conversation with
   Windham—Partisanship—Close of the First Day’s Proceedings—
   Conference on it with the Queen—Another Day at the Trial—
   Burke’s Great Speech—Resemblance between Hastings and
   Windham—Fox’s Eloquence—Death of Mrs. Delany

                              CHAPTER VIII.

 The King’s Health—Royal Visit to Cheltenham—Excursions—         201-229
   Robert Raikes—Colonel Digby—The Duke of York—The Court
   attends the Musical Festival at Worcester—Return to
   Windsor—M. de Lalande, the Astronomer—His Compliments—His
   Volubility—Illness of the King—The King grows worse—‘The
   Queen is my Physician’—Alarm and Agitation—Grief of the
   Queen—The King Insane—Arrival of the Prince of Wales—
   Paroxysm of the King at Dinner—The Queen Ill—The
   Physicians—The Royal Pair separated—The Prince takes the
   Government of the Palace—Prayers for the King’s Recovery—
   The King and his Equerries—Sir Lucas Pepys—A Privy
   Council—Preparations for leaving Windsor—Departure for
   Kew—Mournful Spectacle—Mrs. Schwellenberg arrives

                               CHAPTER IX.

 State of Kew Palace—Dr. Willis and his Son called in—           230-250
   Progress under the New Doctors—Party Spirit—The Regency
   Question—Attacks on the Queen—Fluctuations in the King’s
   State—Violence of Burke—Extraordinary Scene between the
   King and Miss Burney in Kew Gardens—Marked Improvement of
   the King—The Regency Bill postponed—The King informs Miss
   Burney of his Recovery—The Restoration—Demonstrations of
   Joy—Return to Windsor—Old Routine resumed—Reaction

                               CHAPTER X.

 Royal Visit to Weymouth—Lyndhurst—Village Loyalty—Arrival at    251-277
   Weymouth—Bathing to Music—Mrs. Gwynn—Mrs. Siddons—The
   Royal Party at the Rooms—First Sight of Mr. Pitt—The
   Marquis of Salisbury—Royal Tour—Visit to Longleat—Mrs.
   Delany—Bishop Ken—Tottenham Park—Return to Windsor—
   Progress of the French Revolution—Colonel Digby’s
   Marriage—Miss Burney’s Situation—A Senator—Tax on
   Bachelors—Reading to the Queen—Miss Burney’s Melancholy—
   Proposal for her Retirement—Her Tedious Solitude—Her
   Literary Inactivity—Her Declining Health—A Friendly Cabal—
   Windham and the Literary Club—James Boswell—Miss Burney’s
   Memorial to the Queen—Leave of Absence proposed—The Queen
   and Mrs. Schwellenberg—Serious Illness of Miss Burney—
   Discussions on her Retirement—A Day at the Hastings Trial—
   The Defence—A Lively Scene—The Duke of Clarence—Parting
   with the Royal Family—Miss Burney receives a Pension—Her
   Final Retirement

                               CHAPTER XI.

 Chelsea Hospital—Tour to Devonshire—Visit to Bath—              278-292
   Reminiscences—The Duchess of Devonshire—Return Home—
   Literary Pursuits resumed—Attempts at Tragedy—Social
   Engagements—Death of Sir Joshua Reynolds—A Public
   Breakfast at Mrs. Montagu’s—Mrs. Hastings—Mr. Boswell—
   Visit to Mrs. Crewe—The Burke Family—Meeting with Edmund
   Burke—Burke and the French Revolution—Charles Fox—Lord
   Loughborough—Mr. Erskine—His Egotism—The French Refugees
   in England—Bury St. Edmunds—Madame de Genlis—The Duke de
   Liancourt—The Settlement at Mickleham—Count de Narbonne—
   The Chevalier d’Arblay—Visit of Miss Burney to Norfolk—
   Death of Mr. Francis—Return to London

                              CHAPTER XII.

 Miss Burney at Norbury Park—Execution of the French King—       293-314
   Madame de Staël and Talleyrand at Mickleham—Miss Burney’s
   Impressions of M. d’Arblay—Proposed Marriage—Visit to
   Chesington—The Marriage takes place—A Happy Match—The
   General as Gardener—Madame d’Arblay resumes her Pen—Birth
   of a Son—‘Edwy and Elgiva’—Acquittal of Warren Hastings—
   Publishing Plans—The Subscription List—Publication of
   ‘Camilla’—Visit of the Author to Windsor—Interview with
   the King and Queen—A Compliment from their Majesties—The
   Royal Family on the Terrace—Princess Elizabeth—Great Sale
   of ‘Camilla’—Criticisms on the Work—Declension of Madame
   d’Arblay’s Style—Camilla Cottage—Wedded Happiness—Madame
   d’Arblay’s Comedy of ‘Love and Fashion’ withdrawn—Death of
   Mrs. Phillips—Straitened Circumstances—The d’Arblays go to
   France—Popularity of Bonaparte—Reception at the Tuileries
   and Review—War between England and France—Disappointments—
   Life at Passy—Difficulty of Correspondence—Madame
   d’Arblay’s Desire to return to England—Sails from Dunkirk

                              CHAPTER XIII.

 Madame d’Arblay’s Plans for her Son—Landing in England—         315-331
   Arrival at Chelsea—Saddening Change in Dr. Burney—
   Alexander d’Arblay at Cambridge—Publication of the
   ‘Wanderer’—Death of Dr. Burney—Madame d’Arblay presented
   to Louis XVIII.—M. d’Arblay appointed to the Corps de
   Gardes du Roi—Arrives in England and carries Madame back
   to France—Madame d’Arblay presented to the Duchesse
   d’Angoulême—The Hundred Days—Panic at Brussels—M. d’Arblay
   invalided—Settles in England—His Death—Remaining Days of
   Madame d’Arblay—Visit from Sir Walter Scott—The Memoirs of
   Dr. Burney—Tributes to their value—Death of Alexander
   d’Arblay—Death of Madame d’Arblay—Conclusion




                     Fanny Burney and her Friends.


                                -------




                               CHAPTER I.

Birth—Parentage—The Macburneys—Early Life of Dr. Burney—Fulk Greville—
  Esther Sleepe—Lynn—Poland Street—Frances Burney’s Brothers and
  Sisters—Her Backwardness in Childhood—Her Mother’s Death—David
  Garrick—The Old Lady—The Wig-maker—Neglect of Fanny’s Education—Her
  Taste for Scribbling—Samuel Crisp—His Early Life—His Tragedy—Its
  Failure—His Chagrin—His Life at Hampton—His Retirement from the World—
  Crisp renews his Acquaintance with Burney—Becomes the Adviser of the
  Family—Burney’s Amiable Temper—Chesington Hall—Its Quaint Interior—
  Contrast between Fanny and her Elder Sister—Burney’s Second Marriage—
  Change of Plans—Mrs. Burney lectures Fanny—An _Auto da Fé_—Origin of
  ‘Evelina’—Burney takes his Doctor’s Degree—His Essay on Comets—
  Preparations for the ‘History of Music’—Musical Tour in France and
  Italy—House in Queen Square—German Tour—Fanny’s Occupation during his
  Absence—Removal to St. Martin’s Street—Newton’s House—The Observatory—
  Fanny’s Arrival at Womanhood.


Frances Burney was born at King’s Lynn on the 13th of June, 1752. She
was the second daughter, and third child, of Dr. Charles Burney, author
of the well-known ‘History of Music,’ by Esther Sleepe, his first wife.

It has been stated,[1] we know not on what authority, that Dr. Burney
was a descendant in the fifth degree of James Macburney, a native of
Scotland, who attended King James I. when he left that country to take
possession of the English throne. The doctor himself was certainly
unacquainted with this fact, if fact it be. His grandfather and father
were each named James Macburney, but they were both born at the village
of Great Hanwood, in Shropshire, where the former inherited a
considerable estate; there was no trace in their connections of Celtic
extraction; and