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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6457.txt b/6457.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..89e2241 --- /dev/null +++ b/6457.txt @@ -0,0 +1,24082 @@ + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay Volume 3 +by Madame D'Arblay + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay Volume 3 + +Author: Madame D'Arblay + +Release Date: September, 2004 [EBook #6457] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on December 15, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: iso-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE DIARY AND LETTERS OF MADAME D'ARBLAY VOLUME 3 *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by Marjorie Fulton. + + + + THE DIARY AND LETTERS + OF + MADAME D'ARBLAY + (FRANCES BURNEY.) + + WITH NOTES BY W. C. WARD, + AND PREFACED BY LORD MACAULAY'S ESSAY. + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + VOL. III. + (1792-1840.) + + WITH A PORTRAIT OF GENERAL D'ARBLAY. + + LONDON AND NEW YORK: + FREDERICK WARNE AND CO. + 1892. + + 19. (1792-3) THE FRENCH POLITICAL EMIGRANTS: MISS BURNEY MARRIES +M. D'ARBLAY--11-70 + +Arrival of French Emigrants at juniper Hall--The Doctor's five +Daughters--A Visit to Arthur Young--The Duke de Liancourt's +abortive Efforts at Rouen--The Duke's Escape to England: "Pot +Portere"--Madame de Genlis's hasty Retreat--A Nobleman of the +Ancien Regime--Ducal Vivacity and Sadness--Graceful offers of +Hospitality--The Emigrants at juniper Hall described--Monsieur +d'Arblay--M. de Jaucourt: Madame de Stael--Severe Decrees against +the Emigrants--Monsieur Girardin--The Phillipses at juniper +Hall--Mystery attending M. de Narbonne's Birth--Revolutionary +Societies in Norfolk: Death of Mr. Francis--Departure of Madame +de la Chatre--Arrival of M. de la Chatre--English Feeling at the +Revolutionary Excesses--Louis XVI's Execution--A Gloomy Club +Meeting--Madame de Stael at juniper Hall--Miss Burney's +Admiration of Madame de Stael--Failing Resources--The Beginning +of the End--"This Enchanting Monsieur d'Arblay"--Talleyrand is +found charming--A Proposed Visit to Madame de Stael disapproved +of--M. de Lally Tolendal and his Tragedy--Contemplated Dispersion +of the French Colony--Madame de Stael's Words of Farewell: M. +d'Arblay--Regrets respecting Madame do Stael--M. d'Arblay's Visit +to Chesington--The Matrimonial Project is Discussed--Dr. Burney's +Objections to the Match--The Marriage takes place--Announcement +of the Marriage to a Friend. + +20. (1793-6) LOVE IN A COTTAGE: THE D'ARBLAYS VISIT WINDSOR-- +71-121 + +The French Clergy Fund: The Toulon Expedition--Madame d'Arblay on +her Marriage--Mr. Canning--Talleyrand's Letters of Adieu--M. +d'Arblay's Horticultural Pursuits--Mrs. Piozzi--M. d'Arblay as a +Gardener--A Novel and a Tragedy-- + +page vi +Hastings's Acquittal: Dr. Burney's Metastasio--Baby d'Arblay--The +withdrawn Tragedy--"Camilla"--An Invitation to the Hermitage-- +Presentation of "Camilla" at Windsor--A Conversation with the +Queen--With the Princess Royal and Princess Augusta--A Present +from the King and Queen--Curiosity regarding M. d'Arblay--The +King approves the Dedication of "Camilla"--A delicious Chat with +the Princesses--The King notices M. d'Arblay--The King and Queen +on "Camilla"--Anecdote of the Duchess of York--A Visit to Mrs. +Boscawen--The Relative Success of Madame d'Arblay's Novels--A +Contemplated Cottage--The Princess Royal's first Interview with +her Fianc`e--Opinions of the Reviews on "Camilla"--Death of +Madame d'Arblay's Stepmother--The French Emigr`es at Norbury--Dr. +Burney's depressed state--Covetous of Personal Distinction--Baby +d'Arblay again and other Matters. + +21. (1797-8) "CAMILLA" COTTAGE: SUNDRY VISITS TO THE ROYAL +FAMILY--122-169 + +A Disagreeable journey Home--Burke's Funeral at Beaconsfield-- +Death of M. d'Arblay's Brother--From Crewe Hall to Chelsea--At +Dr. Herschel's--Hospitality under Difficulties--War Taxes: +"Camilla" Cottage--Visitors arrive inopportunely-Another Visit to +the Royal Family--Interview with the Queen--The King and his +Infant Grand-daughter--Admiral Duncan's Victory--The Prince and +Princess of Orange--Some Notable Actresses--The Duke of +Clarence--Princess Sophia of Gloucester--Indignation against +Talleyrand--The d'Arblay Maisonnette--Interview with the Queen +and the Princesses--Royal Contributions towards the War-- +Invitation to the Play--Mrs Schwellenberg's Successor--Madame +d'Arblay's Little Boy at Court--His Presentation to the Queen-- +Mlle. Bachmeister produces a Favourable Impression. + +22. (1798-1802) VISITS TO OLD FRIENDS: WEST HANIBLE: DEATH OF +MRS. PHILLIPS: SOJOURN IN FRANCE--170-247 + +A Visit to Mrs. Chapone--Mrs. Boscawen, Lady Strange, and Mr. +Seward--A Mysterious Bank-Note--The new Brother-in-law: a Cordial +Professor--Precocious Master Alex--The +Page vii + +Barbaulds--Princess Amelia at juniper Hall--Death of Mr. Seward-- +Dr. Burney again visits Dr. Herschel--Dr. Burney and the King-- +Overwhelmed with the Royal Graciousness--War Rumours--Illness and +Death of Mrs. Phillips--A Princess's Condescension--Horticultural +Misfortunes--A Withdrawn Comedy--M. d'Arblay's French Property-- +Home Matters--Contemplated journey to France--M. d'Arblay's Rough +Sea Passage--Suggested Abandonment of Camilla Cottage--M. +d'Arblay's Proposed Retirement from Military Service--M. +d'Arblay's Disappointment--On the eve of Madame d'Arblay's +journey to France--In France during the Peace and subsequently-- +Arrival at Calais--"God save the King!" on French Soil--A Ramble +through the Town--Sunday on the Road to Paris--Engagements, +Occupations, and Fatigues--Aristocratic Visitors--Anxiety to see +the first Consul--At the Opera-bouffe--Difficulties respecting +Madame de Stael--Madame de Lafayette--Sight-seeing at the +Tuileries--A Good Place is Secured--M. d'Arblay's Military +Comrades--Arrival of the Troops--An Important New Acquaintance-- +Madame c'est mon Mari--Advent of the first Consul--The Parade of +Troops--A Scene--With M. d'Arblay's Relatives at joigny--Some +joigny Acquaintances--The Influenza in Paris--Rumours of War-- +"Our little Cell at Passy"--The Prince of Wales eulogized--Dr. +Burney at Bath--Affectionate Greetings to Dr. Burney--Dr. +Burney's Diploma. + +23. (1812-14) MADAME D'ARBLAY AND HER SON IN ENGLAND--248-291 + +Narrative of Madame d'Arblay's journey to London--Anxiety to see +Father and Friends--A Mild Minister of Police--Embarkation +Interdicted--A Change of Plan--A New Passport obtained-- +Commissions for London--Delay at Dunkirk--The MS. of "The +Wanderer"--Spanish Prisoners at Dunkirk--Surprised by an Officer +of Police--Interrogated at the Police Office--The "Mary Ann" +captured off Deal--joy on arriving in England--Young d'Arblay +secures a Scholarship--The Queen alarmed by a Mad Woman--Weather +Complaints: Proposed Meeting with Lord Lansdowne--A Young Girl's +entry to London Society: Madame de Sta`el--Rogers the Poet-- +Interview with Mr. Wilberforce--Intended Publication of "The +Wanderer"--General d'Arblay's wounded Comrades +Page viii + +--Death of Dr. Burney--Favourable News of M. d'Arblay--"The +Wanderer"--Madame d'Arblay's Presentation to Louis XVIII.--At +Grillon's Hotel--Grattan the Orator--A Demonstrative Irish Lady- +-Inquiries after the Duchess d'Angouleme--Preparations for the +Presentations--Arrival of Louis XVIII.--The Presentations to the +King--A Flattering Royal Reception--An important Letter Delayed-- +M. d'Arblay arrives in England--A Brilliant Assemblage--M. +d'Arblay enters Louis XVIII.'s Bodyguard. + +24. (1815) MADAME D'ARBLAY AGAIN IN FRANCE: BONAPARTE'S ESCAPE +FROM ELBA--292-333 + +An Interview with the Duchess of Angouleme--Arrival at the +Tuileries--A Mis-apprehension--A Discovery and a Rectification-- +Conversation on Madame d'Arblay's Escape and M. d'Arblay's +Loyalty--The Prince Regent the Duchess's Favourite--Narrative of +Madame d'Arblay's Flight from Paris to Brussels--Prevailing +Inertia on Bonaparte's return from Elba--Bonaparte's Advance: +Contemplated Migration from Paris--General d'Arblay's Military +Preparations--Preparations for Flight: +Leave-takings--Aristocratic Irritability--The Countess d'Auch's +Composure--Rumours of Bonaparte's near approach--Departure from +Paris at Night Time--A Halt at Le Bourget--The journey Resumed--A +Supper at Amiens with the Prefect--Reception at the Prefecture at +Arras--A Cheerful D6jeuner somewhat ruffled--A Loyal Prefect-- +Emblems of Loyalty at Douay--State of Uncertainty at Orchies--A +Mishap on the Road--A kindly offer of Shelter--Alarmed by Polish +Lancers--Arrival at Tournay--Futile Efforts to Communicate with +M. d'Arblay--Interviews with M. de Chateaubriand. + +25. (1815) AT BRUSSELS: WATERLOO: REJOINS M. D'ARBLAY--334--383 + +Sojourn at Brussels--Letters from General d'Arblay--Arrival of +General d'Arblay--A Mission entrusted to General d'Arblay--"Rule +Britannia!" in the All`ee Verte--General d'Arblay leaves for +Luxembourg--An Exchange of visits--The Fete Dieu--The Eccentric +Lady Caroline Lamb--A Proposed Royal Corps--Painful Suspense-- +Inquietude at Brussels--The Black +Page ix + +Brunswickers--The Opening of the Campaign--News from the Field of +Battle--Project for quitting Brussels--Calmly awaiting the +Result--Flight to Antwerp determined on--A Check met with--A +Captured French General--The Dearth of News--Rumours of the +French coming--French Prisoners brought in--News of Waterloo--The +Victory declared to be complete--The Wounded and the Prisoners-- +Hostilities at an end: Te Deum for the Victory--Maternal Advice-- +About the Great Battle--An Accident befalls General d'Arblay-- +Madame d'Arblay's Difficulties in rejoining her Husband--A +Friendly Reception at Cologne--From Cologne to Coblenz and +Treves--Meeting with General d'Arblay--Waiting for Leave to +return to France--Departure for Paris--A Chance View of the +Emperor of Russia--English Troops in Occupation--Leavetaking: M. +de Talleyrand. + +26. (1815-8) AT BATH AND ILFRACOMBE: GENERAL D'ARBLAY'S ILLNESS +AND DEATH--384--431 + +Arrival in England--Alexander d'Arblay: Some old Bath Friends-- +French Affairs: General d'Arblay's Health--The Escape of +Lavalette: The Streatham Portraits--Regarding Husband and Son-- +Maternal Anxieties--Advantages of Bath: Young d'Arblay's Degree-- +Playful Reproaches and Sober Counsel--Preparations for leaving +Bath--Installed at Ilfracombe--A Captured Spanish Ship--The +Spanish Captain's Cook--Ships in Distress--Young d'Arblay's +Tutor--General d'Arblay's Ill-health--Particulars of Ilfracombe-- +Young d'Arblay's Aversion to Study--A Visit from the first Chess +Player in England--A Coast Ramble in search of Curiosities-- +Caught, by the Rising Tide--Efforts to reach a place of safety--A +Signal of Distress--Little Diane--Increasing Danger--The Last +Wave of the Rising Tide--Arrival of Succour--Meeting between +Mother and Son--General d'Arblay's return to England--The +Princess Charlotte's Death--The Queen and Princesses at Bath-- +News arrives of the Princess Charlotte's Death--An old +Acquaintance: Serious Illness of General d'Arblay--The General's +First Attack: Delusive Hopes--General d'Arblay presented to the +Queen--Gloomy Forebodings--Presents from the Queen and Princess +Elizabeth--The General receives the Visit of a Priest--The Last +Sacrament Administered--Farewell Words of Counsel--The End +Arrives. +Page x + +27. (1818-40) YEARS OF WIDOWHOOD: DEATH OF MADAME D'ARBLAY'S SON: +HER OWN DEATH--435--458 + +Mournful Reflections--Visits received and Letters penned--Removal +from Bath to London--Death of the Queen: Sketch of her Character- +-Madame d'Arblay's Son is Ordained--With some Royal Highnesses-- +Queen Caroline--Gossip from an Old Friend, and the Reply--More +Gossip--Ill-health of the Rev. A. d'Arblay: Dr. Burney's MSS.--A +last Gossiping Letter--Death of Mrs. Piozzi--Mrs. Piozzi compared +with Madame de Stael--Sister Hetty--Official Duties Temporarily +Resumed--The Rev. A. d'Arblay named Lent Preacher--Madame +d'Arblay's Health and Occupation--Destroyed Correspondence--The +Princess and the Rev. A. d'Arblay--A Visit from Sir Walter +Scott--Memoirs of Dr. Burney--Deaths of Hester Burney and Mrs. +Locke--Death of the Rev. A. d'Arblay--Death of Madame d'Arblay's +sister Charlotte--Illness and Death of Madame d'Arblay. + + +INDEX--459-480Page 11 + SECTION 19. + (1792-3) + + THE FRENCH POLITICAL EMIGRANTS: + MISS BURNEY MARRIES M. D'ARBLAY. + +[The following section must be pronounced, from the historical +point of view, one of the most valuable in the " Diary." It gives +us authentic glimpses of some of the actors in that great +Revolution, "the Death-Birth of a new order," which was getting +itself transacted, with such terrible accompaniments, across the +channel. The refugees with whom Fanny grew acquainted, and who +formed the little colony at juniper Hall, near Dorking, were not +the men of the first emigration--princes and nobles who fled +their country, like cowards, as soon as they found themselves in +danger, and reentered it like traitors, in the van of a foreign +invasion. Not such were the inmates of Juniper Hall. These were +constitutional monarchists, men who had taken part with the +people in the early stage of the Revolution, who had been +instrumental in making the Constitution, and who had sought +safety in flight only when the Constitution was crushed and the +monarchy abolished by the triumph of the extreme party. To the +grands seigneurs of the first emigration, these constitutional +royalists, were scarcely less detestable than the jacobins +themselves. + +A few leading facts and dates will perhaps assist the reader to a +clearer understanding of the situation. September 1791, the +French Assembly, having finished its work of Constitution-making, +and the said [Constitution being accepted by the king, retires +gracefully, and the new Assembly, constitutionally elected, +meets, October 1. But the Constitution, ushered in with such +rejoicings, proves a failure. The king has the right to veto the +acts of the Assembly, and he exerts that right with a vengeance +:--vetoes their most urgent decrees: decree against the emigrant +noblesse, plotting, there at Coblenz, the downfall of their +country; decree against nonjuring priests, intriguing endlessly +against the Constitution. Patriot-Minister Roland remonstrates +with his majesty, and the patriotic ministry is forthwith +dismissed. Meanwhile distress and + +Page 12 + +disorder are everywhere, and emigration is on the increase +Abroad, Austria and Prussia are threatening invasion, and the +emigrants at Coblenz are clamorous for war. War with Austria is +declared, April 20, 1792; war with Prussia follows three months +later; England remaining still neutral. One of our friends of +juniper Hall, Madame de Stal's friend, Count Louis de Narbonne, +has been constitutional minister of war, but had to retire in +March, when the popular ministry--Roland's--came into office. It +is evident that the king and the Assembly cannot act together; +nay, the king himself feels the impossibility of it, and is +already setting his hopes on foreign interference, secretly +corresponding with Austria and Prussia. The people of Paris, +too, feel the impossibility, and are setting their hopes on +something very different. The monarchy must go; jacobins' +club(1) and men of the Gironde, afterwards at death- grapple with +one another, are now united on this point; they, and not a +constitutional government, are the true representatives of Paris +and of France. + +A year ago, July 1791, the people of Paris, demanding the +deposition of the king, were dispersed by General Lafayette with +volleys of musketry. But Lafayette's popularity and power are +now gone. "The hero of two worlds," as he was called, was little +more than a boy when he fought under Washington, in the cause of +American independence. Animated by the same love of liberty +which had carried him to America, Lafayette took part in the +early movements of the French Revolution. In 1789, after the +fall of the Bastille, he was commander of the national guard, and +one of the most popular men in France. A high-minded man, full +of sincerity, of enthusiasm: "Cromwell Grandison," Mirabeau +nicknamed him. Devoted to the Constitution, Lafayette was no +friend to the extreme party, to the jacobins, with their Danton, +their Robespierre. He had striven for liberty, but for liberty +and monarchy combined; and the two things were fast becoming +irreconcilable. And now, in July 1792, distrusted alike by the +Court and the people, Lafayette sits sad at Sedan, in the midst +of his army. War has already commenced, with a desultory and +unsuccessful attack by the French upon the Austrian Netherlands. +But the real struggle is now approaching. Heralded by an insolent +proclamation, the Duke of Brunswick is marching from Coblenz with +more than a hundred thousand Prussians, Austrians, and emigrants +; and General Lafayette, alas ! appears more bent upon denouncing +jacobinism than upon defending the frontier. + + +The country is indeed in danger. With open hostility advancing +from without, doubt and suspicion fermenting within, Paris at +last rises in good earnest, August 10, 1792. This is the answer +to Brunswick's insolent proclamation. Paris attacks the +Tuileries, King Louis and his family taking refuge in the +Assembly; captures the Tuileries, not without terrible loss, the +brave Swiss guard + +Page 13 + +standing steadfast to their posts, and getting, the greater part +of them, massacred. Yielding to the demands of the people, the +Assembly passes decrees suspending the king, dismissing the +ministers, and convoking a National Convention. This was the +work of the famous 10th of August, the birthday of the French +Republic. on the 13th August the royal family is sent to the +prison of the Temple from whence the king and the queen, unhappy +Marie Antoinette, will come forth only to trial and execution. A +new patriotic ministry is formed--Rolan again minister of the +interior, Danton, the soul of the insurrection, minister of +justice; a tribunal is appointed) and the prisons of Paris are +filled with persons suspect. Executions follow; but the tribunal +makes not quick enough work. Austrians and Prussians are +advancing towards Paris; in Paris itself thousands of +aristocrats, enemies to their country, are lying hid, ready to +join the foreign foes. + +In these desperate straits, Paris, at least sansculotte Paris, +frenzied and wild for vengeance, falls upon the mad expedient of +massacring the prisoners: more than a thousand suspected +royalists are slaughtered, after brief improvised Trial or +pretence of trial; or even without trial at all. This butchery +is known as the "September massacres" (Sept. 2-6, 1792), infamous +in history, heartily approved by few, perhaps, even of the more +violent Republicans; indignantly denounced by Rowland and the +less violent, powerless, nevertheless, to interfere, Paris being +"in death-panic, the enemy and gibbets at its door."(2) Sept. +22, the Legislative Assembly having +Dissolved, the National Convention holds its first meeting and +proclaims the Republic: royalty for ever abolished in France. + + + Among the feelings, with which the news of these events are +received in England, horror predominates. Still the Government +takes no decisive step. The English ambassador in Paris, Lord +Gower, is indeed recalled, in consequence of the events of August +10, but the French ambassador, Chauvelin, yet remains in London, +although unrecognised in an official capacity after the +deposition of Louis. War is in the wind, and, although Fox and +many members of the opposition earnestly deprecate any hostile +interference in the affairs of the Republic, a strong contingent +of the Whig party, headed by Burke, is not less earnest in their +efforts to make peace with France impossible. Pitt, indeed, is in +favour of neutrality, but Pitt is forced to give way at last. +Meanwhile, the popular feeling in favour of the royalists is +being heightened and extended by the constant influx of French +refugees. Thousands of the recalcitrant clergy, especially, with +no king's veto now to protect them, are seeking safety, in +England. Many adherents of the Constitution, too, ex-members of +the Assembly and others, are fleeing hither from a country +intolerant of monarchists, even constitutional; establishing +themselves at juniper Hall and elsewhere. Among them we note the +Duke de Liancourt, whose escape the +reader will find related in the following pages; Count de Lally- + +Page 14 + +Tollendal and M. de jaucourt, saved, both, by - good fortune, +from the September massacres ; Vicomte de Montmorency, or call +him citoyen, who voted for the abolition of titles; ex-minister +of war Narbonne, concealed after August 10 by Madame de Stael, +and escaping disguised as a servant; and presently, too, Madame +de Stael herself; and last, but not least interesting to readers +of the Diary, General Alexandre dArblay, whom Fanny will before +long fall in love with and marry. +One person, too, there is, more noteworthy, or at least more +prominent in history, than any of these, whom Fanny meets at +Mickleham, whom she dislikes instinctively at first sight, but +whose plausible speech and ingratiating manners soon make a +convert of her. + +This is citizen Talleyrand--Charles Maurice de +Talleyrand-Prigord, Bishop of Autun. He, too, is now an +emigrant, although he came to England in a far different +character, as secret ambassador from the Constitutional +Government of France ; citizen Chauvelin being the nominal +ambassador. On the whole, Talleyrand's diplomacy has not been +productive of much good, to himself or others. Back in Paris +before the 10th of August, he returned to London in September +with a passport from Danton. A questionable man; some think him a +jacobin, others a royalist in disguise. And now, while he is in +London, there is talk of him in the Convention : citizen +Talleyrand, it seems, has professed himself " disposed to serve +the king ;" whereupon (December 5, 1792) citizen Talleyrand is +decreed accused, and his name is inscribed on the list of +emigrants. + +We must turn once again to France. At Sedan, in a white heat of +indignation on the news of that 10th of August, constitutional +(sic) Lafayette emits a proclamation : the Constitution is +destroyed, the king a prisoner: let us march for Paris and +restore them! There is hope at first, that the army will follow +Lafayette, but hope tells a flattering tale : the soldiers, it +seems, care more for their country than for the Constitution. +Lafayette sees that all is lost ; rides (August 18) for Holland +with a few friends, of whom General d'Arblay is one; intends to +take passage thence for America, but falls, instead, into the +hands of the Austrians, and spends the next few years imprisoned +in an Austrian fortress. General d'Arblay, after a few days, is +allowed to proceed to England. + +Lafayette gone, the command of the army falls to General +Dumouriez. Brunswick with his Prussians and emigrants, Clairfait +with his Austrians, are now in France; advancing upon Paris. They +take Longwy and Verdun; try to take Thonville and Lille, but +cannot; and find Dumouriez and his sansculottes, there in the +passes of Argonne, the "Thermopylae of France," an unexpectedly +hard nut to crack. In fact, the nut is not to be cracked at all: +Dumouriez, " more successful than Leonidas," flings back the +invasion; compels the invaders to evacuate France; and in +November, assuming the offensive, conquers the whole Austrian +Netherlands. Meantime, in the south-east, the war in + +Page 15 + +which the Republic is engaged with the King of Sardinia +progresses also favourably, and Savoy and Nice are added to the +French territory. Europe may arm, but a people fighting for an +ideal is not to be crushed. France has faith in her ideal of +liberty and fraternity, questionable or worse though some of the +methods are by which she endeavours to realise it. But Danton is +right: "il nous faut de l'audace, et encore de l'audace, et +toujours de l'audace;" and with superb audacity the Republic +defies the armed powers of Europe, decrees (November 19) +assistance to every nation that will strike a blow for freedom, +and cast off its tyrants. A yet more daring act of defiance +follows--tragic to all men, unspeakably horrible to Fanny Burney +and all friends of monarchy, constitutional or other. In December +1792, poor King Louis is tried before the National Convention, +found guilty of "conspiring against liberty;" condemned to death +by a majority of votes; in January, executed January 21. It is +even as Danton said in one of his all-too gigantic figures 'the +coalesced kings threaten us; we hurl at their feet, as gage of +battle, the Head of a King."' (3) +Louis's kinsman, profligate Philippe Egalit, ci-devant Duc +d'Orlans, votes for death; before another year has passed he +himself will have perished by the guillotine. In England, war is +resolved upon; even Pitt sees not how it can be avoided. January +24, ambassador Chauvelin is ordered to quit England within eight +days; Talleyrand remaining yet another year. Spain, too, is +arming, and Holland is England's ally. War being inevitable, the +Republic determines to be first in the field; declares war on +England and Holland, February 1, 1793, and on Spain, March +7.-ED.] + + ARRIVAL OF FRENCH EMIGRANTS AT JUNIPER HALL. + +August 1792. Our ambassador is recalled from France +Russia has declared war against that wretched kingdom. But it may +defy all outward enemies to prove in any degree destructive in +comparison with its lawless and barbarous inmates. We shall soon +have no authentic accounts from Paris, as no English are expected +to remain after the ambassador, and no French will dare to write, +in such times of pillage, what may carry them la lanterne.(4) + +Page 16 + +(Mrs. Phillips to Fanny Burney.) +Mickleham, September 1792. +We shall shortly, I believe, have a little colony of unfortunate +(or rather) fortunate, since here they are safe) French noblesse +in our neighbourhood. Sunday evening Ravely informed Mr. Locke +that two or three families had joined to take Jenkinson's house, +juniper Hall, and that another family had taken a small house at +Westhamble, which the people very reluctantly let, upon the +Christian-like supposition that, being nothing but French +papishes, they would never pay. Our dear Mr. Locke, while this +was agitating, sent word to the landlord that he would be +answerable for the rent ; however, before this message arrived, +the family were admitted. The man said they had pleaded very hard +indeed, and said, if he did but know the distress they had been +in, he would not hesitate. + +This house is taken by Madame de Broglie, daughter of the +mareschal, who is in the army with the French princes;(5) or, +rather, wife to his son, Victor Broglie, till very lately general +of one of the French armies, and at present disgraced, and fled +nobody knows where. This poor lady came over in an open boat, +with a son younger than my Norbury, and was fourteen hours at +sea. She has other ladies with her, and gentlemen, and two little +girls, who had been sent to England some weeks ago; they are all +to lodge in a sort of cottage, containing only a kitchen and +parlour on the ground floor. + +I long to offer them my house, 'and have been much gratified by +finding Mr. Locke immediately determined to visit them; his +taking this step will secure them the civilities, at least, of +the other neighbours. + +At Jenkinson's are-la Marquise de la Chtre, whose husband is +with the emigrants; her son; M. de Narbonne, lately ministre de +la guerre;(6) M. de Montmorency; Charles or Theodore Lameth; +Jaucourt; and one or two more, whose names I have forgotten, are +either arrived to-day, or expected. I feel infinitely interested +for all these persecuted persons. Pray tell me whatever you hear +of M. de Liancourt, etc. Heaven bless you! + +Page 17 + + THE DOCTOR'S FIVE DAUGHTERS. + +(Fanny Burney to Dr. Burney.) +Halstead, October 2, '92. +My dearest padre,-I have just got your direction, in a letter +from my mother, and an account that you seem to be in health and +spirits; so now I think it high time to let you know a little +about some of your daughters, lest you should forget you have any +such incumbrances. + +In the first place, two of them, Esther and F. B., had a safe and +commodious journey hither, in the midst of pattering showers and +cloudy skies, making up as well as they could for the +deficiencies of the elements by the dulcet recreation of the +concord of sweet sounds ; not from tabrets and harps, but from +the harmony of hearts with tongues. + +In the second place, a third of them, Charlotte F., writes word +her caro sposo has continued very tolerably well this last +fortnight, and that she still desires to receive my visit +according to the first appointment. + +In the third place, a fourth of them, Sarah, is living upon +French politics and with French fugitives, at Bradfield,(7) where +she seems perfectly satisfied with foreign forage. + +In the fourth place, Susanna, another of them, sends cheering +histories of herself and her tribe, though she concludes them +with a sighing ejaculation of "I wish I did not know there was +such a country as France !" + + + + A VISIT To ARTHUR YOUNG.(8) + +Oct. 5.-I left Halstead, and set off, alone, for Bradfield Hall, +which was but one stage of nineteen miles distant. Sarah,(9) who +was staying with her aunt, Mrs. Young, expected + +Page 18 + +me, and came running out before the chaise stopped at the door, +and Mr. Young following, with both hands full of French +newspapers. He welcomed me with all his old spirit and +impetuosity, exclaiming his house never had been so honoured +since its foundation, nor ever could be again, unless I +re-visited it in my way back, even though all England came in the +meantime! + +Do you not know him well, my Susan, by this opening rodomontade? + +"But where," cried he, "is Hetty? O that Hetty! Why did you not +bring her with you? That wonderful creature! I have half a mind +to mount horse, and gallop to Halstead to claim her! What is +there there to merit her? What kind of animals have you left her +with? Anything capable of understanding her?" + +During this we mounted up-stairs, into the dining-room. Here all +looked cold and comfortless, and no Mrs. Young appeared. I +inquired for her, and heard that her youngest daughter, Miss +Patty, had just had a fall from her horse, which had bruised her +face, and occasioned much alarm. + +The rest of the day we spoke only of French politics. Mr. Young +is a severe penitent of his democratic principles, and has lost +even all pity for the constituants rvolutionnaires, who had +"taken him in" by their doctrines, but cured him by their +practice, and who "ought better to have known what they were +about before they presumed to enter into action." + +Even the Duc de Liancourt,(11) who was then in a small house at +Bury, merited, he said, all the personal misfortunes that had +befallen him. "I have real obligations to him," he added, "and +therefore I am anxious to show him respect, and do him any +service, in his present reverse of fortune; but he has brought it +all on himself, and, what is worse; on his country." + +He wrote him, however, a note to invite him to dinner the next +day. The duke wrote an answer, that lamented excessively being +engaged to meet Lord Euston, And dine with the Bury aldermen. + +Page 19 + + THE DUKE DE LIANCOURT'S ABORTIVE EFFORTS AT ROUEN. + +I must now tell you the history of this poor duke's arriving in +England, for it involves a revival of loyalty-an effort to make +some amends to his unhappy sovereign for the misery into which he +had largely contributed to plunge him; which, with me, has made +his peace for ever. + + But first I should tell, he was the man who almost compelled the +every-way- deluded Louis to sanction the National Assembly by his +presence when first it resisted his orders. The queen and all her +party were strongly against the measure, and prophesied it would +be the ruin of his authority; but the duke, highly ambitious of +fame, as Mr. Young describes him, +and willing to sacrifice everything to the new systems then +pervading all France, suddenly rushed into his closet, upon the +privilege of being one of the five or seven pairs de France(12) +who have that licence, and, with a strong and forcible eloquence, +declared nothing but his concession would save the nation from a +civil war; while his entering, unarmed, into the National +Assembly, would make him regarded for ever as the father and +saviour of his people, and secure him the powerful sovereignty of +the grateful hearts of all his subjects. + +He succeeded, and the rest is public. + +This incident has set all the Coblenz(13) party utterly and for +ever against the duke. He had been some time in extreme anguish +for the unhappy king, whose ill-treatment on the 20th of June +1792,(14) reached him while commandant at Rouen. He then first +began to see, that the monarch or the jacobins must inevitably +fall, and he could scarce support the prospect of ultimate danger +threatening the former. When the news reached him of the bloody +10th of August, a plan which for some time he had been forming, +of gaining over his regiment to the service of the king, was +rendered abortive. Yet all his officers except One had promised +to join in any enterprise for their insulted master. He had +hoped to get the king to + +Page 20 + +Rouen under this protection, as I gather, though this matter has +never wholly transpired, But the king could not be persuaded to +trust any one. How should he?--especially a revolutionnaire? + + +No time now was to be lost, and, in his first impetuosity of rage +and despair, he instantly summoned his officers and his troops ; +and, in the midst of them all, upon the parade or place of +assembling, he took off his hat, and called out aloud, "Vive le +roi!" + + +His officers echoed the sound, all but one!--yet not a soldier +joined. Again be waved his hat, and louder and louder called +out, "Vive le roi!" And then every soldier repeated it after him. + + +Enchanted with hope, he felt one exulting moment, when this +single dissentient officer called out aloud, as soon as the loyal +cry was over, "As an officer of the nation I forbid this!--Vive +la nation!" + +The duke instantly had the man arrested, and retired to his +apartment to compose his excess agitation, and consider how to +turn this promise of loyalty to the service of his now imprisoned +king; but, in a short time, an officer strongly attached to him +entered the room hastily, and cried, "Sauvez +vous, M. de Liancourt!(15)--be speedy! the jacobin party of Rouen +have heard of your indiscretion and a price is this moment set +upon your head!" + +The duke knew too well with whom he had to act for a moment's +hesitation. To serve the king was now impossible, as he had but +to appear in order to be massacred. He could only save his own +life by flight. + + + + THE DUKE'S ESCAPE To ENGLAND: "POT PORTERE." + +In what manner he effected his escape out of Rouen he has never +mentioned. I believe he was assisted by those who, remaining +behind, could only be named to be torn in pieces for their +humanity. M. Jamard, a French priest, tells me no human being +knows when or how he got away, and none suspected him to be gone +for two days. He went first to Abbeville there, for two days, he +appeared everywhere, walking about in his regimentals, and +assuming an air of having nothing to apprehend. This succeeded, +as his indiscretion had not yet spread at Abbeville; but, +meanwhile, a + +Page 21 + +youth whom he had brought up from a child, and on whose fond +regard and respect he could rely, was employed in seeking him the +means of passing over to England. This was infinitely difficult, +as he was to leave France without any passport. + +How he quitted Abbeville I know not; but he was in another town, +near the coast, three days, still waiting for a safe conveyance; +and here, finding his danger increased greatly by delay, he went +to some common house, without dress or equipage or servants that +could betray him, and spent his whole time in bed, under pretence +of indisposition, to avoid being seen. + +At length his faithful young groom succeeded; and he got, at +midnight, into a small boat, with only two men. He had been taken +for the King of France by one, who had refused to convey him ; +and some friend, who assisted his escape, was forced to get him +off, at last, by holding a pistol to the head of his conductor, +and protesting he would shoot him through and through, if he made +further demur, or spoke aloud. It was dark, and midnight. + +Both he and his groom planted themselves in the bottom of the +boat, and were covered with fagots, lest any pursuit should ensue +: and thus wretchedly they were suffocated till they thought +themselves at a safe distance from France. The poor youth then, +first looking up, exclaimed, "Ah! nous sommes perdus!(16) they +are carrying us back to our own country!" The duke started up; he +had the same opinion, but thought opposition vain; he charged him +to keep silent and quiet; and after about another league, they +found this, at least, a false alarm, owing merely to a thick fog +or mist. + +At length they landed--at Hastings, I think. The boatman had his +money, and they walked on to the nearest public-house. The duke, +to seem English, called for "pot portere." It was brought him, +and he drank it off in two draughts, his drought being extreme ; +and he called for another instantly. That also, without any +suspicion or recollection of consequences, was as hastily +swallowed; and what ensued he knows not. He was intoxicated, and +fell into a profound sleep. His groom helped the people of the +house to carry him upstairs and put him to bed. How long he +slept he knows not, but he woke in the middle of the night +without the smallest consciousness of where he was, or what had +happened. +' + +Page 22 + +France alone was in his head-France and its horrors, which +nothing-not even English porter and intoxication and sleep - +could drive away. + +He looked round the room with amaze at first, and soon after with +consternation. It was so unfurnished, so +miserable, so lighted with only one small bit of a candle, that +it occurred to him he was in a maison de force(17) '- thither +conveyed in his sleep. The stillness of +everything confirmed this dreadful idea. He arose, slipped on his +clothes, and listened at the door. He heard no sound. He was +scarce, yet, I suppose, quite awake, for he took the candle, and +determined to make an attempt to escape. + +Down-stairs he crept, neither hearing nor making any noise and he +found himself in a kitchen ' he looked round, and the brightness +of a shelf of pewter plates struck his eye under them were pots +and kettles shining and polished. "Ah! "? cried he to himself, +"je suis en Angleterre."(18) The recollection came all at once +at sight of a cleanliness which, in these articles, he says, is +never met with in France. + +He did not escape too soon, for his first cousin, the good Duc de +la Rochefoucault, another of the first +rvolutionnaires, was massacred the next month.(19) The +character he has given of this murdered relation is the most +affecting, in praise and virtues, that can possibly be +heard. k Sarah has heard him till she could not keep the tears +from her eyes. They had been lves(20) together, and loved each +other as the tenderest brothers. + + + + MADAME DE GENLIS'S HASTY RETREAT. + +You will all be as sorry as I was myself to hear that every ill +story of la Comtesse de Genlis was confirmed by the +duke. + +Page 23 + +She was resident at Bury, when he arrived, with Mlle. +Egalit, Pamela, Henrietta Circe, and several others, who +appeared in various ways, as artists, gentlemen, domestics, and +equals, on various occasions. The history of their way of life +is extraordinary, and not very comprehensible, probably owing to +the many necessary difficulties which the new 'system of equality +produces.(21) + +A lady of Bury, a sister of Sir Thomas Gage, had been very much +caught by Madame Brulard,(22) who had almost +lived at the house of Sir Thomas. Upon the arrival of the duke he +was invited to Sir Thomas Gage's immediately; and Miss G, calling +upon Madame Brulard, mentioned him, and +asked if she knew him?--No, she answered; but she had seen him. +This was innocently repeated to the duke, who then, in a +transport of rage, broke out with "Elle M'a vu!(23) and is that +all?--Does she forget that she has spoke to me? that she has +heard me too? " And then he related, that when all was wearing +the menacing aspect of anarchy, before it broke out, and before +he was ordered to his regiment at Rouen, he had desired an +audience of Madame Brulard, for the first +time, having been always a friend of Madame d'Orlans, and +consequently her enemy. She was unwilling to see him, but he +would not be refused. He then told her that France was upon the +point of ruin, and that the Duc d'Orlans, who had been its +destruction, and "the disgrace of the Revolution," could alone +now prevent the impending havoc. He charged her +therefore, forcibly and peremptorily, to take in charge a change +of measures, and left her with an exhortation which he then +flattered himself would have some chance of averting the coming +dangers. But quickly -after she quitted France voluntarily, and +settled in England. "And can she have +forgot all this ?" cried he. + +I know not if this was repeated to Madame de Brulard but +certain it is she quitted Bury with the utmost expedition, She +did not even wait to pay her debts, and left the poor Henrietta +Circe behind, as a sort of hostage, to prevent +alarm. The creditors, however, finding her actually gone, +entered the house, and poor Henrietta was terrified into +hysterics. Probably she knew not but they were jacobins, or +would act upon jacobin principles. Madame Brulard then + +Page 24 + +sent for her, and remitted money, and proclaimed her +intention of returning to Suffolk no more. + + A NOBLEMAN OF THE ANCIEN RGIEM. + +The duke accepted the invitation for to-day, and came early, on +horseback. He had just been able to get over some two or three of +his horses from France. He has since, I hear, been forced to sell +them. + +Mrs. Young was not able to appear; Mr. Young came to my room door +to beg I would waste no time; Sarah and I, therefore, proceeded +to the drawing-room. The duke was playing with a favourite +dog-the thing probably the most dear to him in +England; for it was just brought him over by his faithful groom, +whom he had sent back upon business to his son. + +He is very tall, and, were his figure less, would be too +fat, but all is in proportion. His face, which is very +handsome, though not critically so, has rather a haughty +expression when left to itself, but becomes soft and +spirited in turn, according to whom he speaks, and has great play +and variety. His deportment is quite +noble, and in a style to announce conscious rank even to the most +sedulous equaliser. His carriage is peculiarly upright, and his +person uncommonly well made. His manners are such as only admit +of comparison with what We have read, not what we have seen; for +he has all the air of a man who would wish to lord over men, but +to cast himself at the feet of women. + +He was in mourning for his barbarously murdered cousin the Duc de +la Rochefoucault. His first address was of the +highest style. I shall not attempt to recollect his words, but +they were most elegantly expressive of his satisfaction in a +meeting he had long, he said, desired. + +With Sarah he then shook hands. She had been his +interpretess here on his arrival, and he seems to have +conceived a real kindness for her; an honour of which she is +extremely sensible, and with reason. + +A little general talk ensued, and he made a point of curing Sarah +of being afraid of his dog. He made no secret of +thinking it affectation, and never rested till he had +conquered it completely. I saw here, in the midst of all that at +first so powerfully struck me of dignity, +importance, and high-breeding, a true French Polisson; for he +called the dog round her, made it jump on her shoulder, and +amused himself as, + +Page 25 + +in England, only a schoolboy or a professed fox-hunter would have +dreamt of doing. + +This, however, recovered me to a little ease, which his +compliment had rather overset. Mr. Young hung back, nearly quite +silent. Sarah was quiet when reconciled to the dog, or, rather, +subdued by the duke; and then, when I thought it completely out +of his head, he tranquilly drew a chair next mine, and began a +sort of separate conversation, which he suffered nothing to +interrupt till we were summoned to +dinner. + +His subject was 'Cecilia;' and he seemed not to have the +smallest idea I could object to discussing it, any more than if +it had been the work of another person. I answered all his +demands and interrogatories with a degree of openness I have +never answered any other upon this topic; but the least hope of +beguiling the misery of an migr tames me. + +Mr. Young listened with amaze, and all his ears, to the many +particulars and elucidations which the duke drew from me; he +repeatedly called out he had heard nothing of them before, and +rejoiced he was at least present when they were +communicated. + +This proved, at length, an explanation to the duke himself, that, +the moment he understood, made him draw back, saying, "Peut-tre +que je suis indiscret?"(24) However, he soon +returned to the charge - and when Mr. Young made any more +exclamations, he heeded them not: he smiled, indeed, when Sarah +also affirmed he had procured accounts she had never heard +before; but he has all the air of a man not new to any mark of +more than common favour. +At length we were called to dinner, during which he spoke of +general things. + + + +DUCAL VIVACITY AND SADNESS. + +The French of Mr. Young, at table, was very comic ; he never +hesitates for a word, but puts English wherever he is at a loss, +with a mock French pronunciation. "Monsieur Duc," as he calls +him, laughed once or twice, but clapped him on the back, called +him "un brave homme," and gave him instruction as well as +encouragement in all his blunders. + +When the servants were gone, the duke asked me if anybody might +write a letter to the king? I fancy he had some per- + +Page 26 + +sonal idea of this kind. I told him yes, but through the hands +of a lord of the bedchamber, or some state officer, or a +minister. He seemed pensive, but said no more. + +He inquired, however, if I had not read to the queen and seemed +to wish to understand my office; but here he was far more +circumspect than about 'Cecilia.' He has lived so much in a +Court, that he knew exactly how far he might +inquire with the most scrupulous punctilio. + +I found, however, he had imbibed the jacobin notion that our +beloved king was still disordered; for, after some talk upon his +illness, and very grave and proper expressions +concerning the affliction and terror it produced in the +kingdom, he looked at me very fixedly,, and, with an arching +brow, said, "Mais, mademoiselle--aprs tout--le roi--est il bien +guri?"(25) + +I gave him such assurances as he could not doubt, from their +simplicity, which resulted from their truth. + +Mr. Young would hardly let Sarah and me retreat; however, we +promised to meet soon to coffee. I went away full of concern for +his injuries, and fuller of amazement at the +vivacity with which he bore them. + +When at last we met in the drawing-room, I found the duc all +altered. Mr. Young had been forced away by business, and was but +just returned, and he had therefore been left a few +minutes by himself; the effect was visible, and extremely +touching. Recollections and sorrow had retaken possession of his +mind; and his spirit, his vivacity, his power of +rallying were all at an end. He was strolling about the +room with an air the most gloomy, and a face that +looked enveloped in clouds of sadness and +moroseness. There was a fiert almost even fierce in his air and +look, as, wrapped in himself, he continued his walk. I felt now +an increasing compassion:--what must he not suffer when he ceases +to fight with his calamities! Not to disturb him we talked with +one another; but he soon shook himself and joined us; though he +could not bear to sit down, or +stand a moment in a place. + + + +"CETTE COQUINE DE BRULARD." + +Sarah spoke of Madame Brulard, and, in a little malice, to draw +him out, said her sister knew her very well. The duc " + +Page 27 + +with eyes of fire at the sound, came up to me: "Comment, +mademoiselle! vous avez connu cette coquine de Brulard?"(26) And +then he asked me what I had thought of her. + +I frankly answered that I had thought her charming; gay, +intelligent, well-bred, well-informed, and amiable. + +He instantly drew back, as if sorry he had named her so +roughly, and looked at Sally for thus surprising him; but I +immediately continued that I could now no longer think the same +of her, as I could no longer esteem her; but I +confessed my surprise had been inexpressible at her +duplicity. + +'He allowed that, some years ago, she might have a better chance +than now of captivation - for the deeper she had +immersed in politics, the more she had forfeited of feminine +attraction. "Ah!" he cried, " with her talents-her +knowledge-her parts-had she been modest, reserved, gentle, what a +blessing might she have proved to her country! but she is devoted +to intrigue and cabal, and proves its curse." +He then spoke with great asperity against all the femmes de +lettres now known; he said they were commonly the most +disgusting of their sex, in France, by their arrogance, +boldness, and mauvais moeurs. + + + + GRACEFUL OFFERS OF HOSPITALITY. + +I inquired if Mr. Young had shown him a letter from the Duke of +Grafton, which he had let me read in the morning. It was to +desire Mr. Young would acquaint him if the Duc de +Liancourt was still in Bury, and, if so, to wait upon him, in the +Duke of Grafton's name, to solicit him to make Euston his abode +while in England, and to tell him that he should have his +apartments wholly unmolested, and his time wholly unbroken; that +he was sensible, in such a situation of mind, he must covet much +quiet and freedom from interruption and impertinence; and he +therefore promised that, if he would honour his house with his +residence, it should be upon the same terms as if he were in an +hotel-that he would never +know if he were at home or abroad, or even in town or in the +country - and he hoped the Duc de Liancourt would make no more +scruple of accepting such an asylum and retreat at his house than +he would himself have done of accepting a similar + +Page 28 + +one from the duke in France, if the misfortunes of his own +country had driven him to exile. + +I was quite in love with the Duke of Grafton for this +kindness. The Duc de Liancourt bowed to my question, and +seemed much gratified with the invitation; but I see he +cannot brook obligation; he would rather live in a garret, and +call it his own. He told me, however, with an air of +some little pleasure, that he had received just such another +letter from Lord Sheffield. I believe both these noblemen had +been entertained at Liancourt some years ago. + +I inquired after Madame la duchesse, and I had the +satisfaction to hear she was safe in Switzerland. The duke told +me she had purchased an estate there. + +He inquired very particularly after your juniper colony, and M. +de Narbonne, but said he most wished to meet with M. +d'Arblay, who was a friend and favourite of his eldest son. + + + + THE EMIGRANTS AT JUNIPER HALL DESCRIBED. + +[It is hoped that some pages from Mrs. Phillips's +journalizing letters to her sister, written at this period, may +not be unacceptable , since they give particulars +concerning several distinguished actors and sufferers in the +French Revolution, and also contain the earliest description of +M. d'Arblay.(27)) + +(Mrs. Philips to Fanny Burney.) +Mickleham, November, 1792. +It gratifies me very much that I have been able to interest you +for our amiable and charming neighbours. + +Mrs. Locke had been so kind as to pave the way for my +introduction to Madame de la Chtre, and carried me on +Friday to juniper Hall, where we found M. de Montmorency, a +ci-devant duc,(28) and one who gave some of the first great +examples of sacrificing personal interest to what was then +considered the public good. I know not whether you will like him +the better when I tell you that from him proceeded the motion for +the abolition of titles in France; but if you do + +Page 29 + +not, let me, in his excuse, tell you he was scarcely one-and- +twenty when an enthusiastic spirit impelled him to this, I +believe, ill-judged and mischievous act. My +curiosity was greatest to see M. de Jaucourt, because I +remembered many lively and spirited speeches made by him +during the time of the Assemble Lgislalive, and that he +was a warm defender of my favourite hero, M. Lafayette. + +Of M. de Narbonne's abilities we could have no doubt from his +speeches and letters whilst ministre de la guerre, which post he +did not quit till last May.(29) By his own desire, he then joined +Lafayette's army, and acted under him; but on the 10th of August, +he was involved, with perhaps nearly all the most honourable and +worthy of the French nobility, +accused as a traitor by the jacobins, and obliged to fly +from his country M. d'Argenson was already returned to +France, and Madame de Broglie had set out the same day, +November 2nd, hoping to escape the decree against the +emigrants.(30) + +Madame de la Chtre received us with great politeness. She is +about thirty-three; an elegant figure, not pretty, but with an +animated and expressive countenance; very well +read, pleine d'esprit, and, I think, very lively and +charming. + +A gentleman was with her whom Mrs. Locke had not yet seen, M. +d'Arblay. She introduced him, and when he had quitted the room, +told us he was adjutant-general to M. Lafayette, +marchal de camp, and in short the first in military rank of +those who had accompanied that general when he so +unfortunately fell into the hands of the Prussians; but, not +having been one of the Assemble Constituante, he was +allowed, with four others, to proceed into Holland, and +there M. de Narbonne wrote to him. "Et comme il l'aime +infiniment," said Madame de la Chtre, "il l'a pri de venir +vivre avec lui."(31 + +He had arrived only two days before. He is tall, and a good +figure, with an open and manly +countenance; about forty, I imagine. + +It was past twelve. However, Madame de la Chtre owned + + + Page 30 + +she had not breakfasted--ces messieurs were not yet ready. A +little man, who looked very triste indeed, in an old- +fashioned suit of clothes, with long flaps to a waistcoat +embroidered in silks no longer very brilliant, sat in a +corner of the room. I could not imagine who he was, but when he +spoke was immediately convinced he was no +Frenchman. I afterwards heard he had been engaged by M. de +Narbonne for a year, to teach him and all the party English. He +had had a place in some college in France at the beginning of the +Revolution, but was now driven out and +destitute. His name is Clarke. He speaks English with an accent +tant soit Peu Scotch. + +Madame de la Chtre, with great franchise entered into +details of her situation and embarrassment, whether she +might venture, like Madame de Broglie, to go over to France, in +which case she was dans le cas o elle pouvoit toucher sa +fortune(32) immediately. She said she could then settle in +England, and settle comfortably. M. de la Chtre, it +seems, previous to his joining the king's brothers, had +settled upon her her whole fortune. She and all her family were +great favourers of the original Revolution and even at this +moment she declares herself unable to wish the +restoration of the old rgime, with its tyranny and +corruptions--persecuted and ruined as she and thousands more have +been by the unhappy consequences of the Revolution, + +M. de Narbonne now came in. He seems forty, rather fat, but +would be handsome were it not for a slight cast of one eye. He +was this morning in great spirits. Poor man! It was the only time +I have ever seen him so. He came up very courteously to me, and +begged leave de me faire Sa Cour(33) at Mickleham, to which I +graciously assented. + +Then came M. de jaucourt, whom I instantly knew by Mr. +Locke's description. He is far from handsome, but has a very +intelligent countenance, fine teeth, and expressive eyes. I +scarce heard a word from him, but liked his appearance +exceedingly, and not the less for perceiving his respectful and +affectionate manner of attending to Mr. Locke but when Mr. Locke +reminded us that Madame de la Chtre had not +breakfasted, we took leave, after spending an hour in a +manners so pleasant and so interesting that it scarcely +appeared ten minutes. + +Page 31 + MONSIEUR D'ARBLAY. + +NOV. 7.- --Phillips was at work in the parlour, and I had just +stepped into the next room for some papers I wanted, when I heard +a man's voice, and presently distinguished +these words: "Je ne parle pas trop bien l'Anglois, +monsieur."(34) I came forth immediately to relieve Phillips, and +then found it was M. d'Arblay. + +I received him de bien bon coeur, as courteously as I could. The +adjutant of M. Lafayette, and one of those who proved faithful to +that excellent general, could not but be +interesting to me. I was extremely pleased at ]its coming, and +more and more pleased with himself every moment that passed. He +seems to me a true militaire, franc et loyal--open as the day; +warmly affectionate to his +friends; intelligent, ready, and amusing in conversation, with a +great share of gait de coeur, and, at the same +time, of navet and bonne foi. He was no less flattering to +little Fanny than M. de Narbonne had been. + +We went up into the drawing-room with him, and met Willy on the +stairs, and Norbury capered before us. "Ah, madame," cried M. +d'Arblay, "la jolie petite maison que vous avez, et les jolis +petits htes!"(35) looking at the +children, the drawings, etc. He took Norbury on his lap and +played with -him. I asked him if he was not proud of being so +kindly noticed by the adjutant-general of M. Lafayette? "Est-ce +qu'il sait le nom de M. Lafayette?"(36) said he, +smiling. I said he was our hero, and that I was thankful to see +at least one of his faithful friends here. I asked if M. +Lafayette was allowed to write and receive letters. He said yes, +but they were always given to him open. + +- Norbury now (still seated on his lap) took courage to +whisper him, "Were you, sir, put in prison with M. +Lafayette?" "Oui, mon ami," "And--was it quite dark?" I was +obliged, laughing, to translate this curious question. +M. d'Arblay laughed too: "Non, mon ami," said he, "on nous amis +abord dans une assez jolie chambre."(37) + +i lamented the hard fate of M. Lafayette, and the rapid and +wonderful reverse he had met with, after having been, as he + +Page 32 + +well merited to be, the most popular man in France. This led M. +d'Arblay to speak of M. de Narbonne, to whom I found him +passionately attached. Upon my mentioning the sacrifices made by +the French nobility, and by a great number of them voluntarily, +he said no one had made more than M. de Narbonne; that, previous +to the Revolution, he had more wealth and more power than almost +any except the princes of the blood. + +For himself, he mentioned his fortune and his income from his +appointments as something immense, but 1 never remember the +number of hundred thousand livres, nor can tell what their amount +is without some consideration. . . . + +The next day Madame de la Chtre was so kind as to send me the +French papers, by her son, who made a silent visit of about five +minutes. + + +M. DE JAUCOURT. MADAME DE STAEL. + +Friday morning.-I sent Norbury with the French papers, desiring +him to give them to M. d'Arblay. He stayed a prodigious while, +and at last came back attended by M. de Narbonne, M. de Jaucourt, +and M. d'Arblay. M. de Jaucourt is a delightful man--as comic, +entertaining, unaffected, unpretending, and good-humoured as dear +Mr Twining, only younger, and not quite so black. He is a man +likewise of first-rate abilities--M. de Narbonne says, perhaps +superior to Vaublanc(38) and of very uncommon firmness and +integrity of character. + +The account Mr. Batt gave of the National Assembly last summer +agrees perfectly with that of M. de Jaucourt, who had the +misfortune to be one of the deputies, and who, upon some great +occasion in support of the king and constitution, found only +twenty-four members who had courage to support him, though a far +more considerable number gave him secretly their good wishes and +prayers. It was on this that he regarded all hope of justice and +order as lost, and that he gave in sa dmission(39) from the +Assembly. In a few days he was seized, and sans forme de +proces(40) having lost his inviolability as a + +Page 33 + +member, thrown into the prison of the Abbaye, where, had it not +been for the very extraordinary and admirable exertions of Madame +de Stael (M. Necker's daughter, and the Swedish ambassador's +wife), he would infallibly have been massacred. + +I must here tell you that this lady, who was at that time seven +months gone with child, was indefatigable in her efforts to save +every one she knew from this dreadful massacre. She walked daily +(for carriages were not allowed to pass in the streets) to the +H6tel de Ville, and was frequently shut up for five hours +together with the horrible wretches that composed the Comit de +Surveillance, by whom these murders were directed; and by her +eloquence, and the consideration demanded by her rank and her +talents, she obtained the deliverance of above twenty unfortunate +prisoners, some of whom she knew but slightly. . . . + +Madame de la Chtre and M. de Jaucourt have since told me that M. +de Narbonne and M. d'Arblay had been treated with singular +ingratitude by the king, whom they nevertheless still loved as +well as forgave. They likewise say he wished to get rid of M. de +Narbonne from the ministry, because he could not trust him with +his projects of contre revolution. + +M. d'Arblay was the officer on guard at the Tuileries the night +on which the king, etc., escaped to Varennes,(41) and ran great +risk of being denounced, and perhaps massacred, though he had +been kept in the most perfect ignorance of the king's intention. + + + SEVERE DECREES AGAINST THE EMIGRANTS. + +The next Sunday, November 18th, Augusta and Amelia came to me +after church, very much grieved at the inhuman decrees just +passed in the Convention, including as emigrants, with those who +have taken arms against their country, all who have quitted it +since last July; and adjudging their estates to confiscation, and +their persons to death should they return to France. + +" Ma'am," said Mr. Clarke, " it reduces this family to nothing : +all they can hope is, by the help of their parents and friends, +to get together wherewithal to purchase a cottage in America, and +live as they can." + +Page 34 + +I was more shocked and affected by this account than I could very +easily tell you. To complete the tragedy, M. de Narbonne had +determined to write an offer--a request rather--to be allowed to +appear as a witness in behalf of the king, upon his trial ; and +M. d'Arblay had declared he would do the same, and share the fate +of his friend, whatever it might be. + + + MONSIEUR GIRARDIN. + +On Tuesday, the 20th, I called to condole with our friends on +these new misfortunes. Madame de la Chtre received me with +politeness, and even cordiality: she told me she was a little +recovered from the first shock--that she should hope to gather +together a small dbris of her fortune, but never enough to +settle in England--that, in short, her parti tait pris(42)--that +she must go to America. It went to my heart to hear her say so. +Presently came in M. Girardin. He is son to the Marquis de +Girardin d'Ermenonville, the friend of Rousseau, whose last days +were passed, and whose remains are deposited, in his domain. This +M. Girardin was a pupil of Rousseau; he was a member of the +Legislative Assembly, and an able opponent of the jacobins. + +It was to him that M. Merlin, aprs bien de gestes menaans,(43) +had held a pistol, in the midst of the Assembly. His father was a +mad republican, and never satisfied with the rational spirit of +patriotism that animated M. Girardin; who, witnessing the +distress of all the friends he most esteemed and honoured, and +being himself in personal danger from the enmity of the jacobins, +had, as soon as the Assemble Lgislative broke up, quitted +Paris, I believe, firmly determined never to re-enter it under +the present rgime. + +I was prepossessed very much in favour of this gentleman, from +his conduct in the late Assembly and all we had heard of him. I +confess I had not represented him to myself as a great, fat, +heavy-looking man, with the manners of a somewhat hard and morose +Englishman: he is between thirty and forty, I imagine; he had +been riding as far as to the cottage Mr. Malthouse had mentioned +to him--l'asile de jean Jacques(44)--and said it was very near +this place (it is at the foot of Leith Hill, Mr. Locke has since +told me). + +They then talked over the newspapers which were come + +Page 35 + +that morning. M. de St. just,(45) who made a most fierce speech +for the trial and condemnation of the king, they said had before +only been known by little madrigals, romances, and heures +tendres, published in the 'Almanac des Muses.' "A cette heure," +said M. de jaucourt, laughing, "c'est un fier republicain."(46) + + + + THE PHILLIPSES AT JUNIPER HALL. + +Nov. 27.-Phillips and I determined at about half-past one to walk +to "junipre" together. M. d'Arblay received us at the door, and +showed the most flattering degree of pleasure at our arrival. We +found with Madame de la Chtre another French gentleman, M. +Sicard, who was also an officer of M. de Lafayette's. + +M. de Narbonne said he hoped we would be sociable, and dine with +them now and then. Madame de la Chtre made a speech to the same +effect, "Et quel jour, par exemple," said M. de Narbonne, "feroit +wieux qu'aujourd'hui?"(47) Madame de la Chtre took my hand +instantly, to press in the most pleasing and gratifying manner +imaginable this proposal; and before I had time to answer, M. +d'Arblay, snatching up his hat, declared he would run and fetch +the children. + + +I was obliged to entreat Phillips to bring him back, and +entreated him to entendre raison.(48) . . . I pleaded their late +hour of dinner, our having no carriage, and my disuse to the +night air at this time of the year; but M. de Narbonne said their +cabriolet (they have no other carriage) should take us home, and +that there was a top to it, and Madame de la Chtre declared she +would cover me well with shawls, etc. . . . M. d'Arblay scampered +off for the little ones, whom all insisted upon having, and +Phillips accompanied him, as it wanted I believe almost four +hours to their dinner time. . . . +Page 36 + +Then my dress: Oh, it was parfaite, and would give them all the +courage to remain as they were, sans toilette: in short, nothing +was omitted to render us comfortable and at our ease, and I have +seldom passed a more pleasant day--never, I may fairly say, with +such new acquaintance. I was only sorry M. de jaucourt did not +make one of the party. + + +MYSTERY ATTENDING M. DE NARBONNE'S BIRTH. + +Whilst M. d'Arblay and Phillips were gone, Madame de la Chtre +told me they had that morning received M. Necker's "Dfense du +Roi," and if I liked it that M. de Narbonne would read it out to +us.(49) You may conceive my answer. It is a most eloquent +production, and was read by M. de Narbonne with beaucoup d'me. +Towards the end it is excessively touching, and his emotion was +very evident, and would have struck and interested me had I felt +no respect for his character before. + +I must now tell you the secret of his birth, which, however, is, +I conceive, no great secret even in London, as Phillips heard it +at Sir Joseph Banks's. Madame Victoire, daughter of Louis XV., +was in her youth known to be attached to the Comte de Narbonne, +father of our M. de Narbonne. The consequence of this attachment +was such as to oblige her to a temporary retirement, under the +pretence of indisposition during which time la Comtesse de +Narbonne, who was one of her attendants, not only concealed her +own chagrin, but was the means of preserving her husband from a +dangerous situation, and the princess from disgrace. She +declared herself with child, and, in short, arranged all so well +as to seem the mother of her husband's son ; though the truth was +immediately suspected, and rumoured about the Court, and Madame +de la Chtre told me, was known and familiarly spoken of by all +her friends, except in the presence of + +Page 37 + +Narbonne, to whom no one would certainly venture to hint it. His +father is dead, but la Comtesse de Narbonne, his reputed mother, +lives, and is still an attendant on Madame Victoire, at Rome. M. +de Narbonne's wife is likewise with her, and he himself was the +person fixed on by Mesdames to accompany them when they quitted +France for Italy. An infant daughter was left by him at Paris, +who is still there with some of his family, and whom he expressed +an earnest wish to. bring over, though the late decree may +perhaps render his doing so impossible. He has another daughter, +of six years old, who is with her mother at Rome, and whom he +told me the pope had condescended to embrace. He mentioned his +mother once (meaning la Comtesse de Narbonne) with great respect +and affection. + + + + REVOLUTIONARY SOCIETIES IN NORFOLK. DEATH OF MR. +FRANCIS. + +(Fanny Burney to Mrs. Philips.) +Aylsham, Norfolk, November 27, '92. +My dearest Susanna's details of the French colony at juniper are +truly interesting. I hope I may gather from them that M. de +Narbonne, at least, has been able to realise some property here. +I wish much to hear that poor Madame de Broglie has been +permitted to join her husband. + +Who is this M. Malouet(50) who has the singular courage and +feeling to offer to plead the cause of a fallen monarch in the +midst of his ferocious accusers? And how ventures M. de Chauvelin +to transmit such a proposal? I wish your French neighbours could +give some account of this. I hear that the son for whom the Duc +de Liancourt has been trembling, has been reduced to subscribe to +all jacobin lengths, to save his life, and retain a little +property. What seasons are these for dissolving all delicacy of +internal honour! + +I am truly amazed, and half alarmed, to find this county with +little revolution societies, which transmit their notions of +Page 38 + +things to the larger committee at Norwich, which communicates the +whole to the reformists of London. I am told there is scarce a +village in Norfolk free from these meetings. . . . + +My good and brilliant champion in days of old, Mr. Windham, has +never been in Norfolk since I have entered it. He had a call to +Bulstrode, to the installation of the Duke of Portland, just as I +arrived, and he has been engaged there and at Oxford ever since. +I regret missing him at Holkham: I bad no chance of him anywhere +else, as I have been so situated, from the melancholy +circumstances of poor Mr. Francis's illness, that I have been +unable to make acquaintance where he visits. + +(Miss Burney's second visit at Aylsham proved a very mournful +one. Soon after her arrival, Mr. Francis, her brother-in-law, +was seized with an apoplectic fit, which terminated in his death; +and Miss Burney remained with her widowed sister, soothing and +assisting her, till the close of the year, when she accompanied +the bereaved family to London.] + + + + DEPARTURE OF MADAME DE LA CHATRE. + +(Mrs. Philips to Fanny Burney.) +December 16, '92. +. . .. Everything that is most shocking may, I fear, be expected +for the unfortunate King of France, his queen, and perhaps all +that belong to him. M. d'Arblay said it would indeed scarce have +been possible to hope that M. de Narbonne could have escaped with +life, had the sauf-conduit requested been granted him, for +attending as a witness at the king's trial. . . . + +M. de Narbonne had heard nothing new from France, but mentioned, +with great concern, the indiscretion of the king, in having kept +all his letters since the Revolution; that the papers lately +discovered in the Tuileries would bring ruin and death on +hundreds of his friends ; and that almost every one in that +number "s'y trouvoient compliqus"(51) some way or other. A +decree of accusation had been lanc against M. Talleyrand, not +for anything found from himself, but because M. de Laporte, long +since executed, and from whom, of course, no renseignemens or +explanations of any kind could +Page 39 + +be gained, had written to the king that l'Eveque d'Autun(52) was +well disposed to serve him. Can there be injustice more +flagrant? + +M. Talleyrand, it seems, had proposed returning, and hoped to +settle his affairs in France in person, but now he must be +content with life ; and as for his property (save what he may +chance to have in other countries), he must certainly lose all. + +Monday, December 17, In the morning, Mr. and Mrs. Locke called, +and with them came Madame de la Chtre, to take leave. + +She now told us, perfectly in confidence, that Madame de Broglie +had found a friend in the Mayor of Boulogne, that she was lodged +at his house, and that she could answer for her (Madame de la +Chtre) being received by him as well as she could desire (all +this must be secret, as this good mayor, if accused of harbouring +or befriending des migrs, would no doubt pay for it with his +life). Madame de la Chtre said, all her friends who had +ventured upon writing to her entreated her not to lose the +present moment to return, as, the three months allowed for the +return of those excepted in the decree once past, all hope would +be lost for ever. Madame de Broglie, who is her cousin, was most +excessively urgent to her to lose not an instant in returning, +and had declared there would be no danger. Madame de la Chtre +was put in spirits by this account, and the hope of becoming not +destitute of everything; and I tried to hope without fearing for +her, and, indeed, most sincerely offer up my petitions for her +safety. + +Heaven prosper her! Her courage and spirits are wonderful. M. de +Narbonne seemed, however, full of apprehensions for her. M. de +Jaucourt seemed to have better hopes ; he, even he, has now +thoughts of returning, or rather his generosity compels him to +think of it. His father has represented to him that his sister's +fortune must suffer unless he appears in France again - and +although he had resisted every other consideration, on this he +has given way. + + + ARRIVAL OF M. DE LA CHATRE. + +Friday, December 21st, we dined at Norbury Park, and met our +French friends: M. d'Arblay came in to coffee before the other +gentlemen. We had been talking of Madame de la +Page 40 + +Chattre, and conjecturing conjectures about her sposo: we were +all curious, and all inclined to imagine him old, ugly, proud, +aristocratic, -a kind of ancient and formal courtier ; so we +questioned M. d'Arblay, acknowledging our curiosity, and that we +wished to know, enfin, if M. de la Chtre was "digne d'etre poux +d'une personne si aimable et si charmante que Madame de la +Chtre."(53) He looked very drolly, scarce able to meet our eyes; +but at last, as he is la franchise mme, he answered, "M. de la +Chtre est un bon homme--parfaitement bon homme: au reste, il est +brusque comme un cheval de carrosse."(54) + +We were in the midst of our coffee when St. jean came forward to +M. de Narbonne, and said somebody wanted to speak to him. He went +out of the room; in two minutes he returned, followed by a +gentleman in a great-coat, whom we had never seen, and whom he +introduced immediately to Mrs. Locke by the name of M. de la +Chtre. The appearance of M. de la Chtre was something like a +coup de thatre; for, despite our curiosity, I had no idea we +should ever see him, thinking that nothing could detach him from +the service of the French princes. + +His abord and behaviour answered extremely well the idea M. +d'Arblay had given us of him, who in the word brusque rather +meant unpolished in manners than harsh in character. He is quite +old enough to be father to Madame de la Chtre, and, had he been +presented to us as such, all our wonder would have been to see so +little elegance in the parent of such a woman. + +After the first introduction was over, he turned his back to the +fire, and began sans faon, a most confidential discourse with M. +de Narbonne. They had not met since the beginning of the +Revolution, and, having been of very different parties, it was +curious and pleasant to see them now, in their mutual +misfortunes, meet en bons amis. They rallied each other sur leurs +disgraces very good-humouredly and comically; and though poor M. +de la Chtre had missed his wife by only one day, and his son by +a few hours, nothing seemed to give him de phumeur.(55) He gave +the account of his disastrous journey since he had quitted. the +princes, who are themselves reduced +Page 41 + +to great distress, and were unable to pay him his arrears: he +said he could not get a sou from France, nor had done for two +years. All the money he had, with his papers and clothes, were +contained in a little box, with which he had embarked in a small +boat--I could not hear whence : but the weather was tempestuous, +and he, with nearly all the passengers, landed, and walked to the +nearest town, leaving his box and two faithful servants (who had +never, he said, quitted him since he had left France) in the +boat: he had scarce been an hour at the auberge (56) when news +was brought that the boat had sunk, + +At this, M. de Narbonne threw himself back on his seat, +exclaiming against the hard fate which pursued all ses malheureux +amis!(57) "Mais attendez donc," cried the good humoured M. de la +Chtre, "Je n'ai pas encore fini: on nous a assur que personne +n'a pri et que mme tout ce qu'il y avait sur le bteau a t +sauv!'(58) He said, however, that being now in danger of falling +into the hands of the French, he dared not stop for his box or +servants; but, leaving a note of directions behind him, he +proceeded incognito, and at length got on board a packet-boat for +England, in which though he found several of his countrymen and +old acquaintance, he dared not discover himself till they were en +pleine mer.(59) He went on gaily enough, laughing at ses amis +les constitutionnaires,(60) and M. de Narbonne, with much more +wit, and not less good humour, retorting back his raillery on the +parti de Brunswick.. . . + +M. de la Chtre mentioned the quinzaine(61) in which the princes' +army had been paid up, as the most wretched he had ever known. Of +22,000 men who formed the army of the emigrants, 16,000 were +gentlemen,-men of family and fortune: all of whom were now, with +their families, destitute. He mentioned two of these who had +engaged themselves lately in some orchestra, where they played +first and second flute. The princes, he said, had been twice +arrested for debt in different places--that they were now so +reduced that they dined, themselves, the Comte d'Artois, +children, tutors, etc.--eight or nine persons in all--upon one +single dish. + +Page 42 + + ENGLISH FEELING AT THE REVOLUTIONARY EXCESSES. + +(Fanny Burney to Mrs. Locke.) +Chelsea, December 20, '92. +..... God keep us all safe and quiet! All now wears a fair +aspect; but I am told Mr. Windham says we are not yet out of the +wood though we see the path through it. There must be no +relaxation. The Pretended friends of the people, pretended or +misguided, wait but the stilling of the present ferment of +loyalty to come forth. Mr. Grey has said so in the House. Mr. Fox +attended the St. George's meeting, after keeping back to the +last, and was nobody there! + +The accounts from France are thrilling. Poor M. d'Arblay's speech +should be translated, and read to all English imitators of French +reformers. What a picture of the now reformed! Mr. Burke's +description of the martyred Duc de la Rochefoucault should be +read also by all the few really pure promoters of new systems. +New systems, I fear, in states, are always dangerous, if not +wicked. Grievance by grievance, wrong by wrong, must only be +assailed, and breathing time allowed to old prejudices, and old +habits, between all that is done. . . . + +I had fancied the letters brought for the King of France's trial +were forgeries. One of them, certainly, to M. Bouill, had its +answer dated before it was written. If any have been found, +others will be added, to serve any evil purposes. Still, however, +I hope the king and his family will be saved. I cannot but +believe it, from all I can put together. If the worst of the +jacobins hear that Fox has called him an "unfortunate monarch,"- +-that Sheridan has said "his execution would be an act of +injustice,"--and Grey, "that we ought to have spared that one +blast to their glories by earlier negotiation and an +ambassador,"--surely the worst of these wretches will not risk +losing their only abettors and palliators in this kingdom? I mean +publicly; they have privately and individually their abettors and +palliators in abundance still, wonderful as that is. + +I am glad M. d'Arblay has joined the set at "Junipre." What +miserable work is this duelling, which I hear of among the +emigrants, after such hair-breadth 'scapes for life and +existence!--to attack one another on the very spot they seek for +refuge from attacks! It seems a sort of profanation of safety. +Page 43 + + LOUIS XVI.'S EXECUTION. + +(Fanny Burney to Dr. Burney.) +Norbury Park, January 28, '93. +My dearest padre,-I have been wholly without spirit for writing, +reading, working, or even walking or conversing, ever since the +first day of my arrival. The dreadful tragedy(62) acted in France +has entirely absorbed me. Except the period of the illness of our +own inestimable king, 1 have never been so overcome with grief +and dismay, for any but personal and family calamities. O what a +tragedy! how implacable its villainy, and how severe its sorrows! +You know, my dearest father, how little I had believed such a +catastrophe possible: with all the guilt and all the daring +already shown, I had still thought this a height of enormity +impracticable. And, indeed, without military law throughout the +wretched city, it had still not been perpetrated. Good heaven!- +-what must have been the sufferings of the few unhardened in +crimes who inhabit that city of horrors!--if I, an English +person, have been so deeply afflicted, that even this sweet house +and society--even my Susan and her lovely children--have been +incapable to give me any species of pleasure, or keep me from a +desponding low-spiritedness, what must be the feelings of all but +the culprits in France? + +M. de Narbonne and M. d'Arblay have been almost annihilated : +they are for ever repining that they are French, and, though two +of the most accomplished and elegant men I ever saw, they break +our hearts with the humiliation they feel for their guiltless +birth in that guilty country! + +We are all here expecting war every day. This dear family has +deferred its town journey till next Wednesday. I have not been +at all at Mickleham, nor yet settled whether to return to town +with the Lockes, or to pay my promised visit there first, All has +been so dismal, so wretched, that I have scarce ceased to regret +our living at such times, and not either Sooner or later. +These immediate French sufferers here interest us, and these +alone have been able to interest me at all. We hear of a very +bad tumult in Ireland, and near Captain Phillips's property: Mr. +Brabazon writes word it is very serious. + +Page 44 + +Heaven guard us from insurrections! What must be the feelings at +the queen's house? how acute, and how indignant! + + + A GLOOMY CLUB MEETING. + +(-Dr. Burney to Fanny Burney and Mrs. Phillips.) +Chelsea College, January 31, 1793. +. . . At the Club,(63) on Tuesday, the fullest I ever knew, +consisting of fifteen members, fourteen seemed all of one mind, +and full of reflections on the late transaction in France ; but, +when about half the company was assembled, who should come in but +Charles Fox! There were already three or four bishops arrived, +hardly one of whom could look at him, I believe, without horror, +After the first bow and cold salutation, the conversation stood +still for several minutes. During dinner Mr Windham, and Burke, +jun., came in, who were obliged to sit at a side table. All were +boutonns,(64) and not a word of the martyred king or politics of +any kind was mentioned; and though the company was chiefly +composed of the most eloquent and loquacious men in the kingdom, +the conversation was the dullest and most uninteresting I ever +remember at this or any such large meeting. Mr Windham and Fox, +civil-young Burke and he never spoke. The Bishop of Peterborough +as sulky as the d--l; the Bishop of Salisbury, more a man of the +world, very cheerful; the Bishop of Dromore(65) frightened as +much as a barn-door fowl at the sight of a fox; Bishop Marlow +preserved his usual pleasant countenance. Steevens in the chair; +the Duke of Leeds on his right, and Fox on his left, said not a +word. Lords Ossory and Lucan, formerly much attached, seemed +silent and sulky. + + + MADAME DE STAEL AT JUNIPER HALL. + +(Fanny Burney to Dr. Burney.) +Norbury Park, Monday, February 4, '93. +. . . Madame de Stael, daughter of M. Necker, is now at the head +of the colony of French noblesse, established near + +Page 45 + +Mickleham. She is one of the first women I have ever met with for +abilities and extraordinary intellect. She has just received, by +a private letter, many particulars not yet made public, and which +the Commune and Commissaries of the Temple had ordered should be +suppressed. It has been exacted by those cautious men of blood +that nothing should be printed that could attendrir le +peuple.(66) + +Among other circumstances, this letter relates that the poor +little dauphin supplicated the monsters who came with the decree +of death to his unhappy father, that they would carry him to the +Convention, and the forty-eight Sections of Paris, and suffer him +to beg his father's life. This touching request was probably +suggested to him by his miserable mother or aunt.... + +M. de Narbonne has been quite ill with the grief of this last +enormity: and M. d'Arblay is now indisposed. This latter is one +of the most delightful characters I have ever met, for openness, +probity, intellectual knowledge, and unhackneyed manners. + + +(Madame de Stael to Fanny BUrney.(67)) +Written from juniper Hall, Dorking, Surrey, 1793. +When I learned to read English I begun by milton, to know all or +renounce at all in once. I follow the same system in writing my +first English letter to Miss burney; after such an enterprize +nothing can affright me. I feel for her so tender a friendship +that it melts my admiration, inspires my heart with hope of her +indulgence, and impresses me with the idea that in a tongue even +unknown I could express sentiments so deeply felt. + +my servant will return for a french answer. I intreat miss +burney to correct the words but to preserve the sense of that +card. + +best compliments to my dear protectress, Madame Phillipe. + + +(Madame de Stael to Fanny Burney.) +Your card in french, my dear, has already something of Your grace +in writing English : it is cecilia translated. my !. ' + +Page 46 + +only correction is to fill the interruptions of some sentences, +and I put in them kindnesses for me. I do not consult my master +to write to you; a fault more or less is nothing in such an +occasion. What may be the perfect grammar of Mr. Clarke, it +cannot establish any sort of equality between you and I. then I +will trust with my heart alone to supply the deficiency. let us +speak upon a grave subject: do I see you that morning? What news +from Captain phillip? when do you come spend a large week in that +house? every question requires an exact answer; a good, also. my +happiness depends on it, and I have for pledge your honour. + +good morrow and farewell. + +pray madame phillips, recollecting all her knowledge in french, +to explain that card to you. + +(Madame de Stael to Fanny Burney.) +January, 1793. +tell me, my dear, if this day is a charming one, if it must be a +sweet epoch in my life?--do you come to dine here with your +lovely sister, and do you stay night and day till our sad +separation? I rejoice me with that hope during this week do not +deceive my heart. I hope that card very clear, mais, pour plus de +certitude, je vous dis en franois que votre chambre, la maison, +les habitants de juniper, tout est prt recevoir la premire +femme d'angleterre.(68) Janvier. + + + + MISS BURNEY'S ADMIRATION OF MADAME DE STAEL. + +(Fanny Burney to Dr. Burney.) +Mickleham, February 29, 1793 +Have you not begun, dearest sir, to give me up as a lost sheep? +Susanna's temporary widowhood, however, has tempted me on, and +spelled me with a spell I know not how to break. It is long, long +since we have passed any time so completely together; her three +lovely children only knit us the closer. The widowhood, however, +we expect now quickly to expire, and I had projected my return to +my dearest father + +Page 47 + +for Wednesday next, which would complete my fortnight here but +some circumstances are intervening that incline me to postpone it +another week. Madame de Stal, daughter of M. Necker, and wife of +the Swedish ambassador to France, is now head of the little +French colony in this neighbourhood. M. de Stael, her husband, is +at present suspended in his embassy, but not recalled and it is +yet uncertain whether the regent Duke of Sudermania will send him +to Paris, during the present horrible Convention, or order him +home. He is now in Holland, waiting for commands. Madame de +Stal, however, was unsafe in Paris, though an ambassadress, from +the resentment owed her by the commune, for having received and +protected in her house various destined victims of the 10th +August and of the 2nd September. She was even once stopped in her +carriage, which they called aristocratic, because of its arms and +ornaments, and threatened to be murdered, and only saved by one +of the worst wretches of the Convention, Tallien, who feared +provoking a war with Sweden, from such an offence to the wife of +its ambassador. She was obliged to have this same Tallien to +accompany her, to save her from massacre, for some miles from +Paris, when compelled to quit it. + +She is a woman of the first abilities, I think, I have ever seen; +she is more in the style of Mrs. Thrale than of any other +celebrated character, but she has infinitely more depth, and +seems an even profound politician and metaphysician. She has +suffered us to hear some of her works in MS., which are truly +wonderful, for powers both of thinking and expression. She adores +her father, but is much alarmed at having had no news from him +since he has heard of the massacre of the martyred Louis; and who +can wonder it should have overpowered him? + +Ever since her arrival she has been pressing me to spend some +time with her before I return to town. She wanted Susan and me to +pass a month with her, but, finding that impossible, she bestowed +all her entreaties upon me alone, and they are grown so urgent, +upon my preparation for departing, and acquainting her my +furlough of absence was over, that she not only insisted upon my +writing to you, and telling why I deferred my return, but +declares she will also write herself, to ask your permission for +the visit. She exactly resembles Mrs. Thrale in the ardour and +warmth of her temper and partialities. I find her impossible to +resist, and therefore, if your answer to +Page 48 + +her is such as I conclude it must be, I shall wait upon her for a +week. She is only a short walk from hence, at juniper Hall. + + + FAILING RESOURCES. + +There can be nothing imagined more charming, more fascinating, +than this colony ; between their sufferings and their argrmens +they occupy us almost wholly. M. de Narbonne, +alas, has no thousand pounds a year! he got over only four +thousand pounds at the beginning, from a most splendid fortune; +and, little foreseeing how all has turned out, he has lived, we +fear, upon the principal ; for he says, if all remittance is +withdrawn, on account of the war, he shall soon be as ruined as +those companions of his misfortunes with whom as yet he has +shared his little all. He bears the highest character for +goodness, parts, sweetness of manners, and ready wit. You could +not keep your heart from him if you saw him only for . half an +hour. He has not yet recovered from the black blow of the king's +death, but he is better, and less jaundiced ; and he has had a +letter which, I hear, has comforted him, though at first it was +almost heart-breaking, informing him of the unabated regard for +him of the truly saint-like Louis. This is communicated in a +letter from M. de Malesherbes.(69) + + THE BEGINNING OF THE END. + +M. d'Arblay is one of the most singularly interesting characters +that can ever have been formed. He has a sincerity, a frankness, +an ingenuous openness of nature, that I had been unjust enough to +think could not belong to a Frenchman. With all this, which is +his military portion, he is passionately fond of literature, a +most delicate critic in his own language, welt versed in both +Italian and German, and a very elegant + +Page 49 + +poet. He has just undertaken to become my French master for +pronunciation, and he gives me long daily lessons in reading. +Pray expect wonderful improvements! In return, I hear him in +English; and for his theme, this evening he has been writing an +English address " Mr. Burney," (ie. M. le Docteur), joining in +Madame de Stael's request. + +I hope your last club was more congenial? M. de Talleyrand +insists on conveying this letter for you. He has been on a visit +here, and returns again on Wednesday. He is a man of admirable +conversation, quick, terse, fin, and yet deep, to the extreme of +those four words. They are a marvellous set for excess of +agreeability. + + + + + "THIS ENCHANTING MONSIEUR D'ARBLAY." + +(Fanny Burney to Mrs. Locke.) +Mickleham. +Your kind letter, my beloved Fredy, was most thankfully received, +and we rejoice the house and situation promise so much local +comfort; but I quite fear with you that even the bas bleu will +not recompense the loss of the "Junipre" society. It is, indeed, +of incontestable superiority. But you must burn this confession, +or my poor effigy will blaze for it. I must tell you a little of +our proceedings, as they all relate to these people of a +thousand. + +M. d'Arblay came from the melancholy sight of departing Norbury +to Mickleham, and with an air the most triste, and a sound of +voice quite dejected, as I learn from Susanna for I was in my +heroics, and could not appear till the last half hour. A headache +prevented my waiting upon Madame de Stal that day, and obliged me +to retreat soon after nine o'clock in the evening, and my douce +compagne would not let me retreat alone. We had only robed +ourselves in looser drapery, when a violent ringing at the door +startled us; we listened, and heard the voice of M. d'Arblay, and +Jerry answering, "They're gone to bed." "Comment? What?" cried +he: "C'est impossible! what you say?" Jerry then, to show his +new education in this new colony, said "Alle couche!" It rained +furiously, and we were quite grieved, but there was no help. He +left a book for "Mlle. Burnet," and word that Madame de Stael +could not come on account of the bad weather. M. Ferdinand was +with him and has bewailed the disaster +Page 50 + +and M. Sicard says he accompanied them till he was quite wet +through his redingote; but this enchanting M. d'Arblay will +murmur at nothing. + +The next day they all came, just as we had dined, for a morning +visit,--Madame de Stael, M. Talleyrand, M. Sicard, and M. +d'Arblay; the latter then made "insistance" upon commencing my +"master of the language," and I think he will be almost as good a +one as the little don.(70) + +M. de Talleyrand opened, at last, with infinite wit and capacity. + Madame de Stael whispered me, "How do you like him?" "Not very +much," I answered, "but I do not know him." "Oh, I assure you," +cried she, "he is the best of the men." + +I was happy not to agree ; but I have no time for such minute +detail till we meet. She read the noble tragedy of +"Tancrde,"(71) till she blinded us all round. She is the most +charming person, to use her own phrase, "that never I saw." . . + +We called yesterday upon Madame de Stael, and sat with her until +three o'clock, only the little don being present. She was +delightful; yet I see much uneasiness hanging over the whole +party, from the terror that the war may stop all remittances. +Heaven forbid! + + + TALLEYRAND IS FOUND CHARMING. + +(Fanny Burney to Mrs locke.) +Thursday, Mickleham. +I have no heart not to write, and no time to write. I have been +scholaring all day, and mastering too : for our lessons are +mutual, and more entertaining than can easily be conceived. My +master of the language says he dreams of how much more solemnly +he shall write to charming Mrs. Locke after a little more +practice. Madame de Stael has written me two English notes, quite +beautiful in ideas, and not very reprehensible in idiom. But +English has nothing to do with elegance such as theirs--at least, +little and rarely. I am always exposing myself to the wrath of +John Bull, when this cterie come in competition; It is +inconceivable what a convert M. de Talleyrand has made of me; I +think him now one of the first members, and one of the most +charming, of this exquisite set: Susanna is as completely a +proselyte, +Page 51 + +His powers of entertainment are astonishing, both in information +and in raillery. We know nothing of how the rest of the world +goes on. They are all coming to-night. I have yet avoided, but +with extreme difficulty, the change of abode. Madame de Stael, +however, will not easily be parried, and how I may finally +arrange I know not. Certainly I will not offend or hurt her, but +otherwise I had rather be a visitor than a guest + +Pray tell Mr. Locke that " the best of the men " grows upon us at +every meeting. We dined and stayed till midnight at "junipre" on +Tuesday, and I would I could recollect but the twentieth part of +the excellent things that were said. Madame de Stael read us the +opening of her work "Sur le Bonheur:" it seems to me admirable. +M. de Talleyrand avowed he had met with nothing better thought or +more ably expressed; it contains the most touching allusions to +their country's calamities. + + + A PROPOSED VISIT TO MADAME DE STAEL DISAPPROVED OF. + + +(Doctor Burney to Fanny Burney.) +Chelsea College, February 19, 1793. +Why, Fanny, what are you about, and where are you? I shall write +at you, not knowing how to write to you, as Swift did to the +flying and romantic Lord Peterborough. I had written the above, +after a yesterday's glimmering and a feverish night as usual, +when behold! a letter of requisition for a further furlough! I +had long histories ready for narration de vive voix, but my time +is too short and my eyes and head too -weak for much writing this +morning. I am not at all surprised at your account of the +captivating powers of Madame de Stael. It corresponds with all I +had heard about her, and with the opinion I formed of her +intellectual and literary powers, in reading her charming little +"Apologie de Rousseau." But as nothing human is allowed to be +perfect, she has not escaped censure. Her house was the centre +of revolutionists Previous to the 10th of August, after her +father's departure, and she has been accused of partiality to M. +de N.(72) But Perhaps all may be jacobinical malignity. However, +unfavourable stories of her have been brought hither, and the +Page 52 + +Burkes and Mrs. Ord have repeated them to me. But you know that +M. Necker's administration, and the conduct of the nobles who +first joined in the violent measures that subverted the ancient +establishments by the abolition of nobility and the ruin of the +church, during the first National Assembly, are held in greater +horror by aristocrats than even the members of the present +Convention. I know this will make you feel uncomfortable, but it +seemed to me right to hint it to You. If you are not absolutely +in the house of Madame do Stael when this arrives, it would +perhaps be possible for you to waive the visit to her, by a +compromise, of having something to do for Susy, and so make the +addendum to your stay under her roof. . . + +(Fanny Burney to Dr. Burney.) +Mickleham, February 22, '03, +What a kind letter is my dearest father's, and how kindly speedy +! yet it is too true it has given me very uncomfortable feelings. + I am both hurt and astonished at the acrimony of malice; indeed, +I believe all this Party to merit nothing but honour, compassion, +and praise. Madame de Stael, the daughter of M. Necker--the +idolising daughter--of course, and even from the best principles, +those of filial reverence, entered into the opening of the +Revolution just as her father entered into it; but as to her +house having become the centre of revolutionists before the 10th +of August, it was so only for the constitutionalists, who, at +that period, were not only members of the then established +government, but the decided friends of the king. The aristocrats +were then already banished, or wanderers from fear, or concealed +and silent from cowardice; and the jacobins --I need not, after +what I have already related, mention how utterly abhorrent to her +must be that fiend-like set. The aristocrats, however, as you +well observe, and as she has herself told me, hold the +constitutionalists in greater horror than the Convention itself. +This, however, is a violence against justice which cannot, I +hope, be lasting ; and the malignant assertions which persecute +her, all of which she has lamented to us, she imputes equally to +the bad and virulent of both these parties. The intimation +concerning M. de N. was, however, wholly +Page 53 + +new to us, and I do firmly believe it a gross calumny. M. de N. +was of her society, which contained ten or twelve of the first +people in Paris, and, occasionally, almost all Paris ! she loves +him even tenderly, but so openly, so simply, so unaffectedly, and +with such utter freedom from all coquetry, that, if they were two +men, or two women, the affection could not, I think, be more +obviously undesi,gning. She is very plain, he is very handsome ; +her intellectual endowments must be with him her sole attraction. +M. de Talleyrand was another of her society, and she seems +equally attached to him. M. le Viscomte de Montmorenci she loves, +she says, as her brother: he is another of this bright +constellation, and esteemed of excellent capacity. She says, if +she continues in England he will certainly come, for he loves her +too well to stay away. In short, her whole coterie live together +as brethren. Madame la Marquise de la Chtre, who has lately +returned to France, to endeavour to obtain de quoi vivre en +Angleterre,(73) and who had been of this colony for two or three +months since the 10th of August, Is a bosom friend of Madame de +Stael and of all this circle : she is reckoned a very estimable +as well as fashionable woman ; and a daughter of the unhappy +Montmorin, who was killed on the 1st of September(74) is another +of this set. Indeed, I think you could not spend a day with them +and not see that their commerce is that of pure, but exalted and +most elegant, friendship. + +I would, nevertheless, give the world to avoid being a guest +under their roof, now I have heard even the shadow of such a +rumour; and I will, if it be possible without hurting or +of-fending them. I have waived and waived acceptance almost from +the moment of Madame de Stael's arrival. I prevailed with her to +let my letter go alone to you, and I have told her, with regard +to your answer, that you were sensible of the honour her kindness +did me, and could not refuse to her request the week's furlough ; +and then followed reasons for the Compromise you pointed out, too +diffuse for writing. As Yet they have succeeded, though she is +surprised and disappointed. She wants us to study French and +English together, and nothing could to me be more desirable, but +for this invidious report. + +M. d'Arblay as well as M. de Narbonne, sent over a declaration in +favour of the poor king. M. d'A. had been the +Page 54 + +commandant at Longwy, and had been named to that post by the king +himself In the accusation of the infernals, as Mr. Young justly +calls them, the king is accused of leaving Longwy undefended, and +a prey to the Prussians. M. d'Arblay, who before that period had +been promoted into the regiment of M. de Narbonne, and thence +summoned to be adjutant-general of Lafayette, wrote therefore, on +this charge, to M. de Malesherbes, and told him that the charge +was utterly false . that the king had taken every precaution for +the proper preservation of Longwy, and that M. d'Arblay, the +king's commandant, had himself received a letter of thanks and +approbation from Duniouriez, who said, nothing would have been +lost had every commandant taken equal pains, and exerted equal +bravery. This original letter M. d'Arblay sent to M. Malesherbes, +not as a vindication of himself, for he had been summoned from +Longwy before the Prussians assailed it, but as a vindication of +the officer appointed by the king, while he had yet the command. +M. de Malesherbes wrote an answer of thanks, and said he should +certainly make use of this information in the defence, However, +the fear of Dumouriez, I suppose, prevented his being named. M. +d'Arblay, in quitting France with Lafayette, upon the deposition +of the king, had only a little ready money in his pocket, and he +has been dcr(75) I since, and all he was worth in the world is +sold and seized by the Convention. M. de Narbonne loves him as +the tenderest of brothers, and, while one has a guinea in the +world, the other will have half. "Ah!" cried M. d'Arblay, upon +the murder of the king, which almost annihilated him, "I know not +how those can exist who have any feelings of remorse, when I +scarce can endure my life, from the simple feeling of regret that +ever I pronounced the word liberty in France!" + + + M. DE LALLY TOLENDAL AND HIS TRAGEDY. + +(Mrs. Phillips to Mrs. Locke.) +Mickleham, April 2, 1793. +....I must, however, say something of juniper, whence I had an +irresistible invitation to dine, etc., yesterday, and + +Page 55 + +M. de Lally Tolendal(76) read his "Mort de Strafford," which he +had already recited once, and which Madame do Stael requested him +to repeat for my sake. + +I had a great curiosity to see M. de Lally. I cannot say that +feeling was gratified by the sight of him, though it was +satisfied, insomuch that it has left me without any great anxiety +to see him again. He is the very reverse of all that my +imagination had led me to expect in him: large, fat, with a great +head, small nose, immense cheeks, nothing distingu in his manner +and en fait d'esprit, and of talents in conversation, so far, so +very far, distant from our juniperians, and from M. de +Talleyrand, who was there, as I could not have conceived, his +abilities as a writer and his general reputation considered. He +seems un bon garon, un trs honnte garon, as M. Talleyrand +says of him, et non de plus.(77) + +He is extremely absorbed by his tragedy, which he recites by +heart, acting as well as declaiming with great energy, though +seated, as Le Texier is. He seemed, previous to the performance, +occupied completely by It, except while the dinner lasted, which +he did not neglect; but he was continually reciting to himself +till we sat down to table, and afterwards between the courses. + +M. Talleyrand seemed much struck with his piece, which appears to +me to have very fine lines and passages in it, but which, +altogether, interested me but little. I confess, indeed, the +violence of ses gestes, and the alternate howling and thundering +of his voice in declaiming, fatigued me excessively. If our Fanny +had been present, I am afraid I should many times have been +affected as one does not expect to be at a tragedy. We sat down +at seven to dinner, and had half finished before M. d'Arblay +appeared, though repeatedly sent for; he was profoundly grave and +silent, and disappeared after the dinner, which was very gay. He +was sent for, after coffee and Norbury were gone, several times, +that the tragedy might be begun; and . at last Madame de S. +impatiently proposed beginning without him. "Mais cela lui fera +de la peine,"(78) said M. d'Autun (Talleyrand), good-naturedly; +and, as she + +Page 56 + +persisted, he rose up and limped out of the room to fetch him he +succeeded in bringing him. + +M Malouet has left them. La Princesse d'Henin is a very pleasing, +well-bred woman: she left juniper the next morning with M. de +Lally. + + + CONTEMPLATED DisPERSION OF THE FRENCH COLONY. + +(Mrs. Phillips to Fanny Burney) +Mickleham, April 3. +After I had sent off my letter to you on Monday I walked on to +juniper, and entered at the same moment with Mr. jenkinson(79) +and his attorney--a man whose figure strongly resembles some of +Hogarth's most ill-looking, personages, and who appeared to me to +be brought as a kind of spy, or witness of all that was passing. +I would have retreated, fearing to interrupt business, but I was +surrounded, and pressed to stay, by Madame de Stael with great +empressement, and with much kindness by M. d'Arblay and all the +rest. Mr. Clarke was the spokesman, and acquitted himself with +great dignity and moderation; Madame de S. now and then came +forth with a little coquetterie pour adoucir ce sauvage +jenkinson.(80) "What will you, Mr. jenkinson? tell to me, what +will you?" M. de Narbonne, somewhat indign de la mauvaise foi, +and excd des longueurs de son adversaire, (81) was not quite so +gentle with him, and I was glad to perceive that he meant to +resist, in some degree at least, the exorbitant demands of his +landlord. + +Madame de Stael was very gay, and M. de Talleyrand very comique, +this evening ; he criticised, amongst other things, her reading +of prose, with great sang froid. . . . They talked over a number +of their friends and acquaintances with the utmost unreserve, and +sometimes with the most comic humour imaginable,--M. de Lally, M. +de Lafayette, la Princesse d'Henin, la Princesse de Poix, a M. +Guibert, an author. and one who was, Madame de Stael told me, +passionately in love with her before she married; and innumerable +others. + +M. d'Arblay had been employed almost night and day since + +Page 57 + +he came from London in Writing a mmoire, which Mr Villiers had +wished to have, upon the 'Artillerie Cheval,' and he had not +concluded it till this morning. + +(Mrs. Philips to Fanny Burney.) +Tuesday, May 14. +Trusting to the kindness of chance, I begin in at the top of my +paper. Our Juniperians went to see Paine's hill yesterday, and +had the good-nature to take my little happy Norbury. In the +evening came Miss F- to show me a circular letter, sent by the +Archbishop of Canterbury to all the parishes in England, +authorising the ministers of those parishes to raise a +subscription for the unfortunate French clergy. She talked of +our neighbours, and very shortly and abruptly said, "So, Mrs. +Phillips, we hear you are to have Mr. Norbone and the other +French company to live with you--Pray is it so?" + +I was, I confess, a little startled at this plain inquiry, but +answered as composedly as I could, setting out with informing +this bte personnage that Madame de Stael was going to +Switzerland to join her husband and family in a few days, and +that of all the French company none would remain but M. de +Narbonne and M. d'Arblay, for whom the captain and myself +entertained a real friendship and esteem, and whom he had begged +to make our house their own for a short time, as the impositions +they had had to support from their servants, etc., and the +failure of their remittances from abroad, had obliged them to +resolve on breaking up housekeeping. + +I had scarcely said thus much when our party arrived from Paine's +hill; the young lady, though she had drunk tea, was so obliging +as to give us her company for near two hours, and made a curious +attack on M. de N., upon the first pause, in wretched French, +though we had before, all of us, talked no other language than +English:--"Je vous prie, M. Gnawbone, comment se porte la +reine?"(82) + +Her pronunciation was such that I thought his understanding her +miraculous : however, he did guess her meaning, and answered, +with all his accustomed douceur and politeness, that he hoped +well, but had no means but general ones of information. + +"I believe," said she afterwards, "nobody was so hurt at + +Page 58 + +the king's death as my papa! he couldn't ride on horseback next +day!" + +She then told M. de Narbonne some anecdotes (very new to him, no +doubt), which she had read in the newspapers, of the Convention; +and then spoke of M. Egalit. "I hope," said she, flinging her +arms out with great violence, "he'll come to be gullytined. He +showed the king how he liked to be gullytined, so now I hope +he'll be gullytined himself!--So shocking! to give his vote +against his own nephew!" + +If the subject of her vehemence and blunders had been less just +or less melancholy, I know not how I should have kept my face in +order. + +Our evening was very pleasant when she was gone, Madame de Stael +is, with all her wildness and blemishes, a delightful companion, +and M. de N. rises upon me in esteem and affection every time I +see him: their minds in some points ought to be exchanged, for he +is as delicate as a really feminine woman, and evidently suffers +when he sees her setting les biensances(83) aside, as it often +enough befalls her to do. + +Poor Madame de Stael has been greatly disappointed and hurt by +the failure of the friendship and intercourse she had wished to +maintain with you,--of that I am sure; I fear, too, she is on the +point of being offended. I am not likely to be her confidant if +she is so, and only judge from the nature of things, and from her +character, and a kind of dpit(84) in her manner once or twice in +speaking of you. She asked me If you would accompany Mrs. Locke +back into the country? I answered that my father would not wish +to lose you for so long a time at once, as you had been absent +from him as a nurse so many days. + +After a little pause, "Mais est-ce qu'une femme est en tutelle +pour la vie dans ce pays?" she said. "Il me paroit que votre +soeur est comme une demoiselle de quatorze ans."(85) I did not +oppose this idea, but enlarged rather on the constraints laid +upon females, some very unnecessarily, in England,--hoping to +lessen her dpit; it continued, however, visible in her +countenance, though she did not express it in words. + +Page 59 + +[The frequency and intimacy with which Miss Burney and +M. d'Arblay now met, ripened into attachment the high esteem +which each felt for the other; and, after many struggles and +scruples, occasioned by his reduced circumstances and clouded +prospects, M. d'Arblay wrote her an offer of his hand ; candidly +acknowledging, however, the slight hope he entertained of ever +recovering the fortune he had lost by the Revolution. + +At this time Miss Burney went to Chesington for a short period; +probably hoping that the extreme quiet of that place would assist +her deliberations, and tranquillise her mind during her present +perplexities.] + + + MADAME DE STAEL'S WORDS OF FAREWELL. M. D'ARBLAY. + +(Mrs. Philips to Fanny Burney at Chesington.) + +Sunday, after church, I walked up to Norbury; there unexpectedly +I met all our juniperians, and listened to one of the best +conversations I ever heard : it was on literary topics, and the +chief speakers Madame de Stael, M. de Talleyrand, Mr. Locke, and +M. Dumont, a gentleman on a visit of two days at juniper, a +Genevois, homme d'esprit et de lettres. I had not a word beyond +the first " how d'yes " with any one, being obliged to run home +to my abominable dinner in the midst of the discourse. + +On Monday I went, by invitation, to juniper to dine, and before I +came away at night a letter arrived express to Madame de Stael. +On reading it, the change in her countenance made me guess the +contents, It was from the Swedish gentleman who had been +appointed by her husband to meet her at Ostend; he wrote from +that place that he was awaiting her arrival. She had designed +walking home with us by moonlight, but her spirits were too much +oppressed to enable her to keep this intention. M. d'Arblay +walked home with Phillips and me. Every moment of his time has +been given of late to transcribing a MS. work of Madame de Stael, +on 'L'Influence des Passions.' It is a work of considerable +length, and written in a hand the most difficult possible to +decipher. + +On Tuesday we all met again at Norbury, where we spent the day. +Madame de Stael could not rally her spirits at all, +Page 60 + +and seemed like one torn from all that was dear to her. I was +truly concerned. After giving me a variety of charges, or rather +entreaties, to watch and attend to the health, spirits, and +affairs of the friends she was leaving, she said to me, "Et dtes + Mlle. Burney que je ne lui en veux pas du tout--que je quitte +le pays l'aimant bien sincrement et sans rancune."(86) + +I assured her earnestly, and with more words than I have room to +insert, not only of your admiration, but affection, and +sensibility of her worth and chagrin at seeing no more of her. I +hope I exceeded not your wishes; mais il n'y avoit pas moyen de +resister.(87) + +She seemed pleased, and said, "Vous tes bien bonne de me dire +cela,"(88) but in a low and faint voice, and dropped the subject. + +Before we took leave, M. d'Arblay was already gone, meaning to +finish transcribing her MS. I came home with Madame de Stael and +M. de Narbonne. The former actually sobbed in saying farewell to +Mrs. Locke, and half way down the hill; her parting from me was +likewise very tender and flattering. + +I determined, however, to see her again, and met her near the +school, on Wednesday morning with a short note and a little +offering which I was irresistibly tempted to make her. She could +not speak to me, but kissed her hand with a very speaking and +touching expression of countenance. + +it was this morning, and just as I was setting out to meet her, +that Skilton arrived from Chesington. I wrote a little, walked +out, and returned to finish as I could. + +At dinner came our Tio--(89) very bad indeed. After it we walked +together with the children to Norbury; but little Fanny was so +well pleased with his society that it was impossible to get a +word on any particular subject. I, however, upon his venturing +to question me whereabouts was the + +Page 61 + +campagne o se trouvoit Mlle. Burney,(90) ventured de mon +ct(91) to speak the name of Chesington, and give a little +account of its inhabitants, the early love we had for the spot, +our excellent Mr. Crisp, and your good and kind hostesses. He +listened with much interest and pleasure, and said, +"Mais, ne pourroit-on pas faire ce petit voyage-l?"(92) + +I ventured to say nothing encouraging, at least, decisively, in a +great measure upon the children's account, lest they should +repeat; and, moreover, your little namesake seemed to me +surprisingly attentive and veille, as if elle se doutoit de +quelque chose.(93) + +When we came home I gave our Tio so paper to write to you; it was +not possible for me to add more than the address, much as I +wished it. + + + REGRETS RESPECTING MADAME DE STAEL. + +(Fanny Burney to Mrs. -Locke.) +Chesington, 1793. +I have been quite enchanted to-day by my dear Susan's +intelligence that my three convalescents walked to the wood. +Would I had been there to meet and receive them. I have regretted +excessively the finishing so miserably an acquaintance begun with +so much spirit and pleasure, and the dpit I fear Madame de Stael +must have experienced. I wish the world would take more care of +itself, and less of its neighbours. I should have heen very +safe, I trust, without such flights, and distances, and breaches. +But there seemed an absolute resolution formed to crush this +acquaintance, and compel me to appear its wilful renouncer. All I +did also to clear the matter, and soften to Madame de Stael any +pique or displeasure, unfortunately served only to increase them. +Had I understood her disposition better, I should certainly have +attempted no palliation, for I rather offended her pride than +mollified her wrath. Yet I followed the golden rule, for how much +should I prefer any acknowledgment of regret at such an apparent +change, from any one I esteemed, to a seeming + +Page 62 + +unconscious complacency in an unexplained caprice! I am vexed, +however, very much vexed, at the whole business. I hope she left +Norbury Park with full satisfaction in its steady and more +comfortable connection. I fear mine will pass for only a +fashionable one. + +Miss Kitty Cooke still amuses me very much by her incomparable +dialect; and by her kindness and friendliness. I am taken the +best care of imaginable. My poor brother, who will carry this to +Mickleham, is grievously altered by the loss of his little girl. +It has affected his spirits and his health, and he is grown so +thin and meagre, that he looks ten years older than when I saw +him last. I hope he will now revive, since the blow is over; but +it has been a very, very hard one, after such earnest pains to +escape it. .. + +Did the wood look very beautiful? I have figured it to myself +with the three dear convalescents wandering in its winding paths, +and inhaling its freshness and salubrity, ever since I heard of +this walk. I wanted prodigiously to have issued forth from some +little green recess, to have hailed your return. I hope Mr. Locke +had the pleasure of this sight. Is jenny capable of such a +mounting journey? + +Do you know anything of a certain young lady, who eludes all my +inquiries, famous for having eight sisters, all of uncommon +talents? I had formerly some intercourse with her, and she used +to promise she would renew it whenever I pleased but whether she +is offended that I have slighted her offers so long, or whether +she is fickle, or only whimsical, I know not all that is quite +undoubted is that she has concealed herself so effectually from +my researches, that I might as well look for justice and clemency +in the French Convention, as for this former friend in the plains +and lanes of Chesington where, erst, she met me whether I would +or no. + + + M. D'ARBLAY'S VISIT TO CHESINGTON. + +(Fanny Burney to Mrs. Locke.) +Chesington, 1793. +How sweet to me was my dearest Fredy's assurance that my +gratification and prudence went at last hand in hand! I had +longed for the sight of her writing, and not dared wish it. +Page 63 + +I shall now long Impatiently till I can have the pleasure of +saying "Ma'am, I desire no more of your letters." + +I have heard to-day all I can most covet of all my dear late +malades. I take it for granted this little visit was made known +to my dearest sister confidant. I had prepared for it from the +time of my own expectation, and I have had much amusement in what +the preparation produced. Mrs Hamilton ordered half a ham to be +boiled ready; and Miss Kitty trimmed up her best cap, and tried +it on, on Saturday, to get it in shape to her face. She made +chocolate also, which we drank up on Monday and Tuesday, because +it was spoiling. "I have never seen none of the French quality," +she says, "and I have a purdigious curosity; though as to dukes +and dukes' sons, and these high top captains, I know they'll +think me a mere country bumpkin. Howsever, they can't call me +worse than 'Fat Kit Square,' and that's the worst name I ever got +from any of our English petite bears, which I suppose these +petite French quality never heard the like of." + +Unfortunately, however, when all was prepared above, the French +top captain entered while poor Miss Kitty was in dishabill, and +Mrs. Hamilton finishing washing up her china from breakfast. A +maid who was out at the pump, and first saw the arrival, ran in +to give Miss Kitty time to escape, for she was in her round dress +night-cap, and without her roll and curls. However, he followed +too quick, and Mrs. Hamilton was seen in her linen gown and mob, +though she had put on a silk one in expectation for every noon +these four or five days past; and Miss Kitty was in such +confusion, she hurried out of the room. She soon, however, +returned with the roll and curls, and the forehead and throat +fashionably lost, in a silk gown. And though she had not intended +to speak a word, the gentle quietness of her guest so surprised +and pleased her, that she never quitted his side while he stayed, +and has sung his praises ever since. + +Mrs. Hamilton, good soul ! in talking and inquiring since of his +history and conduct, shed tears at the recital. She says now +she, has really seen one of the French gentry that has been drove +out of their country by the villains she has heard Of, she shall +begin to believe there really has been a Revolution! and Miss +Kitty says, "I purtest I did not know before but it was all a +sham." +Page 64 + + THE MATRIMONIAL PROJECT IS DISCUSSED. + +(Fanny Burney to Mrs. Phillips.) +Friday, May 31, Chesington. +My heart so smites me this morning with making no answer to all I +have been requested to weigh and decide, that I feel I cannot +with any ease return to town without at least complying with one +demand, which first, at parting yesterday, brought me to write +fully to you, my Susan, if I could not elsewhere to my +satisfaction. + +in the course of last night and this morning Much indeed has +occurred to me, that now renders my longer silence as to +prospects and proceedings unjustifiable to myself. I will +therefore now address myself to both my beloved confidants, and +open to them all my thoughts, and entreat their own with equal +plainness in return. + +M. d'Arblay's last three letters convince me he is desperately +dejected when alone, and when perfectly natural. It is not that +he wants patience, but he wants rational expectation of better +times, expectation founded on something more than mere aerial +hope, that builds one day upon what the next blasts; and then has +to build again, and again to be blasted. + +What affects me the most in this situation is, that his time may +as completely be lost as another's peace, by waiting for the +effects of distant events, vague, bewildering, and remote, and +quite as likely to lead to ill as to good. The very waiting, +indeed, with the mind in such a state, is in itself an evil +scarce to be recompensed. . . . + +My dearest Fredy, in the beginning of her knowledge of this +transaction, told me that Mr. Locke was of opinion that one +hundred pounds per annum(94) might do, as it does for many a +curate. M. d'A. also most solemnly and affectingly declares that +le simple ncessaire is all he requires and here, In your +vicinity, would unhesitatingly be preferred by him to the most +brilliant fortune in another sjour. If he can say that, what +must I be not to echo it? I, who in the bosom of my own most +chosen, most darling friends--- + +I need not enter more upon this; you all must know +to me a crust of bread, with a little roof for shelter, and a +fire +Page 65 + +for warmth, near you, would bring me to peace, to happiness, to +all that My heart holds dear, or even in any situation could +prize. I cannot picture such a fate with dry eyes ; all else but +kindness and society has to me so always been nothing. + +With regard to my dear father, he has always left me to myself; I +will not therefore speak to him while thus uncertain what to +decide. + +it is certain, however, that, with peace of mind and retirement, +I have resources that I could bring forward to amend the little +situation ; as well as that, once thus undoubtedly established +and naturalised, M. d'A. would have claims for employment. + +These reflections, with a mutual freedom from ambition might lead +to a quiet road, unbroken by the tortures of applications, +expectations, attendance, disappointment, and time-wasting hopes +and fears; if there were not apprehensions the one hundred pounds +might be withdrawn. I do not think it likely, but it is a risk +too serious in its consequences to be run. M. d'A. protests he +could not answer to himself the hazard. + +How to ascertain this, to clear the doubt, or to know the fatal +certainty before it should be too late, exceeds my powers of +suggestion. His own idea, to write to the queen, much as it has +startled me, and wild as it seemed to me, is certainly less wild +than to take the chance of such a blow in the dark. Yet such a +letter could not even reach her. His very name is +probably only known to her through myself. In short, my dearest +friends, you will think for me, and let me know what occurs to +you, and I will defer any answer till I hear your opinions. +Heaven ever bless you! And pray for me at this moment. + + + DR. BURNEY'S OBJECTIONS TO THE MATCH. + +(Dr. Burney to Fanny Burney.) +May, 1793, +Dear Fanny,-I have for some time seen very plainly that you are +prise, and have been extremely uneasy at the discovery. YOU must +have observed my silent gravity, surpassing that of mere illness +and its consequent low spirits. I had some thoughts of writing +to Susan about it, and intended begging her to do what I must now +do for myself--that is, beg and admonish you not to entangle +yourself in a wild and +Page 66 + +romantic attachment, which offers nothing in prospect but poverty +and distress, with future inconvenience and unhappiness. M. +d'Arblay is certainly a very amiable and accomplished man, and of +great military abilities I take for granted ; but what employment +has he for them of which the success is not extremely hazardous? +His property, whatever it was, has been confiscated--dcr--by +the Convention - and if a counter-revolution takes place, unless +it be exactly such a one as suits the particular political sect +in which he enlisted, it does not seem likely to secure to him an +establishment in France. And as to an establishment in England, I +know the difficulty which very deserving natives find in +procuring one, with every appearance of interest, friends, and +probability; and, to a foreigner, I fear the difficulty will be +more than doubled. + +As M. d'Arblay is at present circumstanced, an alliance with +anything but a fortune sufficient for the support of himself and +partner would be very imprudent. He is a mere soldier of fortune, +under great disadvantages. Your income, if it was as certain as a +freehold estate, is insufficient for the purpose ; and if the +queen should be displeased and withdraw her allowance, what could +you do? + +I own that, if M. d'Arblay had an establishment in France +sufficient for him to marry a wife with little or no fortune, +much as I am inclined to honour and esteem him, I should wish to +prevent you from fixing your residence there; not merely from +selfishness, but for your own sake, I know your love for your +family, and know that it is reciprocal; I therefore cannot help +thinking that you would mutually be lost to each other. The +friends, too, which you have here, are of the highest and most +desirable class. To quit them, in order to make new friendships +in a strange land, in which the generality of its inhabitants at +present seem incapable of such virtues as friendship is built +upon, seems wild and visionary. + +If M. d'Arblay had a sufficient establishment here for the +purposes of credit and comfort, and determined to settle here for +life, I should certainly think ourselves honoured by his alliance +; but his situation is at present so very remote from all that +can satisfy prudence, or reconcile to an affectionate father the +idea of a serious attachment, that I tremble for your heart and +future happiness. M. d'Arblay must have lived too long in the +great world to accommodate himself +Page 67 + +contentedly to the little. his fate seems so intimately connected +with that of his miserable country, and that country seems at a +greater distance from peace, order, and tranquillity now than it +has done at any time since the Revolution. + +These considerations, and the uncertainty Of what party will +finally prevail, make me tremble for you both. You see, by what I +have said, that my objections are not personal, but wholly +prudential. For heaven's sake, my dear Fanny, do not part with +your heart too rapidly, or involve yourself in deep engagements +which it will be difficult to dissolve; and to the last degree +imprudent, as things are at present circumstanced, to fulfil. + +As far as character, merit, and misfortune demand esteem and +regard, you may be sure that M. d'Arblay will be always received +by me with the utmost attention and respect - but, in the present +situation of things, I can by no means think I ought to encourage +(blind and ignorant as I am of all but his misfortunes) a serious +and solemn union with one whose unhappiness would be a reproach +to the facility and inconsiderateness of a most affectionate +father. + + + THE MARRIAGE TAKES PLACE. + + Memorandum, this 7th May, 1825. + +In answer to these apparently most just, and, undoubtedly, most +parental and tender apprehensions, Susanna, the darling child of +Dr. Burney, as well as first chosen friend of M, d'Arblay, wrote +a statement of the plans, and means, and purposes of M. d'A. and +F. B.--so clearly demonstrating their power of happiness, with +willing economy, congenial tastes, and mutual love of the +country, that Dr. B. gave way, and sent, though reluctantly, a +consent - by which the union took place the 31st Of July, 1793, +in Mickleham church, In presence of Mr. and Mrs. Locke, Captain +and Mrs. Phillips, M. de Narbonne, and Captain Burney, who was +father to his sister, as Mr. Locke was to M. d'A. ; and on the +1st of August the ceremony was re-performed in the Sardinian +chapel, according to the rites of the Romish Church; and never, +never was union more blessed and felicitous; though after the +first eight years of unmingled happiness, it was assailed by many +calamities, chiefly of separation or illness, yet still mentally +unbroken. F. D'ARBLAY. +Page 68 + + ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MARRIAGE TO A FRIEND. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs.----.) +August 2, 1793. +How in the world shall I begin this letter to my dearest M--! how +save her from a surprise almost too strong for her weak nerves +and tender heart! + +After such an opening, perhaps any communication may be a relief +but it is surprise only I would guard against; my present +communication has nothing else to fear; it has nothing in it sad, +melancholy, unhappy, but it has everything that is marvellous and +unexpected. + +Do you recollect at all, when you were last in town, my warm +interest for the loyal part of the French exiles?-=do you +remember my loge of a French officer, in particular, a certain +M. d'Arblay? + +Ah, my dear M--, you are quick as lightning; your sensitive +apprehension will tell my tale for me now, without more aid than +some details of circumstance. + +The loge I then made, was with design to prepare you for an +event I had reason to expect: such, however, was the uncertainty +of my situation, from prudential obstacles, that I dared venture +at no confidence, though my heart prompted it strongly, to a +friend so sweetly sympathising in all my feelings and all my +affairs--so constantly affectionate- so tenderly alive to all +that interests and concerns me. + +My dearest M-, you will give me, I am sure, your heart-felt +wishes--your most fervent prayers. The choice I have made appears +to me all you could yourself wish to fall to my lot--all you +could yourself have formed to have accorded best with your kind +partiality. + +I had some hope you would have seen him that evening when we went +together from Mrs. M. Montagu to Mrs. Locke's, for he was then a +guest in Portland Place; but some miserable circumstances, of +which I knew nothing till after had just fallen out, and he had +shut himself up in his room. He did not know we were there. + +Many, indeed, have been the miserable circumstances that have, +from time to time, alarmed and afflicted in turn, and seemed to +render a renunciation indispensable. The difficulties, however, +have been conquered; and last Sunday +Page 69 + +Mr. and Mrs. Locke, my sister and Captain Phillips, and my +brother Captain Burney, accompanied us to the altar, in Mickleham +church ; since which the ceremony has been repeated in the chapel +of the Sardinian ambassador, that if, by a counter-revolution in +France, M. d'Arblay recovers any f his rights, his wife may not +be excluded from their participation. + +You may be amazed not to see the name of my dear father upon this +solemn occasion - but his apprehensions from the smallness of our +income have made him cold and averse and though he granted his +consent, I could not even solicit his presence. I feel +satisfied, however, that time will convince him I have not been +so imprudent as he now thinks me. Happiness is the great end of +all our worldly views and proceedings, and no one can judge for +another in what will produce it, To me, wealth and ambition would +always be unavailing ; I have lived in their most centrical +possessions, and I have always seen that the happiness of the +richest and the greatest has been the moment of retiring from +riches and from power. Domestic comfort and social affection +have invariably been the sole as well as ultimate objects of my +choice, and I have always been a stranger to any other species of +felicity. + +M. d'Arblay has a taste for literature, and a passion for reading +and writing, as marked as my own ; this is a sympathy to rob +retirement of all superfluous leisure, and insure to us both +occupation constantly edifying or entertaining. He has seen so +much of life, and has suffered so severely from its +disappointments, that retreat, with a chosen companion, is become +his final desire. + +Mr. Locke has given M. d'Arblay a piece of ground in his +beautiful park-, upon which we shall build a little neat and +plain habitation. We shall continue, meanwhile, in his +neighbourhood, to superintend the little edifice, and enjoy the +Society of his exquisite house, and that of my beloved sister +Phillips. We are now within two miles of both, at a farm-house, +where we have what apartments we require, and no more, in a most +beautiful and healthy situation, a mile and a half from any town. +The nearest is Bookham; but I beg that MY letters may be directed +to me at Captain Phillips's, Mickleham, as the post does not come +this way, and I may else miss them for a week. AS I do not +correspond with Mrs Montagu, and it would +Page 70 + +be awkward to begin upon such a theme, I beg that when you write +you will say something for me. + +One of my first pleasures, in our little intended home, will be, +finding a place of honour for the legacy of Mrs. Delany. Whatever +may be the general wonder, and perhaps blame, of general people, +at this connexion, equally indiscreet in pecuniary points for us +both, I feel sure that the truly liberal and truly intellectual +judgment of that most venerated character would have accorded its +sanction, when acquainted with the worthiness of the object who +would wish it. + +Adieu, my sweet friend. Give my best compliments to Mr. ---, and +give me your kind wishes, your kind prayers, my ever dear M--. + +(1) So called from the convent where their meetings were held. + +(2) Carlyle. + + +(3) Carlyle. + +(4 "To the lamp;" the street lamp-irons being found, by the - +French sansculottes, a handy substitute for the gallows.-ED. + +(5) The old Marshal Duke de Broglie was one of the early +emigrants. He quitted France in July 1789, after the fall of the +Bastille.-ED. + + +(6) "Minister of War." + +(7) Bradfield Hall, near Bury St. Edmund's, Suffolk, the house of +Arthur Young, See infra.-ED. + +(8) " Arthur Young, the well-known writer of works on +agriculture, still in high repute. He was a very old friend of +the Burneys ; connected with them also, by marriage, Mrs. Young +being a sister of Dr. Burney's second wife. His " Travels in +France " (from 1769 to 1790), published in 1794, gives a most +valuable and interesting account of the state of that country +just before the Revolution. Arthur Young was appointed Secretary +to the Board of Agriculture, established by Act of Parliament in +1793. He died in 1820, in his seventy-ninth year, having been +blind for some years previous to his death.-ED. + +(9) Fanny's half-sister, Sarah Harriet Burney, -ED. + +(10) " Minister of war." + +(11) One memorable saying is recorded of the Duke de Liancourt. +He brought the news to the king of the capture of the Bastille by +the people of Paris, July 14, 1789. "Late at night, the Duke de +Liancourt, having official right of entrance, gains access to the +royal apartments unfolds, with earnest clearness, in his +constitutional way, the Job's- news. 'Mais,' said poor Louis, +'c'est une rvolte, Why, that is a revolt!''Sire,' answered +Liancourt, 'it is not a revolt,--it is a +revolution.'"-(Carlyle.)-ED. + +(12) "Peers of France." + +(13) Coblenz was the rallying-place of the emigrant noblesse.-ED. + +(14) On the 20th of June 1792, sansculotte Paris, assembling in +its thousands, broke into the Tuileries, and called upon the king +to remove his veto upon the decree against the priests, and to +recall the ministry--Roland's--which he had just dismissed. For +three hours the king stood face to face with the angry crowd, +refusing to comply. In the evening, the Mayor of Paris, Ption, +arrived, with other popular leaders from the Assembly, and +persuaded the people to disperse.-ED. + +(15) "Save Yourself, M. de Liancourt!" + +(16) "Ah! we are lost!" + +(17) "prison." + +(18) " I am in England. + +(19) The Duke de la Rochefoucault, "journeying, by quick stages, +with his mother and wife, towards the Waters of +Forges, or some quieter country, was arrested at Gisors; +conducted along the streets, amid effervescing multitudes, and +killed dead ' by the stroke of a paving-stone hurled +through the coach-window.' Killed as a once Liberal, now +Aristocrat; Protector of Priests, Suspender of virtuous Ptions, +and most unfortunate Hot-grown-cold, detestable to Patriotism. +He dies lamented of Europe; his blood +spattering the cheeks of his old mother, ninety-three years old." +-(Carlyle, Erench Aevolulion, Part III., Book I., ch. vi.)- ED. + +(20) School-boys. + +(21) See note 361 ante, vol. ii. +p. 449.-ED. + +(22) The name under which Madame de Genlis was now passing. + +(23) " She has seen me!" + +(24) "Perhaps I am indiscreet?" + +(25) "But, mademoiselle--after all--the king--is he quite cured? +" +(26) "What, mademoiselle! you knew that infamous woman?" + +(27) These "journalizing letters " of Mrs. Phillips +continue without interruption from the present page to page +37.-ED. + +(28) Not yet duke, but viscount. He was created duke by Louis +XVIII., in 1822.-ED. + +(29) It should be March. "The portfolio of war was +withdrawn from him, by a very laconic letter from the king, March +10, 1792; he had held it three months and three +days." (Nouvelle Biographie Gnrale: art. Narbonne.)-ED. + +(30) Severe decrees against the emigrants were passed in the +Convention shortly afterwards. See infra, P. 33.-ED. + +(31) "And as he is extremely attached to him, he has begged him +to come and live with him." + +(32) In a position to realise her fortune." + +(33) "To pay his respects to me." + +(34) "I do not speak English very well." + +(35) "*What a pretty little house you have, and what pretty +little hosts. " + +(36) "Does he know the name of M. Lafayette ?" + +(37) "They put us at first into a pretty enough room." + +(38) A constitutionalist and member of the Legislative Assembly, +who narrowly escaped with his life on the 10th of August. He +lived thenceforward in retirement until after the fall of +Robespierre and the jacobins, and came again to the fore under +Napoleon.-ED. + +(39) "His resignation." + +(40) "Without form of law." + +(41) The night of June 20-21, 1791, King Louis fled disguised +from Paris, with his family; got safely as far as Varennes, but +was there discovered, and obliged to return.-ED. + +(42) "Resolution was taken." + +(43) "After many threatening gestures." + +(44) The asylum of Jean jacques (Rousseau). + +(45) St. just was one of the most notable members of the National +Convention. "Young Saint-just is coming, deputed by Aisne in the +North; more like a Student than a Senator; not four-and-twenty +yet (Sept. 1792); who has written Books; a youth of slight +stature, with mild mellow voice, enthusiast olive-complexion and +long black hair." (Carlyle.) +He held with Robespierre, and was guillotined with him, July 28, +1794.-ED. + +(46) ' "And now he is a proud republican." + +(47) "What day better than the present?" + +(48) "Listen to reason." + +(49) M. de Necker was father of Madame de Stael, and at one time +the most popular minister of France. Controller-general of +finances from 1776 to 1781, and again in 1788. In July 1789, he +was dismissed, to the anger of indignant Paris; had to he +recalled before many days, and returned in triumph, to be, it was +hoped, "Saviour of France." But his popularity gradually +declined, and at last "'Adored Minister' Necker sees good on the +3rd of September, 1790, to withdraw softly, almost privily--with +an eye to the 'recovery of his health.' Home to native +Switzerland; not as he last came; lucky to reach it alive!" +(Carlyle)-ED. +(50) Malouet was a member of the Assembly, and one of the +constitutional royalists who took refuge in England in September, +1792. Hearing of the intended trial of the king, 'Malouet wrote +to the Convention, requesting a passport, that he might go to +Paris to defend him. He got no passport, however ; only his name +put on the list of emigrants for an answer. ED. + +(51) "Were mixed up in it." + +(52) The Bishop of Autun:--Talleyrand.-ED. + +(53) "Worthy to be the husband of so amiable and charming a +person as Madame de la Chtre." + +(54) "M. de la Chtre is a capital fellow; but as rough as a +cart-horse." + +(55) The spleen. + +(56) Inn. + +(57) "His unfortunate friends." + +(58) "But wait a bit ; I have not yet finished : we were assured +that no one was lost, and even that everything on the vessel was +saved." + +(59) "Out at sea." + +(60) "His friends the constitutionalists." + +(61) Fortnight. + +(62) The execution of Louis XVI. + +(63) The Literary Club. + +(64) Guarded: circumspect. + +(65) Dr. Percy, editor of the "Reliques of Ancient English +Poetry."-ED. +(66) "Move the people to compassion." + +(67) As literary curiosities, the subjoined notes from Madame de +Stael , have been printed verbatim et literatim: they are +probably her earliest attempts at English writing. + +(68) "But, to make more sure, I tell you in French that your +room, the house, the inmates of Juniper, everything is ready to +receive the first woman in England." + + (69) Malesherbes was one of the counsel who defended Louis at +his trial. The Convention, after debate, has granted him Legal +Counsel, of his own choosing. Advocate Target feels himself 'too +old,' being turned of fifty-four - and declines. . . . Advocate +Tronchet, some ten years older, does not decline. Nay behold, +good old Malesherbes steps forward voluntarily; to the last of +his fields , the good old hero! He is gray with seventy years; he +says, 'I was twice called to the Council of him who was my +Master, When all the world coveted that honour; and I owe him the +same service now, when it has become one which many reckon +dangerous!"--(Carlyle). Malesherbes was guillotined in 1794, +during "the Reign of Terror."-ED. + +(70) Mr. Clarke. + +(71) Voltaire's.--ED. + +(72) Narbonne.-ED. + +(73) "Something to live on in England." + +(74) September 2, it should be.-ED. + +(75) i.e., Dcrt d'accusation, accused.-ED. + +(76) Lally Tolendal was the son of the brave Lally, Governor of +Pondicherry, whose great services in India were rewarded by the +French government with four years' imprisonment, repeated +torture, and finally ignominious death, in 1760. The infliction +of torture on criminals was not put a stop to in France until the +Revolution.-ED. + +(77) "A very good fellow, and nothing more." + +(78) "But he will be hurt at that." +(79) The owner of Juniper Hall.-ED. + +(80) "Coquetry to soften that barbarous jenkinson." + +(81) "Indignant at the bad faith, and tired with the tediousness +of his opponent." + +(82) "Pray, Mr. Gnawbone, how is the queen?" +(83) Punctiliousness: propriety. + +(84) Pet: Vexation. + +(85) "Is a woman in leading strings all her life in this country? +It seems to me that your sister is like a child of fourteen." +(86) "And tell Miss Burney that I don't desire it of her-that I +leave the Country loving her sincerely, and bearing her no +grudge." + +(87) "There was no way out of it." + +(88) "You are very good to say SO." + +(89) M. d'Arblay. "When Lieutenant [James] Burney accompanied +captain Cook to otaheite, each of the English sailors was adopted +as a brother by some one of the natives. The ceremony consisted +in rubbing noses together, and exchanging the appellation Tyo or +Toio, which signified 'chosen friend.' This title was sometimes +playfully given to Miss Burney by Mrs. Thrale." note to the +original edition of the "Diary", vol. ii. page 38.-ED. + +(90) "Country place where Miss Burney was." + +(91) "On my part." + +(92) "Could not one make that little journey?" + +(93) "Wide awake, as if she suspected something." + +(94) The amount of Fanny's pension from the queen.-ED. + + + + + SECTION 20. + (1793-6) + + + LOVE IN A COTTAGE: THE D'ARBLAYS VISIT WINDSOR. + + +[Never, probably, did Fanny enjoy greater happiness than during +the first few years of her married life, "Love in a cottage" on +an income Of One hundred pounds a year, was exactly suited to her +retiring and affectionate nature. The cottage, too, was within +easy walking distance of Mickleham, where resided her favourite +sister, Susanna, and of Norbury Park, the home of her dearest +friends, the Lockes. Here, then, in this beautiful part of +Surrey, with a devoted husband by her side, and, in due time, a +little son (her only child) to share with him her tenderness and +care ' did Fanny lead, for some.time, a tranquil and, in +the main, a happy life. Her chief excursions were occasional +visits to the queen and princesses-delightful visits now that she +was out of harness. Towards the end, however, of the period of +which the following 'Section contains the history, two melancholy +events, happening in quick succession, brought sorrow to the +little household at Book'ham. The departure for Ireland of Susan +Phillips left a grievous gap in the circle of Fanny's best-loved +friends. We gather from the "Diary" that Captain (now Major) +Phillips had gone to Ireland, with his little son, Norbury, to +superintend the management of his estate at Belcotton, some +months before his wife left Mickleham. In the autumn of 1796 he +returned to fetch his wife and the rest of his family. An absence +of three years was intended, The parting was rendered doubly +distressing by the evidently declining state of Susan's health. +Shortly afterwards, in October 1796, died Fanny's step-mother, +who had been, for many years, more Or less an invalid. Fanny +hastened to Chelsea on receiving the news, and spent some time +there with her father and his Youngest daughter. The +following extract from a memorandum of Dr. Burney's will be read, +we think, not without Interest. + +"On the 26th of October, she [his second wife) was interred in +the burying-ground of Chelsea College. On the 27th, I returned to +my melancholy home, disconsolate and stupified, Though long +Page 72 + +expected, this calamity was very severely felt; I missed her +counsel, converse, and family regulations; and a companion of +thirty years, whose mind was cultivated, whose intellects were +above the general level of her sex, and whose curiosity after +knowledge was insatiable to the last. These were losses that +caused a vacuum in my habitation and in my mind, that has never +been filled up. + +"My four eldest daughters, all dutiful, intelligent, and +affectionate, were married, and had families of their own to +superintend, or they might have administered comfort. My youngest +daughter ' Sarah Harriet, by my second marriage, had quick +intellects, and distinguished talents ; but she had no experience +in household affairs. However, though she had native spirits of +the highest gaiety, she became a steady and prudent character, +and a kind and good girl. There is, I think, considerable merit +in her novel, 'Geraldine,' particularly in the conversations; and +I think the scene at the emigrant cottage really touching. At +least it drew tears from me, when I was not so prone to shed them +as I am at present."(95) + +During these years Fanny did not suffer her pen to lie idle. Her +tragedy, "Edwy and Elgiva," was produced, though without success, +at Drury Lane. On the other hand, the success of her third novel, +"Camilla, or a Picture of Youth, " published by subscription in +1796, was, at least from a financial point of view, conspicuous +and immediate. Out of an edition of four thousand, three thousand +five hundred copies were sold within three months. + +Were we to attempt to rank Madame d'Arblay's novels in order of +merit, we should perhaps feel compelled to place "Camilla" at the +bottom of the list, yet without intending to imply any +considerable inferiority. But it is full of charm and animation +the characters--the female characters especially-are drawn with a +sure hand, the humour is as diverting, the satire as spirited as +ever. Fanny"s fops and men of the ton are always excellent in +their kind, and "Camilla" contains, perhaps, her greatest triumph +in this direction, in the character of Sir Sedley Clarendal. +Lovel. in "Evelina," and Meadows, in "Cecilia," are mere +blockheads, whose distinction is wholly due to the ludicrousness +of their affectations; but in Sir Sedley she has attempted, and +succeeded in the much more difficult task of portraying a man of +naturally good parts and feelings, who, through idleness and +vanity, has allowed himself to sink into the position of a mere +leader of the ton, whose better nature rises at times, in spite +of himself, above the flood of affectation and folly beneath +which he endeavours to drown it. Camilla herself, the +light-hearted, unsuspicious Camilla, however she may differ, in +some points of character, from Fanny's other heroines, possesses +one quality which is common to them all, the power of fascinating +the reader. Perhaps the least satisfactory character in the book +is that of the hero, Edgar Mandlebert, whose extreme caution in +the choice of a wife betrays him into ungenerous suspicions, as +irritating to the impatient reader as they are dis- +Page 73 + +tressing to pool- Camilla. In fine, whatever faults, as +occasionally of style, the book may have the interest never for +One moment flags from the first page to the last of the entire +five volumes. + + +The subscriPtion-price of " Camilla " was fixed at one guinea. +Fanny's friends, Mrs. Crewe, Mrs. Boscawen, and Mrs. Locke, +exerted themselves with the utmost zeal and success in procuring +subscribers, and the printed lists prefixed to the first volume +contains nearly eleven hundred names. Among wthem we notice the +name of Edmund Burke, whose great career was closing in a cloud +of domestic trouble'. Early in 1794 he lost his brother, Richard, +and in August of the same year a far heavier blow fell upon him +in the death, at the age of thirty-six, of his only and promising +son, "the pride and ornament of my existence," as he called him +in a touching letter to Mrs. Crewe. The desolate father, already +worn with the thankless toils of statesmanship, in which his very +errors had been the outcome of a noble and enthusiastic +temperament, never recovered from this blow. But when Mrs. Crewe +sent him, in 1795, the proposals for publishing "Camilla," Burke +roused himself to do a new kindness to an old friend. He +forwarded to Mrs. Crewe a note for twenty pounds, desiring in +return one copy of the book, and justified his generous donation +in a letter of the most delicate Courtesy. "As to Miss Burney," +he wrote, "the subscription ought to be, for certain persons, +five guineas; and to take but a single copy each. The rest as +it is. I am sure that it is a disgrace to the age and nation, if +this be not a great thing for her. if every person in England +who has received pleasure'and instruction from 'Cecilia,' were to +rate its value at the hundredth part of their satisfaction, +Madame d'Arblay would be one of the richest women in the kingdom. + +"Her scheme was known before she lost two of her most respectful +admirers from this house; and this, with Mrs. BUrke's' +subscription and mine, make the paper I send you. One book is as +good as a thousand: one of hers is certainly as good as a +thousand others." + +The book, on its Publication 'was sent to Bath, where Burke +was lying ill-too ill to read it. To Mrs. Crewe, who visited him +at the time, he said : "How ill I am you will easily believe, +when a new work of Madame d'Arblay's lies on my table, +unread!"(96) + +Meanwhile the retirement of the "hermits" at Bookham was now and +again disturbed by echoes of the tumult without. The war was +progressing, and the Republic was holding its own against the +combined powers of Europe. Dr. Burney refers to the "sad news" +from Dunkirk. In August, 1793, an English army, commanded by the +Duke of York, had invested that important stronghold: on the +night of September 8, thanks to the exertions of the garrison and +the advance of General Houchard to its relief, the siege was +urriedly abandoned and his royal highness had to beat a retreat, +leaving behind him' his siege-artillery and a large quantity of +aggage and ammunition. Another siege--that of +Page 74 + +Toulon-seemed likely to prove a matter of nearer concern to +Fanny. The inhabitants of Toulon, having royalist, or at least +anti-jacobin, sympathies, and stirred by the fate of Marseilles, +had determined, in an unhappy hour, to defy the Convention and to +proclaim the dauphin by the title of Louis XVII. They invoked the +protection of the English fleet under Admiral Hood, who +accordingly took possession of the harbour and of the French +ships of war stationed therein, while a force of English and +Spanish soldiers was sent on shore to garrison the forts. In the +course of these proceedings the admiral issued to the townspeople +two proclamations, by the second of which, dated August 28, 1793, +after noticing the declaration of the inhabitants in favour of +monarchy, and Their desire to re-establish the constitution as it +was accepted by the late king, he explicitly declared that he +took possession of Toulon and should keep it solely as a deposit +for Louis XXIII., and that only until the restoration of peace. +This hopeful intelligence did not escape General d'Arblay, busied +among his cabbages at Bookham. A blow to be struck for Louis +XVII. and the constitution! The general straightway flung aside +the "Gardener's Dictionary," and wrote an offer to Mr. Pitt of +his services as volunteer at Toulon, in the sacred cause of the +Bourbons. Happily for Fanny, his offer was not accepted, for some +reason unexplained.(97) In the meantime, General Dugommier and +the republicans, a young artillery-officer named Napoleon +Buonaparte among them, were using their best endeavours to reduce +Toulon, with what result we shall presently see.-ED.] + + + THE FRENCH CLERGY FUND. THE TOULON ExPEDITION. + +(Dr. Burney to Madame d'Arblay.) +September 12, 1793. +Dear Fanny--In this season of leisure I am as fully occupied as +ever your friend Mr. DelVile(98) was. So many people to +attend, so many complaints to hear, and so many grievances to +redress, that it has been impossible for me to write to +you sooner. I have been out of town but one Single day, I +believe, since you were here: that was spent at Richmond with my +sisters. But every day +Page 75 + +produces business for other people, which occupies me as much as +ever I found myself in days of hurry about my own affairs. + +I have had a negotiation and correspondence to carry on +for and with Charlotte Smith,(99) of which I believe I told you +the beginning, and I do not see the end myself. Her second +son had his foot shot off before Dunkirk, and has undergone a +very dangerous amputation, which, it is much feared, will be +fatal. + +Mrs. Crewe, having seen at Eastbourne a great number of venerable +and amiable French clergy suffering all the evils of banishment +and beggary with silent resignation, has for some time had in +meditation a plan for procuring some addition to the small +allowance the committee at Freemasons' hall is able to allow, +from the residue of the subscriptions and briefs in their favour. +Susan will show you the plan. . . . + +You say that M. d'Arblay is not only his own architect, but +intends being his own gardener. I suppose the ground allotted to +the garden of your maisonnette is marked out, and probably will +be enclosed and broken up before the foundation of your mansion +is laid ; therefore, to encourage M. d'Arblay in the study of +horticulture, I have the honour to send him Miller's 'Gardeners' +Dictionary,'--an excellent book, at least for the rudiments of +the art. I send you, my dear Fanny, an edition of Milton, which +I can well spare, and which you ought not to live without ; and I +send you both our dear friend Dr. Johnson's 'Rasselas.' + +This is sad news from Dunkirk, at which our own jacobins will +insolently triumph. Everything in France seems to move in a +regular progression from bad to worse. After near five years' +struggle and anarchy, no man alive, with a grain of modesty, +would venture to predict how or when the evils of that country +will be terminated. In the meantime the peace and comfort of +every civilised part of the globe is threatened with similar +calamities. + +(Madame dArblay to Dr. Burney) +Bookham, September 29, 1793. +When I received the last letter of my dearest father, and for +some hours after, I was the happiest of all human beings. I make +no exception, for I think none possible : not a wish remained to +me; not a thought of forming one. +Page 76 + +This was just the period--is it not always so?--for a blow of +sorrow to reverse the whole scene : accordingly, that evening M. +d'Arblay communicated to me his desire of going to Toulon. He had +intended retiring from public life; his services and his +sufferings in his severe and long career, repaid by exile and +confiscation, and for ever embittered to his memory by the murder +of his sovereign, had justly satisfied the claims of his +conscience and honour; and led him, without a single +self-reproach, to seek a quiet retreat in domestic society : but +the second declaration of Lord Hood no sooner reached this little +obscure dwelling,-no sooner had he read the words Louis XVII. and +the constitution to which he had sworn united, than his military +ardour rekindled, his loyalty was all up in arms, and every sense +of duty carried him back to wars and dangers. + +I dare not speak of myself, except to say that I have forborne to +oppose him with a single solicitation; all the felicity of this +our chosen and loved retirement would effectually be annulled by +the smallest suspicion that it was enjoyed at the expense of any +duty - and therefore, since he is persuaded it is right to go, I +acquiesce. He is now writing an offer of his services, which I am +to convey to Windsor, and which he means to convey himself to Mr. +Pitt. As I am sure it will interest my dear father, I will copy +it for him. . . . + +My dearest father, before this tremendous project broke into our +domestic economy, M, d'Arblay had been employed in a little +composition, which, being all in his power, he destined to lay at +your feet, as a mark of his pleasure in your attention to his +horticultural pursuit. He has just finished copying it for you, +and to-morrow it goes by the stage. + +Your hint of a book from time to time enchanted him: it seems to +me the only present he accepts entirely without pain. He has just +requested me to return to Mrs. Locke herself a cadeau she had +brought us. If it had been an old Courtcalendar, or an almanac, +or anything in the shape of a brochure, he would have received it +with his best bow and smile. + +This Toulon business finally determines our deferring the +maisonnette till the spring. Heaven grant it may be deferred no +longer!(100) Mr Locke says it will be nearly as soon ready as if +begun in the autumn, for it will be better to have it +Page 77 + +aired and inhabited before the winter seizes it, +If the memoire which M. d'Arblay is now writing is finished in +time, it shall accompany the little packet; if not, we will send +it by the first opportunity. + +Meanwhile, M. d'Arblay makes a point of our indulging ourselves +with the gratification of subscribing one guinea to your +fund,(101) and Mrs. Locke begs you will trust her and insert her +subscription in your list, and Miss Locke and Miss Amelia Locke. +Mr. Locke is charmed with your plan. M. d'Arblay means to obtain +you Lady Burrel and Mrs. Berm. If you think I can write to any +purpose, tell me a little hint how and of what, dearest sir; for +I am in the dark as to what may remain yet unsaid. Otherwise, +heavy as is my heart just now, I could work for them and Your +plan.(102) + +(Dr. Burney to Madame d'Arblay.) +October 4, 1793. +Dear Fanny,--This is a terrible coup, so soon after your union; +but I honour M, d'Arblay for offering his service on so great an +occasion, and you for giving way to what seems an indispensable +duty. Common-place reflections on the vicissitudes of human +affairs would afford you little consolation. The stroke is new to +your situation, and so will be the fortitude necessary on the +occasion. However, to military men, who, like M. d'Arblay, have +been but just united to the object of their choice, and begun to +domesticate, it is no uncommon tbing for their tranquillity to be +disturbed by " the trumpet's loud clangor." Whether the offer is +accepted or not, the having made it will endear him to those +embarked in the same cause among his countrymen, and elevate him +in the general opinion of the English public. This consideration +I am sure will afford you a satisfaction the most likely to +enable you to support the anxiety and pain of absence. + +I have no doubt of the offer being taken well at Windsor, and of +its conciliating effects. If his majesty and the ministry +Page 78 + +have any settled plan for accepting or rejecting similar offers I +know not; but it seems very likely that Toulon will be regarded +as the rallying point for French royalists of all sects and +denominations. . . . + +I shall be very anxious to know how the proposition of M. +d'Arblay has been received; and, if accepted, on what conditions, +and when and how the voyage is to be performed , I should hope in +a stout man of war ; and that M. de Narbonne will be of the +party, being so united in friendship and political principles. + +Has M. d'Arblay ever been at Toulon ? It is supposed to be so +well fortified, both by art and nature, on the land side, that; +if not impregnable, the taking it by the regicides will require +so much time that it is hoped an army of counterrevolutionists +will be assembled from the side of Savoy, sufficient to raise the +siege, if unity of measures and action prevail between the +Toulonnais and their external friends. But even if the assailants +should make such approaches as to render it necessary to retreat, +with such a powerful fleet as that of England and Spain united, +it will not only be easy to carry off the garrison and +inhabitants in time, but to destroy such ships as cannot be +brought away, and ruin the harbour and arsenal for many years to +come.' + + + +I have written to Mrs. Crewe all you have said on the subject of +writing something to stimulate benevolence and commiseration in +favour of the poor French ecclesiastics, amounting to six +thousand now in England, besides four hundred laity here and +eight hundred at Jersey, in utter want. The fund for the laity +was totally exhausted the 27th of last month, and the beginning +of the next that raised by former subscriptions and briefs will +be wholly expended! + +The expense, in only allowing the clergy 8 shillings a-week, +amounts +Page 79 + +to about 7500 pounds a-month, which cannot be supported long by +private subscriptions, and must at last be taken up by +Parliament; but to save the national disgrace of suffering these +excellent people to die of hunger, before the Parliament meets +and agrees to do something for them, the ladies must work hard. +You and M. d'Arblay are very good in wishing to contribute your +mite ; but I did not intend leading you into this scrape. If you +subscribe your pen, and he his sword, it will best answer Mr. +Burke's idea, who says, "There are two ways by which people may +be charitable-the one by their money, the other by their +exertions." + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Sunday noon, October 21, 1793. +My dearest father will think I have been very long in doing +the little I have done; but my mind is so anxiously discom-fited +by the continued suspense with regard to M. d'Arblay's +proposition and wish, that it has not been easy to me to weigh +completely all I could say, and the fear of repeating what had +already been offered upon the subject has much restrained me, for +I have seen none of the tracts that may have appeared. However, +it is a matter truly near my heart ; and though I have not done +it rapidly, I have done it with my whole mind, and, to own the +truth, with a species of emotion that has greatly affected me, +for I could not deeply consider the situation of these venerable +men without feeling for them to the quick. If what I have written +should have power to procure them one more guinea, I shall be +paid. + +If you think what I have drawn up worth printing, I should +suppose it might make a little sixpenny paper, and be sold for +the same purpose it is written. Or will it only do to be printed +at the expense of the acting ladies, and given gratis? You must +judge of this. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Bookham, October 27, 1793. +My most dear father,--The terrible confirmation of this last act +of savage hardness of heart(104) has wholly overset us again. M. +d'Arblay had entirely discredited its probability, +Page 80 + +and, to the last moment, disbelieved the report not from milder +thoughts of the barbarous rulers of his unhappy country, but from +seeing that the death of the queen could answer no purpose, +helpless as she was to injure them, while her life might answer +some as a hostage with the emperor. Cruelty, however, such as +theirs, seems to require no incitement whatever; its own horrible +exercise appears sufficient both to prompt and to repay it. Good +heaven! that that wretched princess should so finish sufferings +so unexampled! + +With difficulties almost incredible, Madame de Stael has +contrived, a second time, to save the lives of M. de Jaucourt and +M, de Montmorenci, who are just arrived in Switzerland. We know +as yet none of the particulars; simply that they are saved is +all: but they write in a style the most melancholy to M. de +Narbonne, of the dreadful fanaticism of licence, which they dare +call liberty, that still reigns unsubdued in France, And they +have preserved nothing but their persons ! of their vast +properties they could secure no more than pocket-money, for +travelling in the most penurious manner. They are therefore in a +state the most deplorable. Switzerland is filled with gentlemen +and ladies of the very first families and rank, who are all +starving, but those who have had the good fortune to procure, by +disguising their quality, some menial office! + +No answer comes from Mr. Pitt ; and we now expect none till Sir +Gilbert Elliot makes his report of the state of Toulon and of the +Toulonnese till which, probably, no decision will be formed +whether the constitutionals in England will be employed or not. + +[M. d'Arblay's offer of serving in the expedition to Toulon was +not accepted, and the reasons for which it was declined do not +appear.] + + + + MADAME D'ARBLAY ON HER MARRIAGE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to mrs.----.) + +The account of your surprise, my sweet friend, was the last thing +to create mine: I was well aware of the general astonishment, and +of yours in particular. My own, however, at my very extraordinary +fate, is singly greater than that of all my friends united. I had +never made any vow against marriage, but I had long, long been +firmly persuaded it was for me a state of too much hazard and too +little promise to draw me from my + +Page 81 + +individual plans and purposes. I remember, in playing -at +questions and commands, when I was thirteen, being asked when I +intended to marry? and surprising my playmates by solemnly +replying) "When I think I shall be happier than I am in being +single." It is true, I imagined that time would never arrive - +and I have pertinaciously adhered to trying no experiment upon +any other hope - for, many and mixed as are the ingredients which +form what is generally considered as happiness, I was always +fully convinced [hat social sympathy of character and taste could +alone have any chance with me; all else I always thought, and now +know, to be immaterial. I have only this peculiar,--that what +many contentedly assert or adopt in theory, I have had the +courage to be guided by in practice. + +We are now removed to a very small house in the suburbs of a very +small village called Bookham. We found it rather inconvenient to +reside in another person's dwelling, though our own apartments +were to ourselves. Our views are not so beautiful as from +Phenice farm, but our situation is totally free from neighbours +and intrusion. We are about a mile and a half from Norbury Park, +and two miles from Mickleham. I am become already so stout a +walker, by use, and with the help of a very able supporter, that +I go to those places and return home on foot without fatigue, +when the weather is kind. At other times I condescend to accept +a carriage from Mr. Locke ; but it is always reluctantly, I so +much prefer walking where, as here, the country and prospects are +inviting. + +I thank you for your caution about building: we shall certainly +undertake nothing but by contract - however, it would be truly +mortifying to give up a house in Norbury Park we defer the +structure till the spring, as it is to be so very slight, that +Mr. Locke says it will be best to have it hardened in its first +stage by the summer's sun. It will be very small, +merely an habitation for three people, but in a situation truly +beautiful, and within five minutes of either Mr. Locke or my +sister Phillips: it is to be placed just between those two loved +houses. + +My dearest father, whose fears and drawbacks have been my Sole +subject of regret, begins now to see I have not judged rashly, or +with romance, in seeing my own road to my own felicity. And his +restored cheerful concurrence in my constant principles, though +new station, leaves me, for myself, + +Page 82 + +without a wish. L'ennui, which could alone infest our retreat, I +have ever been a stranger to, except in tiresome company, and my +companion has every possible resource against either feeling or +inspiring it. + +As my partner is a Frenchman, I conclude the wonder raised by the +connexion may spread beyond my own private circle; but no wonder +upon earth can ever arrive near my own in having found such a +character from that nation. This is a prejudice certainly, +impertinent and very John Bullish, and very arrogant but I only +share it with all my countrymen, and therefore must needs forgive +both them and myself. I am convinced, however, from your tender +solicitude for me in all ways, that you will be glad to hear that +the queen and all the royal family have deigned to send me wishes +for my happiness through Mrs. Schwellenberg, who has written me +what you call a very kind congratulation. + +[In the year 1794, the happiness of the "Hermitage" was increased +by the birth of a son,(105) who was christened Alexander Charles +Louis Piochard d'Arblay; receiving the names of his father, with +those of his two godfathers, the Comte de Narbonne and Dr. +Charles Burney.] + + + MR. CANNING. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Doctor Burney) +Bookham, February 8, 1794. +The times are indeed, as my dearest father says, tremendous, and +reconcile this retirement daily more and more to my chevalier- +-chevalier every way, by birth, by his order, and by his +character; for to-day he has been making his first use of a +restoration to his garden in gathering snowdrops for his fair +Dulcinea--you know I must say fair to finish the phrase with any +effect. + +I am very sorry for the sorrow I am sure Mr. Burke will feel for +the loss of his brother, announced in Mr. Coolie's paper +yesterday. Besides, he was a comic, good-humoured, entertaining +man, though not bashful.(106) + +Page 83 + +What an excellent opening Mr. Canning has made at last! +Entre nous soit dit, I remember, when at Windsor, that I Was told +Mr. Fox came to Eton purposely to engage to himself that young +man, from the already great promise of his rising abilities - and +he made dinners for him and his nephew, Lord Holland, to teach +them political lessons. It must have had an odd effect upon him, +I think, to hear such a speech from his disciple.(107) + +Mr. Locke now sends us the papers for the debates every two or +three days ; he cannot quicker, as his own household readers are +so numerous. I see almost nothing of Mr. Windham in them ; which +vexes me: but I see Mr. Windham in Mr. Canning. + + + TALLEYRAND's LETTERS OF ADIEU.(108) + +(M. de Talleyrand to Mrs. Philips.) +Londres, 1794. +Madame,--Il faut qu'il y ait eu de l'impossibilit pour que ce +matin je n'aie pas eu l'honneur de vous voir; mais l'im- + +Page 84 + +possibilit la plus forte m'a priv du dernier plaisir que je +pouvois avoir en Europe. Permettez moi, madame, de vous remercier +encore une fois do toutes vos bonts, de vous demander un peu de +part dans votre souvenir, et laissez moi vous dire que mes voeux +se porteront dans tous les terns de ma vie vers vous, vers le +capitaine, vers vos enfans. Vous allez avoir en Amrique un +serviteur bien zl; je ne reviendrai pas en Europe sans arriver +dans le Surrey: tout ce qui, pour mon esprit et pour mon coeur, a +quelque valeur, est l. + +Voulez-vous bien prsenter tous mes complimens au capitaine?(109) + +(M. de Talleyrand to M. and Madame d'Arblay.) +Londres, 2 Mars, 1794. +Adieu, mon cher D'Arblay: je quitte votre pays jusqu'au moment o +il n'appartiendra plus aux petites passions des hommes. Alors j'y +reviendrai; non, en vrit, pour m'occuper d'affaires, car il y a +long tems que je les ai abandonnes pour jamais; mais pour voir +les excellens habitans du Surrey, J'espre savoir assez d'Anglais +pour entendre Madame d'Arblay; d'ici quatre mois je ne vais +faire autre chose que l'tudier: et pour apprendre le beau et bon +langage, c'est "Evelina" et "Cecilia" qui sont mes livres d'tude +et de plaisir. Je vous souhaite, mon cher ami, toute espce de +bonheur, et vous tes on position de remplir tous mes souhaits. + +je ne sais combien de tems je resterai en Amrique: s'il se +rfroit quelque chose de raisonnable et de stable pour notre +malheureux pays, je reviendrois; si l'Europe s'abme dans la +campagne prochaine, je prparerai en Amrique des asyles tous +nos amis. + +Page 85 + +Adieu: mes hommages Madame d'Arblay et Madame +phillips, je vous en prie: je vous demande et vous promets amiti +pour la vie.(110) + + + M. D'ARBLAY's HORTICULTURAL PURSUITS. + + +(Madame d'Arblay to Doctor Burney.) +Bookham, March 22, 1794. +My dear father.--I am this Moment returned from reading your most +welcome and kind letter at our Susanna's. The account of your +better health gives me a pleasure beyond all words; and it is the +more essential to my perfect contentment on account of your +opinion of our retreat. I doubt not, my dearest father, but you +judge completely right, and I may nearly say we are both equally +disposed to pay the most implicit respect to your counsel. We +give up, therefore, all thoughts of our London excursion for the +present, and I shall write to that effect to our good intended +hostess very speedily. I can easily conceive far more than you +enlarge upon in this counsel: and, indeed, I have not myself been +wholly free from apprehension of possible embarras, should we, at +this period, visit London; for though M. d'Arblay not only could +stand, but would court, all personal scrutiny, whether +retrospective or actual, I see daily the extreme susceptibility +which attends his very nice notions of honour, and how quickly +and deeply his spirit is wounded by whatever he regards as +injustice. Incapable, too, of the least trimming or + +Page 86 + +disguise, he could not, at a time such as this, be in London +without suffering or risking perhaps hourly, something +unpleasant. Here we are tranquil, undisturbed and undisturbing. +Can life, he often says, he more innocent than ours, or happiness +more inoffensive? He works in his garden, or studies English and +mathematics, while I write. When I work at my needle, he reads +to me; and we enjoy the beautiful country around us in long and +romantic strolls, during which he carries under his arm a +portable garden chair, lent us by Mrs. Locke, that I may rest as +I proceed. He is extremely fond, too, of writing, and makes, from +time to time, memorandums of such memoirs, poems, and anecdotes +as he recollects, and I wish to have preserved. These resources +for sedentary life are certainly the first blessings that can be +given to man, for they enable him to be happy in the extremest +obscurity, even after tasting the dangerous draughts of glory and +ambition. + +The business of M. de Lafayette(111) has been indeed extremely +bitter to him. It required the utmost force he could put upon +himself not to take some public part in it. He drew up a short +but most energetic defence of that unfortunate general, in a +letter, which he meant to print and send to the editors of a +newspaper which had traduced him, with his name at full length. +But after two nights' sleepless deliberation, the hopelessness of +serving his friend, with a horror and disdain of being mistaken +as one who would lend any arms to weaken government at this +crisis, made him consent to repress it. I was dreadfully uneasy +during the conflict, knowing, far better than I can make him +conceive, the mischiefs that might follow any interference at +this moment, in matters brought before the nation, from a +foreigner. But, conscious of his own integrity, I plainly see he +must either wholly retire, or come forward to encounter whatever +he thinks wrong. Ah--better let him accept your motto, and +cultiver son jardin! He is now in it, notwithstanding our long +walk to Mickleham, and working hard and fast to finish some +selfset task that to-morrow, Sunday, must else impede. + page 87 + +M. d'Arblay, to my infinite satisfaction, gives up all thoughts +of building, in the present awful state of public affairs. To +show you, however, how much he is " of your advice " as to son +jardin, he has been drawing a plan for it, which I intend to beg, +borrow, or steal (all one), to give you some idea how seriously +he studies to make his manual labours of some real utility. + +This sort of work, however, is so totally new to him, that he +receives every now and then some of poor Merlin's "disagreeable +compliments;" for, when Mr. Locke's or the captain's gardeners +favour our grounds with a visit, they commonly make known that +all has been done wrong. Seeds are sowing in some parts when +plants ought to be reaping, and plants are running to seed while +they are thought not yet at maturity. Our garden, therefore, is +not yet quite the most profitable thing in the world; but M. d'A. +assures me it is to be the staff of our table and existence. + +A little, too, he has been unfortunate ; for, after immense toil +in planting and transplanting strawberries round our hedge, here +at Bookham, he has just been informed they will bear no fruit the +first year, and the second we may be "over the hills and far +away!" Another time, too, with great labour, he cleared a +considerable compartment of weeds, and, when it looked clean and +well, and he showed his work to the gardener, the man said he had +demolished an asparagus-bed! M. d'A. protested, however, nothing +could look more like des mauvaises herbes. + +His greatest passion is for transplanting. Everything we possess +he moves from one end of the garden to another, to produce better +effects. Roses take place of jessamines, jessamines of +honeysuckles, and honeysuckles of lilacs, till they have all +danced round as far as the space allows; but whether the effect +may not be a general mortality, summer only can determine. + +Such is our horticultural history. But I must not omit that we +have had for one week cabbages from our own cultivation every +day! O, you have no idea how sweet they tasted! We agreed they +had a freshness and a got we had never met with before. We had +them for too short a time to grow tired of them, because, as I +have already hinted, they were beginning to run to seed before we +knew they were eatable. . . + +April. Think of our horticultural shock last week, when Mrs. +Bailey, our landlady, "entreated M. d'Arblay not to Spoil +Page 88 + +her fruit-trees!"--trees he had been pruning with his utmost +skill and strength. However, he has consulted your "Millar" +thereupon, and finds out she is very ignorant, which he has +gently intimated to her. + + + MRS. PIOZZI. + + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Bookham, April, 1794. +What a charming letter was your last, my dearest father How full +of interesting anecdote and enlivening detail! The meeting with +Mrs. Thrale, so surrounded by her family, made me breathless; and +while you were conversing with the Signor, and left me in doubt +whether you advanced to her or not, I almost gasped with +impatience and revived old feelings, which, presently, you +reanimated to almost all their original energy How like my +dearest father to find all his kindness rekindled when her ready +hand once more invited it! I heard her voice in, "Why here's Dr. +Burney, as young as ever!" and my dear father in his parrying +answers.(112) No scene could have been related to me more +interesting or more welcome. My heart and hand, I am sure, would +have met her in the same manner. The friendship was too pleasant +in its first stage, and too strong in its texture, to be ever +obliterated, though it has been tarnished and clouded. I wish few +things more earnestly than again to meet her. + + + + M. D'ARDLAY AS A GARDENER. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.)(113) +Bookham, August, '94. +It is just a week since I had the greatest gratification of its +kind I ever, I think, experienced :---so kind a thought, so + +Page 89 + +sweet a surprise as was my dearest father's visit! How softly +and soothingly it has rested upon my mind ever since! + +"Abdolomine"(114) has no regret but that his garden was not in +better order; he was a little piqu, he confesses, that you said +it was not very neat--and, to be shor!-0-but his passion is +to do great works: he undertakes with pleasure, pursues with +energy, and finishes with spirit; but, then, all is over! He +thinks the business once done always done; and to repair, and +amend, and weed, and cleanse--O, these are drudgeries +insupportable to him! + +However, you should have seen the place before he began his +operations, to do him justice ; there was then nothing else but +mauvaises herbes; now, you must at least allow there is a mixture +of flowers and grain! I wish you had seen him yesterday, mowing +down our hedge--with his sabre, and with an air and attitudes so +military, that, if he had been hewing down other legions than +those he encountered--ie., of spiders--he could scarcely have had +a mien more tremendous, or have demanded an arm more mighty. +Heaven knows, I am "the most contente personne in the world" to +see his sabre so employed! + + + A NOVEL AND A TRAGEDY. + +You spirited me on in all ways; for this week past I have taken +tightly to the grand ouvrage.(115) If I go on so a little longer, +I doubt not but M. d'Arblay will begin settling where to have a +new shelf for arranging it! which is already in his rumination +for Metastasio;(116) I imagine you now .,Seriously resuming that +work; I hope to see further sample ere long. + +We think with very great pleasure of accepting my mother's and +your kind invitation for a few days. I hope and mean, if +possible, to bring with me also a little sample of something less +in the dolorous style than what always causes your poor shoulders +a little Shrug.(117) . . . + +How truly grieved was I to hear from Mr. Locke of the death of +young Mr. Burke!(118) What a dreadful blow upon his +Page 90 + +father and mother ! to come at the instant of the son's highest +and most honourable advancement, and of the father's retreat to +the bosom of his family from public life ! His brother, too, +gone so lately! I am most sincerely sorry, indeed, and quite +shocked, as there seemed so little suspicion of such an event's +approach, by your account of the joy caused by Lord Fitzwilliam's +kindness. Pray tell me if you hear how poor Mr. Burke and his +most amiable wife endure this calamity, and how they are. . . . + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs.----.) +Bookham, April 15, 1795. +So dry a reproof from so dear a friend! And do you, then, measure +my regard of heart by my remissness of hand? Let me give you the +short history of my tragedy,(119) fairly and frankly. I wrote it +not, as your acquaintance imagined, for the stage, nor yet for +the press. I began it at Kew palace, and, at odd moments, I +finished it at Windsor; without the least idea of any species of +publication. + +Since I left the royal household, I ventured to let it be read by +my father, Mr. and Mrs. Locke, my sister Phillips, and, of +course, M. d'Arblay, and not another human being. Their opinions +led to what followed, and my brother, Dr. Charles, showed it to +Mr. Kemble while I was on my visit to my father last October. He +instantly and warmly pronounced for its acceptance, but I knew +not when Mr. Sheridan would see it, and had not the smallest +expectation of its appearing this year. However, just three days +before my beloved little infant came into the world, an express +arrived from my brother, that Mr. Kemble wanted the tragedy +immediately, in order to show it to Mr. Sheridan, who had just +heard of it, and had spoken in the most flattering terms of his +good will for its reception. + +Still, however, I was in doubt of its actual acceptance till +three weeks after my confinement, when I had a visit from my +brother, who told me he was, the next morning, to read the piece +in the green-room. This was a precipitance for which I was every +way unprepared, as I had never made but one copy of the play, and +had intended divers corrections and alterations. Absorbed, +however, by my new charge and then + +Page 91 + +growing ill, I had a sort of indifference about the matter, +which, in fact, has lasted ever since. + +The moment I was then able to hold a pen I wrote two short +letters, to acknowledge the state of the affair to my sisters - +and to one of these epistles I had an immediate laughing answer, +informing me my confidence was somewhat of the latest, as the +subject of it was already in all the newspapers! I was extremely +chagrined at this intelligence; but, from that time, thought it +all too late to be the herald of my own designs. And this, added +to my natural and incurable dislike to enter upon these +egotistical details unasked, has caused my silence to my dear M- +-, and to every friend I possess. Indeed, speedily after, I had +an illness so severe and so dangerous, that for full seven weeks +the tragedy was neither named nor thought of by M. d'Arblay or +myself. + +The piece was represented to the utmost disadvantage, save only +Mrs. Siddons and Mr. Kemble - for it was not written with any +idea of the stage, and my illness and weakness, and constant +absorbment, at the time of its preparation, occasioned it to +appear with so many undramatic effects, from my inexperience of +theatrical requisites and demands, that, when I saw it, I myself +perceived a thousand things I wished to change. The performers, +too, were cruelly imperfect, and made blunders I blush to have +pass for mine,-added to what belong to me. The most important +character after the hero and heroine had but two lines of his +part by heart ! He made all the rest at random, and such +nonsense as put all the other actors out as much as himself; so +that a more wretched Performance, except Mrs. Siddons, Mr. +Kemble, and Mr. Bensley, could not be exhibited in a barn. All +this concurred to make it very desirable to withdraw the piece +for alterations, which I have done. + +(Dr. Burney to Madame d'Arblay.) +May 7, 1795. +One of my dinners, since my going out, was at Charlotte's, with +the good Hooles. After dinner Mr. Cumberland came in, and was +extremely courteous, and seemingly friendly, about you and your +piece. He took me aside from Mrs. Paradise, who had fastened on +me and held me tight by an account of her own and Mr. paradise's +complaints, so + +Page 92 + +circumstantially narrated, that not a stop so short as a comma +occurred in more than an hour, while I was civilly waiting for a +full period. Mr. Cumberland expressed his sorrow at what had +happened at Drury-lane, and said that, if he had had the honour +of knowing you sufficiently, he would have told you d'avance what +would happen, by what he had heard behind the scenes. The players +seem to have given the play an ill name. But, he says, if you +would go to work again, by reforming this, or work with your best +powers at a new plan, and would submit it to his inspection, he +would, from the experience he has had, risk his life on its +success. This conversation I thought too curious not to be +mentioned. . . . + + + HASTINGs' ACQUITTAL. DR. BURNEY'S METASTASIO. + +Well, but how does your Petit and pretty monsieur do? 'Tis pity +you and M. d'Arblay don't like him, poor thing! And how does +horticulture thrive ? This is a delightful time of the year for +your Floras and your Linnaei: I envy the life of a gardener in +spring, particularly in fine weather. + +And so dear Mr. Hastings is honourably acquitted!(120) and I +visited him the next morning, and we cordially shook hands. I had +luckily left my name at his door as soon as I was able to go out, +and before it was generally expected that he would be acquitted. +. . . + +The young Lady Spencer and I are become very thick , I have dined +with her at Lady Lucan's, and met her at the blue parties there. +She has invited me to her box at the opera, to her house in St +James's Place, and at the Admiralty, whither the family removed +last Saturday, and she says I must come to her the 15th, 22nd, +and 29th of this month, when I shall see a huge assembly. Mrs. +Crewe says all London will be there. She is a pleasant, lively, +and comical creature, with more talents and discernment than are +expected from a character si foltre. My lord is not only the +handsomest and the best intentioned man in the kingdom, but at +present the most useful and truly patriotic. And then, he has +written to Vienna for Metastasio's three inedited volumes, which +I so much want ere I advance too far in the press for them to be +of any use. + +I am halooed on prodigiously in my Metastasio mania. All the +critics--Warton, Twining, Nares, and Dr. Charles--say that his +"Estratto dell' Arte Poetica d'Aristotile," which I am + +Page 93 + +now translating, is the best piece of dramatic criticism that has +ever been written. "Bless my heart!" says Warton, "I, that have +been all my life defending the three unities, am overset." "Ay," +quoth I, "has not he made you all ashamed of 'em? You learned +folks are only theorists in theatrical matters, but Metastasio +had sixty years' successful practice. There!--Go to." My dear +Fanny, before you write another play, you must read Aristotle and +Horace, as expounded by my dear Metastasio. But, basta. You know +when I take up a favourite author, as a Johnson, a Haydn, or a +Metastasio, I do not soon lay him down or let him be run down. . +. . + +Here it strikes three o'clock: the post knell, not bell, tolls +here, and I must send off my scrib: but I will tell you, though I +need not, that, now I have taken up Metastasio again, I work at +him in every uninterrupted moment. I have this morning attempted +his charming pastoral, in "il Re Pastore." I'll give you the +translation, because the last stanza is a portrait:-- + +To meadows, woods, and fountains +Our tender flocks I'll lead; +In meads beneath the mountains +My love shall see them feed. + +Our simple narrow mansion +Will suit our station well; +There's room for heart expansion +And peace and joy to dwell. + + + BABY D'ARBLAY. THE WITHDRAWN TRAGEDY. + +(From Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney) +Hermitage, Bookham, May 13, 1795. +As you say, 'tis pity M. d'A. and his rib should have conceived +such an antipathy to the petit monsieur! O if you could see him +now! My mother would be satisfied, for his little cheeks are +beginning to favour of the trumpeter's, and Esther would be +satisfied, for he eats like an embryo alderman. He enters into +all we think, say, mean, and wish ! His eyes are sure to +sympathise in all our affairs and all our feelings. We find some +kind reason for every smile he bestows upon us, and some generous +and disinterested Motive for every grave look. +Page 94 + +If he wants to be danced, we see he has discovered that his +gaiety is exhilarating to us ; if he refuses to be moved, we take +notice that he fears to fatigue us. If he will not be quieted +without singing, we delight in his early got for les beaux arts. +If he is immovable to all we can devise to divert him, we are +edified by the grand sirieux of his dignity and philosophy: if he +makes the house ring with loud acclaim because his food, at first +call, does not come ready warm into his mouth, we hold up our +hands with admiration at his vivacity. + +Your conversation with Mr. Cumberland astonished me. I certainly +think his experience of stage effect, and his interest with +players, so important, as almost instantly to wish putting his +sincerity to the proof. How has he got these two characters- +-one, of Sir Fretful Plagiary, detesting all works but those he +owns, and all authors but himself--the other, of a man too +perfect even to know or conceive the vices of the world, such as +he is painted by Goldsmith in "Retaliation?" And which of these +characters is true?(121) + +I am not at all without thoughts of a future revise of "Edwy and +Elgiva," for which I formed a plan on the first night, from what +occurred by the representation. And let me own to you, when you +commend my "bearing so well a theatrical drubbing," I am by no +means enabled to boast I bear it with conviction of my utter +failure. The piece was certainly not + +Page 95 + +heard, and therefore not really judged. The audience finished +with an unmixed applause on hearing it was withdrawn for +alterations, and I have considered myself in the publicly +accepted situation of having at my own option to let the piece +die, or attempt its resuscitation,-its reform, as Mr. Cumberland +calls it. However, I have not given one moment to the matter +since my return to the Hermitage. F. D'A. + +PS-I should he very glad to hear good news of the revival of Mr. +Burke. Have you ever seen him since this fatality in his family? +I am glad, nevertheless with all my heart, of Mr. Hastings's +honourable acquittal. + + + "CAMILLA." + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs.--.) +Bookham, June 15, '95, +Let me hasten to tell you something of myself that I shall be +very sorry you should hear from any other, as your too +susceptible mind would be hurt again, and that would grieve me +quite to the heart. + +I have a long work, which a long time has been in hand, that I +mean to publish soon--in about a year. Should it succeed, like +'Evelina' and 'Cecilia,' it may be a little portion to our +Bambino. We wish, therefore, to print it for ourselves in this +hope; but the expenses of the press are so enormous, so raised by +these late Acts, that it is out of all question for us to afford +it. We have, therefore, been led by degrees to listen to counsel +of some friends, and to print it by subscription. This is in +many--many ways unpleasant and unpalatable to us both; but the +real chance of real use and benefit to Our little darling +overcomes all scruples, and therefore, to work we go! + +You will feel, I dare believe, all I could write on this Subject; +I once rejected such a plan, formed for me by Mr. Burke, where +books were to be kept by ladies, not booksellers,--the Duchess of +Devonshire, Mrs. Boscawen, and Mrs. Crewe; but I was an +individual then, and had no cares of times to come: now, thank +heaven! this is not the case;--and when I look at my little boy's +dear, innocent, yet intelligent face, I defy any pursuit to be +painful that may lead to his good. +Page 96 + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Bookham, June 18, '95. +All our deliberations made, even after your discouraging +calculations, we still mean to hazard the publishing by +subscription. And, indeed, I had previously determined, when I. +changed my state, to set aside all my innate and original +abhorrences, and to regard and use as resources, myself, what had +always been considered as such by others. Without this idea, and +this resolution, our hermitage must have been madness. . . . + +I like well the idea of giving no name at all,-why should not I +have my mystery as well as "Udolpho?"(122)--but, " now, don't +fly, Dr. Burney! I own I do not like calling it a novel; it gives +so simply the notion of a mere love-story, that I recoil a little +from it. I mean this work to be sketches of characters and +morals put in action,-not a romance. I remember the word " novel +" was long in the way of 'Cecilia,' as I was told at the queen's +house; and it was not permitted to be read by the princesses till +sanctioned by a bishop's recommendation,--the late Dr. Ross of +Exeter. + +Will you then suffer mon amour Propre to be saved by the +proposals running thus?--Proposals for printing by subscription, +in six volumes duodecimo, a new work by the author of "Evelina" +and "Cecilia." + +How grieved I am you do not like my heroine's name!(123) the +prettiest in nature! I remember how many people did not like that +of "Evelina," and called it "affected" and "missish," till they +read the book, and then they got accustomed in a few pages, and +afterwards it was much approved. I must leave this for the +present untouched ; for the force of the name attached by the +idea of the character, in the author's mind, is such, that I +should not know how to sustain it by any other for a long while. +In "Cecilia" and "Evelina" 'twas the same: the names of all the +personages annexed, with me, all the ideas I put in motion with +them. The work is so far advanced, that the personages are all, +to me, as so many actual acquaintances, whose memoirs and + +Page 97 + +opinions I am committing to paper. I will make it the best I +can, my dearest father. I will neither be indolent, nor +negligent, nor avaricious. I can never half answer the +expectations that seem excited. I must try to forget them, or I +shall be in a continual quivering. + +Mrs. Cooke, my excellent neighbour, came in Just now to read me a +paragraph of a letter from Mrs. Leigh, of Oxfordshire, her +sister. . . . After much of civility about the new work and its +author, it finishes thus:--"Mr. Hastings I saw just now: I told +him what was going forward; he gave a great jump, and exclaimed, +'Well, then, now I can serve her, thank Heaven, and I will! I +will write to Anderson to engage Scotland, and I will attack the +East Indies myself!'" F. D'A. + +P.S.-The Bambino is half a year old this day. + N.B.-I have not heard the Park or Tower guns. I imagine the +wind did not set right. + + + AN INVITATION TO THE HERMITAGE. + +(Madame d"Arblay to the Comte de Narbonne.(124)] +Bookham, 26th December, 1795. +What a letter, to terminate so long and painful a silence! It has +penetrated us with sorrowing and indignant feelings. Unknown to +M. d'Arblay whose grief and horror are upon point of making him +quite ill, I venture this address to his most beloved friend; and +before I seal it I will give him the option to burn or underwrite +it. I shall be brief in what I have to propose: sincerity need +not be loquacious, and M. de Narbonne is too kind to demand +phrases for ceremony. + +Should your present laudable but melancholy plan fail, and should +nothing better offer, or till something can be arranged, will you +dear Sir, condescend to share the poverty of our hermitage? Will +you take a little cell under our rustic roof, and fare as we +fare? What to us two hermits is cheerful and happy, will to you, +indeed, be miserable but it will be some solace to the goodness +of your heart to witness our contentment;--to dig with M. d'A. in +the garden will be of service to + +Page 98 +your health; to muse sometimes with me in the parlour will be a +relaxation to your mind. You will not blush to own your little +godson. Come, then, and give him your blessing; relieve the +wounded feelings of his father--oblige his mother--and turn +hermit at Bookham, till brighter suns invite you elsewhere. F. +D'ARPLAY. + +You will have terrible dinners, alas !--but your godson comes in +for the dessert.(125) + + + PRESENTATION OF "CAMILLA" AT WINDSOR. + +[During the years 1794 and 1795, Madame d'Arblay finished and +prepared for the press her third novel, "Camilla," which was +published partly by subscription in 1796 the dowager Duchess of +Leinster, the Hon. Mrs. Boscawen, Mrs. Crewe, and Mrs. Locke, +kindly keeping lists, and receiving the names of subscribers. + +This work having been dedicated by permission to the queen, the +authoress was desirous of presenting the first copy to her +majesty, and made a journey to Windsor for that honour.) + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Bookham, July 10, 1796. + If I had as much of time as of matter, my dear father, what an +immense letter should I write you ! But I have still so many +book oddments of accounts, examinations, directions, and little +household affairs to arrange, that, with baby-kissing, included, +I expect I can give you to-day only part the first of an +excursion which I mean to comprise in four parts: so here begins. + +The books were ready at eleven or twelve, but not so the tailor! +The three Miss Thrales came to a short but cordial hand-shaking +at the last minute, by appointment; and at about half-past three +we set forward. I had written the day before to my worthy old +friend Mrs. Agnew, the housekeeper, erst, of my revered Mrs. +Delany, to secure us rooms for one + +page 99, day and night, and to Miss Planta to make known I could + +not set out till late. + +When we came into Windsor at seven o'clock, the way to Mrs. +Agnew's was so intricate that we could not find it, till one of +the king's footmen recollecting me, I imagined, came forward, a +volunteer, and walked by the side of the chaise to show the +postilion the house.--N.B. No bad omen to worldly augurers. + +Arrived, Mrs. Agnew came forth with faithful attachment, to +conduct us to our destined lodgings. I wrote hastily to Miss +Planta, to announce to the queen that I was waiting the honour of +her majesty's commands ; and then began preparing for my +appearance the next morning, when I expected a summons - but Miss +Planta came instantly herself from the queen, with orders of +immediate attendance, as her majesty would see me directly! The +king was just gone upon the Terrace, but her majesty did not walk +that evening. + +Mrs. Agnew was my maid, Miss Planta my arranger; my +landlord, who was a hairdresser, came to my head, and M. d'Arblay +was general superintendent. The haste and the joy went hand in +hand, and I was soon equipped, though shocked at my own +precipitance in sending before I was already visible. Who, +however, could have expected such prompt admission? and in an +evening? + +M. d'Arblay helped to carry the books as far as to the gates. My +lodgings were as near to them as possible. At our first entry +towards the Queen's lodge we encountered Dr. Fisher and his lady: +the sight of me there, in a dress announcing indisputably whither +I was hieing, was such an Astonishment, that they looked at me +rather as a recollected spectre than a renewed acquaintance. When +we came to the iron rails poor Miss Planta, in much fidget, +begged to take the books from M. d'Arblay, terrified, I imagine, +lest French feet should contaminate the gravel within!--while he, +innocent of her fears, was insisting upon carrying them as far as +to the house, till he saw I took part with Miss Planta, and he +was then compelled to let us lug in ten volumes as we could. + +The king was already returned from the Terrace, the page told +us." O, then," said Miss Planta, "you are too late!" However, I +went into my old dining-parlour; while she said she would see if +any one could obtain the queen's +commands for another time. I did not stay five minutes +Page 100 + +ruminating upon the dinners, "gone where the chickens," etc., +when Miss Planta return and told me the queen would see me +instantly. + +The queen was In her dressing-room, and with only the Princess +Elizabeth. Her reception was the Most gracious. yet, when she +saw my emotion in thus meeting her again; she herself was by no +means quite unmoved. I presented my little--yet not small-- +offering, upon one knee placing them, as she directed, upon a +table by her side, and expressing, as well as I could, my devoted +gratitude for her invariable goodness to me. She then began a +conversation, in her old style, upon various things and people, +with all her former graciousness of manner, which soon, as she +perceived my strong sense of her indulgence, grew into even all +its former kindness. Particulars I have now no room for ; but +when in about half an hour, she said, "How long do you intend to +stay here, Madame d'Arblay?" and I answered, "We have no +intentions, ma'am," she repeated, laughing, "You have no +intentions!--Well, then, if you can come again to-morrow Morning, +you shall see the princesses." + +She then said she would not detain me at present; encouraged by +all that had passed, I asked if I might presume to put at the +door of the king's apartment a copy of MY little work. She +hesitated, but with smiles the most propitious;. then told me to +fetch the books - and whispered something to the Princess +Elizabeth, who left the room by another door at the same moment +that I retired for the other set. Almost immediately upon my +return to the queen and the Princess Elizabeth, the king entered +the apartment, and entered it to receive himself my little +offering. + +"Madame d'Arblay," said her majesty, "tells me that Mrs. Boscawen +is to have the third set; but the first--Your majesty will excuse +me--is mine." + +This was not, you will believe, thrown away upon me. The king, +smiling, said, "Mrs Boscawen, I hear, has been very zealous." + +I confirmed this. and the Princess Elizabeth eagerly called out, +"Yes, sir! and while Mrs. Boscawen kept a copy for Madame +d'Arblay, the Duchess of Beaufort kept one for Mrs. Boscawen." + +This led to a little discourse upon the business, in which the +king's countenance seemed to speak a benign interest; and the +queen then said, +Page 101 + +"This book was begun here, sir." Which already I had mentioned. + +"And what did you write Of it here?" cried he. "How far did You +go?--Did You finish any part? or only form the skeleton?" + +"Just that, sir," I answered; "the skeleton +was formed here, but nothing was completed. I worked it up in my +little cottage." + +"And about what time did You give to it?" + +"All my time, sir; from the Period I planned publishing it, I +devoted myself to it wholly. I had no episode but a little baby. +My subject grew Upon me, and increased my materials to a bulk +that I am afraid will be more laborious to wade through for the +reader than for the writer." + +"Are you much frightened cried he, smiling, +"as much frightened as you were before?" + +"I have hardly had time to know yet, sir. I received the fair +sheets Of the last volume only last night. I have, therefore, had +no leisure for fear. And sure I am, happen what May to the book +from the critics, it can never cause me pain in any proportion +with the pleasure and happiness I owe to it." I /am sure I spoke +most sincerely and he looked kindly to believe me. + +He asked if Mr. Locke had seen it; and when I said no, he seemed +comically pleased, as if desirous to have it in its first state. +He asked next if Dr. Burney had overlooked it; and, upon the same +answer, looked with the same satisfaction. He did not imagine how +it would have passed Current with my dearest father: he appeared +Only to be glad it would be a genuine work: but, laughingly, +said, "So you kept it quite snug?" + +"Not intentionally, sir, but from my situation and my haste; I +should else have been very happy to have consulted my father and +Mr. Locke; but I had so much, to the last moment, to write, that +I literally had not a moment to hear what could be said. The work +is longer by the whole fifth Volume than I had first planned; and +I am almost ashamed to look at its size, and afraid my readers +would have been more obliged to me if I had left so much out than +for putting So much in." + +He laughed and inquired who corrected my proofs? 'Only myself," I +answered. + +"Why, some authors have told me," cried he, "that they + +Page 102 + +are the last to do that work for themselves. They know so well +by heart what ought to be, that they run on without seeing what +is. They have told me, besides, that a mere plodding head is +best and surest for that work ; and that the livelier the +imagination, the less it should be trusted to." + +I must not go on thus minutely, or my four parts will be forty. +But a full half-hour of graciousness, I could almost call +kindness, was accorded me, though the king came from the concert +to grant it ; and it broke up by the queen saying, "I have told +Madame d'Arblay that, if she can come again to-morrow, she shall +see the princesses." + +The king bowed gently to my grateful obeisance for this offer, +and told me I should not know the Princess Amelia, she was so +much grown, adding, "She is taller than you!" + +I expressed warmly my delight in the permission of Seeing their +royal highnesses, and their majesties returned to the +concert-room. The Princess Elizabeth stayed, -and flew up to me, +crying, "How glad I am to see you here again, my dear Miss +Burney!--I beg your pardon,--Madame d'Arblay I mean -but I always +call all my friends by their maiden names when I first see them +after they are married." + +I warmly now opened upon my happiness in this return to all their +sights, and the condescension and sweetness with which it was +granted me - and confessed I could hardly behave prettily and +properly at my first entrance after so long an absence. "O, I +assure you I felt for you!" cried she; "I thought you must be +agitated ; it was so natural to you to come here-to mamma!" + +You will believe, my dearest father, how light-hearted and full +of glee I went back to my expecting companion: Miss Planta +accompanied me, and stayed the greatest part of the little +remaining evening, promising to let me know at what hour I should +wait upon their royal highnesses. + + + + A CONVERSATION WITH THE QUEEN. + +The next morning, at eight or nine o'clock, my old footman, Moss, +came with Mlle, Jacobi's compliments to M. and Madame d'Arblay, +and an invitation to dine at the Queen's lodge. + +Miss Planta arrived at ten, with her majesty's commands that I +should be at the Queen's lodge at twelve. I stayed meanwhile, +with good Mrs. Agnew, and M. d'Arblay made + +Page 103 + +acquaintance with her worthy husband, who is a skilful and famous +botanist, and lately made gardener to the queen for Frogmore - so +M. d'Arblay consulted him about our cabbages! and so, if they +have not now a high flavour, we are hopeless. + +At eleven M. d'Arblay again ventured to esquire me to the rails +round the lodge, whence I showed him my ci-devant apartment, +which he languished to view nearer. I made a visit to Mlle. +Jacobi, who is a very good creature, and with whom I remained +very comfortably till her majesty and the princesses returned +from Frogmore, where they had passed two or three hours. Almost +immediately I was summoned to the queen by one of the pages. + +She was just seated to her hair-dresser. She conversed upon +various public and general topics till the friseur was dismissed, +and then I was honoured with an audience, quite alone, for a full +hour and a half. During this, nothing could be more gracious +than her whole manner, and The particulars, as there was no +pause, would fill a duodecimo volume at least. Among them was Mr. +Windham, whom she named with great favour; and gave me the +opportunity of expressing my delight upon his belonging to the +government. We had so often conversed about him during the +accounts I had related of Mr. Hastings's trial, that there was +much to say upon the acquisition to the administration, and my +former round assertions of his goodness of heart and honour. She +inquired how you did, my dearest father, with an air of great +kindness and, when I said well, looked pleased, as she answered, +"I was afraid he was ill, for I saw him but twice last year at +our music." + +She then gave me an account of the removal of the concert to the +Haymarket since the time I was admitted to it. She then talked of +some books and authors, but found me wholly in the Clouds as to +all that is new. She then said, "What a very pretty book Dr. +Burney has brought out upon Metastasio! I am very much pleased +with it. Pray (smiling) what will he bring out next?" + +"As yet, madam, I don't know of any new plan." + +"But he will bring out something else?" + +"Most probably, but he will rest a little first, I fancy." + +"Has he nothing in hand?" + +"Not that I now know of, madam." + +"O but he soon will!" cried she, again smiling. +Page 104 + +"He has so active a mind, ma'am, that I believe it quite +impossible to him to be utterly idle , but, indeed, I know of no +present design being positively formed." + +We had then some discourse upon the new connexion at Norbury +park--the Fitzgeralds, etc.; and from this she led to various +topics of our former conferences, both in persons and things, and +gave me a full description of her new house at Frogmore, its +fitting up, and the share of each princess in its decoration. +She spoke with delight of its quiet and ease, and her enjoyment +of its complete retirement. "I spend," she cried, "there almost +constantly all my mornings. I rarely come home but just before +dinner, merely to dress, but to-day I came sooner." + +This was said in a manner so flattering, I could scarce forbear +the air of thanking her , however, I checked the expression, +though I could not the inference which urged it. + + + WITH THE PRINCESs ROYAL AND PRINCESS AUGUSTA. + +At two o'clock the Princess Elizabeth appeared. "Is the princess +royal ready?" said the queen. She answered, "Yes:" and her +majesty then told me I might go to her, adding, "You +know the way, Madame d'Arblay." And, thus licensed, I went to the +apartment of her royal highness up stairs. She was just quitting +it, She received me most graciously, and told me she was going to +sit for her picture, if I would come and stay with her while she +sat. Miss Bab Planta was in attendance, to read during this +period. The princess royal ordered me a chair facing her; and +another for Miss Bab and her book, which, however, was never +opened. The painter was Mr. Dupont.(1266) She was very gay and +very charming, full of lively discourse and amiable +condescension. + +In about an hour the Princess Augusta came in : she addressed me +with her usual sweetness, and, when she had looked at her +sister's portrait, said, "Madame d'Arblay, when the princess +royal can spare you, I hope you will come to me," as she left the +room. I did not flout her; and when I had been an hour with the +princess royal, she told me she would + +Page 105 + +keep me no longer from Augusta, and Miss Planta came to conduct +me to the latter. This lovely princess received me quite alone ; +Miss Planta only shut me in - and she then made me sit by her, +and kept me in most bewitching discourse more than an hour. She +has a gaiety, a charm about her, that is quite resistless: and +much of true, genuine, and very original humour. She related to +me the history of all the feats, and exploits, and dangers, and +escapes of her brothers during last year; rejoicing in their +safety, yet softly adding, "Though these trials and difficulties +did them a great deal of good." + +We talked a little of France, and she inquired of me what I knew +of the late unhappy queen, through M. d'Arblay ; and spoke of her +with the most virtuous discrimination between her foibles and her +really great qualities, with her most barbarous end. .She then +dwelt upon Madame Royale, saying, in her unaffected manner, " +It's very odd one never hears what sort of girl she is." I told +her all I had gathered from M. d'Arblay. She next spoke of my +Bambino, indulging me in recounting his faits et gestes; and +never moved till the princess royal came to summon her. They were +all to return to Frogmore to dinner. "We have detained Madame +d'Arblay between us the whole morning," said the princess royal, +with a gracious smile. "Yes," cried Princess Augusta, "and I am +afraid I have bored her to death; but when once I begin upon my +poor brothers, I can never stop without telling all my little +bits of glory." She then outstayed the princess royal to tell me +that, when she was at Plymouth, at church, she saw so many +officers' wives, and sisters, and mothers, helping their maimed +husbands, or brothers, or sons, that she could not forbear +whispering to the queen, "Mamma, how lucky it is Ernest is just +come so seasonably with that wound in his face! I should have +been quite shocked, else, not to have had one little bit of glory +among ourselves!" + +When forced away from this sweet creature, I went to Mlle. +Jacobi, who said, "But where is M. d'Arblay?" Finding it too late +for me to go to my lodging to dress before dinner I wrote him a +word, which immediately brought him to the Queen's lodge : and +there I shall leave my dear father the pleasure of seeing us, +mentally, at dinner, at my ancient table,-both invited by the +queen's commands. Miss Gomme was asked to meet me, and the repast +was extremely pleasant. + + page 106 + + A PRESENT FROM THE KING AND QUEEN. + +just before we assembled to dinner Mlle. Jacobi desired to speak +with me alone, and, taking me to another room, presented me with +a folded little packet, saying, "The queen ordered me to put this +into your hands, and said, 'Tell Madame d'Arblay it is from us +both."' It was a hundred guineas. I was confounded, and nearly +sorry, so little was such a mark of their goodness in my +thoughts. She added that the king, as soon as he came from the +chapel in the morning, went to the queen's dressing-room just +before he set out for the levee, and put into her hands fifty +guineas, saying, "This is for my set!" The queen answered, "I +shall do exactly the same for mine," and made up the packet +herself. "'Tis only,' she said, 'for the paper, tell Madame +d'Arblay, nothing for the trouble!'" meaning she accepted that. + +The manner of this was so more than gracious, so kind, in the +words us both, that indeed the money at the time was quite +nothing in the scale of my gratification ; it was even less, for +it almost pained me. However, a delightful thought that in a few +minutes occurred made all light and blithesome. "We will come, +then," I cried, "once a year to Windsor, to walk the Terrace, and +see the king, queen, and sweet princesses. This will enable us, +and I shall never again look forward to so long a deprivation of +their sight." This, with my gratitude for their great goodness, +was what I could not refrain commissioning her to report. + + + CURIOSITY REGARDING M. D'ARBLAY. + +Our dinner was extremely cheerful; all my old friends were highly +curious to see M. d'Arblay, who was in spirits, and, as he could +address them in French, and at his ease, did not seem much +disapproved of by them. I went to my lodging afterwards to dress, +where I told my monsieur this last and unexpected stroke, which +gave him exactly my sensations, and we returned to tea. We had +hopes of the Terrace, as my monsieur was quite eager to see all +this beloved royal House. The weather, however, was very +unpromising. The king came from the lodge during our absence; but +soon after we were in the levee three royal coaches arrived from +Frogmore: in the first was the queen, the Princesses Royal and +Augusta, and some lady in waiting. M. d'Arblay stood beside me +Page 107 + +at a window to see them; her majesty looked up and bowed to me, +and, upon her alighting, she looked up again. This, I am sure, +was to see M. d'Arblay, who could not be doubted, as he wore his +croix the whole time he was at Windsor. The princesses bowed +also, and the four younger, who followed, all severally kissed +their hands to me, and fixed their eyes on my companion with an +equal expression of kindness and curiosity ; he therefore saw +them perfectly. + + + THE KING APPROVES THE DEDICATION OF "CAMILLA." + +In a few minutes a page came to say, "The princesses desire to +see Madame d'Arblay," and he conducted me to the apartment of the +Princess Elizabeth, which is the most elegantly and fancifully +ornamented of any in the lodge, as she has most delight and most +taste in producing good effects. + +Here the fair owner of the chamber received me, encircled with +the Princesses Mary and Amelia, and no attendant. They were +exactly as I had left them--kind, condescending, open, +and delightful; and the goodness of the queen, in sparing them +all to me thus, without any allay of ceremony, or gne of +listening Mutes, I felt most deeply. + +They were all very gay, and I not very sad, so we enjoyed A +perfectly easy and even merry half-hour in divers discourses, in +which they recounted to me who had been most anxious about "the +book," and doubted not its great success, as everybody was so +eager about it. "And I must tell you one thing," Cried the +Princess Elizabeth; "the king is very much pleased with the +dedication." + +This was, you will be sure, a very touching hearing to me; And +Princess Mary exclaimed, "And he is very difficult!" + +"O, yes, he's hardly ever pleased with a dedication," cried one +of the princesses. "He almost always thinks them so fulsome." + +"I was resolved I would tell it you," cried Princess Elizabeth. + +Can you imagine anything more amiable than this pleasure in +giving pleasure? + + + A DELICIOUS CHAT WITH THE PRINCESSES. + +Soon after the Princess Augusta came in, smiling and lovely. +Princess royal next appeared Princess Augusta sat down, and +charged me to take a chair next her. Princess +Page 108 + +royal did not stay long, and soon returned to summon her sister +Augusta downstairs, as the concert was begun : but she replied +she could not come yet : and the princess royal went alone. We +had really a most delicious chat then. + +They made a thousand inquiries about my book, and when and where +it was written, etc., and how I stood as to fright and fidget. I +answered all with openness, and frankly related my motives for +the publication. Everything of housekeeping, I told them, was +nearly doubled in price at the end of the first year and half of +our marriage, and we found it impossible to continue so near our +friends and the capital with our limited income, though M. d'A. +had accommodated himself completely, and even happily, to every +species of economy, and though my dearest father had capitally +assisted us ; I then, therefore, determined upon adopting a plan +I had formerly rejected, of publishing by subscription. I told +them the former history of that plan, as Mr. Burke's, and many +particulars that seemed extremely to interest them. My garden, +our way of life, our house, our Bambino,-all were inquired after +and related. I repeatedly told them the strong desire M. +d'Arblay had to be regaled with a sight of all their House -a +House to which I stood so every way indebted,-,and they looked +kindly concerned that the weather admitted no prospect of the +Terrace. + +I mentioned to the Princess Augusta my recent new obligation to +their majesties, and my amaze and even shame at their goodness. + +"O, I am sure," cried she, "they were very happy to have it in +their power." + +"Yes, and we were so glad!" + +"So glad!" echoed each of the others. + +"How enchanted should I have been," cried I, "to have presented +my little book to each of your royal highnesses if I had dared! +or if, after her majesty has looked it over, I might hope for +such a permission, how proud and how happy it would make me!" + +"O, I daresay you may," cried the Princess Augusta, eagerly. I +then intimated how deeply I should feel such an honour, if it +might be asked, after her majesty had read it - and the Princess +Elizabeth gracefully undertook the office. She related to me, in +a most pleasant manner, the whole of her own recent transaction, +its rise and cause and progress, in "The +Page 109 + +Birth of Love:"(127) but I must here abridge, or never have done. +I told them all my scheme for coming again next July, which they +sweetly seconded. Princess Amelia assured me she had not +forgotten me ; and when another summons came for the concert, +Princess Augusta, comically sitting still and holding me by her +side, called out, "Do you little ones go!" + +But they loitered also, and we went on, on, on, with our chat,- +-they as unwilling as myself to break it up,-till staying longer +was impossible ; and then, in parting, they all expressed the +kindest pleasure in our newly-adopted plan of a yearly visit. + +"And pray," cried Princess Elizabeth, "write again immediately!" + +"O, no," cried Princess Augusta, "wait half a year--to rest; and +then--increase your family--all ways!" + +"The queen," said Princess Elizabeth, "consulted me which way she +should read 'Camilla-' whether quick, at once, or comfortably at +Weymouth: so I answered, 'Why, mamma, I think, as you will be so +much interested in the book, Madame d'Arblay would be most +pleased you should read it now at once, quick, that nobody may be +mentioning the events before You come to them - and then again at +Weymouth, slow and comfortably.'" + +In going, the sweet Princess Augusta loitered last but her +youngest sister, Amelia, who came to take my hand when the rest +were departed, and assure me she should never forget Me. + +We spent the remnant of Wednesday evening with my old friends, +determining to quit Windsor the next day, if the weather did not +promise a view of the royal family upon the Terrace for M. +d'Arblay. + + + THE KING NOTICES M. D'ARBLAY. + +Thursday morning was lowering, and we determined upon departing, +after only visiting some of my former acquaintances. 'We met Miss +Planta in our way to the lodge, and took leave; but when we +arrived at Mlle. Jacobi's we found that the queen expected we +should stay for the chance of the Terrace, and had told Mlle. +Jacobi to again invite us to dinner. . . . + +We left the friendly Miss Goldsworthy for other visits;--first to +good old Mrs. Planta; next to the very respectable +Page 110 + +Dr. Fisher and his wife. The former insisted upon doing the +honours himself of St. George's cathedral to M. d'Arblay which +occasioned his seeing that beautiful antique building to the +utmost advantage. Dr. Fisher then accompanied us to a spot to +show M. d'Arblay Eton in the best view. + +Dinner passed as before, but the evening lowered, and hopes of +the Terrace were weak, when the Duke and Duchess of York arrived. +This seemed to determine against us, as they told us the duchess +never went upon the Terrace but in the finest weather, and the +royal family did not choose to leave her. We were hesitating +therefore whether to set off for Rose Dale, when Mlle. Jacobi +gave an intimation to me that the king, herself, and the Princess +Amelia, would walk on the Terrace. Thither instantly we hastened, +and were joined by Dr. and Mrs. Fisher. The evening was so raw +and cold that there was very little company, and scarce any +expectation of the royal family - and when we had been there +about half an hour the musicians retreated, and everybody was +preparing to follow, when a messenger suddenly came forward, +helter skelter, running after the horns and clarionets, and +hallooing to them to return. This brought back the straggling +parties, and the king, Duke of York, and six princesses soon +appeared. + +I have never yet seen M. d'Arblay agitated as at this moment ; he +could scarce keep his steadiness, or even his ground. The +recollections, he has since told me, that rushed upon his mind of +his own king and royal House were so violent and so painful as +almost to disorder him. His majesty was accompanied by the duke, +and Lord Beaulieu, Lord Walsingham, and General Manners; the +princesses were attended by Lady Charlotte Bruce, some other +lady, and Miss Goldsworthy: The king stopped to speak to the +Bishop of Norwich and some others at the entrance, and then +walked on towards us, who were at the further end. As he +approached, the princess royal said, loud enough to be heard by +Mrs. Fisher, "Madame d'Arblay, sir;" and instantly he came on a +step, and then stopped and addressed me, and, after a word or two +of the weather, he said, "Is that M. d'Arblay?" and most +graciously bowed to him and entered into a little conversation; +demanding how long he had been in England, how long in the +country, etc., and with a sweetness, an air of wishing us well, +that will never, never be erased from our hearts. +Page 111 + +M. d'Arblay recovered himself immediately Upon this address, and +answered with as much firmness as respect. + +Upon the king's bowing and leaving US, the commander-in- +chief(128) most courteously bowed also to M. d'Arblay, and the +princesses all came up to speak to me, and to curtsy to him ; and +the Princess Elizabeth cried, "I've got leave! and mamma says she +won't wait to read it first!" + +After this the king and duke never passed without taking off +their hats, and the princesses gave me a smile and a curtsy at +every turn: Lord Walsingbam came to speak to me, and Mr. Fairly, +and General Manners, who regretted that more of our old tea-party +were not there to meet me once more. + + + THE KING AND QUEEN ON "CAMILLA." + +As soon as they all re-entered the lodge we followed to take +leave of Mlle. Jacobi; but, Upon moving towards the passage, the +princess royal appeared, saying, "Madame d'Arblay, I come to +waylay you!" and made me follow her to the dressing-room, whence +the voice of the queen, as the door opened, called out, in mild +accents, "Come in, Madame d'Arblay!" + +Her majesty was seated at the upper end of the room, with the +Duchess of York (129) on her right, and the Princesses Sophia and +Amelia on her left. She made me advance, and said, "I have just +been telling the Duchess of York that I find her royal highness's +name the first Upon this list,"--producing "Camilla." + +"Indeed," said the duchess, bowing to me, "I was so very +impatient to read it, I could not but try to get it as early as +possible. I am very eager for it, indeed!" + +"I have read," said the queen, "but fifty pages yet; but I am in +great uneasiness for that Poor little girl that I am afraid will +get the small-pox! and I am sadly afraid that sweet little other +girl will not keep her fortune! but I won't Peep! I read quite +fair. But I must tell Madame d'Arblay I know a country gentleman, +in Mecklenburg, exactly the very character of that good old man +the Uncle!" She seemed to speak as if delighted to meet him upon +paper. + +The king now came in, and I could not forbear making up + +Page 112 + +to him, to pour forth some part of my full heart for his +goodness! He tried to turn away, but it was smilingly; and I had +courage to pursue him, for I could not help it. He then slightly +bowed it off, and asked the queen to repeat what she had said +upon the book. + +"O, your majesty," she cried, "I must not anticipate!" yet told +him of her pleasure in finding an old acquaintance. + +"Well!" cried the king archly, " and what other characters have +you seized?" + +"None," I protested, "from life." + +"O!" cried he, shaking his head, "you must have some!" + +"Indeed your majesty will find none!" I cried. + +"But they may be a little better, or a little worse," he +answered, "but still, if they are not like somebody, how can they +play their parts?" + +"O, yes, sir," I cried, "as far as general nature goes, or as +characters belong to classes, I have certainly tried to take +them. But no individuals!" + +My account must be endless if I do not now curtail. The Duke of +York, the other princesses, General Manners, and all the rest of +the group, made way to the room soon after, upon hearing the +cheerfulness of the voice of the king, whose .graciousness raised +me into spirits that set me quite at my ease. He talked much upon +the book, and then of Mrs. Delany, and then of various others +that my sight brought to his recollection, and all with a freedom +and goodness that enabled me to answer without difficulty or +embarrassment, and that produced two or three hearty laughs from +the Duke of York. + + + ANECDOTE OF THE DUCHESS OF YORK. + +After various other topics, the queen said, "Duchess, Madame +d'Arblay is aunt of the pretty little boy (130) you were so good +to." + +The duchess understood her so immediately that I fancy this was +not new to her. She bowed to me again, very smilingly, upon the +acknowledgments this encouraged me to offer; and the king asked +an explanation. + +"Sir," said the duchess, "I was upon the road near Dorking, and I +saw a little gig overturned, and a little boy was taken out, and +sat down upon the road. I told them to +Page 113 + +stop and ask if the little boy was hurt, and they said yes .- and +I asked where he was to go, and they said to a village just a few +miles off; so I took him into my coach, Sir, and carried him +home." + +"And the benedictions, madam," cried I, "of all his family have +followed you ever since!" + +"And he said your royal highness called him a very pretty boy," +cried the queen, laughing, to whom I had related it. + +"Indeed, what he said is very true," answered she, nodding. + +"Yes; he said," quoth I, again to the queen, "that he saw the +duchess liked him." + +This again the queen repeated and the duchess again nodded, and +pointedly repeated, "It is very true." + +"He was a very fine boy-a very fine boy indeed!" cried the king; +"what is become of him?" + +I was a little distressed in answering, "He is in Ireland, sir." + +"In Ireland ! What does he do in Ireland? what does he go there +for?" + +"His father took him, Sir," I was forced to answer. + +"And what does his father take him to Ireland for?" + +"Because-he is an Irishman, Sir!" I answered, half laughing. + +When at length, every one deigning me a bow of leavetaking, their +majesties, and sons and daughters, retired to the adjoining room, +the Princess Amelia loitered to shake hands, and the Princess +Augusta returned for the same condescension, reminding me of my +purpose for next year. While this was passing, the princess royal +had repaired to the apartment of Mlle. Jacobi, where she had held +a little Conversation with M. d'Arblay. + + + A VISIT TO MRS. BOSCAWEN. + +We finished the evening very cheerfully with Mlle. Jacobi and +Mlle. Montmoulin, whom she invited to meet us, and the next +morning left Windsor and visited Rose Dale.(131) Mrs. Boscawen +received us very sweetly, and the little offering as if not at +all her due, Mrs. Levison Gower was with her, and showed us +Thomson's temple. Mrs. Boscawen spoke of my + + +Page 114 + +dearest father with her Usual true sense Of how to Speak of him. +She invited us to dinner, but we were anxious to return to our +Bambino, and M. d'Arblay had, all this time, only fought off +being ill with his remnant of cold. Nevertheless, when we came to +Twickenham, my good old friend Mr. Cambridge was so cordial and +so earnest that we could not resist him, and were pressed in to +staying dinner. . . . + +At a little before eleven we arrived at our dear cottage, and to +our sleeping Bambino. + + + + THE RELATIVE SUCCESS OF MADAME D'ARBLAY'S NOVELS. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Bookham, Friday, October, 1796. +I meant to have begun with our thanks for my dear kind father's +indulgence of our extreme curiosity and interest in the sight of +the reviews. I am quite happy in what I have escaped of greater +severity, though my mate cannot bear that the palm should be +contested by "Evelina" and "Cecilia;" his partiality rates the +last as so much the highest; so does the newspaper I have +mentioned, of which I long to send you a copy. But those immense +men, whose single praise was fame and security--who established, +by a word, the two elder sisters-are now silent, Johnson and Sir +Joshua are no more, and Mr. Burke is ill, or otherwise engrossed; +yet, even without their powerful influence, to which I owe such +unspeakable obligation, the essential success of "Camilla" +exceeds that of the elders. The sale is truly astonishing. +Charles has just sent to me that five hundred only remain of four +thousand, and it has appeared scarcely three months. + +The first edition of "Evelina" was of eight hundred, the second +of five hundred, and the third of a thousand. What the following +have been I have never heard, The sale from that period became +more flourishing than the publisher cared to announce. Of +"Cecilia" the first edition was reckoned enormous at two thousand +and as a part of payment Was reserved for it, I remember our dear +Daddy Crisp thought it very unfair. It was printed, like this, in +July, and sold in October, to every one's wonder. Here, however, +the sale's increased in rapidity more than a third. Charles +says,-- + +"Now heed no more what critics thought 'em, +Since this you know, all people bought 'em." + +Page 115 + + A CONTEMPLATED COTTAGE. + +We have resumed our original plan, and are going immediately to +build a little cottage for ourselves. We shall make it as small +and as cheap as will accord with its being warm and comfortable. +We have relinquished, however, the very kind offer of Mr. Locke, +which he has renewed, for his park. We mean to make this a +property saleable or letable for our Alex, and in Mr. Locke's +park we could not encroach any tenant, if the Youth's +circumstances, profession, or inclination .should make him not +choose the spot for his own residence. M. dArblay, therefore, has +fixed upon a field of Mr. Locke's, which he will rent, and of +which Mr. Locke will grant him a lease of ninety years. By this +means, we shall leave the little Alex a little property, besides +what will be in the funds, and a property likely to rise in +value, as the situation of the field is remarkably beautiful. It +is in the valley, between Mr. Locke's park and Dorking, and where +land is so scarce, that there is not another possessor within +many miles who would part, upon any terms, with half-an-acre. My +kindest father will come and give it, I trust, his benediction. I +am now almost jealous of Bookham for having received it. + +Imagine but the ecstasy of M. d'Arblay in training, all his own +way, an entire new garden. He dreams now of cabbage-walks, +potato-beds, bean-perfumes, and peas-blossoms. My mother should +send him a little sketch to help his flower-garden, which will be +his second favourite object. + + + THE PRINCESS ROYAL'S FIRST INTERVIEW WITH HER FIANCE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Locke.) +1796. +A private letter from Windsor tells me the Prince of Wurtemberg +has much pleased in the royal House, by his manner and address +upon his interview, but that the poor Princess royal was almost +dead with terror, and agitation, and affright, at the first +meeting.(132) She could not utter a word, The queen was obliged +to speak her answers. The prince said he hoped this first would +be the last disturbance his +page 116 + +presence would ever occasion her. She then tried to recover, and +so far conquered her tumult as to attempt joining In a general +discourse from time to time. He paid his court successfully, I +am told, to the sisters, who all determine to like him; and the +princess royal is quite revived in her spirits again, now this +tremendous opening sight is over. + +You will be pleased, and my dearest Mr. Locke, at the style of my +summons: 'tis so openly from the queen herself, Indeed, she has +behaved like an angel to me, from the trying time to her of my +marriage with a Frenchman. "So odd, you know," as Lady Inchiquin +said. + + + OPINIONS OF THE REVIEWS ON "CAMILLA." + +(Dr. Burney to Madame d'Arblay.) +November, 1796. +. . .The "Monthly Review" has come in to-day, and it does not +satisfy me, or raise my spirits, or anything but my indignation. +James has read the remarks in it on "Camilla," and we are all +dissatisfied. Perhaps a few of the verbal criticisms may be worth +your attention in the second edition; but these have been picked +out and displayed with no friendly view, and without necessity, +in a work of such length and intrinsic sterling worth. J'enrage! +Morbleu! + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Bookham, November, 1796. +I had intended writing to my dearest father by a return of goods, +but I find it impossible to defer the overflowings of my heart at +his most kind and generous indignation with the reviewer. What +censure can ever so much hurt as such compensation can heal? And, +in fact, the praise is so strong that, were it neatly put +together, the writer might challenge my best enthusiasts to find +it insufficient. The truth, however, is, that the criticisms come +forward, and the panegyric is entangled, and so blended with +blame as to lose almost all effect, The reviews, however, as they +have not made, will not, I trust, mar me. "Evelina" made its way +all by itself; it was well spoken of, indeed, in all the reviews, +compared with general novels, but it was undistinguished by any +quotation, and only put in the Monthly Catalogue, and only +allowed + +Page 117 + +short single paragraph. It was +circulated only by the general public till it reached, through +that unbiassed medium, Dr. Johnson and Mr. Burke, and thence it +wanted no patron. + +Nov. 14.-Upon a second reading of the Monthly Review upon +"Camilla," I am in far better humour with it, and willing to +confess to the criticisms, if I may claim by that concession any +right to the eulogies. They are stronger and more important, +upon re-perusal, than I had imagined, in the panic of a first +survey and an unprepared-for disappointment in anything like +severity from so friendly an editor. The recommendation, at the +conclusion, of the book as a warning guide to youth, would +recompense me, upon the least reflection, for whatever strictures +Might precede it. I hope my kind father has not suffered his +generous--and to me most cordial--indignation against the +reviewer to interfere with his intended answer to the +affectionate letter of Dr. Griffiths.(133 + + + DEATH OF MADAME D'ARBLAY'S STEPMOTHER. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Phillips.) +Bookham, November 7, 1796. +Yes, -my beloved Susan safe landed at Dublin was indeed +all-sufficient for some time; nor, indeed, could I even read any +more for many minutes. That, and the single sentence at the end, +"My Norbury is with me"--completely overset ne, though only with +joy. After your actual safety, nothing could so much touch me as +the picture I Instantly viewed of Norbury in Your arms. Yet I +shall hope for more detail hereafter. + +The last letter I had from you addressed to myself shows me your +own sentiment of the fatal event(134) which so speedily followed +your departure, and which my dear father has himself announced to +you, though probably the newspapers will anticipate his letter. I +am very sorry, now, I did not write sooner; but while you were +still in England, and travelling so slowly, I had always lurking +ideas that disqualified me from writing to Ireland. + +The minute I received, from Sally, by our dearest father's desire +the last tidings I set out for Chelsea. I was much Shocked by +the news, long as it has been but natural to look + +Page 118 + +forward to it. My better part spoke even before myself upon the +propriety of my instant journey, and promised me a faithful +nursing attendance during my absence. + +I went in a chaise, to lose no time - but the uncertainty how I +might find my poor father made me arrive with a nervous seizure +upon my voice that rendered it as husky as Mr. Rishton's. + +While I settled with the postilion, Sally, James, Charlotte, and +Marianne, came to me. Esther and Charles had been there the +preceding day ; they were sent to as soon as the event had +happened. My dearest father received me with extreme kindness, +but though far, far more calm and quiet than I could expect, he +was much shaken, and often very faint. However, in the course of +the evening, he suffered me to read to him various passages from +various books, such as conversation introduced; and as his nature +is as pure from affectation as from falsehood, encouraged in +himself, as well as permitted in us, whatever could lead to +cheerfulness. + +Let me not forget to record one thing that was truly generous in +my poor mother's last voluntary exertions. She charged Sally and +her maid both not to call my father when she appeared to be +dying; and not disturb him if her death should happen in the +night, nor to let him hear it till he arose at his usual time. I +feel sensibly the kindness of this sparing consideration. + +Yet not so would I be used! O never should I forgive the +misjudged prudence that should rob me of one little instant of +remaining life in one who was truly dear to me'; Nevertheless, I +shall not be surprised to have his first shock succeeded by a +sorrow it did not excite, and I fear he will require much +watching and vigilance to be kept as well as I have quitted him. + + + THE FRENCH EMIGRES AT NORBURY. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Phillips.) +Bookham, December 25, 1796. +You will have heard that the Princesse d'Henin and M. de Lally +have spent a few days at Norbury Park. We went every evening +regularly to meet them, and they yet contrive to grow higher and +higher in our best opinions and affections; they force that last +word; none other is adequate to such regard as they excite. +Page 119 + +M. de Lally read us a pleading for migrs of all descriptions, +to the people and government of France, for their re-instalment +in their native land, that exceeds in eloquence, argument, taste, +feeling, and every power of oratory and truth united, anything I +ever remember to have read. It is so affecting in many places, +that I was almost ill from restraining My nearly convulsive +emotions. My dear and honoured partner gives me, perhaps, an +interest in such a subject beyond what is mere natural due and +effect, therefore I cannot be sure such will be its universal +success; yet I shall be nothing less than Surprised to live to +see his statue erected in his own country, at the expense of his +own restored exiles. 'Tis, indeed, a wonderful performance. And +he was so easy, So gay, so unassuming, yet free from +condescension, that I almost worshipped him. M. d'Arblay cut me +off a bit of the coat in which he read his pleading, and I shall +preserve it, labelled! + +The princess was all that was amiable and attractive, and she +loves my Susanna so tenderly, that her voice was always caressing +when she named her. She would go to Ireland, she repeatedly said, +on purpose to see you, were her fortune less miserably cramped. +The journey, voyage, time, difficulties, and ,sea-sickness, would +be nothing for obstacles. You have made, there, that rare and +exquisite acquisition-an ardent friend for life. + + + DR. BURNEY'S DEPRESSED STATE. + +I have not heard very lately of my dearest father; all accounts +speak of his being very much lower in spirits than When I left +him. I sometimes am ready to return to him, for my whole heart +yearns to devote itself to him - but the babe, and the babe's +father--and there is no going en famille uninvited--and my dear +father does not feel equal to making the invitation. + +One of the Tichfield dear girls seems to be constantly with +Sally, to aid the passing hours, but Our poor father wants +something more than cheerfulness and affection, though nothing +without them could do; he wants some one to find out pursuits--to +entice him into reading, by bringing books, or starting subjects; +some one to lead him to talk of what he thinks, or to forget what +he thinks of, by adroitly talking of what may catch other +attention. Even where deep sorrow is impossible, a gloomy void +must rest in the total breaking up such a long and such a fast +connexion. +Page 120 + +I must always grieve at your absence at such a period. our Esther +has SO much to do in her own family, and fears so much the cold +of Chelsea, that she can be only of day and occasional use, and +it is nights and mornings that call for the confidential +companion that might best revive him, He is more amiable, more +himself, if possible, than ever. God long preserve him to bless +us all! + + + COVETOUS OF PERSONAL DISTINCTION. + +Your old acquaintance, Miss --, has been passing ten days in this +neighbourhood. She is become very pleasingly formed in manners, +wherever she wishes to oblige, and all her roughnesses and +ruggednesses are worn off. I believe the mischief done by her +education, and its wants, not cured, if curable au fond; but much +amended to all, and apparently done away completely to many. What +really rests is a habit of exclusively consulting just what she +likes best, not what would be or prove best for others. She +thinks, indeed, but little of anything except with reference to +herself, and what gives her an air, and will give her a +character, for inconstancy, that is in fact the mere result of +seeking her own gratification alike in meeting or avoiding her +connexions. If she saw this, she has understanding sufficient to +work it out of her; but she weighs nothing sufficiently to dive +into her own self. She knows she is a very clever girl, and she +is neither well contented with others, nor happy in herself, but +where this is evidently acknowledged. + +We spent an evening together at Norbury Park ; she was shown all +Mr. William's pictures and drawings. I knew her expectations of +an attention she had no chance of exciting and therefore devoted +myself to looking them over with her yet, though Mr. Locke +himself led the way to see them, and explained several, and +though Amelia addressed her with the utmost sweetness, and Mrs. +Locke with perfect good breeding, I could not draw from her one +word relative to the evening, or the family, except that she did +not think she had heard Mr. William's voice once. A person so +young, and with such good parts, that can take no pleasure but in +personal distinction, which is all her visit can have wanted, +will soon cut all real improvement short, by confining herself to +such society alone as elevates herself. There she will always +make a capital figure, for her conversation is sprightly and +enter- +Page 121 + +taining, and her heart and principles are both good : she has +many excellent qualities, and various resources in herself; but +she is good enough to make me lament that she is not modest +enough to be yet better. + + + BABY D'ARBLAY AGAIN ; AND OTHER MATTERS. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Bookham, NOV. 29, 1796. +My little man waits for your lessons to get on in elocution: he +has made no further advance but that of calling out, as he saw +our two watches hung on two opposite hooks over the chamber +chimney-piece, "Watch, papa,--watch, mamma;" so, though his first +speech is English, the idiom is French. We agree this is to avoid +any heartburning in his parents. He is at this moment so +exquisitely enchanted with a little penny trumpet, and finding he +can produce such harmony his own self, that he is blowing and +laughing till he can hardly stand. If you could see his little +swelling cheeks you would not accuse yourself of a misnomer in +calling him cherub. I try to impress him with an idea of pleasure +in going to see grandpapa, but the short visit to Bookham is +forgotten, and the permanent engraving remains, and all his +concurrence consists in pointing up to the print over the +chimney-piece, and giving it one of his concise little bows. + +Are not people a little revived in the political world by this +unexampled honour paid to Mr. Pitt?(135) Mr. Locke has +subscribed 3000 pounds. + +How you rejoiced me by what you say of poor Mr. Burke for I had +seen the paragraph of his death with most exceeding great +concern. + +The Irish reports, are, I trust, exaggerated; few things come +quite plainly from Hibernia: yet what a time, in all respects, to +transport thither, as you too well term it, our beloved Susan! +She writes serenely, and Norbury seems to + +Page 122 + +repay a world of sufferings : it is delightful to see her SO +satisfied there, at least; but they have all, she says, got the +brogue. + +Our building is to be resumed the 1st of March; it will then soon +be done, as it is only of lath and plaster, and the roof and +wood-work are already prepared.' My indefatigable superintendent +goes every morning for two, three, or four hours to his field, to +work at a sunk fence that 'IS to protect his garden from our cow. +I have sent Mrs. Boscawen, through Miss Cambridge, a history of +our plan. The dwelling is destined by M. d'Arblay to be called +the Camilla cottage. + +(95) "Memoires of Dr. Burney," vol. iii. pp. 224-5. + +(96) "Memoirs of Dr. Burney," vol. iii., pp. 210-11. + +(97) In the "Memoirs of Dr. Burney" Madame d'Arblay writes that +"Before the answer of Mr. Pitt to the memorial could be returned, +the attempt upon Toulon proved abortive." Mr, Pitt must certainly +have been in no hurry to reply; for the memorial was sent to him +about the commencement of October, and Toulon was not evacuated +by the English until the 18th of December.-ED. + +(98) A character in "Cecilia."-ED. + +(99) The well-known novelist.-ED. +(100) The cottage which Fanny and her husband contemplated +building, was not actually commenced until after the publication +of "Camilla," in 1796.-ED. + +(101) The fund which Mrs. Crewe was exerting herself to raise for +the benefit of the French emigrant clergy.-ED. + +(102) Mrs. Crewe had been urging Dr. Burney to engage his +daughter to contribute, by her pen, to the relief of the emigrant +clergy. Fanny accordingly wrote an "Address to the Ladies of +Great Britain," in the form of a short pamphlet, which was +published by Cadell, and which appears to have had the desired +effect.-ED. + +(103) Alas for Dr. Burney's hopes! Toulon was successfully +defended until the middle of December, when the vigorous measures +of the besiegers, inspired by the genius Of Young Buonaparte, +resulted in the complete triumph of the Republicans. On the 17th +of December they carried by storm Fort Eguillette and the heights +of Faron. From these positions their artillery commanded the +harbour, and, further defence of the town being thereby rendered +impracticable, its instant evacuation was resolved upon by the +allies. An attempt to burn the French war-ships in the harbour, +before abandoning the place, was only partially successful. On +the 18th and 19th the troops embarked. Vast numbers of fugitives +were taken on board the retreating fleet, but a large proportion +of the unfortunate Toulonnais remained, to experience the cruel +vengeance of the Republicans-ED. + +(104) The execution of Marie Antoinette, October 16, 1793.-ED. + +(105) He was born on the 18th of December 1794.-ED. + +(106) Goldsmith has drawn the character of Richard Burke in +"Retaliation," as follows:-- + +"Here lies honest Richard, whose fate I must Sigh at; +Alaq, that such frolic should now be so quiet! +What spirits were his! what wit and what whim! +Now breaking a jest, and now breaking a limb; +Now wrangling and grumbling to keep up the ball; +Now teasing and vexing, yet laughing at all. +In short, so provoking a devil was Dick, +That we wish'd him full ten times a day at old Nick, +But, missing his mirth and agreeable vein, +As often we wish'd to have Dick back again."-ED. + +(107) George Canning, who was not yet twenty-four years of age, +had just entered Parliament as member for Newport. He had +formerly been a Whig and an associate of Fox and Sheridan, but +the excesses of the French ,Revolution appear to have driven him, +as they had driven Burke and Windham, over to the opposite camp. +He took his seat as a Tory and a supporter of Mr. Pitt, and a +Tory he remained to the end of his days. Canning's maiden speech, +to which Fanny refers, was delivered January 31, in a debate on +the treaty between Great Britain and the King of Sardinia. By +this treaty, which was signed April 25, 1793, it was agreed that +the two contracting parties should make common cause in the war +against the French Republic; that England should pay to the King +of Sardinia an annual subsidy of 200,000 pounds, to enable him to +maintain the war; and that England should not conclude peace +without providing for the restoration to Sardinia of the +territories which had been torn from it by the Republic. In the +debate of January 31, 1794, Fox vigorously attacked the treaty, +while Canning, who spoke later, defended it in an able and +well-received maiden speech.-ED. + +(108) Talleyrand's intrigues had made him an object of suspicion +to both parties. He was detested by the royalists of the first +emigration, had been dcrt d'accusation by the Convention, and +was regarded by the English government as a dangerous person. In +January 1794, he received an order from the government to quit +England within five days, and he embarked in consequence, for the +United States, February 3.-ED. + +(109) "London, 1794.-Madame,--Had it been possible I would have +had the honour of seeing you this morning , but the utter +impossibility of doing so has deprived me of the last pleasure +that I might have had in Europe. Permit me, madame, to thank you +again for all your kindness, and to ask a little place in your +memory, and let me tell you, I shall never cease, while I live, +to offer my vows for your welfare, and for that of the captain +and your children. You will have a very zealous servant in +America; I shall not return to Europe without coming to Surrey: +everything of value to my intellect or my heart is there. + +"Kindly present my compliments to the captain." +(110) "London, March 2, 1794. Farewell, my dear d'Arblay: I leave +your country till the time when it will no longer be governed by +the petty passions of men. Then I will return; not, indeed, to +busy myself with public affairs, for I have long since abandoned +them for ever; but to see the excellent inhabitants of Surrey. I +hope to know enough English to understand Madame d'Arblay; for +the next four months, I shall do nothing but study it: and, to +acquaint myself with the beauties of the language, I take +'Evelina' and 'Cecilia,' both for study and pleasure. I wish +You, my dear friend, all kinds of happiness, and you are in the +way to fulfil all my wishes. + +"I do not know how long I shall remain in America. If there were +a prospect of the re-establishment of reason and stability in our +unhappy country, I should return; if Europe goes to pieces in the +coming campaign, I will prepare a refuge in America for all our +friends. + +"Farewell. My respects to Madame d'Arblay and Mrs. Phillips. + I ask of you and I promise you a lifelong friendship." + +(The date at the head Of this letter Is evidently incorrect-- +probably a slip of the writer's. Talleyrand embarked February +3.-ED. + +(111) Lafayette's brilliant services in the cause of liberty had +not secured him from the usual fate of moderate revolutionists at +this period. In the early days of the Revolution, he was the hero +of the French people; in 1792, denounced by Robespirre and the +jacobins, he was compelled to seek safety in flying from France. +He escaped the guillotine, indeed, but fell into the hands of the +Austrians, was cast into prison, and did not gain his liberty +till September, 1797.-ED. + +(112) This was Dr. Burney's first meeting with Mrs. Piozzi since +her marriage. It occurred at one of Salomon's celebrated +concerts, where the doctor, with surprise, perceived Piozzi among +the audience, not knowing that he had returned from Italy. He +entered into a cordial conversation with the Signor, and inquired +after his wife. "Piozzi, turning round, pointed to a sofa, on +which, to his infinite joy, Dr. Burney beheld Mrs. Thrale Piozzi, +seated in the midst of her daughters, the four Miss Thrales," +those young ladies (at least, the three elder, for Cecilia had +been abroad with Mr. and Mrs. Piozzi) having made up their minds +by this time to accept the inevitable, and to be reconciled to +their mother." See "Memoirs of Dr. Burney," vol. iii. p. 198.-ED. + +(113) Written after the Doctor's first visit to Bookham. + +(114) Name of a gardener in a drama of Fontenelle's. + +(115) The novel of "Camilla," then lately begun. + +(116) "Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Metastasio," a work +which Dr. Burney was then engaged upon, and which was published +in three Volumes, 8vo in 1796.-ED. + +(117) "Edwy and Elgiva," a tragedy by Madame d'Arblay. + +(118) Edmund Burke's only son, Richard, died August 2, 1794.-ED + +(119) "Edwy and Elgiva," produced by Sheridan at Drury-lane, +March 21, 1795; it was acted but once, and never printed.-ED. + +(120) Warren Hastings was acquitted of all the charges, April 23, +1795. + +(121) Both characters, to some extent, were true. Goldsmith's +portrait of Cumberland, though flattering, is not, we fancy, +without a slight undercurrent of irony. Here are the lines from +"Retaliation." + +"Here Cumberland lies, having acted his parts, +The Terence of England, the mender of hearts; +A flattering painter, who made it his care +To draw men as they ought to be, not as they are. +His gallants are all faultless, his women divine, +And Comedy wonders at being so fine: +Like a tragedy-queen he has dizen'd her out, +Or rather like Tragedy giving a rout. +His fools have their follies so lost in a crowd +Of virtues and feelings, that Folly grows proud +And coxcombs, alike in their failings atone: +Adopting his portraits, are pleas'd with their own, +Say, where has our poet this malady caught? +Or wherefore his characters thus without fault? +Say, was it that, mainly directing his view +To find out men's virtues, and finding them few, +Quite sick of pursuing each troublesome elf, +He grew lazy at last, and drew from himself?"-ED. + +(122) The novels of Mrs. Radcliffe were now at the height of +their popularity. "The Mysteries of Udolpho," perhaps the most +powerful of her works, had recently been published, to the +intense delight of all lovers of the thrilling and romantic.-ED. + +(123) The name was then "Ariella," changed afterwards to +"Camilla." + +(124) Written during his embarrassments from the French +Revolution, and answer to a letter expressing bitter +disappointment from repeated losses. + +(125) M. de Narbonne, in reply, expressed, in lively terms, his +gratitude for Madame d'Arblay's invitation, and his pleasure in +receiving it. But he declined the proposal. He was not, he said, +wholly without resources, or without hopes for the future, and +circumstances made it desirable that he should reside at present +near the French frontier.-ED. + +(126) Gainsborough Dupont, a nephew of the great Gainsborough. +He was a portrait-painter of some merit, and an excellent mezzo- +tint engraver. some of his best plates were engraved after +paintings by Gainsborough. Mr Dupont died in 1797.-ED. + +(127) " The Birth of Love;" a poem: with engravings, from designs +by her royal highness the Princess Elizabeth. + +(128) i.e., the Duke of York, second son of the king. He had been +appointed field-marshal and commander-in-chief early in 1795.-ED. + +(129) The Duchess of York was daughter to the King of Prussia.- +ED. + + (130) Susan's little son, Norbury Phillips.-ED. + +(131) Rose Dale, Richmond, Surrey. This place was formerly the +residence of the poet Thomson, and afterwards became the property +of the Honourable Mrs. Boscawen. + +(132) The princess royal was married, May 18, 1797, to Frederick +William, hereditary prince of Wurtemberg.-ED. + +(133) Editor and proprietor of the "Monthly Review." + +(134) The death of Dr. Burney's second wife. + +(135) Fanny alludes to the so-called "loyalty loan," proposed and +carried by Mr Pitt, to meet the expenses of the war. "Pitt +evinced his own Public spirit, when he relied on and appealed to +the public spirit of the People. He announced a loan of +18,000,000 pounds, at five per cent., to be taken at 112 pounds , +10 shillings, for every 100 pounds stock, and with an option to +the proprietors to he paid off at par within two years after a +treaty of peace."-(Stanhope's "Life of Pitt," vol. ii., P. 389.) +The loan was taken up by the Public with extraordinary eagerness, +5,000,000 pounds being subscribed on the first day of issue +(December 1, 1796).-ED. .' + +(136) They had commenced building the cottage in October. Fanny +writes, November 29: "Our cottage building stops now, from the +shortness of the days, till the beginning of March. The +foundation is laid, and it will then be run up with great speed. +The well, at length, is finished, and it is a hundred and odd +feet deep. The water is said to be excellent, but M. d'Arblay +has had it now stopped to prevent accidents from hazardous boys, +who, when the field is empty of owners, will be amusing +themselves there. He has just completed his grand plantations; +part of which are in evergreens, part in firewood for future +time, and part in an orchard."-ED. + + + +Page 123 + SECTION 21. + (1797-8) + +"CAMILLA" COTTAGE. SUNDRY VISITS TO THE ROYAL FAMILY. + +[Fanny's pen portraits of the princesses are as fascinating as +Gainsborough's paintings of them. Their truly amiable characters +and sweet dispositions are nowhere more pleasantly illustrated +than in the following section of the "Diary." A list of their +names, with the dates of their births and deaths, may be useful +to the reader. + +1. Charlotte, princess royal. born 1767: Queen of Wirtemburg: +died 1828. + +2. Augusta, Fanny's favourite, as she well deserved to be. Born +1768 : never married : died 1840. + +3. Elizabeth, the artist of the family. Born 1770 : married the +hereditary prince (afterwards, in 1820, Landgrave) of Hesse- +Homburg in 18 18, and settled in Germany: died 1840. + +4. Mary. Born 1776 : married her cousin, William Frederick, Duke +of Gloucester, in 1816: died 1857. + +5. Sophia, born 1777: died 1848. + + +6. Amelia, born 1783. Her health first gave way in 1798 (see p. +180): she died, unmarried, at Windsor, in 1810. A few days before +her death she gave her poor blind, old father, a ring containing +a scrap of her hair ; saying only, as she pressed it into his +hand, "Remember me!" The poor king's anguish brought on a fresh +attack of insanity, from which he never recovered.-ED.] + + +A DISAGREEABLE JOURNEY HoME. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Bookham, January 3, '97. +WAS extremely vexed at missing our uncertain post yesterday, and +losing, unavoidably, another to-day, before I return my dearest +father our united thanks for the kind and sweet fortnight passed +under his roof. Our adventures in coming back were better adapted +to our departure than our + +Page 124 + +arrival, for they were rather rueful. One of the horses did not +like his business, and wanted to be off, and we were stopped by +his gambols continually , and, if I had not been a soldier's +wife, I should have been terribly alarmed; but my soldier does +not like to see himself disgraced in his other half, and so I was +fain to keep up my courage, till, at length, after we had passed +Fetcham, the frisky animal plunged till he fastened the shaft +against a hedge, and then, little Betty beginning to scream, I +inquired of the postilion if we had not better alight. If it +were not, he said, for the dirt, yes. The dirt then was defied, +and I prevailed, though with difficulty, upon my chieftain to +consent to a general dismounting. And he then found it was not +too soon, for the horse became inexorable to all menace, caress, +chastisement, or harangue, and was obliged to be loosened. + +Meanwhile, Betty, Bab, and I trudged on, vainly looking back for +our vehicle, till we reached our little home--a mile and a half. +Here we found good fires, though not a morsel +of food; this however, was soon procured, and our walking apparel +changed for drier raiment; and I sent forth our nearest cottager, +and a young butcher, and a boy, towards Fetcham, to aid the +vehicle, or its contents, for my chevalier had stayed on account +of our chattels: and about two hours after the chaise arrived, +with one horse, and pushed by its hirer, while it was half +dragged by its driver. But all came safe; and we drank a dish of +tea, and ate a mutton chop, and kissed our little darling, and +forgot all else of our journey hut the pleasure we had had at +Chelsea with my dearest father and dear Sally. + +And just now I received a letter from our Susanna, which tells me +the invasion(137) has been made in a part of Ireland + +Page 125 . + +where all is so loyal there can be no apprehension from any such +attempt ; but she adds, that if it had happened in the north +everything might have been feared. Heaven send the invaders far +from all the points of the Irish compass! and that's an Irish +wish for expression, though not for meaning. All the intelligence +she gathers is encouraging, with regard to the spirit and loyalty +of all that surround her. But Mr. Brabazon is in much uneasiness +for his wife, whose situation is critical, and he hesitates +whether or not to convey her to Dublin, as a place of more +security than her own habitation. What a period this for the +usual journey of our invaluable Susan! + + + BURKE's FUNERAL AT BEACONSFIELD. + +(Dr. Burney to Madame d'Arblay.) +Saturday Night, July 22, 1797. +I was invited to poor Mr. Burke's funeral,(138) by Mrs. Crewe and +two notes from Beaconsfield. Malone and I went to Bulstrode +together in my car, this day sevennight, with two horses added to +mine. Mrs. Crewe had invited me thither when she went down +first. We found the Duke of Portland there; and the Duke of +Devonshire and Windham came to dinner. The chancellor and speaker +of the House of Commons could not leave London till four o'clock, +but arrived a little after seven. We all set off together for +Beaconsfield, where we found the rest of the pall-bearers--Lord +Fitzwilliam, Lord Inchiquin, and Sir Gilbert Eliot, with Drs. +King and Lawrence, Lord North, Dudley North, and many of the +deceased's private friends, though by his repeated injunction the +funeral was to be very private. We had all hatbands, scarfs, and +gloves; and he left a list to whom rings of remembrance are to be +sent, among whom my name occurred, and a jeweller has been here +for my measure. I went back to Bulstrode, by invitation, with +the two dukes, the chancellor, and speaker, Windham, Malone, and +Secretary King. I ,stayed there till Sunday evening, and got home +just before the dreadful storm. The duke was extremely civil and +hospitable,-- + +Page 126 + +pressed me much to stay longer and go with them, the chancellor, +speaker, Windham, and Mrs. Crewe, to Pinn, to see the school, +founded by Mr. Burke, for the male children of French emigrant +nobles; but I could not with prudence stay, having a couple of +ladies waiting for me in London, and two extra horses with me. + +So much for poor Mr. Burke, certainly one of the greatest men of +the present century; and I think I might say the best orator and +statesman of modern times. He had his passions and prejudices to +which I did not subscribe - but I always admired his great +abilities, friendship, and urbanity - and it would be ungrateful +in you and me, to whom he was certainly partial, not to feel and +lament his loss. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Bookham, July 27, '97. +I was surprised, and almost frightened, though at the same time +gratified, to find you assisted in paying the last honours to Mr. +Burke. How sincerely I sympathise in all you say of that truly +great man! That his enemies say he was not perfect is nothing +compared with his immense superiority over almost all those who +are merely exempted from his peculiar defects. That he was +upright in heart, even where he acted wrong, I do truly believe; +and that he asserted nothing he had not persuaded himself to be +true, from Mr. Hastings's being the most rapacious of villains, +to the king's being incurably insane. He was as generous as kind, +and as liberal in his sentiments as he was luminous in intellect +and extraordinary in abilities and eloquence. Though free from +all little vanity, high above envy, and glowing with zeal to +exalt talents and merit in others, he had, I believe a +consciousness of his own greatness, that shut out those +occasional and useful self-doubts which keep our judgment in +order, by calling our motives and our passions to account. + + + DEATH OF M. D'ARBLAY'S BROTHER. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Bookham, August 10, '97. +You know, I believe, with what cruel impatience and uncertainty +my dear companion has waited for some news Of his family ; no +tidings, however, could be procure, nor has +Page 127 + +ever heard from any part of it till last Saturday morning, when +two letters arrived by the same post, with information of the +death of his only brother. + +impossible as it has long been to look back to France without +fears amounting even to expectation of horrors, he had never +ceased cherishing hopes some favourable turn would, in the end, +unite him with this last branch of his house; the shock, +therefore, has been terribly severe, and has cast a gloom upon +his mind and spirits which nothing but his kind anxiety to avoid +involving mine can at present suppress. He is now the last of a +family of seventeen, and not one relation of his own name now +remains but his own little English son. His father was the only +son of an only son, which drives all affinity on the paternal +side into fourth and fifth kinsmen. + +On the maternal side, however, he has the happiness to hear that +an uncle, who is inexpressibly dear to him, who was his guardian +and best friend through life, still lives, and has been permitted +to remain unmolested in his own house, at Joigny, where he is now +in perfect health, save from rheumatic .attacks, which though +painful are not dangerous. A son, too, of this gentleman, who +was placed as a commissaire-de-guerre by M. d'Arblay during the +period of his belonging to the war committee, still holds the +same situation, which is very lucrative, and which M. d'A. had +concluded would have been withdrawn as soon as his own flight +from France was known. + +The little property of which the late Chevalier d'Arblay died +possessed, this same letter says, has been "vendu pour la +nation,"(139) because his next heir was an migr; though there +is a little niece, Mlle. Girardin, daughter of an only sister, +who is in France, and upon whom the succession was settled, if +her uncles died without immediate heirs. + +Some little matter, however, what we know not, has been reserved +by being bought in by this respectable uncle, who sends M. +d'Arblay word he has saved him what he may yet live upon, if he +can find means to return without personal risk, and who solicits +to again see him with urgent fondness, in which he is joined by +his aunt with as much warmth as if she, also, was his relation by +blood, not alliance. + +The late chevalier, my M. d'A. says, was a man of the softest +manners and most exalted honour ; and he was so tall and so thin, +he was often nicknamed Don Quixote, but he was so completely +aristocratic with regard to the Revolution, +Page 128 + +at its very commencement, that M. d'A. has heard nothing yet with +such unspeakable astonishment as the news that he died, near +Spain, of his wounds from a battle in which he had fought for the +Republic. "How strange," says M. d'A., "is our destiny! that that +Republic which I quitted, determined to be rather an hewer of +wood and drawer of water all my life than serve, he should die +for." The secret history of this may some day come out, but it is +now inexplicable, for the mere fact, without the smallest +comment, is all that has reached us, In the period, indeed, in +which M. d'A. left France, there were but three steps possible +for those who had been bred to arms-flight, the guillotine, or +fighting for the Republic, "The former this brother," M. d'A. +says, "had not energy of character to undertake in the desperate +manner in which he risked it himself, friendless and fortuneless, +to live in exile as he could. The guillotine no one could elect; +and the continuing in the service, though in a cause he detested, +was, probably, his hard compulsion." . . . + +Our new habitation will very considerably indeed exceed our first +intentions and expectations. I suppose it has ever been so, and +so ever must be ; for we sought as well as determined to keep +within bounds, and M. d'A. still thinks he has done it - however, +I am more aware of our tricks upon travellers than to enter into +the same delusion. + +The pleasure, however, he has taken in this edifice is my first +joy, for it has constantly shown me his heart has invariably held +to those first feelings which, before our union, determined him +upon settling in England. O! if you knew how he has been +assailed, by temptations of every sort that either ambition, or +interest, or friendship could dictate, to change his plan,-and +how his heart sometimes yearns towards those he yet can love in +his native soil, while his firmness still remains unshaken,-- you +would not wonder I make light of even extravagance in a point +that shows him thus fixed to make this object a part of the whole +system of his future life. + + + FROM CREWE HALL TO CHELSEA. + +(Dr. Burney to Madame d'Arblay.) +Friday Night, September 13, 1797. +My dear Fanny,-Where did I leave off?--hang me if I know!--I +believe I told you, or all when with YOU, Of the Chester and +Liverpool journey and voyage. On Saturday +Page 129 + +26th August, the day month from leaving London, M. le prsident +de Frondeville and I left Crewe Hall on our way back. The dear +Mrs. Crewe kindly set us in our way as far as Etruria. We visited +Trentham Hall, in Staffordshire, the famous seat of the Marquis +of Stafford,--a very fine place--fine piece of water--fine +hanging woods,--the valley of Tempe--and the river Trent running +through the garden. Mrs C. introduced us to the marchioness, who +did us the honour of showing us the house herself; it has lately +been improved and enlarged by Wyatt:--fine pictures, library, +etc. + +After a luncheon here, we went to Etruria, which I had never +seen. Old Mr. Wedgwood is dead, and his son and successor not at +home ; but we went to the pottery manufacture, and saw the whole +process of forming the beautiful things which are dispersed all +over the universe from this place. Mrs. C. offered to send you a +little hand churn for your breakfast butter ; but I should have +broke it to pieces, and durst not accept of it. But if it would +be of any use, when you have a cow, I will get you one at the +Wedgwood ware-house in London. Here we parted. + +The president and I got to Lichfield by about ten o'clock that +night. In the morning, before my companion was up, I strolled +about the city with one of the waiters, in search of Frank +Barber,' who I had been told lived there; but on ,inquiry I was +told his residence was in a village three or four miles off. I +however soon found the house where dear Dr. Johnson was born, and +his father's shop. The house is stuccoed, has five sash-windows +in front, and pillars before it. It is the best house +thereabouts, near St. Mary's Church, in a broad street, and is +now a grocer's shop. + +I went next to the Garrick house, which has been lately repaired, +stuccoed, enlarged, and sashed. Peter Garrick, David's eldest +brother, died about two years ago, leaving all his Possessions to +the apothecary that had attended him. But the will was disputed +and set aside not long since, it having appeared at a trial that +the testator was insane at the time the will was made; so that +Mrs. Doxie, Garrick's sister, a widow with a numerous family, +recovered the house and -_30,000, She now lives in it with her +family, and has been able to set up a carriage. The inhabitants +of Lichfield were so pleased + +Page 130 + +with the decision of the court on the trial, that they +illuminated the streets, and had public rejoicings on the +occasion. + +After examining this house well, I tried to find the residence of +Dr. James, inventor of the admirable fever powders, which have so +often saved the life of our dear Susey, and others without +number. But the ungrateful inhabitants knew nothing about him. . +. . + +The cathedral, which has been lately thoroughly repaired +internally, is the most complete and beautiful Gothic building I +ever saw. The outside was trs mal trait by the fanatics of the +last century; but there are three beautiful spires still +standing, and more than fifty whole-length figures of saints in +their original niches. The choir is exquisitely beautiful. A fine +new organ is erected, and was well played, and I never heard the +cathedral service so well performed to that instrument only +before. The services and anthems were middle-aged music, neither +too old and dry, nor too modern and light ; the voices subdued, +and exquisitely softened and sweetened by the building, + +While the lessons were reading, which I could not hear, I looked +for monuments, and found a beautiful one to Garrick, and another +just by it to Johnson; the former erected by Mrs. Garrick, who +has been daily abused for not erecting one to her husband in +Westminster Abbey ; but sure that was a debt due to him from the +public, and that due from his widow best paid here.(141) +Johnson's has been erected by his friends:--both are beautiful, +and alike in every particular. + +There is a monument here to Johnson's first patron, Mr. Walmsley, +whose amplitude of learning and copiousness of communication were +such, that our revered friend said, "it might be doubted whether +a day passed in which he had not some advantage from his +friendship." There is a monument likewise to Lady M. W. Montagu, +and to the father of Mr. Addison, etc. + +We left Lichfield about two o'clock, and reached Daventry that +night, stopping a little at Coventry to look at the great church +and Peeping Tom. Next day got to St. Albans time enough to look +'It the church and neighbouring ruins. Next morning breakfasted +at Barnet, where my car met me, and got to Chelsea by three +o'clock, leaving my agreeable compagnon de voyage, M. le +prsident, at his apartments in town. . . . + + Page 131 + + AT DR. HERSCHEL'S. + +(Dr. Burney to Madame d'Arblay.) +Chelsea College, Thursday, September 28. +My dear Fanny,--I read your letter pen in hand, and shall try to +answer it by to-day's post. But first let me tell you that it +was very unlikely to find me at home, for on Tuesday I went to +Lord Chesterfield's at Bailie's, and arrived there in very good +time for a four o'clock dinner - when, behold ! I was informed by +the porter that " both my lord and lady were in town, and did not +return till Saturday ! " Lord Chesterfield had unexpectedly been +obliged to go to town by indisposition. Though I was asked to +alight and take refreshment, I departed immediately, intending to +dine and lie at Windsor, to be near Dr. Herschel, with whom a +visit had been arranged by letter. But as I was now at liberty +to make that visit at any time of the day I pleased, I drove +through Slough in my way to Windsor, in order to ask at Dr. +Herschel's door when my visit would be least inconvenient to +him--that night or next morning. The good soul was at dinner, but +came to the door himself, to press me to alight immediately and +partake of his family repast - and this he did so heartily that I +could not resist. I was introduced to the family at table, four +ladies, and a little boy about the age and size of Martin.(142) I +was quite shocked at seeing so many females: I expected (not +knowing Herschel was married) only to have found Miss Herschel. . +. . I expressed my concern and shame at disturbing them at this +time of the day ; told my story, at which they were so cruel as +to rejoice, and went so far as to say they rejoiced at the +accident which had brought me there, and hoped I would send my +carriage away, and take a bed with them. They were sorry they had +no stables for my horses. I thought it necessary, You may, be +sure, to faire la petite bouche, ,but in spite of my blushes I +was obliged to submit to my trunk being taken in and the car sent +to the inn just by. . . . + +Your health was drunk after dinner (put that int.) your pocket); +and after much social conversation and a few hearty laughs, the +ladies proposed to take a walk, in order, I believe, to leave +Herschel and me together. We walked and talked + +Page 132 + +round his great telescopes till it grew damp and dusk, then +retreated into his study to philosophise. I had a string of +questions ready to ask, and astronomical difficulties to solve, +which, with looking at curious books and instruments, filled up +the time charmingly till tea, which being drank with +the ladies, we two retired again to the starry. Now having paved +the way, we began to talk of my poetical plan, and he pressed me +to read what I had done.(143) Heaven help his head! my eight +books, of from four hundred to eight hundred and twenty lines, +would require two or three days to read. + +He made me unpack my trunk for my MS., from which I read him the +titles of the chapters, and begged he would choose any book or +character of a great astronomer he pleased. "Oh, let us have the +beginning." I read him the first eighteen or twenty lines of the +exordium, and then said I rather wished to come to modern times - +I was more certain of my ground in high antiquity than after the +time of Copernicus, and began my eighth chapter, entirely on +Newton and his system. He gave me the greatest encouragement +said repeatedly that I perfectly understood what I was writing' +about - and only stopped me at two places: one was at a word too +strong for what I had to describe, and the other at one too weak. +The doctrine he allowed to be quite orthodox, concerning +gravitation, refraction, reflection, optics, comets, magnitudes, +distances, revolutions, etc., but made a discovery to me which, +had I known sooner, would have overset me, and prevented my +reading any part of my work: he said he had almost always had an +aversion to poetry, which he regarded as the arrangement of fine +words, without any useful meaning or adherence to truth; but +that, when truth and science were united to these fine words, he +liked poetry very well; and next morning, after breakfast, he +made me read as much of another chapter on Descartes, etc., as +the time would allow, as I had ordered my carriage at twelve. I +read, talked, asked questions, and looked at books and +instruments, till near one, when I set off for Chelsea. +Page 133 + + HOSPITALITY UNDER DIFFICULTIES. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Francis.) +Westhamble, November 16, 1797. +Your letter was most welcome to me, my dearest Charlotte, and I +am delighted Mr. Broome(144) and my dear father will so speedily +meet. If they steer clear of politics, there can be no doubt of +their immediate exchange of regard and esteem. At all events, I +depend upon Mr. B.'s forbearance of such subjects, if their +opinions clash. Pray let me hear how the interview went off. + +I need not say how I shall rejoice to see you again, nor how +charmed we shall both be to make a nearer acquaintance with Mr. +Broome; but, for heaven's sake, my dear girl, how are we to give +him a dinner?--unless he will bring with him his poultry, for +ours are not yet arrived from Bookham; and his fish, for ours are +still at the bottom of some pond we know not where, and his spit, +for our jack is yet without clue; and his kitchen grate, for ours +waits for Count Rumford's(145) next pamphlet;--not to mention his +table-linen;--and not to speak + +Page 134 + +of his knives and forks, some ten of our poor original twelve +having been massacred in M. d'Arblay's first essays in the art of +carpentering ;-and to say nothing of his large spoons, the silver +of our plated ones having feloniously made off under cover of the +whitening-brush--and not to talk of his cook, ours being not yet +hired ;-and not to start the subject of wine, ours, by some odd +accident, still remaining at the wine-merchant's! With all these +impediments, however, to convivial hilarity, if he will eat a +quarter of a joint of meat (his share, I mean), tied up by a +packthread, and roasted by a log of wood on the bricks,--and +declare no potatoes so good as those dug by M. d'Arblay out of +our garden,--and protest our small beer gives the spirits of +champagne,--and make no inquiries where we have deposited the +hops he will conclude we have emptied out of our table-cloth,-- +and pronounce that bare walls are superior to tapestry,--and +promise us the first sight of his epistle upon visiting a +new-built cottage,--we shall be sincerely happy to receive him in +our hermitage; where I hope to learn, for my dearest Charlotte's +sake, to love him as much as, for his own I have very long +admired him. + + + WAR TAXES. "CAMILLA" COTTAGE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Phillips.) +Westhamble, December, '97. +The new threefold assessment of taxes has terrified us rather +seriously ; though the necessity, and therefore justice, of them, +we mutually feel. My father thinks his own share will amount to +eighty pounds a year ! We have, this very morning, decided upon +parting with four of our new windows, --a great abatement of +agrmens to ourselves, and of ornament to our appearance; and a +still greater sacrifice to the amour Propre of my architect, who, +indeed,--his fondness for his edifice considered,--does not ill +deserve praise that the scheme had not his mere consent, but his +own free proposition. . . . + +We quitted Bookham with one single regret--that of leaving our +excellent neighbours the Cookes. . . . we languished for the +moment of removal with almost infantine fretfulness at every +delay that distanced it; and when at last the grand day came, our +final packings, with all their toil +Page 135 + +and difficulties and labour and expense, were mere acts of +pleasantry; so bewitched were we with the impending change, that, +though from six o'clock to three we were hard at work, without a +kettle to boil the breakfast, or a knife to cut bread for a +luncheon, we missed nothing, wanted nothing, and were as +insensible to fatigue as to hunger. + +M. d'Arblay set out on foot, loaded with remaining relics of +things, to us precious, and Betty afterwards with a remnant of +glass or two; the other maid had been sent two days before. I was +forced to have a chaise for my Alex and me, and a few +looking-glasses, a few folios, and not a few other oddments and +then, with dearest Mr. Locke, our founder's portrait, and my +little boy, off I set, and I would my dearest Susan could relate +to me as delicious a journey. + +My mate, striding over hedge and ditch, arrived first, though he +set out after' to welcome me to our new dwelling; and we entered +our new best room, in which I found a glorious fire of wood, and +a little bench, borrowed of one of the departing carpenters : +nothing else. We contrived to make room for each other, and Alex +disdained all rest. His spirits were so high upon finding two or +three rooms totally free for his horse (alias any stick he can +pick up) and himself, unencumbered by chairs and tables and +such-like lumber, that he was as merry as a little Andrew and as +wild as twenty colts. Here we unpacked a small basket containing +three or four loaves, and, with a garden-knife, fell to work; +some eggs had been procured from a neighbouring farm, and one +saucepan had been brought. We dined, therefore, exquisitely, and +drank to our new possession from a glass of clear water out of +our new well. + +At about eight o'clock our goods arrived. We had our bed put up +in the middle of our room, to avoid risk of damp walls, and our +Alex had his dear Willy's crib at our feet. + +We none of us caught cold. We had fire night and day in the +maids' room, as well as Our own -or rather in my Susan's room; +for we lent them that, their own having a little inconvenience +against a fire, because it is built without a chimney. We +Continued making fires all around us the first fortnight, and +then found wood would be as bad as an apothecary's bill, so +desisted; but we did not stop short so soon as to want the latter +to succeed the former, or put our calculation to the proof. + +Our first week was devoted to unpacking, and exulting in Our +completed plan. To have no one thing at hand, nothing +Page 136 + +to eat, nowhere to sit--all were trifles, rather, I think, +amusing than incommodious. The house looked so clean, the +distribution of the rooms and closets is so convenient, the +prospect everywhere around is so gay and so lovely, and the park +of dear Norbury is so close at hand, that we hardly knew how to +require anything else for existence than the enjoyment of our own +situation. + +At this period I received my summons. I believe I have already +explained that I had applied to Miss Planta for advice whether my +best chance of admission would be at Windsor, Kew, or London. I +had a most kind letter of answer, importing my letter had been +seen, and that her majesty would herself fix the time when she +could admit me. This was a great happiness to me, and the fixture +was for the Queen's house in town. + + + VISITORS ARRIVE INOPPORTUNELY. + +The only drawback to the extreme satisfaction of such +graciousness as allowing an appointment to secure me from a +fruitless journey, as well as from impropriety and all fear of +intrusion, was, that exactly at this period the Princess d'Henin +and M. de Lally were expected at Norbury. I hardly could have +regretted anything else, I was so delighted by my summons; but +this I indeed lamented. They arrived to dinner on Thursday: I was +involved in preparations, and unable to meet them, and my mate +would not be persuaded to relinquish aiding me. + +The next morning, through mud, through mire, they came to our +cottage. The poor princess was forced to change shoes and +stockings. M. de Lally is more accustomed to such expeditions. +Nothing could be more sweet than they both were, nor indeed, more +grateful than I felt for my share in their kind exertion. The +house was re-viewed all over, even the little pot au feu was +opened by the princess, excessively curious to see our manner of +living in its minute detail. + +I have not heard if your letter has been received by M. de Lally; +but I knew not then you had written, and therefore did not +inquire. The princess talked of nothing so much as you, and with +a softness of regard that quite melted me. I always tell her +warmly how you feel about her. M. de Lally was most melancholy +about France; the last new and most alas! barbarous +revolution(146) has disheartened all his hopes--alas! +Page 137 + +whose can withstand it? They made a long and kind visit, and in +the afternoon we went to Norbury Park, where we remained till +near eleven o'clock, and thought the time very short. + +Madame d'Henin related some of her adventures in this second +flight from her terrible country, and told them with a spirit and +a power of observation that would have made them interesting if a +tale of old times ; but now, all that gives account of those +events awakens the whole mind to attention. + +M. de Lally after tea read us a beginning of a new tragedy, +composed upon an Irish story, but bearing allusion so palpable to +the virtues and misfortunes of Louis XVI. that it had almost as +strong an effect upon our passions and faculties as if it had +borne the name of that good and unhappy prince. It is written +with great pathos, noble sentiment, and most eloquent language. +I parted from them with extreme reluctance-nay, vexation. + + + ANOTHER VISIT TO THE ROYAL FAMILY. + +I set off for town early the next day, Saturday. +My time was not yet fixed for my royal interview, but I had +various preparations impossible to make in this dear, quiet, +obscure cottage. Mon ami could not accompany me, as we had still +two men constantly at work, the house without being quite +unfinished but I could not bear to leave his little +representative, who, with Betty, was my companion to Chelsea. +There I was expected, and Our dearest father came forth with open +arms to welcome us. He was in delightful spirits, the sweetest +humour, and perfectly good looks and good health. My little +rogue soon engaged him in a romp, which conquered his rustic +shyness, and they became the best friends in the world. + +Thursday morning I had a letter from Miss Planta, written with +extreme warmth of kindness, and fixing the next day at eleven +o'clock for my royal admission. + +Page 138 + +I went up-stairs to Miss Planta's room, where, while I waited for +her to be called, the charming Princess Mary passed by, attended +by Mrs. Cheveley. She recollected me and turned back, and came up +to me with a fair hand graciously held out to me. "How do you +do, Madame d'Arblay?" she cried: "I am vastly glad to see you +again and how does your little boy do?" + +I gave her a little account of the rogue, and she proceeded to +inquire about my new cottage, and its actual state. I entered +into a long detail of its bare walls, and unfurnished sides, and +the gambols of the little man unencumbered by cares of fractures +from useless ornaments, that amused her good-humoured interest in +my affairs very much , and she did not leave me till Miss Planta +came to usher me to Princess Augusta. + +That kind princess received me with a smile so gay, and a look so +pleased at my pleasure in again seeing her, that I quite +regretted the etiquette which prevented a chaste embrace. She +was sitting at her toilette having her hair dressed. The royal +family were all going at night to the play. She turned instantly +from the glass to face me, and insisted upon my being seated +immediately. She then wholly forgot her attire and ornaments and +appearance, and consigned herself wholly to conversation, with +that intelligent animation which marks her character. She +inquired immediately how my little boy did, and then with great +sweetness after his father, and after my father. + +My first subject was the princess royal, and I accounted for not +having left my hermitage in the hope of once more seeing her +royal highness before her departure. It would have been, I told +her, so melancholy a pleasure to have come merely for a last +view, that I could not bear to take my annual indulgence at a +period which would make it leave a mournful impression upon my +mind for a twelvemonth to come. The princess said she could enter +into that, but said it as if she had been surprised I had not +appeared. She then gave ne some account of the ceremony ;(147) +and when I told her I had heard that her royal highness the bride +had never looked so lovely, she confirmed the praise warmly, but +laughingly added, "'Twas the queen dressed her! You know what a +figure she used to make of herself, with her odd manner Of + +Page 139 + +dressing herself; but mamma said, 'Now really, princess royal, +this one time is the last, and I cannot suffer you to make such a +quiz of yourself; so I will really have you dressed such a quiz +of yourself, properly.' And indeed the queen was quite in the +right, for everybody said she had never looked so well in her +life." + +The word "quiz," you may depend, was never the queen's. I had +great comfort, however, in gathering, from all that passed on +that subject, that the royal family is persuaded this estimable +princess is happy. From what I know of her disposition I am led +to believe the situation may make her so. She is born to preside, +and that with equal softness and dignity; but she was here in +utter subjection, for which she had neither spirits nor +inclination. She adored the king, honoured the queen, and loved +her sisters, and had much kindness for her brothers ; but her +style of life was not adapted to the royalty of her nature, any +more than of her birth; and though she only wished for power to +do good and to confer favours, she thought herself out of her +place in not possessing it. + +I was particularly happy to learn from the Princess Augusta that +she has already a favourite friend in her new Court, in one of +the princesses of Wurtemberg, wife of a younger brother of the +hereditary prince, and who is almost as a widow, from the prince, +her husband, being constantly with the army. This is a +delightful circumstance, as her turn of mind, and taste, and +,employments, accord singularly with those of our princess. + +I have no recollection of the order of our conversation, but will +give you what morsels occur to me as they arise in my memory. + +The terrible mutiny occupied us some time.(148) She told me +Page 140 + +many anecdotes that she had learnt in favour Of various sailors, +declaring, with great animation, her security In their good +hearts, however drawn aside by harder and more cunning heads, The +sweetness with which she delights to get out of all that is +forbidding in her rank is truly adorable. In speaking of a sailor +on board the St. Fiorenzo, when the royal family made their +excursion by sea from Weymouth, she said, "You must know this man +was a great favourite of mine, for he had the most honest +countenance you can conceive, and I have often talked with him, +every time we have been at Weymouth, so that we were good +friends; but I wanted now in particular to ask him concerning the +mutiny, but I knew I should not get him to speak out while the +king and queen and my sisters were by ; so I told Lady Charlotte +Bellasyse to watch an opportunity when he was upon deck, and the +rest were in the cabin, and then we went up to him and questioned +him; and he quite answered my expectations, for, instead of +taking any merit to himself from belonging to the St. Fiorenso, +which was never in the mutiny, the good creature said he was sure +there was not a sailor in the navy that was not sorry to have +belonged to it, and would not have got out of it as readily as +himself, if he had known but how." + +The Princess Elizabeth now entered, but she did not stay. She +came to ask something of her sister relative to a little fte she +was preparing, by way of a collation, in honour of the Princess +Sophia, who was twenty this day. She made kind inquiries after my +health, etc., and, being mistress of the birthday fte, hurried +off, and I had not the pleasure to see her any more. + +I must be less minute, or I shall never have done. +My charming Princess Augusta renewed the conversation. +Admiral Duncan's noble victory(149) became the theme, but it was +interrupted by the appearance of the lovely Princess Amelia, now +become a model of grace, beauty and sweetness, + +Page 141 + +in their bud. She gave me her hand with the softest expression +of kindness, and almost immediately began questioning me +concerning my little boy and with an air of interest the most +captivating. But again Princess Augusta declined any +interruptors: "You shall have Madame d'Arblay all to yourself, my +dear, soon," she cried, laughingly; and, with a smile a little +serious, the sweet Princess Amelia retreated. + +It would have been truly edifying to young ladies living in the +great and public world to have assisted in my place at the +toilette of this exquisite Princess Augusta. Her ease, amounting +even to indifference, as to her ornaments and decoration, showed +a mind so disengaged from vanity, so superior to personal +appearance, that I could with difficulty forbear manifesting my +admiration. She let the hair-dresser proceed upon her head +without comment and without examination, just as if it was solely +his affair ; and when the man, Robinson, humbly begged to know +what ornaments he was to prepare the hair for, she said, "O, +there are my feathers, and my gown is blue, so take what you +think right." And when he begged she would say whether she would +have any ribbons or other things mixed with the feathers and +jewels, she said, "You understand all that best, Mr. Robinson, +I'm sure; there are the things, so take just what you please." +And after this she left him wholly to himself, never a moment +interrupting her discourse or her attention with a single +direction. + + + INTERVIEW WITH THE QUEEN. + +Princess Augusta had just begun a very interesting account of an +officer that had conducted himself singularly well in the mutiny, +when Miss Planta came to summon me to the queen. I begged +permission to return afterwards for my unfinished narrative, and +then proceeded to the white closet. + +The queen was alone, seated at a table, and working. Miss Planta +opened the door and retired without entering. I felt a good deal +affected by the sight of her Majesty again, so graciously +accorded to my request ; but my first and instinctive feeling was +nothing to what I experienced when, after my profoundly +respectful reverence, I raised my eyes, and saw in hers a look of +sensibility so expressive of regard, and so examining, so +penetrating into mine, as to seem to convey, involuntarily, a +regret I had quitted her. This, at least, was the idea that +struck me, from the species of look which met + +Page 142 + +me; and it touched me to the heart, and brought instantly, in +defiance of all struggle, a flood of tears into my eyes. I was +some minutes recovering; and when I then entreated her +forgiveness, and cleared up, the voice with which she Spoke, in +hoping I was well, told me she had caught a little of my +sensation, for it was by no means steady. Indeed, at that +moment, I longed to kneel and beseech her pardon for the +displeasure I had felt in her long resistance of my resignation, +for I think, now, it was from a real and truly honourable wish to +attach me to her for ever. But I then suffered too much from a +situation so ill adapted to my choice and disposition, to do +justice to her opposition, or to enjoy its honour to myself. Now +that I am so singularly, alas! nearly singularly happy, though +wholly from my perseverance in that resignation, I feel all I owe +her, and I feel more and more grateful for every mark of her +condescension, either recollected or renewed. + +She looked ill, pale, and harassed. The king was but just +returned from his abortive visit to the Nore, and the inquietude +she had sustained during that short separation, circumstanced +many ways alarmingly, had evidently shaken her: I saw with much, +with deep concern, her sunk eyes and spirits. I believe the sight +of me raised not the latter. Mrs. Schwellenberg had not long +been dead, and I have some reason to think she would not have +been sorry to have had me supply the vacancy; for I had immediate +notice sent me of her death by Miss Planta, so written as to +persuade me it was a letter by command. But not all my duty, all +my gratitude, could urge me, even one short fleeting moment, to +weigh any interest against the soothing serenity, the unfading +felicity, of a hermitage such as mine. + +We spoke of poor Mrs. Schwelly,--and of her successor, Mlle. +Backmeister,--and of mine, Mrs. Bremyere; and I could not but +express my concern that her majesty had again been so +unfortunate, for Mlle. Jacobi had just retired to Germany, ill +and dissatisfied with everything in England. The Princess Augusta +had recounted to me the whole narrative of her retirement, and +its circumstances. The queen told me that the king had very +handsomely taken care of her. But such frequent retirements are +heavy weights upon the royal bounty. + +I felt almost guilty when the subject was started; but not from +any reproach, any allusion,-not a word was dropped that had not +kindness and goodness for its basis and its superstructure at +once. +Page 143 + +"How is your little boy?" was one of the earliest questions. "is +he here?" she added. + +"O yes," I answered, misunderstanding her, "he is my shadow; I go +nowhere without him." + +"But here, I mean?" + +"O no! ma'am, I did not dare presume--" + +I stopped, for her look said it would be no presumption. And Miss +Planta had already desired me to bring him to her next time; +which I suspect was by higher order than her own suggestion. + +She then inquired after my dear father, and so graciously, that I +told her not only of his good health, but his occupations, his +new work, a "Poetical History of Astronomy," and his +consultations with Herschel. + +She permitted me to speak a good deal of the Princess of +Wurtemberg, whom they still all call princess royal. She told me +she had worked her wedding garment, and entirely, and the real +labour it had proved, from her steadiness to have no help, well +knowing that three stitches done by any other would make it +immediately said it was none of it by herself. "As the bride of a +widower," she continued, "I know she ought to be in white and +gold ; but as the king's eldest daughter she had a right to white +and silver, which she preferred." + +A little then we talked of the late great naval victory, and she +said it was singularly encouraging to us that the three great +victories at sea had been "against our three great enemies, +successively : Lord Howe against the French, Lord St. Vincent +against the Spaniards, and Lord Duncan against the Dutch."(150) + +She spoke very feelingly of the difficult situation of the Orange +family, now in England, upon this battle; and she repeated me the +contents of' a letter from the Princess of Orange, whose +character she much extolled, upon the occasion, + +page 144 + +to the Princess Elizabeth, saying she could not bear to be the +only person in England to withhold her congratulations to the +king upon such an occasion, when no one owed him such +obligations; but all she had to regret was that the Dutch had not +fought with, not against, the English, and that the defeat had +not fallen upon those who ought to be their joint enemies. She +admired and pitied, inexpressibly, this poor fugitive princess. + +I told her of a note my father had received from Lady Mary +Duncan, in answer to his wishing her joy of her relation's +prowess and success, in which he says, "Lady Mary has been, for +some days past, like the rest of the nation drunk for joy." This +led to more talk of this singular lady: and reciprocal stories of +her oddities. + +She then deigned to inquire very particularly about our new +cottage,-its size, its number of rooms, and its grounds. I told +her, honestly, it was excessively comfortable, though unfinished +and unfitted up, for that it had innumerable little contrivances +and conveniences, just adapted to our particular use and taste, +as M. d'Arblay had been its sole architect and surveyor. "Then I +dare say," she answered, "it is very commodious, for there are no +people understand enjoyable accommodations more than French +gentleman, when they have the arranging them themselves." + +This was very kind, and encouraged me to talk a good deal of my +partner, in his various works and employments ; and her manner of +attention was even touchingly condescending, all circumstances +considered. And she then related to me the works of two French +priests, to whom she has herself been so good as to commit the +fitting up of one of her apartments at Frogmore. And afterwards +she gave me a description of what another French gentleman-- +elegantly and feelingly avoiding to say emigrant--had done in a +room belonging to Mrs. Harcourt, at Sophia farm, where he had the +sole superintendence of it, and has made it beautiful. +When she asked about our field, I told her we hoped in time to +buy it, as Mr. Locke had the extreme kindness to consent to part +with it to us, when it should suit our convenience to purchase +instead of renting it. I thought I saw a look of peculiar +satisfaction at this, that seemed to convey pleasure in the +implication thence to be drawn, that England was our decided, not +forced or eventual residence. And she led me on to many minute +particulars of our situation and way of living, with a sweetness +of interest I can never forget. +Page 145 + +Nor even here stopped the sensations of gratitude and pleasure +she thus awoke. She spoke then of my beloved Susan ; asked if +she were still in Ireland, and how the " pretty Norbury " did. + She then a little embarrassed me by an inquiry "why Major +Phillips went to Ireland?" for my answer, that he was persuaded +he should improve his estate by superintending the agriculture of +it himself, seemed dissatisfactory; however, she pressed it no +further. But I cannot judge by what passed whether she concludes +he is employed in a military way there, or whether she has heard +that he has retired. She seemed kindly pleased at all I had to +relate of my dear Norbury, and I delighted to call him back to +her remembrance. + +She talked a good deal of the Duchess of York, who continues the +first favourite of the whole royal family. She told me of her +beautiful works, lamented her indifferent health, and expatiated +upon her admirable distribution of her time and plan of life, and +charming qualities and character. + +But what chiefly dwells upon me with pleasure is, that she spoke +to me upon some subjects and persons that I know she would not +for the world should be repeated, with just the same confidence, +the same reliance upon my grateful discretion for her openness, +that she honoured me with while she thought me established in her +service for life. I need not tell my Susan how this binds me +more than ever to her. + +Very short to me seemed the time, though the whole conversation +was serious, and her air thoughtful almost to sadness, when a +page touched the door, and said something in German. The queen, +who was then standing by the window, turned round to answer him, +and then, with a sort of Congratulatory smile to me, said, "Now +you will see what you don't expect--the king!" + +I could indeed not expect it, for he was at Blackheath at a +review, and he was returned only to dress for the levee. . . + + + THE KING AND HIS INFANT GRAND-DAUGHTER. + +The king related very pleasantly- a little anecdote of Lady --. +"She brought the little Princess Charlotte,"(151) he said "to me +just before the review. 'She hoped,' she said, 'I should not +take it ill, for, having mentioned it to the child, + +Page 146 + +she built so upon it that she had thought of nothing else.' Now +this," cried he, laughing heartily, "was pretty strong! How can +she know what a child is thinking of before it can speak?" + +I was very happy at the fondness they both expressed for the +little princess, "A sweet little creature," the king called her; +"A most lovely child," the queen turned to me to add and the king +said he had taken her upon his horse, and given her a little +ride, before the regiment rode up to him. "'TIS very odd," he +added, "but she always knows me on horseback, and never else." +"Yes," said the queen, "when his majesty comes to her on +horseback, she claps her little bands, and endeavours to say +'Gampa!' immediately." I was much pleased that she is brought up +to such simple and affectionate acknowledgment of relationship. + +The king then inquired about my father, and with a look of +interest and kindness that regularly accompanies his mention of +that most dear person. He asked after his health, his spirits, +and his occupations, waiting for long answers to each inquiry, +The queen anticipated my relation of his astronomic work, and he +seemed much pleased with the design, as well as at hearing that +his protg Dr. Herschel, had been consulted. + +I was then a little surprised by finding he had heard of +"Clarentine."(152) He asked me, smilingly, some questions about +it, and if it were true, what he suspected, that my young sister +had a mind to do as I had done, and bring out a work in secret? I +was very much pleased then when the queen said, "I have seen it, +sir, and it is very pretty." . . . + + + ADMIRAL DUNCAN'S VICTORY. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF +ORANGE. + +I then, by her majesty's kind appointment, returned to my lovely +and loved Princess Augusta. Her hairdresser was just gone, and +she was proceeding in equipping herself "If you can bear to see +all this work," cried she, "pray come and sit with me, my dear +Madame d'Arblay." + +Nothing could be more expeditious than her attiring herself, +nothing more careless than her examination how it succeeded. But +judge my confusion and embarrassment, when, upon my saying I came +to petition for the rest of the Story, + +Page 147 + +she had just begun, and her answering by inquiring what it was +about, I could not tell! It had entirely escaped my memory; and +though I sought every way I could suggest to recall it, I so +entirely failed, that after her repeated demands, I was compelled +honestly to own that the commotion I had been put in by my +interview with their majesties had really driven it from my mind. + +She bore this with the true good humour of good sense but I was +most excessively ashamed. + +She then resumed the reigning subject of the day, Admiral +Duncan's victory and this led to speak again of the Orange +family; but she checked what seemed occurring to her about them, +till her wardrobe-woman had done and was -dismissed ; then, +hurrying her away, while she sat down by me, putting on her long +and superb diamond earrings herself, and without even turning +towards a glass, she said, "I don't like much to talk of that +family before the servants, for I am told they already think the +king too good to them." + +The Princess of Orange is, I find, a great favourite with them +all ; the Prince Frederick also, I believe, they like very much; +but the prince himself, she said, " has never, in fact, had his +education finished. He was married quite a ',-,'boy - but, being +married, concluded himself a man, and not only turned off all his +instructors, but thought it unnecessary to ask, or hear, counsel +or advice of any one. He is like a fallow field,-that is, not of +a soil that can't be improved ;:but one that has been left quite +to itself, and therefore has no materials put in it for +improvement." + +She then told me that she had hindered him, with great faculty, +from going to a great dinner, given at the Mansion House. upon +the victory of Admiral Duncan. It was not, she said, that he did +not feel for his country in that defeat, but that he never +weighed the impropriety of his public appearance upon an occasion +of rejoicing at it, nor the Ill effect the history of his so +doing would produce in Holland. She had the kindness of heart to +take upon herself preventing him "for no one," says she, "that is +about him dares ever speak to him, to give him any hint of +advice; which is a great "Misfortune: to him, poor man, for it +makes him never know what is said or thought of him." She related +with a great deal of humour her arguments to dissuade him, and +his nave manner of combating them. But though she conquered at +last, she did not convince, +Page 148 + +The Princess of Orange, she told me, had a most superior +understanding and might guide him sensibly and honourably, but he +was so jealous of being thought led by her counsel' that he never +listened to it at all. She gave me to understand that this +unhappy princess had had a life of uninterrupted indulgence and +prosperity till the late revolution - and that the suddenness of +such adversity had rather soured her mind, which, had it met +sorrow and evil by any gradations, would have been equal to +bearing them even nobly - but so quick a transition from +affluence, and power, and wealth, and grandeur, to a fugitive and +dependent state, had almost overpowered her. + +A door was now opened from an inner apartment, where, I believe, +was the grand collation for the Princess Sophia's birthday, and a +tall thin young man appeared at it, peeping and staring, but not +entering. + +"O! How do you do, Ernest?" cried the princess; "I hope you are +well; only pray do shut the door." + +He did not obey, nor move, either forwards or backwards, but kept +peering and peeping. She called to him again, beseeching him to +shut the door- but he was determined to first gratify his +curiosity, and, when he had looked as long as he thought +pleasant, he entered the apartment; but Princess Augusta, instead +of receiving and welcoming him, only said, "Good-bye, my dear +Ernest; I shall see you again at the play." + +He then marched on, finding himself so little desired, and only +saying, "No, you won't; I hate the play." + +I had risen when I found it one of the princes, and with a motion +of readiness to depart - but my dear princess would not let me. +When we were alone again, "Ernest," she said, "has a very good +heart; only he speaks without taking time to think." She then +gave me an instance. The Orange family by some chance were all +assembled with our royal family when the news of the great +victory at sea arrived; or at least upon the same day. "We were +all," said she, " distressed for them upon SO trying an occasion +and at supper we talked, of' course, Of every other subject; but +Ernest, quite uneasy at the forbearance, said to me, 'You don't +think I won't drink Duncan's health to-night?' 'Hush!' cried I. +'That's very hard indeed!' said he, quite loud. I saw the +princess of + +Page 149 + +orange looking at him, and was sure she had heard him; I trod +upon his foot, and made him turn to her. She looked so +disturbed, that he saw she had understood him, and he coloured +very high. The Princess of Orange then said, 'I hope my being +here will be no restraint upon anybody: I know what must be the +subject of everybody's thoughts, and I beg I may not prevent its +being so of their discourse.' Poor Ernest now was so sorry, he +was ready to die, and the tears started into his eyes; and he +would not have given his toast after this for all the world." + + + SOME NOTABLE ACTRESSES. + +The play they were going to was "The Merchant of Venice," to see +a new actress, just now much talked of--Miss Betterton; and the +king, hearing she was extremely frightened at the thoughts of +appearing before him, desired she might choose her own part for +the first exhibition in his presence. She fixed upon Portia. + +In speaking of Miss Farren's marriage with the Earl of Derby, she +displayed that sweet mind which her state and station has so +wholly escaped sullying; for, far from expressing either horror, +or resentment, or derision at an actress being elevated to the +rank of second countess of England, she told me, with an air of +satisfaction, that she was informed she had behaved extremely +well since her marriage, and done many generous and charitable +actions. + +She spoke with pleasure, too, of the high marriage made by +another actress, Miss Wallis, who has preserved a spotless +character, and is now the wife of a man of fortune and family Mr +Campbell. + +In mentioning Mrs. Siddons, and her great and affecting powers, +she much surprised me by intelligence that she had bought the +proprietorship of Sadler's-wells. I could not hear it without +some amusement it seemed, I said, so extraordinary a +combination--so degrading a one, indeed,-that of the first tragic +actress, the living Melpomene, and something so burlesque as +Sadler's-wells. She laughed, and said it offered her a very +ludicrous image, for Mrs. Siddons and Sadler's-wells," said she, +" seems to me as ill-fitted as the dish they call a toad in a +hole which I never saw, but always think of with anger, - +-putting a noble sirloin of beef into .1 ,'poor, Paltry +batter-pudding! +Page 150 + + THE DUKE OF CLARENCE. + +The door now again opened, and another royal personage put in his +head - and upon the princess saying, "How d'ye do, William?" I +recollected the Duke of Clarence. + +I rose, of course, and he made a civil bow to my curtsey The +princess asked him about the House of Lords the preceding +evening, where I found he had spoken very handsomely and +generously in eulogium of Admiral Duncan. Finding he was inclined +to stay, the princess said to me, + +"Madame d'Arblay, I beg you will sit down." + +"Pray, madam," said the duke, with a formal motion of his hand, +"let me beg you to be seated." + +"You know--you recollect Madame d'Arblay, don't you, William ?" +said the princess. He bowed civilly an affirmative, and then +began talking to me of Chesington. How I grieved poor dear Kitty +was gone! How great would have been her gratification to have +heard that he mentioned her, and with an air of kindness, as if +he had really entered into the solid goodness of her character. +I was much Surprised and much pleased, yet not without some +perplexity and some embarrassment, as his knowledge of the +excellent Kitty was from her being the dupe of the mistress of +his aide-de-camp. + +The princess, however, saved me any confusion beyond +apprehension, for she asked not one question. He moved on +towards the next apartment, and we were again alone. + +She then talked to me a great deal of him, and gave me, +admirably, his character. She is very partial to him, but by no +means blindly. He had very good parts, she said, but seldom did +them justice. "If he has something of high importance to do," +she continued, "he will exert himself to the utmost, and do it +really well; but otherwise, he is so fond of his ease, he lets +everything take its course. He can just do a great deal or +nothing. However, I really think, if he takes pains, he may make +something of a speaker by and by in the House." + +She related a visit he had made at Lady Mary Duncan's, at Hampton +Court, upon hearing Admiral Duncan was there and told me the +whole and most minute particulars of the battle, as they were +repeated by his royal highness from the admiral's own account. +But You will dispense with the martial detail from me. "Lady +Mary," cried she, "is much +Page 151 + +enchanted with her gallant nephew. 'I used to look,' says she, +'for honour and glory from my other side, the T--s ; but I +receive it only from the Duncans ! As to the T-s, what good do +they do their country?--why, they play all day at tennis, and +learn with vast skill to notch and scotch and go one! And that's +what their country gets from them!"' + +I thought now I should certainly be dismissed, for a page came to +the door to announce that the Duke of York was arrived : but she +only said, "Very well; pray shut the door," which seemed her +gentle manner of having it understood she would not be disturbed, +as she used the same words when messages were brought her from +the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary. + +She spoke again of the Duchess of York with the same fondness as +at Windsor. "I told you before," she said, "I loved her like one +of my own sisters, and I can tell you no more: and she knows it; +for one day she was taken ill, and fainted, and we put her upon +one of our beds, and got her everything we could think of +ourselves, and let nobody else wait upon her ; and when she +revived she said to my brother, 'These are my sisters--I am sure +they are! they must be my own!" + + + PRINCESS SOPHIA OF GLOUCESTER. + +Our next and last interruption, I think, was from a very gentle +tap at the door, and a "May I come in?" from a soft voice, while +the lock was turned, and a youthful and very lovely female put in +her head. + +The princess immediately rose, and said, " "O yes," and held out +her two hands to her; turning at the same time to me, and saying, +"Princess Sophia." + +I found it was the Duke of Gloucester's(154) daughter. She is +very fat, with very fine eyes, a bright, even dazzling bloom, +fine teeth, a beautiful skin, and a look of extreme modesty and +sweetness. She curtseyed to me so distinguishingly, that I was +almost confused by her condescension, fearing she 'Might imagine, +from finding me seated with the Princess 'Augusta, and in such +close conference, I was somebody. + +"You look so fine and so grand," cried she, examining the +princess's attire, which was very superb in silver and diamonds, +"that I am almost afraid to come near you!" Her own dress was +perfectly simple, though remarkably elegant. + +Page 152 + + +O!--I hate myself when so fine cried Princess Augusta; "I cannot +bear it but there is no help--the people at the play always +expect it." + +They then conversed a little while, both standing ; and then +Princess Augusta said, "Give my love to the duke (meaning of +Gloucester), "and I hope I shall see him bye and bye; and to +William."(155) (meaning the duke's son). And this, which was not +a positive request that she would prolong her visit, was +understood; and the lovely cousin made her curtsey and retired. + +To me, again, she made another, so gravely low and civil, that I +really blushed to receive it, from added fear of being mistaken. +I accompanied her to the door, and shut it for her; and the +moment she was out of the room, and out of sight of the Princess +Augusta, she turned round to me, and with a smile of extreme +Civility, and a voice very soft, said, "I am so happy to see +you!--I have longed for it a great, great while--for I have read +you with such delight and instruction, so often." + +I was very much surprised indeed; I expressed my sense of her +goodness as well as I could; and she curtseyed again, and glided +away. "How infinitely gracious is all your royal highness's +House to me!" cried I, as I returned to my charming princess; who +again made me take my seat next her own, and again renewed her +discourse. + +I stayed on with this delightful princess till near four o'clock, +when she descended to dinner. I then accompanied her to the head +of the stairs, saying, "I feel quite low that this is over! How I +wish it might be repeated in half a year instead of a year!" + +"I'm sure, and so do I!" were the last kind words she +condescendingly uttered. + +I then made a little visit to Miss Planta, who was extremely +friendly, and asked me why I should wait another year before I +came. I told her I had leave for an annual visit, and could not +presume to encroach beyond such a permission. However, as she +proposed my calling upon her when I happened to be in town, I +begged her to take some opportunity to hint my wish of admission, +if possible, more frequently. + +Very soon afterwards I had a letter from Miss Planta, saying she +had mentioned to her majesty my regret of the + +Page 153 + +long intervals of annual admissions; and that her majesty had +most graciously answered, "She should be very glad to see me +whenever I came to town." + + + DIARY RESUMED: (Addressed to Mrs. Phillips.) + + INDIGNATION AGAINST TALLEYRAND. + +Westhamble, Jan. 18, 1798-I am very impatient to know +if the invasion threat affects your part of Ireland. Our 'Oracle' +is of opinion the French soldiers will not go to Ireland, though +there flattered with much help, because they can expect but +little advantage, after all the accounts spread by the Opposition +of its starving condition ; but that they will come to England, +though sure of contest, at least, because there they expect the +very road to be paved with gold. + +Nevertheless, how I wish my heart's beloved here! to share with +us at least the same fears, instead of the division of +apprehension we must now mutually be tormented with. I own I am +sometimes affrighted enough. These sanguine and sanguinary +wretches will risk all for the smallest hope of plunder ; and +Barras assures them they have only to enter England to be lords +of wealth unbounded. + +But Talleyrand!--how like myself must you have felt at his +conduct! indignant--amazed--ashamed! Our first prepossession +against him was instinct--he conquered it by pains indefatigable +to win us, and he succeeded astonishingly, for we became partial +to him almost to fondness. The part he now acts against England +may be justified, perhaps, by the spirit of revenge ; but the +part he submits to perform of coadjutor with the worst of +villains--with Barras--Rewbel--Merlin--marks some internal +atrocity of character that disgusts as much as disappoints me. +And now, a last stroke, which appears in yesterday's paper, gives +the finishing hand to his portrait in my eyes. He has sent (and +written) the letter which exhorts the King of Prussia to order +the Duke of Brunswick to banish and drive from his dominions all +the emigrants there in asylum --and among these are the +Archbishop of Rennes (his uncle) and--his own mother! + +Poor M. de Narbonne! how will he be shocked and let down! where +he now is we cannot conjecture: all emigrants are exiled from the +Canton of Berne, where he resided; I feel extremely disturbed +about him. If that wretch Talleyrand has +Page 154 + +not given him some private Intimation to escape, and where to be +safe, he must be a monster. + + + THE D'ARBLAY MAISONNETTE. + +This very day, I thank God ! we paid the last of our work men. +Our house now is our own fairly --that it is our own madly too +you will all think, when I tell you the small remnant of our +income that has outlived this payment. However, if the +Carmagnols do not seize our walls, we despair not of enjoying, in +defiance of all straitness and strictness, our dear dwelling to +our hearts' content. But we are reducing our expenses and way of +life, in order to go on, in a manner you would laugh to see, +though almost cry to hear. But I never forget Dr. Johnson's +words. When somebody said that a certain person "had no turn for +economy," he answered, "Sir, you might as well say that he has no +turn for honesty." + +We know nothing yet of our taxes-nothing- of our assessments; but +we are of good courage, and so pleased with our maisonnette, we +think nothing too dear for it, provided we can but exist in it. I +should like much to know how you stand affected about the +assessment, and about the invasion. O that all these public +troubles would accelerate Your return! private blessings they +would then, at least, prove. Ah, my Susan, how do I yearn for +some little ray upon this subject! + +Charles and his family are at Bath, and Charlotte is gone to them +for a fortnight. All accounts that reach me of all the house and +race are well. Mr. Locke gives us very-frequent peeps indeed, +and looks with such benevolent pleasure at our dear cottage and +its environs! and seems to say, "I brought all this to bear," and +to feel happy in the noble trust he placed in our self-belief +that he might venture to show that kind courage without which we +could never have been united. All this retrospection is +expressed by his penetrating eyes it every visit. He rarely +alights ; but I frequently enter the phaeton, and take a +conversation in an airing. And when he comes without his +precious Amelia, he indulges my Alex in being our third. + + + INTERVIEW WITH THE QUEEN AND THE PRINCESSES. + +And now I have to prepare another Court relation for MY dearest +Susanna. I received on Wednesday morn a letter from our dearest +Page 155 + +father, telling me he feared he should be forced to quit his +Chelsea apartments, from a new arrangement among the officers, +and wishing me to represent his difficulties, his books, health, +time of life, and other circumstances, through Miss Planta, to +the queen. M. d'Arblay and I both thought that, if I had any +chance of being of the smallest use, it would be by endeavouring +to obtain an audience-not by letter; and as the most remote hope +of success was sufficient to urge -every exertion, we settled +that I should set out instantly for Chelsea ; and a chaise, +therefore, we sent for from Dorking, and I set off at noon. M. +d'A. would not go, as we knew not what accommodation I might find +; and I could not, uninvited and unexpected, take my little +darling boy; so I went not merrily, though never more willingly. + +My dear father was at home, and, I could see, by no means +surprised by my appearance, though he had not hinted at desiring +it. Of course he was not very angry nor sorry, and we communed +together upon his apprehensions, and settled our plan. I was to +endeavour to represent his case to the queen, in hopes it might +reach his majesty, and procure some order in his favour. + +I wrote to Miss Planta, merely to say I was come to pass three +days at Chelsea, and, presuming upon the gracious permission of +her majesty, I ventured to make known my arrival, ,in the hope it +might possibly procure me the honour of admittance. The next +morning, Thursday, I had a note from Miss Planta, to say that she +had the pleasure to acquaint ',.",me her majesty desired I would +be at the Queen's house next day at ten o'clock. + +Miss Planta conducted me immediately, by order, to the Princess +Elizabeth, who received me alone, and kept me tte--tte till I +was summoned to the queen, which was near ,.an hour. She was all +condescension and openness, and inquired into my way of life and +plans, with a sort of kindness that I am sure belonged to a real +wish to find them happy and prosperous. When I mentioned how much +of our time was mutually given to books and writing, M. d'Arblay +being as great a scribbler as myself, she good-naturedly +exclaimed, "How fortunate he should have so much the same taste!" + +"It was that, in fact," I answered, "which united us for our +acquaintance began, in intimacy, by reading French together, and +writing themes, both French and English, for each other's +correction." +Page 156 + +"Pray," cried she, " if it is not impertinent, may I ask to what +religion you shall bring up your son?" + +"The Protestant," I replied; telling her it was M. d'Arblay's own +wish, since he was an Englishman born, he should be an Englishman +bred,--with much more upon the subject that my Susan knows +untold. + +She then inquired why M. d'Arblay was not naturalised. This was +truly kind, for it looked like wishing our permanently fixing in +this his adopted country. I answered that he found he could not +be naturalised as a catholic, which had made him relinquish the +plan; for though he was firmly persuaded the real difference +between the two religions was trifling, and such as even appeared +to him, in the little he had had opportunity to examine, to be in +favour of Protestantism, he could not bring himself to study the +matter with a view of changing that seemed actuated by interest ; +nor could I wish it, earnest as I was for his naturalisation. +But he hoped, ere long, to be able to be naturalised as an +Irishman, that clause of religion not being there insisted upon , +or else to become a denizen, which was next best, and which did +not meddle with religion at all. She made me talk to her a great +deal of my little boy, and my father, and M. d'Arblay; and when +Miss Planta came to fetch me to her majesty, she desired to see +me again before my departure. + +The queen was in her White closet, working at a round table, with +the four remaining princesses, Augusta, Mary, Sophia, and Amelia. +She received me most sweetly, and with a look of far better +spirits than upon my last admission. She permitted me, in the +most gracious manner, to inquire about the princess royal, now +Duchess of WUrtemberg, and gave me an account of her that I hope +is not flattered ; for it seemed happy, and such as reconciled +them all to the separation. When she deigned to inquire,- +herself, after my dear father, you may be sure of the eagerness +With which I seized the moment for relating his embarrassment and +difficulties. She heard me with a benevolence that assured me, +though she made no speech, my history would not be forgotten, nor +remembered vainly. I was highly satisfied with her look and +manner. The Princesses Mary and Amelia had a little opening +between them , and when the queen was conversing with some lady +who was teaching the Princess Sophia some work, they began a +whispering conversation with me about my little +Page 157 + +boy. How tall is he?--how old is he?--Is he fat or thin?--is he +like you or M. d'Arblay? etc.--with sweet vivacity of interest,- +-the lovely Princess Amelia finishing her listening to my every +answer with a "dear little thing!" that made me long to embrace +her as I have done in her childhood. She is now full as tall as +princess royal, and as much formed ; she looks seventeen, though +only fourteen, but has an innocence, an Hebe blush, an air of +modest candour, and a gentleness so caressingly inviting, of +voice and eye, that I have seldom seen a more captivating young +creature. + +Then they talked of my new house, and inquired about every room +it contained; and then of our grounds, and they were mightily +diverted with the mixtures of roses and cabbages, sweet briars, +and potatoes, etc. + +The queen, catching the domestic theme, presently made inquiries +herself, both as to the building and the child, asking, with +respect to the latter, "Is he here?" as if she meant in the +palace. I told her I had come so unexpectedly myself upon my +father's difficulties, that I had not this time brought my little +shadow. I believed, however, I should fetch him, as, if I +lengthened my stay, M. d'Arblay would come also. "To be sure!" +she said, as if feeling the trio's full objections to separating. + +She asked if I had seen a play just come out, called "He's much +to Blame;" and, on my negative, began to relate to me its plot +and characters, and the representation and its effect ; and, +warming herself by her own account and my attention, she +presently entered into a very minute history of each act, and a +criticism upon some incidents, with a spirit and judiciousness +that were charming. She is delightful in discourse when animated +by her subject, and speaking to auditors with whom, neither from +circumstance nor suspicion, she has restraint. But when, as +occasionally she deigned to ask my opinion of the several actors +she brought in review, I answered I had never seen them,--neither +Mrs. Pope, Miss Betterton, Mr. Murray, etc.,--she really looked +almost concerned. She knows my fondness for the theatre, and I +did not fear to say my inability to indulge it was almost my only +regret in my hermit life. "I, too," she graciously said, "prefer +plays to all other amusements." + +By degrees all the princesses retired, except the Princess +Augusta. She then spoke more openly upon less public matters,-in +particular upon the affair, then just recent, of the +Page 158 + +Duke of Norfolk, who, you may have heard, had drunk, at the Whig +Club, "To the majesty of the people," in consequence of which the +king had erased his name from the privy council. His grace had +been caricatured drinking from a silver tankard with the burnt +bread still in flames touching his mouth, and exclaiming, "Pshaw! +my toast has burnt my mouth." + +This led me to speak of his great brick house, which is our +immediate vis--vis. And much then ensued upon Lady ---- +concerning whom she opened to me very completely, allowing all I +said of her uncommon excellence as a mother, but adding, "Though +she is certainly very clever, she thinks herself so a little too +much, and instructs others at every word. I was so tired with +her beginning everything with 'I think,' that, at last, just as +she said so, I stopped her, and cried., 'O, I know what you +think, Lady ----!' Really, one is obliged to be quite sharp with +her to keep her In her place." . . . + +Lady C--, she had been informed, had a considerable sum in the +French funds, which she endeavoured from time to time to recover, +but upon her last effort, she had the following query put to her +agent by order of the Directory: how much she would have deducted +from the principal, as a contribution towards the loan raising +for the army of England? If Lady C-- were not mother-in-law to a +minister who sees the king almost daily, I should think this a +made story. + +When, after about an hour and a half's audience, *she dismissed +me, she most graciously asked my stay at Chelsea, and desired I +would inform Miss Planta before I returned home. This gave me the +most gratifying feeling, and much hope for my dearest father. + + + ROYAL CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE WAR. + +Returning then, according to my permission, to Princess +Elizabeth, she again took up her netting, and made me sit by her. +We talked a good deal of the new-married daughter of Lady +Templetown, and she was happy, she said, to hear from me that the +ceremony was performed by her own favourite Bishop of Durham, for +she was sure a blessing would attend his joining their hands. She +asked me much of my little man, and told me several things of the +Princess Charlotte, her niece, and our future queen; she seems +very fond of her, and says 'tis a lovely child, and extremely +like the Prince Of +Page 159 + +Wales. "She is just two years old," said she, "and speaks very +prettily, though not plainly. I flatter myself Aunt Liby, as she +calls me, is a great favourite with her." + +My dearest Princess Augusta soon after came in, and, after +staying a few minutes, and giving some message to her sister, +said, "And when you leave Elizabeth, my dear Madame d'Arblay, I +hope you'll come to me." + +This happened almost immediately, and I found her hurrying over +the duty of her toilette, which she presently despatched, though +she was going to a public concert of Ancient Music, and without +scarcely once looking in the glass, from haste to have done, and +from a freedom from vanity I never saw quite equalled in any +young woman of any class. She then dismissed her hairdresser and +wardrobe-woman, and made me sit by her. + +Almost immediately we began upon the voluntary contributions to +the support of the war; and when I mentioned the queen's +munificent donation of five thousand pounds a-year for its +support, and my admiration of it, from my peculiar knowledge, +through my long residence under the royal roof, of the many +claims which her majesty's benevolence, as well as state, had +raised upon her powers, she seemed much gratified by the justice +I did her royal mother, and exclaimed eagerly "I do assure you, +my dear Madame d'Arblay, people ought to know more how good the +queen is, for they don't know it half." And then she told me +that she only by accident had learnt almost all that she knew of +the queen's bounties. "And the most I gathered," she continued, +laughing, "was, to tell you the real truth, by my own +impertinence - for when we were at Cheltenham, Lady Courtown (the +queen's lady-in-waiting for the country) put her pocket-book down +on the table, when I was alone with her, by some chance open at a +page where mamma's name was written : so, not guessing at any +secret commission, I took it up, and read-Given by her majesty's +commands--so much, and so much, and so much. And I was quite +surprised. However, Lady Courtown made me promise never to +mention it to the queen ; so I never have. But I long it should +be known, for all that; though I would not take such a liberty as +to spread it of my own judgment." + +I then mentioned my own difficulties formerly, when her Majesty, +upon my ill state of health's urging my resigning the honour of +belonging to the royal household, so graciously +Page 160 + +settled upon me a pension, that I had been forbidden to name it. +I had been quite distressed in not avowing what I so gratefully +felt, and hearing questions and surmises and remarks I had no +power to answer. She seemed instantly to comprehend that my +silence might do wrong, on such an occasion, to the queen, for +she smiled, and with great quickness cried, "O, I dare say you +felt quite guilty in holding your tongue." And she was quite +pleased with the permission afterwards granted me to be explicit. + +When I spoke of her own and her royal sisters' contributions, one +hundred pounds per annum, she blushed, bat seemed ready to enter +upon the subject, even confidentially, and related its whole +history. No one ever advised or named it to them, as they have +none of them any separate establishment, but all hang upon the +queen, from whose pin-money they are provided for till they +marry, or have an household of their own granted by Parliament. +"Yet we all longed to subscribe," cried she, "and thought it +quite right, if other young ladies did, not to be left out. But +the difficulty was, how to do what would not be improper for us, +and yet not to be generous at mamma's expense, for that would +only have been unjust. So we consulted some of our friends, and +then fixed upon one hundred pounds a-piece; and when we asked the +queen's leave, she was so good as to approve it. So then we +spoke to the king, and he said it was but little, but he wished +particularly nobody should subscribe what would really distress +them ; and that, if that was all we could conveniently do, and +regularly continue, he approved it more than to have us make a +greater exertion, and either bring ourselves into difficulties or +not go on. But he was not at all angry." + +She then gave me the history of the contribution of her brothers. +The Prince of Wales could not give in his name without the leave +of his creditors. "But Ernest," cried she, "gives three hundred +pounds a-year, and that's a tenth of his income, for the king +allows him three thousand pounds." + +All this leading to discourse upon loyalty, and then its +contrast, democracy, she narrated to me at full length a lecture +of Therwall's, which had been repeated to her by M. de +Guiffardire. It was very curious from her mouth. But she is +candour in its whitest purity, wherever it is possible to display +it, in discriminating between good and bad, and abstracting rays +of light even from the darkest shades. So she did even from +Therwall. +Page 161 + +She made me, as usual, talk of my little boy, and was much amused +by hearing that, imitating what he heard from me, he called his +father "mon ami," and tutoyed him, drinking his health at dinner, +as his father does to me--" la sant." + +When at length the Princess Augusta gave me the bow of cong she +spoke of seeing me again soon: I said I should therefore lengthen +my stay in town, and induce M. d'Arblay to come and bring my boy. + +"We shall see you then certainly," said she, smiling, "and do +pray, my dear Madame d'Arblay, bring your little boy with you. +And don't say anything to him," cried she, as I was departing; +"let us see him quite natural." + +I understood her gracious, and let me say rational, desire, that +the child should not be impressed with any awe of the royal +presence. I assured her I must obey, for he was so young, so +wild, and so unused to present himself, except as a plaything, +that it would not be even in my power to make him orderly. . . . + +My dear father was extremely pleased with what I had to tell him, +and hurried me back to Westhamble, to provide myself with baggage +for sojourning with him. My two Alexanders, you will believe, +were now warmly invited to Chelsea, and we all returned thither +together, accompanied by Betty Nurse. + + + INVITATION TO THE PLAY. MRS SCHWELLENBERG'S SUCCESSOR. + +I shall Complete my next Court visit before I enter upon aught +else. I received, very soon, a note from Madame Bremyere, who is +my successor. [I have told you poor Mlle. Jacobi is returned to +Germany, I think; and that her niece, La Bettina, is to marry a +rich English merchant and settle in London.] This note says Mrs +Bremyere has received the queen's commands to invite Madame +d'Arblay to the play tomorrow night "-with her own desire I would +drink coffee in her apartment before we went to the theatre. +Could anything More sweetly mark the real kindness of the queen +than this remembrance of my fondness for plays ? + +My dear father lent me his carriage, and I was now introduced to +the successor of Mrs. Schwellenberg, Mlle. Bachmeister, a German, +brought over by M. de Luc, who travelled to Germany to accompany +her hither. I found she was the lady I had seen with the queen +and princesses, + +Page 162 + +ing some work. Not having been to the so-long-known apartments +since the death of Mrs. Schwellenberg, I knew not how they were +arranged, and had concluded Madame Bremyere possessed those of +Mrs. Schwellenberg. Thither, therefore, I went, and was received, +to my great surprise, by this lady, who was equally surprised by +my entrance, though without any doubt who I might be, from having +seen me with the queen, and from knowing I was to join the +play-party to my ci-devant box. I inquired if I had made any +mistake, but though she could not say no, she would not suffer Me +to rectify it, but sent to ask Madame Bremyere to meet me in her +room. + +Mlle. Bachmeister is extremely genteel in her figure, though +extremely plain in her face; her voice is gentle and penetrating; +her manners are soft, yet dignified, and she appears to be both a +feeling and a cultivated character. I could not but lament such +had not been the former possessor of an apartment I had so often +entered with the most cruel antipathy. I liked her exceedingly; +she is a marked gentlewoman in her whole deportment, though +whether so from birth, education, or only mind, I am ignorant. + +Since she gave me so pleasant a prejudice in her favour, you will +be sure our acquaintance began with some spirit. We talked much +of the situation she filled; and I thought it my duty to cast the +whole of my resignation of one so similar upon ill health. Mrs. +Bremyere soon joined us, and we took up Miss Barbara Planta in +our way to the theatre. + +When the king entered, followed by the queen and his lovely +daughters, and the orchestra struck up " God save the king," and +the people all called for the singers, who filled the stage to +sing it, the emotion I was suddenly filled with so powerfully +possessed me, that I wished I could, for a minute or two, have +flown from the box, to have sobbed; I was so gratefully delighted +at the sight before me, and so enraptured at the continued +enthusiasm of the no longer volatile people for their worthy, +revered sovereign, that I really suffered from the restraint I +felt of being forced to behave decorously. + +The play was the "Heir at Law," by Colman the younger. I liked it +extremely. It has a good deal of character, a happy plot, much +interest in the under parts, and is combined, I think, by real +genius, though open to innumerable partial criticisms. I heard a +gentleman's voice from the next box call softly to Miss Barbara +Planta, "Who is that lady?" and +Page 163 + +heard her answer my name, and him rejoin, "I thought so." I found +it was Lord Aylesbury, who also has resigned, and was at the play +only for the pleasure of sitting opposite his late royal +mistress. . . . + + + MADAME D'ARBLAY's LITTLE BOY AT COURT. + +About a week after this theatrical regale, I went to the Queen's +house, to make known I had only a few more days to remain at +Chelsea. I arrived just as the royal family had set out for +Windsor; but Miss Bacbmeister, fortunately, had only ascended her +coach to follow. I alighted, and went to tell my errand. Mrs. +Bremyere, Mrs. Cheveley, and Miss Planta were her party. The +latter promised to speak for me to the queen; but, gathering I +had my little boy, in my father's carriage, she made me send for +him. They took him in, and loaded him with bonbons and +admiration, and would have loaded him with caresses to boot, but +the little wretch resisted that part of the entertainment. Upon +their return from Windsor, you will not suppose me made very +unhappy to receive the following billet:-- + +March 8th, 1798. +My dear friend,-The queen has commanded me to acquaint you that +she desires you will be at the Queen's house on Thursday morning +at ten o'clock, with your lovely boy. You are desired to come +upstairs in Princess Elizabeth's apartments, and her majesty will +send for you as soon as she can see you. Adieu! Yours most +affectionately, M. Planta. + +A little before ten, you will easily believe, we were at the +,Queen's house, and were immediately ushered into the apartment +of the Princess Elizabeth, who, to show she expected my little +man, had some playthings upon one of her many tables; for her +royal highness has at least twenty in her principal room. The +child, in a new muslin frock, sash, etc.' did not look to much +disadvantage, and she examined him with the most good-humoured +pleasure, and, finding him too shy to be seized, had the +graciousness, as well as sense, to play round and court him by +sportive wiles, instead of being offended at his insensibility to +her royal notice. She ran about the room, peeped at him through +chairs, clapped her hands, half caught without touching him, and +showed a skill +Page 164 + +and a sweetness that made one almost sigh she should have no call +for her maternal propensities. + +There came in presently Miss D-, a young lady about thirteen, who +seems in some measure under the protection of her royal highness, +who had rescued her poor injured and amiable mother, Lady D-, +from extreme distress, into which she had been involved by her +unworthy husband's connexion with the infamous Lady W-, who, more +hardhearted than even bailiffs, had forced certain of those +gentry, in an execution she had ordered in Sir H. D-'s house, to +seize even all the children's playthings ! as well as their +clothes, and that when Lady D-- had but just lain in, and was +nearly dying! This charming princess, who had been particularly +acquainted with Lady D- during her own illness at Kew Palace, +where the queen permitted the intercourse, came forward upon this +distress, and gave her a small independent house in the +neighbourhood of Kew, with every advantage she could annex to it. +But she is now lately no more, and, by the sort of reception +given to her daughter, I fancy the princess transfers to her that +kind benevolence the mother no longer wants. + +just then, Miss Planta came to summon us to the Princess Augusta. + She received me with her customary sweetness, and called the +little boy to her. He went fearfully and cautiously, yet with a +look of curiosity at the state of her head, and the operations of +her friseur, that seemed to draw him on more powerfully than her +commands. He would not, however, be touched, always flying to my +side at the least attempt to take his hand. This would much have +vexed me, if I had not seen the ready allowance she made for his +retired life, and total want of use to the sight of anybody out +of our family, except the Lockes, amongst whom I told her his +peculiar preference for Amelia. "Come then," cried she, "come +hither, my dear, and tell me all about her,--is she very good to +you?--do you like her very much?" + +He was now examining her fine carpet, and no answer was to be +procured. I would have apologised, but she would not let me. +"'Tis so natural," she cried, '"that he should be more amused +with those shapes and colours than with my stupid questions." + +Princess Mary now came in, and, earnestly looking at him, +exclaimed, "He's beautiful!--what eyes!--do look at his eyes!" +Page 165 + +"Come hither, my dear," again cried Princess Augusta, +"come hither;" and, catching him to her for a Moment, and, +holding up his hair. to lift up his face and made him look at +her, she smiled very archly, and cried, "O ! horrid eyes! +shocking eyes!--take them away!" + +Princess Elizabeth then entered, attended by a page, who was +loaded With playthings which she had been sending for. You may +suppose him caught now! He seized upon dogs, horses, chaise, a +cobbler, a watchman, and all he could grasp but would not give +his little person or cheeks, to my great confusion, for any of +them. + +I was fain to call him a little savage, a wild deer, a creature +just caught from the woods, and whatever could indicate his +rustic life, and apprehension of new faces,--to prevent their +being hurt ; and their excessive good nature helped all my +excuses, nay, made them needless, except to myself. . + +Princess Elizabeth now began playing upon an organ she had +brought him, which he flew to seize. "Ay, do! that's right, my +dear," cried Princess Augusta, stopping her ears at some +discordant sounds; "take it to mon ami, to frighten the cats out +of his garden." + +And now, last of all, came in Princess Amelia, and, strange to +relate ! the child was instantly delighted with her! She came +first up to me, and, to my inexpressible surprise and +enchantment, she gave me her sweet beautiful face to kiss!--an +honour I had thought now for ever over, though she had so +frequently gratified me with it formerly. Still more touched, +however, than astonished, I would have kissed her hand, but, +withdrawing it, saying, "No, no,--you know I hate that!" she +again presented me her ruby lips, and with an expression of -such +ingenuous sweetness and innocence as was truly captivating. She +is and will be another Princess Augusta. + +She then turned to the child, and his eyes met hers with a look +of the same pleasure that they were sought. She stooped down to +take his unresisting hands, and, exclaiming "Dear little thing!" +took him in her arms, to his own as obvious content as hers. + +"He likes her!" cried Princess Augusta, "a little rogue! see how +he likes her!" + +"Dear little thing!" with double the emphasis, repeated the +young princess, now sitting down and taking him upon her knee; +"and how does M. d'Arblay do?" + +The child now left all his new playthings, his admired +Page 166 + +carpet, and his privilege of jumping from room to room, for the +gentle pleasure of sitting in her lap and receiving her caresses. +I could not be very angry, you will believe, yet I would have +given the world I could have made him equally grateful to the +Princess Augusta. This last charming personage, I now found, was +going to Sit for her picture--I fancy to send to the Duchess of +Wurtemberg. She gave me leave to attend her with my bantling. +The other princesses retired to dress for Court. + +It was with great difficulty I could part my little love from his +grand collection of new playthings, all of which he had dragged +into the painting-room, and wanted now to pull them down-stairs +to the queen's apartment. I persuaded him, however, to +relinquish the design without a quarrel, by promising we would +return for them. + + + HIS PRESENTATION TO THE QUEEN. + +I was not a little anxious, you will believe, in this +presentation of my unconsciously honoured rogue, who entered the +White closet totally unimpressed with any awe, and only with a +sensation of disappointment in not meeting again the gay young +party, and variety of playthings, he had left above. The queen, +nevertheless, was all condescending indulgence, and had a Noah's +ark ready displayed upon the table for him. + +But her look was serious and full of care, and, though perfectly +gracious, none of her winning smiles brightened her countenance, +and her voice was never cheerful. I have since known that the +Irish conspiracy with France was just then discovered, and +O'Connor that very morning taken.(156) No wonder she should have +felt a shock that pervaded her whole mind and manners! If we all +are struck with horror at such developments of treason, danger, +and guilt, what must they prove to the royal family, at whom they +are +Page 167 + +regularly aimed ? How my heart has ached for them in that +horrible business! + +"And how does your papa do?" said the queen. + +"He's at Telsea," answered the child. + +"And how does grandDapa do?" + +"He's in the toach," he replied. + +"And what a pretty frock you've got on! who made it you, mamma, +or little aunty?" + +The little boy now grew restless, and pulled me about, with a +desire to change his situation. I was a good deal embarrassed, as +I saw the queen meant to enter into conversation as usual; which +I knew to be impossible, unless he had some entertainment to +occupy him. She perceived this soon, and had the goodness +immediately to open Noah's ark herself, which she had meant he +should take away with him to examine and possess at once. But he +was now soon in raptures : and, as the various animals were +produced, looked with a delight that danced in all his features; +and when any appeared of which he knew the name, he capered with +joy; such as, "O! a tow [cow]!" But at the dog, he clapped his +little hands, and running close to her Majesty; leant upon her +lap, exclaiming, "O, it's bow wow!" + +"And do you know this, little man?" said the queen, showing him a +cat. + +"Yes," cried he, again jumping as he leant upon her, "its name is +talled pussey!" + +And at the appearance of Noah, in a green mantle, and leaning on +a stick, he said, "At's (that's] the shepherd's boy!" + +The queen now inquired about my dear father, and heard all I had +to say relative to his apartments, with an air of interest, yet +not as if it was new to her. I have great reason to believe the +accommodation then arranging, and since settled, as to his +continuance in the College, has been deeply influenced by some +royal hint. . . . + +I imagined she had just heard of the marriage of Charlotte, for +she inquired after my sister Frances, whom she never had +mentioned before since I quitted my post. I was obliged briefly +to relate the transaction, seeking to adorn it by stating Mr. +Broome's being the author of "Simkin's Letters." She agreed in +their uncommon wit and humour. + +My little rebel, meanwhile, finding his animals were not given +into his own hands, but removed from their mischief, was +struggling all this time to get at the Tunbridge-ware of +Page 168 + +the queen's work-box, and, in defiance of all my efforts to +prevent him, he seized one piece, which he called a hammer, and +began violently knocking the table with it. I would fain have +taken it away silently - but he resisted such grave authority, +and so continually took it back, that the queen, to my great +confusion, now gave it him. Soon, however, tired also of this, he +ran away from me into the next room, which was their majesties' +bedroom, and in which were all the jewels ready to take to St. +James's, for the Court attire. I was excessively ashamed, and +obliged to fetch him back in my arms, and there to keep him. " + +"Get down, little man," said the queen; "you are too heavy for +your mamma." + +He took not the smallest notice of this admonition. The queen, +accustomed to more implicit obedience, repeated it but he only +nestled his little head in my neck, and worked' about his whole +person, so that I with difficulty held him. + +The queen now imagined he did not know whom she meant, and said, +" What does he call you? Has he any particular name for you?" + +He now lifted up his head, and, before I could answer, called +out, in a fondling manner, "Mamma, mamma!" + +"O!" said she, smiling, "he knows who I mean!" + +His restlessness still interrupting all attention, in defiance of +my earnest whispers for quietness, she now said, "Perhaps he is +hungry?" and rang her bell, and ordered a page to bring some +cakes. + +He took one with great pleasure, and was content to stand down to +eat it. I asked him if he had nothing to say for it; he nodded +his little head, and composedly answered, "Sanky, queen!" This +could not help amusing her, nor me, neither, for I had no +expectation of quite so succinct an answer. + +The carriages were now come for St. James's, and the Princesses +Augusta and Elizabeth came into the apartment. The little monkey, +in a fit of renewed lassitude after his cake, had flung himself +on the floor, to repose at his ease. He rose, however, upon +their appearance, and the sweet Princess Augusta said to the +queen, "He has been so good, up-stairs, mamma, that nothing could +be better behaved." I could have kissed her for this instinctive +kindness, excited by a momentary view of my embarrassment at his +little airs and liberties. + +The queen heard her with an air of approving, as well as +understanding, her motive, and spoke to me with the utmost +Page 169 + +condescension of him, though I cannot recollect how, for I was a +good deal fidgeted lest he should come to some disgrace, by any +actual mischief or positive rebellion. I escaped pretty well, +however, and they all left us with smiles and graciousness. . . . + +You will not be much surprised to hear that papa came to help us +out of the coach, at* our return to Chelsea, eager to know how +our little rebel had conducted himself, and how he had been +received. The sight of his playthings, you will believe, was not +very disagreeable. The ark, watchman, and cobbler, I shall keep +for him till he may himself judge their worth beyond their price. + + + MLLE. BACHMEISTER PRODUCES A FAVOURABLE IMPRESSION. + +I returned to the Queen's house in the afternoon to drink coffee +with Mlle. Bachmeister, whom I found alone, and spent a half-hour +with very pleasantly, though very seriously, for her character is +grave and feeling, and I fear she is not happy. Afterwards we +were joined by Madame Bremyere, who is far more cheerful. + +The play was called "Secrets Worth Knowing;" a new piece. In the +next box to ours sat Mrs. Ariana Egerton, the bed-chamber-woman +to her majesty, who used so frequently to visit me at Windsor. +She soon recollected me, though she protested I looked so +considerably in better health, she took me for my own Younger +sister - and we had a great deal of chat together, very amicable +and cordial. I so much respect her warm exertions for the +emigrant ladies, that I addressed her with real pleasure, in +pouring forth my praises for her kindness and benevolence. + +When we returned to the Queen's house my father's carriage was +not arrived, and I was obliged to detain Mlle. Bachmeister in +conversation for full half an hour, while I waited ; but it +served to increase my good disposition to her. She is really an +interesting woman. Had she been in that place while I belonged to +the queen, heaven knows if I had so struggled for deliverance , +for poor Mrs. Schwellenberg so wore, wasted, and tortured all my +little leisure, that my time for repose was, in fact, my time of +greatest labour. So all is for the best! I have escaped +offending lastingly the royal mistress I love and honour, and-I +live at Westhamble with my two precious Alexanders. + +(137) The most interesting account of the unfortunate expedition +to Bantry Bay is to be found in Wolfe Tone's " Memoirs." Wolfe +Tone, one of the leading members of the Irish Revolutionary +party, had been for some time resident in Paris, engaged in +negotiations with the Directory, with the view of obtaining +French support for the Irish in their intended attempt to throw +off the yoke of England. About the middle of December, 1796, a +large French fleet, under the Admiral Villaret-Joyeuse, sailed +from Brest, having on board an army of f twenty-five thousand +men, commanded by General Hoche, one of the ablest officers of +the Republic. Wolfe Tone accompanied the troops in the capacity +of adjutant to the general, But the fleet was dispersed by +storms. The vessel which had General Hoche on board was obliged +to put into the harbour of Rochelle, and comparatively few of the +ships, with about six thousand troops on board, actually cast +anchor in Bantry Bay. Even there, the wind was so 'Violent as to +render landing impossible, and after a few days' delay the +expedition returned to France.-ED. + +(138) Edmund Burke died, at his house at Beaconsfield, half an +hour after midnight on the morning Of Sunday, July 9, 1797. He +was buried, July 15, in the parish church of Beaconsfield.-ED. + +(139) Sold for the benefit of the nation. + +(140) Dr. Johnson's negro servant. Johnson left him a comfortable +annuity, on which he retired to Lichfield. He died in the +infirmary at Stafford, February 13, 1801.-ED. + +(141) The Garrick family resided in Lichfield. David Garrick was +born in Hereford, but educated at Lichfield.-ED. + + (142) Dr. Burney's little grandson, and the son of Captain James +BAR Burney. after years, as readers of "Elia" will remember, +Martin Burney was the friend of Charles Lamb.-ED. + +(143) Since the death of his second wife, Dr. Burney had been +engaged upon a "historical and didactic poem on astronomy." He +had been urged to the undertaking by Fanny, who hoped that the +interest of this new occupation might prove a relief to his +sorrow. Astronomy Was a favourite subject with Dr. Burney, and +he made great progress with the poem, which was for years his +favourite recreation. At a later period, however, for some +reason which his daughter never discovered, he relinquished the +task and destroyed the manuscript.-ED. + +(144) Ralph Broome, who married Charlotte Francis in 1798, wasthe +author of "The Letters of Simpkin the Second, poetic recorder of +all the proceedings upon the trial of Warren Hastings, Esq., in +Westminster Hall," published by Stockdale, 1789. These letters, +which had already appeared separately in "The World," form, as +the title implies, a burlesque report of the trial, in rhymed +verse. The author is very severe upon the managers, and +proportionately favourable to Mr. Hastings. The letters are +amusing and not without Wit, although in these respects "Simpkin +the Second" falls decidedly short of "Simpkin the First," who is, +of course, the Simple Simkin of Anstey's "New Bath Guide." upon +which clever satire Broome had modelled his performance.-ED. + +(145) Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, was a very singular +character--- a compound of experimental philosopher, practical +philanthropist, soldier and statesman. He was born at Woburn, +Massachusetts, in 1753. A Tory during the struggle for American +independence, he embarked for England before the close of the +war. There he was well received by the government, but shortly +afterwards he went to Bavaria, where he entered into the service +of the Elector. He soon attained a high reputation by the +reforms which he introduced in various departments, and was +created a Count of the Holy Roman Empire, by the title of Count +Rumford. Among his principal achievements in Bavaria were the +reforms which he brought about in the army, and the measures +which he instituted for the relief of the poor and the +suppression of beggary. To Fanny, at present, Count Rumford was +more interesting as the inventor of an improved Cooking range, by +which the consumption of fuel was greatly reduced. See his "Life" +by James Renwick, in Sparks'.s "Library of American Biography," +Boston, 1845.-ED. + + (146) The insurrection of the 18th of Fructidor (September 4, +1797). In 1795, on the dissolution of the Convention, the +government of France was entrusted to a Directory of five +persons, assisted by two councils--the Council of Ancients, and +the Council of Five hundred. In course of time, the reactionary, +or anti-revolutionary, party obtained a large majority in the +councils, which were thus involved in continual disputes with the +Directory. The army supported the Directory, and on the 4th Of +September a large body of troops surrounded the Tuileries, and +arrested a number of the most obnoxious members of the councils; +many of these Were afterwards--not guillotined, but transported +to South America.-ED. +(147) The marriage of the princess royal and the hereditary +prince of Wurtemberg, May 18, 1797.-ED. +(148) In April, 797, a serious mutiny broke out in the fleet at +Spithead. The sailors demanded increased pay and better food. +Their demands were finally conceded, and they returned to their +duty, May 14. A few days later, a still more alarming mutiny +broke out in the fleet at the Nore. The mutineers hoisted the +red flag, May 23, and, being joined by vessels from other +squadrons, found themselves presently masters of eleven ships of +the line, and thirteen frigates. With this powerful fleet they +blocked the Thames, and put a stop to the river trade of London. +Their demands were more extensive than those of the Spithead +Mutineers, but government firmly refused further concessions, and +in June the want of union and resolution among the men brought +about the collapse of the mutiny. Ship after ship deserted the +red flag, until the last vessel was steered into Sheerness +harbour, and given up to the authorities. Several of the leaders +were tried by court-martial and hanged ; the rest of the +mutineers were pardoned.-ED. + +(149) The decisive victory gained by Admiral Duncan over the +Dutch fleet, off Camperdown, October 11, 1797. in January, 1795, +the French army under General Pichegru had conquered Holland with +little difficulty, meeting, indeed, with much sympathy from the +inhabitants. The Prince of Orange and his family were forced to +take refuge in England and the representatives of the Dutch +people immediately assembling, proclaimed Holland a republic, +under the protection of France. From that time Holland had been +in alliance with France, and at war with England. Duncan was +rewarded for his victory with a pension and a peerage--Viscount +Duncan of Camperdown henceforward.-ED. + +(150) Duncan's victory we have already noted. Lord Howe's was the +great victory of June 1, 1794, over the French fleet commanded by +Admiral Villaret-joyeuse. It was in this battle that the Vengeur +went down, out Of which incident Barrere manufactured, for the +benefit of the French people, that rousing story of the disabled +ship refusing to strike its colours, and sinking while every man +of the crew, With his last breath, shouted "Vive la Republique!" +Magnificent, had it not been pure fiction! Lord St. Vincent (then +Admiral Jervis) gained a complete victory over the Spanish fleet +off Cape St. Vincent, February 14, 1797. Spain, as well as +Holland, was now in alliance with France: had made peace with +France in 1795, and declared war against England in the following +year. ,K Admiral Jervis received the title of Earl St. Vincent +and a pension in consequence of his victory.-ED. + +(151) Only child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, born +January 7, 1796.-ED. + +(152) A novel by Sarah Harriet Burney.-ED. + +(153) The Duke of Cumberland, afterward, King of Hanover; fifth +son of George III.; born 1771, died 1851.-ED. + +(154) William Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and brother of George +III.-ED. + +(155) William Frederick, afterwards Duke of Gloucester, and +husband of the Princess Mary. He was born in 1776, and died in +1836.-ED. + +(156) Arthur O'Connor, nephew and heir of Lord Longueville, was +one of the Irish leaders, who took part in the negotiations +between the Revolutionary party in Ireland and the French +Directory. He and two or three of his associates were arrested +at Margate (February 28, 1798), where they were attempting to +hire a boat to take them to France. They were tried at Maidstone +(May 21), and one of the party, on whom were found some +compromising papers, including an address to the Directory, was +convicted and hanged. O'Connor was acquitted, but immediately +rearrested and detained in custody during the rising in Ireland.- +ED. + + + + +Page 170 SECTION 22. + (1798-1802.) + + +VISITS TO OLD FRIENDS: WESTHAMBLE: DEATH OF MRS. PHILLIPS: +SOJOURN IN FRANCE. + +[From the " Memoirs of Dr. Burney " we extract the following +details respecting the death of Fanny's favourite sister, Susan +Phillips. + +"Winter now was nearly at hand, and travelling seemed deeply +dangerous, in her sickly state, for the enfeebled Susanna. Yet +she herself, panting to receive again the blessing of her beloved +father, concentrated every idea of recovery in her return. She +declined, therefore, though with exquisite sensibility, the +supplicating desire of this Editor [Madame d'Arblay] to join and +to nurse her at Belcotton, her own cottage ; and persevered +through every impediment in her efforts to reach the parental +home. . . . Every obstacle, at length, being finally vanquished, +the journey was resolved upon, and its preparations were made;-- +when a fearful new illness suddenly confined the helpless invalid +to her bed. There she remained some weeks - after which, with the +utmost difficulty, and by two long days' travelling, though for a +distance of only twenty-six miles, she reached Dublin where, +exhausted, emaciated, she was again forced to her bed ; there +again to remain for nearly as long a new delay! " Every hour of +separation became now to the Doctor Dr. Burney] an hour of grief, +from the certainty that, the expedition once begun, it could be +caused only by suffering malady, or expiring strength. + +"It was not till the very close of the year 1799, amidst deep +snow, fierce frost, blighting winds, and darksome days, that, +scarcely alive, his sinking Susanna was landed at Park Gate. +There she was joined by her affectionate brother, Dr. Charles, +who hastened to hail her arrival, that he might convey her in his +own warm carriage to her heart-yearning father, her fondly +impatient brethren, and the tenderest of friends. But he found +her in no state to travel: further feeble, +Page 171 + +drooping, wasted away, scarcely to be known, shrunk, nearly +withered!--yet still with her fair mind in full possession of its +clearest powers; still with all the native sweetness of her +looks, manners, voice, and smiles; still with all her desire to +please; her affecting patience of endurance; her touching +sensibility for every species of attention; and all her +unalterable loveliness of disposition, that sought to console for +her own afflictions, to give comfort for her own sufferings! + + +"During the space of a doubtful week, her kind brother Dr. +Charles, awaited the happy moment when she might be able to move +on. But on--save as a corpse,---she moved no more! * + +Gentle was her end! gentle as the whole tenor of her life but as +sudden in its conclusion as it had been lingering in its +approach." + +* She died at Park Gate, January 6, 1800, and was buried in +Neston Churchyard, near Park Gate.-ED. + +The latter portion of the following section introduces the reader +to new scenes and new acquaintances. During the summer of 1801 +negotiations for peace between France and England were carried on +in London, between lord Hawkesbury, on the part of the English +government, and M. Otto, the French plenipotentiary. The +preliminary treaty was signed in London, October 1, 1801, and +ratified a few days later on the part of Napoleon Bonaparte, then +First Consul, and de facto ruler of France, by a special envoy +from Paris--General Lauriston. The definitive treaty, by which +the details of mutual concessions, etc., were finally arranged, +was signed at Amiens, March 25, 1802. In England the peace was +received with rapture: General Lauriston was drawn in triumph in +his carriage through the streets of London by the people. The +"mutual concessions," however, showed a large balance in favour +of France. As Sheridan observed, it was a peace of which every +one was glad, but no one proud. + +The establishment of peace determined M. d'Arblay to revisit +France, and to endeavour to obtain from the First Consul the +half-pay pension to which his former services in the army had +entitled him. In this project he was warmly encouraged by his old +friend and comrade, General Lauriston, whom he had called upon in +London, and who had received him with open arms. The result of +his journey may be read in the following pages. His wife and son +joined him in France, in April, 1802, with the intention of +returning to England after a year's absence. But their return was +prevented by the renewal of the war between the two countries in +the following year, and ten years elapsed before Fanny saw again +her father and her native country. Her first impressions of +France are recorded in the " Diary" with very pleasant +minuteness, but of her life during the greater part of these +years of exile a few letters, Written at long intervals, give us +all the information which we possess. -ED.) + +Page 172 + + A VISIT TO MRS. CHAFONE. + +March 1798.I have not told you of my renewed intercourse with +Mrs. Chapone, who had repeatedly sent me kind wishes and +messages, of her desire to see me again. She was unfortunately +ill, and I was sent from her door without being named; but she +sent me a kind note to Chelsea, which gave me very great +pleasure. Indeed, she had always behaved towards me with +affection as well as kindness, and I owe to her the blessing of +my first acquaintance with my dear Mrs., Delany. It was Mrs. +Chapone who took me to her first, whose kind account had made her +desire to know me, and who always expressed the most generous +pleasure in the intimacy she had brought about, though it soon +took place of all that had preceded it with herself. I wrote a +very long answer, with a little history of our way of life, and +traits of-M. d'Arblay, by which her quick discernment might judge +both of that and my state of mind. + +When we came again to Chelsea at this period, our Esther desired, +or was desired by Mrs. Chapone, to arrange a meeting. I was +really sorry I could not call upon her with my urchin; but I +could only get conveyed to her one evening, when I went with our +Esther, but was disappointed of M. d'Arblay, who had been obliged +to go to Westhamble. This really mortified me, and vexed Mrs. +Chapone. + +We found her alone, and she received me with the most open +affection. Mrs. Chapone knew the day I could be with her too late +to make any party, and would have been profuse in apologies if I +had not truly declared I rejoiced in seeing her alone, Indeed, it +would have been better If we had been so completely, for our +dearest Esther knew but few of the old connexions concerning whom +I wished to inquire and to talk, and she knew too much of all +about myself and my situation of which Mrs. Chapone wished to ask +and to hear. I fear, therefore, she was tired, though she would +not: say so, and though she looked and conducted herself with +great sweetness.. + +Mrs. Chapone spoke warmly of "Camilla," especially of Sir Hugh, +but told me she had detected me in some Gallicisms, + +Page 173 + +and pointed some out. She pressed me in a very flattering manner +to write again ; and dear Hetty, forgetting our relationship's +decency, seconded her so heartily you must have laughed to hear +her hoping we could never furnish our house till I went again to +the press. When Mrs. Chapone heard of my father's difficulties +about Chelsea, and fears of removal, on account of his twenty +thousand volumes,--"Twenty thousand volumes!" she repeated; +"bless me! why, how can he so encumber himself? Why does he not +burn half? for how much must be to spare that never can be worth +his looking at from such a store! And can he want to keep them +all? I should not have suspected Dr. Burney, of all men, of being +such a Dr. Orkborne!"(157)...... + + + MRS. BOSCAWEN, LADY STRANGE, AND MR. SEWARD. + +The few other visits which opportunity and inclination united for +my making during our short and full fortnight were-- + +To Mrs. Boscawen, whither we went all three, for I knew she +wished to see our little one, whom I had in the coach with Betty, +ready for a summons. Mrs. Boscawen was all herself,---that is, +all elegance and good-breeding. Do you remember the verses on the +blues which we attributed to Mr. Pepys?-- + +Each art of conversation knowing, +High-bred, elegant boscawen. + +To Miss Thrale's, where I also carried my little Alex. + +To Lady Strange(158) whom I had not seen for more years than I +know how to count. She was at home, and alone, except for her +young grandchild, another Bell Strange, daughter of James, who is +lately returned from India, with a large fortune, is become +member of Parliament, and has married, for his second wife, a +niece of Secretary Dundas's. Lady Strange received me with great +kindness, and, to my great surprise, knew me instantly. I found +her more serious and grave than formerly; I had not seen her +since Sir + +Page 174 + +Robert's death, and many events of no enlivening nature; but I +found, with great pleasure, that all her native fire and wit and +intelligence were still within, though less voluntary and quick +in flashing out, for every instant I stayed she grew brighter and +nearer her true self. + +Her little grandchild is a delightful little creature, the very +reverse of the other Bell(159) in appearance and disposition, for +she is handsome and open and gay; but I hope, at the same time, +her resemblance in character, as Bell is strictly principled and +upright. + +Lady Strange inquired if I had any family, and, when she gathered +I had a little one down-stairs in the carriage, desired to see +it, for little Bell was wild in the request. "But have nae +mair!" cried she; "the times are bad and hard;--ha' nae mair! if +you take my advice, you'll ha' nae mair! you've been vary +discreet, and, faith, I commend you!" + +Little Bell had run down-stairs to hasten Betty and the child, +and now, having seized him in her arms, she sprang into the room +with him. His surprise, her courage, her fondling, her little +form, and her prettiness, had astonished him into consenting to +her seizure ; but he sprang from her to me the moment they +entered the drawing-room. I begged Lady Strange to give him her +blessing. She looked at him with a strong and earnest expression +of examining interest and pleasure, and then, with an arch smile, +turning suddenly about to me, exclaimed, "Ah! faith and troth, +you mun ha' some mair! if you can make 'em so pratty as this, you +mun ha' some mair! sweet bairn! I gi' you my benediction! be a +comfort to your papa and mamma! Ah, madam!" (with one of her deep +sighs) "I must gi' my consent to your having some mair ! if you +can make 'em so pratty as this, faith and troth, I mun let you +have a girl!" + +I write all this without scruple to my dearest Susan, for +prattiness like this little urchin's is not likely to spoil +either him or ourselves by lasting. 'Tis a juvenile flower, yet +one my Susan will again, I hope, view while still in its first +bloom. . . . + +I was extremely pleased in having an interview again with my old, +and I believe very faithful, friend Mr. Seward, whom I had not +seen since my marriage, but Whom I had heard, through the Lockes, +was indefatigable in inquiries and +Page 175 + +expressions of good-will upon every occasion. He had sent me his +compilation of anecdotes of distinguished characters, and two +little letters have passed between us upon them. I was unluckily +engaged the morning he was at Chelsea, and obliged to quit him +before we had quite overcome a little awkwardness which our long +absence and my changed name had involuntarily produced at our +first meeting; and I was really sorry, as I have always retained +a true esteem for him, though his singularities and affectation +of affectation always struck me. But both those and his spirit +of satire are mere quizziness 3 his mind is all solid benevolence +and worth. + + + A MYSTERIOUS BANK-NOTE. + +And now I must finish this Chelsea narrative, with its most +singular, though brief, adventure. One morning at breakfast, my +father received a letter, which he opened, and found to be only a +blank cover with a letter enclosed, directed "A Madame, Madame +d'Arblay." This, upon opening, produced a little bank-note of +five pounds, and these words:-- + +"Madame d'Arblay need not have any scruple in accepting the +enclosed trifle, as it is considered only as a small tribute of +gratitude and kindness, so small, indeed, that every precaution +has been taken to prevent the least chance of discovery ; and the +person who sends it even will never know whether it was received +or not. Dr. Burney is quite ignorant of it." + +This is written evidently in a feigned hand, and I have not the +most remote idea whence it can come. But for the word gratitude I +might have suggested many ; but, upon the whole, I am utterly +unable to suggest any one creature upon earth likely to do such a +thing. I might have thought of my adorable princess, but that it +is so little a sum. Be it as it may, it is certainly done in +great kindness, by some one who knows five pounds is not so small +a matter to us as to most others ; and after vainly striving to +find out or conjecture whence it came, we determined to devote it +to our country. There's patriotism! we gave it in voluntary +subscription for the war and it was very seasonable to us for +this purpose. + +This magnificent patriotic donation was presented to the Bank of +England by Mr. Angerstein, through Mr. Locke, and we have had +thanks from the committee which made us blush. Many reasons have +prevented my naming this anecdote, the principal of which were +fears that, if it should +Page 176 + +be known such a thing was made use of, and, as it chanced when we +should otherwise have really been distressed how to +come forward or hold back, any other friend might adopt the same +method, which, gratefully as I feel the kindness that alone could +have instigated it, has yet a depressing effect, and I would not +have it become current. Could I, or should I ever trace it, I +must, in some mode or other, attempt retaliation. + + + THE NEW BROTHER-IN-LAW: A CORDIAL PROFESSOR. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Phillips.) +After sundry abortive proposals of our new brother-in-law, Mr. +Broome, for our meeting, he and Charlotte finally came, with +little Charlotte, to breakfast and spend a day with us. He has by +no means the wit and humour and hilarity his "Simkin's Letters" +prepare for; but the pen and the tongue are often unequally +gifted. He is said to be very learned, deeply skilled in +languages, and general erudition and he is full of information +upon most subjects that can be mentioned. We talked of India, +and he permitted me to ask what questions I pleased upon points +and things of which I was glad to gather accounts from so able a +traveller. + +Another family visit which took place this Summer gave us +pleasure of a far more easy nature, because unmixed with watchful +anxiety; this was from Charles and his son, who, by an +appointment for which he begged our consent, brought with him +also Mr. Professor Young, of Glasgow, a man whose learning sits +upon him far lighter than Mr. Broome's ! Mr. Young has the +bonhonlie of M. de Lally, with as much native humour as he has +acquired erudition: he has a face that looks all honesty and +kindness, and manners gentle and humble ; an enthusiasm for +whatever he thinks excellent, whether in talents or character, in +art or in nature; and is altogether a man it seems impossible to +know, even for a day, and not to love and wish well. This latter +is probably the effect of his own cordial disposition to amity. +He took to us, all three, so evidently and so warmly, and was so +smitten with our little dwelling, its situation and simplicity, +and so much struck with what he learned and saw of M. d'Arblay's +cultivating literally his own grounds, and literally being his +own gardener, after finding by conversation, what a use he had +made of his earlier days In literary +Page 177 + +attainments, that he seemed as if he thought himself brought to a +vision of the golden age,---such was the appearance of his own +sincere and upright mind in rejoicing to see happiness where +there was palpably no luxury, no wealth. It was a most agreeable +surprise to me to find such a man in Mr. Professor Young, as I +had expected a sharp though amusing satirist, from his very comic +but sarcastic imitation of Dr. Johnson's "Lives," in a criticism +upon Gray's "Elegy." + +Charles was all kind affection, and delighted at our approbation +of his friend, for the professor has been such many years, and +very essentially formerly,-a circumstance Charles is now +gratefully and warmly returning. It is an excellent part of +Charles's character that he never forgets any kind office he has +received. + +I learned from them that Mr. Rogers, author of the "Pleasures of +Memory," that most sweet poem, had ridden round the lanes about +our domain to view it, and stood--or made his horse stand,--at +our gate a considerable time, to examine our Camilla cottage,--a +name I am sorry to find Charles, or some one, had spread to him; +and he honoured all with his good word. I should like to meet +with him. + + + PRECOCIOUS MASTER ALEX. + +Lady Rothes(160) constant in every manifestation of regard, came +hither the first week of our establishment, and came three times +to denials, when my gratitude forced open my doors. Her daughter, +Lady Harriet, was with her: she is a pretty and pleasing young +woman. Sir Lucas came another morning, bringing my old friend Mr. +Pepys. Alex was in high spirits and amused them singularly. He +had just taken to spelling; and every word he heard, of which he +either knew or could guess the orthography, he instantly, in a +little concise and steady manner, pronounced all the letters of, +with a look of great but very grave satisfaction at his own +performances, and a familiar nod at every word so conquered, as +thus :-- + +Mr. Pepys. You are a fine boy, indeed! + +Alex. B, o, y; boy. (Every letter articulated with strong, almost +heroic emphasis.) + +Mr. P. And do you run about here in this pleasant place all day +long? + +Page 178 + +Alex. D, a, y; day. + + +Mr. P. And can you read your book, You Sweet little fellow? + +Alex. R, e, a, d; read. Etc. + +He was in such good looks that all this nonsense won +nothing but admiration, and Mr. Pepys could attend to nothing +else, but only charged me to let him alone. "For mercy's sake, +don't make him study," cried Sir Lucas also; "he is so well +disposed that you must rather repress than advance him, or his +health may pay the forfeit of his application." + +"O, leave him alone! cried Mr. Pepys: "take care only of his +health and strength; never fear such a boy as that wanting +learning." + + + THE BARBAULDS. + +I was extremely surprised to be told by the maid a gentleman and +lady had called at the door, who sent in a card and begged to +know if I could admit them; and to see the names on the card were +Mr. and Mrs. Barbauld.(161) I had never seen them more than +twice; the first time, by their own desire, Mrs. Chapone carried +me to meet them at Mr. Burrows's: the other time, I think, was at +Mrs. Chapone's. You must be sure I could not hesitate to receive, +and receive with thankfulness, this civility from the authoress +of the most useful books, next to Mrs. Trimmer's, that have been +yet written for dear little children; though this with the world +is probably her very secondary merit, her many pretty Poems, and +particularly songs, being generally esteemed. But many more have +written those as well, and not a few better; for children's books +she began the new walk, which has since been so well cultivated, +to the great information as well as utility of parents. + +Mr. Barbauld is a dissenting minister--an author also, but I am +unacquainted with his works. They were in our little +dining-parlour-the only one that has any chairs in it--and began +apologies for their visit; but I interrupted and finished them +with my thanks. She is much altered, but not for the worse to me, +though she is for herself, since the flight of her youth, which +is evident, has taken also with it a great portion of an almost +set smile, which had an air of determined complacence and +prepared acquiescence that seemed to result + +Page 179 + +from a sweetness which never risked being off guard. I remember +Mrs. Chapone's saying to me, after our interview, "She is a very +good young woman, as well as replete with talents; but why must +one always smile so? It makes my poor jaws ache to look at her." + +We talked, of course, of that excellent lady ; and you will +believe I did not quote her notions of smiling. The Burrows +family, she told me,. was quite broken up; old Mrs. Amy alone +remaining alive. Her brother, Dr. Aiken,(162) with his family, +were passing the summer at Dorking, on account of his ill-health, +the air of that town having been recommended for his complaints. +The Barbaulds were come to spend some time with him, and would +not be so near without renewing their acquaintance. They had been +walking in Norbury Park, which they admired very much; and Mrs. +Barbauld very elegantly said, "If there was such a public officer +as a legislator of taste, Mr. Locke ought to be chosen for it." + +They inquired much about M. d'Arblay, who was working in his +garden, and would not be at the trouble of dressing to appear. +They desired to see Alex, and I produced him ; and his +orthographical feats were very well-timed here, for as soon as +Mrs. Barbauld said, "What is your name, you pretty creature?" he +sturdily answered "B, o, y; boy." + +Almost all our discourse was upon the Irish rebellion. Mr. +Barbauld is a very little, diminutive figure, but well-bred and +sensible. + +I borrowed her poems, afterwards, of Mr. Daniel, who chanced to +have them, and have read them with much esteem of the piety and +worth they exhibit, and real admiration of the last amongst them, +which is an epistle to Mr. Wilberforce in favour of the +demolition of the slave-trade, 1 'n which her energy seems to +spring from the real spirit of virtue, suffering at the luxurious +depravity which can tolerate, in a free land, so unjust, cruel, +and abominable a traffic. + +We returned their visit together in a few days, at Dr. Aiken's +lodgings, at Dorking, where, as she permitted M. d'Arblay to +speak French, they had a very animated discourse upon buildings, +French and English, each supporting those of their own country +with great spirit, but my monsieur, +Page 180 + +to own the truth, having greatly the advantage both in manner and +argument. He was in spirits, and came forth with his best +exertions. Dr. Aiken looks very sickly, but is said to be better: +he has a good countenance. + + + PRINCESS AMELIA AT JUNIPER HALL. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Phillips.) +Westhamble, 1798. +And now, my beloved Susan, I will sketch my last Court history of +this year. + +The Princess Amelia, who had been extremely ill since My last +royal admittance, of some complaint in her knee which caused +spasms the most dreadfully painful, was now returning from her +sea-bathing at Worthing, and I heard from all around the +neighbourhood that her royal highness was to rest and stop one +night at juniper Hall, whither she was to be attended by Mr. +Keate the surgeon, and by Sir Lucas Pepys, who was her physician +at Worthing. + +I could not hear of her approaching so near our habitation, and +sleeping within sight of us, and be contented without an effort +to see her; yet I would not distress Lady Rothes by an +application she would not know how either to refuse or grant, +from the established etiquette of bringing no one into the +presence of their royal highnesses but by the queen's permission. +So infinitely sweet, however, that young love of a princess +always is to me, that I gathered courage to address a petition to +her majesty herself, through the medium of Miss Planta, for leave +to pay my homage.-I will copy my answer, sent by return of post. +.. + +"My dear friend,-I have infinite pleasure in acquainting you that +the queen has ordered me to say that you have her leave to see +dear Princess Amelia, provided Sir Lucas Pepys and Dr. Keate +permit it, etc." + +With so complete and honourable a credential, I now scrupled not +to address a few lines to Lady Rothes, telling her My authority, +to prevent any embarrassment, for entreating her leave to pay my +devoirs to the young princess on Saturday morning,--the Friday I +imagined she would arrive too fatigued to be seen. I intimated +also my wish to bring my boy, not to be presented unless +demanded, but to be Put into some closet where he might be at +hand in case of that +Page 181 + +honour. The sweet princess's excessive graciousness to him gave +me courage for this request. Lady Rothes sent me a kind note +which made me perfectly comfortable. + +It was the 1st of December, but a beautifully clear and fine day. +I borrowed Mr. Locke's carriage. Sir Lucas came to us +immediately, and ushered us to the breakfast-parlour, giving me +the most cheering accounts of the recovery of the princess. Here +I was received by Lady Rothes, who presented me to Lady Albinia +Cumberland, widow of Cumberland the author's only son, and one of +the ladies of the princesses. I found her a peculiarly pleasing +woman, in voice, manner, look, and behaviour. + +This introduction over, I had the pleasure to shake hands with +Miss Goldsworthy, whom I was very glad to see, and who was very +cordial and kind; but who is become, alas! so dreadfully deaf, +there is no conversing with her, but by talking for a whole house +to hear every word ! With this infirmity, however, she is still +in her first youth and brightness, compared with her brother, +who, though I knew him of the party, is so dreadfully altered, +that I with difficulty could venture to speak to him by the name +of General Goldsworthy. He has had three or four more strokes of +apoplexy since I saw him. I fancy he had a strong consciousness +of his alteration, for he seemed embarrassed and shy, and only +bowed to me, at first, without speaking. but I wore that off +afterwards, by chatting over old stories with him. +The princess breakfasted alone, attended by Mrs. Cheveley. When +this general breakfast was over, Lady Albinia retired. But in a +very few minutes she returned, and said, "Her royal highness +desires to see Madame d'Arblay and her little boy." + +The princess was seated on a sofa, in a French gray riding-dress, +with pink lapels, her beautiful and richly flowing and shining +fair locks unornamented. Her breakfast was still before her, and +Mrs. Cheveley in waiting. Lady Albinia announced me, and she +received me with the brightest smile, calling me up to her, and +stopping my profound reverence, by pouting out her sweet ruby +lips for me to kiss. + +She desired me to come and sit by her; but, ashamed of so much +indulgence, I seemed not to hear her, and drew a chair at a +little distance. "No, no," she cried, nodding, "come here; come +and sit by me here, my dear Madame d'Arblay." I had then only to +say 'twas my duty to obey her, and I seated myself on her sofa. +Lady Albinia, whom she motioned + +Page 182 + +to sit, took an opposite chair, and Mrs. Cheveley, after we had +spoken a few words together, retired. + +Her attention now was bestowed upon my Alex, who required not +quite so much solicitation to take his part of the sofa. He came +jumping and skipping up to her royal highness, with such gay and +merry antics, that it was impossible not to be diverted with so +sudden a change from his composed and quiet behaviour in the +other room. He seemed enchanted to see her again, and I was only +alarmed lest he should skip upon her poor knee in his caressing +agility. + +I bid him, in vain, however, repeat Ariel's "Come unto these +yellow sands," which he can say very prettily; he began, and the +princess, who knew it, prompted him to go on --but a fit of shame +came suddenly across him-or of capriciousness-and he would not +continue. + + +Lady Albinia soon after left the room - and the princess, then, +turning hastily and eagerly to me, said, "Now we are alone, do +let me ask you one question, Madame d'Arblay. Are you--are +you--[looking with strong expression to discover her answer] +writing anything?" + +I could not help laughing, but replied in the negative. + +"Upon your honour?" she cried earnestly, and looking +disappointed. This was too hard an interrogatory for evasion; +and I was forced to say--the truth--that I was about nothing I +had yet fixed if or not I should ever finish, but that I was +rarely without some project. This seemed to satisfy and please +her. + +I told her of my having seen the Duke of Clarence at Leatherhead +fair. "What, William?" she cried, surprised. This unaffected, +natural way of naming her brothers and sisters is infinitely +pleasing. She took a miniature from her pocket, and said, "I +must show you Meney's picture," meaning Princess Mary, whom she +still calls Meney, because it was the name she gave her when +unable to pronounce Mary--a time she knew I well remembered. It +was a very sweet miniature, and extremely like. "Ah! what +happiness," I cried, "your royal highness will feel, and give, +upon returning to their majesties and their royal highnesses, +after such an absence, and such sufferings!" "O! yes!--I shall +be SO glad!" she cried, and then Lady Albinia came in and +whispered her it was time to admit Lady Rothes, who then entered +with Lady Harriet and the Miss Leslies. When she was removing, +painfully lifted from her seat +Page 183 + +between Sir Lucas and Mr. Keate, she stopped to pay her +compliments and thanks to Lady Rothes with a dignity and self- +command extremely striking. . + + + DEATH OF MR. SEWARD. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Locke.) +Westhamble, May 2, 1799. +Poor Mr. Seward! I am indeed exceedingly concerned--nay, +grieved--for his loss to us: to us I trust I may say; for I +believe he was so substantially good a creature, that he has left +no fear or regret merely for himself. He fully expected his end +was quickly approaching. I saw him at my father's at Chelsea, and +he spent almost a whole morning with me in chatting of other +times, as he called it ; for we travelled back to Streatham, Dr. +Johnson, and the Thrales. But he told me he knew his disease +incurable. Indeed he had passed a quarter of an hour in +recovering breath, in a room with the servants, before he let me +know he had mounted the college stairs. My father was not at +home. He had thought himself immediately dying, he said, four +days before, by certain sensations that he believed to be fatal, +but he mentioned it with cheerfulness ; and though active in +trying all means to lengthen life, declared himself perfectly +calm in suspecting they would fail. TO give me a proof, he said +he had been anxious to serve Mr. Wesley, the methodist musician, +and he had recommended him to the patronage of the Hammersleys, +and begged my father to meet him there to dinner; but as this was +arranged, he was seized himself with a dangerous attack, which he +believed to be mortal. And during this belief, "willing to have +the business go on," said he, laughing, "and not miss me, I wrote +a letter to a young lady, to tell her all I wished to be done +upon the occasion, to serve Wesley, and to show him to advantage. +I gave every direction I should have given in person, in a +complete persuasion at the moment I should never hold a pen in my +hand again." + +This letter, I found, was to Miss Hammersley. + +I had afterwards the pleasure of introducing M. d'Arblay to him, +and it seemed a gratification to him to make the acquaintance. I +knew he had been curious to see him, and he wrote my father word +afterwards he had been much pleased. + +My father says he sat with him an hour the Saturday before he +died - and though he thought him very ill, he was so little +Page 184 + +aware his end was so rapidly approaching, that, like my dearest +friend, he laments his loss as if by sudden death. + +I was sorry, too, to see in the newspapers, the expulsion of Mr. +Barry from the Royal Academy. I suppose it is from some furious +harangue.(163) His passions have no restraint though I think +extremely well of his heart, as well as of his understanding. + + + DR. BURNEY AGAIN VISITS DR. HERSCHEL. + +(Dr. Burney to Madame d'Arblay.) +Slough, Monday morning, July 22, 1799, in bed at Dr. Herschel's, +half-past five, where I can neither sleep nor lie idle. + +My dear Fanny,-I believe I told you on Friday that I was going to +finish the perusal of my astronomical verses to the great +astronomer on Saturday. Here I arrived at three o'clock,- +-neither Dr. nor Mrs. H. at home. This was rather discouraging, +but all was set to rights by the appearance of Miss Baldwin, a +sweet, timid, amiable girl, Mrs. Herschel's niece. ....When we +had conversed about ten minutes, in came two other sweet girls, +the daughters of Dr. Parry of Bath, on a visit here. More +natural, obliging, charming girls I have seldom seen; and, +moreover, very pretty. We soon got acquainted. I found they were +musical, and in other respects very well educated. It being a +quarter past four, and the lord and lady of the mansion not +returned, Miss Baldwin would have dinner served, according to +order, and an excellent dinner it was, and our chattation no +disagreeable sauce. + +After an admirable dessert, I made the Misses Parry sing and +play, and sang and played with them so delightfully, "you can't +think!" + +Mr. and Mrs. H. did not return till between seven and eight ; but +when they came, apologies for being out on pressing business, +cordiality and kindness, could not be more liberally bestowed. + +After tea Dr. H. proposed that we two should retire into a quiet +room, in order to resume the perusal of my work, in + +Page 185 + +which no progress had been made since last December. The evening +was finished very cheerfully; and we went to our bowers not much +out of humour with each other, or with the world. + + + DR. BURNEY AND THE KING. + +We had settled a plan to go to the chapel at Windsor in' the +morning, the king and royal family being there, and the town very +full. Dr. H. and Mrs. H. stayed at home, and I was accompanied by +the three Graces. Dr. Goodenough, the successor of Dr. Shepherd, +as canon, preached. I had dined with him at Dr. Duval's. He is a +very agreeable man, and passionately fond of music, with whom, as +a professor, a critic, and an historian of the art; I seem to +stand very high; but I could not hear a single sentence of his +sermon, on account of the distance. After the service I got a +glimpse of the good king, in his light-grey farmer-like morning +Windsor uniform, in a great crowd, but could not even obtain that +glance of the queen and princesses. The day was charming. The +chapel is admirably repaired, beautified, and a new west window +painted on glass. All was cheerfulness, gaiety, and good humour, +such as the subjects of no other monarch, I believe, i on earth +enjoy at present; and except return of creepings now and then, +and a cough, I was as happy as the best. + +At dinner we all agreed to go to the Terrace,--Mr., Mrs., and +Miss H., with their nice little boy, and the three young ladies. +This plan we put in execution, and arrived on the Terrace a +little after seven. I never saw it more crowded or gay. The +park was almost full of happy people--farmers, servants, and +tradespeople,--alt In Elysium. Deer in the distance, and dears +unnumbered near. Here I met with everybody I wished and expected +to see previous to the king's arrival in the part of the Terrace +where I and my party were planted. ..... + +Chelsea, Tuesday, three o'clock. +Not a moment could I get to write till now; and I am afraid of +forgetting some part of my history, but I ought not, for the +events of this visit are very memorable. + +When the king and queen, arm in arm, were approaching the place +where the Herschel family and I had planted ourselves, one of the +Misses Parry heard the queen say to his majesty, "There's Dr. +Burney," when they instantly came to me, so smiling and gracious +that I longed to throw myself at +Page 186 + +their feet. "How do you, Dr. Burney?" said the king, "Why, you +are grown fat and young." + +"Yes, indeed," said the queen; "I was very glad to hear from +Madame d'Arblay how well you looked." + +"Why, you used to be as thin as Dr. Lind," says the king. Lind +was then in sight--a mere lath; but these few words were +accompanied with such Very gracious smiles, and seemingly +affectionate good-humour--the whole royal family, except the +Prince of Wales, standing by in the midst of a crowd of the first +people in the kingdom for rank and office--that I was afterwards +looked at as a sight. After this the king and queen hardly ever +passed by me without a smile and a nod. The weather was charming; +the park as full as the Terrace, the king having given permission +to the farmers, tradesmen, and even livery servants, to be there +during the time of his walking. + +Now I must tell you that Herschel proposed to me to go with him +to the king's concert at night, he having permission to go when +he chooses, his five nephews (Griesbachs) making a principal part +of the band. "And," says he, "I know you will be welcome." But I +should not have presumed to believe this if his majesty had not +formerly taken me into his concert-room himself from your +apartments. This circumstance, and the gracious notice with +which I had been just honoured, emboldened me. A fine music-room +in the Castle, next the Terrace, is now fitted up for his +majesty's evening concerts, and an organ erected. Part of the +first act had been performed previous to our arrival. There were +none but the performers in the room, except the Duchesses of Kent +and cumberland, with two or three general officers backwards. The +king seldom goes into the music-room after the first act; and the +second and part of the third were over before we saw anything of +him, though we heard his majesty, the queen, and princesses +talking in the next room. At length he came directly up to me and +Herschel, and the first question his majesty asked me was,--"How +does Astronomy go on?" I, pretending to suppose he knew nothing +of my poem, said, "Dr. Herschel will better inform your majesty +than I can." "Ay, ay," says the king, "but you are going to tell +us something with your pen;" and moved his hand in a writing +manner. "What--what--progress have you made?" "Sir, it is all +finished, and all but the last of twelve books have been read to +my friend Dr. Herschel." The king, then, looking at Herschel, as +who would say, "How is it?" "It +Page 187 + +is a very capital work, sir," says H. "I wonder how you find +time?" said the king. "I make time, Sir." "How, how?" "I take +it out of my sleep, sir." When the considerate good king, "But +you'll hurt your health. How long," he adds, "have you been at +it?" "Two or three years, at odd and stolen moments, Sir." +"Well," said the king (as he had said to you before), "whatever +you write, I am sure will be entertaining." I bowed most humbly, +as ashamed of not deserving so flattering a speech. "I don't say +it to flatter you," says the king; "if I did not think it, I +would not say it." + + + OVERWHELMED WITH THE ROYAL GRACIOUSNESS. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +"Fore George, a more excellent song than t'other!" +Westhamble, July 25, '99. +Why, my dearest padre, your subjects rise and rise,-till +subjects, in fact, are no longer in question. I do not wonder you +felt melted by the king's goodness. I am sure I did in its +perusal. And the queen!-her naming me so immediately went to my +heart. Her speeches about me to Mrs. Locke in the drawing-room, +her interest in my welfare, her deigning to say she had "never +been amongst those who had blamed my marriage," though she lost +by it my occasional attendances, and her remarking "I looked the +picture of happiness," had warmed me to the most fervent +gratitude, and the more because her saying she had never been +amongst those who had blamed me shows there were people who had +not failed to do me ill offices in her hearing; though probably, +and I firmly believe, without any personal enmity, as I am +unconscious of my having any owed me; but merely from a cruel +malice with which many seize every opportunity, almost +involuntarily, to do mischief and most especially to undermine at +Court any one presumed to be in any favour. And, still further, +I thought her words conveyed a confirmation of what her conduct +towards me in my new capacity always led me to conjecture, +namely, that my guardian star had ordained it so that the real +character and principles of my honoured and honourable mate had, +by some happy chance, reached the royal ear "before the news of +our union. The dear king's graciousness :to M. d'Arblay upon the +Terrace, when the commander-in-chief, just then returned from the +Continent, was by his side, made it impossible not to suggest +this : and now, the queen's +Page 188 + +again naming me so in, public puts it, in my conception, beyond +doubt. My kindest father will be glad, I am sure, to have added +to the great delight of his recital a strength to a notion I so +much love to cherish. + + + WAR RUMOURS. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Phillips.) +Aug. 14, '99. +People here are very sanguine that Ireland is quiet, and will +remain so; and that the combined fleets can never reach it. How +are your own politics upon that point? Mine will take their +colour, be it what it may. Our dear father is Visiting about, +from Mr. Cox's to Mrs. Crewe, with whom be is now at Dover, where +Mr. Crewe has some command. We are all in extreme disturbance +here about the secret expedition. Nothing authentic is arrived +from the first armament; and the second is all prepared for +sailing. . . . Both officers and men are gathered from all +quarters. - Heaven grant them speedy safety, and ultimate peace ! +God bless my own dearest Susan, and strengthen and restore her. +Amen! Amen. + + + ILLNESS AND DEATH OF MRS. PHILLIPS. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Westhamble, October 1, '99. +Whether gaily or sadly to usher what I have to say I know not, +but your sensations, like mine, will I am sure be mixed. The +major has now written to Mrs. Locke that he is anxious to have +Susan return to England. She is "in an ill state of health," he +says, and he wishes her to try her native air; but the revival of +coming to you and among us all, and the tender care that will be +taken of her, is likely to do much for her; therefore, if we get +her but to this side the channel, the blessing is comparatively +so great, that I shall feel truly thankful to heaven. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Phillips.) +Westhamble, December 10, '99. +O my Susan, my heart's dear sister! with what bitter +sorrow have I read this last account! With us, with yourself, +your children,-all,-you have trifled in respect to health, though +in all things else you are honour and veracity personified; + +Page 189 + +but nothing had prepared me to think you in such a grave state as +I now find you. Would to God I could get to you! If Mr. Keirnan +thinks you had best pass the winter in Dublin, stay, and let me +come to you. Venture nothing against his opinion, for mercy's +sake! Fears for your health take place of all impatience to +expedite your return; only go not back to Belcotton, where you +cannot be under his direction, and are away from the physician he +thinks of so highly. + +I shall write immediately to Charles about the carriage. I am +sure of his answer beforehand,--so must you be. Act, therefore, +with regard to the carriage, as if already it were arranged. But +I am well aware it must not set out till you Are well enough to +nearly fix your day of sailing. I say nearly, for we must always +allow for accidents. I shall write to our dear father, and Etty, +and James, and send to Norbury Park - but I shall wait till +to-morrow, not to infect them with what I am infected.. . . + +O my Susan! that I could come to you! But all must depend on Mr. +Keirnan's decision. If you can come to us with perfect safety, +however slowly, I shall not dare add to your embarrassment of +persons and package. Else Charles's carriage--O, what a +temptation to air it for you all the way! Take no more large +paper, that you may write with less fatigue, and, if possible, +oftener;--to any one will suffice for all. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Doctor Burney.) +9th January, 1800. +My most dear padre,-My mate will say all,-so I can only offer up +my earnest prayers I may soon be allowed the blessing--the only +one I sigh for--of embracing my dearest Susan in your arms and +under your roof. Amen. F. D'A. + +These were the last written lines of the last period--unsuspected +as such--of my perfect happiness on earth; for they were stopped +on the road by news that my heart's beloved sister, Susanna +Elizabeth Phillips, had ceased to breathe. The tenderest of +husbands--the most feeling of human beings--had only reached +Norbury Park, on his way to a believed meeting with that angel, +when the fatal blow was struck; and he came back to West Hamble-- +to the dreadful task of revealing the irreparable loss which his +own goodness, sweetness, patience, and sympathy could alone have +made supported. +Page 190 + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Locke.) +9th January, 1800. +"As a guardian angel!"--Yes, my dearest Fredy, as such in every +interval of despondence I have looked up to the sky to see her, +but my eyes cannot pierce through the thick atmosphere, and I can +only represent her to me seated on a chair of sickness, her soft +hand held partly out to me as I approach her; her softer eyes so +greeting me as never welcome was expressed before; and a smile of +heavenly expression speaking the tender gladness of her grateful +soul that God at length should grant our re-union. From our +earliest moments, my Fredy, when no misfortune happened to our +dear family, we wanted nothing but each other. Joyfully as others +were received by us--loved by us--all that was necessary to our +happiness was fulfilled by our simple junction. This I remember +with my first remembrance; nor do I recollect a single instance +of being affected beyond a minute by any outward disappointment, +if its result was leaving us together. + +She was the soul of my soul !-and 'tis wonderful to me, my +dearest Fredy, that the first shock did not join them immediately +by the flight of mine-but that over-that dreadful, harrowing, +never-to be-forgotten moment of horror that made me wish to be +mad--the ties that after that first endearing period have shared +with her my heart, come to my aid. Yet I was long incredulous; +and still sometimes I think it is not--and that she will come-- +and I paint her by my side--by my father's--in every room of +these apartments, destined to have chequered the woes of her life +with rays of comfort, joy, and affection. + +O, my Fredy ! not selfish is the affliction that repines her +earthly course of sorrow was allowed no shade!--that at the +instant soft peace and consolation awaited her she should breathe +her last! You would understand all the hardship of resignation +for me were you to read the joyful opening of her letter, on her +landing, to my poor father, and her prayer at the end to be +restored to him. O, my Fredy! could you indeed think of me--be +alarmed for me on that dreadful day?---I can hardly make that +enter my comprehension; but I thank you from my soul; for that is +beyond any love I had thought possible, even from Your tender +heart. + +Tell me you all keep well, and forgive me my distraction. I +write so fast I fear you can hardly read; but you will See +Page 191 + +I am conversing with you, and that will show you how I turn to +you for the comfort of your tenderness. Yes, you have all a loss, +indeed! + + + A PRINCESS'S CONDESCENSION. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Locke). +Greenwich, Friday, February, 1800. +Here we are, my beloved friend. We came yesterday. All places to +me are now less awful than my own so dear habitation. My royal +interview took place on Wednesday. I was five hours with the +royal family, three of them alone with the queen, whose +graciousness and kind goodness I cannot express. And each of the +princesses saw me with a sort of concern and interest I can never +forget. I did tolerably well, though not quite as steadily as I +expected but with my own Princess Augusta I lost all command. +She is still wrapt up, and just recovering from a fever herself- +and she spoke to me in a tone--a voice so commiserating--I could +not stand it--I was forced to stop short in my approach, and hide +my face with my muff. She came up to me immediately, put her arm +upon my shoulder, and kissed me--I shall never forget it.--How +much more than thousands of words did a condescension so tender +tell me her kind feelings!--She is one of the few beings in this +world that can be, in the words of M. de Narbonne, "all that is +douce and all that is sbirituelle,"--his words upon my lost +darling! + +It is impossible more of comfort or gratification could be given +than I received from them all. + + + + HORTICULTURAL MISFORTUNES. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney). +Westhamble, March 22, 1800. +Day after day I have meant to write to my dearest father 'but I +have been unwell ever since our return, and that has not added to +my being sprightly. I have not once crossed 'the threshold since +I re-entered the house till to-day, when Mr. and Mrs. Locke +almost insisted upon taking me an airing. I am glad of it, for it +has done me good, and broken a kind of spell that made me +unwilling to stir. + +Page 192 + +M. d'Arblay has worked most laboriously in his garden but his +misfortunes there, during our absence, might melt a heart of +stone. The horses of our next neighbouring farmer broke through +our hedges, and have made a kind of bog of our mead ow, by +scampering in it during the wet; the sheep followed, who have +eaten up all our greens, every sprout and cabbage and lettuce, +destined for the winter ; while the horses dug up our turnips and +carrots; and the swine, pursuing such examples, have trod down +all the young plants besides devouring whatever the others left +of vegetables. Our potatoes, left, from our abrupt departure, in +the ground, are all rotten or frostbitten, and utterly spoilt; +and not a single thing has our whole ground produced us since we +came home. A few dried carrots, which remain from the in-doors +collection, are all we have to temper our viands.. + +What think you of this for people who make it a rule to owe a +third of their sustenance to the garden? Poor M, d'A.'s renewal +of toil, to supply future times, is exemplary to behold, after +such discouragement. But he works as if nothing had failed; such +is his patience as well as industry. + +My Alex, I am sure you will be kindly glad to hear, is entirely +well; and looks so blooming--no rose can be fresher. I am +encouraging back his spouting propensity, to fit him for his +royal interview with the sweet and gay young princess who has +demanded him, who will, I know, be diverted with his speeches and +gestures. We must present ourselves before Easter, as the Court +then adjourns to Windsor for ten days. My gardener will not again +leave his grounds to the fourfooted marauders; and our stay, +therefore, will be the very shortest we can possibly make it ; +for though we love retirement, we do not like solitude. + +I long for some further account of you, dearest: sir, and how you +bear the mixture of business and company, of "fag and frolic," as +Charlotte used to phrase it. + +Westhamble, April 27, 1800. +My Alex improves in all that I can teach, and my gardener +is laboriously recovering from his winter misfortunes. He is now +raising a hillock by the gate, for a view of NorbUry Park from +our grounds, and he has planted potatoes upon almost every spot +where they can grow. The dreadful price of provisions makes this +our first attention. The poor people about us complain they are +nearly starved, and the children of the +Page 193 + +journeymen of the tradesmen at Dorking come to our door to beg +halfpence for a little bread. What the occasion of such +universal dearth can be we can form no notion, and have no +information. The price of bread we can conceive from the bad +harvest; but meat, butter, and shoes!---nay, all sorts of +nourriture or clothing seem to rise in the same proportion, and +without any adequate cause. The imputed one of the war does not +appear to me sufficient, though the drawback from all by the +income-tax is severely an underminer of comfort. What is become +of the campaign? are both parties incapacitated from beginning? +or is each waiting a happy moment to strike some definitive +stroke? We are strangely in the dark about all that is going on, +and unless you will have the compassion to write us some news, we +may be kept so till Mr. Locke returns. + + + A WITHDRAWN COMEDY. + +[Towards the close of the preceding year Dr. Charles Burney had +placed in the hands of Mr. Harris, the manager of Covent +Garden-theatre, a comedy by Madame d'Arblay, called "Love and +Fashion." Mr. Harris highly approved the piece, and early in the +spring put it into rehearsal ; but Dr. Burney was seized with a +panic concerning its success, and, to oblige him, his daughter +and her husband withdrew it. The following letter announced their +generous compliance with his wishes.] + +(Madame d'Arblay to Doctor Burney.) +Monday. +I hasten to tell you, dearest sir, Mr. H. has at length listened +to our petitions, and has returned me my poor ill-fated ---, +wholly relinquishing all claim to it for this season. He has +promised also to do his utmost, as far as his influence extends, +to keep the newspapers totally silent in future. We demand, +therefore, no contradictory paragraph, as the report must needs +die when the reality no more exists. Nobody has believed it from +the beginning, on account of the premature moment when it was +advertised. + +This release gives me present repose, which, indeed, I much +wanted; for to combat your, to me, unaccountable but most +afflicting displeasure, in the midst of my own panics and +disturbance, would have been ample punishment to me had I been +guilty of a crime, in doing what I have all my life been +Page 194 + +urged to, and all my life intended, --writing a comedy. Your +goodness, your kindness, your regard for my fame, I know have +caused both your trepidation, which doomed me to certain failure, +and your displeasure that I ran, what you thought, a wanton risk. +But it is not wanton, my dearest father. My imagination is not at +my own control, or I would always have continued in the walk YOU +approved. The combinations for another long work did not occur +to me; incidents and effects for a drama did. I 'thought the +field more than open--inviting to me. The chance held out golden +dreams.--The risk could be only our own; for, permit me to say, +appear when it will, you will find nothing in the principles, the +moral, or the language that will make you blush for me. A failure +upon those points only, can bring disgrace; Upon mere cabal or +want of dramatic powers, it can only cause disappointment. + +I hope, therefore, my dearest father, in thinking this over you +will cease to nourish such terrors and disgust at an essay so +natural, and rather say to yourself, with an internal smile, +"After all, 'tis but like father like child; for to what walk do +I confine myself? She took my example in writing--she takes it in +ranging. Why then, after all, should I lock her up in one +paddock, well as she has fed there, if she says she finds nothing +more to nibble; while I find all the earth unequal to my +ambition, and mount the skies to content it? Come on, then, poor +Fan! the world has acknowledged you my offspring, and I will +disencourage you no more. Leap the pales of your paddock--let us +pursue our career; and, while you frisk from novel to comedy, I, +quitting music and prose, will try a race with poetry and the +stars." + +I am sure my dear father will not infer, from this appeal, I mean +to parallel our works. No one more truly measures her own +inferiority, which, with respect to yours, has always been my +pride. I only mean to show, that if my muse loves a little +variety, she has an hereditary claim to try it. + + + M. D'ARBLAY's FRENCH PROPERTY. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Doctor Burney.) +Westhamble, November 7, 1800. +I think it very long not to hear at least of YOU, my dearest +padre. My tranquil and happy security, alas! has been +Page 195 + +broken in upon by severe conflicts since I wrote to My dearest +father last, which I would not communicate while yet pending, but +must now briefly narrate. My partner, the truest of partners, has +been erased from the list of emigrants nearly a year; and in that +period has been much pressed and much blamed by his remaining +friends in France, by every opportunity through which they could +send to him, for not immediately returning, and seeing if +anything could be yet saved from the wreck of his own and +family's fortune ; but he held steady to his original purpose +never to revisit his own country till it was at peace with this ; +till a letter came from his beloved uncle himself, conveyed to +him through Hambro', which shook all the firmness of his +resolution, and has kept him, since its receipt, in a state of +fermentation, from doubts and difficulties, and crossing wishes +and interests, that has much affected his health as well as +tranquillity. + +All, however, now, is at least decided; for a few days since he +received a letter from M. Lajard, who is returned to Paris, with +information from his uncle's eldest son, that some of his small +property is yet unsold, to about the amount of 1000 pounds, and +can still be saved from sequestration if he will immediately go +over and claim it; or, if that is impossible, if he will send his +procuration to his uncle, from some country not at war with +France. + +This ended all his internal contest; and he is gone this very +morning to town to procure a passport and a passage in some +vessel bound to Holland. + +So unused are we to part, never yet for a week having been +separated during the eight years of our union, that our first +idea was going together, and taking our Alex; and certain I am +nothing would do me such material and mental good as so complete +a change of scene; but the great expense of the voyage and +journey, and the inclement season for our little boy, at length +finally settled us to pray only for a speedy meeting. But I did +not give it up till late last night, and am far from quite +reconciled to relinquishing it even now. + +He has no intention to go to France, or he would make an effort +to pass by Calais, which would delightfully shorten the passage; +but he merely means to remain at the Hague while he sends over +his procuration, and learns how soon he may hope to reap its +fruits. +page 196 + +Westhamble, 16th December, 1800. +He is returned, my dearest father, already! MY joy and surprise +are so great I seem in a dream. I have just this moment a letter +from him, written at Gravesend. What he has been able to arrange +as to his affairs, I know not ; and just now cannot care, so +great is my thankfulness for his safety and return. He waits in +the river for his passport, and will, when he obtains it, hasten, +I need not say, to Westhamble. + + + HOME MATTERS. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Westhamble, September i, 1801. +A carpet we have-though not yet spread, as the chimney is +unfinished, and room incomplete. Charles brought us the tapis-so +that, in fact, we have yet bought nothing for our best room--and +meant,--for our own share--to buy a table . . . and if my dearest +father will be so good--and so naughty at once, as to crown our +salle d'audience with a gift we shall prize beyond all others, we +can think only of a table. Not a dining one, but a sort of table +for a little work and a few books,--en ala--without which, a room +looks always forlorn. I need not say how we shall love it ; and I +must not say how we shall blush at it; and I cannot say how we +feel obliged at it--for the room will then be complete in +love-offerings. Mr. Locke finished glazing or polishing his +impression border for the chimney on Saturday. It will be, I +fear, his last work of that sort, his eyes, which are very +longsighted, now beginning to fail and weaken at near objects. + +My Alex intends very soon, he says, to marry-and, not long since, +with the gravest simplicity, he went up to Mr William Locke, who +was here with his fair bride, and said, "How did you get that +wife, William? because I want to get such a one--and I don't know +which is the way." And he is now actually employed in fixing +sticks and stones at convenient distances, upon a spot very near +our own, where he means to raise a suitable structure for his +residence, after his nuptials. You will not think he has suffered +much time to be wasted before he has begun deliberating upon his +conjugal establishment. + +We spent the greatest part of last week in visits at Norbury +Park, to meet M. de Lally, whom I am very sorry you missed. +Page 197 + +He is delightful in the country full of resources, of gaiety, of +intelligence, of good humour and mingling powers of instruction. +with entertainment. He has read us several fragments of works of +his own, admirable in eloquence, sense, and feeling - chiefly +parts of tragedies, and all referring to subjects next his heart, +and clearest in his head ; namely, the French Revolution and its +calamities, and filial reverence and enthusiasm for injured +parents. + + + CONTEMPLATED JOURNEY To FRANCE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Westhamble, October 3, 1801. +God avert mischief from this peace, my dearest father! For in our +hermitage you may imagine, more readily than I can express, the +hopes and happiness it excites. M. d'Arblay now feels paid for +his long forbearance, his kind patience, and compliance with my +earnest wishes not to revisit his native land while we were at +war with it. He can now go with honour as well as propriety - for +every body, even the highest personages, will rather expect he +should make the journey as a thing of course, than hear of it as +a proposition for deliberation. He will now have his heart's +desire granted, in again seeing his loved and respectable +uncle,-and many relations, and more friends, and his own native +town, as well as soil ; and he will have the delight of +presenting to that uncle, and those friends, his little pet Alex. +With all this gratification to one whose endurance of such a +length of suspense, and repetition of disappointment, I have +observed with gratitude, and felt with sympathy-must not I, too, +find pleasure ? Though, on my side, many are the drawbacks - but +I ought not, and must not, listen to them. We shall arrange our +affairs with all the speed in our power, after the ratification +is arrived, for saving the cold and windy weather; but the +approach of winter is unlucky, as it will lengthen our stay, to +avoid travelling and voyaging during its severity - unless, +indeed, any internal movement, or the menace of any, should make +frost and snow secondary fears, and induce us to scamper off. + But the present is a season less liable in all appearance to +storms, than the seasons that may follow. Fates, joy, and +pleasure, will probably for some months occupy the public in +France - and it will not be till +Page 198 + +those rejoicings are past, that they will set about weighing +causes of new commotion, the rights of their governors, or the +means, or desirability of changing them. I would far rather go +immediately, than six months hence. + +[The projected journey of Madame d'Arblay with her husband did +not take place this year; the season being already advanced, and +their little boy not strong enough to bear the fatigue of such an +expedition. Monsieur d'Arblay went alone to France.] + + + M. D'ARBLAY's ROUGH SEA PASSAGE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Westhamble, November 11, 1801. +I did not purpose writing to my dearest father till my suspense +and inquietude were happily removed by a letter from France; but +as I find he is already anxious himself, I will now relate all I +yet know of my dearest traveller's history. On Wednesday the 28th +of October, he set off for Gravesend. A vessel, he was told, was +ready for sailing,- and would set off the following day. He +secured his passage, and took up his abode at an inn, whence he +wrote me a very long letter, in full hope his next would be from +his own country. But Thursday came, and no sailing--though the +wind was fair, and the weather then calm: he amused his +disappointment as well as he could by visiting divers gardeners, +and taking sundry lessons for rearing and managing asparagus. +Friday, also, came-and still no sailing ! He was more and more +vexed ; but had recourse then to a chemist, with whom he revised +much of his early knowledge. Saturday followed--no sailing! and +he found the people waited on and on, in hopes of more +passengers, though never avowing their purpose, His patience was +now nearly exhausted, and he went and made such vifs +remonstrances that he almost startled the managers. They +pretended the ballast was all they stayed for : he offered to aid +that himself; and actually went to work, and never rested till +the vessel was absolutely ready: orders, enfin, were given for +sailing next morning, though he fears, with all his skill, and +all his eloquence, and all his aiding, they were more owing to +the arrival of four passengers than to his exertions. That night, +October the 31st, he went on board; and November the 1st he set +sail at five o'clock in the morning. +Page 199 + +You know how high a wind arose on Sunday the 1st, and +how dreadful a storm succeeded, lasting all night, all Monday, +and all night again. How thankful, how grateful am I to have +heard of his safety since so terrifying a period. They got on, +with infinite difficulty and danger, as far as Margate; they +there took anchor, and my kind voyager got a letter for me sent +on shore, "moyennant un schelling ."(164) To tell you my +gratitude in knowing him safe after that tempest--no I cannot! +Your warm affections, my dearest father, will easily paint to you +my thankfulness. + +Next, they got on to Deal, and here anchored again, for the +winds, though they abated on shore, kept violent and dangerous +near the coast. Some of the passengers went on shore, and put two +letters for me in the post, assuring me all was safe. These two +passengers, who merely meant to dine on shore, and see the town, +were left behind. The sea rose so high, no boat could put off to +bring them back; and, though the captain hoisted a flag to +announce he was sailing, there was no redress. They had not +proceeded a league before the sea grew yet more rough and +perilous, and the captain was forced to hoist a flag of distress. + Everything in the vessel was overset; my poor M. d'Arblay's +provision-basket flung down, and its contents demolished; his +bottle of wine broken by another toss, and violent fall, and he +was nearly famished. The water now began to get into the ship, +all hands were at work that could work, and he, my poor voyager, +gave his whole noble strength to the pump, till he was so +exhausted, so fatigued, so weakened, that with difficulty he +could hold a pen to repeat that still--I might be tranquille, for +all danger was again over. A pilot came out to them from Dover, +for seven guineas, which the higher of the passengers subscribed +for (and here poor M. d'A. was reckoned of that class], and the +vessel was got into the port at Dover, and the pilot, moyennant +un autre schelling, put me again a letter, with all these +particulars, into the post. + +This was Thursday the 5th. The sea still so boisterous, the +vessel was unable to cross the water. The magistrates at Dover +permitted the poor passengers all to land ; and M. d'Arblay wrote +to me again, from the inn, after being regaled with an excellent +dinner, of which he had been much in want. Here they met again +the two passengers lost at Deal, who, in hopes of this +circumstance, had travelled post + +Page 200 + +from thence to Dover. Here, too, M. d'A. met the Duke de Duras, +an hereditary officer of the crown, but who told him, since peace +was made, and all hope seemed chased of a proper return to his +country, he was going, incognito, to visit a beloved old mother, +whom he had not seen for eleven years. "I have no passport," he +said, "for France , but I mean to avow myself to the commissary +at Calais, and tell him I know I am not erased, nor do I demand +to be so. I only solicit an interview with a venerable parent. +Send to Paris, to beg leave for it. You may put me in Prison +till the answer arrives; but, for mercy, for humanity's sake, +suffer me to wait in France till then! guarded as you please!" +This is his Purposed address--which my M. d'A. says he heard, +avec les larmes aux yeux.(165) I shall long to hear the event. + +On Friday, November 6th, M. d'A. wrote me two lines:"Nov. 6, +1801.--,Je pars! the wind is excellent--au revoir." This is +dated ten o'clock in the morning. I have not had a word since. + +[in the original edition here follow three letters, in French, +from M. d'Arblay to his wife. From these letters we translate the +following extracts.-ED. + +"Paris. +"I do not yet know positively when it will be possible for me to +go to see my uncle. The settlement of my claim of half-pay is +anything but advanced. . . . To-morrow morning I have an +appointment with Du Taillis, aide-de-camp to Berthler (the French +minister of war). When I leave him, I hope to see Talleyrand; +but what I most particularly desire is, not to depart without +having at least a glimpse of the first Consul (Napoleon), that +man so justly celebrated. . . . In reference to the obligation +which we, formerly on the list of emigrants, have to him, +Narbonne said to me to-day, 'He has set all our heads on our +shoulders.' I like this expression." + +" Paris, November 16, 1801. +"La Tour Maubourg, one of the companions of General Lafayette, +wished to marry his daughter to an emigrant whose name was not +yet struck off the list. He obtained an interview with the first +Consul, at which he entered into details on the matter, without +attempting to conceal the objections which might be taken to the +requested erasement of the young man's + +Page 201 + +name from the list of emigrants. Bonaparte interrupted him and +said, 'Is the young man agreeable to your daughter?' 'Yes, +General.'-' 'Is he agreeable to you, M. de Maubourg?' 'Very much +so, General.'--'Well then, the man whom you judge worthy to enter +into such a family as yours, is surely worthy also to be a French +citizen.'" + +"15th Frimaire (December 6), 1801. +"According to all appearance, my dearest, I shall not obtain the +settlement I ask for. Everybody says that nothing could be more +just than my demand, but so many persons who have served all +through the war are at present on half-pay, that I am desperately +afraid it will be the same with my past services as with my +property, and for the same reason-the impossibility of satisfying +all demands, however well founded. Meanwhile, my dearest, it is +impossible to conceal from ourselves that we have been living, +for some years, with all our economy, on resources which are now +either exhausted, or very nearly so. The greater part of our +income [Fanny's pension] is anything but certain, yet what should +we do if that were to fail us ? The moral of this discourse is, +that while I am fit for something, it is my duty, as a husband +and a father, to try what can be done to secure for us, if +possible, an old age of absolute independence ; and for our +little one a position which may prevent his being a burden to us. +. . . + +". . . The consuls in England have not yet been nominated. The +consulship in London will be well worth having, and perhaps, +although there will be plenty of candidates, it might not be +impossible for me to obtain it. It is at least probable that I +could get appointed to one of the sea-ports. . . . + +". . . Answer me at once, I beg of you. Think if this plan is +opposed to any of your tastes; for you know there is only one +possible happiness for me. Need I say more?") + + + SUGGESTED ABANDONMENT' OF CAMILLA COTTAGE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to M. d'Arblay.) +Westhamble, December 15, 1801. +The relief, the consolation of your frequent letters I can never +express, nor my grateful sense of your finding time for them, +situated as you now are-, and yet that I have this moment read, +of the 15 Frimaire, has made my heart ache + +Page 202 + +heavily. Our hermitage is so dear to me-our book-room, 'so +precious, and in its retirement, its beauty of prospect, form, +convenience, and comforts, so impossible to replace, that I sigh, +and deeply, in thinking of relinquishing it. Your happiness, +however, is now all mine ; if deliberately therefore, you wish to +try a new system, I will surely try it, with you, be it what it +may. I will try any thing but what I try now--absence ! Think, +however, well, mon trs cher ami, before you decide upon any +occupation that robs you of being master of your own time, +leisure, hours, gardening, scribbling, and reading. + +In the happiness you are now enjoying, while it Is SO new to you, +you are perhaps unable to appreciate your own value of those six +articles, which, except in moments of your bitter regret at the +privation of your first friends and beloved country, have made +your life so desirable. Weigh, weigh it well in the detail. I +cannot write. + +Should you find the sum total preponderate in favour of your new +scheme, I will say no more. All schemes will to me be preferable +to seeing you again here, without the same fondness for the +place, and way of life, that has made it to me what it has been. +With regard to the necessity or urgency of the measure, I could +say much that I cannot write. You know now I can live with you, +and you know I am not without views, as well as hopes, of +ameliorating our condition. + +I will fully discuss the subject with our oracle.(166) His +kindness, his affection for you! Yesterday, when I produced your +letter, and the extracts from M. Necker, and was going to read +some, he said, in that voice that is so penetratingly sweet, when +he speaks from his heart--"I had rather hear one line of +d'Arblay's than a volume of M. Necker's,"--yet at the same time +begging to peruse the MS. when I could spare it. I wish you could +have heard the tone in which he pronounced those words: it +vibrated on my ears all day. + +I have spent near two hours upon this theme with our dearest +oracle and his other half He is much affected by the idea of any +change that may remove us from his daily sight; but, with his +unvarying disinterestedness, says he thinks such a place would be +fully acquitted by you. If it is of consul here, in London, he +is sure you would fill up all its functions even + +Page 203 + +admirably. I put the whole consideration into your own hands , +what, upon mature deliberation, you judge to be best, I will +abide by. Heaven guide and speed your determination! + + + M. D'ARBLAY'S PROPOSED RETIREMENT FROM MILITARY SERVICE. + + 1802. + +[The beginning of this year was attended with much anxiety to +Madame d'Arblay. Her husband, disappointed in the hopes +suggested by his friends, of his receiving employment as French +commercial consul in London, directed his efforts to obtaining +his half-pay on the retired list of French officers. This was +promised, on condition that he should previously serve at St. +Domingo, where General Leclerc was then endeavouring to put down +Toussaint's insurrection. He accepted the appointment +conditionally on his being allowed to retire as soon as that +expedition should be ended. This, he was told, was impossible, +and he therefore hastened back to his family towards the end of +January. + +In February, a despatch followed him from General Berthier, then +minister at war, announcing that his appointment was made out, +and on his own terms. 'To this M. d'Arblay wrote his acceptance, +but repeated a stipulation he had before made, that while he was +ready to fight against the enemies of the Republic, yet, should +future events disturb the peace lately established between France +and England, it was his unalterable determination never to take +up arms against the British government. As this determination had +already been signified by M. d'Arblay, he waited not to hear the +result of its repetition, but set off again for Paris to receive +orders, and proceed thence to St. Domingo. + +After a short time he was informed that his stipulation of never +taking up arms against England could not be accepted, and that +his military appointment was in consequence annulled. Having been +required at the Alien office, on quitting England, to engage that +he would not return for the space of one year, he now proposed +that Madame d'Arblay, with her little boy, should join him in +France:-and among the following letters will be found several in +which she describes her first impressions on reaching that +country, and the society to which she was introduced.] +Page 204 + +(Madame d'Arblay to Miss Planta.) +Camilla Cottage, Westhamble, February 11, 1802. +A most unexpected, and, to me, severe event, draws from me now an +account I had hoped to have reserved for a far happier +communication, but which I must beg you to endeavour to seek some +leisure moment for making known, with the utmost humility, to my +royal mistress. . . . + +Upon the total failure of every effort M. d'Arblay could make to +recover any part of his natural inheritance, he was advised by +his friends to apply to the French government for half pay, upon +the claims of his former military services. He drew up a memoir, +openly stating his attachment and loyalty to his late king, and +appealing for this justice after undeserved proscription. His +right was admitted, but he was informed it could only be made +good by his re-entering the army; and a proposal to that effect +was sent him by Berthier, the minister of war. + +The disturbance of his mind at an offer which so many existing +circumstances forbade his foreseeing, was indescribable. He had +purposed faithfully retiring to his hermitage, with his +fellow-hermit, for the remainder of his life: and nothing upon +earth could ever induce him to bear arms against the country +which had given him asylum, as well as birth to his wife and +child;--and yet a military spirit of honour, born and bred in +him, made it repugnant to all his feelings to demand even +retribution from the government of his own country, yet refuse to +serve it. Finally, therefore, he resolved to accept the offer +conditionally--to accompany the expedition to St. Domingo, for +the restoration of order in the French colonies, and then, +restored thus to his rank in the army, to claim his retraite. +This he declared to the minister of war, annexing a further +clause of receiving his instructions immediately from the +government. + +The minister's answer to this was, that these conditions were +impossible. Relieved rather than resigned-though dejected to find +himself thus thrown out of every promise of prosperity, M. +d'Arblay hastened back to his cottage, to the inexpressible +satisfaction of the- recluse he had left there. + +short, however, has been its duration ! A packet has just +followed him, containing a letter from Berthier, to tell him that +his appointment was made out according to his own demands ! and +Page 205 + +enclosing another letter to the commander-in-chief, Leclerc, with +the orders of government for employing him, delivered in terms, +the most distinguished, of his professional character. + +All hesitation, therefore, now necessarily ends, and nothing +remains for M. d'Arblay but acquiescence and despatch,-- while +his best consolation is in the assurance he has universally +received, that this expedition has the good wishes and sanction +of England. And, to avert any misconception or misrepresentation, +he has this day delivered to M. Otto(167) a letter, addressed +immediately to the first Consul, acknowledging the flattering +manner in which he has been called forth, but decidedly and +clearly repeating what he had already declared to the war +minister, that though he would faithfully fulfil the engagement +into which he was entering, it was his unalterable resolution +never to take up arms against the British government. + +I presume to hope this little detail may, at some convenient +moment, meet her majesty's eyes-with every expression of my +profoundest devotion. + + + M. D'ARBLAY's DISAPPOINTMENT. + +(Madame d'Arblay to M. d'Arblay.) +Westhamble, March 14, 1802. +O my dearest friend,- Can the intelligence I have most +desired come to me in a form that forbids my joy at it? What +tumultuous sensations your letter of the 8th has raised!(168) +Alas! that to relinquish this purpose should to you be as great +unhappiness as to me was its suggestion! I know not how to enter +upon the subject--how to express a single feeling. I fear to +seem ungrateful to providence, or to you ungenerous. I will +only, therefore, say, that as all your motives have been the most +strictly honourable, it is not possible they should not, +ultimately, have justice done them by all. + +That I feel for your disappointment I need not tell you, when you +find it has power to shake to its foundation what would else be +the purest satisfaction of my soul. Let us--let us hope fairer +days will ensue and do not let the courage + +Page 206 + +which was so prompt to support you to St. Domingo fail you in +remaining at Paris. + +What you say of the year's probation I knew not before. Would +you have me make any inquiry if it be irreversible?' I should +think not ; and am most ready and eager to try by every means in +my power, if you will authorize me. If not, to follow you, +whithersoever you will, is much less my duty than my delight ! +You have only to dictate whither, and how, and every doubt, every +fear, every difficulty, will give way to my eager desire to bring +your little boy to you. Would I not have left even Kin to have +followed you and your fate even to St. Domingo? 'Tis well, +however, you did not listen to me, for that poor little +susceptible soul could not, as yet lose us both at once, and be +preserved himself He has lived' so singularly alone with us, and +for us, that he does not dream of any possible existence in which +we should be both separated from him. + +But of him--our +retreat--our books--our scribbling--our garden--our unique mode +of life--I must not talk to you now, now that your mind, +thoughts, views, and wishes are all distorted from themes of +peace, domestic life, and literary pursuits; yet time, I hope, +reflection, your natural philosophy of accommodating yourself to +your fate, and your kindness for those who are wholly devoted to +you, will bring you back to the love of those scenes, modes, and +sentiments, which for upwards of eight years have sufficed for +our mutual happiness. + +I had been negotiating for apartments at Twickenham, opposite +Richmond, ever since you went, and on Friday I wrote to close +with the engagement. This very morning I have two letters, full +of delight at our approaching neighbourhood. Miss C.(169) herself +writes in tears, she says, of joy, that I should be so near her, +and that you should have wished it, and blesses you for your +confidence in her warm friendship. It is quite impossible +to read of such affection and zeal and goodness with dry eyes. I +am confounded how to disenchant her--- yet so generous and +disinterested she is, that, however disappointed, she will be +sure to rejoice for me in our re-union; for you, my dearest +friend! ah! who can rejoice? Your mind was all made up to the +return of its professional pursuits, and I am frightened out of +all my own satisfaction by MY dread of the weight of this chagrin +upon your spirits. What + +Page 207 + +you can do to avert depression,, that cruel underminer of every +faculty that makes life worth sustaining, I beseech you to call +forth. Think how I have worked for fortitude since Feb. 11th. +Alas! vainly I have tried what most I wished--my +poor pen!--but now "occupe-toi pour raliser l'esprance." Those +words will operate like magic, I trust; and I will not close my +eyes this night till I have committed to paper some opening to a +new essay. Be good, then, and don't let me be as unhappy this way +as I have been the other. Direct always to me, Norbury Park, +Dorking. Heaven bless--bless you + +[Here follows, in the original edition, another letter in French, +from M. d'Arblay to his wife. We translate the following +passage.-ED. + + +"At Ventose, year 10, (March 12, 1802). +"You have doubtless communicated to our friends at Norbury Park, +the letters which I have sent you. Did I tell you that I sent a +copy of those letters to M. de Lafayette?(170) M. de Lafayette +came at once to Paris, and requested an interview with Bonaparte, +who granted it immediately. Addressing him, M. de Lafayette said, +' I have come to speak to you of one of my friends and +companions--d'Arblay.' 'I know that business,' said the first +Consul, in a tone which expressed more good-will than I ventured +to hope for, at least, more than I had been given reason to +expect. 'I assure you,' said M. de Lafayette to me, the next +day, 'you have some good friends with the first Consul, who had +already spoken to him on your business. He seemed to me, from +the first instant, rather disposed in your favour than angry with +you. . . . When I told him of your fear lest this business should +have excited his displeasure, he replied positively, that it +should do you no injury whatever, and that he would regard, in +the step you had taken, only the husband of Cecilia.' + +"I hope you will not be very displeased at the way this business, +which has caused me much vexation, has terminated. I think I may +even add, in confidence, that I am, perhaps, not without a near +prospect of getting my retiring pension. Come to me, then, my +dearest. +Page 208 + + ON THE EVE OF MADAME D'ARBLAY'S JOURNEY To FRANCE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Doctor Burney.) +March 30, 1802. +Now, indeed, my dearest father, I am in an excess of hurry not to +be exceeded by even any of yours. I have a letter from M. +d'Arblay, to tell me he has already taken us an apartment, and he +dates from the 5th of April, in Paris, where he has reasons for +remaining some time, before we go to his good uncle, at Joigny. +I am to take the little sweet child with me you saw here one day, +Mlle. de Chavagnac, whose father, le Comte de Chavagnac, has +desired her restoration. My kind Mrs: Locke is almost in +affliction at parting with her though glad of an opportunity of +sending her with friends the poor thing knows and loves. I fear, +I have so very much to do here, that I shall have a very, very +short enjoyment of my beloved father at Chelsea but I shall get +there as soon as possible, and stay there to my last moment. +I have a thousand things, and very curious ones, to tell you; but +I must defer them for vive voix. I am really bewildered and +almost trembling with hurry, and with what I am going to +undertake! Yet through all, i bless God every moment of my life +that M. d'Arblay went not to that pestilential climate I do all-- +all I can to keep up my courage--or rather to make up; and when I +feel faltering, I think of St Domingo! Every body that knows St +Domingo now owns that he had hardly a chance for safety, +independent of tempests in the voyage, and massacres in the +mountains. May I but be able to console him for all he has +sacrificed to my peace and happiness ! and no privation will be +severe, so that at our stated period, Michaelmas twelvemonth, we +return to my country, and to my dearest father, whom heaven bless +and preserve, prays his dutiful, affectionate and grateful, and +devoted daughter, F. d'A. + + + + DIARY: (Addressed to Dr. Burney). + + IN FRANCE DURING THE PEACE AND SUBSEQUENTLY. + +April, 1802-I seize, at length, upon the largest paper I can +procure, to begin to my beloved father some account of our +journey, and if I am able, I mean to keep him a brief +Page 209 + +journal of my proceedings during this destined year or eighteen +months' separation,-secure of his kindest interest in all that I +may have to relate, and certain he will be anxious to know how I +go on in a strange land : 'tis my only way now of communicating +with him, and I must draw from it one of my dearest worldly +comforts, the hopes of seeing his loved hand with some return. + +April 15.-William and John conducted my little boy and me in +excellent time to the inn in Piccadilly, where we met my kind +Mrs. Locke and dear little Adrienne de Chavagnac. The parting +there was brief and hurried; and I set off on my grand +expedition, with my two dear young charges, exactly at five +o'clock. . . . + +Paris, April 15, 1802.-The book-keeper came to me eagerly, crying +"vite, vite, madame, prenez votre place dans la diligence, car +voici un Monsieur Anglais, qui surement va prendre la meileure!" +En effet, ce Monsieur Anglais did not disappoint his +expectations, or much raise mine - for he not only took the best +place, but contrived to ameliorate it by the little scruple with +which he made every other worse, from the unbridled expansion in +which he indulged his dear person, by putting out his elbows +against his next, and his knees and feet against his opposite +neighbour. He seemed prepared to look upon all around-him with a +sort of sulky haughtiness, pompously announcing himself as a +commander of distinction who had long served at Gibraltar and +various places, who had travelled thence through France, and from +France to Italy, who was a native of Scotland, and -of proud, +though unnamed genealogy '; and was now going to Paris purposely +to behold the first Consul, to whom he meant to claim an +introduction through Mr. Jackson. His burnt complexion, Scotch +accent, large bony face and figure, and high and distant +demeanour, made me easily conceive and believe him a highland +chief. I never heard his name, but I think him a gentleman born, +though not gently bred. + Page 210 + +The next to mention is a Madame Raymond or Grammont, for I heard +not distinctly which, who seemed very much a gentlewoman, and who +was returning to France, too uncertain of the state of her +affairs to know whether she might rest there or not. She had only +one defect to prevent my taking much interest in her ; this was, +not merely an avoidance, but a horror of being touched by either +of my children ; who, poor little souls, restless and fatigued by +the confinement they endured, both tried to fling themselves upon +every passenger in turn ; and though by every one they were sent +back to their sole prop, they were by no one repulsed with such +hasty displeasure as by this old lady, who seemed as fearful of +having the petticoat of her gown, which was stiff, round, and +bulging, as if lined with parchment, deranged, as if she had been +attired in a hoop for Court. + +The third person was a Madame Blaizeau, who seemed an exceeding +good sort of a woman, gay, voluble, good humoured, and merry. All +we had of amusement sprung from her sallies, which were uttered +less from a desire of pleasing others, her very natural character +having none of the high polish bestowed by the Graces, than from +a jovial spirit of enjoyment which made them produce pleasure to +herself. She soon and frankly acquainted us she had left France +to be a governess to some young ladies before the Revolution, and +under the patronage, as I think, of the Duke of Dorset - she had +been courted, she told us, by an English gentleman farmer, but he +would not change his religion for her, nor she for him, and so, +when every thing was bought for her wedding, they broke off the +connexion ; and she afterwards married a Frenchman. She had seen +a portrait, set richly in diamonds, of the king, prepared for a +present to the first Consul ; and described its superb ornaments +and magnificence, in a way to leave no doubt of the fact. She +meant to stop at St. Denis, to inquire if her mother yet lived, +having received no intelligence from or of her, these last ten +eventful years ! + +At Canterbury, while the horses were changed, my little ones and +I went to the cathedral; but dared merely seize sufficient time +to view the outside and enter the principal aisle. I was glad +even of that much, as its antique grandeur gave me a pleasure +which I always love to cherish in the view of fine old +cathedrals, those most permanent monuments Of what our ancestors +thought reverence to God, as manifested in munificence to the +place dedicated to his worship. +Page 211 + +At Dover we had a kind of dinner-supper in one, and my +little boy and girl and I retired immediately after it, took some +tea in our chamber, and went to rest. + +April 16.-As we were not to sail till twelve, I had hoped to have +seen the castle and Shakspeare's cliff, but most unfortunately it +rained all the morning, and we were confined to the inn, except +for the interlude of the custom-house, where, however, the +examination was so slight, and made with such civility, that we +had no other trouble with it than a wet walk and a few shillings. +Our passports were examined; and we then ' went to the port, and, +the sea being perfectly smooth, were lifted from the quay to the +deck of our vessel with as little difficulty as we could have +descended from a common chair to the ground. + + + ARRIVAL AT CALAIS. + +The calm which caused our slow passage and our sickness, was now +favourable, for it took us into the port of Calais so close and +even with the quay, that we scarcely accepted even a hand to aid +us from the vessel to the shore. + +The quay was lined with crowds of people, men, women, and +children, and certain amphibious females, who might have passed +for either sex, or anything else in the world, except what they +really were, European women! Their men's hats, men's jackets, and +men's shoes - their burnt skins, and most +savage-looking petticoats, hardly reaching, nay, not reaching +their knees, would have made me instantly believe any account I +could have heard of their being just imported from the wilds of +America. + +The vessel was presently filled with men, who, though dirty and +mean, were so civil and gentle, that they could not displease, +and who entered it so softly and quietly, that, neither hearing +nor seeing their approach, it seemed as if they had availed +themselves of some secret trap-doors through which they had +mounted to fill the ship, without sound or bustle, in a single +moment. When we were quitting it, however, this tranquillity as +abruptly finished, for in an instant a part of them rushed round +me, one demanding to carry +Alex, another Adrienne, another seizing my critoire, another my +arm, and some one, I fear, my parasol, as I have never been able +to find it since. + +We were informed we must not leave the ship till Monsieur +Page 212 + +le commissaire arrived to carry us, I think, to the Municipality +of Calais to show our passports. Monsieur le commisSaire in white +with some red trappings, soon arrived, civilly hastening himself +quite out of breath to save us from waiting' We then mounted the +quay, and I followed the rest of the passengers, who all followed +the commissary, accompanied by two men carrying the two children, +and two more carrying one my critoire, and the other insisting +on conducting its owner. The quantity of people that surrounded +and walked with us, surprised me ; and their decency, their +silence their quietness astonished me. To fear them was +impossible: even in entering France with all the formed fears +hanging upon its recent though past horrors. But on coming to the +municipality, I was, I own, extremely ill at ease, when upon our +gouvernante's desiring me to give the commissary my passport, as +the rest of the passengers had done, and my answering it was in +my critoire, she exclaimed, "Vite! Vite! cherchez-le, ou vous +serez arrte!"(172) You may be sure I was quick enough, or at +least tried to be so, for my fingers presently trembled, and I +could hardly put in the key. + +In the hall to which we now repaired, our passports were taken +and deposited, and we had new ones drawn up and given us in their +stead. On quitting this place we were accosted by a new crowd, +all however as gentle, though not as silent, as our first +friends, who recommended various hotels to us, one begging we +would go to Grandsire, another to Duroc, another to Meurice--and +this last prevailed with the gouvernante, whom I regularly +followed, not from preference, but from the singular horror my +otherwise worthy and wellbred old lady manifested, when, by being +approached by the children, her full round coats risked the +danger of being modernised into the flimsy, falling drapery of +the present day. + +At Meurice's our goods were entered, and we heard that they would +be examined at the custom-house in the afternoon. We breakfasted, +and the crowd of fees which were claimed by the captain, steward, +sailors, carriers, and heaven knows who, besides, are +inconceivable. I gave whatever they asked, from ignorance of what +was due, and from fear of offending those of whose extent, still +less of whose use, of power I could form no judgment. I was the +only one in this predicament; the rest refusing or disputing +every demand. They all, but us +Page 213 + +Went out to walk - but I stayed to write to my dearest father, to +Mrs. Locke, and my expecting mate. + + + "GOD SAVE THE KING!" ON FRENCH SOIL. + +We were all three too much awake by the new scene to try for any +repose, and the hotel windows sufficed for our amusement till +dinner; and imagine, my dearest sir, how my repast was seasoned, +when I tell you that, as soon as it began, a band "of music came +to the window and struck up "God save the king." I can never +tell you what a pleased emotion was excited in my breast by this +sound on a shore so lately hostile, and on which I have so many, +so heartfelt motives for wishing peace and amity perpetual! + + + A RAMBLE THROUGH THE TOWN. + +This over, we ventured out of the hotel to look at the street. +The day was fine, the street was clean, two or three people who +passed us, made way for the children as they skipped out of' my +hands, and I saw such an unexpected appearance of quiet, order +and civility, that, almost without knowing it, we strolled from +the gate, and presently found ourselves in the market-place, +which was completely full of sellers, and buyers, ,and booths, +looking like a large English fair. + +The queer, gaudy jackets, always of a different colour from the +petticoats of the women, and their immense wing-caps, which +seemed made to double over their noses, but which all flew back +so as to discover their ears, in which 1 regularly saw -large and +generally drop gold ear-rings, were quite as diverting ...to +myself as to Alex and Adrienne. Many of them, also, had gold +necklaces chains, and crosses; but ear-rings all: even maids who +were scrubbing or sweeping, ragged wretches bearing burdens on +their heads or shoulders, old women selling fruit or other +eatables, gipsy-looking creatures with children tied to their +backs--all wore these long, broad, large, shining ear-rings. + +Beggars we saw not--no, not one, all the time we stayed or +sauntered; and for civility and gentleness, the poorest and most +ordinary persons we met or passed might be compared with the best +dressed and best looking walkers in the streets of our +metropolis, and still to the disadvantage of the latter. I cannot +say how much this surprised me, as I had conceived a horrific +idea of the populace of this country, imagining em all +transformed into bloody monsters. +Page 214 + +Another astonishment I experienced equally pleasing, though not +equally important to my ease; I saw innumerable pretty women and +lovely children, almost all of them extremely fair. I had been +taught to expect nothing but mahogany complexions and hideous +features instantly on crossing the strait of Dover. When this, +however, was mentioned in our party afterwards, the Highlander +exclaimed, "But Calais was in the hands of the English so many +years, that the English -race there is not yet extinct." + +The perfect security in which I now saw we might wander about, +induced us to walk over the whole town, and even extend our +excursions to the ramparts surrounding it. It is now a very clean +and pretty town, and so orderly that there was no more tumult or +even noise in the market-place, where the people were so close +together as to form a continual crowd, than in the by-streets +leading to the country, where scarcely a passenger was to be +seen. This is certainly a remark which, I believe, could never +be made in England. + +When we returned to the hotel, I found all my fellow travellers +had been to the custom house! I had quite forgotten, or rather +neglected to inquire the hour for this formality, and was +beginning to alarm myself lest I was out of rule, when a young +man, a commissary, I heard, of the hotel, came to me and asked if +I had anything contraband to the laws of the Republic. I answered +as I had done before, and he readily undertook to go through the +ceremony for me without my appearing. I was so much frightened, +and so happy not to be called upon personally, that I thought +myself very cheaply off in his after-demand of a guinea and a +half. I had two and a half to pay afterwards for additional +luggage.. + +We found reigning through Calais a general joy and satisfaction +at the restoration of Dimanche and abolition of dcade.(173) I +had a good deal of conversation with the maid of the inn, a tall, +fair, extremely pretty woman, and she talked much upon this +subject, and the delight it occasioned, and the obligation all +France was under to the premier Consul for restoring religion and +worship. +Page 215 + + SUNDAY ON THE ROAD TO PARIS. + +Sunday, April 18. --We set off for Paris at five o'clock in the +morning. The country broad, flat, or' barrenly steep --Without +trees, without buildings, and scarcely inhabited-- exhibited a +change from the fertile fields, and beautiful woods ,band +gardens, and civilisation of Kent, so sudden and unpleasant that +I only lamented the fatigue of my position, which regularly +impeded my making use of this chasm of 'pleasure and observation +for repose. This part of France must certainly be the least +frequented, for we rarely met a single carriage, and the +villages, few and distant, seemed to have no intercourse with +each other. Dimanche, indeed, might occasion this stiffness, for +we saw, at almost all the villages, neat and clean peasants going +to or coming from mass, and seeming indescribably elated and +happy by the public permission of divine worship on its +originally appointed day. + +I was struck with the change in Madame Raymond, who joined us in +the morning from another hotel. Her hoop was no more visible; her +petticoats were as lank, or more so, than her neighbours'; and +her distancing the children was not only at an end, but she +prevented me from renewing any of my cautions to them, of not +incommoding her - and when we were together a few moments, before +we were joined by the rest, she told me, with a significant +smile, not to tutor the children about her any more, as she only +avoided them from having something of consequence to take care +of, which was removed. I then saw she meant some English lace or +muslin, which she had carried in a petticoat, and, since the +customhouse examination was over, had now packed in her trunk. + +Poor lady! I fear this little merchandise was all her hope of +succour on her arrival! She is amongst the emigrants who have +twice or thrice returned, but not yet been able to rest in their +own country. + +What most in the course of this journey struck me, was the +satisfaction of all the country people, with whom I could +converse at the restoration of the Dimanche; and the boasts they +now ventured to make of having never kept the dcade, except +during the dreadful reign of Robespierre, when not to oppose any +of his severest decrees was insufficient for safety, ,"it was +essential even to existence to observe them with every parade of +the warmest approval. +Page 216 + +The horrible stories from every one of that period of wanton as +well as political cruelty, I must have judged exaggerated, either +through the mist of fear or the heats of resentment but that, +though the details had innumerable modifications' there was but +one voice for the excess of barbarity. + +At a little hamlet near Clermont, where we rested some time, two +good old women told us that this was the happiest day (twas +Sunday) of their lives; that they had lost le bon Dieu for these +last ten years, but that Bonaparte had now found him! In another +cottage we were told the villagers had kept their own cur all +this time concealed, and though privately and with fright, they +had thereby saved their souls through the whole of the bad times! +And in another, some poor creatures said they were now content +with their destiny, be it what it might, since they should be +happy, at least, in the world to come - but that while denied +going to mass, they had all their sufferings aggravated by +knowing that they must lose their souls hereafter, besides all +that they had to endure here! + +O my dearest father! that there can have existed wretches of such +diabolical wickedness as to have snatched, torn, from the toiling +indigent every ray even of future hope! Various of these little +conversations extremely touched me nor was I unmoved, though not +with such painful emotion, on the sight of the Sunday night +dance, in a little village through which we passed, where there +seemed two or three hundred peasants engaged in that pastime all +clean and very gaily dressed, yet all so decent and well behaved, +that, but for the poor old fiddlers, we might have driven on, and +not have perceived the rustic ball. + +Here ends the account of my journey, and if it has amused my +dearest father, it will be a true delight to me to have scribbled +it. My next letter brings me to the capital, and to the only +person who can console me for my always lamented absence from +himself. + + + ENGAGEMENTS, OCCUPATIONS, AND FATIGUE + +(Madame d'Arblay to Miss Planta.) +Paris, April 27, 1802. +A week have I been here, my dear Miss Planta, so astonishingly +engaged, so indispensably occupied, or so suffering from fatigue, +that I have not been able till now to take up +Page 217 + +pen, except to satisfy my dear father of our safe arrival. + +To give you some idea of these engagements, occupations, and +fatigues, I must begin with the last. We were a whole long, +languid day, a whole restless, painful night, upon the sea; my +little Alex sick as death, suffering if possible yet more than +myself, though I had not a moment of ease and comfort. My little +Adrienne de Chavagnac was perfectly well all the time, singing +and skipping about the cabin, and amusing every one by her +innocent enjoyment of the novelty of the scene. . . . + +As to my occupations;-my little apartment to arrange, my trunks +and baggage to unpack and place, my poor Adrienne to consign to +her friends, my Alex to nurse from a threatening malady; letters +to deliver, necessaries to buy; a femme de chambre to engage; +and, most important of all! my own sumptuous wardrobe to refit, +and my own poor exterior to reorganise! I see you smile, +methinks, at this hint; but what smiles would brighten the +countenance of a certain young lady called Miss Rose, who amused +herself by anticipation, when I had last the honour of seeing +her, with the changes I might have to undergo, could she have +heard the exclamations which followed the examination of my +attire: "This won't do! That YOU can never wear! This you can +never be seen in! That would make you stared at as a curiosity!-- +Three petticoats! no one wears more than one!-- Stays? everybody +has left off even corsets!--Shift sleeves? not a soul now wears +even a chemise!" etc. In short, I found all I possessed seemed +so hideously old fashioned, or so comically rustic, that as soon +as it was decreed I must make appearance in the grand monde, +hopeless of success in exhibiting myself in the' costume +Franais, I gave over the attempt, and ventured to come forth as +a gothic Anglaise, who never heard of, or never heeded the +reigning metamorphosis. + +As to my engagements;--when should I finish, should I tell all +that have been made or proposed, even in the short space of a +single week? The civilities I have met with, contrary to all my +expectations, have not more amazed me for myself, than gratified +me for M. d'Arblay, who is keenly alive to the kind, I might say +distinguished, reception I have been favoured with by those to +whom my arrival is known. + +Your favourite hero is excessively popular at this moment from +three successive grand events, all occurring within the +Page 218 + +short time of my arrival,--the ratification of the treaty of +peace--the restoration of Sunday, and Catholic worship--and the +amnesty of the emigrants. At the Opera buffa, the loge in which +I sat was exactly opposite to that of the first Consul but he and +his family are all at Malmaison. + + + DIARY RESUMED: (Addressed to Dr. Burney.) + + ARISTOCRATIC VISITORS. + +Paris, April 1, 1802.(174)-Almost immediately after my arrival in +Paris, I was much surprised by a visit from the ci-devant Prince +de Beauvau, madame his wife, and Mademoiselle de Mortemar her +sister, all brought by Madame d'Henin. if gratified in the first +instance by a politeness of attention so little my due and so +completely beyond my expectations, how was my pleasure enhanced +when I found they all three spoke English with the utmost ease +and fluency, and how pleased also at the pleasure I was able to +give them in reward of their civility, by a letter I had brought +from Mrs. Harcourt, which was received with the warmest delight +by Mademoiselle de Mortemar and a message from a young lady named +Elizabeth, with the profoundest gratitude. + +April 24-This morning Madame d'Henin was so kind as to accompany +us, in making our visit to Madame de Beauvau her niece, and +Mademoiselle de Mortemar. We found them at home with M. de +Beauvau, and they indulged me with the sight of their children, +who are the most flourishing and healthy possible, and dressed +and brought up with English plainness and simplicity. The visit +was very pleasant, and Madame d'Henin made a party for us all to +meet again the next day, and go to the Opera buffa. + + + ANXIETY TO SEE THE FIRST CONSUL. + +I have heard much of the visit of Mrs. Damer and the Miss Berrys +to Paris, and their difficulty to get introduced to the first +Consul.(175) A lady here told us she had been called upon + +Page 219 + +by Miss Berry, who had complained with much energy upon this +subject, saying, "We have been everywhere--seen everything--heard +every body--beheld such sights! listened to such discourse! +joined such society! and all to obtain his notice! Don't you +think it very extraordinary that he should not himself desire to +see Mrs. Damer? + +"Madame," replied the lady, "perhaps if you had done but half +this, the first Consul might have desired to see you both." + + +"But you don't imagine," answered she, laughing, "we came over +from England to see you ci-devants ? We can see such as you at +home!" + +She was gone before our arrival ; and, as I understand, succeeded +at last in obtaining an introduction. They were both, Mrs. Damer +and Miss Berry, as I am told, very gay and agreeable, as well as +enterprising, and extremely well rpandues. + + + AT THE OPERA-BOUFFE. + +April 25.-I was not much better in the evening, but the party for +the Opera buffa being formed by Madame d'Henin on my account, my +going was indispensable. She had borrowed the loge of M. de +Choiseul, which, being entailed upon the family perptuit, has +in a most extraordinary manner continued unalienated through the +whole course of massacres and proscriptions to the present day, +when the right owner possesses it. It is the largest and best +box, except that which is opposite to it, in the theatre. . . . + +The opera was "Le Nozze di Dorina," by Sarti, and extremely +pretty; though I wished it had been as new to M. C-- de P-- as to +myself, for then he would not have divided my attention by +obligingly singing every note with every performer. In truth, I +was still so far from recovered from the fatigue of my journey, +that I was lulled to a drowsiness the most distressing before the +end of the second act, ' + +page 220 + +which being but too obvious, Madame d'Henin and M. d'Arblay took +me away before I risked a downright nap by waiting for the third. + + + DIFFICULTIES RESPECTING MADAME DE STAEL. + +April 26-The assembly at Madame d'Henin's was one of the most +select and agreeable at which I was ever present. Assembly, +however, I ought not to call a meeting within the number of +twenty. But I was uneasy for my poor Alex, and therefore stole +away as soon as possible; not, however, till Madame de Tess made +a party for us for the following Thursday at her house, nor till +I had held a private discourse with Mademoiselle de -- upon my +embarrassment as to Madame de Stael, from the character she held +in England; which embarrassment was not much lightened by her +telling me it was not held more fair in France ! Yet, that +everywhere the real evil is highly exaggerated by report, envy, +and party-spirit, all allow. She gives, however, great +assemblies at which all Paris assist, and though not solicited or +esteemed by her early friends and acquaintance, she is admired, +and pitied, and received by them. I would she were gone to +Copet!(176) + + +What most perplexed me at this period was the following note from +Madame de Stael. + +"je voudrois vous tmoigner mon empressement, madame, et je +crains d'tre indiscrette. j'espre que vous aurez la bont de +me faire dire quand vous serez assez remise des fatigues de votre +voyage pour que je puisse avoir l'honneur de vous voir sans vous +importuner. +"Ce 4 florial. (177) +"Necker Stael de H."(178) + +How is it possible, when even the common civility of a card for +her card is yet unreturned, that she can have brought herself +thus to descend from her proud heights to solicit the + +Page 221 + +renewal of an acquaintance broken so abruptly in England, and so +palpably shunned in France ? Is it that the regard she appeared +to conceive for me in England was not only sincere but constant? +If so, I must very much indeed regret a waste of kindness her +character and conduct make it impossible for me to repay, even +though, on this spot, I am assured all her misfortunes are +aggravated, nay caricatured, by report, and that she exerts her +utmost influence, and calls forth her best talents, upon every +occasion which presents itself for serving those who have been +her friends ; and that, notwithstanding circumstances and +disunion, either in politics or morals, may have made them become +her enemies. Her generosity is cited as truly singular upon this +head, and I have heard histories of her returning, personally, +good for evil that would do honour to any character living. + +After much deliberation and discussion, my French master composed +the following answer:-- + +\"Madame d'Arblay ne peut qu'tre infiniment flatte de l'extrme +bont de Madame la Comtesse de Stael. Elle aura trs +certainement l'honneur de se prsenter chez Madame de Stael +aussitt que possible."(179) + +Cooler than this it was not easy to write, and the ne peut +qu'tre is a tournure that is far enough from flattering. I +hope, however, it will prepare her for the frozen kind of +intercourse which alone can have place between us. + + + MADAME DE LAFAYETTE. + +As I wished much to see the parade, or review, which was to take +place on the 5th, and is only once a month, we were forced to +devote the preceding day to visits, as it was decreed in our +council of etiquette that I could not appear in a place where I +might be seen by those who had shown me the civility of beginning +an acquaintance, till I had acknowledged my debt to them. . . . I +was so thoroughly tired when I returned from all these visits, +that I was forced to rest upon a bed for the remainder of the +day, to my no small discomposure before the evening was closed; +for, in a close cap, my feet in their native, undraperied state, +hidden by a large, long, wrapping morning +Page 222 +gown, your daughter, my dearest sir, lay reclined on a bed when, +rather late in the evening, I was told Madame d'Henin was in the +salon. I was going to send in my excuses, while I rose to get +ready for waiting upon her - but Alex flung open the door, and +seeing where I was, and how fatigued, she insisted on my keeping +still, and came to my bedside, and sat in friendly converse, +listening to the history of my morning excursion, till a ring at +the bell of our ante-room made me desire to have nobody admitted. +Alex again, however, frisking about, prevented Pauline, my little +femme de chambre, from hearing me, and she announced Madame de +Lafayette! + +You may easily believe this name, and my present situation, put +me into no small commotion. I was beseeching Madame d'Henin to go +to the saloon with my apologies, when Alex, whose illness, though +it has diminished his strength and his flesh, has left his +spirits as wild as ever, called out to proclaim where I was, and +while Madame Lafayette was gently moving on, flung the bedroom +door wide open, saying, "Mamma is here! " Madame Lafayette, +concluding, I suppose, that I received du monde in the French +manner, immediately presented herself at the door, where I had no +resource but to entreat Madame d'Henin, who is her intimate +friend, to receive her, for I was wholly powerless, with my +unsandaled feet, from rising. Madame d'Henin now brought her to +my bedside, where nothing could have been more awkward than my +situation : but that the real reverence I had conceived for her +character and her virtues made the sight of so singular a person, +her condescension in the visit, and her goodness, though lame, in +mounting three pair of stairs, give me a sensation of pleasure, +that by animating my spirits, endowed me with a courage that +overcame all difficulties both of language and position, and +enabled me to express my gratitude for her kindness and my +respect for her person, with something far nearer to fluency and +clearness than anything in speech I have yet attempted. My mind +instantly presented her to me, torn from her beloved family, and +thrown into the death-impending prison of Robespierre ; and then +saved by his timely destruction from the scaffold, and then using +her hardly-recovered liberty only by voluntarily sacrificing it +to be immured with her husband in the dungeon of Olmtz.(180) +Various as may be the opinions of +Page 223 + +the politics of M. de Lafayette, all Europe, I believe,'concur in +admiration of the character and conduct of his virtuous and +heroic wife. Indeed, nothing since my arrival has so sensibly +gratified me, from without, as this visit. + +Madame Lafayette is the daughter of the ci-devant Duc d'Ayen, and +consequently niece of Madame de Tess, the duke's sister. She was +married to M. de Lafayette when she was only seventeen years of +age. By some cold or mismanagement, and total want of exercise in +the prison of Olmtz, some humour has fallen into one of her +ankles, that, though it does not make her absolutely lame, causes +walking to be so painful and difficult to her that she moves as +little as possible, and is always obliged to have a stool for her +foot. She now resides with M. de Lafayette and their three +children entirely in the country, at a chateau which has +descended to her since the revolutionary horrors and therefore +has not been confiscated, called "La Grange." They never come to +Paris but upon business of positive necessity. She had arrived +only this morning on a visit to her aunt, Madame de Tess, to +make some preparations for the approaching marriage of her only +son. + +Her youngest daughter, Mademoiselle de Lafayette, accompanied +her. She is a blooming young creature of English fairness-as we +English choose to say-with a bright native colour, and beautiful +light hair ; otherwise with but indifferent features, and not +handsome : yet her air, though modest even to the extreme that +borders upon bashfulness, is distinguished, and speaks her to be +both sensible and well brought up. + +Madame de Lafayette, also, is by no means handsome; but has eyes +so expressive, so large, and so speaking, that it is not easy to +criticise her other features, for it is almost impossible to look +at them. Her manner is calm and mild, yet noble. She is +respected even by surrounding infidels for her genuine piety, +which, in the true character of true religion, is severe only for +herself, lenient and cheerful for all others. I do not say this +from what I could see in the hour she was so good as to pass with +me, but from all I have heard. + +She warmly invited me to La Grange, and requested me to name an +early day for passing some time there. I proposed + +Page 224 + +that it might be after the marriage had taken place,"as till then +all foreign people or subjects might be obtrusive. She paused a +moment, and then said, "Aprs?--c'est vrai we could then more +completely enjoy Madame d'Arblay' society; for we must now have +continual interruptions, surrounded as we are by workmen, goods, +chattels, and preparations; so that there would be a nail to +hammer between almost every word; and yet, as we are going to +Auvergne, after the ceremony, it will be so long before a meeting +may be arranged, that I believe the less time lost the better." + +I know M. d'Arblay desired this acquaintance for me too earnestly +to offer any opposition; and I was too much charmed with its +opening to make any myself: it was therefore determined we should +go the following week to La Grange. + + + SIGHT-SEEING AT THE TuILERIES. + +May 5-Again a full day. M. d'Arblay had procured us three tickets +for entering the apartments at the Tuileries to see the parade of +General Hulin, now high in actual rank and service, but who had +been a sous-officier under M. d'Arblay's command; our third +ticket was for Madame d'Henin, who had never been to this sight-- +nor, indeed, more than twice to any spectacle since her return to +France--till my arrival; but she is so obliging and good as to +accept, nay to seek, every thing that can amuse, of which I can +profit. We breakfasted with her early, and were appointed to join +the party of M. le Prince de Beauvau, who had a general in his +carriage, through whose aid and instructions we hoped to escape +all difficulties. + +Accordingly the coach in which they went was desired to stop at +Madame d'Henin's door, so as to let us get into our fiacre, and +follow it straight. This was done, and our precursor stopped at +the gate leading to the garden of the Tuileries. The De Beauvaus, +Mademoiselle de Mortemar, and their attending general, alighted, +and we followed their example and joined them, which was no +sooner done than their general, at the sight of M. d'Arblay, +suddenly drew back from conducting Madame de Beauvau, and flew up +to him. They had been ancient camarades, but had not met since M. +d'A.'s emigration. + +The crowd was great, but civil and well -dressed ; and we met +with no impediment till we came to the great entrance. Alas, I +had sad recollections of sad readings in mounting the + +Page 225 + +steps! We had great difficulty, notwithstanding our tickets, in +making our way--I mean Madame d'Henin and ourselves, for Madame +de Beauvau and Mademoiselle de Mortemar having an officer in the +existing military to aid them, were admitted and helped by all +the attendants; and so forwarded that we wholly lost sight of +them, till we arrived, long after, in the apartment destined for +the exhibition. This, however, was so crowded that every place at +the windows for seeing the parade was taken, and the row formed +opposite to see the first Consul as he passes through the room to +take horse, was so thick and threefold filled, that not a +possibility existed of even a passing peep. Madame d'Henin would +have retired, but as the whole scene was new and curious to me, I +prevailed with her to stay, that I might view a little of the +costume of the company; though I was sorry I detained her, when I +saw her perturbed spirits from the recollections which, I am +sure, pressed upon her on re-entering this palace : and that her +sorrows were only subdued by her personal indignation, which was +unconscious, but yet very prominent, to find herself included in +the mass of the crowd in being refused all place and distinction, +where, heretofore, she was amongst the first for every sort of +courtesy. Nothing of this, however, was said and you may believe +my pity for her was equally unuttered. + +We seated ourselves now, hopeless of any other amusement than +seeing the uniforms of the passing officers, and the light +drapery of the stationary ladies, which, by the way, is not by +any means so notorious nor so common as has been represented ; on +the contrary, there are far more who are decent enough to attract +no attention, than who are fashionable enough to call for it. + +During this interval M. d'Arblay found means, by a ticket lent +him by M. de Narbonne, to enter the next apartment, and there to +state our distress, not in vain, to General Hulin; and presently +he returned, accompanied by this officer, who is, I fancy, at +least seven feet high, and was dressed in one of the most showy +uniforms I ever saw. M. d'Arblay introduced me to him. He +expressed his pleasure in seeing the wife of his old comrade, and +taking my hand, caused all the crowd to make way, and conducted +me into the apartment adjoining to that where the first Consul +receives the ambassadors, with a flourish of manners so fully +displaying power as well as courtesy, that I felt as if in the +hands of one of the seven champions who meant to mow down all +before him, should +Page 226 + +any impious elf dare dispute his right to give me liberty, or to +show me honour. + + + A GOOD PLACE IS SECURED, + +He put me into the first place in the apartment which was sacred +to general officers, and as many ladies as could be accommodated +in two rows only at the windows. M. d'Arblay, under the sanction +of his big friend, followed with Madame d'Henin , and we had the +pleasure of rejoining Madame de Beauvau and Mademoiselle de +Mortemar, who were at the same windows, through the exertions of +General Songis. + +The scene now, with regard to all that was present, was +splendidly gay and highly animating. The room was full, but not +crowded, with officers of rank in sumptuous rather than rich +uniforms, and exhibiting a martial air that became their attire, +which, however, generally speaking, was too gorgeous to be noble. +Our window was that next to the consular apartment, in which +Bonaparte was holding a levee, and it was close to the steps +ascending to it; by which means we saw all the forms of the +various exits and entrances, and had opportunity to examine every +dress and every countenance that passed and repassed. This was +highly amusing, I might say historic, where the past history and +the present office were known. + +Sundry footmen of the first Consul, in very fine liveries, were +attending to bring or arrange chairs for whoever required them ; +various peace-officers, superbly begilt, paraded occasionally up +and down the chamber, to keep the ladies to their windows and the +gentlemen to their ranks, so as to preserve the passage or lane +through which the first Consul was to walk upon his entrance, +clear and open; and several gentlemanlike looking persons, whom +in former times I should have supposed pages of the back stairs, +dressed in black, with gold chains hanging round their necks, and +medallions pending from them, seemed to have the charge of the +door itself, leading immediately to the audience chamber of the +first Consul. + + + M. D'ARPLAY'S MILITARY COMRADES. + +But what was most prominent in commanding notice, was the array +of the aides-de-camp of Bonaparte, which was so +Page 227 + +almost furiously striking, that all other vestments, even the +most gaudy, appeared suddenly under a gloomy cloud when +contrasted with its brightness. We were long viewing them before +we could discover what they were to represent, my three lady +companions being as new to this scene as myself; but afterwards +M. d'Arblay starting forward to speak to one of them, brought him +across the lane to me, and said "General Lauriston," + +His kind and faithful friendship to M. d'Arblay, so amiably +manifested upon his late splendid embassy to England, made me see +him with great pleasure. It was of course but for a moment, as he +was amongst those who had most business upon their hands. General +d'Hennezel also came to me for a few minutes, and three or four +others, whom M. d'Arblay named, but whom I have forgotten. +Indeed, I was amazed at the number of old friends by whom he was +recognised, and touched far more than I can express, to see him +in his old coat and complete undress, accosted by his fine +(former) brethren, in all their new and beautiful costume, with +an eagerness of regard that, resulting from first impulse, proved +their judgment, or rather knowledge of his merits, more forcibly +than any professions, however warm, could have done. He was +indeed, after the aides-de-camp, the most striking figure in the +apartment, from contrasting as much with the general herd by +being the plainest and worst dressed, as they did by being the +gayest and most showy. + +General Lauriston is a very handsome man, and of a very pleasing +and amiable countenance; and his manly air carried off the +frippery of his trappings, so as to make them appear almost to +advantage. + + + ARRIVAL OF THE TROOPS. + +While this variety of attire, of carriage, and of physiognomy +amused us in facing the passage prepared for the first Consul, we +were occupied, whenever we turned round, by seeing from the +window the garden of the Tuileries filling 'with troops. + +In the first row of females at the window where we stood, were +three ladies who, by my speaking English with Mademoiselle de +Mortemar and Madame de Beauvau, discovered .my country, and, as I +have since heard, gathered my name; and here I blush to own how +unlike was the result to what "One of this nation might have +experienced from a similar +Page 228 + +discovery in England; for the moment it was buzzed "C'est Une +trangre, c'est une Anglaise," (181) every one tried to Place, +to oblige, and to assist me, and yet no one looked curious, or +stared at me. Ah, my dear padre, do you not a little fear, in a +contrasted situation, no one would have tried to place oblige, or +assist, yet every one would have looked curious, and stared? +Well, there are virtues as well as defects of all classes, and +John Bull can fight so good a battle for his share of the former, +that he need not be utterly cast down in acknowledging now and +then a few of the latter. + + + AN IMPORTANT NEW ACQUAINTANCE. + +The best view from the window to see the marching forwards of the +troops was now bestowed upon me, and I vainly offered it to the +ladies of my own party, to whom the whole of the sight was as new +as to myself. The three unknown ladies began conversing with me, +and, after a little general-talk, one of them with sudden +importance of manner, in a tone slow but energetic, said, + +"Avez-vous vu, madame, le premier Consul?" + +"Pas encore, madame." + +"C'est sans doute ce que vous souhaitez le plus, madame?" + +"Oui, madame." + +"Voulez-vous le voir parfaitement bien, et tout fait votre +aise?" + +"je le dsire beaucoup, madame."(182) + +She then told me to keep my eyes constantly upon her, and not an +instant lose sight of her movements; and to suffer no head, in +the press that would ensue when the first Consul appeared, to +intervene between us. "Faites comme cela, madame," continued +she; "et vous le verrez bien, bien; car," added she, solemnly, +and putting her hand on her breast,--"moi--je vais lui +parler!"(183) + +I thanked her very much, but it was difficult to express as +Page 229 + +much satisfaction as she displayed herself. You may suppose, +however, how curious I felt for such a conversation, and how +scrupulously I followed her injunctions of watching her motions. +A little squat good-humoured lady, with yellow flowers over a mob +cap upon her hair - who had little sunken eyes, concise nose, and +a mouth so extended by perpetual smiling, that, hardly leaving an +inch for the cheek, it ran nearly into the ear, on my other side +now demanded my attention also, and told me she came regularly +every month to the great review, that she might always bring some +friend who wanted to see it. I found by this she was a person of +some power, some influence, at least, and not entirely averse to +having it known. She was extremely civil to me - but as my other +friend had promised me so singular a regale, I had not much +voluntary time to spare for her , this, however, appeared to be +no impediment to that she was so obliging as to determine to +bestow upon me, and she talked satisfied with my acquiescence to +her civility, till a sort of bustle just before us making me look +a little sharp, she cried-- + +"Vous le voyez, madame!" + +"Qui?" exclaimed I, "le premier Consul?" + +"Mais non!--pas encore--mais--ce--ce monsieur l!"(184) + + + MADAME, C'EST MON MArI. + +I looked at her to see whom I was to remark, and her eyes led me +to a tall, large figure, with a broad gold-laced hat, who was +clearing the lane which some of the company had infringed, with a +stentorian voice, and an air and manner of such authority as a +chief constable might exert in an English riot. + +"Oui, madame," I answered, not conceiving why I was to look at +him; "je le vois, ce monsieur; il est bien grand."(185) + +"Oui, madame," replied she, with a yet widened smile, and a look +of lively satisfaction; "il est bien grand! Vous le voyez bien?" + +"O, fort bien!" cried I, quite at a loss what she meant me to +understand, till at last, fixing first him, and then me, she +expressively said-- + +page 230 + +"Madame, c'est mon mari!"(186) + +The grin now was distended to the very utmost limits of the +stretched lips, and the complacency of her countenance forcibly +said,. "What do you think of me now?" My countenance, however, +was far more clever than my head, if it made her any answer. +But, in the plenitude of her own admiration of a gentleman who +seemed privileged to speak roughly, and push violently whoever, +by a single inch, passed a given barrier, she imagined, I +believe, that to belong to him entitled her to be considered as +sharing his prowess ; she seemed even to be participating in the +merits of his height and breadth, though be could easily have put +her into his pocket. + +Not perceiving, as I imagine, all the delight of felicitation in +my countenance that she had expected, her own fell, in a +disappointed pause, into as much of length as its circular form +would admit of; it recovered, however, in another minute its full +merry rotundity, by conjecturing, as I have reason to think, that +the niggardliness of my admiration was occasioned by my doubt of +her assertions; for, looking at me with an expression that +demanded my attention, she poked her head under the arm of a tall +grenadier, stationed to guard our window, and trying to catch the +eye of the object of her devotion, called out in an accent of +tenderness, "M'ami! M'ami!" + +The surprise she required was now gratified in full, though what +she concluded to be excited by her happiness, was simply the +effect of so caressing a public address from so diminutive a +little creature to so gigantic a big one. Three or four times the +soft sound was repeated ere it reached the destined ear, through +the hubbub created by his own loud and rough manner of calling to +order; but, when at last he caught the gentle appellation, and +looked down upon her, it was with an eyebrow so scowling, a mouth +so pouting, and an air that so rudely said, "What the d-- do you +want?" that I was almost afraid he would have taken her between +his thumb and finger, and given her a shake. However, be only +grumbled out, "Qu'est-ce que c'est, donc?"(187) A little at a +loss what to say, she gently stammered, "M'ami,--le--le premier +Consul, ne vient-il pas?"(188) "Oui! oui!" was blustered in +reply, with a look that completed the phrase by "you fool you!" +though the voice left it unfinished. +Page 231 + +Not disconcerted even yet, though rather abashed,, she +turned to me with a pleased grin that showed her proud of his +noble ferociousness, and said, "C'est mon mari, madame!" as if +still fearful I was not fully convinced of the grandeur of her +connexion. "M'ami" having now cleared the passage by ranging all +the company in two direct lines, the officers of highest rank +were assembled, and went in a sort of procession into the inner +apartment to the audience of the first Consul. During the time +this lasted, some relaxation of discipline ensued, and the +gentlemen from the opposite row ventured to approach and peep at +the windows with the ladies; but as soon as the generals +descended from the steps they had mounted, their short conference +being over, "M'ami" again appeared,. to the inexpressible +gratification of his loving little mate, again furiously hustled +every one to his post; and the flags, next, as I think, were +carried in procession to the inner apartment, but soon after +brought back. + + + ADVENT OF THE FIRST CONSUL. + +The Prince of Orange then passed us to enter the audience +chamber, with a look so serious, an air so depressed, that I have +not been at all surprised to hear he was that very night taken +very ill. + +The last object for whom the way was cleared was the second +Consul, Cambacrs, who advanced with a stately and solemn pace, +slow, regular, and consequential; dressed richly in scarlet and +gold, and never looking to the right or left, but wearing a mien +of fixed gravity and importance. He had several persons in his +suite, who, I think, but am not sure, were ministers of state. + +At length the two human hedges were finally formed, the door of +the audience chamber was thrown wide open with a commanding +crash, and a vivacious officer-sentinel-or I know not what, +nimbly descended the three steps into our apartment, and placing +himself at the side of the door, with one hand spread as high as +possible above his head, and the other extended horizontally, +called out in a loud and authoritative voice, "Le premier +Consul!" + +You will easily believe nothing more was necessary to obtain +attention; not a soul either spoke or stirred as he and his suite +passed along, which was so quickly that, had I not been placed so +near the door, and had not all about + +Page 232 + +me facilitated my standing foremost, and being least crowd +obstructed, I could hardly have seen him. As it was, I had a view +so near, though so brief, of his face, as to be very much struck +by it. It is of a deeply impressive cast, pale even to +sallowness, while not only in the eye but in every feature--care, +thought, melancholy, and meditation are strongly marked, with so +much of character, nay, genius, and so penetrating a seriousness, +or rather sadness, as powerfully to sink into an observer's mind. + +Yet, though the busts and medallions I have seen are, in general, +such good resemblances that I think I should have known him +untold, he has by no means the look to be expected from +Bonaparte, but rather that of a profoundly studious and +contemplative man, who "o'er books consumes" not only the +"midnight oil" but his own daily strength, "and wastes the puny +body to decay" by abstruse speculation and theoretic plans or +rather visions, ingenious but not practicable. But the look of +the commander who heads his own army, who fights his own battles, +who conquers every difficulty by personal exertion, who executes +all he plans, who performs even all he suggests; whose ambition +is of the most enterprising, and whose bravery is of the most +daring cast:--this, which is the look to be expected from his +situation, and the exploits which have led to it, the spectator +watches for in vain. The plainness, also, of his dress, so +conspicuously contrasted by the finery of all around him, +conspires forcibly with his countenance, so "sicklied o'er with +the pale hue of thought," to give him far more the air of a +student than a warrior. + +The intense attention with which I fixed him in this short but +complete view made me entirely forget the lady who had promised +me to hold him in conference. When he had passed, however, she +told me it was upon his return she should address him, as he was +too much hurried to be talked with at the moment of going to the +parade. I was glad to find my chance not over, and infinitely +curious to know what was to follow. + + + THE PARADE OF TROOPS. + +The review I shall attempt no description of. I have no knowledge +of the subject, and no fondness for its object. It was far more +superb than anything I had ever beheld: but while all the pomp +and circumstance of war animated others, +Page 233 + +it only saddened me ; and all of past reflection, all of future +dread, made the whole grandeur of the martial scene, and all the +delusive seduction of martial music, fill my eyes frequently with +tears, but not regale my poor muscles with one single smile. + +Bonaparte, mounting a beautiful and spirited white horse, closely +encircled by his glittering aides-de-camp, and accompanied by his +generals, rode round the ranks, holding his bridle indifferently +in- either hand, and seeming utterly careless of the prancing, +rearing, or other freaks of his horse, insomuch as to strike some +who were near me with a notion of his being a bad horseman. I am +the last to be a judge upon this subject, but as a remarker, he +only appeared to me a man who knew so well he could manage the +animal when he pleased, that he did not deem it worth his while +to keep constantly in order what he knew, if urged or provoked, +he could subdue in a moment. + +Precisely opposite to the window at which I was placed, the chief +Consul stationed himself after making his round and thence he +presented some swords of honour, spreading out one arm with an +air and mien which changed his look from that of scholastic +severity to one that was highly military and commanding. . . . + + + + A SCENE. + +The review over, the chief Consul returned to the palace. The +lines were again formed, and he re-entered our apartment with his +suite. As soon as he approached our window, I observed my first +acquaintance start a little forward. I was now all attention to +her performance of her promise; and just as he reached us she +stretched out her hand to present him a petition! + +The enigma of the conference was now solved, and I laughed at my +own wasted expectation. Lui parler, however, the lady certainly +did; so far she kept her word; for when he had taken the scroll, +and was passing on, she rushed out of the line, and planting +herself immediately before him so as to prevent his walking on, +screamed, rather than spoke, for her voice was shrill with +impetuosity to be heard and terror of failure, "C'est pour mon +fils! vous me l'avez promis!"(189) The first Consul stopped and +spoke; but not loud enough for me to hear his voice: while his +aides-de-camp and the attending generals surrounding him more +closely, all in a +Page 234 + +breath rapidly said to the lady, "Votre nom, madame, votre +nom!"(190) trying to disengage the Consul from her importunity, +in which they succeeded, but not with much ease, as she seemed +purposing to cling to him till she got his personal answer. He +faintly smiled as he passed on, but looked harassed and worn; +while she, turning to me, with an exulting face and voice, +exclaimed, "Je l'aurai! je l'aurai!" meaning what she had +petitioned for--"car . . . tous ces gnraux m'ont demands mon +nom!" (191) Could any inference be clearer? + +The moment the chief Consul had ascended the steps leading to the +inner apartment, the gentlemen in black with ,gold chains gave a +general hint that all the company must depart, as the ambassadors +and the ministers were now summoned to their monthly public +audience with the chief Consul. The crowd, however, was so +great, and Madame d'Henin was so much incommoded, and half ill, I +fear, by internal suffering, that M. d'Arblay procured a pass for +us by a private door down to a terrace leading to a quiet exit +from the palace into the Tuileries garden. + + + WITH M. D'ARBLAY'S RELATIVES AT JOIGNY. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Burney.)(192) +Paris, 1802. +.....With the nearest relatives now existing of M. d'Arblay I am +myself more pleased than I can tell you. We have spent a +fortnight at joigny,(193) and found them all awaiting us with the +most enthusiastic determination to receive with open arms and +open heart the choice and the offspring of their returned exile. +Their kindness has truly penetrated me; and the heads of the +family, the uncle and the aunt, are so charming as well as so +worthy, that I could have remained with them for months had not +the way of life which their residence in a country town has +forced them to adopt, been utterly at war with all that, to me, +makes peace, and happiness, and cheerfulness, namely, the real +domestic life of living with my own small but all-sufficient +family. I have never loved a dissipated +Page 235 + + life, which it is no virtue in me, therefore, +to relinquish; but I now far less than ever can relish it, and +know not how to enjoy anything away from home, except by distant +intervals; and then with that real moderation, I am so far from +being a misanthrope or sick of the world, that I have real +pleasure in mixed society. It is difficult, however, in the +extreme, to be able to keep to such terms. M. d'Arblay has so +many friends, and an acquaintance so extensive, that the mere +common decencies of established etiquettes demand, as yet, nearly +all my time; and this has been a true fatigue both to my body and +my spirits. + +M. d'Arblay is related, though very distantly, to a quarter of +the town, and the other three-quarters are his friends or +acquaintance; and all of them came, first, to see me; next, to +know how I did after the journey; next, were all to be waited +upon in return ; next, came to thank me for my visit; next, to +know how the air of Joigny agreed with me - next, to make a +little further acquaintance ; and, finally, to make a visit of +cong. And yet all were so civil, so pleasant, and so pleased +with my monsieur's return, that could I have lived three lives, +so as to have had some respite, I could not have found fault for +it was scarcely ever with the individual intruder, but with the +continuance or repetition of interruption. + + + SOME JOIGNY ACQUAINTANCES. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Miss Planta, for the queen and princesses.) +Passy, December 19, 1802. +.....Rarely, indeed, my dear Miss Planta, I have received more +pleasure than from your last most truly welcome letter, with +assurances so unspeakably seasonable. I had it here at Passy the +5th day after its date. I thank you again and again, but oh! how +I thank God! + +Permit me now to go back to Joigny, for the purpose of giving +some account of two very interesting acquaintances we made there. +The first was Colonel Louis Bonaparte,(194) youngest brother but +one, (Jerome) of the first Consul. His + +Page 236 + +regiment was quartered at joigny, where he happened to be upon +our last arrival at that town, and where the first visit he made +was to M. MBazille, the worthy maternal uncle of M. d'Arblay. He +is a young man of the most serious demeanour, a grave yet +pleasing countenance, and the most reserved yet gentlest manners. + His conduct in the small town (for France) of joigny was not +merely respectable, but exemplary; he would accept no distinction +in consequence of his powerful connexions, but presented himself +everywhere with the unassuming modesty of a young man who had no +claims beyond what he might make by his own efforts and merits. +He discouraged all gaming, to which the inhabitants are extremely +prone, by always playing low himself; and he discountenanced +parade, by never suffering his own servant to wait behind his +chair where he dined. He broke up early both from table and from +play - was rigid in his attentions to his military duties, strict +in the discipline of is officers as well as men, -and the first +to lead the way in every decency and regularity. When to this I +add that his conversation is sensible, and well bred, yet +uncommonly diffident, and that but twenty-three summers have yet +rolled over his head, so much good sense, forbearance, and +propriety, in a situation so open to flattery, ambition, or +vanity, obtained, as they merited, high consideration and perfect +good will. + +I had a good deal of conversation with him, for he came to sit by +me both before and after his card-party wherever I had the +pleasure to meet him ; and his quiet and amiable manners, and +rational style of discourse, made him a great loss to our +society, when he was summoned to Paris, upon the near approach of +the event which gave him a son and heir. He was very kind to my +little Alex, whom he never saw without embracing, and he treated +M. d'Arblay with a marked distinction extremely gratifying to me. + +The second acquaintance to which I have alluded is a lady, Madame +de Souza.(195) She soon found the road to my good will and +regard, for she told me that she, with another lady, had been +fixed upon by M. del Campo, my old sea-visitor, for the high +honour of aiding him in his reception of the first lady of our +land and her lovely daughters, upon the grand fte which he gave +upon the dearest and most memorable of occasions(196) and she +spoke with such pleasure and gratitude of +Page 237 + +the sweet condescension she then experienced, that she charmed +and delighted me, and we struck up an intimacy without further +delay. Our theme was always ready, and I only regretted that I +could see her but seldom, as she lived two or three miles out of +Joigny, at Cesy, in the small chteau of la ci-devant Princesse +de Beaufremont, a lady with whom I had had the honour of making +acquaintance in Paris, and who is one of those who suffered most +during the horrors of the Revolution. At the dreadful period when +all the rage was to burn the property and title-deeds of the rich +and high-born, her noble chteau, one of the most considerable in +France, was. utterly consumed, and all her papers; that no record +of her genealogy might remain, were committed, with barbarous +triumph, to the flames : yet was this, such is her unhappy fate, +the least of her misfortunes ; her eldest daughter, a beautiful +young creature, upon whom she doted, was in the chteau at this +horrible period, and forced to make her escape with such alarm +and precipitance, that she never recovered from the excess of her +terror, which robbed her of her life before she was quite +seventeen years of age ! + +Around the small and modest chteau de Cesy, in which Madame de +Beaufremont and her youngest and now only daughter, Madame de +Listenois, at present reside, the grounds have been cultivated in +the English style; and the walks, now shady, now open, now +rising, now descending, with water, bridges, cascades, and +groves, and occasional fine picturesque views from the banks of +the Yonne, are all laid out with taste and pretty effects. We +strolled over them with a large party, till we came to a little +recess. Madame de Beaufremont then took me by the arm, and we +separated from the company to enter it together, and she showed +me an urn surrounded with cypress trees and weeping willows, +watered by a clear, small, running rivulet, and dedicated to the +memory of her first-born and early-lost lamented daughter. Poor +lady! she seems entirely resigned to all the rest of her +deprivations, but here the wound is incurable ! yet, this subject +apart, she is cheerful, loves society, or rather social +discourse, with a chosen few, and not only accepts with Pleasure +whatever may enliven her, but exerts herself to contribute all +that is in her power to the entertainment of others. She has +still preserved enough from the wreck of her Possessions to live +elegantly, though not splendidly; and her table is remarkably +well served. She has a son-in-law, M. +Page 238 + +de Listenois, whom I did not see; but her remaining daughter +Madame de Listenois, is a very fine young woman. Madame de Souza +has spent the whole summer with these ladies. She told me she +liked England so very much, and was so happy during the six weeks +she passed there, that she wept bitterly on quitting it. She was +received, she says, at Court in the most bewitching manner, and +she delights in retracing her honours, and her sense of them. + She is still so very handsome, though sickly and suffering, +that I imagine she must then have been exquisitely beautiful. I +am told, by a French officer who has served in Spain, M. de +Meulan, that when she left that country she was reckoned the most +celebrated beauty of Madrid. + +I had another new acquaintance at Joigny, also, in a lady who +came from Auxerre, as she was pleased to say, to see me, Madame +La Villheurnois, widow of M. La Villheurnois, who was amongst the +unhappy objects dports, by the order of the Directory, la +Guiane.(197) As soon as the first civilities were over, she +said, "Permettez, madame! connaisseZ-vous Sidney?"(198) I could +not doubt who she meant, though there is no avoiding a smile at +this drolly concise way of naming a man by his nom de +baptme.(199) She was extremely surprised when I answered no; +telling me she had concluded "que tout le monde en +Angleterre"(200) must know Sidney! Yes, I said, by character +certainly ; but personally I had never the gratification of +meeting with him. She told me she was intimately acquainted with +him herself, from seeing him continually when he was confined in +the Temple, as she attended there her "malheureux poux,"(201) +and she saw also, she said, "son valet et son jockey,"(202) whom +she never suspected to be disguised emigrants, watching to aid +his escape. "Surtout," she added, "comme le jockey avait des +trous aux bas terribles,")203) which + +Page 239 + +induced her daughter to buy him a new pair of stockings for +charity. A gentleman who accompanied her to Joigny, her +secretary, told me he had played at ball with Sidney every day +for six months, while he also attended upon poor M. La +Vilheurnois...... + + + THE INFLUENZA IN PARIS. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Passy, March 23, 1803. +I have been anxious to write since I received your last kind +inquiries, my dearest padre; but so tedious has been my seizure, +that I have not yet got from its wraps or confinements. I feel, +however, as if this were their last day, and that to-morrow would +have the honour to see me abroad. I have had no fever, and no +physician, and no important malady; but cold has fastened upon +cold, so as utterly to imprison me. La gripe,(204) however, I +escaped, so has Alex, and our maid and helpers--and M. d'Arblay, +who caught it latterly in his excursions to Paris, had it so +slightly that but for the fright attached to the seizure (which I +thought would almost have demolished me at first, from the terror +hanging on its very name at that fatal period) I should have +deemed it a mere common cold. It is now universally over, but +the mischief it has done is grievously irreparable. . . . It was +a disastrous and frightful time. The streets of Paris were said +to be as full of funerals as of cabriolets. For my own part, I +have not once been able to enter that capital since I left it at +the end of October. But I cannot help attributing much of the +mortality which prevailed in consequence of this slight disease, +to the unwholesome air occasioned by the dreadful want of +cleanliness in that city, which, but for the healthiness of the +beautiful and delicious walks around it, i.e., the Boulevards, +must surely have proved pestilential. The air of our house at +Passy is perfectly pure and sweet. + +M. d'Arblay is now making a last effort with respect to his +retraite,(205) which has languished in adjournment above a year. +He has put it into the hands of a faithful and most amiable +friend, now in high esteem with the premier Consul, General +Lauriston, who so kindly renewed an ancient friendship with his +former camarade when he was on his splendid short embassy in +England. If through him it should fail, I shall never think of it +more. +Page 240 + + RUMOURS OF WAR. + +(Madame dArblay to Mrs. Locke) +NO- 54, Rue Basse, Passy, near Paris, April 30, 1803. +How to write I know not, at a period so tremendous-nor yet how to +be silent. My dearest, dearest friends ! if the war indeed prove +inevitable, what a heart-breaking position is ours!-to explain it +fully would demand folios, and yet be never so well done as you, +with a little consideration, can do it for us. Who better than +Mr. Locke and his Fredy-who so well can comprehend, that, where +one must be sacrificed, the other will be yet more to be pitied +?-I will not go on-I will talk only of you, till our fate must be +determined. And M. d'Arblay, who only in the wide world loves his +paternal uncle as well (we always except ourselves at +Westminster! how tenderly does he join in my every feeling! and +how faithfully keep unimpaired all our best and happiest +sympathies! + +May 2.--Better appearances in the political horizon now somewhat +recruit my spirits, which have been quite indescribably tortured, +rather than sunk, by the impossibility of any private arrangement +for our mutual happiness in the dread event of war. God Almighty +yet avert it! And should it fall to the lot of Lauriston to +confirm the peace, what a guardian angel upon earth I shall deem +him! How I wish he could meet with you! he is so elegant in his +manners he would immediately give you pleasure; and his +countenance is so true in announcing him amiable, that you might +look at him with trust as well as satisfaction. . . . + +May 13--Ah, my dearest friends--what a melancholy end to my hopes +and my letter. I have just heard that Lord Whitworth(206) set +off for Chantilly last night; war therefore seems inevitable; and +my grief, I, who feel myself now of two countries, is far greater +than I can wish to express. While posts are yet open, write to +me, my beloved friend, and by Hamburg. I trust we may still and +regularly correspond, long as the letters may be in travelling. +As our letters never + + Page 241 + +treat but of our private concerns, health and welfare neither +country can object to our intercourse. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney). +Passy, May 6, 1803. +if my dearest father has the smallest idea of the suspense and +terror in which I have spent this last fortnight, from the daily +menace of war, he will be glad, I am sure, of the respite allowed +me-if no more--from a visit I have just received from Mrs. Huber, +who assures me the Ambassador has postponed his setting off, and +consented to send another courier.(207) To say how I pray for +his success would indeed be needless. I have hardly closed my +eyes many nights past. My dearest father will easily conceive the +varying conflicts of our minds, and how mutual are our +sufferings. . . . + +We were buoyed up here for some days with the hope that General +Lauriston was gone to England as plenipo, to end the dread +contest without new effusion of blood: but Paris, like London, +teems with hourly false reports, and this intelligence, +unhappily, was of the number. The continued kindness and +friendship of that gentleman for M. d'Arblay make me take a warm +interest in whatever belongs to him. About ten days ago, when M. +d'Arblay called upon him, relative to the affair so long +impending of his retraite, he took his hand, and said "Fais-moi +ton compliment!"(208) You are sure how heartily M. d'Arblay +would be ready to comply-"but "what," he demanded, "can be new to +you of honours?" "I have succeeded," he answered, "for you!--the +first Consul has signed your mmoire." When such delicacy is +joined to warm attachment, my dearest father will not wonder I +should be touched by it. . . . + +M. d'Arblay has now something in his native country, where all +other claims are vain, and all other expectations completely +destroyed. He had been flattered with recovering some portion, +at least, of his landed property near Joigny; but those who have +purchased it during his exile add such enormous and unaccountable +charges to what they paid for it at that period, that it is +become, to us, wholly unattainable. + +Page 242 + + " OUR LITTLE CELL AT PASSY." + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Passy, April 11, 1804. +We live in the most quiet, and, I think, enviable retired merit. +Our house is larger than we require, but not a quarter furnished. +Our view is extremely pretty from it, and always cheerful; we +rarely go out, yet always are pleased to return. We have our +books, our prate, and our boy--how, with all this, can we, or +ought we to suffer ourselves to complain of our narrowed and +narrowing income? If we are still able to continue at Passy, +endeared to me now beyond any other residence away from you all, +by a friendship I have formed here with one of the sweetest women +I have ever known, Madame de Maisonneuve, and to M. d'Arblay by +similar sentiments for all her family, our philosophy will not be +put to severer trials than it can sustain. And this engages us to +bear a thousand small privations which we might, perhaps, escape, +by shutting ourselves up in some spot more remote from the +capital. But as my deprivation of the society of my friends is +what I most lament, so something that approaches nearest to what +I have lost affords me the best reparation. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Passy, May 29, 1808. +Before I expected it, my promised opportunity for again writing +to my most dear father is arrived. I entirely forget whether, +before the breaking out of the war stopt our correspondence, M. +d'Arblay had already obtained his retraite: and, consequently, +whether that is an event I have mentioned or not. Be that as it +may, he now has it--it is 1500 livres, or 62 pounds, 10 +shillings. per annum. But all our resources from England ceasing +with the peace, we had so little left from what we had brought +over, and M. d'Arblay has found so nearly nothing remaining of +his natural and hereditary claims in his own province, that he +determined upon applying for some employment that might enable +him to live with independence, how ever parsimoniously. This he +has, with infinite difficulty, etc., at length obtained, and he +is now a rdacteur in the civil department of les Btimens, +etc.(209) This is no sinecure. He + +Page 243 + +attends at his bureau from half-past nine to half-past four +o'clock every day; and as we live so far off as Passy he is +obliged to set off for his office between eight and nine, and +does not return to his hermitage till past five. However, what +necessity has urged us to desire, and made him solicit, we must +not, now acquired, name or think of with murmuring or regret. He +has the happiness to be placed amongst extremely worthy people; +and those who are his chefs in office treat him with every +possible mark of consideration and feeling. We continue steady to +our little cell at Passy, which is retired, quiet, and quite to +ourselves, with a magnificent view of Paris from one side, and a +beautiful one of the country on the other. It is +unfurnished-indeed, unpapered, and every way unfinished; for our +workmen, in the indispensable repairs which preceded our entering +it, ran us up bills that compelled us to turn them adrift, and +leave every thing at a stand, when three rooms only were made +just habitable. + + + THE PRINCE OF WALES EULOGIZED. + +(Dr. Burney to Madame d'Arblay.) +July 12, 1805. +. . . Your brother, Dr. Charles, and I have had the honour last +Tuesday of dining with the Prince of Wales at Lord Melbourne's at +the particular desire of H.R.H. He is so good-humoured and +gracious to those against whom he has no party prejudice, that it +is impossible not to be flattered by this politeness and +condescension. I was astonished to find him, amidst such +constant dissipation, possessed of so much learning, wit, +knowledge of books in general, discrimination of Character, as +well as original humour. He quoted Homer to my son as readily as +if the beauties of Dryden or Pope were under consideration. And +as to music, he is an excellent critic; has an enlarged taste-- +admiring whatever is excellent in its kind, of whatever age or +country the composers or performers may be; without, however, +being insensible to the superior genius and learning necessary to +some kinds of music more than others. + +The conversation was general and lively, in which several of the +company, consisting of eighteen or twenty, took a share, till +towards the heel of the evening, or rather the toe of the +morning; for we did not rise from table till one +Page 244 + +o'clock, when Lady Melbourne being returned from the opera with +her daughters, coffee was ordered; during which H.R.H. took me +outside and talked exclusively about music near half an hour, and +as long with your brother concerning Greek literature. He is a +most excellent mimic of well-known characters: had we been in the +dark any one would have sworn that Dr. Parr and Kemble were in +the room. Besides being possessed of a great fund of original +humour, and good humour, he may with truth be said to have as +much wit as Charles II., with much more learning--for his merry +majesty could spell no better than the bourgeois gentilhomme. + + + DR. BURNEY AT BATH. + +(Dr. Burney to Madame dArblay.) +June 12, 1808. +. . . Last autumn I had an alarming seizure In my left hand and, +mine being pronounced a Bath case, on Christmas Eve I set out for +that city, extremely weak and dispirited-put myself under the +care of Dr. Parry, and after remaining there three months, I +found my hand much more alive, and my general health considerably +amended. + +During my invalidity at Bath I had an unexpected visit from your +Streatham friend,(210) of whom I had lost sight for more than ten +years. I saw very few people, but none of an evening nor of a +morning, on the days my hand was pumped on. When her name was +sent in I was much surprised, but desired she might be admitted; +and I received her as an old friend with whom I had spent much +time very happily, and never wished to quarrel. She still looks +well, but is grave, and candour itself; though still she says +good things, and writes admirable notes and letters, I am told, +to my granddaughters C. and M., of whom she is very fond. We +shook hands very cordially, and avoided any allusion to our long +separation and its cause; the Caro Sposo still lives, but is such +an object from the gout that the account of his sufferings made +me pity him sincerely; he wished, she told me, "to see his old +and worthy friend," and, un beau matin, I could not refuse +compliance with his wish. She nurses him with great affection +and tenderness, never goes out or has company when he is in pain. +Page 245 + + AFFECTIONATE GREETINGS To DR. BURNEY. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +September, 1808. +After being so long robbed of all means of writing to my beloved +father, I seize, with nearly as much surprise as gratitude, a +second opportunity of addressing him almost before the first can +have brought my hand to his sight. When will some occasion offer +to bring me back-not my revenge, but my first and most coveted +satisfaction ? With how much more spirit, also, should I write, +if I knew what were received of what already I have scrawled ! +Volumes, however, must have been told you, of what in other times +I should have written, by Maria. For myself, when once a reunion +takes place, I can scarcely conceive which will be hardest +worked, my talking faculties or my listening ones. O what +millions of things I want to inquire and to know! The rising +generation, me thinks, at least, might keep me some letters and +packets ready for occasional conveyances. I should be grateful +beyond measure. M. d'Arblay writes--"how desired is, how happy +shall be, the day, in which we shall receive your dearest +blessing and embrace! Pray be so kind not to forget the mate +always remembering your kindness for him and his. A thousand +thousand loves to all." + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +No. 13, Rue d'Anjou, Paris, May 2, 1810. +A happy May-day to my dearest father! Sweet-scented be the +cowslips which approach his nostrils! lovely and rosy the +milkmaids that greet his eyes, and animating as they are noisy +the marrow-bones and cleavers that salute his ears! Dear, and +even touching, are these anniversary recollections where distance +and absence give them existence only in the memory! and, at this +moment, to hear and see them I Would exchange all the Raphaels in +our Museum, and the new and beautiful composition of Paesiello in +the chapel. + +Could you but send me a little food for the hope now in private +circulation that the new alliance of the Emperor(211) may perhaps +extend to a general alliance of all Europe, Oh, +Page 246 + +heaven! how would that brighten my faculties of enjoyment! I +should run about to see all I have hitherto omitted to seek, with +the ardent curiosity of a traveller newly arrived ; and I should +hasten to review and consider all I have already beheld, with an +alertness of vivacity that would draw information from every +object I have as yet looked at with undiscerning tameness. Oh, +such a gleam of light would new-model or re-model me, and I +should make you present to all my sights, and partake of all the +wonders that surround me ! + +Were not this cruel obscurity so darkening to my views, and so +depressing to my spirits, I could tell my dearest father many +things that might amuse him, and detail to him, in particular, my +great and rare happiness in a point the most essential, after +domestic comforts, to peace of mind and cheerfulness, namely, my +good fortune in my adopted friends in this my adopted country. +The society in which I mix, when I can prevail with myself to +quit my yet dearer fireside, is all that can be wished, whether +for wit, wisdom, intelligence, gaiety, or politeness. The +individuals with whom I chiefly mix, from being admired at first +for their talents or amiability, are now sincerely loved for +their kindness and goodness. Could I write more frequently, or +with more security that I write not to the winds and the waves, I +would characterize the whole set to you, and try to make us yet +shake hands in the same Party. . . . + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +No. 13, Rue d'Anjou, Paris, ce 16 Sept. 1810. +Can I tell you, my dearest father!-oh, no! I can never tell +you-the pleasure, the rapture with which I received your letter +by Madame Solvyns. It had been so cruelly long since I had heard +from you, so anxious and suffering a space since I had seen your +handwriting, that, when at last it came, I might have seemed, to +one who did not know me, rather penetrated by sudden affliction +than by joy. But how different was all within to what appeared +without! My partner-in-all received it at his bureau, and felt an +impatience so unconquerable to communicate so extreme a pleasure +that he quitted everything to hasten home; for he was incapable +of going on with his business. How satisfactory, also, is all +the intelligence ! how gaily, with what spirit written ! . . . + +I do nothing of late but dream of seeing you, my most dear + +Page 247 + +father. I think I dream it wide awake, too; the desire is so +strong that it pursues me night and day, and almost persuades me +it has something in it of reality : and I do not choose to +discourage even ideal happiness. + + + + DR. BURNEY's DIPLOMA. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +No. 13, Rue d'Anjou, 14th April, 1811. +.....Have you received the letter in which I related that your +diploma has been brought to me by the perpetual secretary of the +class of the Fine Arts of the Institute of France?(212) I shall +not have it conveyed but by some very certain hand, and that, +now, is most difficult to find. M. Le Breton has given me, also, +a book of the list of your camarades, in which he has written +your name. He says it will be printed in next year's register. +He has delivered to me, moreover, a medal, which is a mark of +distinction reserved for peculiar honour to peculiar select +personages. Do you suppose I do not often--often--often think who +would like, and be fittest to be the bearer to you of these +honours? . . . + +How kind was the collection of letters you made more precious by +endorsing! I beseech you to thank all my dear correspondents, +and to bespeak their patience for answers, which shall arrive by +every wind that I can make blow their way; but yet more, beseech +their generous attention to my impatience for more, should the +wind blow fair for me before it will let me hail them in return. +Difficultly can they figure to themselves my joy--my emotion at +receiving letters from such dates as they can give me! + +[During this year Madame d'Arblay's correspondence with her +English connexions was interrupted not only by the difficulty of +conveying letters, but also by a dangerous illness and the menace +of a cancer, from which she could only be relieved by submitting +to a painful and hazardous operation. The fortitude with which +she bore this suffering, and her generous solicitude for Monsieur +d'Arblay and those around her, excited the warmest sympathy in +all who heard of her trial, and her French friends universally +gave her the name of l'ange,(213) so touched were they by her +tenderness and Magnanimity.] + +(157) " Dr. Orkborne" is the name of one of the characters in +"Camilla," a pedantic scholar, who lives only in his books.-ED. + +(158) Widow of Sir Robert Strange, the celebrated engraver, and a +very old friend of the Burney family. She was a Scotchwoman (her +maiden name, Isabel Lumisden), and in her younger days an +enthusiastic Jacobite. She obliged her lover, Strange, to join +the young Pretender in 1745, and afterwards married him against +her father's wish.-ED. + +(159) "The other Bell" was the daughter of Sir Robert and Lady +Strange.-ED. + +(160) Wife of Sir Lucas Pepys, the physician.-ED. + +(161) Anna Letitia Barbauld, the well-known author, and editor of +Richardson's Correspondence, etc.-ED. + + (162) John Aiken, M.D., brother to Mrs. Barbauld, and, like his +sister, an author and editor. His "Evenings at Home" is still a +well-known book: many of our readers will probably have pleasant +reminiscences of it, connected with their childhood.-ED. + +(163) Barry had published a furious attack upon his +fellow-Academicians in a "Letter to the Dilettanti Society." He +was already, owing chiefly to his own violent temper, on ill +terms with nearly all of them, and the "Letter" prove(I to be the +last straw. Various charges were drawn up against the Professor +of Painting, and he was expelled forthwith from the Academy, +without being permitted to speak in his own defence. + +(164) "By the help of a shilling." + +(165) "With tears in his eyes." + +(166) i.e., Mr. Locke.-ED. + +(167) The French minister in England.-ED. + +(168) A letter in which M. d'Arblay had acquainted his wife with +the withdrawal of his commission in the French army, in +consequence of his refusal, under any circumstances, to bear arms +against England.-ED. +(169) Miss Cambridge.-ED. + +(170) Lafayette was then living in retirement, with his wife and +family, at is chateau of La Grange. -ED. + +(171) "Quick, quick, madam, take your seat in the diligence, for +here is an English gentleman who is sure to take the best +place!"--There is evidently some mistake here, in making the +book-keeper in Piccadilly speak French and talk about the +diligence. That the paragraph relates to Fanny's departure from +London is evident from several passages in the text: the mention, +later, of changing horses at Canterbury, the references to her +fellow-travellers at Calais. The date to the above paragraph is +also clearly wrong, as it will be seen that on the 18th of April +they were still on the road to Paris.-ED. + +(172) "Quick! quick! look for it, or you will be arrested!" + +(173) in the new calendar adopted by the Republic in 1793, a +division of the month into decades, or periods of ten days, was +substituted for the old division into weeks. Every tenth day +(dcadi) was a day of rest, instead of every seventh day, +(Sunday, Dimanche). The months were of thirty days each, with +five odd festival days (Sansculottades) in the year, and a sixth +(Festival of the Revolution) in Leap Year. Napoleon restored the +Sunday in place of dcadi. The new calendar was discontinued +altogether, January 1, 1806.-ED. + + (174) The date is again wrong--probably a misprint for +April 21.-ED. + +(175) Mrs. Damer, the sculptor, as an ardent Whig and supporter +of Charles Fox, professed herself at this time an enthusiastic +admirer of the first Consul. She had known josphine de +Beauharnais before her marriage with Napoleon, and, after the +peace of Amiens, visited Paris on Josphine's invitation. She +was there introduced to Napoleon, to whom she afterwards +presented a bust of Charles Fox, executed by herself. Mrs. +Damer's companions on this excursion were Mary Berry, the author +(born 1763-died 1852), and her younger sister, Agnes Berry. These +two ladies were prodigious favourites with Horace Walpole, who +called them his "twin wives," and was, it is said, even desirous, +in his old age, Of marrying the elder Miss Berry. One of his +valued possessions was a marble bust of Mary Berry, the work of +his kinswoman, Mrs. Damer. At his death in 1797 he bequeathed to +the Miss Berrys a house for their joint lives, besides a legacy +Of 4000 pounds to each sister. Mary Berry published an edition +of her old admirer's works the year after his death.-ED. + +(176) The Swiss home of her father, 'M. Necker, on the shore of +the lake, and some ten miles north of the town of Geneva. Necker +retired thither after his fall in 1790, and spent there, in +retirement, the remaining years of his life. He died at Geneva, +in April, 1804.-ED. + + +(177) Madame de Stael's orthography is here preserved. + +" I should like to prove to you my zeal, madam, and I am afraid +of being indiscreet. I hope you will have the goodness to let me +know when you are sufficiently recovered from the fatigue of your +journey, that I might have the honour of seeing you without being +tiresome to you." + +(178) The 4th Floria (April 23). + +(179) "Madame d'Arblay can only be infinitely flattered by the +extreme goodness of Madame the Countess de Stael. She will very +certainly have the honour of calling upon Madame de Stael as soon +as possible." +(180) Madame de Lafayette was thrown into prison after the flight +of her husband; released in February, 1795, more than six months +after the death of Robespierre. She then journeyed to Austria, +and obtained leave to share, with her two daughters, her +husband's captivity at Olmtz. Lafayette was released in +September, 1797; returned to France in 1800, Napoleon not +forbidding, though not quite approving. Madame de Lafayette's +constitution was permanently impaired by the confinement which +she suffered at Olmtz. She died December 24, 1807.-ED. + +(181) "It's a foreigner, it's an Englishwoman." + +(182) "Have you seen the first Consul, madam?" + +"Not yet, madam." + +"It is doubtless what you most wish for, madam?" + +"Yes, madam." + +"Do you wish to have an excellent view of him, and to see him +quite at your ease?" + +"I am particularly desirous of it, madam." + +(183) "Do thus, madam, and you will see him well, well; for I-am +going to speak to him ! " + +(184) "You see him, madam!" + +"Whom?" exclaimed I, "the first Consul?" + +"Oh no!--not yet;--but--that--that gentleman!" + +(185) "yes, madam, I see that gentleman; he is very tall!" + +(186) "Madam, it is my husband!" + +(187) "What is the matter?" + +(188) "M'ami, the--the first Consul, is he not coming?" + +(189) "'Tis for my son ! you promised it me!" + + (190) "Your name, madam, your name!" + +(191) "I shall have it! I shall have it! for all those generals +asked my name!" + +(192) Fanny's eldest sister, Esther, who married (1770) her +cousin, Charles Rousseau Burney.-ED. + +(193) joigny was the birth-place of M. d'Arblay.-ED. + +(194) Louis Bonaparte was born in 1778, and, young as he was, had +already served with distinction in the campaign in Italy. He was +subsequently king of Holland from 1806 to 1810, when that country +was annexed by Napoleon to the French Empire. He married +Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter, by her first marriage, of +Napoleon's wife, Josephine, and was the father of the Emperor +Napoleon III.-ED. + +(195) Authoress of "Adle de Senange," etc. + +(196) On the king's recovery, in the spring of 1789.-ED. + +(197) Many of the leading members of the Councils of "Ancients" +and of "Five Hundred " had been transported to Guiana after the +coup d'tat of September 4, 1797. See note (146) ante, p. +136.-ED. + +(198) "Excuse me, madam ! do you know Sidney? Sidney " is Sir +Sidney Smith, whose gallant and successful defence of Acre +against the French,, in the spring of 1799, obliged Napoleon to +relinquish the invasion of Syria.-ED. + +(199) Christian name. + +(200) "Every one in England." + +(201) "Unfortunate husband." + +(202) "His valet and his jockey, (groom)." + +(203) "Especially as the jockey had terrible holes in his +stockings." + +(204) The influenza. + +(205) Retiring pension. + +(206) The English ambassador in Paris. All hopes of a +satisfactory termination to the dispute between the English and +French governments being now at an end, Lord Whitworth was +ordered to return to England, and left Paris May 12, 1803. His +return was followed by the recall of the French minister in +London, and the declaration of war between the two countries.-ED. + +(207) The reader will have noticed that the date of this letter +is earlier than that of the paragraph in the preceding letter, in +which Fanny alludes to the departure of the Ambassador from +Paris.-ED. + +(208) "Make me your compliments." + +(209) "Or, as we might say, a clerk in the department of works."- +ED. + +(210) Mrs. Piozzi.-ED. + +(211) Napoleon was crowned Emperor of the French, November 19, +1804. His "new alliance" was his marriage, in the spring Of +1810, with the archduchess Maria Louisa, daughter of the Emperor +of Austria. With this alliance in view he had been divorced from +Josphine at the close of the preceding year.-ED + +(212) Dr. Burney had been elected a corresponding member of this +section of the Institute.-ED. + +(213) The angel. + + + + +Page 248 + SECTION 23. + (1812-14.) + + MADAME D'ARBLAY AND HER SON IN ENGLAND, + +[At the commencement of the year 1814 was published "The +Wanderer, or Female Difficulties," the fourth and last novel by +the author of "Evelina," "Cecilia," and "Camilla." The five +volumes were sold for two guineas-double the price of +"Camilla,"--and we gather from Madame d'Arblay's own statement +that she received at least fifteen hundred pounds for the work. +She informs us also that three thousand six hundred copies were +sold during the first six months. This pecuniary profit, however, +was the only advantage which she derived from the book. It was +severely treated by the critics ; its popularity,-- if it ever +had any, for its large sale was probably due to the author's high +reputation,--speedily declined; and the almost total oblivion +into which it passed has remained unbroken to the present day. +Yet "The Wanderer" was deserving of a better fate. In many +respects it is not inferior to any of Madame d'Arblay's earlier +works. Its principal defect is one of literary style, and its +style, though faulty and unequal, is by no means devoid of charm +and impressiveness. The artless simplicity and freshness of +"Evelina" render that work, her first novel, the most successful +of all in point of style. In "Cecilia" the style shows more of +conscious art, and is more laboured. In "Camilla" and "The +Wanderer" it is at once more careless and more affected than in +the earlier novels ; her English is at times slipshod, at times +disfigured by attempts at fine writing. But, admitting all this, +we must admit also that Fanny, even in "The Wanderer," proves +herself mistress of what we may surely regard as the most +essential part of style-its power of affecting the reader +agreeably with the intentions of the author. She plays upon her +reader's emotions with a sure touch; she excites or soothes him +at her will; she arouses by turns his compassion, his mirth, his +resentment, according as she strikes the keys of pathos, of +humour, or of irony. A style which is capable of producing such +effects is not rashly to be condemned on the score of occasional +affectations and irregularities. +Page 249 + +The question of style apart, we do not feel that "The Wanderer" +shows the slightest decline in its author's powers. The plot is +as ingeniously complicated as ever, the suspense as skilfully +maintained; the characters seem to us as real as those in +"Evelina," or "Cecilia," or in the "Diary" itself; the alternate +pathos and satire of the book keep our attention ever on the +alert. That it failed to win the suffrages of the public was +certainly due to no demerit in the work. Many causes may have +conspired against it. The public taste had long been debauched by +novels of that nightmare school in which Mrs Radcliffe and "Monk" +Lewis were the leaders. Moreover, in the very year in which "The +Wanderer" was published, appeared the first of a series of works +of fiction which, by their power and novelty, were to monopolise, +for a time, the public attention and applause, and which were +thereafter to secure for their author a high rank among the +immortals of English literature. At the end of the fifth volume +of "The Wanderer" were inserted a few leaves, containing a list +of books recently published or "in the press;" and last on the +list of the latter stands "Waverley, or 'Tis Sixty Years since." + +Like " Evelina," "The Wanderer" is inscribed in a touching +dedication (this time, however, in prose, and with his name +prefixed) to Fanny's beloved father. The dedication is dated +March 14, 1814 : on the 12th of the following month Dr. Burney +died at Chelsea College, in his eighty-seventh year.-ED.] + + NARRATIVE OF MADAME D'ARBLAY'S JOURNEY TO LONDON. + + ANXIETY TO SEE FATHER AND FRIENDS. + +Dunkirk, 1812. There are few events of my life that I more regret +not having committed to paper while they were fresher in my +memory, than my police adventure at Dunkirk, the most fearful +that I have ever experienced, though not, alas, the most +afflicting, for terror, and even horror, are short of deep +affliction; while they last they are, nevertheless, absorbers; +but once past, whether ill or well, they are over, and from them, +as from bodily pain, the animal spirits can rise uninjured: not +so from that grief which has its source in irreInediable +calamity; from that there is no rising, no relief, save in hopes +of eternity: for here on earth all buoyancy of mind that Might +produce the return of peace, is sunk for ever. I will +Page 250 + +now, however, put down all that recurs to me of my first return +home. + +In the year 1810, when I had been separated from my dear father, +and country, and native friends, for eight years, my desire to +again see them became so anxiously impatient that my tender +companion proposed my passing over to England alone, to spend a +month or two at Chelsea. Many females at that period, and amongst +them the young Duchesse de Duras, had contrived to procure +passports for a short similar excursion ; though no male was +permitted, under any pretence, to quit France, save with the +army. + +Reluctantly--with all my wishes in favour of the scheme,--yet +most reluctantly, I accepted the generous offer; for never did I +know happiness away from that companion, no, not even out of his +sight! but still, I was consuming with solicitude to see my +revered father--to be again in his kind arms, and receive his +kind benediction. + + + A MILD MINISTER OF POLICE. + +For this all was settled, and I had obtained my passport, which +was brought to me without my even going to the police office, by +the especial favour of M. Le Breton, the Secretaire Perptuel +l'Institut. The ever active services of M. de Narbonne aided +this peculiar grant ; though, had not Bonaparte been abroad with +his army at the time, neither the one nor the other would have +ventured at so hardy a measure of assistance. But whenever +Bonaparte left Paris, there was always an immediate abatement of +severity in the police; and Fouch, though he had borne a +character dreadful beyond description in the earlier and most +horrible times of the Revolution, was,'at this period, when +minister of police, a man of the mildest manners, the most +conciliatory conduct, and of the easiest access in Paris. He had +least the glare of the new imperial court of any one of its +administration; he affected, indeed, all the simplicity of a +plain Republican. I have often seen him strolling in the most +shady and unfrequented parts of the "Elysian Fields," muffled up +in a plain brown rocolo, and giving le bras to his wife, without +suite or servant, merely taking the air, with the evident design +of enjoying also an unmolested tte--tte. On these occasions, +though he was universally known, nobody approached him; and he +seemed, himself, not to observe that any other person +Page 251 + +was in the walks. He was said to be remarkably agreeable in +conversation, and his person was the best fashioned and most +gentlemanly of any man I have happened to see, belonging to the +government. Yet, such was the impression made upon me by the +dreadful reports that were spread of his cruelty and ferocity at +Lyons,(214) that I never saw him but I thrilled with horror. How +great, therefore, was my obligation to M. de Narbonne and to M. +Le Breton, for procuring me a passport, without my personal +application to a man from whom I shrunk as from a monster. + + + EMBARKATION INTERDICTED. + +I forget now for what spot the passport was nominated, perhaps +for Canada, but certainly not for England and M. Le Breton, who +brought it to me himself, assured me that no difficulty would be +made for me either to go or to return, as I was known to have +lived a life the most inoffensive to government, and perfectly +free from all species of political intrigue, and as I should +leave behind me such sacred hostages as my husband and my son. +Thus armed, and thus authorized, I prepared, quietly and +secretly, for my expedition, while my generous mate employed all +his little leisure in discovering where and how I might embark - +when, one morning, when I was bending over my trunk to press in +its contents, I was abruptly broken in upon by M. de Boinville, +who was in my secret, and who called upon me to stop! He had +received certain, he said, though as yet unpublished information, +that a universal embargo was laid upon every vessel, and that not +a fishing-boat was permitted to quit the coast. Confounded, +affrighted, disappointed, and yet relieved, I submitted to the +blow, and obeyed the injunction. M. de Boinville then revealed to +me the new political changes that occasioned this measure, which +he had learned from some confiding friends in office; but which I +do not touch upon, as they are now in every history of those +times. + +Page 252 + +I pass on to my second attempt, in the year 1812. + +Disastrous was that interval ! All correspondence with England +was prohibited under pain of death ! One letter only reached me, +most unhappily, written with unreflecting abruptness, announcing, +without preface, the death of the Princess Amelia, the new and +total derangement of the king, and the death of Mr. Locke. Three +such calamities overwhelmed me, overwhelmed us both, for Mr. +Locke, my revered Mr. Locke, was as dear to my beloved partner as +to myself. Poor Mrs. C concluded these tidings must have already +arrived, but her fatal letter gave the first intelligence, and no +other letter, at that period, found its way to me. She sent hers, +I think, by some trusty returned prisoner. She little knew my +then terrible situation ; hovering over my head was the stiletto +of a surgeon for a menace of cancer yet, till that moment, hope +of escape had always been held out to me by the Baron de Larrey-- +hope which, from the reading of that fatal letter, became +extinct. + + + A CHANGE OF PLAN. + +When I was sufficiently recovered for travelling, after a +dreadful operation, my plan was resumed, but with an alteration +which added infinitely to its interest, as well as to its +importance. Bonaparte was now engaging in a new war, of which the +aim and intention was no less than-the conquest of the world. +This menaced a severity of conscription to which Alexander, who +had now spent ten years in France, and was seventeen years of +age, would soon become liable. His noble father had relinquished +all his own hopes and emoluments in the military career, from the +epoch that his king was separated from his country; though that +career had been his peculiar choice, and was suited peculiarly to +the energy of his character, the vigour of his constitution, his +activity, his address, his bravery, his spirit of resource, never +overset by difficulty nor wearied by fatigue---all which +combination of military requisites-- + +"The eye could in a moment reach, +And read depicted in his martial air," + +But his high honour, superior to his interest, superior to his +inclination, and ruling his whole conduct with unremitting, +unalienable constancy, impelled him to prefer the hard labour and +obscure drudgery of working at a bureau of the minister +Page 253 + +of the interior, to any and every advantage or promotion that +could be offered him in his own immediate and favourite line of +life, when no longer compatible with his allegiance and loyalty. +To see, therefore, his son bear arms in the very cause that had +been his ruin--bear arms against the country which had given +himself as well as his mother, birth, would indeed have been +heart-breaking. We agreed, therefore, that Alexander should +accompany me to England, where, I flattered myself, I might +safely deposit him, while I returned to await, by the side of my +husband, the issue of the war, in the fervent hope that it would +prove our restoration to liberty and reunion. + + + A NEW PASSPORT OBTAINED. + +My second passport was procured with much less facility than the +first. Fouch was no longer minister of police, and, strange to +tell, Fouch, who, till he became that minister, had been held in +horror by all France-all Europe, conducted himself with such +conciliatory mildness to all ranks of people .while in that +office, evinced such an appearance of humanity, and exhibited +such an undaunted spirit of justice in its execution, that at his +dismission all Paris was in affliction and dismay ! Was this from +the real merit he had shown in his police capacity? Or was it +from a yet greater fear of malignant cruelty awakened by the very +name of his successor, Savary, Duke of Rovigo?(215) + +Now, as before, the critical moment was seized by my friends to +act for me when Bonaparte had left Paris to proceed towards the +scene of his next destined enterprise;(216) and he was, I +believe, already at Dresden when my application was ,made. My +kind friend Madame de T-- here took the agency which M. de +Narbonne could no longer sustain, as he was now attending the +emperor, to whom he had been made aide-de-camp, and through her +means, after many difficulties and delays, I obtained a licence +of departure for myself and +Page 254 + +for Alexander. For what place, nominally, my passport was +assigned, I do not recollect; I think, for Newfoundland, but +certainly for some part of the coast of America. Yet everybody at +the police office saw and knew that England was my object. They +connived, nevertheless, at the accomplishment of my wishes, with +significant though taciturn consciousness. + + + COMMISSIONS FOR LONDON. + +>From all the friends whom I dared trust with my secret +expedition, I had commissions for London; though merely verbal, +as I was cautioned to take no letters. No one at that time could +send any to England by the post. I was charged by sundry persons +to write for them, and in their names, upon my arrival. Madame de +Tracy begged me to discover the address of her sister-in-law, +Madame de Civrac, who had emigrated into the wilds of Scotland, +and of whom she anxiously wished for some intelligence. This +occasioned my having a little correspondence with her, which I +now remark because she is named as one of the principal dames de +la socit by Madame de Genlis. Madame d'Astorre desired me to +find out her father, M. le Comte de Cely, and to give him news of +her and her children. This I did, and received from the old +gentleman some visits, and many letters. Madame la Princesse de +Chimay entrusted me with a petition--a verbal one, to the Prince +of Wales, in favour of the Duc de Fitzjames, who, in losing his +wife, had lost an English pension. This I was to transmit to his +royal highness by means of the Duchess dowager of Buccleugh - who +was also entreated to make known the duke's situation to M. +d'Escars, who was in the immediate service of Louis XVIII.; for +M. d'Escars I had a sort of cipher from Madame de Chimay, to +authenticate my account. + + + DELAY AT DUNKIRK. + +Our journey--Alexander's and mine--from Paris to Dunkirk was sad, +from the cruel separation which it exacted, and the fearful +uncertainty of impending events ; though I was animated at times +into the liveliest sensations, in the prospect of again beholding +my father, my friends, and my country. General d'Arblay, through +his assiduous researches, aided by those of M. de Boinville and +some others, found that a vessel was preparing to sail from +Dunkirk to Dover, under +Page 255 + +American colours, and with American passports and licence and, +after privately landing such of its passengers as meant but to +cross the channel, to proceed to the western continents. M. +d'Arblay found, at the same time, six or seven persons of his +acquaintance who were to embark in this vessel. + +We all met, and severally visited at Dunkirk, where I was +compelled, through the mismanagement and misconduct of the +captain of the vessel, to spend the most painfully wearisome six +weeks of my life, for they kept me alike from all that was +dearest to me, either in France or in England, save my Alexander. +I was twenty times on the point of returning to Paris; but +whenever I made known that design, the captain promised to sail +the next morning. The truth is, he postponed the voyage from day +to day and from week to week, in the hope of obtaining more +passengers ; and, as the clandestine visit he meant to make. to +Dover, in his way to America, was whispered about, reinforcements +very frequently encouraged his cupidity. + +The ennui of having no positive occupation was now, for the first +time, known to me; for though the first object of my active cares +was with me, it was not as if that object had been a daughter, +and always at my side ; it was a youth of seventeen, who, with my +free consent, sought whatever entertainment the place could +afford, to while away fatigue. He ran, therefore, wildly about at +his pleasure, to the quay, the dockyard, the sea, the suburbs, +the surrounding country - but chiefly, his time was spent in +skipping to the " Mary Ann," our destined vessel, and seeing its +preparations for departure. To stroll about the town, to call +upon my fellow-sufferers, to visit the principal shops, and to +talk with the good Dutch people while I made slight purchases, +was all I could devise to do that required action. + + +THE MS. OF "THE WANDERER." + +When I found our stay indefinitely protracted, it occurred to me +that if I had the papers of a work which I had then in hand, they +might afford me an occupation to while away my truly vapid and +uninteresting leisure. I wrote this idea to my partner in all-- +as M. de Talleyrand had called M. d'Arblay; and, with a spirit +that was always in its first youth where any service was to be +performed, he waited on M. de Saulnier at the police office, and +made a request that my manuscripts +Page 256 + +might be sent after me, with a permission that I might also be +allowed to carry them with me on board the ship. He durst not say +to England, whither no vessel was supposed to sail; but he would +not, to M. de Saulnier, who palpably connived at my plan and +purpose, say America. M. de Saulnier made many inquiries relative +to these papers; but on being assured, upon honour, that the work +had nothing in it political, nor even national, nor possibly +offensive to the government, he took the single word of M. +d'Arblay, whose noble countenance and dauntless openness of +manner were guarantees of sincerity that wanted neither seals nor +bonds, and invested him with the power to send me what papers be +pleased, without demanding to examine, or even to see them -a +trust so confiding and so generous, that I have regretted a +thousand times the want of means to acknowledge it according to +its merit. + +This work was "The Wanderer, or Female Difficulties," of which +nearly three volumes were finished. They arrived, nevertheless, +vainly for any purpose at Dunkirk; the disturbance of my +suspensive -state incapacitating me for any composition, save of +letters to my best friend, to whom I wrote, or dictated by +Alexander, every day; and every day was only supported by the +same kind diurnal return. But when, at length, we were summoned +to the vessel, and our goods and chattels were conveyed to the +custom-house, and when the little portmanteau was produced, and +found to be filled with manuscripts, the police officer who +opened it began a rant of indignation and amazement at a sight so +unexpected and prohibited, that made him incapable to inquire or +to hear the meaning of such a freight. He sputtered at the +mouth, and stamped with his feet, so forcibly and vociferously, +that no endeavours of mine could induce him to stop his +accusations of traitorous designs, till, tired of the attempt, I +ceased both explanation and entreaty, and stood before him with +calm taciturnity. Wanting, then, the fresh fuel of interruption +or opposition, his fire and fury evaporated into curiosity to +know what I could offer. Yet even then, though my account +staggered his violence into some degree of civility, he evidently +deemed it, from its very nature, incredible ; and this fourth +child of my brain had undoubtedly been destroyed ere it was born, +had I not had recourse to an English merchant, Mr. Gregory, long +settled at Dunkirk, to whom, +Page 257 + +happily, I had been recommended, as to a person capable, in any +emergence, to afford me assistance; he undertook the +responsibility ; and the letter of M. d'Arblay, containing the +licence of M. de Saulnier, was then all-sufficient for my +manuscripts and their embarkation. + + + SPANISH PRISONERS AT DUNKIRK. + +The second event I have to relate I never even yet recollect +without an inward shuddering. In our walks out of the town, on +the borders of the ocean, after passing beyond the dockyard or +wharf, we frequently met a large party of Spanish prisoners, well +escorted by gendarmes, and either going to their hard destined +labour, or returning from it for repast or repose. I felt deeply +interested by them, knowing they were men with and for whom our +own English and the immortal Wellington were then fighting : and +this interest induced me to walk on the bank by which they were +paraded to and fro, as often as I could engage Alexander, from +his other pursuits, to accompany me. Their appearance was highly +in their favour, as well as their situation ; they had a look +calmly intrepid, of concentrated resentment, yet unalterable +patience, They were mostly strong-built and vigorous; of solemn, +almost stately deportment, and with fine dark eyes, full of +meaning, rolling around them as if in watchful expectation of +insult; and in a short time they certainly caught from my +countenance an air of sympathy, for they gave me, in return, as +we passed one another, a glance that spoke grateful +consciousness. I followed them to the place of their labour ; +though my short-sightedness would not let me distinguish what +they were about, whether mending fortifications, dykes, banks, +parapets, or what not: and I durst not use my glass, lest I +should be suspected as a spy. We only strolled about in their +vicinity, as if merely visiting and viewing the sea. + +The weather -it was now August-was so intensely hot, the place +was so completely without shade, and their work was so violent, +that they changed hands every two hours, and those who were sent +off to recruit were allowed to cast themselves upon the burnt and +straw-like grass, to await their alternate summons. This they +did in small groups, but without venturing to solace their rest +by any species of social intercourse. They were as taciturn with +one another as with their keepers and taskmasters. +Page 258 + +One among them there was who wore an air of superiority, ,grave +and composed, yet decided, to which they all appeared to bow down +with willing subserviency, though the distinction was only +demonstrated by an air of profound respect whenever they +approached or passed him, for discourse held they none. One +morning, when I observed him seated at a greater distance than +usual from his overseers, during his hour of release, I turned +suddenly from my walk as if with a view to bend my way homewards, +but contrived, while talking with Alexander and looking another +way, to slant my steps close to where he sat surrounded by his +mute adherents, and to drop a handful of small coin nearly under +the elbow upon which, wearily, lie was reclining. We proceeded +with alertness, and talking together aloud; but Alexander +perceived this apparent chief evidently moved by what I had done, +though forbearing to touch the little offering, which, however, +his companions immediately secured. + +After this I never met him that he did not make me a slight but +expressive bow. This encouraged me to repeat the poor little +tribute of compassion, which I soon found he distributed, as far +as it would go, to the whole set, by the kindly looks with which +every one thenceforward greeted me upon every meeting. Yet he +whom we supposed to be some chief, and who palpably discovered it +was himself I meant to distinguish, never touched the money, nor +examined what was taken up by the others, who, on their part, +nevertheless seemed but to take charge of it in trust. We were +now such good friends, that this became more than ever my +favourite walk and these poor unhappy captives never saw me +without brightening up into a vivacity of pleasure that was to me +a real exhilaration. + +We had been at Dunkirk above five weeks, when one evening, having +a letter of consequence to send to Paris, I begged Alexander to +carry it to the post himself, and to deposit me upon the quay, +and there to join me. As the weather was very fine I stood near +the sea, wistfully regarding the element on which depended all my +present hopes and views. But presently my meditations were +interrupted, and my thoughts diverted from mere self by the +sudden entrance, in a large body, of my friends the Spanish +prisoners, who all bore down to the very place where I was +stationed, evidently recognising me, and eagerly showing that it +was not without extreme satisfaction. I saw their approach, in +return, with lively +Page 259 + +pleasure, for, the quay being, I suppose, a place of certain +security, they were unencumbered by their usual turnkeys, the +gendarmes, and this freedom, joined to their surprise at my +sight, put them also off their guard, and they flocked round +though not near me, and hailed me with smiles, bows, and hands +put upon their breasts. I now took courage to speak to them, +partly in French, partly in English, for I found they understood +a little of both those languages. I inquired whence they came, +and whether they knew General Wellington. They smiled and nodded +at his name, and expressed infinite delight in finding I was +English ; but though they all, by their head movements, entered +into discourse, my friend the chief was the only one who +attempted to answer me. + +When I first went to France, being continually embarrassed for +terms, I used constantly to apply to M. d'Arblay for aid, till +Madame de Tess charged him to be quiet, saying that my looks +filled up what my words left short, "de sorte que," she added, +"nous la devinons;"(217) this was the case between my Spaniards +and myself, and we -devin-d one another so much to our mutual +satisfaction, that while this was the converse the most to my +taste of any I had had at Dunkirk, it was also, probably, most to +theirs of any that had fallen to their lot since they had been +torn from their native country. + + + SURPRISED BY AN OFFICER OF POLICE. + +While this was going on I was privately drawing from my purse all +that it contained of small money to distribute to my new friends +- but at this same moment a sudden change in the countenance of +the chief from looks of grateful feeling, to an expression of +austerity, checked my purpose, and, sorry and alarmed lest he had +taken offence, I hastily drew my empty hand from my reticule. I +then saw that the change of expression was not simply to +austerity from pleasure, but to consternation from serenity - and +I perceived that it was not to me the altered visage was +directed; the eye pointed beyond me, and over my head +startled, I turned round, and what, then, was my own +consternation when I beheld an officer of the police, in full +gold trappings, furiously darting forward from a small house at +the entrance upon the quay, which I afterwards learnt was his +official dwelling. When he came within two yards of us he stood +still, mute and erect ; but with an air of menace, his eyes +scowling first upon the chief, + +Page 260 + +then upon me, then upon the whole group, and then upon me again, +with looks that seemed diving into some conspiracy. + +My alarm was extreme - my imprudence in conversing with these +unhappy captives struck me at once with foreboding terror of ill +consequences. I had, however, sufficient presence of mind to meet +the eyes of my antagonist with a look that showed surprise, +rather than apprehension at his wrath. + +This was not without some effect. Accustomed, probably, to +scrutinize and to penetrate into secret plots, he might be an +adept in distinguishing the fear of ill-treatment from the fear +of detection. The latter I could certainly not manifest, as my +compassion had shown no outward mark beyond a little charity - +but the former I tried, vainly, perhaps, to subdue : for I well +knew that pity towards a Spaniard would be deemed suspicious, at +least, if not culpable. + +We were all silent, and all motionless ; but when the man, having +fixed upon me his eyes with intention to petrify me, saw that I +fixed him in return with an open though probably not very +composed face, he-spoke, and with a voice of thunder, +vociferating reproach, accusation, and condemnation all in one. +His words I could not distinguish; they were so confused and +rapid from rage. + +This violence, though it secretly affrighted me, I tried to meet +with simple astonishment, making no sort of answer or +interruption to his invectives. When he observed my steadiness, +and that he excited none of the humiliation of discovered guilt, +he stopped short and, after a pause, gruffly said,-- + +"Qui tes-vous?" + +"Je me nomme d'Arblay." + +"Etes-vous marie?" + +"Oui." + +"O est votre mari?" + +"A Paris." + +"Qui est-il?" + +"Il travaille aux Bureaux de l'Intrieur." + +"Pourquoi le quittez-vous?"(218) + +Page 261 + +I was here sensibly embarrassed. I durst not avow I was +going to England ; I could not assert I was really going to +America. I hesitated, and the sight of his eyes brightening up +with the hope of mischief, abated my firmness ; and, while he +seemed to be staring me through, I gave an account, very +imperfect, indeed, and far from clear, though true, that I came +to Dunkirk to embark on board the "Mary Ann" vessel. + +"Ah ha!" exclaimed he, "vous tes Anglaise?"(219) + +Then, tossing back his head with an air of triumphant victory, +"suivez-moi!"(220) he added, and walked away, fast and fierce, +but looking back every minute to see that I followed. + + + INTERROGATED AT THE POLICE OFFICE. + +Never can I forget the terror with which I was seized at this +command; it could only be equalled by the evident consternation +and sorrow that struck me, as I turned my head around to see +where I was, in my poor chief and his group. Follow I did, though +not less per force than if I had been dragged by chains. When I +saw him arrive at the gate of the little dwelling I have +mentioned, which I now perceived to belong to him officially, I +impulsively, involuntarily stopped. To enter a police office, to +be probably charged with planning some conspiracy with the +enemies of the state, my poor Alexander away, and not knowing +what must have become of me; my breath was gone; my power of +movement ceased; my head, or understanding, seemed a chaos, +bereft of every distinct or discriminating idea; and my feet, as +if those of a statue, felt riveted to the ground, from a vague +but overwhelming belief I was destined to incarceration in some +dungeon, where I might sink ere I could make known my situation +to my friends, while Alex, thus unaccountably abandoned, might be +driven to despair, or become the prey to nameless mischiefs. + +Again the tiger vociferated a "suivez-moi!" but finding it no +longer obeyed, he turned full round as he stood upon ]its +threshold, and perceiving my motionless and speechless dismay, +looked at me for two or three seconds in scornful, but +investigating taciturnity. Then, putting his arms a-kimbo, he +said, in lower, but more, taunting accents, "Vous ne le jugez +donc pas propos de me suivre?" (221) + +Page 262 + +This was followed by a sneering, sardonic grin that seemed +anticipating the enjoyment of using compulsion. On, therefore, I +again forced myself, and with tolerable composure I said, "Je +n'ai rien, monsieur, je crois, faire ici?"(222) + +"Nous verrons!"(223) he answered, bluffly, and led the way into a +small hovel rather than parlour - and then haughtily seated +himself at a table, on which were pen, ink, and paper, and, while +I stood before him, began an interrogation, with the decided +asperity of examining a detected criminal, of whom he was to draw +up the proces verbal. + +When I perceived this, my every fear, feeling, nay, thought, +concentrated in Alexander, to whom I had determined not to +allude, while I had any hope of self-escape, to avoid for us both +the greatest of all perils, that of an accusation of intending to +evade the ensuing conscription, for which, though Alex was yet +too young, he was fast advancing to be amenable. + +But now that I was enclosed from his sight, and there was danger +every moment of his suddenly missing me, I felt that our only +chance of safety must lie in my naming him before he should +return. With all the composure, therefore, that I could assume, +I said that I was come to Dunkirk with my son to embark in the +"Mary Ann," an American vessel, with a passport from M. de +Saulnier, secretary to the Duke de Rovigo, minister of police. + +And what had I done with this son? + +I had sent him to the post-office with a letter for his father. + +At that instant I perceived Alexander wildly running past the +window. + +This moment was critical. I instantly cried, "Sir, there is my +son!" + +The man rose, and went to the door, calling Out, "Jeune +homme!"(224) + +Alex approached, and was questioned, and though much amazed, gave +answers perfectly agreeing with mine. + +I now recovered my poor affrighted faculties, and calmly said +that if he had any doubt of our veracity, I begged he would send +for Mr. Gregory, who knew us well. This, a second time, was a +most happy reference. Mr. Gregory was of the highest +respectability, and he was near at hand. There could be no doubt +of the authenticity f such an appeal. + +Page 263 + +The brow of my ferocious assailant was presently unbent. I seized +the favourable omen to assure him, with apparent indifference, +that I had no objection to being accompanied or preceded to the +Hotel Sauvage, where I resided, nor to giving him the key of my +portmanteau and portfolio, if it were possible I had excited any +suspicion by merely speaking, from curiosity, to the Spanish +prisoners. + +No, he answered, he would not disturb me; and then, having +entered the name of Alexander by the side of mine, he let us +depart. Speechless was my joy, and speechless was the surprise +of Alexander, and we walked home in utter silence. Happily, this +incident occurred but just before we set sail, for with it +terminated my greatest solace at Dunkirk, the seeing and +consoling those unhappy prisoners, and the regale of wandering by +the sea-coast. + + + THE "MARY ANN" CAPTURED OFF DEAL. + +Six weeks completely we consumed in wasteful weariness at +Dunkirk; and our passage, when at last we set sail, was equally, +in its proportion, toilsome and tedious. Involved in a sickening +calm, we could make no way, but lingered two days and two nights +in this long-short passage. The second night, indeed, might have +been spared me, as it was spared to all my fellow voyagers. But +when we cast anchor, I was so exhausted by the unremitting +sufferings I had endured, that I was literally unable to rise +from my hammock. + +Yet was there a circumstance capable to have aroused me from any +torpidity, save the demolishing ravage of sea-sickness for +scarcely were we at anchor, when Alex, capering up to the deck, +descended with yet more velocity than he had mounted to exclaim, +"Oh, maman! there are two British officers now upon deck." But, +finding that even this could not make me recover speech or +motion, he ran back again to this new and delighting sight, and +again returning 'cried out in a tone of rapture, "Maman, we are +taken by the British! We are all captured by British officers!" + +Even in my immovable, and nearly insensible state, this juvenile +ardour, excited by so new and strange an adventure, afforded me +some amusement. It did not, however, afford me strength, for I +could not rise, though I heard that every other passenger was +removed. With difficulty, even next morning, I crawled upon the +deck, and there I had been but a short time, +Page 264 + +when Lieutenant Harford came on board to take possession of the +vessel, not as French, but American booty, war having been +declared against America the preceding week. Mr. Harford, hearing +my name, most courteously addressed me, with congratulations +upon my safe arrival in England. These were words to rewaken all +the happiest purposes of my expedition, and they recovered me +from the nerveless, sinking state into which my exhaustion had +cast me, as if by a miracle. My father, my brothers, my sisters, +and all my heart-dear friends, seemed rising to my view and +springing to my embraces, with all the joy of renovating reunion. +I thankfully accepted his obliging offer to carry me on shore in +his own boat; but when I turned round, and called upon Alexander +to follow us, Mr. Harford, assuming a commanding air, said, "No, +madam, I cannot take that young man. No French person can come +into my boat without a passport and permission from government." +My air now a little corresponded with his own, as I answered, "He +was born, Sir, in England!" + +"Oh!" cried he, " "that's quite another matter; come along, Sir! +we'll all go together." + +I now found we were rowing to Deal, not Dover, to which town we +had been destined by our engagement: but we had been captured, it +seems, chemin fuisant, though so gently, and with such utter +helplessness of opposition, that I had become a prisoner without +any suspicion of my captivity. + + + JOY ON ARRIVING IN ENGLAND. + +We had anchored about half a mile, I imagine, from the shore ; +which I no sooner touched than, drawing away my arm from Mr. +Harford, I took up on one knee, with irrepressible transport, the +nearest bright pebble, to press to my lips in grateful joy at +touching again the land of my nativity, after an absence, nearly +hopeless, of more than twelve years. + +Of the happiness that ensued--my being again in the arms of my +dearly loved father-in those of my dear surviving sisters--my +brothers--my friends, some faint details yet remain in a few +letters to my heart's confidant that he preserved: but they are +truly faint, for my satisfaction was always damped in recording +it to him who SO fondly wished to partake of it, and whose +absence from that participation always rendered it incomplete. + +And, on one great source of renovated felicity, I did not +Page 265 + +dare touch even by inference, even by allusion--that of finding +my gracious royal mistress and her august daughters as cordial in +their welcome, as trustingly confidential, and as amiably +condescending, I had almost said affectionate, as if I had never +departed from the royal roof under which, for five years, I had +enjoyed their favour. To have spoken of the royal family in +letters sent to France under the reign of Bonaparte, might have +brought destruction on him for whom I would a thousand times +sooner have suffered it myself. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Broome.)(225) +Aug. 15, 1812. +In a flutter of joy such as my tender Charlotte will feel in +reading this, I write to her from England! I can hardly believe +it; I look around me in constant inquiry and doubt I speak French +to every soul, and I whisper still if I utter a word that +breathes private opinion. . . . + +We set off for Canterbury, where we slept, and on the 20th(226) +proceeded towards Chelsea. While, upon some common, we stopped to +water the horses, a gentleman on horseback passed us twice, and +then, looking in, pronounced my name - and I saw it was Charles, +dear Charles! who had been watching for us several hours and +three nights following, through a mistake. Thence we proceeded to +Chelsea, where we arrived at nine o'clock at night. I was in a +state almost breathless. I could only demand to see my dear +father alone: fortunately, he had had the same feeling, and had +charged all the family to stay away, and all the world to be +denied. I found him, therefore, in his library, by himself-but +oh! my dearest, very much altered indeed--weak, weak and changed- +-his head almost always hanging down, and his hearing most +cruelly impaired. I was terribly affected, but most grateful to +God for my arrival. Our meeting, you may be sure, was very +tender, though I roused myself as quickly as possible to be gay +and cheering. He was extremely kind to Alex, and said, in a tone +the most impressive, "I should have been very glad to have seen +M. d'Arblay!" In discourse, however, he reanimated, and was, at +times, all himself. But he now admits scarcely a creature but of +his family, and will only see for a short time even his children. +He likes quietly reading, and lies + +Page 266 + +almost constantly upon the sofa, and will never eat but alone. +What a change! + + + YOUNG D'ARBLAY SECURES A SCHOLARSHIP. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +March 16, 1813. +How will my kindest father rejoice for me! for my dear partner-- +for my boy! The election is gained, and Alexander has obtained +the Tancred scholarship. He had all the votes: the opponent +retired. Sir D-- behaved handsomely, came forward, and +speechified for us. Sir Francis Milman, who was chairman, led the +way in the harangue. Dr. Davy, our supporter, leader, inspirer, +director, heart and head, patron and guide, spoke also. Mr H-- +spoke, too; but nothing, they tell me, to our purpose, nor yet +against it. He gave a very long and elaborate history of a cause +which he is to plead in the House of Lords, and which has not the +smallest reference whatsoever to the case in point. Dr. Davy +told me, in recounting it, that he is convinced the good and wary +lawyer thought this an opportunity not to be lost for rehearsing +his cause, which would prevent loss of time to himself, or +hindrance of business, except to his hearers : however, he gave +us his vote. 'Tis a most glorious affair. + + + THE QUEEN ALARMED BY A MAD WOMAN. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +May 11, 1813. +My own inclination and intention kept in mind your charge, , my +dearest sir, that as soon as I was able I would wait upon Lady +Crewe;(227) fortunately, I found her at home, and in her best +style, cordial as well as good-humoured, and abounding in acute +and odd remarks. I had also the good fortune to see my lord, who +seems always pleasing, unaffected, and sensible, and to possess a +share of innate modesty that no intercourse with the world, nor +addition of years, can rob him of. I was much satisfied with my +visit - but what I shall do for time, now once I have been +launched from my couch, or sick chamber, I wot not. + +Page 267 + +What a terrible alarm is this which the poor tormented +queen has again received!(228) I wrote my concern as soon as I +heard of it, though I have not yet seen the printed account, my +packet of papers reaching only to the very day before that event. +My answer has been a most gracious summons to the Queen's house +for to-morrow. Her majesty and two of the princesses come to town +for four days. This robs me of my Chelsea visit for this week, as +I keep always within call during the town residences, when I have +royal notice of them, and, indeed, there is nothing I desire more +than to see her majesty at this moment, and to be allowed to +express what I have felt for her. My letter from Madame +Beckersdorff says that such an alarm would have been frightful +for anybody, but how much more peculiarly so for the queen, who +has experienced such poignant horror from the effects of +disordered intellects! who is always suffering from them, and so +nearly a victim to the unremitting exercise of her duties upon +that subject and these calls. + +I have had a visit this morning from Mrs. Piozzi, who is in town +only for a few days upon business. She came while I was out - but +I must undoubtedly make a second tour, after my royal four days +are passed, in order to wait upon and thank her. + +I have been received more graciously than ever, if that be +possible, by my dear and honoured queen and sweet Princesses +Eliza and Mary. The queen has borne this alarm astonishingly, +considering how great was the shock at the moment; but she has so +high a character, that she will not suffer anything personal to +sink her spirits, which she saves wholly for the calls upon them +of others, and great and terrible have been those calls. The +beloved king is in the best state possible for his present +melancholy situation; that is, wholly free from real bodily +suffering, or imaginary mental misery, for he is persuaded that +he is always conversing with angels. + + + WEATHER COMPLAINTS. PROPOSED MEETING WITH LORD +LANSDOWNE. +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Chenies-street, Alfred-place, May 23, 1813. +Oh, how teased I am, my dearest padre, by this eternal unwalkable +weather! Every morning rises so fairly, that at every noon I am +preparing to quit my conjuring, and repair, + +Page 268 + +by your kind invitation, to prelude my promised chat by a repast +with Sarah - when mizzling falls the rain, or hard raps the hail, +and the day, for me, is involved in damps and dangers that fix me +again to my dry, but solitary conjurations. I am so tired now of +disappointments, that I must talk a little with my padre in their +defiance, and in a manner now, thank God! out of their reach. Ah, +how long will letters be any safer than meetings! The little +world I see all give me hope and comfort from the posture of +affairs but I am too deeply interested to dare be sanguine while +in such suspense. + +Lady Crewe invited me to her party that she calls Noah's ark; but +I cannot yet risk an evening, and a dressed one too. She then +said she would make me a small party with the Miss Berrys, and +for a morning; and now she has written to Charles to make +interest with me to admit Lord Lansdowne, at his own earnest +request! I am quite non compos to know how I shall make my way +through these honours, to my strength and re-establishment, for +they clash with my private plan and adopted system of quiet. +However, she says the meeting shall be in the country, at +Brompton, and without fuss or ceremony. Her kindness is +inexpressible, therefore I have not courage to refuse her. She +has offered me her little residence at Brompton for my dwelling +for a week or so, to restore me from all my influenzas : she may +truly be called a faithful family friend. I hope dear Sarah and +Fanny Raper will be of the party. If they are, charge them, dear +sir, to let me hear their voices, for I shall never find out +their faces. + +What weather! what weather! when shall I get to Chelsea, and +embrace again my beloved father? + +This free-born weather of our sea-girt isle of liberty is very +incommodious to those who have neither carriages for wet feet, +nor health for damp shoulders. If the farmers, however, are +contented, I must be patient. We may quarrel with all our wishes +better than with our corn. + +Adieu, my most dear father, till the sun shines drier. + + + + A YOUNG GIRL'S ENTRY TO LONDON SOCIETY. MADAME DE STAEL. + +(Madame d'Arblay to a friend.) +London, August 20, 1813- +. . .Your charming girl, by what I can gather, has seen, upon the +whole, a great deal of this vast town and its + +Page 269 + +splendours,--a little more might, perhaps, have been better, in +making her, with a mind such as hers, regret it a little less. +Merit of her sort can here be known with difficulty. Dissipation +is so hurried, so always in a bustle, that even amusement must be +prominent, to be enjoyed. There is no time for development; +nothing, therefore, is seen but what is conspicuous; and not much +is heard but what is obstreperous. They who, in a short time, can +make themselves known and admired now in London, must have their +cupids, in Earl Dorset's phrase-- + +Like blackguard boys, +Who thrust their links full in your face. + +I had very much matter that I meant and wished to say to you upon +this subject; but in brief--I do not myself think it a misfortune +that your dear girl cannot move in a London round, away from your +own wing: you have brought her up so well, and she seems so good, +gentle, and contented, as well as accomplished, that I cannot +wish her drawn into a vortex where she may be imbued with other +ideas, views, and wishes than those that now constitute her +happiness--and happiness! what ought to be held more sacred where +it is innocent--what ought so little to risk any unnecessary or +premature concussion? With all the deficiencies and imperfections +of her present situation, which you bewail but which she does not +find out, it is, alas! a million to one whether, even in +attaining the advantages and society you wish for her, she will +ever again, after any change, be as happy as she is at this +moment. A mother whom she looks up to and doats upon--a sister +whom she so fondly loves--how shall they be replaced? The +chances are all against her (though the world has, I know, such +replacers), from their rarity. + +I am truly glad you had a gratification you so earnestly coveted, +that of seeing Madame de Stael: your account of her was extremely +interesting to me. As to myself, I have not seen her at all. +Various causes have kept me in utter retirement; and, in truth, +with respect to Madame de Stael, my situation is really +embarrassing. It is too long and difficult to write upon, nor do +I recollect whether I ever communicated to you our original +acquaintance, which, at first, was intimate. I shall always, +internally, be grateful for the partiality with which she sought +me out upon her arrival in this country before my- marriage: and +still, and far more, if she can forgive my dropping her, which I +could not help +Page 270 + +for none of my friends, at that time, would suffer me to keep up +the intercourse! I had messages, remonstrances, entreaties, +representations, letters, and conferences, till I could resist no +longer; though I had found her so charming, that I fought the +hardest battle I dared fight against almost all my best +connections. She is now received by all mankind;--but that, +indeed, she always was--all womankind, I should say--with +distinction and pleasure. I wish much to see her "Essay on +Suicide;" but it has not yet fallen in my way. When will the work +come out for which she was, she says, chasse de la France?(229) +Where did --- hear her a whole evening? She is, indeed, most +uncommonly entertaining, and animating as well as animated, +almost beyond anybody, "Les Mmoires de Madame de Stael" I have +read long ago, and with singular interest and eagerness. They +are so attaching, so evidently original and natural, that they +stand very high, indeed, in reading that has given me most +pleasure. My boy has just left me for Greenwich.(230) He goes +in October to Cambridge; I wish to install him there myself. My +last letter from Paris gives me to the end of October to stay in +England. + + + ROGERS THE POET. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +August 24, 1813. +.....I was delighted by meeting Lady Wellington, not long since, +at Lady Templetown's. Her very name electrified me with emotion. +I dined at Mr. Rogers's, at his beautiful mansion in the Green +Park, to meet Lady Crewe; and Mrs. Barbauld was also there, whom +I had not seen many, many years, and alas, should not have known! +Mr. Rogers was so considerate to my sauvagerie as to have no +party, though Mr. Sheridan, he said, had expressed his great +desire to meet again his old friend Madame d'Arblay! Lady Crewe +told me she certainly would not leave town without seeking + +Page 271 + +another chattery with her old friend, Dr. Burney, whom she always +saw with fresh pleasure. + + + INTERVIEW WITH MR. WILBERFORCE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Sandgate, Sept., 1813. +Let me steal a moment to relate a singular gratification, and, in +truth, a real and great honour I have had to rejoice in. You +know, my padre, probably, that Marianne Francis was commissioned +by Mr. Wilberforce(231) to bring about an acquaintance with your +F. d'A., and that, though highly susceptible to such a desire, my +usual shyness, or rather consciousness of inability to meet the +expectations that must have made him seek me, induced my +declining an interview. Eh bien--at church at Sandgate, the day +after my arrival, I saw this justly celebrated man, and was +introduced to him in the churchyard, after the service, by +Charles. The ramparts and martellos around us became naturally +our theme, and Mr. Wilberforce proposed showing them to me. I +readily accepted the offer, and Charles and Sarah, and Mrs. +Wilberforce and Mrs. Barrett, went away in their several +carriages, while Mr. Barrett alone remained, and Mr. Wilberforce +gave me his arm, and, in short, we walked the round from one to +five o'clock! Four hours' of the best conversation I have, +nearly, ever enjoyed. He was anxious for a full and true account +of Paris, and particularly of religion and infidelity, and of +Bonaparte and the wars, and of all and everything that had +occurred during my ten years' seclusion in France; and I had so +much to communicate, and his drawing out and comments and +episodes were all so judicious, so spirited, so full of +information yet so unassuming, that my shyness all flew away and +I felt to be his confidential friend, opening to him upon every +occurrence and every sentiment, with the frankness that is +usually won by years of intercourse. I was really and truly +delighted and enlightened by him; I desire nothing more + +Page 272 + +than to renew the acquaintance, and cultivate it to intimacy. +But, alas! he was going away next morning. + + + INTENDED PUBLICATION OF "THE WANDERER." + +(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.) +Richmond Hill, Oct. 12, 1813. +My most dear padre will, I am sure, congratulate me that I have +just had the heartfelt delight of a few lines from M. d'Arblay, +dated September 5th. I had not had any news since the 17th of +August, and I had the melancholy apprehension upon my spirits +that no more letters would be allowed to pass till the campaign +was over. It has been therefore one of the most welcome +surprises I ever experienced. He tells me, also, that he is +perfectly well, and quite acabl with business. This, for the +instant, gives me nothing but joy; for, were he not essentially +necessary in some department of civil labour and use, he would +surely be included in some leve en masse. Every way, therefore, +this letter gives me relief and pleasure. + +I have had, also, this morning, the great comfort to hear that my +Alexander is " stout and well at Cambridge, where his kind uncle +Charles still remains. + +I am indescribably occupied, and have been so ever since my +return from Ramsgate, in giving more and more last touches to my +work, about which I begin to grow very, anxious. I am to receive +merely 500 pounds upon delivery of the MS. the two following 500 +by instalments from nine months to nine months, that is, in a +year and a half from the day of publication. If all goes well, +the whole will be 3000, but only at the end of the sale of eight +thousand copies. Oh, my padre, if you approve the work, I shall +have good hope. + + + GENERAL D'ARBLAY'S WOUNDED COMRADES. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Locke.) +Dec. 16, 1813. +Ah, my dearest friend, how is my poor cottage-how are my proofs-- +how is everything forced from my mind, except what necessity +drives there, by this cruel stroke to my suffering partner! The +world had power only in two instances to have given him quite so +deadly a blow, dear to his heart of love as +Page 273 + +are some, nay, many others; but here--for M. de Narbonne, it was +a passion of admiration, joined to a fondness of friendship, that +were a part of himself.(232) How he will bear it, and in our +absence, perpetually occupies my thoughts. And I have no means +to hear from, or to write to him!--none, absolutely none! + +just before this wound was inflicted, I was already overwhelmed +with grief for my poor Madame de Maisonneuve, A for M. d'Arblay +himself, and for my own personal loss, in the death--premature +and dreadful, nay, inhuman--of the noble, perfect brother of that +Madame de Maisonneuve; General Latour Maubourg, a man who, like +my own best friend was--is signalized among his comrades by the +term of a vrai Chevalier Franais. He was without a blot; and +his life has been thrown away merely to prevent his being made a +prisoner! He had received a horrible wound on the first of the +tremendous battles of Leipzic, and on the second he suffered +amputation; and immediately after was carried away to follow the +retreating army! In such a condition, who can wonder to hear +that, a very few miles from Leipzic, he expired?(233) + + + DEATH OF DR. BURNEY. + +[In the beginning of the year 1814, Madame d'Arblay published her +fourth work, "The Wanderer," and nearly at the same time peace +was declared between France and England. Her satisfaction at an +event so long wished for, was deeply saddened by the death of her +father, Dr. Burney; whom she nursed and attended to the last +moment with dutiful tenderness. + +Soon after the Restoration of the French royal family, Monsieur +d'Arblay was placed by the Duke de Luxembourg in the French " +gardes du corps." He obtained leave of absence towards the close +of the year, and came to England + +Page 274 + +for a few weeks ; after which Madame d'Arblay returned with him +to Paris, leaving their son to pursue his studies at Cambridge.] + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. ----) +March(234) 19, 1814. +Be not uneasy for me, nay tender friend: my affliction is heavy, +but not acute - my beloved father had been spared to us something +beyond the verge of the prayer for his preservation, which you +must have read, for already his sufferings had far surpassed his +enjoyments. I could not have wished him so to linger, though I +indulged almost to the last hour a hope he might yet recover, and +be restored to comfort. I last of all gave him up, but never +wished his duration such as I saw him on the last few days. Dear +blessed parent! how blest am I that I came over to him while he +was yet susceptible of pleasure--of happiness! My best comfort +in my grief, in his loss, is that I watched by his side the last +night, and hovered over him two hours after he breathed no more; +for though much suffering had preceded the last hours, they were +so quiet, and the final exit was so soft, that I had not +perceived it though I was sitting by his bedside, and would not +believe when all around announced it. I forced them to let me +stay by him, and his revered form became stiff before I could +persuade myself that he was gone hence for ever. + +Yet neither then nor now has there been any violence, anything to +fear from my grief; his loss was too indubitably to be expected, +he had been granted too long to our indulgence to allow any +species of repining to mingle with my sorrow; and it is repining +that makes sorrow too hard to bear with resignation. Oh, I have +known it! + + + + FAVOURABLE NEWS OF M. D'ARBLAY. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Locke.) +April 3, 1814. +I hasten to impart to my kind and sympathising friend that I +received-last night good tidings of my best friend of friends; +they have been communicated to me, oddly enough, through the +Alien office! Mr. Reeves wrote them to my + +Page 275 + +reverend brother,(235) by the desire of an English lady now +resident in Paris-Madame Solvyns (wife of a Frenchman), at the +request of M. d'Arblay; they assure me of his perfect health... + +Nothing could be so well timed as this intelligence, for my +inquietude was beginning to be doubly restless from the accession +of time that has fallen to me by having got rid of all my proofs, +etc. it is only real and indispensable business that can force +away attention from suspensive uneasiness. Another comfort of the +very first magnitude, my sweet friend will truly, I know, +participate in--my Alexander begins to listen to reason. He +assures me he is now going on with very tolerable regularity; and +I have given him, for this term, to soberize and methodize him a +little, a private tutor ; and this tutor has won his heart by +indulging him in his problem passion. They work together, he +says, with a rapidity and eagerness that makes the hour of his +lesson by far the most delightful portion of his day. And this +tutor, he tells me, most generously gives him problems to work at +in his absence: a favour for which every pupil, perchance, would +not be equally grateful, but which Alexander, who loves problems +algebraic as another boy loves a play or an opera, regards as the +height of indulgence. + + + "THE WANDERER." + +[Soon after the publication of " The Wanderer," Madame d'Arblay +wrote as follows to a friend:--] + +I beseech you not to let your too ardent friendship disturb you +about the reviews and critiques, and I quite supplicate you to +leave their authors to their own severities or indulgence. I +have ever steadily refused all interference with public opinion +or private criticism. I am told I have been very harshly treated +; but I attribute it not to what alone would affect me, but which +I trust I have not excited, personal enmity. I attribute it to +the false expectation, universally spread, that the book would be +a picture of France, as well as to the astonishing clat of a +work in five volumes being all bespoken before it was published. +The booksellers, erroneously and injudiciously concluding the +sale would so go on, fixed the rapacious price of two guineas, +which again damped the sale. But why say damped, when it is only +their unreasonable expectations that are disappointed ? for they +acknowledge that 3600 copies are positively sold and paid for in +the first half year. What must I be, if not far more than +Page 276 + +contented? I have not read or heard one of the criticisms; my +mind has been wholly occupied by grief for the loss of my dearest +father, or the inspection of his MSS., and my harassing situation +relative to my own proceedings. Why, then, make myself black +bile to disturb me further? No; I will not look at a word till my +spirits and time are calmed and quiet, and I can set about +preparing a corrected edition. I will then carefully read all - +and then, the blow to immediate feelings being over, I can +examine as well as read, impartially and with profit, both to my +future surveyors and myself. + +MADAME D'ARBLAY'S PRESENTATION TO LOUIS XVIII AT GRILLON's HOTEL. + +1814.-While I was still under the almost first impression of +grief for the loss of my dear and honoured father I received a +letter from Windsor Castle, written by Madame Beckersdorff, at +the command of her majesty, to desire I would take the necessary +measures for being presented to son altesse royale Madame +Duchesse d'Angoulme,l who was to have a Drawing-room in London, +both for French and English, on the day preceding her departure +for France. The letter added, that I must waive all objections +relative to my recent loss, as it would be improper, in the +present state of things, that the wife of a general officer +should not be presented; and, moreover, that I should be +personally expected and well received, as I had been named to son +altesse royale by the queen herself. In conclusion, I was charged +not to mention this circumstance, from the applications or +jealousies it might excite. + +To hesitate was out of the question - and to do honour to my +noble absent partner, and in his name to receive honour, were +precisely the two distinctions my kind father would most have +enjoyed for me. +Page 277 + +I had but two or three days for preparation. Lady Crewe +most amiably came to me herself, and missing me in person, wrote +me word she would lend me her carriage, to convey me from Chelsea +to her house in Lower Grosvenor-street, and thence accompany me +herself to the audience. When the morning arrived I set off with +tolerable courage. + +Arrived, however, at Lady Crewe's, when I entered the room in +which this dear and attached friend of my father received me, the +heaviness of his loss proved quite overpowering to my spirits ; +and in meeting the two hands of my hostess, I burst into tears +and could not, for some time, listen to the remonstrances against +unavailing grief with which she rather chid than soothed me. But +I could not contest the justice of what she uttered, though my +grief was too fresh for its observance. Sorrow, as my dearest +father was wont to say, requires time, as well as wisdom and +religion, to digest itself , and till that time is both accorded +and well employed, the sense of its uselessness serves but to +augment, not mitigate, its severity. + +Lady Crewe purposed taking this opportunity of paying her own +respects, with her congratulations, to Madame la Duchesse +d'Angoulme. She had sent me a note from Madame de Gouvello, +relative to the time, for presentation, which was to take place +it Grillon's hotel in Albemarle-street. + +We went very early, to avoid a crowd. But Albemarle-street was +already quite full, though quiet. We entered the hotel without +difficulty, Lady Crewe having previously demanded a private room +of Grillon, who had once been cook to her lord. This private +room was at the back of the house, with a mere yard or common +garden for its prospect. , Lady Crewe declared this was quite too +stupid, and rang the bell for waiter after waiter, till she made +M. Grillon come himself. She then, in her singularly open and +easy manner, told him to be so good as to order us a front room, +where we might watch for the arrival of the royals, and be amused +ourselves at the same time by seeing the entrances of the mayor, +aldermen, and common councilmen, and other odd characters, who +would be coming to pay their court to these French princes and +princesses. + +M. Grillon gave a nod of acquiescence, and we were instantly +shown to a front apartment just over the street door, which was +fortunately supplied with a balcony. + +I should have been much entertained by all this, and +Page 278 + +particularly with the originality, good humour, and intrepid yet +intelligent odd fearlessness of all remark, or even consequence, +which led Lady Crewe to both say and do exactly what she pleased, +had my heart been lighter - but it was too heavy for pleasure; +and the depth of my mourning, and the little, but sad time that +was yet passed since it had become my gloomy garb, made me hold +it a matter even of decency, as well as of feeling, to keep out +of sight. I left Lady Crewe, therefore, to the full enjoyment of +her odd figures, while I seated myself, solitarily, at the +further end of the room. + + + GRATTAN THE ORATOR. + +In an instant, however, she saw from the window some +acquaintance, and beckoned them up. A gentleman, middle-aged, of +a most pleasing appearance and address, immediately obeyed her +summons, accompanied by a young man with a sensible look; and a +young lady, pretty, gentle, and engaging, with languishing, soft +eyes; though with a smile and an expression of countenance that +showed an innate disposition to archness and sport. + +This uncommon trio I soon found to consist of the celebrated +Irish orator, Mr. Grattan,(237) and his son and daughter. Lady +Crewe welcomed them with all the alertness belonging to her +thirst for amusement, and her delight in sharing it with those +she thought capable of its participation. This she had sought, +but wholly missed in me; and could neither be angry nor +disappointed, though she was a little vexed. She suffered me not, +however, to remain long in my seclusion, but called me to the +balcony, to witness the jolting out of their carriages of the +aldermen and common councilmen, exhibiting, as she said, "Their +fair round bodies with fat capon lined;" and wearing an air of +proudly hospitable satisfaction, in visiting a king of France who +had found an asylum in a street of the city of Westminster. + +The crowd, however, for they deserve a better name than +Page 279 + +mob, interested my observation still more. John Bull has seldom +appeared to me to greater advantage. I never saw him en masse +behave with such impulsive propriety. Enchanted to behold a king +of France in his capital; conscious that le grand monarque was +fully in his power; yet honestly enraptured to see that "The king +would enjoy his own again," and enjoy it through the generous +efforts of his rival, brave, noble old England; he yet seemed +aware that it was fitting to subdue all exuberance of pleasure, +which, else, might annoy, if not alarm, his regal guest. He took +care, therefore, that his delight should not amount to +exultation; it was quiet and placid, though pleased and curious : +I had almost said it was gentlemanlike. + +And nearly of the same colour, though from so inferior an +incitement, were the looks and attention of the Grattans, +particularly of the father, to the black mourner whom Lady Crewe +called amongst them. My garb, or the newspapers, or both, +explained the dejection I attempted not to repress, though I +carefully forbade it any vent - and the finely speaking face of +Mr. Grattan seemed investigating the physiognomy, while it +commiserated the situation of the person brought thus before him. + His air had something foreign in it, from the vivacity that +accompanied his politeness ; I should have taken him for a +well-bred man of fashion of France. Good breeding, in England, +amongst the men, is ordinarily stiff, reserved, or cold. Among +the exceptions to this stricture, how high stood Mr. Windham! and +how high in gaiety with vivacity stood my own honoured father! +Mr. Locke, who was elegance personified in his manners, was +lively only in his own domestic or chosen circle. + + + A DEMONSTRATIVE IRISH LADY, + +A new scene now both astonished and discomposed me. A lady, +accompanied humbly by a gentleman, burst into the room with a +noise, a self-sufficiency, and an assuming confidence of +superiority, that would have proved highly offensive, had it not +been egregiously ridiculous. Her attire was as flaunting as her +air and her manner; she was rouged and beribboned. But English +she was not - she was Irish, in its most flaunting and untamed +nature, and possessed of so boisterous a spirit, that she +appeared to be just caught from the woods---the bogs, I might +rather say. + +Page 280 + +When she had poured forth a volley of words, with a fluency and +loudness that stunned me, Lady Crewe, with a. smile that seemed +to denote she intended to give her pleasure, presented me by name +to Madame la Baronne de M-- + +She made me a very haughty curtsey, and then, turning rudely +away, looked reproachfully at Lady Crewe, and screamed out, " Oh, +fie! fie, fie, fie!" Lady Crewe, astonished and shocked, seemed +struck speechless, and I stood still with my eyes wide open, and +my mouth probably so also, from a sort of stupor, for I could +annex no meaning nor even any idea to such behaviour. She made +not, however, any scruple to develop her motives, for she +vehemently inveighed against being introduced to such an +acquaintance, squalling out, "She has writ against the migrs!- +-she has writ against the Great Cause! O fie! fie! fie!" + +When she had made these exclamations, and uttered these +accusations, till the indulged vent to her rage began to cool it, +she stopped of her own accord, and, finding no one spoke, looked +as if she felt rather silly; while M. le Baron de M--, her very +humble sposo, shrugged his shoulders. The pause was succeeded by +an opening harangue from Lady Crewe, begun in a low and gentle +voice, that seemed desirous to spare me what might appear an +undue condescension, in taking any pains to clear me from so +gross an attack. She gave, therefore, nearly in a whisper, a +short character of me and of my conduct, of which I heard just +enough to know that such was her theme; and then, more audibly, +she proceeded to state, that far from writing against the +emigrants, I had addressed an exhortation to all the ladies of +Great Britain in their favour. + +"Oh, then," cried Madame de M--, "it was somebody else--it was +somebody else!" + +And then she screamed out delightedly, "I'm so glad I spoke out, +because of this explanation!--I'm so glad! never was so glad!" +She now jumped about the room, quite crazily, protesting she +never rejoiced so much at anything she had ever done in her life. +But when she found her joy, like her assault, was all her own, +she stopped short, astonished, I suppose, at my insensibility; +and said to me, "How lucky I spoke out! the luckiest thing in the +world! I'm so glad! A'n't you? Because of this claircissement." + +"If I had required any claircissement," I drily began. + +"O, if it was not you, then," cried she, "'twas Charlotte Smith." +Page 281 + +Lady Crewe seemed quite ashamed that such a scene should +pass where she presided, and Mr. Grattan quietly stole away. + +Not quietly, nor yet by stealth, but with evident disappointment +that her energies were not more admired, Madame la Baronne now +called upon her attendant sposo, and strode off herself. I found +she was a great heiress of Irish extraction and education, and +that she had bestowed all her wealth upon this emigrant baron, +who might easily merit it, when, besides his title, he gave her +his patience and obsequiousness. + + + INQUIRIES AFTER THE DUCHESS D'ANGOULEME. + +Some other friends of Lady Crewe now found her out, and she made +eager inquiries amongst them relative to Madame la Duchesse +d'Angoulme, but could gather no tidings. She heard, however, +that there were great expectations of some arrivals down stairs, +where two or three rooms were filled with company. She desired +Mr. Grattan, junior, to descend into this crowd, and to find out +where the duchess was to be seen, and when, and how. + +He obeyed. But, when he returned, what was the provocation of +Lady Crewe, what my own disappointment, to hear that the duchess +was not arrived, and was not expected ! She was at the house of +Monsieur le Comte d'Artois, her father-in-law. + +"Then what are we come hither for?" exclaimed her ladyship: +"expressly to be tired to death for no purpose! Do pray, at +least, Mr. Grattan, be so good as to see for my carriage, that we +may go to the right house." + +Mr. Grattan was all compliance, and with a readiness so obliging +and so well bred that I am sure he is his father's true son in +manners, though there was no opportunity to discover whether the +resemblance extended also to genius. He was not, however, +cheered when he brought word that neither carriage nor footman +were to be found. + +Lady Crewe then said he must positively go down, and make the Duc +de Duras tell us what to do. In a few minutes he was with us +again, shrugging his shoulders at his ill success. The king, +Louis XVIII.,(238) he said, +Page 282 + +was expected, and M. le Duc was preparing to receive him, and not +able to speak or listen to any one. + +Lady Crewe declared herself delighted by this information, +because there would be an opportunity for having me presented to +his majesty. "Go to M. de Duras," she cried, "and tell him +Madame d'Arblay wishes it." + +"For heaven's sake!" exclaimed I, "do no such thing! I have not +the most distant thought of the kind! It is Madame la Duchesse +d'Angoulme alone that I--" + +"O, pho, pho!--it is still more essential to be done to the +king--it is really important: so go, and tell the duke, Mr. +Grattan, that Madame d'Arblay is here, and desires to be +presented. Tell him 'tis a thing quite indispensable." + +I stopped him again, and quite entreated that no such step might +be taken, as I had no authority for presentation but to the +duchess. However, Lady Crewe was only provoked at my +backwardness, and charged Mr. Grattan not to heed me. "Tell the +duke," she cried, "that Madame d'Arblay is our Madame de Stael! +tell him we are as proud of our Madame d'Arblay as he can be of +his Madame de Stael." + +Off she sent him, and off I flew again to follow him and whether +he was most amused or most teased by our opposing petitions, I +know not - but he took the discreet side of not venturing again +to return among us. + + + + PREPARATIONS FOR THE PRESENTATIONS. + +Poor Lady Crewe seemed to think I lost a place at Court, or +perhaps a peerage, by my untamable shyness, and was quite vexed. +Others came to her now, who said several rooms below were filled +with expectant courtiers. Miss Grattan then earnestly requested +me to descend with her, as a chaperon, that she might see +something of what was going forwards. + +I could not refuse so natural a request, and down we went, +seeking one of the common] crowded rooms, that we might not +intrude where there was preparation or expectation relative to +the king. + +And here, sauntering or grouping, meditating in silence or +congratulating each other in coteries, or waiting with curiosity, +or self-preparing for presentation with timidity, we found a +multitude of folks in an almost unfurnished and quite unadorned +apartment. The personages seemed fairly divided between the +nation at home and the nation from abroad ; +Page 283 + +the English and the French; each equally, though variously, +occupied in expecting the extraordinary sight of a monarch thus +wonderfully restored to his rank and his throne, after +misfortunes that had seemed irremediable, and an exile that had +appeared hopeless. + +Miss Grattan was saluted, en passant, by several acquaintances, +and amongst them by the son-in-law of her dear country's viceroy +Lord Whitworth, the young Duke of Dorset; and Lady Crewe herself, +too tired to abide any longer in her appropriated apartment, now +descended. + +We patrolled about, zig-zag, as we could; the crowd, though of +very good company, having no chief or regulator, and therefore +making no sort of avenue or arrangement for avoiding +inconvenience. There was neither going up nor coming down; we +were all hustled together, without direction and without object, +for nothing whatsoever was present to look at or to create any +interest, and our expectations were merely kept awake by a belief +that we should know in time when and where something or somebody +was to be seen. + +For myself, however, I was much tormented during this interval +from being named incessantly by Lady Crewe. My deep mourning, my +recent heavy loss, and the absence and distance of my dear +husband made me peculiarly wish to be unobserved. Peculiarly, I +say; for never yet had the moment arrived in which to be marked +had not been embarrassing and disconcerting to me, even when most +flattering. + +A little hubbub soon after announced something new, and presently +a whisper was buzzed around the room of the "Prince de Cond." +His serene highness looked very much pleased--as no wonder--at +the arrival of such a day; but he was so surrounded by all his +countrymen who were of rank to claim his attention, that I could +merely see that he was little and old, but very unassuming and +polite. Amongst his courtiers were sundry of the French noblesse +that were known to Lady Crewe and I heard her uniformly say to +them, one after another, Here is Madame d'Arblay, who must be +presented to the king. + +Quite frightened by an assertion so wide from my intentions, so +unauthorised by any preparatory ceremonies, unknown to my +husband, and not, like a presentation to the Duchesse +d'Angoulme, encouraged by my queen, I felt as if guilty of +taking liberty the most presumptuous, and with a forwardness and +assurance the most foreign to my character. Yet to +Page 284 + +control the zeal of Lady Crewe was painful from her earnestness, +and appeared to be ungrateful to her kindness ; I therefore +shrunk back, and presently suffered the crowd to press between us +so as to find myself wholly separated from my party. This would +have been ridiculous had I been more happy - but in my then state +of affliction, it was necessary to my peace. + + + ARRIVAL OF Louis XVIII. + +Quite to myself, how I smiled inwardly at my adroit cowardice, +and was contemplating the surrounding masses of people, when a +new and more mighty hubbub startled me, and presently I heard a +buzzing whisper spread throughout the apartment of "The king!--le +roi!" + +Alarmed at my strange situation, I now sought to decamp, meaning +to wait for Lady Crewe up stairs : but to even approach the door +was impossible. I turned back, therefore, to take a place by the +window, that I might see his majesty alight from his carriage, +but how great was my surprise when, just as I reached the top of +the room, the king himself entered it at the bottom! + +I had not the smallest idea that this was the chamber of audience +; it was so utterly unornamented. But I now saw that a large +fauteuil was being conveyed to the upper part, exactly where I +stood, ready for his reception and repose. + +Placed thus singularly, by mere accident, and freed from my fears +of being brought forward by Lady Crewe, I felt rejoiced in so +fair an opportunity of beholding the king of my honoured husband, +and planted myself immediately behind, though not near to his +prepared seat ; and, as I was utterly unknown and must be utterly +unsuspected, I indulged myself with a full examination. An avenue +had instantly been cleared from the door to the chair, and the +king moved along It slowly, slowly, slowly, rather dragging his +large and weak limbs than walking; but his face was truly +engaging; benignity was in every feature, and a smile beamed over +them that showed thankfulness to providence in the happiness to +which he was so suddenly arrived; with a courtesy, at the same +time, to the spectators, who came to see and congratulate it, the +most pleasing and cheering. + +The scene was replete with motives to grand reflections and to +me, the devoted subject of another monarch, whose melancholy +alienation of mind was a constant source to me of +Page 285 + +sorrow, it was a scene for conflicting feelings and profound +meditation. + + + THE PRESENTATIONS TO THE KING. + +His majesty took his seat, with an air of mingled sweetness and +dignity. I then, being immediately behind him, lost sight of his +countenance, but saw that of every individual who approached to +be presented. The Duc de Duras stood at his left hand, and was le +grand maitre des crmonies; Madame de Gouvello stood at his +right side; though whether in any capacity, or simply as a French +lady known to him, I cannot tell. In a whisper, from that lady, I +learned more fully the mistake of the hotel, the Duchesse +d'Angoulme never having meant to quit that of her beaupre, +Monsieur le Comte d'Artois, in South Audley-street. + +The presentations were short, and without much mark or +likelihood. The men bowed low, and passed on; the ladies +curtsied, and did the same. Those who were not known gave a card, +I think, to the Duc de Duras, who named them; those of former +acquaintance with his majesty simply made their obeisance. + +M. de Duras, who knew how much fatigue the king had to go +through, hurried every one on, not only with speed but almost +with ill-breeding, to my extreme astonishment. Yet the English, +by express command of his majesty, had always the preference and +always took place of the French ; which was an attention of the +king in return for the asylum he had here found, that he seemed +delighted to display, + +Early in this ceremony came forward Lady Crewe, who being known +to the king from sundry previous meetings, was not named ; and +only, after curtseying, reciprocated smiles with his majesty, and +passed on. But instead of then moving off, though the duke, who +did not know her, waved his hand to hasten her away, she +whispered, but loud enough for me to hear, "Voici Madame +d'Arblay; il faut qu'elle soit prsente."(239) She then went +gaily off, without heeding me. + +The duke only bowed, but by a quick glance recognised me, and by +another showed a pleased acquiescence in the demand. + +Retreat' now, was out of the question; but I so feared my +position was wrong, that I was terribly disturbed, and felt hot +and cold, and cold and hot, alternately, with excess of +Page 286 + +embarrassment. I was roused, however, after hearing for so long a +time nothing but French, by the sudden sound of English. An +address, in that language, was read to his majesty, which was +presented by the noblemen and gentlemen of the county of +Buckingham, congratulatory upon his happy restoration, and filled +with cordial thanks for the graciousness of his manners, and the +benignity of his conduct, during his long residence amongst them; +warmly proclaiming their participation in his joy, and their +admiration of his virtues. The reader was colonel Nugent, a near +relation of the present Duke of Buckingham. But, if the +unexpected sound of these felicitations delivered in English, +roused and struck me, how much greater arose my astonishment and +delight when the French monarch, in an accent of the most +condescending familiarity and pleasure, uttered his +acknowledgments in English also-expressing his gratitude for all +their attentions, his sense of their kind interest in his favour, +and his eternal remembrance of the obligations he owed to the +whole county of Buckinghamshire, for the asylum and consolations +he had found in it during his trials and calamities! I wonder not +that Colonel Nugent was so touched by this reply, as to be led to +bend the knee, as to his own sovereign, when the king held out +his hand - for I myself, though a mere outside auditress, was so +moved, and so transported with surprise by the dear English +language from his mouth, that I forgot at once all my fears, and +dubitations, and, indeed, all myself, my poor little self, in my +pride and exultation at such a moment for my noble country.(240) + + + A FLATTERING ROYAL RECEPTION. + +Fortunately for me, the Duc de Duras made this the moment for my +presentation, and, seizing my hand and drawing me suddenly from +behind the chair to the royal presence, he said, " Sire, Madame +d'Arblay." How singular a change, that what, but the instant +before, would have overwhelmed me with diffidence and +embarrassment, + +Page 287 + +now found me all courage and animation ! and when his majesty +took my hand--or, rather, took hold of my fist--and said, in very +pretty English, "I am very happy to see you," I felt such a glow +of satisfaction, that involuntarily, I burst forth with its +expression, incoherently, but delightedly and irresistibly, +though I cannot remember how. He certainly was not displeased, +for his smile was brightened and his manner was most flattering, +as he repeated that he was very glad to see me, and added that he +had known me, "though without sight, very long: for I have read +you--and been charmed with your books--charmed and entertained. +I have read them often, I know them very well indeed; and I have +long wanted to know you!" + + +I was extremely surprised,-and not only at these unexpected +compliments, but equally that my presentation, far from seeming, +as I had apprehended, strange, was met by a reception of the +utmost encouragement. When he stopped, and let go my hand, I +curtsied respectfully, and was moving on ; but he again caught my +fist, and, fixing me, with looks of strong though smiling +investigation, he appeared archly desirous to read the lines of +my face, as if to deduce from them the qualities of my mind. His +manner, however, was so polite and so gentle that he did not at +all discountenance me : and though he resumed the praise of my +little works, he uttered the panegyric with a benignity so gay as +well as flattering, that I felt enlivened, nay, elevated, with a +joy that overcame mauvaise honte. + +The Duc de Duras, who had hurried on all others, seeing he had no +chance to dismiss me with the same sans crmonie speed, now +joined his voice to exalt my satisfaction, by saying, at the next +pause, "et M. d'Arblay, sire, bon et brave, est un des plus +devous et fidles serviteurs de votre majest."(241) + +The king with a gracious little motion of his head, and with eyes +of the most pleased benevolence, expressively said, "Je le +Crois."(242) And a third time he stopped my retiring curtsey, to +take my hand. + +This last stroke gave me such delight, for my absent best ami, +that I could not again attempt to speak. The king pressed my +hand--wrist I should say, for it was that he grasped, and then +saying, "Bon jour, madame la comtesse," let me go. +Page 288 + +My eyes were suffused with tears, from mingled emotions I glided +nimbly through the crowd to a corner at the other end of the +room, where Lady Crewe joined me almost instantly, and with +felicitations the most amiably cordial and lively. + +We then repaired to a side-board on which we contrived to seat +ourselves, and Lady Crewe named to me the numerous personages of +rank who passed on before us for presentation. But every time any +one espied her and approached,, she named me also; an honour to +which I was very averse. This I intimated, but to no purpose; she +went on her own way. The curious stares this produced, in my +embarrassed state of spirits, from recent grief, were really +painful to sustain ; but when the seriousness of my +representation forced her to see that I was truly in earnest in +my desire to remain unnoticed, she was so much vexed, and even +provoked, that she very gravely begged that, if such were the +case, I would move a little farther from her; saying, "If one +must be so ill-natured to people as not to name you, I had rather +not seem to know who you are myself." + + + AN IMPORTANT LETTER DELAYED. + +When, at length, her ladyship's chariot was announced, we drove +to Great Cumberland-place, Lady Crewe being so kind as to convey +me to Mrs. Angerstein. As Lady Crewe was too much in haste to +alight, the sweet Amelia Angerstein came to the carriage to speak +to her, and to make known that a letter had arrived from M. de la +Chtre relative to my presentation, which, by a mistake of +address, had not come in time for my reception.(244) + +This note dispelled all of astonishment that had enveloped with +something like incredulity my own feelings and perceptions in my +unexpected presentation and reception. The king himself had +personally desired to bestow upon me this mark of royal favour. +What difficulty, what embarrassment, what confusion should I have +escaped, had not that provoking mistake which kept back my letter +occurred + +Page 289 + + M. D'ARBLAY ARRIVES IN ENGLAND. + +Madame d"Arblay to Mrs. locke.) +April 30, 1814. +My own dearest friend must be the first, as she will be among the +warmest, to participate in my happiness--M. d'Arblay is arrived. +He came yesterday, quite unexpectedly as to the day, but not very +much quicker than my secret hopes. He is extremely fatigued with +all that has passed, yet well ; and all himself, i.e., all that +is calculated to fill my heart with gratitude for my lot in life. +How would my beloved father have rejoiced in his sight, and in +these glorious new events!(245) + + + A BRILLIANT ASSEMBLAGE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to M. d'Arblay) +June 18, 1814. +Ah, mon ami! you are really, then, well?--really in Paris?-- +really without hurt or injury? What I have suffered from a +suspense that has no name from its misery shall now be buried in +restored peace, and hope, and happiness. With the most fervent +thanks to providence that my terrors are removed, and that I have +been tortured by only false apprehensions, I will try to banish +from my mind all but the joy, and gratitude to heaven, that your +safety and health inspire. Yet still, it is difficult to me to +feel assured that all is well ! I have so long been the victim to +fear and anguish, that my spirits cannot at once get back their +equilibrium. . . . + +Hier j'ai quitt ma retraite, trs volontiers, pour(246) indulge +myself with the sight of the Emperor of Russia. How was I charmed +with his pleasing, gentle, and so perfectly unassuming air, +manner, and demeanour! I was extremely gratified, also, by seeing +the King of Prussia, who interests us all here, by a look that +still indicates his tender regret for the partner of his hopes, +toils, and sufferings, but not of his victories and enjoyments. +It was at the queen's palace I saw them by especial and most +gracious permission. The Prussian princes, six in number, and the +young prince of Mecklenburg, and the Duchess of Oldenbourg, were +of the party. All our royal +Page 290 + +dukes assisted, and the Princesses Augusta and Mary. The +Princess Charlotte looked quite beautiful. She is wonderfully +improved. It was impossible not to be struck with her personal +attractions, her youth, and splendour. The Duchess of York +looked amongst the happiest; the King of Prussia is her brother. + + + M. D'ARBLAY ENTERS Louis XVIII.'S BODY-GUARD. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. locke.) +London, July, 1814. +After a most painful suspense I have been at length relieved by a +letter from Paris. It is dated the 18th of June, and has been a +fortnight on the road. It is, he says, his fourth letter, and he +had not then received one of the uneasy tribe of my own. + +The consul-generalship is, alas, entirely relinquished, and that +by M. d'Arblay himself, who has been invited into the garde du +corps by the Duc de Luxembourg, for his own company an invitation +he deemed it wrong to resist at such a moment ; and he has since +been named one of the officers of the garde du corps by the king, +Louis XVIII., to whom he had taken the customary oath that very +day--the 18th. + +The season, however, of danger over, and the throne and order +steadily re-established, he will still, I trust and believe, +retire to civil domestic life. May it be speedily! After twenty +years' lying by, I cannot wish to see him re-enter a military +career at sixty years of age, though still young in all his +faculties and feelings, and in his capacity of being as useful to +others as to himself. There is a time, however, when the poor +machine, though still perfect in a calm, is unequal to a storm. +Private life, then, should be sought while it yet may be enjoyed; +and M. d'Arblay has resources for retirement the most delightful, +both for himself and his friends. He is dreadfully worn and +fatigued by the last year; and he began his active services at +thirteen years of age. He is now past sixty. Every propriety, +therefore, will abet my wishes, when the king no longer requires +around him his tried and faithful adherents. And, indeed, I am +by no means myself insensible to what is so highly gratifying to +his feelings as this mark of distinction bien plus honorable, +cependant,(247) as he adds, than lucrative. . . . . . + +Page 291 + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Locke.) +August 9, 1814. +The friends of M. d'A. in Paris are now preparing to claim for +him his rank in the army, as he held it under Louis XVI., of +marchal de Camp; and as the Duc de Luxembourg will present, in +person, the demand au roi, there is much reason to expect it will +be granted. + +M. de Thuisy, who brought your letter from Adrienne, has given a +flourishing account of M. d'A. in his new uniform, though the +uniform itself, he says, is very ugly. But so sought is the +company of the garde du corps du roi that the very privates, M. +de T. says, are gentlemen. M. d'A. himself has only the place of +sous-lieutenant; but it is of consequence sufficient, in that +company, to be signed by the king, who had rejected two officers +that had been named to him just before he gave his signature for +M. d'A. + +August 24, 1814. +M. d'Arblay has obtained his rank, and the kind king has dated it +from the aera when the original brevet was signed by poor Louis +XVI. in 1792. + +[Here follows, in the original edition, a long letter in French +from M. d'Arblay to his wife, dated " Paris, August 3 0, 1814. " +He records the enthusiasm manifested by the people of Paris on +the arrival of the king and the Duchess of Angoulme, and the +flattering reception given by the king to the Duke of Wellington. +"After having testified his satisfaction at the sentiments which +the duke had just expressed to him on the part of the prince +regent, and told him that he infinitely desired to see the peace +which had been so happily concluded, established on solid +foundations, his majesty added, 'For that I shall have need of +the powerful co-operation of his royal highness. The choice which +he has made of you, sir, gives me hope of it. He honours me. . . +. I am proud to see that the first ambassador sent to me by +England is the justly celebrated Duke of Wellington."' M. +d'Arblay counts with certainty upon his wife's joining him in +November, and ventures upon the unlucky assertion that " the +least doubt of the stability of the paternal government, which +has been so miraculously restored to us, is no longer +admissible."-ED.] + +(214) Lyons rebelled against the Republic in the summer of 1793: +against Jacobinism, in the first instance, and guillotined its +jacobin leader, Chalier; later it declared for the king. After a +long siege and a heroic defence, Lyons surrendered to the +Republicans, October 9, 1793, and Fouch was one of the +commissioners sent down by the Convention to execute vengeance on +the unfortunate town. A terrible vengeance was taken. "The +Republic must march to liberty over corpses," said Fouch; and +thousands of the inhabitants were shot or guillotined. -ED. + +(215) The reputed assassin of the Duc d'Enghien. ["Assassin" is +surely an unnecessarily strong term. The seizure of the Duke +d'Enghien on neutral soil was illegal and indefensible: but he +was certainly guilty of conspiring against the government of his +country. He was arrested, by Napoleon's orders, in the +electorate of Baden, in March, 1804; carried across the frontier, +conveyed to Vincennes, tried by court-martial, condemned, and +shot forthwith.-ED.] + +(216) The disastrous campaign in Russia. Napoleon left Paris on +the 9th Of May, 1812.-ED. + +(217) "So that we divine her meaning." + +(218) "Who are you? + +"My name is d'Arblay." + +"Are you married?" + +"Yes." + +"Where is your husband?" + +"At Paris." + +"Who is he?" + +"He works in the Home Office." + +"Why are you leaving him?" + +(219) "You are English?" + +(220) "Follow me!" + +(221) "You do not think proper to follow me, then?" + +(222) "I have nothing to do here, sir, I believe." + +(223) "We shall see!" " + +(224) "Young Man!" + + +(225) Her sister Charlotte, formerly Mrs. Francis.-ED. + +(226) The 20th of August.-ED. + +(227) Mrs Crewe's husband, John Crewe of Crewe Hall, cheshire, +had been created a peer by the title of Baron Crewe of Crewe, in +1806.-ED. + +(228) An attempt to enter her apartment by a crazy woman. + +(229) " Hunted out of France." The work in question was Madame de +Stael's book on Germany (De l'Allemagne), which had been printed +at Paris, and of which the entire edition had been seized by the +police before its publication, on the plea that it contained +passages offensive to the government. The authoress, moreover, +was ordered to quit France, and joined her father at Coppet in +Switzerland-ED. + +(230) No doubt, for his uncle's school. Dr Charles Burney had +left Hammersmith and established his school at Greenwich in +1793.-ED. + +(231) William Wilberforce, the celebrated philanthropist, was +born at Htill in 1759. He devoted his life to the cause of the +negro slaves; and to his exertions in Parliament were chiefly due +the abolition of the slave trade in 1807, and the total abolition +of slavery in the English colonies in 1833. He died in the +latter year, thanking God that he "had seen the day in which +England was willing to give twenty millions sterling for the +abolition of slavery."-ED. + +(232) Narbonne was appointed by Napoleon, during the campaign of +1813, governor of the fortress of Torgau, on the Elbe. He +defended the place with great resolution, even after the emperor +had been obliged to retreat beyond the Rhine, but unhappily took +the fever, and died there, November 17, 1813.-ED. + +(233) This proved to be a false report. General Victor de Latour +Maubourg suffered the amputation of a leg at Leipzic, where he +fought bravely in the service of the Emperor Napoleon. But he +did not die of his wound, and we find him, in 1815, engaged in +raising volunteers for the service of Louis XVIII.-ED. + +(234) Here is evidently a mistake as to the month: the date, no +doubt, should be April 19. Dr. Burney died on the 12th of April, +1814.-ED. + + (235) Dr. Charles Burney.-ED. + +(236) Marie Thrse Charlotte, Duchess of Angoulme, was the +daughter of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. She was born in +1778, and, after the execution of her father and mother she was +detained in captivity in Paris until December, 1795, when she was +delivered up to the Austrians in exchange for certain French +prisoners of war. in 1799 she married her cousin, the Duke of +Angoulme, son of Louis XVI's brother, the Count d'Artois, +(afterwards Charles X. of France). On the return of Napoleon from +Elba, the Duchess of Angoulme so distinguished herself by her +exertions and the spirit which she displayed in the king's cause, +that Napoleon said of her " she was the only man in her +family."-ED. + +(237) Henry Grattan, the Irish statesman, orator, and patriot. +Already one of the most distinguished members of the Irish +Parliament, he vigorously opposed the legislative union of Great +Britain and Ireland in 1800. He sat in the Imperial Parliament as +member for Dublin from 1806 until his death in 1820, in his +seventy-fourth year. As an orator, Mr. Lecky writes of him, "He +was almost unrivalled in crushing invective, in delineations of +character, and in brief, keen arguments; carrying on a train of +sustained reason he was not so happy."-ED. + +(238) Louis XVIII., formerly known as the Count of Provence, was +the brother of the unfortunate Louis XVI. "Louis XVII" was the +title given by the royalists to the young son of Louis XVI., who +died, a prisoner, in June, 1795, some two years after the +execution of his father.-ED. + +(239) "There is Madame d'Arblay; she must be presented." + +(240) What a moment for her noble country, and what a subject for +pride and exultation! Were we not very sure of Fanny's +sincerity, it were scarcely possible to read with patience such +passages as this and others similarly extravagant. Her common +sense seems to take flight in the presence of royalty.-ED. + +(242) "And M. d'Arblay, Sire, good and brave, is one of your +majesty's most devoted and faithful servants." + +(243) "I believe it." + +(244) This letter, addressed to Mrs. Angerstein, was to the +effect that the Duchess of Angoulme would be very pleased to +receive Madame d'Arblay, at 72 South Audley-street, between three +and half-past three ; and that the king (Louis XVIII.) also +desired to see her, and would receive between four and five.-ED. + +(245) M. d'Arblay returned to France in the following June. -ED. + +(246) Yesterday I left my retreat, very willingly, to-" + +(247) "Far more honorable, nevertheless---" + + + + +Page 292 +SECTION 24. + (1815) + + MADAME D'ARBLAY AGAIN IN FRANCE: BONAPARTE'S ESCAPE FROM +ELBA. + + + +(The two following sections contain Fanny's account of her +adventures during the " Hundred Days " which elapsed between the +return of Napoleon from Elba and his final downfall and +abdication. This narrative may be recommended to the reader as an +interesting supplement to the history of that period. The great +events of the time, the triumphal progress of the emperor, the +battles which decided his destiny and the fate of Europe, we hear +of only at a distance, by rumour or chance intelligence ; but our +author brings vividly before us, and with the authenticity of +personal observation, the disturbed state of the country, the +suspense, the alarms, the distress occasioned by the war. To +refresh our readers' memories, we give an epitome, as brief as +possible, of the events to which Madame d'Arblay's narrative +forms, as it were, a background. + +When Napoleon abdicated the imperial throne, in April, 1814, the +allied powers consented by treaty to confer upon him the +sovereignty of the island of Elba, with a revenue of two million +francs. To Elba he was accordingly banished, but the revenue was +never paid. This disgraceful infringement of the treaty of +Fontainebleau, joined to the accounts which he received of the +state of public feeling in France, determined him to make the +attempt to regain his lost empire. March 1, 1815, he landed at +Cannes, with a few hundred men. He was everywhere received with +the utmost enthusiasm. The troops sent to oppose him joined his +standard with shouts of "Vive l'empereur!" March 20, he entered +Paris in triumph, Louis XVIII having taken his departure the +preceding evening, "amidst the tears and lamentations of several +courtiers."(248) + +The congress of the allied powers at Vienna proclaimed the +emperor an outlaw, not choosing to remember that the treaty which +they accused him of breaking, had been first violated by +themselves. To his offers of negotiation they replied not. The +Page 293 + +English army under the Duke of Wellington, the Prussian under +Prince Blcher occupied Belgium; the Austrians and Russians were +advancing in immense force towards the Rhine. Anxious to strike a +blow before the arrival of the latter Napoleon left Paris for +Belgium, June 12. His army amounted to about one hundred and +twenty thousand men. On the 15th the fighting commenced, h and +the advanced guard of the Prussians was driven back. On the 16th, +Blcher was attacked at Ligny, and defeated with terrible loss; +but Marshal Ney was unsuccessful in an attack upon the combined +English and Belgian army at Quatre Bras. Sunday, June 18, was the +day of the decisive battle of Waterloo. After the destruction of +his army, Napoleon hastened to Paris, but all hope was at an end. +He abdicated the throne for the second time, proceeded to +Rochefort, and voluntarily surrendered himself to Captain +Maitland, of the English seventy-four, Bellerophon. He was +conveyed to England, but was not permitted to land, and passed +the few remaining years of his life a prisoner in the island of +St. Helena.-ED.] + + + AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DUCHESS OF ANGOULEME. + +I come now to my audience with Madame, Duchesse d'Angoulme.(249) +As I had missed, through a vexatious mistake, the honour she had +herself intended me, of presentation in England, my own +condescending royal mistress, Queen Charlotte, recommended my +claiming its performance on my return to Paris. M. d'Arblay then +consulted with the Vicomte d'Agoult, his intimate early friend, +how to repair in France my English deprivation. M. d'Agoult was +cuyer to her royal highness, and high in her confidence and +favour. He advised me simply to faire ma cour as the wife of a +superior officer in the garde du corps du roi, at a public +drawing-room; but the great exertion and publicity, joined to the +expense Of such a presentation, made me averse, in all ways, to +this proposal; and when M. d'Arblay protested I had not anything +in view but to pay my respectful devoirs to her royal highness, +M. d'Agoult undertook to make known my wish. It soon proved that +this alone was necessary for its success, for madame la duchesse +Page 294 + +instantly recollected what had passed in England, and said she +would name, with pleasure, the first moment in her power - +expressing an impatience on her own part that an interview should +not be delayed which had been desired by her majesty Queen +Charlotte of England. . . . + +I have omitted to mention that on the Sunday preceding, the +Duchess d'Angoulme, at Court, had deigned to tell my best friend +that she was reading, and with great pleasure, Madame d'Arblay's +last work. He expressed his gratification, and added that he +hoped it was in English, as her altesse royale so well knew that +language. No, she answered, it was the translation she read; the +original she had not been able to procure. On this M. d'Arblay +advised me to send a copy. I had none bound, but the set which +had come back to me from my dear father. This, however, M. d'A. +carried to the Vicomte d'Agoult, with a note from me in which, +through the medium of M. d'Agoult, I supplicated leave from her +royal highness to lay at her feet this only English set I +possessed. In the most gracious manner possible, as the Vicomte +told M. d'Arblay, her royal highness accepted the work, and +deigned also to keep the billet. She had already, unfortunately, +finished the translation, but she declared her intention to read +the original. + +Previously to my presentation, M. d'Arblay took me to the salon +of the exhibition of pictures, to view a portrait of Madame +d'Angoulme, that I might make some acquaintance with her face +before the audience. This portrait was deeply interesting, but +deeply melancholy. + + + ARRIVAL AT THE TUILERIES. + +All these precautions taken, I went, at the appointed hour and +morning, about the end of February, 1815, to the palace of the +Tuileries, escorted by the most indulgent of husbands we repaired +instantly to the apartment of the Duchesse de Serrent, who +received us with the utmost politeness; she gave us our lesson +how to proceed, and then delivered us over to some page of her +royal highness. + +We were next shown into a very large apartment. I communicated to +the page a request that he would endeavour to make known to M. de +Montmorency that I was arrived, and how much I wished to see him. +In a minute or two came forth a tall, sturdy dame, who +Page 295 + +immediately addressed me by my name, and spoke with an air, that +demanded my returning her compliment. I could not, however, +recollect her till she said she had formerly met me at the +Princess d'Henin's. I then recognised the dowager Duchesse de +Duras, whom, in fact, I had seen last at the Princesse de +Chimay's, in the year 1812, just before my first return to +England; and had received from her a commission to acquaint the +royal family of France that her son, the duke, had kept aloof +from all service under Bonaparte, though he had been named in the +gazettes as having accepted the place of chamberlain to the then +emperor. Yet such was the subjection, at that time, of all the +old nobility to the despotic power of that mighty ruler, that M. +de Duras had not dared to contradict the paragraph. + +She then said that her altesse royale was expecting me; and made +a motion that I should pursue my way into the next room, M. +d'Arblay no longer accompanying me. But before I disappeared she +assured me that I should meet with a most gracious reception, for +her altesse royale had declared she would see me with marked +favour, if she saw no other English whatsoever; because Madame +d'Arblay, she said, was the only English person who had been +peculiarly recommended to her notice by the Queen of England. + +In the next, which was another very large apartment, I was +received by a lady much younger and more agreeable than Madame de +Duras, gaily and becomingly dressed, and wearing a smiling air +with a sensible face. I afterwards heard it was Madame de +Choisy, who, a few years later, married the Vicomte d'Agoult. + +Madame de Choisy instantly began some compliments, but finding +she only disconcerted me, she soon said she must not keep me +back, and curtsied me on to another room, into which she shut me. + + + A MISAPPREHENSION. + +I here imagined I was to find M. de Montmorency, but I saw only a +lady, who stood at the upper end of the apartment, and slightly +curtsied, but without moving or speaking. Concluding this to be +another dame de la cour, from my internal persuasion that +ultimately I was to be presented by M. de Montmorency, I +approached her composedly, with a mere common inclination of the +head, and looked wistfully forward to the further door. She +inquired politely after my +Page 296 + +health, expressing good-natured concern to hear it had been +deranged, and adding that she was bien aise de me voir.](250) I +thanked her, with some expression of obligation to her civility, +but almost without looking at her, from perturbation lest some +mistake had intervened to prevent my introduction, as I still saw +nothing of M. de Montmorency. + +She then asked me if I would not sit down, taking a seat at the +same time herself. I readily complied; but was too much occupied +with the ceremony I was awaiting to discourse, though she +immediately began what was meant for a conversation. I hardly +heard, or answered, so exclusively was my attention engaged in +watching the door through which I was expecting a summons; till, +at length, the following words rather surprised me (I must write +them in English, for my greater ease, though they were spoken in +French)--"I am quite sorry to have read your last charming work +in French." + +My eyes now changed their direction from the door to her face, to +which I hastily turned my head, as she added,--"Puis-je le garder +le livre que vous m'avez envoy?"(251) + + + A DISCOVERY AND A RECTIFICATION. + +Startled, as if awakened from a dream, I fixed her and perceived +the same figure that I had seen at the salon. I now felt sure I +was already in the royal presence of the Duchesse d'Angoulme, +with whom I had seated myself almost cheek by jowl, without the +smallest suspicion of my situation. + +I really seemed thunderstruck. I had approached her with so +little formality, I had received all her graciousness with so +little apparent sense of her condescension, I had taken my seat, +nearly unasked, so completely at my ease, and I had pronounced so +unceremoniously the plain "vous," without softening it off with +one single "altesse royale," that I had given her reason to think +me either the most forward person in my nature, or the worst bred +]In my education, existing. + +I was in a consternation and a confusion that robbed me of +breath; and my first impulse was to abruptly arise, confess my +error, and offer every respectful apology I could devise; but as +my silence and strangeness produced silence, a pause ensued that +gave me a moment for reflection, which represented +Page 297 + +to me that son altesse royale might be seriously hurt, that +nothing in her demeanour had announced her, rank; and such a +discovery might lead to increased distance and reserve in her +future conduct upon other extra audiences, that could not but be +prejudicial to her popularity, which already was injured by an +opinion extremely unjust, but very generally spread, of her +haughtiness. It was better, therefore, to be quiet, and to let +her suppose that embarrassment, and English awkwardness and +mauvaise honte, had occasioned my unaccountable manners. I +preserved, therefore, my taciturnity, till, tired of her own, she +gently repeated, "Puis-je le garder, cette copie que vous m'avez +envoy?" civilly adding that she should be happy to read it again +when she had a little forgotten it, and had a little more time. + +I seized this fortunate moment to express my grateful +acknowledgments for her goodness, with the most unaffected +sincerity, yet scrupulously accompanied with all the due forms of +profound respect. + +What she thought of so sudden a change of dialect I have no means +of knowing ; hut I could not, for a long time afterwards, think +of it myself with a grave countenance. From that time, however, I +failed not to address her with appropriate reverence, though, as +it was too late now to assume the distant homage pertaining, of +course, to her very high rank, I insensibly suffered one +irregularity to lead to, nay to excuse another; for I passed over +all the etiquette d'usage, of never speaking but en rponse; and +animated myself to attempt to catch her attention, by conversing +with fullness and spirit upon every subject she began, or led to +; and even by starting subjects myself, when she was silent. This +gave me an opportunity of mentioning many things that had +happened in Paris during my long ten years' uninterrupted +residence, which were evidently very interesting to her. Had she +become grave, or inattentive, I should have drawn back _; but, on +the contrary, she grew more and more veille, and her +countenance was lighted up with the most encouraging approval. + + + CONVERSATION ON MADAME D'ARBLAY's ESCAPE + AND M. D'ARBLAY'S LOYALTY. + +She was curious, she said, to know how I got over to England in +the year 1812, having been told that I had effected my escape by +an extraordinary disguise. I assured her that +Page 298 + +I had not escaped at all; as so to have done must have endangered +the generous husband and father, who permitted mine and his son's +departure. I had procured a passport for us both, which was +registered in the ordinary manner, chez le ministre de police for +foreign affairs; ches- one, I added, whose name I could not +pronounce in her royal highness's hearing; but to whom I had not +myself applied. She well knew I meant Savary, Duc de Rovigo, +whose history with respect to the murdered Due d'Enghien has, +since that period, been so variously related. I was then +embarrassed, for I had owed my passport to the request of Madame +d'A., who was distantly connected with Savary, and who had +obtained it to oblige a mutual friend ; I found, however, to my +great relief, that the duchess possessed the same noble delicacy +that renders all private intercourse with my own exemplary +princesses as safe for others as it is honourable to myself; for +she suffered me to pass by the names of my assistants, when I +said they were friends who exerted themselves for me in +consideration of my heavy grief, in an absence of ten years from +a father whom I had left at the advanced age of seventy-five; +joined to my terror lest my son should remain till he attained +the period of the conscription, and be necessarily drawn into the +military service of Bonaparte. And, indeed, these two points +could alone, with all my eagerness to revisit my native land, +have induced me to make the journey by a separation from my best +friend. + +This led me to assume courage to recount some of the prominent +parts of the conduct of M. d'Arblay during our ten years' +confinement, rather than residence, in France ; I thought this +necessary, lest our sojourn during the usurpation should be +misunderstood. I told her, in particular, of three high military +appointments which he had declined. The first was to be head of +l'tat major of a regiment under a general whose name I cannot +spell--in the army of Poland, a post of which the offer was +procured for him by M. de Narbonne, then aide-de-camp to +Bonaparte. The second was an offer, through General Gassendi, of +being Commander of Palma Nuova, whither M. d'A. might carry his +wife and son, as he was to have the castle for his residence, and +there was no war with Italy at that time. The third offer was a +very high one: it was no less than the command of Cherbourg, as +successor to M. le Comte de la Tour Maubourg, who was sent +elsewhere, by still higher promotion. Steady, however, +Page 299 + +invariably steady was M. d'Arblay never to serve against his +liege sovereign, General Gassendi, one of the most zealous of his +friends, contrived to cover up this dangerous rejection and M. +d'Arblay continued In his humbler but far more' meritorious +Office Of sous Chef to one of the bureaux de l,intrieur. + +I had now the pleasure to hear the princess say, "Il a aqi bien +noblement."(252) "For though he would take no part," I added, +la guerre, nor yet in the diplomatie, he could have no objection +to making plans, arrangements, buildings, and so forth, of +monuments, hospitals, and palaces; for at that period, palaces, +like princes, were levs tous les jours."(253) + +She could not forbear smiling; and her smile, which is rare, is +so peculiarly becoming, that it brightens her countenance into a +look of youth and beauty. + +"But why," I cried, recollecting myself, "should I speak French, +when your royal highness knows English so well?" + +"O, no!" cried she, shaking her head, "very bad!" + +>From that time, however, I spoke in my own tongue, and saw myself +perfectly understood, though those two little words were the only +English ones she uttered herself, replying always in French. + +"Le roi," she said, "se rapelle trs bien de vous avoir vu +Londres."(254) + +"O, je n'en doute nullement,"(255) I replied, rather navely, +"for there passed a scene that cannot be forgotten, and that +surprised me into courage to come forward, after I had spent the +whole morning in endeavouring to shrink backward. And I could not +be sorry--for I felt that his majesty could not he offended at a +vivacity which his own courtesy to England excited." + +The princess smiled, with a graciousness that assured me I had +not mistaken the king's benevolence, of which she evidently +partook. + + + THE PRINCE REGENT THE DUCHEss's FAVOURITE. + +The conversation then turned upon the royal family of England, +and it was inexpressibly gratifying to me to hear her just +appreciation of the virtues, the intellectual endowments, the ' + +Page 300 + +sweetness of manner, and the striking grace of every one, +according to their different character, that was mentioned. The +prince regent, however, was evidently her favourite. The noble +style in which he had treated her and all her family at his +Carlton House fte, in the midst of their misfortunes, and while +so much doubt hung against every chance of those misfortunes +being ever reversed, did so much honour to his heart and proved +so solacing to their woes and humiliation, that she could never +revert to that public testimony of his esteem and goodwill +without the most glowing gratitude. + +"O!" she cried, "il a t parfait!"(256) + +The Princesse Elise,(257) with whom she was in correspondence, +seemed to stand next. "C'est elle," she said, "qui fait les +honneurs de la famille royale,(258) and with a charm the most +enlivening and delightful." + +The conference was only broken up by a summons to the king's +dinner. My audience, however, instead of a few minutes, for which +the Duchesse de Duras had prepared me, was extended to +three-quarters of an hour, by the watch of my kind husband, who +waited, with some of his old friends whom he had joined in the +palace, to take me home. + +The princess, as she left me to go down a long corridor to the +dining apartment, took leave of me in a manner the most gracious, +honouring me with a message to her majesty the queen of England, +of her most respectful homage, and with her kind and affectionate +remembrance to all the princesses, with warm assurances of her +eternal attachment. She then moved on, but again stopped when +going, to utter some sentences most grateful to my ears, of her +high devotion to the queen and deep sense of all her virtues. I +little thought that this, my first, would prove also my last, +meeting with this exemplary princess, whose worth, courage, +fortitude, and piety are universally acknowledged, but whose +powers of pleasing seem little known. After an opening such as +this, how little could I foresee that this interview was to be a +final one! . . . Alas! in a day or two after it had taken place, +son altesse royale set out for Bordeaux. . . . And then followed +the return of Bonaparte from Elba, and then the Hundred Days. + + Page 301 + + NARRATIVE OF MADAME D'ARBLAY'S FLIGHT FROM PARIS TO +BRUSSELS + +[The following Narrative was written some time after the events +described took place. It is judged better to print it in a +connected form : a few of the letters written on the spot being +subsequently given.] + + + PREVAILING INERTIA ON BONAPARTE'S RETURN FROM ELBA. + +I have no remembrance how I first heard of the return of +Bonaparte from Elba. Wonder at his temerity was the impression +made by the news, but wonder unmixed with apprehension. This +inactivity of foresight was universal. A torpor indescribable, a +species of stupor utterly indefinable, seemed to have enveloped +the capital with a mist that was impervious. Everybody went about +their affairs, made or received visits, met, and parted, without +speaking, or, I suppose , thinking of this event as of a matter +of any importance. My own participation in this improvident +blindness is to myself incomprehensible. Ten years I had lived +under the dominion of Bonaparte; I had been in habits of intimacy +with many friends of those who most closely surrounded him; I was +generously trusted, as one with whom information, while +interesting and precious, would be inviolably safe-as one, in +fact, whose honour was the honour of her spotless husband, and +therefore invulnerable : well, therefore, by narrations the most +authentic, and by documents the most indisputable, I knew the +character of Bonaparte ; and marvellous beyond the reach of my +comprehension is my participation in this inertia. . . . + +Thus familiar to his practices, thus initiated in his resources, +thus aware of his gigantic ideas of his own destiny, how could I +for a moment suppose he would re-visit France without a +consciousness of success, founded upon some secret conviction +that it was infallible, through measures previously arranged ? I +can only conclude that my understanding, such as it is, was +utterly tired out by a long harass of perpetual alarm and +sleepless apprehension. Unmoved, therefore, I remained in the +general apparent repose which, if it were as real in those with +whom I mixed as in myself, I now deem a species of infatuation. +Whether or not M. d'Arblay was involved in the general failure of +foresight I have mentioned, I never now can ascertain. To spare +me any evil tidings, and save me from + +Page 302 + +even the shadow of any unnecessary alarm, was the first and +constant solicitude of his indulgent goodness. + +At this period he returned to Paris to settle various matters for +our Senlis residence. We both now knew the event that so soon was +to monopolize all thought and all interest throughout Europe: but +we knew it without any change in our way of life; on the +contrary, we even resumed our delightful airings in the Bois de +Boulogne, whither the general drove me every morning in a light +calche, of which he had possessed himself upon his entrance into +the king's body-guard the preceding year. + +Brief, however, was this illusion, and fearful was the light by +which its darkness was dispersed. In a few days we hear that +Bonaparte, whom we had concluded to be, of course, either stopped +at landing and taken prisoner, or forced to save himself by +flight, was, on the contrary, pursuing unimpeded his route to +Lyons. + +>From this moment disguise, if any there had been, was over with +the most open and frank of human beings, who never even +transitorily practised it but to keep off evil, or its +apprehension, from others. He communicated to me now his strong +view of danger ; not alone that measures might be taken to secure +my safety, but to spare me any sudden agitation. Alas! none was +spared to himself! More clearly than any one he anticipated the +impending tempest, and foreboded its devastating effects. He +spoke aloud and strenuously, with prophetic energy, to all with +whom he was then officially associated but the greater part +either despaired of resisting the torrent, or disbelieved its +approach. What deeply interesting scenes crowd upon my +remembrance, of his noble, his daring, but successless exertions! +The king's body-guard immediately de service,(259) at that time, +was the compagnie of the Prince de Poix, a man of the most +heartfelt loyalty, but who had never served, and who was +incapable of so great a command at so critical a juncture, from +utter inexperience. + + + BONAPARTE'S ADVANCE: CONTEMPLATED MIGRATION FROM PARIS. + +At this opening of the famous Hundred Days it seemed to occur to +no one that Bonaparte would make any attempt upon Paris. It was +calmly taken for granted he would + +Page 303 + +speedily escape back to Elba, or remain in the south a prisoner - +and it was only amongst deep or restless politicians that any +inquietude was manifested with respect to either of these +results. Madame la Princesse d'Henin, indeed, whom I was in the +habit of frequently meeting, had an air and Manner that announced +perturbation ; but her impetuous spirit in politics kept her mind +always in a state of energy upon public affairs. + +But when Bonaparte actually arrived at Lyons the face of affairs +changed. Expectation was then awakened--consternation began to +spread; and report went rapidly to her usual work, of now +exciting nameless terror, and now allaying even reasonable +apprehension. + +To me, every moment became more anxious. I saw General d'Arblay +imposing upon himself a severity of service for which he had no +longer health or strength, and imposing it only the more rigidly +from the fear that his then beginning weakness and infirmities +should seem to plead for indulgence. it was thus that he insisted +upon going through the double duty of artillery officer at the +barracks, and of officier suprieur in the king's body-guards at +the Tuileries, The smallest representation to M. le Duc de +Luxembourg, who had a true value for him, would have procured a +substitute: but he would not hear me upon such a proposition; he +would sooner, far, have died at his post, He now almost lived +either at the Tuileries or at the barracks. I only saw him when +business or military arrangements brought him home; but he kindly +sent me billets to appease my suspense every two or three hours. + +The project upon Paris became at length obvious, yet its success +was little feared, though the horrors of a civil war seemed +inevitable. M. d'Arblay began to wish me away; he made various +propositions for ensuring my safety; he even pressed me to depart +for England to rejoin Alexander and my family: but I knew them to +be in security, whilst my first earthly tie was exposed to every +species of danger, and I besought him not to force me away. He +was greatly distressed, but could not oppose my urgency. He +procured me, however, a passport from M. le Comte de Jaucourt, +his long attached friend, who was minister aux affaires +trangres(260) ad interim, while Talleyrand Perigord was with +the Congress at Vienna. + +Page 304 + +I received it most unwillingly: I could not endure to absent +myself from the seat of government,-for I little divined how soon +that government was to change its master. Nevertheless, the +prudence of this preparatory measure soon became conspicuous, for +the very following day I heard of nothing but purposed +emigrations from Paris-retirement, concealment, embarrassments, +and difficulties. My sole personal joy was that my younger +Alexander was far away, and safely lodged in the only country of +safety. + +But, on the 17th, hope again revived. I received these words from +my best friend, written on a scrap of paper torn from a parcel, +and brought to me by his groom from the palace of the Tuileries, +where their writer had passed the night mounting guard:-- + +"Nous avons de meilleures nouvelles. Je ne puis entrer dans aucun +dtail; mais sois tranquille, et aime bien qui t'aime +uniquement.(261) God bless you." + +This news hung upon the departure of Marshal Ney to meet +Bonaparte and stop his progress, with the memorable words uttered +publicly to the king, that he would bring him to Paris in an iron +cage. The king at this time positively announced and protested +that he would never abandon his throne nor quit his capital, +Paris. + +Various of my friends called upon me this day, all believing the +storm was blowing over. Madame Chastel and her two daughters were +calm, but, nevertheless, resolved to visit a small terre(262) +which they possessed, till the metropolis was free from all +contradictory rumours. Madame de Cadignan preserved her +imperturbable gaiety and carelessness, and said she should stay, +happen what might ; for what mischief could befall a poor widow ? +Her sportive smiles and laughing eyes displayed her security in +the power of her charms. Madame de Maisonneuve was filled with +apprehensions for her brothers, who were all in highly +responsible situations, and determined to remain in Paris to be +in the midst of them. The Princesse d'Henin came to me daily to +communicate all the intelligence she gathered from the numerous +friends and connections through whom she was furnished with +supplies. Her own plans were incessantly changing, but her +friendship knew no + +Page 305 + +alteration; and in every various modification of her intentions +she always offered to include me in their execution, should my +affairs reduce me, finally, to flight. + +Flight, however, was intolerable to my thoughts. I weighed it not +as saving me from Bonaparte - I could consider it only as +separating me from all to which my heart most dearly clung. +Madame d'Henin was undecided whether to go to the north or to the +south-to Bordeaux or to Brussels ; I could not, therefore, even +give a direction to M. d'Arblay where I could receive any +intelligence, and the body-guard of the king was held in utter +suspense as to its destination. This, also, was unavoidable, +since the king himself could only be guided by events. + +The next day, the 18th of March, all hope disappeared. From +north, from south, from east, from west, alarm took the field, +danger flashed its lightnings, and contention growled its +thunders: yet in Paris there was no rising, no disturbance, no +confusion--all was taciturn suspense, dark dismay, or sullen +passiveness. The dread necessity which had reduced the king, +Louis XVIII., to be placed on his throne by foreigners, would +have annihilated all enthusiasm of loyalty, if any had been left +by the long underminings of revolutionary principles. + +What a day was *this of gloomy solitude! Not a soul approached +me, save, for a few moments, my active Madame d'Henin, who came +to tell me she was preparing to depart, unless a successful +battle should secure the capital from the conqueror. I now +promised that if I should ultimately be compelled to fly my home, +I would thankfully be of her party; and she grasped at this +engagement with an eagerness that gave proof of her sincere and +animated friendship. This intimation was balm to the heart of my +dearest partner, and he wished the measure to be executed and +expedited; but I besought him, as he valued my existence, not to +force me away till every other resource was hopeless. + + + GENERAL D'ARBLAY'S MILITARY PREPARATIONS. + +He passed the day almost wholly at the barracks. When he entered +his dwelling, in the Rue de Miromenil, it was only upon military +business, and from that he could spare me scarcely a second. He +was shut up in his library with continual comers and goers; and +though I durst not follow + +Page 306 + +him, I could not avoid gathering, from various circumstances, +that he was now preparing to take the field, in full expectation +of being sent out with his comrades of the guard, to check the +rapid progress of the invader. I knew this to be his earnest +wish, as the only chance of saving the king and the throne; but +he well knew it was my greatest dread, though I was always silent +upon the subject, well aware that while his honour was dearer to +him than his life, my own sense of duty was dearer to me also +than mine. While he sought, therefore, to spare me the view of +his arms and warlike equipage and habiliments, I felt his wisdom +as well as his kindness, and tried to appear as if I had no +suspicion of his proceedings, remaining almost wholly in my own +room, to avoid any accidental surprise, and to avoid paining him +with the sight of my anguish. I masked it as well as I could for +the little instant he had from time to time to spare me; but +before dinner he left me entirely, having to pass the night +cheval at the barracks, as he had done the preceding night at the +Tuileries. + +The length of this afternoon, evening, and night was scarcely +supportable : his broken health, his altered looks, his frequent +sufferings, and diminished strength, all haunted me with terror, +in the now advancing prospect of his taking the field. And where? +And how? No one knew! Yet he was uncertain whether he could even +see me once more the next day! . . . + +I come now to the detail of one of the most dreadful days of my +existence, the 19th of March, 1815, the last which preceded the +triumphant return of Bonaparte to the capital of France. Little, +on its opening, did I imagine that return so near, or believe it +would be brought about without even any attempted resistance. +General d'Arblay, more in the way of immediate intelligence, and +more able to judge of its result, was deeply affected by the most +gloomy prognostics. He came home at about six in the morning, +harassed, worn, almost wasted with fatigue, and yet more with a +baleful view of all around him, and with a sense of wounded +military honour in the inertia which seemed to paralyze all +effort to save the king and his cause. He had spent two nights +following armed on guard, one at the Tuileries, in his duty of +garde du corps to the king; the other on duty as artillery +captain at the barracks. He went to bed for a few hours ; and +then, after a wretched breakfast in which he +Page 307 + +briefly narrated the state of things he had witnessed and his +apprehensions, be conjured me, in the most solemn and earnest +manner, to yield to the necessity of the times, and consent to +quit Paris with Madame d'Henin, should she ultimately decide to +depart. I could not, when I saw his sufferings, endure to augment +them by any further opposition; but never was acquiescence so +painful! To lose even the knowledge whither he went, or the +means of acquainting him whither I might go myself--to be +deprived of the power to join him, should he be made prisoner--or +to attend him, should he be wounded. . . . I could not pronounce +my consent; but he accepted it so decidedly in my silence, that +he treated it as arranged, and hastened its confirmation by +assuring me I had relieved his mind from a weight of care and +distress nearly intolerable. As the wife of an officer in the +king's body-guard, in actual service, I might be seized, he +thought, as a kind of hostage, and might probably fare all the +worse for being also an Englishwoman. + +He then wrote a most touching note to the Princesse d'Henin, +supplicating her generous friendship to take the charge not only +of my safety, but of supporting and consoling me. + +After this, he hurried back to the Tuileries for orders, +apparently more composed; and that alone enabled me to sustain my +so nearly compulsory and so repugnant agreement. His return was +speedy: he came, as he had departed, tolerably composed, for he +had secured me a refuge, and he had received orders to prepare to +march--to Melun, he concluded, to encounter Bonaparte, and to +battle; for certain news had arrived of the invader's rapid +approach. . . . at half-past two; at noon it was expected that +the body-guard would be put in motion. Having told me this +history, he could not spare me another moment till that which +preceded his leaving home to join the Due de Luxembourg's +company. He then came to me, with an air of assumed serenity, and +again, in the most kindly, soothing terms, called upon me to give +him an example of courage. I obeyed his injunction with my best +ability-yet how dreadful was our parting! We knelt together in +short but fervent prayer to heaven for each other's preservation, +and then separated. At the door he turned back, and with a smile +which, though forced, had inexpressible sweetness, he half gaily +exclaimed, "Vive le roi!" I instantly caught his wise +Page 308 + +wish that we should part with apparent cheerfulness, and reechoed +his words-and then he darted from my sight. + +This had passed in an ante-room ; but I then retired to my +bedchamber, where, all effort over, I remained for some minutes +abandoned to an affliction nearly allied to despair, though +rescued from it by fervent devotion. + +But an idea then started into my mind that yet again I might +behold him. I ran to a window which looked upon the inward +court-yard. There, indeed, behold him I did, but oh, with what +anguish ! just mounting his war-horse, a noble animal, of which +he was singularly fond, but which at this moment I viewed with +acutest terror, for it seemed loaded with pistols, and equipped +completely for immediate service on the field of battle; while +Deprez, the groom, prepared to mount another, and our cabriolet +was filled with baggage and implements of war. + +I could not be surprised, since I knew the destination of the +general ; but so carefully had he spared me the progress of his +preparations, which he thought would be killing me by inches, +that I had not the most distant idea he was thus armed and +encircled with instruments of death-bayonets, lances, pistols, +guns, sabres, daggers !-what horror assailed me at the sight! I +had only so much sense and self-control left as to crawl softly +and silently away, that I might not inflict upon him the +suffering of beholding my distress - but when he had passed the +windows, I opened them to look after him. The street was empty - +the gay constant gala of a Parisian Sunday was changed into +fearful solitude : no sound was heard, but that of here and there +some hurried footstep, on one hand hastening for a passport to +secure safety by flight ; on the other, rushing abruptly from or +to some concealment, to devise means of accelerating and hailing +the entrance of the conqueror. Well in tune with this air of an +impending crisis, was my miserable mind, which from grief little +short of torture sunk, at its view, into a state of morbid quiet, +that seemed the produce of feelings totally exhausted. + + + PREPARATIONS FOR FLIGHT: LEAVE-TAKINGS. + +Thus I continued, inert, helpless, motionless, till the Princesse +d'Henin came into my apartment. Her first news was, that +Bonaparte had already reached Compigne, and that to-morrow, the +20th of March, he might arrive in Paris, if the +Page 309 + +army of the king stopped not his progress. It was now necessary +to make a prompt decision; my word was given, and I agreed to +accompany her whithersoever she fixed to go. She was STILL +hesitating; but it was settled I should join her in the evening, +bag and baggage, and partake of her destination. . . . + +I was now sufficiently roused for action, and my first return to +conscious understanding was a desire to call in and pay every +bill that might be owing, as well as the rent of our apartments +up to the present moment, that no pretence might be assumed from +our absence for disposing of our goods, books, or property of any +description. As we never had any avoidable debts, this was soon +settled ; but the proprietor of the house was thunderstruck by +the measure, saying, the king had reiterated his proclamation +that he would not desert his capital. I could only reply that +the general was at his majesty's orders, and that my absence +Would be short. I then began collecting our small portion of +plate, etc.; but while thus occupied, I received a message from +Madame d'Henin, to tell me I must bring nothing but a small +change of linen, and one band-box, as by the news she had just +heard, she was convinced we should be back again in two or three +days, and she charged me to be with her in an hour from that +time. I did what she directed, and put what I most valued, that +was not too large, into a hand-basket, made by some French +prisoners in England, that had been given me by my beloved friend +Mrs. Locke. I then swallowed, standing, my neglected dinner, and, +with Madame Deprez, and my small allowance of baggage, I got into +a fiacre, and drove to General Victor de la Tour Maubourg, to bid +adieu to my dearest Madame de Maisonneuve, and her family. + +It was about nine o'clock at night, and very dark. I sent on +Madame Deprez to the princess, and charged her not to return to +summon me till the last moment. The distance was small. + +I found the -house of the Marquis Victor de la Tour Maubourg in a +state of the most gloomy dismay. No portier was in the way, but +the door of the porte CocHre was ajar, and I entered on foot, no +fiacre being ever admitted into les cours des hTels. Officers +and strangers were passing to and fro, some to receive, others to +resign commissions, but all with quick steps, though in dead +silence. Not a servant was in the way, and hardly any light; all +seemed in disorder. + +Page 310 + +groped along till I came to the drawing-room, in which were +several people, waiting for orders, or for an audience ; but in +no communication with each other, for here, also, a dismal +taciturnity prevailed, From my own disturbance, joined to my +short-sightedness, I was some time ere I distinguished Madame +Victor de la Tour Maubourg, and when at last I saw her, I +ventured not to address or to approach her. She was at a table, +endeavouring to make some arrangement, or package, or +examination, with papers and boxes before her, but deluged in +tears, which flowed so fast that she appeared to have +relinquished all effort to restrain them, And this was the more +affecting to witness, as she is eminently equal and cheerful in +her disposition. I kept aloof, and am not certain that she even +perceived me. The general was in his own apartment, transacting +military business of moment. But no sooner was I espied by my +dearest Madame de Maisonneuve, than I was in her kind arms. She +took me apart to reveal to me that the advance of the late +emperor was still more rapid than its report. All were quitting +Paris, or resigning themselves to passive submission. For +herself, she meant to abide by whatever should be the destination +of her darling brother Victor, who was now finishing a commission +that no longer could be continued, of raising volunteers-for +there was no longer any royal army for them to join ! Whether the +king would make a stand at the Tuileries, as he had unhappily +promised, or whether he would fly, was yet unknown ; but General +Victor de Maubourg was now going to equip himself in full +uniform, that he might wait upon his majesty in person, decidedly +fixed to take his orders, be they what they might. + +With danger thus before him, in his mutilated state, having +undergone an amputation of the leg and thigh on the field of +battle, who can wonder at the desolation of Madame Victor when he +resolved to sustain the risk of such an offer? Presently, what +was my emotion at the sudden and abrupt entrance into the room of +an officer of the king's garde du corps! in the self-same uniform +as that from which I had parted with such anguish in the morning! +A transitory hope glanced like lightning upon my brain, with an +idea that the body-guard was all at hand; but as evanescent as +bright was the flash! The concentrated and mournful look of the +officer assured me nothing genial was awaiting me - and when the +next minute we recognized each other, I saw it was the Count +Charles de la Tour Maubourg, the youngest brother of Madame de + +Page 311 + +Maisonneuve; and he then told me he had a note for me from M. +d'Arblay. + +Did I breathe then? i think not! I grasped the paper in my hand, +but a mist was before my eyes, and I could not read a word. +Madame de Maisonneuve held a hurried conference with her brother, +and then informed me that the body-guard was all. called out) the +whole four companies, with their servants, equipage, arms and +horses, to accompany and protect the king in his flight from +Paris! But whither he would go, or with what intent, whether of +battle or of escape, had not been announced. The Count Charles +had obtained leave of absence for one hour to see his wife +(Mademoiselle de Lafayette) and his children; but M. d'Arblay, +who belonged to the artillery company, could not be spared even a +moment. He had therefore seized a cover of a letter of M. de +Bethizy, the commandant, to write me a few words. + +I now read them, and found-- + +"Ma chre amie--Tout est perdu! je ne puis entrer dans aucun +dtail--de grce, partez! le plutt sera le mieux. A la vie et +la mort, A. D'A."(263) + +Scarcely had I read these lines, when I was told that Madame +d'Henin had sent me a summons. I now could but embrace my Madame +de Maisonneuve in silence, and depart. . . . + + + ARISTOCRATIC IRRITABILITY. + +Arrived at Madame la Princesse d'Henin's, all was in a +perturbation yet greater than what I had left, though not equally +afflicting. Madame d'Henin was so little herself, that every +moment presented a new view of things, and urged her impatiently, +nay imperiously, to differ from whatever was offered. + +Now she saw instantly impending danger, and was for precipitate +flight; now she saw fearless security, and determined not to move +a step ; the next moment all was alarm again, and she wanted +wings for speed - and the next, the smallest apprehension +awakened derision and contempt. I, who had never yet seen her but +all that was elegant, rational, and kind, was thunderstruck by +this effect of threatening + +Page 312 + +evil upon her high and susceptible spirit. From manners of +dignified serenity, she so lost all self-possession as to answer +nearly with fury whatever was not acquiescent concurrence in her +opinion: from sentiments of the most elevated nobleness she was +urged, by every report that opposed her expectations, to the +utterance of wishes and of assertions that owed their impulse to +passion, and their foundation to prejudice ; and from having +sought, with the most flattering partiality, to attach me to her +party, she gave me the severe shock of intimating that my joining +her confused all er measures. + +To change my plan now was impossible ; my husband and my best +friends knew me to be with her, and could seek me, or bestow +information upon me, in no other direction; I had given up my own +home, and to return thither, or to stay any where in Paris, was +to constitute myself a prisoner: nevertheless, it was equally a +sorrow and a violence to my feelings to remain with her another +moment after so astonishing a reproach. Displeasure at it, +however, subsided, when I found that it proceeded neither from +weakened regard, nor a wanton abuse of power, but from a mind +absolutely disorganized. + +M. le Comte de Lally Tolendal, the Cicero of France, and most +eloquent man of his day, and one of the most honourable, as well +as most highly gifted, was, I now found, to be of our fugitive +party. He was her admiring and truly devoted friend, and by many +believed to be privately married to her. I am myself of that +opinion, and that the union, on account of prior and unhappy +circumstances, was forborne to be avowed. Certainly their mutual +conduct warranted this conclusion. Nevertheless, his whole +demeanour towards her announced the most profound respect as well +as attachment ; and hers to him the deepest consideration, with a +delight in his talents amounting to an adoration that met his for +her noble mind and winning qualities. She wanted, however, +despotically to sway him ; and little as he might like the +submission she required, he commonly yielded, to avoid, as I +conceive, the dangerous conjectures to which dissension might +make them liable. + +But at this moment, revolutionary terrors and conflicting +sensations robbed each of them of that self-command which till +now had regulated their public intercourse. She, off all guard, +let loose alike the anxious sensibility and the arbitrary +impetuosity of her nature: he, occupied with too mighty a trouble +to have time or care for his wonted watchful +Page 313 + +attentions, heard alike her admonitions or lamentations with an +air of angry, but silent displeasure ; or, when urged too +pointedly for maintaining his taciturnity, retorted her +reproaches or remarks with a vehemence that seemed the echo of +her own. Yet in the midst of this unguarded contention, which had +its secret incitement, I doubt not, from some cruelly opposing +difference of feelings--of ideas upon the present momentous +crisis, nothing could be more clear than that their attachment to +each other, though it could not subdue their violent tempers, +was, nevertheless, the predominant passion of their souls. + + + THE COUNTESS D'AUCH'S COMPOSURE. + +The turbulence of these two animated characters upon this trying +occasion was strongly contrasted by the placid suffering and +feminine endurance of Madame la Comtesse d'Auch, the daughter and +sole heiress and descendant of M. de Lally. Her husband, like +mine, was in the body-guard of Louis XVIII., and going, or gone, +no one knew whither, nor with what intent; her estate and +property were all near Bordeaux, and her little children were +with her at Paris. The difficult task, in the great uncertainty +of events, was now hers to decide, whether to seek the same +refuge that her father and Madame Henin should resolve upon +seeking, or whether to run every personal risk in trying to save +her lands and fortune from confiscation, by traversing, with only +her babies and servants, two or three hundred miles, to reach her +chateau at Auch ere it might be seized by the conquering party. +Quietly, and in total silence, she communed with herself, not +mixing in the discourse, nor seeming to heed the disturbance +around her; but, when at length applied to, her resolution, from +her Own concentrated meditations, was fixedly taken, to preserve, +if possible, by her exertions and courage, the property of her +absent and beloved husband, for his hoped return and for her +children. This steadiness and composure called not forth any +imitation. M. de Lally breathed hard with absolute agony of +internal debate; and Madame d'Henin now declared she was sure all +would blow over in a false alarm, and that she would not hesitate +any longer between Brussels and Bordeaux, but remain quietly in +Paris, and merely sit up all night to be on the watch. +Page 314 + + RUMOURS OF BONAPARTE'S NEAR APPROACH. + +M. de Lally determined to go now in person to the Tuileries, to +procure such information as might decide his shattered and +irresolute friend. When he was gone, a total silence ensued. +Madame d'Auch was absorbed in her fearful enterprise, and Madame +d'Henin, finding no one opposed her (for my thoughts were with no +one present), walked up and down the room, with hasty movement, +as if performing some task. Various persons came and went, +messengers, friends, or people upon business. She seized upon +them all, impatiently demanding their news, and their opinions, +but so volubly, at the same time, uttering her own, as to give +them no time to reply, though as they left her, too much hurried +themselves to wait her leisure for listening, she indignantly +exclaimed against their stupidity and insensibility. + +But what a new and terrible commotion was raised in her mind, in +that of Madame d'Auch, and in mine, upon receiving a pencil +billet from M. de Lally, brought by a confidential servant, to +announce that Bonaparte was within a few hours' march of Paris! +He begged her to hasten off, and said he would follow in his +cabriolet when he had made certain arrangements, and could gain +some information as to the motions of the king. + +She now instantly ordered horses to her berlin,(264) which had +long been loaded, and calling up all her people and dependants, +was giving her orders with the utmost vivacity, when intelligence +was brought her that no horses could now be had, the government +having put them all in requisition. I was struck with horror. To +be detained in Paris, the seat of impending conquest, and the +destined capital of the conqueror--detained a helpless prisoner, +where all would be darkly unknown to me, where Truth could find +no entrance, Falsehood no detection--where no news could reach +me, except news that was fatal--oh! what dire feelings were mine +at this period! + +Madame d'Auch, who had taken her precautions, instantly though +sadly, went away, to secure her own carriage, and preserve her +little babies. + + + DEPARTURE FROM PARIS AT NIGHT TIME. + +Madame d'Henin was now almost distracted, but this dreadful +prospect of indefinite detention, with all the horrors + +Page 315 + +of captivity, lasted not long: Le Roy, her faithful domestic from +his childhood, prevailed upon some stable friend to grant the use +of his horses for one stage from Paris, and the berlin and four +was at the porte cochre in another moment, The servants and +dependants of Madame d'Henin accompanied her to the carriage in +tears ; and all her fine qualities were now unmixed, as she took +an affectionate leave of them, with a sweetness the most +engaging, suffering the women to kiss her cheek, and smiling +kindly on the men, who kissed her robe. Vivacity like hers +creates alarm, but, in France, breeds no resentment ; and where, +like hers, the character is eminently noble and generous, it is +but considered as a mark of conscious rank, and augments rather +than diminishes personal devotion. + +We now rushed into the carriage, averse, yet eager, between ten +and eleven o'clock at night, 19th March, 1815. As Madame d'Henin +had a passport for herself, et sa famille, we resolved to keep +mine in reserve, in case of accidents or separation, and only to +produce hers, while I should be included in its privileges. The +decision for our route was for Brussels ; the femme de chambre of +Madame d'Henin-within, and the valet, Le Roy, outside the +carriage, alone accompanied us, with two postilions for the four +horses. Madame d'Henin, greatly agitated, spoke from time to +time, though rather in ejaculations upon our flight, its +uncertainties and alarms, than with any view to conversation; but +if she had any answer, it was of simple acquiescence from her +good and gentle femme de chambre; as to me . . . I could not +utter a word--my husband on his war-horse--his shattered state of +health--his long disuse to military service, yet high-wrought +sense of military honour--all these were before me. I saw, +heard, and was conscious of nothing else, till we arrived at Le +Bourget,(265) a long, straggling, small town. And here, Madame +d'Henin meant to stop, or at least change horses. + + + A HALT AT LE BOURGET. + +But all was still, and dark, and shut up. It was the dead of +night, and no sort of alarm seemed to disturb the inhabitants + +Page 316 + +of the place. We knocked at the first inn: but after waiting a +quarter of an hour, some stable-man came Out to say there was not +a room vacant. The same reply was with the same delay given us at +two other inns; but, finally, we were more successful, though +even then we could obtain only a single apartment, with three +beds. These we appropriated for Madame d'Henin, myself, and her +maid; and the men-servants were obliged to content themselves +with mattresses in the kitchen. The town, probably, was filled +with fugitives from Paris. + +A supper was directly provided, but Madame d'Henin, who now again +repented having hurried off, resolved upon sending her faithful +Le Roy back to the metropolis, to discover whether it were +positively true that the king had quitted it, He hired a horse, +and we then endeavoured to repose . . . but oh, how far from me +was all possibility of obtaining it! + +About three in the morning M. de Lally overtook us. His +information was immediately conveyed to the Princesse d'Henin. +It was gloomily affrighting. The approach of Bonaparte was +wholly unresisted; all bowed before, that did not spring forward +to meet him. + +Le Roy returned about six in the morning. The king, and his +guards, and his family, had all suddenly left Paris, but whither +had not transpired. He was preceded, encircled, and followed by +his four companies of body-guards. + +Horror and distress at such a flight and such uncertainty were +not mine only, though circumstances rendered mine the most +poignant; but M. de Lally had a thousand fears for the excellent +and loved husband of his daughter, M. le Comte d'Auch; and Madame +d'Henin trembled, for herself and all her family, at the danger +of the young Hombert La Tour du Pin. + + + THE JOURNEY RESUMED. + +No longer easy to be so near Paris, we hastily prepared to get on +for Brussels, our destined harbour. M. de Lally now accompanied +us, followed by his valet in a cabriolet. Our journey commenced +in almost total silence on all parts: the greatness of the change +of government thus marvellously effecting, the impenetrable +uncertainty of coming events, and our dreadful ignorance of the +fate of those most precious to us, who were involved in the deeds +and the consequences +Page 317 + +of immediate action, filled every mind too awfully for speech and +our sole apparent attention was to the passengers we overtook, or +by whom we were overtaken. + +These were so few, that I think we could not count half a dozen +on our way to Senlis, and those seemed absorbed in deadly thought +and silence, neither looking at us, nor caring to encounter our +looks. The road, the fields, the hamlets, all appeared deserted. +Desolate and lone was the universal air. I have since concluded +that the people of these parts had separated into two divisions; +one of which had hastily escaped, to save their lives and +loyalty, while the other had hurried to the capital to greet the +conqueror - for this was Sunday,(266) the 20th of March. + +Oh, what were my sensations on passing through Senlis Senlis, so +lately fixed for my three months' abode with my general, during +his being de service. When we stopped at a nearly empty inn, +during the change of horses, I inquired after Madame Le Quint, +and some other ladies who had been prepared to kindly receive +me--but they were all gone! hastily they had quitted the town, +which, like its environs, had an air of being generally +abandoned. + +The desire of obtaining intelligence made Madame d'Henin most +unwilling to continue a straightforward journey, that must +separate her more and more from the scene of action. M. de Lally +wished to see his friend the young Duc d'Orlans,(267) who was at +Peronne, with his sister and part of his family; and he was +preparing to gratify this desire, when a discussion relative to +the danger of some political misconstruction, the duke being at +that time upon ill terms with Monsieur, Comte d'Artois,(268) made +him relinquish his purpose. We wandered about, however, I hardly +know where, save that we stopped from time to time at small +hovels in which resided tenants of the Prince or of the Princess +de Poix, who received Madame d'Henin with as much devotion of +attachment as they could have done in the fullest splendour of +her power to reward their kindness ; though with an entire +familiarity of discourse that, had I been new to French Customs, +would have seemed to me marks of total loss of respect. But after +a ten years' unbroken residence in France, + +Page 318 + +I was too well initiated in the ways of the dependants Upon the +great belonging to their own tenantry, to make a mistake so +unjust to their characters. We touched, as I think, at Noailles, +at St. just, at Mouchy, and at Poix--but I am only sure we +finished the day by arriving at Roy, where still the news of that +day was unknown. What made it travel so slowly I cannot tell; but +from utter dearth of all the intelligence by which we meant to be +guided, we remained, languidly and helplessly, at Roy till the +middle of the following Monday,(269) the 21st March. + +About that time some military entered the town and our inn. We +durst not ask a single question, in our uncertainty to which side +they belonged ; but the four horses were hastily ordered, since +to decamp seemed what was most necessary. But Brussels was no +longer the indisputable spot, as the servants Overheard some +words that implied a belief that Louis XVIII. was quitting France +to return to his old asylum, England. It was determined, +therefore, though not till after a tumultuous debate between the +princess and M. de Lally, to go straight to Amiens, where the +prefect, M. Lameth, was a former friend, if not connection, of +the princess. + +We had now to travel by a cross-road, and a very bad one, and it +was not till night that we arrived at the suburbs. It was here +first we met with those difficulties that announced, by vigilance +with disturbance, a kind of suspended government; for the +officers of the police who demanded our passports were evidently +at a loss whether to regard them as valid or not. Their +interrogatories, meanwhile, were endless; and, finally, they +desired us, as it was so late and dark, to find ourselves a +lodging in the suburbs, and not enter the city of Amiens till the +next morning. + +Clouded as were alike our perceptions and our information, we +could not but be aware of the danger of to-morrow, when our +entrance might be of a sort to make our exit prohibited. Again +followed a tumultuous debate, which ended in the hazardous +resolve of appealing to the prefect and casting ourselves upon +his protection. This appeal ended all inquisition : we were +treated with deference, and accommodated in a decent room, while +the passports of Madame d'Henin and of M. de Lally were forwarded +to the prefecture. We remained here some time in the utmost +stillness, no one pronouncing a word. We knew not who might +listen, nor + +Page 319 + +with what ears ! But far from still was all within, because far +from confident how the prefect might judge necessary to arrest, +or to suffer our proceeding further. The answer was, at length, +an order to the police officers to let us enter the city and be +conducted to an hotel named by M. Lameth. + + + A SUPPER AT AmIENS WITH THE PREFECT. + +We had an immensely long drive through the city of Amiens ere we +came to the indicated hotel. But here Madame d'Henin found a +note that was delivered to her by the secretary of the +prefecture, announcing the intention of the prefect to have the +honour of waiting upon her; and when M. Lameth was announced, M. +de Lally and I retired to our several chambers. + +Her tte--tte with him was very long, and ended in a summons to +M. de Lally to make it a trio. This interview was longer still, +and my anxiety for the news with which it might terminate +relative to the king, the body-guard, and our detention or +progression, was acute. At length I also was summoned. + +Madame d'Henin came out to me upon the landing-place, hastily and +confusedly, to say that the prefect did not judge proper to +receive her at the prefecture, but that he would stay and sup +with her, and that I was to pass for her premire femme de +chambre, as it would not be prudent to give in my name, though it +had been made known to M. Lameth; but the wife of an officer so +immediately in the service of the king must not be specified as +the host of a prefect, if that prefect meant , to yield to the +tide of a new government. Tide? Nay, torrent it was at this +moment ; and any resistance that had not been previously +organized, and with military force, must have been vain. I made, +however, no inquiry. I was simply acquiescent; and, distantly +following Madame d'Henin, remained at the end of the room while +the servants and the waiters adjusted matters for supper. + +In a situation of such embarrassment I never before was placed. I +knew not which way to look, nor what to do. Discovery at such a +crisis might have been fatal, as far as might hang upon +detention; and detention, which would rob me of all means of +hearing of M. d'Arblay, should I gather what was his route, and +be able to write to him, was death to my peace. I regretted I had +not demanded to stay in +Page 320 + +another room; but, in such heart-piercing moments, to be in the +way of intelligence is the involuntary first movement. + +When all was arranged, and Madame d'Henin was seated M. de Lally +set a chair for me, slightly bowing to me to take it. I complied, +and supper began. I was helped, of course the last, and not once +spoken to by any body. The repast' was not very gay, yet by no +means dejected. The conversation was upon general topics, and M. +de Lameth was entirely master of himself, seeming wholly without +emotion. + +I was afterwards informed that news had just reached him, but not +officially, that Bonaparte had returned to Paris. Having heard, +therefore, nothing from the new government he was able to act as +if there were none such, and he kindly obliged Madame d'Henin by +giving her new passports, which should the conquest be confirmed, +would be safer than passports from the ministers of Louis XVIII. +at Paris. . . . + +M. Lameth could not, however, answer for retaining his powers, +nor for what might be their modification even from hour to hour: +he advised us, therefore, by no means to risk his being either +replaced or restrained, but to get on as fast as possible with +his passports while certain they were efficient. He thought it +safer, also, to make a circuit than to go back again to the +high-road we had quitted. Our design of following the king, whom +we imagined gaining the sea-coast to embark for England, was +rendered abortive from the number of contradictory accounts which +had reached M. Lameth as to the route he had taken. Brussels, +therefore, became again our point of desire; but M. Lameth +counselled us to proceed for the moment to Arras, where M. --- (I +forget his name) would aid us either to proceed, or to change, +according to circumstances, our destination. Not an instant, +however, was to be lost, lest M. Lameth should be forced himself +to detain us. Horses, therefore, he ordered for us, and a guide +across the country for Arras. + +I learnt nothing of this till we re-entered our carriage. The +servants and waiters never quitted the room, and the prefect had +as much his own safety to guard + from ill construction or report as ours. Madame d'Henin, though +rouged the whole time with confusion, never ventured to address a +word to me. It was, indeed, more easy to be silent than to speak +to me either with a tone of condescension or of command, and any +other must have been suspicious. M. de +Page 321 + +Lally was equally dumb, but active in holding out every plat to +me, though always looking another way. M. Lameth eyed me with +curiosity, but had no resource against surmise save that adopted +by Madame d'Henin. However, he had the skill and the politeness +to name, in the course of the repast, M. d'Arblay, as if +accidentally, yet with an expression of respect and distinction, +carefully, as he spoke, turning his eyes from mine, though it was +the only time that, voluntarily, he would have met them. + +The horses being ready, M. Lameth took leave. + + + + RECEPTION AT THE PREFECTURE AT ARRAS. + +It was now about eleven at night. The road was of the roughest +sort, and we were jerked up and down the ruts so as with +difficulty to keep our seats : it was also very dark, and the +drivers could not help frequently going out of their way, though +the guide, groping on upon such occasions on foot, soon set them +right. It was every way a frightful night. Misery, both public +and private, oppressed us all, and the fear of pursuit and +captivity had the gloomy effect of causing general taciturnity ; +so that no kind voice, nor social suggestion, diverted the sense +of danger, or excited one of hope. + +At what hour we arrived at Arras on Wednesday, the 22nd March, I +cannot tell; but we drove straight to the prefecture, a very +considerable mansion, surrounded with spacious grounds and +gardens, which to me, nevertheless, had a bleak, flat, and +desolate air, though the sun was brightly shining. We stopped at +the furthest of many gates on the high road, while madame sent in +to M. -- (I forget his name) the note with which we had been +favoured by M. Lameth. The answer was a most courteous +invitation of entrance, and the moment the carriage stopped at +the great door of the portico, the prefect, M. -, hastened out to +give Madame d'Henin le bras. He was an old soldier and in full +uniform, and he came to us from a battalion drawn out in array on +one side the park. Tall, and with still a goodly port, though +with a face worn and weather-beaten, he had the air of a +gentleman as well as of a general officer - and the open and +hospitable smile with which he received the princess, while +bareheaded and baldheaded he led her into his palace, diffused a +welcome around that gave an involuntary cheeriness even to poor +dejected me. How indescribably gifted is the human face Y + +Page 322 + +divine," in those who are invested with power, to transmit Or to +blight comfort even by a glance! + +As Madame d'Henin demanded a private audience, I know not what +passed; but I have reason to believe we were the first who +brought news to Arras that approached to the truth of the actual +position of Paris. M. Lameth, for Political reasons, had as +studiously avoided naming M. de Lally as myself in his note .- +but M. de Lally was treated by the mistress of the house with the +distinction due to a gentleman travelling with the princess ; and +as to me, some of the younger branches of the family took me +under their protection, and very kind they were, showing me the +garden, library, and views of the surrounding country. + + + A CHEERFUL DEJEUNER SOMEWHAT RUFFLED. + +Meanwhile, an elegant breakfast was prepared for a large company, +a review having been ordered for that morning, and several +general officers being invited by the prefect. This repast had a +cheerfulness that to me, an Englishwoman, was unaccountable and +is indefinable. The king had been compelled to fly his capital , +no one knew where he was seeking shelter; no one knew whether he +meant to resign his crown in hopeless inaction, or whether to +contest it in sanguinary civil war. Every family, therefore, +with its every connection in the whole empire of the French, was +involved in scenes upon which hung prosperity or adversity, +reputation or disgrace, honour or captivity ; yet at such a +crisis the large assembled family met with cheerfulness, the many +guests were attended to with politeness, and the goodly fare of +that medley of refreshments called a djeuner in France was met +with appetites as goodly as its incitements. + +This could not be from insensibility; the French are anything +rather than insensible : it could not be from attachment to +Bonaparte, the prefect loudly declaring his devotion to Louis +XVIII. I can only, therefore, attribute it to the long +revolutionary state of the French mind, as well as nation, which +had made it so familiar to insurrection, change, and incertitude, +that they met it as a man meets some unpleasant business which he +must unavoidably transact, and which, since he has no choice to +get rid of, he resolves to get through to the best of his +ability. + +We were still, however, smelling sweet flowers and regaled +Page 323 + +with fine fruits, when this serenity was somewhat ruffled by the +arrival of the commander of the forces which had been reviewed, +or destined for review, I know not which. He took the prefect +aside, and they were some time together. He then, only bowing to +the ladies of the house, hastened off. The prefect told us the +news that imperfectly arrived was very bad, but he hoped a stand +would be made against any obstinate revolt ; and he resolved to +assemble every officer and soldier belonging to his government, +and to call upon each separately to take again, and solemnly, his +oath of allegiance. . While preparing for this ceremony the +commander again returned, and told him he had positive +information that the. defection was spreading, and that whole +troops and' companies were either sturdily waiting in inaction, +or boldly marching on to meet the conqueror. + + + A LOYAL PREFECT. + +Our table was now broken up, and we were wishing to depart ere +official intimation from the capital might arrest our further +progress - but our horses were still too tired, and no others +were to be procured. We became again very uneasy, and uneasiness +began to steal upon all around us. The prefect was engaged in +perpetual little groups of consultation, chiefly with general +officers, who came and went with incessant bustle, and +occasionally and anxiously were joined by persons of consequence +of the vicinity. The greater the danger appeared, the more +intrepidly the brave old prefect declared his loyalty ; yet he +was advised by all parties to give up his scheme till he knew +whether the king himself 'made a stand in his own cause. $ + +He yielded reluctantly; and when Madame d'Henin found his steady +adhesion to his king, she came up to him and said, that, finding +the firmness of his devotion to Louis XVIII., she was sure it +would give him pleasure to know he had at that moment under his +roof the wife of a general officer in the actual escort of his +majesty. He instantly came to me with a benevolent smile, and we +had a conversation of deep Interest upon the present state of +things. I had the heartfelt satisfaction to find that my +honoured husband was known to him, not alone by reputation, but +personally; and to find that, and to hear his praise, has always +been one and the same thing. Alas! those sounds on these sad ears +vibrate no +Page 324 + +more!.....At length, however, about noon, we set off, accompanied +by the prefect and all his family to our carriage. + + + EMBLEMS OF LOYALTY AT DOUAY. + +At Douay, we had the satisfaction to see still stronger outward +marks of attachment to the king and his cause, for in every +street through which we passed, the windows were decked with +emblems of faithfulness to the Bourbon dynasty, white flags, or +ribands, or, handkerchiefs. All, however, without commotion, all +was a simple manifestation of respect, No insurrection was +checked, for none had been excited - no mob was dispersed, for +scarcely any one seemed to venture from his house. + +Our intention was to quit the French territory that night, and +sleep in more security at Tournay ; but the roads became so bad, +and our horses grew so tired, that it was already dark before we +reached Orchies. M. de Lally went on from Douay in his cabriolet, +to lighten our weight, as Madame d'Henin had a good deal of +baggage. We were less at our ease, while thus perforce travelling +slower, to find the roads, as we proceeded from Douay, become +more peopled. Hitherto they had seemed nearly a blank. We now +began, also, to be met, or to be overtaken, by small parties of +troops. We naturally looked out with earnestness on each side, to +discover to whom or to what they belonged : but the compliment of +a similar curiosity on their part was all we gained. Sometimes +they called out a "Vive--" but without finishing their wish; and +we repeated--that is, we bowed to--the same hailing exclamation, +without knowing or daring to inquire its purport. + + + STATE OF UNCERTAINTY AT ORCHIES. + +At Orchies, where we arrived rather late in the evening, we first +found decided marks of a revolutionary state of things. No orders +were sent by either party. The king and his government were too +imminently in personal danger to assert their rights, or retain +their authority for directing the provinces; Bonaparte and his +followers and supporters were too much engrossed by taking +possession of the capital, and too uncertain of their success, to +try a power which had as yet no basis, or risk a disobedience +which they had no means to resent. The people, as far as we could +see or learn + +Page 325 + +seemed passively waiting the event ; and the constituted +authorities appeared to be self-suspended from their functions +till the droit des plus fort(270) should ascertain who were their +masters. Nevertheless, while we waited at Orchies for horses, +news arrived by straggling parties which, though only whispered, +created evidently some disturbance - a sort of wondering +expectation soon stared from face to face, asking by the eye what +no one durst pronounce by the voice; what does all this portend? +and for what ought we to prepare? + + + A MISHAP ON THE ROAD. + +it was past eleven o'clock, and the night was dark and damp, ere +we could get again into our carriages - but the increasing bustle +warned us off, and a nocturnal journey had nothing to appal us +equally with the danger of remaining. We eagerly, therefore, set +off, but we were still in the suburbs of Orchies, when a call for +help struck our ears, and the berlin stopped. It was so dark, we +could not at first discern what was the matter, but we soon found +that the carriage of M. de Lally had broken down. Madame d'Henin +darted out of the berlin with the activity of fifteen. Her maid +accompanied her, and I eagerly followed. + +Neither M. de Lally nor his man had received any injury, but the +cabriolet could no longer proceed without being repaired. The +groom was sent to discover the nearest blacksmith, who came soon +to examine the mischief, and declared that it could not be +remedied before daylight. We were forced to submit the vehicle +to his decree - but our distress what to do with ourselves was +now very serious. We knew there was no accommodation for us at +the inn we had 'just quitted, but that of passing the night by +the kitchen fire, exposed to all the hazards of suspicious +observation upon our evident flight. To remain upon the high road +stationary in our berlin might, at such a period, encompass us +with dangers yet more serious. + + + A KINDLY OFFER OF SHELTER. + +We were yet unresolved, when a light from the windows of a small +house attracted our attention, and a door was opened, at which a +gentlewoman somewhat more than elderly stood, with a candle in +her hand, that lighted up a face full of +Page 326 + +benevolence, in which was painted strong compassion on the view +of our palpable distress. Her countenance encouraged us to +approach her, and the smile with which she saw us come forward +soon accelerated our advance; and when We reached her threshold, +she waited neither for solicitation nor representation, but let +us into her small dwelling without a single question, silently, +as if fearful herself we might be observed, shutting the street +door before she spoke. She then lamented, as we must needs, she +said, be cold and comfortless, that she had no fire, but added +that she and her little maid were in bed and asleep, when the +disturbance on the road had awakened her, and made her hasten up, +to inquire if any one were hurt. We told as much of our Story as +belonged to our immediate situation, and she then instantly, +assured us we should be welcome to stay in her house till the +cabriolet was repaired. + +Without waiting for our thanks, she then gave to each a chair, +and fetched great plenty of fuel, with which she made an ample +and most reviving fire, in a large stove that was placed in the +middle of the room. She had bedding, she said, for two, and +begged that, when we were warmed and comforted, we would decide +which of us most wanted rest. We durst not, however, risk, at +such a moment, either being separated or surprised; we entreated +her, therefore, to let us remain together, and to retire herself +to the repose her humanity had thus broken. But she would not +leave us. She brought forth bread, butter, and cheese, with wine +and some other beverage, and then made us each a large bowl of +tea. And when we could no longer partake of her hospitable fare, +she fetched us each a pillow, and a double chair, to rest our +heads and our feet. + + + ALARMED BY POLISH LANCERS. + +Thus cheered and refreshed, we blessed our kind hostess, and fell +into something like a slumber, when we were suddenly roused by +the sound of trumpets, and warlike instruments, and the trampling +of many horses, coming from afar, but approaching with rapidity. +We all started up alarmed, and presently the group, perceiving, I +imagine, through the ill-closed shutters, some light, stopped +before the house, and battered the door and the window, demanding +admission. We hesitated whether to remain or endeavour to conceal +ourselves + +Page 327 + +but our admirable hostess bid us be still, while, calm herself, +she opened the street door, where she parleyed with the party, +cheerfully and without any appearance of fear, and told them she +had no room for their accommodation, because she had given up +even her own bed to some relations who were travelling, she +gained from them an applauding huzza and their departure. She +then informed us they were Polish lancers, and that she believed +they were advancing to scour the country in favour of Bonaparte. +She expressed herself an open 'and ardent loyalist for the +Bourbons, but said she had no safety except in submitting, like +all around her, to the stronger powers. + +Again, by her persuasion, we sought to compose ourselves; but a +second party soon startled us from our purpose, and from that +time we made no similar attempt. I felt horrified at every blast +of the trumpet, and the fear of being made prisoner, or pillaged, +assailed me unremittingly. + +At about five o'clock in the morning our carriages were at the +door. We blessed our benevolent hostess, took her name and +address, that we might seek some means of manifesting our +gratitude, and then quitted Orchies. For the rest of our journey +till we reached the frontiers, we were annoyed with incessant +small military groups or horsemen; but though suspiciously +regarded, we were not stopped. The fact is, the new government +was not yet, in those parts, sufficiently organised to have been +able to keep if they had been strong enough to detain us. But we +had much difficulty to have our passports honoured for passing +the frontiers ; and if they had not been so recently renewed at +Amiens, I think it most probable our progress would have been +impeded till new orders and officers were entitled to make us +halt. + + + ARRIVAL AT TOURNAY. + +Great, therefore, was our satisfaction when, through all these +difficulties, we entered Tournay-where, being no longer in the +lately restored kingdom of France, we considered ourselves to be +escaped from the dominion of Bonaparte, and where we determined +therefore to remain till we could guide our further proceedings +by tidings of the plan and the position of Louis XVIII. We went +to the most considerable inn, and all retired to rest which, +after so much fatigue, mental and bodily, we required, and +happily obtained. +Page 328 + +The next day we had the melancholy satisfaction of hearing that +Louis XVIII. also had safely passed the frontiers of his lost +kingdom. As we were less fearful, now, of making inquiries, M. +de Lally soon learnt that his majesty had halted at Lille, where +he was then waiting permission and directions for a place of +retreat from the King of Holland, or the Netherlands. But no +intelligence whatsoever could we gain relative to the +body-guards, and my disturbance increased, every moment. + +There was far more commotion at Tournay than at any other town +through which we passed; for as the people here were not under +the French government, either old or new, they were not awed into +waiting to know to which they should belong, in fearful +passiveness : yet they had all the perplexity upon their minds of +disquieting ignorance whether they were to be treated as friends +or foes, since if Bonaparte prevailed they could not but expect +to be joined again to his dominions. All the commotion, +therefore, of divided interests and jarring opinions was awake, +and in full operation upon the faculties and feelings of every +Belgian at this critical moment. + + + FUTILE EFFORTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH M. D'ARBLAY. + +The horror of my suspense relative to the safety and the fate of +Monsieur d'Arblay reduced my mind to a sort of chaos, that makes +it impossible to recollect what was our abode at Tournay. I can +but relate my distress and my researches. + +My first thought was to send a letter to my general at Lille, +which if he was there would inform him of my vicinity, and if +not, might perhaps find its way to his destination. At all +events, I resolved only to write what would be harmless should it +fall even into the hands of the enemy. I directed those few +lines to M. le Chevalier d'Arblay, officier suprieur du garde du +corps de sa majest Louis XVIII. +But when I would have sent them to the post, I was informed there +was no post then to Lille. + +I then sought for a messenger, but was told that Lille was +inaccessible. The few letters that were permitted to enter it +were placed in a basket, the handle of which was tied to a long +cord, that was hooked up to the top of the walls, and thence +descended to appointed magistrates. + +Vainly I made every effort in my power to avail myself Of this +method, no one of my party, nor at the inn,,knew or +Page 329 + +could indicate any means that promised success, +or even a trial. Worn at length by an anxiety I found +insupportable, I took a resolution to go forth myself, stranger +as I was to the place, and try to get my letter conveyed to the +basket, however difficult or costly might be its carriage. +Quite alone, therefore, I sallied forth, purposing to find, if +possible, some sturdy boy who would be glad of such remuneration +as I could offer, to pass over to Lille. + +Again, however, vain was every attempt. +I entered all decent poor houses; sauntered to the suburbs, and +entered sundry cottages; but no inquiry could procure either a +man or a boy that would execute my commission. French was so +generally known that I commonly made myself understood, though I +only received a shake of the head, or a silent walking off, in +return to my propositions. But in the end, a lad told me he +thought he had heard that Madame la Duchesse de St. Agnes had had +some intercourse with Lille. Delighted, I desired him to show me +the house she inhabited. We walked to it together, and I then +said I would saunter near the spot while he entered, with my +earnest petition to know whether madame could give me any tidings +of the king's body-guard. He returned with an answer that madame +would reply to a written note, but to nothing verbal. I bid the +boy hie with me to the inn; but as I had no writing tackle, I +sent him forward to procure me proper implements at the +stationer's. + +How it happened I know not, but I missed the boy, whom I could +never regain and I soon after lost my way myself. + +In much perplexity I was seeking information which way to steer, +when a distant sound of a party of horse caught my attention. I +stopped. The sound approached nearer; the boys and idle people +in the street ran forward to meet it, and presently were joined +or followed by the more decent inhabitants. I had not the +temerity to make one among them, yet my anxiety for news of any +sort was too acute to permit me to retire. I stood therefore +still, waiting for what might arrive, till I perceived some +outriders galloping forward in the royal livery of France. +Immediately after, a chariot and four with the arms of France +followed, encircled by horsemen, and nearly enveloped by a +continually increasing crowd, whence, from time to time, issued a +feeble cry of "Vive le roi!" while two or three other carriages +brought up the rear. With difficulty now could I forbear +plunging into the midst of them, for my big expectations painted +to me Louis XVIII. arrived +Page 330 + +at Tournay, and my bigger hopes pictured with him his loyal +guard. They had soon however passed by, but their straggling +followers showed me their route, which I pursued till I lost both +sight and sound belonging to them. + +I then loitered for my errand boy, till I found myself, by some +indications that helped my remembrance, near the spot whence I +had started. . Glad, for safety's sake, to be so near my then +home, though mourning my fruitless wandering, I hastened my +footsteps; but what was my emotion on arriving within a few yards +of the inn, to observe the royal carriage which had galloped past +me, the horsemen, the royal livery and all the appearance that +had awakened my dearest hopes' The crowd was dispersed, but the +porter's lodge, or perhaps bookkeeper's, was filled with +gentlemen, or officers in full uniform. I hurried on, and +hastily inquired who it was that had just arrived. My answer was, +the Prince de Cond. + +A thousand projects now occurred to me for gaining intelligence +from such high authority, but in the large courtyard I espied +Madame d'Henin sauntering up and down, while holding by the arm +of a gentleman I had never before seen. Anxious to avoid delay, +and almost equally desirous to escape remonstrances on my +enterprise, since I could listen only to my restless anxiety, I +would have glided by unnoticed; but she called after me aloud, +and I was compelled to approach her. She was all astonishment at +my courage in thus issuing forth alone, I knew not where nor +whither, and declared that I was mconnoissable; but I only +answered by entreating her to inquire the names of some of the +gentlemen just arrived, that I might judge whether any among them +could give me the information for which I sighed. + +No sooner did I hear that M. le Comte de Viomenil was of the +number, than, recollecting his recent appointment at Paris, in +conjunction with Victor de Maubourg, to raise volunteers for the +king, I decided upon seeking him. Madame d'Henin would have given +me some counsel, but I could not hear her; as I hurried off, +however, the gentleman whose arm she held offered me his +assistance in a tone and with a look of so much benevolence, that +I frankly accepted it, and we sallied in search of a person known +to me only by name. My stranger friend now saved me every +exertion, by making every inquiry and led me from corridor to +corridor, above, below, and to almost every apartment, asking +incessantly if M. le Comte de Viomenil was not in the inn. +Page 331 + +At length we learned that M. de Viomenil was dining quite alone +in an upper chamber. + +My kind-hearted conductor led me to the door of the room +assigned, and then tapped at it; and on an answer of "entrez!" he +let go my arm, and with a bow silently left me. I found M. de +Viomenil at table : he said he could give no possible account of +his majesty, save that he was at Gand, but that of the body-guard +he knew positively nothing. + + + INTERVIEWS WITH M. DE CHATEAUBRIAND. + +I afterwards learnt that my benevolent strange chevalier was no +other than the celebrated M. de Chteaubriand.(271) I saw +nothing more of him, save for a moment, when, in passing by a +small staircase that led to my chamber, a door was suddenly +opened, whence Madame d'Henin put out her head to invite me to +enter, when she presented me to him and to Madame de +Chteaubriand, a very elegant woman, but of a cold, reserved +demeanour. + +I expressed eagerly the pleasure I had experienced in seeing the +author of " The Itinerary to Jerusalem," a work I had read in +Paris with extraordinary interest and satisfaction ; but I +believe the "Gnie du Christianisme," and perhaps the "Atala," +were works so much more prized by that author as to make my +compliment misplaced. However, I so much more enjoy the natural, +pleasing, instructive, and simple, though ingenious style and +matter of the " Itinerary " than I do the overpowering sort of +heroic eloquence of those more popular performances, that the +zest of dear hallowed truth would have been wanting had I not +expressed my choice. The "Itinerary" is, indeed, one of the most +agreeable books I know. + +M. de Chteaubriand hung back, whether pleased or not, + + Page 332 + +with an air of gentlemanly serenity. I had opportunity for +further effort : we left Tournay to proceed to Brussels, and +heavy was my heart and my will to quit, thus in ignorance, the +vicinity of Lille. + +At the town at which we stopped to dine which, I think, was Atot, +we again met M. et Madame de Chteaubriand. This was a mutual +satisfaction, and we agreed to have our meal in common. I now had +more leisure, not of time alone, but of faculty, for doing +justice to M. de Chateaubriand, whom I found amiable, unassuming, +and, though somewhat spoilt by the egregious flattery to which he +had been accustomed, wholly free from airs or impertinent +selfconceit. Excessive praise seemed only to cause him excessive +pleasure in himself, without leading to contempt or scorn of +others. He is by no means tall, and is rather thickset - but his +features are good, his countenance is very fine, and his eyes are +beautiful, alike from colour, shape, and expression ; while there +is a striking benevolence in his look, tone of voice, and manner. + +Madame de Chteaubriand also gained ground by farther +acquaintance. She was faded, but not passe, and was still +handsome, and of a most graceful carriage, though distant and +uninviting. Her loftiness had in it something so pensive mixed +with its haughtiness, that though it could not inspire +confidence, it did not create displeasure. She possessed also a +claim to sympathy and respect in being the niece of M. de +Malesherbes, that wise, tender, generous, noble defender of Louis +XVI. + +The conversation during and after dinner was highly interesting. +M. de Chteaubriand opened upon his situation with a trusting +unreserve that impressed me with an opinion of the nobleness of +his mind. Bonaparte had conceived against him, he said, a +peculiar antipathy, for which various motives might be assigned: +he enumerated them not, however, probably from the presence of +his wife ; as his marriage with a niece of that martyr to the +service of the murdered king, Louis XVI., I conclude to be at +their head. The astonishing and almost boundless success of his +works, since he was dissatisfied with his principles, and more +than suspicious of his disaffection to the imperial government, +must have augmented aversion by mixing with it some species of +apprehension. I know not what were the first publications of M. +de Chteaubriand, but they were in such high estimation +Page 333 + +when first I heard him mentioned, that no author was more +celebrated in France; when his "Martyres" came out, no other book +was mentioned; and the famous critic Geoffroyq who guided the +taste of Paris, kept it alive by criticisms of alternate praise +and censure without end. "Atala," the pastoral heroic romance, +bewitched all the reading ladies into a sort of idolatry of its +writer, and scarcely a page of it remained unadorned by some +representation in painting. The enthusiasm, indeed, of the +draughtsmen and of the fair sex seemed equally emulous to place +the author and the work at the head of celebrity and the fashion. + +Of all this, of course, he spoke not - but he related the story +of his persecution by Napoleon concerning his being elected a +member of the French Institute. I was in too much disturbance to +be able to clearly listen to the narrative, but I perfectly +recollect that the censor, to soften Napoleon, had sent back the +manuscript to M. de Chteaubriand, with an intimation that no +public discourse could be delivered that did not contain an loge +of the Emperor. M. de Chteaubriand complied with the ordinance; +but whether the forced praise was too feeble, or whether the +aversion was too insuperable, I know not : all that is certain +is, that Napoleon, after repeated efforts from the Institute of +reelection, positively refused to ratify that of M. de +Chteaubriand.(272) + +Another time a cousin of this gentleman was reputed to be engaged +In a conspiracy against the emperor. M. de Chteaubriand solemnly +declared he disbelieved the charge; and, as his weight in public +opinion was so great, he ventured to address a supplique to +Napoleon in favour of his kinsman; but the answer which reached +him the following day was an account of his execution ! + +(248) Horne's"History of Napoleon." + +(249) This portion of the Diary is not dated, but the meeting +with the Duchess of Angoulme must have taken place in January or +February, 1815. Madame d'Arblay had joined her husband in France, +her son remaining at Cambridge.-ED. + +(250) "Very glad to see me." + +(251) "May I keep the book you sent me?" + +(252) "He has acted very nobly." + +(253) Raised every day." + +(254) "The king recollects very well having seen you in London." + +(255) "O, I don't doubt it at all." + +(256) "He was perfect!" + +(257) Princess Elizabeth. + +(258) "'Tis she who does the honours of the royal family." + +(259) On duty. + +(260) Minister for foreign affairs. + +(261) "We have better news. I can enter into no detail; but be +calm, and love him who loves you alone. + +(262) Country estate. + +(263) "My dearest--All is lost! I cannot enter into +details--pray, set out the sooner the better. Yours in life and +death, A. d'A." + +(264) A large travelling-coach.-ED. + +(265) Le Bourget was the scene of some desperate fighting during +the siege of Paris in 1870. It was surprised and captured from +the Prussians before daybreak of October 28, by a French force +commanded by General de Bellemare, but, after a gallant defence +of two days, it was retaken by the Prussians. December 21, an +attempt was made by the French to recapture Le Bourget, but +without success.-ED. + +(266) Monday, the 20th, it should be-ED. + +(267) The son of Philippe Egalit, afterwards King Louis +Philippe.-ED. + +(268) Brother of Louis XVIII., whom he succeeded under the title +of Charles X.-ED. + +(269) Should be Tuesday-ED. + +(270) "Right of the strongest." + +(271) Franois Ren de Chteaubriand was born at Saint Malo in +1768 He visited the United States in 1789, and found, in the +pathless forests of the new world, the scenery which he +describes, with poetic fervour, in the pages of "Atala." The +news of the king's flight to Varennes brought him back to Europe. +He married (1792) 'Mlle. de la Vigne-Buisson, joined the emigrant +army which marched with Brunswick to conquer France, got wounded +at Thionville, and retired to England. After the appointment of +Bonaparte to the office of first Consul, Chteaubriand returned +to France, and published his heroic- sentimental romance of +"Atala." Its success with the public was great, and it was +followed by "The Genius of Christianity," and other works. Under +the restored Bourbons, Chteaubriand filled high diplomatic +posts. This most sentimental of men of genius died in July, +1848.-ED. + +(272) This occurred in the year 1811.-ED. + + + +Page 334 + SECTION 25 + (1815) + + + AT BRUSSELS: WATERLOO: REJOINS M. D'ARBLAY. + + + SOJOURN AT BRUSSELS. + +Arrived at Brussels, we drove immediately to the house in which +dwelt Madame la Comtesse de Maurville. That excellent person had +lived many years in England an emigrant, and there earned a +scanty maintenance by keeping a French school. She had now +retired upon a very moderate pension, but was surrounded by +intimate friends, who only suffered her to lodge at her own home. +She received us in great dismay, fearing to lose her little all +by these changes of government. I was quite ill on my arrival: +excessive fatigue, affright, and watchfulness overwhelmed me. + +At Brussels all was quiet and tame. The Belgians had lost their +original antipathy to Bonaparte, without having yet had time to +acquire any warmth of interest for the Bourbons. Natively +phlegmatic, they demand great causes or strong incitement to +rouse them from that sort of passiveness that is the offspring of +philosophy and timidity- philosophy, that teaches them to prize +'the blessings of safety ; and timidity, that points out the +dangers of enterprise. In all I had to do with them I found them +universally worthy, rational, and kind-hearted ; but Slow, +sleepy, and uninteresting, + +in the sickroom to which I was immediately consigned, I met with +every sort of kindness from Madame de Maurville, whom I had known +intimately at Paris, and who had known and + +Page 335 + +appreciated my beloved, exemplary sister Phillips in London. +Madame de Maurville was a woman that the Scotch would call +long-headed; she was sagacious, penetrating, and gifted with +strong humour. She saw readily the vices and follies of mankind, +and laughed at them heartily, without troubling herself to grieve +at them. She was good herself, alike in heart and in conduct, +and zealous to serve and oblige ; but with a turn to satire that +made the defects of her neighbours rather afford her amusement +than concern. +' + +I was visited here by the highly accomplished Madame de la: Tour +du Pin, wife to the favourite nephew of Madame d'Henin; a woman +of as much courage as elegance, and who had met danger, toil, and +difficulty in the Revolution with as much spirit, and nearly as +much grace, as she had displayed in meeting universal admiration +and homage at the court of Marie-Antoinette, of which she was one +of the most brilliant latter ornaments. Her husband was at this +time one of the French ministers at the Congress at Vienna; +whence, as she learned a few days after my arrival at Brussels, +he had been sent on an embassy of the deepest importance and +risk, to La Vende or Bordeaux. She bore the term of that +suspense with an heroism that I greatly admired, for I well knew +she adored her husband. M. la Tour du Pin had been a prefect of +Brussels under Bonaparte, though never in favour, his internal +loyalty to the Bourbons being well known. But Bonaparte loved to +attach great names and great characters to his government, +conscious of their weight both at home and abroad, and he trusted +in the address of that mental diving-machine, his secret police, +for warding off any hazard he might run, from employing the +adherents of his enemies. His greatly capacious, yet only +half-formed mind, could have parried, as well as braved, every +danger and all opposition, had not his inordinate ambition held +him as arbitrarily under control as he himself held under control +every other passion. + +Madame de Maurville soon found us a house, of which we took all +but the ground floor: the entresol was mine, the first floor was +Madame d'Henin's, and that above it was for M. de Lally. It was +near the cathedral, and still in a prolongation of Madame de +Maurville's street, la Rue de la Montagne. + +Nothing was known at Brussels, nothing at all, of the fate Of the +body-guard, or of the final destination of Louis XVIII. How +circumstances of such moment, nay, notoriety, could be kept from +public knowledge, I can form no idea; but neither +Page 336 + +in the private houses of persons of the first rank, in which, +through Madame d'Henin, I visited, nor in any of the shops nor by +any other sort of intercourse, either usual or accidental, could +I gather any intelligence. + +Madame la Duchesse de Duras, ci-devant Mademoiselle Kersaint, who +had visited me in Paris, and who was now in hasty emigration at +Brussels, with her youngest daughter, Mademoiselle Clara de +Duras, seemed sincerely moved by my distress, and wrote to +various of her friends, who were emigrating within her reach, to +make inquiry for me. I visited her in a shabby hotel, where I +found her without suite or equipage, but in perfect tranquillity +at their loss, and not alone unmurmuring, but nearly indifferent +to her privations; while Mademoiselle Clara ran up and down +stairs on her mother's messages, and even brought in wood for the +stove, with an alacrity and cheerfulness that seemed almost to +enjoy the change to hardships from grandeur. Indeed, to very +young people, such reverses, for a certain time, appear as a +frolic. Novelty, mere novelty, during the first youth, can +scarcely be bought too dear. + +>From M. de la Feronaye, Madame de Duras procured me intelligence +that the body-guard had been dispersed and disbanded by the Duc +de Berry, on the frontiers of La Belgique they were left at +liberty to remain in France, or to seek other asylums, as his +majesty Louis XVIII. could not enter the kingdom of Holland with +a military guard of his own. This news left me utterly in the +dark which way to look for hope or information. Madame de Duras, +however, said she expected soon to see the Duc de Richelieu, +whose tidings might be more precise. + + + LETTERS FROM GENERAL D'ARBLAY. + +Ten wretched days passed on in this ignorance, from the +19th to the 29th of March, 1815, when Madame de Maurville flew +into my apartment, with all the celerity of fifteen, and all the +ardour of twenty years of age, to put into my hands a letter from +General d'Arblay, addressed to herself, to inquire whether she +had any tidings to give him of my existence, and whether I had +been heard of at Brussels, or was known to have travelled to +Bordeaux, as Madame d'Henin, cousin to Madame de Maurville, had +been uncertain, when M. d'Arblay left me in Paris, to which of +those cities she should go. +Page 337 + +The joy of that moment, Oh! the joy of that Moment that showed me +again the handwriting that demonstrated the life and safety of +all to which my earthly happiness clung, can never be expressed, +and only by our meeting, when at last it took place, could be +equalled. It was dated "Ypres, 27 Mars." I wrote directly +thither, proposing to join him, if ", there were any impediment +to his coming on to Brussels. I had already written, at hazard, +to almost every town in the Netherlands. The very next day, +another letter from the same kind hand arrived to Madame la +Duchesse d'Hurste. This was succeeded by news that the king, +Louis XVIII., had been followed to Gand by his body-guard. +Thither, also, I expedited a letter, under cover to the Duc de +Luxembourg, capitaine of the company to which M. d'Arblay +belonged. + +I lived now in a hurry of delight that scarcely allowed me +breathing-time, a delight that made me forget all my losses, my +misfortunes-my papers, keepsakes, valuables of various sorts, +with our goods, clothes, money-bonds, and endless et ceteras, +left, as I had reason to fear, to seizure and confiscation upon +the entry of the emperor into Paris-all, all was light, was +nothing in the scale ; and I wrote to my Alexander, and my +dearest friends, to rejoice in my joy, and that they had escaped +my alarm. + +Next day, and again the next, came a letter from M. d'Arblay +himself. The first was from Ypres, the second was from Bruges, +and brought by the post, as my beloved correspondent had been +assured of my arrival at Brussels by the Duc de Luxembourg, at +Ghistelle, near Ostend, which M. d'Arblay was slowly approaching +on horseback, when he met the carriage of Louis XVIII., as it +stopped for a relay of horses, and the duke, espying him, +descended from the second carriage of the king's suite, to fly to +and embrace him, with that lively friendship he has ever +manifested towards him. Thence they agreed that the plan of +embarkation should be renounced, and, instead of Ostend M. +d'Arblay turned his horse's head towards Gand, where he had a +rendezvous with the duke. + +There he remained, to renew the offer of his services to his +king, and there he was most peculiarly distinguished by M. le Duc +de Feltre (General Clarke), who was still occupying the Post +assigned him on the restoration of Louis XVIII. of ministre de la +guerre.(273) + +Page 338 + +Relieved now--or rather blest--I was no longer deaf to the +kindness of those who sought to enliven my exile ; I not only +visited Madame la Duchesse de Duras, but also cultivated an +intercourse with the charming Madame de la Tour du Pin whom I was +the more glad to find delightful from her being of English +origin; a Mademoiselle Dillon, Whose family was transplanted into +France under James II., and who was descended from a nobleman +whose eminent accomplishments she inherited with his blood; the +famous Lord Falkland, on whose tomb in Westminster Abbey is +carved + +"Here lies the friend of Sir Philip Sidney." + +Her sister, Miss Fanny Dillon, had been married by Bonaparte to +General Bertrand; and thus, while one of them' was an emigrant +following the fortunes of the Bourbons, the other was soon after +destined to accompany Bonaparte himself into exile. Le Colonel de +Beaufort, also, a warm, early friend of General d'Arblay, +belonging to the garrison of Metz or of Toul, I forget which, had +married a lady of great wealth in La Belgique; a woman rather +unhappy in her person, but possessed of a generous and feeling +heart : and this she instantly demonstrated by seeking and +cultivating an acquaintance with the wandering wife of her +husband's early camarade. I found her so amiable, and so soothing +in her commiseration during my distress, that I warmly returned +the partiality she showed me. + + + ARRIVAL OF GENERAL D'ARBLAY. + +Four days passed thus serenely, when, on that which completed a +fortnight's absence from my best friend, the Duc de Duras came to +convoy his wife to Gand, where he was himself in waiting upon +Louis XVIII., and shortly afterwards M. de Chteaubriand was made +a privy counsellor and settled there also. And within a day or +two after this my door was opened by General d'Arblay! Oh, how +sweet was this meeting ! this blessed reunion!-- how perfect, how +exquisite! + +Here I must be silent. + +General d'Arblay was only with me by the permission of the Duc de +Luxembourg, and liable to receive orders daily to return to Gand +; for I found to my speechless dismay, yet resistless +approbation, that General d'Arblay had made a + +Page 339 +decision as noble as it was dangerous, to refuse no call, to +abstain from no effort, that might bring into movement his +loyalty to his king and his cause, at this moment of calamity to +both. Yet such was the harassed, or rather broken state of his +health, that his mental strength and unconquerable courage alone +preserved the poor shattered frame from sinking into languor and +inertion. + +About this time I saw the entry of the new king, William +Frederick, of the new kingdom of the Netherlands.(274) Tapestry, +or branches of trees, were hung out at all the windows, or, in +their failure, dirty carpets, old coats and cloaks, and even +mats-a motley display of proud parade or vulgar poverty, that +always, to me, made processions on the continent appear +burlesque. + + + A MISSION ENTRUSTED To GENERAL D'ARBLAY. + +On the 22nd of April opened a new source, though not an +unexpected one, of inquietude, that preyed the more deeply upon +my spirits from the necessity of concealing its torments. . . . +The military call for M. d'Arblay arrived from Gand. The summons +was from M. le Comte de Roch. The immediate hope in which we +indulged at this call was, that the mission to which it alluded +need not necessarily separate us, but that I might accompany my +honoured husband and remain at his quarters. But, alas! he set +out instantly for Gand . . . . . + +April 23rd brought me a letter: the mission was to Luxembourg. +His adjoint was the Colonel Comte de Mazancourt, his aide-de-camp +M. de Premorel, and also that gentleman's son. The plan was to +collect and examine all the soldiers who were willing to return +from the army of Bonaparte to that of Louis XVIII. Eleven other +general officers were named to similar posts, all on frontier +towns, for the better convenience of receiving the volunteers. +On the 24th April M. d'Arblay again joined me revived by his +natively martial spirit, and pleased to be employed! + +April 26, we left the Rue de La Montague, after, on my part, +exactly a month's residence. Our new apartments in + +Page 340 + +the March aux Bois were au premier,(275) and commodious and +pleasant. One drawing-room was appropriated solely by M. d'Arblay +for his military friends or military business ; the other was +mine. + +Here we spent together seventeen days; and not to harass my +recollections, I will simply copy what I find in MY old +memorandum-book, as it was written soon after those days were no +more:--"Seventeen days I have passed with my best friend; and, +alas ! passed them chiefly in suspense and gnawing inquietude, +covered over with assumed composure . but they have terminated, +Heaven be praised! with better views, with softer calm, and +fairer hopes. Heaven realize them! I am much pleased with his +companions. M. le Comte de Mazancourt, his adjoint, is a gay, +spirited and spirituel young man, remarkably well bred, and +gallantly fond of his profession. M. de Premorel, the +aide-de-camp, is a man of solid worth and of delicate honour, and +he is a descendant of Godefroy de Bouillon. To this must be +added, that he is as poor as he is noble, and bears his penury +with the gentlemanly sentiment of feeling it distinct from +disgrace. He is married, and has ten or eleven children: he +resides with a most deserving wife, a woman also of family, on a +small farm, which he works at himself, and which repays him by +its produce. For many days in the year, potatoes, he told me, +were the only food they could afford for themselves or their +offspring! But they eat them with the proud pleasure of +independence and of honour and loyalty, such as befits their high +origins, always to serve, or be served, in the line of their +legal princes. As soon as Louis XVIII. was established on his +throne, M. de Premorel made himself known to the Duc de +Luxembourg, who placed him in his own company in the garde du +corps, and put his son upon the supernumerary list. . . .." + +This young man is really charming. He has a native noblesse of +air and manner, with a suavity as well as steadiness of serene +politeness, that announce the Godefroy blood flowing With +conscious dignity and inborn courage through his youthful veins. +He is very young, but tall and handsome, and speaks of all his +brothers and sisters as if already he were chef de famille, and +bound to sustain and protect them.. I delighted to lead him to +talk of them, and the conversation on that subject always +brightened him into joy and loquacity. He named every one of them +to me in particular repeatedly, + +Page 341 + +with a desire I should know them individually, and a warm hope I +might one day verify his representations. + +This youth, Alphonse, and his father dined with us daily at this +period. All the mornings were devoted to preparations for the +ensuing expected campaign. When, however, all was prepared, and +the word of command alone was waited for from the Marchal Duc de +Feltre, my dearest friend indulged in one morning's recreation, +which proved as 'agreeable as anything at such a period could be +to a mind oppressed like mine. He determined that we should visit +the Palais de Lachen, which had been the dwelling assigned as the +palace for the Empress Josephine by Bonaparte at the time of his +divorce. My dearest husband drove me in his cabriolet, and the +three gentlemen whom he invited to be of the party accompanied us +on horseback. The drive, the day, the road, the views, our new +horses-all were delightful, and procured me a short relaxation +from the foresight of evil. + +The Palace of Lachen was at this moment wholly uninhabited, and +shown to us by some common servant. It is situated in a delicious +park d'Anglaise, and with a taste, a polish, and an elegance that +clears it from the charge of frippery or gaudiness, though its +ornaments and embellishments are all of the liveliest gaiety. +There is in some of the apartments some Gobelin tapestry, of +which there are here and there parts and details so exquisitely +worked that I could have " hung over them enamoured." + + + "RULE BRITANNIA!" IN THE ALLEE VERTE. + +Previously to this reviving excursion my dearest friend had +driven me occasionally in the famous Alle Verte, which the +inhabitants of Brussels consider as the first promenade in the +world; but it by no means answered to such praise in my eyes: it +is certainly very pretty, but too regular, too monotonous, and +too flat to be eminently beautiful, though from some parts the +most distant from the city there are views of cottages and +hamlets that afford great pleasure. + +Our last entertainment here was a concert in the public and fine +room appropriated for music or dancing. The celebrated Madame +Catalani had a benefit, at which the Queen of the Netherlands was +present, not, however, in state, though not incognita; and the +king of warriors, Marshal Lord Wellington, surrounded by his +staff and all the officers + +Page 342 + +and first persons here, whether Belgians, Prussians, Hanoverians, +or English. I looked at Lord Wellington watchfully, and was +charmed with every turn of his countenance, with his noble and +singular physiognomy and his eagle eye. He was gay even to +sportiveness all the evening, conversing with the officers around +him. He never was seated, not even a moment, though I saw seats +vacated to offer to him frequently. He seemed enthusiastically +charmed with Catalani, ardently applauding whatsoever she sung, +except the "Rule Britannia;: and there, with sagacious reserve, +he listened in utter Silence. Who ordered it I know not, but he +felt it was injudicious in every country but -our own to give out +a chorus of "Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves!" + +And when an encore began to be vociferated from his officers, he +instantly crushed it by a commanding air of disapprobation, and +thus offered me an opportunity of seeing how magnificently he +could quit his convivial familiarity for imperious' dominion when +occasion might call for the transformation. + + + GENERAL D'ARBLAY LEAVES FOR LUXEMBOURG. + +When the full order arrived from Gand, establishing the mission +of M. d'Arblay at Luxembourg, he decided upon demanding an +audience of the Duke of Wellington, with whom he thought it +necessary to concert his measures. The duke received him without +difficulty, and they had a conference of some length, the result +of which was that his grace promised to prepare Blucher, the +great Prussian general, then actually at Luxembourg, for aiding +the scheme. M. d'Arblay himself also wrote to Blcher; but before +any answer could be returned, a new ordonnance from the Duc de +Feltre directed M. d'Arblay to hasten to his post without delay. + +May 13, 1815.-My best friend left me to begin his campaign; left +me, by melancholy chance, upon his birthday. I could not that day +see a human being - I could but consecrate it to thoughts of him +who had just quitted me yet who from me never was, never can be, +mentally absent , and to our poor Alexander, thus inevitably, yet +severely cast upon himself. + + + AN EXCHANGE OF VISITS. + +The next day the gentle and feeling Madame de Beaufort spent the +morning with me, using the most engaging efforts to +Page 343 + +prevail with me to dine constantly at her table, and to accompany +her in a short time to her villa. Without any charms, personal or +even intellectual, to catch or fascinate, she seemed to have so +much goodness of character, that I could not but try to attach +myself to her, and accept her kindness as the "cordial drop" to +make the cup of woe of my sad solitude go down; for Madame +d'Henin, who, to equal sensibility, joined the finest +understanding, was now so absorbed in politics that she had no +time for any expansion of sympathy. She came, nevertheless, to +see me in the evening, and to endeavour to draw me again into +human life ! And her kind effort so far conquered me, that I +called upon her the next day, and met Madame de Vaudreuil, for +whom I had a still unexecuted commission from the Duchess dowager +of Buccleuch, upon whom I had waited at the request of the +princesse de Chimay, to entreat the interest of her grace with +the prince regent, that the English pension accorded to the +Duchess of Fitzjames might be continued to the duke, her husband, +who remained a ruined widower with several children. I failed in +my attempt, the natural answer being, that there was no +possibility of granting a pension to a foreigner who resided in +his own country while that country was at open war with the land +whence he aspired at its obtention, a word I make for my passing +convenience. + +I exchanged visits also with Madame de la Tour du Pin, the truly +elegant, accomplished, and high-bred niece, by marriage, of +Madame la Princesse d'Henin. Her husband, M. de la Tour du Pin, +was at that time at Vienna, forming a part of the renowned +Congress, by which he was sent to La Vende; to announce there +the resolution of the assembled sovereigns to declare Bonaparte +an outlaw, in consequence of his having broken the conditions of +his accepted abdication, And I was discovered and visited by M. +le Comte de Boursac, one of the first officers of the +establishment of the Prince de Cond, with whom he was then at +Brussels; a man of worth and cultivation. At Paris he visited us +so often, that he took up the name at the door of "Le Voisin," +thinking it more safe to be so designated than to pronounce too +frequently the name of a known adherent to the Bourbons. The good +Madame de Maurville I saw often, and the family of the Boyds, +with which my general had engaged me to quit Brussels, should +Brussels become the seat of War, +Page 344 + + THE FETE DIEU. + +Brussels in general was then inhabited by catholics, and catholic +ceremonies were not unfrequent. In particular, la Fte Dieu was +kept with much pomp, and a procession of priests paraded the +streets, accompanied by images, pictures paintings, tapestry, and +other insignia of outward and visible worship; and the windows +were hung with carpets, and rugs, and mats, and almost with rags, +to prove good will, at least, to what they deem a pious show. +Ludicrous circumstances without end interrupted, or marred the +procession, from frequent hard showers, during which the priests, +decorated with splendid robes and petticoats, and ornaments the +most gaudy, took sudden refuge at the doors of the houses by +which they were passing, and great cloths, towels, or coarse +canvas, were flung over the consecrated finery, and the relics +were swaddled up in flannels, while dirt, splashes, running, +scampering, and ludicrous wrappings up, broke at once and +disfigured the procession. + + + THE ECCENTRIC LADY CAROLINE LAMB. + +At Madame de la Tour du Pin's I kept the fte of Madame de +Maurville, with a large and pleasant party; and I just missed +meeting the famous Lady Caroline Lamb,(276) who had been there at +dinner, and whom I saw, however, crossing the Place Royale, from +Madame de la Tour du Pin's to the Grand Hotel ; dressed, Or +rather not dressed, so as to excite universal attention, and +authorise every boldness of staring, from the general to the +lowest soldier, among the military groups then constantly +parading the Place,-for she had one shoulder, half her back, and +all her throat and neck, displayed as if at the call of some +statuary for modelling a heathen goddess. A slight scarf hung +over the other shoulder, and the rest Of the attire was of +accordant lightness. As her ladyship had + +Page 345 + +not then written, and was not, therefore, considered as one +apart, from being known as an eccentric authoress, this conduct +and demeanour excited something beyond surprise, + +and in an English lady provoked censure, if not derision, upon +the whole English nation. + + + A PROPOSED ROYAL CORPS. + +Monsieur le Duc de Luxembourg came to inform me that he was on +the point of negotiating with the Duke of Wellington and Prince +Blcher, upon raising a royal corps to accompany their army into +France, should the expected battle lead to that result ; and he +desired me to prepare M. d'Arblay, should such be the case, for a +recall from Trves, that he might resume his post in the +body-guards belonging to the Compagnie de Luxembourg. He spoke of +my beloved in terms of such high consideration, and with +expressions so amiable of regard and esteem, that he won my +heart. He could by no means, he said, be again under active +military orders, and consent to lose so distinguished an officer +from his corps. I had formerly met the duke in Paris, at Madame +de Laval's - and he bad honoured me with a visit chez moi +immediately after my return from England: and in consequence of +those meetings, and of his real friendship for M. d'Arblay, he +now spoke to me with the unreserved trust due to a tried +confidant in case of peril and urgency. He stayed with me nearly +two hours-for when once the heart ventured to open itself upon +the circumstances, expectations, or apprehensions of. that +eventful period, subjects, opinions, and feelings pressed forward +with such eagerness for discussion, that those who upon such +conditions met, found nothing so difficult as to separate. + +I wrote instantly to M. d'Arblay ; but the duke's plan proved +abortive, as the Duke of Wellington and Prince Blcher refused +all sanction to the junction of a French army With that of the +allies. The thought, -perhaps-and perhaps Justly, that by +entering France with natives against natives, they might excite a +civil war, more difficult to conduct than that of only foreigners +against foreigners. + + + PAINFUL SUSPENSE. + +Suspense, during all this period, was frightfully mistress of +'-,,the mind; nothing was known, everything was imagined. +Page 346 + +The two great interests that were at war, the Bourbonists and +Bonapartists, were divided and sub-divided into factions, or +rather fractions, without end, and all that was kept invariably +and on both sides alive was expectation. Wanderers, deserters or +captives from France, arrived daily at Brussels, all with varying +news of the state of that empire, and of the designs of Bonaparte +amongst them. The Chevalier d'Argy made me a visit, to deliver me +a letter from M. de Premorel, for M. d'Arblay. This gentleman was +just escaped from Sedan in the disguise of a paysan, and assisted +by a paysanne, belonging to his family. She conducted him through +by-paths and thick forests, that she knew to be least frequented +by the troops, police, or custom-house officers of *Bonaparte. He +was going to offer his services to the king, Louis XVIII. I had +much interesting public news from M. d'Argy : but I pass by all +now except personal detail, as I write but for my nearest +friends; and all that was then known of public occurrence has +long been stale. . . . + +During this melancholy period when leisure, till now a delight, +became a burthen to me, I could not call my faculties into any +species of intellectual service; all was sunk, was annihilated in +the overpowering predominance of anxiety for the coming event. I +endured my suspense only by writing to or hearing from him who +was its object. All my next dear connections were well. I heard +from them satisfactorily, and I was also engaged in frequent +correspondence with the Princess Elizabeth, whose letters are +charming, not only from their vivacity, their frankness, and +condescension, but from a peculiarity of manner, the result of +having mixed little with the world, that, joined to great +fertility of fancy, gives a something so singular and so genuine +to her style of writing, as to render her letters desirable and +interesting, independent of the sincere and most merited +attachment which their gracious kindness inspires. + + + INQUIETUDE AT BRUSSELS. + +I come now to busier scenes, and to my sojourn at Brussels during +the opening of one of the most famous campaigns upon record ; and +the battle of Waterloo, upon which, in great measure, hung the +fate of Europe. + +Yet upon reflection, I will write no account of these great +events, which have been detailed so many hundred times, and +Page 347 + +so many hundred ways, as I have nothing new to offer upon them ; +I will simply write the narrative of my own history at that awful +period. + +I was awakened in the middle of the night by confused noises in +the house, and running up and down stairs. I listened +attentively, but heard no sound of voices, and soon all was +quiet. I then concluded the persons who resided in the +apartments on the second floor, over my head, had returned home +later and I tried to fall asleep again. + +I succeeded; but I was again awakened at about five o'clock in +the morning Friday, 16th June, by the sound of a bugle in the +March aux Bois: I started up and opened the window. But I only +perceived some straggling soldiers, hurrying in different +directions, and saw lights gleaming from some of the chambers in +the neighbourhood : all again was soon still, and my own dwelling +in profound silence, and therefore I concluded there had been +some disturbance in exchanging sentinels at the various posts, +which was already appeased: and I retired once more to my pillow, +and remained till my usual hour. + +I was finishing, however, a letter for my best friend, when my +breakfast was brought in, at my then customary time of eight +o'clock; and, as mistakes and delays and miscarriages of letters +had caused me much unnecessary misery, I determined to put what I +was then writing in the post myself, and set off with it the +moment it was sealed. + + + THE BLACK BRUNSWICKERS. + +In my way back from the post-office, my ears were alarmed by the +sound of military music, and my eyes equally struck with the +sight of a body of troops marching to its measured time. But I +soon found that what I had supposed to be an occasionally passing +troop, was a complete corps; infantry, cavalry artillery, bag and +baggage, with all its officers in full uniform, and that uniform +was black. This gloomy hue gave an air so mournful to the +procession, that, knowing its destination for battle, I +contemplated with an aching heart. On inquiry, I learned it was +the army of Brunswick. How much deeper yet had been my heartache +had I foreknown that nearly all those brave men, thus marching on +in gallant though dark array, with their valiant royal chief(277) +at their head, +Page 348 + +the nephew of my own king, George III., were amongst the first +destined victims to this dreadful contest, and that neither the +chief, nor the greater part of his warlike associates, would +within a few short hours, breathe again the vital air ! + +My interrogations were answered with brevity, yet curiosity was +all awake and all abroad; for the procession lasted some hours. +Not a door but was open; not a threshold but was crowded, and not +a window of the many-windowed gothic modern, frightful, handsome, +quaint, disfigured, fantastic, or lofty mansions that diversify +the large' market-place of Brussels, but was occupied by lookers +on. Placidly, indeed, they saw the warriors pass : no kind +greeting welcomed their arrival; no warm wishes followed them to +combat. Neither, on the other hand, was there the slightest +symptom of dissatisfaction ; yet even while standing thus in the +midst of them, an unheeded, yet observant stranger, it was not +possible for me to discern, with any solidity of conviction, +whether the Belgians were, at heart, Bourbonists or Bonapartists. +The Bonapartists, however, were in general the most open, for the +opinion on both sides, alike with good will and with ill, was +nearly universal that Bonaparte was invincible. + + + THE OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN. + +Still, I knew not, dreamt not, that the campaign was already +opened - that Bonaparte had broken into La Belgique on the 15th, +and had taken Charleroi; though it was news undoubtedly spread +all over Brussels except to my lonely self. My own disposition, +at this period, to silence and retirement, was too congenial with +the taciturn habits of my hosts to be by them counteracted, and +they suffered me, therefore, to return to my home as I had +quitted it, with a mere usual and civil salutation ; while +themselves and their house were evidently continuing their common +avocations with their common composure. Surely our colloquial use +of the word phlegm must be derived from the character of the +Flemings. + +The important tidings now, however, burst upon me in sundry +directions. The Princesse d'Henin, Colonel de Beaufort, Madame de +Maurville, the Boyd family, all, with intelligence of the event, +joined offers of service, and invitations to reside with them +during this momentous contest, should I prefer such protection to +remaining alone at such a crisis. +Page 349 + +What a day of confusion and alarm did we all spend on the +17th! In my heart the whole time was Trves! Trves! Trves! +That day, and June 18th, I passed in hearing the cannon! Good +heaven! what indescribable horror to be so near the field of +slaughter! such I call it, for the preparation to the ear by the +tremendous sound was soon followed by its fullest effect, in the +view of the wounded, the bleeding martyrs to the formidable +contention that was soon to terminate the history of the war. And +hardly more afflicting was this disabled return from the battle, +than the sight of the continually pouring forth ready-armed and +vigorous victims that marched past my windows to meet similar +destruction. + + + NEWS FROM THE FIELD OF BATTLE. + +Accounts from the field of battle arrived hourly; sometimes +directly from the Duke of Wellington to Lady Charlotte Greville, +and to some other ladies who had near relations in the combat, +and which, by their means, were circulated in Brussels ; and at +other times from such as conveyed those amongst the wounded +Belgians, whose misfortunes were -inflicted near enough to the +skirts of the spots of action, to allow of their being dragged +away by their hovering countrymen to the city : the spots, I say, +of action, for the far-famed battle of Waterloo was preceded by +three days of partial engagements. + +During this period, I spent my whole time in seeking and passing +from house to house of the associates of my distress, or +receiving them in mine. Ten times, at least, I crossed over to +Madame d'Henin, discussing plans and probabilities, and +interchanging hopes and fears. I spent a considerable part of the +morning with Madame de la Tour -du Pin, who was now returned from +Gand, where Louis XVIII. supported his suspense and his danger +with a coolness and equanimity which, when the clat surrounding +the glory of his daring and great opponent shall no longer by its +overpowering resplendence keep all around it in the shade, will +carry him down to posterity as the monarch precisely formed, by +the patient good sense, the enlightened liberality, and the +Immovable composure of his character, to meet the perilous +perplexities of his situation, and, if he could not combat them +with the vigour and genius of a hero, to sustain them at least +with the dignity of a prince. +Page 350 + + PROJECTS FOR QUITTING BRUSSELS, + +Madame d'Henin and Madame de la Tour du Pin projected retreating +to Gand, should the approach of the enemy be unchecked ; to avail +themselves of such protection as might be obtained from seeking +it under the wing of Louis XVIII. M. de la Tour du Pin had, I +believe, remained there with his majesty. M. de Lally and the +Boyds inclined to Antwerp, where they might safely await the fate +of Brussels, near enough for returning, should it weather the +storm, yet within reach of vessels to waft them to the British +shores should it be lost. + +Should this last be the fatal termination, I, Of course, had +agreed to join the party of the voyage, and resolved to secure my +passport, that, while I waited to the last moment, I might yet be +prepared for a hasty retreat. I applied for a passport to +Colonel Jones, to whom the Duke of Wellington had deputed the +military command of Brussels in his absence but he was unwilling +to sanction an evacuation of Brussels, which he deemed premature. +It was not, he said, for us, the English, to spread alarm, or +prepare for an overthrow: he had not sent away his own wife or +children, and he had no doubt but victory would repay his +confidence. + +I was silenced, but not convinced ; the event was yet uncertain, +and my stake was, with respect to earthly happiness, my +existence. A compromise occurred to me, which suggested my +dispensing with a new passport, and contenting myself with +obtaining his signature to my old one, accorded by M. le +Chevalier de Jaucourt. He could not refuse to sign it; and we +then separated. I promised him, nevertheless, that I would +remain to the last extremity; and I meant no other. I was now +better satisfied, though by no means at ease. + +Yet the motive of Colonel Jones was, that all should yield to the +glory of the British arms and the Duke of Wellington. And I had +the less right to be surprised, from the dreadful soldier's +speech I had heard him utter when I first saw him, to the +Princesse d'Henin: complaining of the length of time that was +wasted in inaction, and of the inactivity and tameness of the +Bourbons, he exclaimed, "We want blood, madam! what we want is +blood!" + + +CALMLY AWAITING THE RESULT, + +I found upon again going my rounds for information, that 'though +news was arriving incessantly from the scene of action, +Page 351 + +and with details always varying,, Bonaparte was always advancing. +All the people of Brussels lived in the streets. Doors seemed of +no use, for they were never shut. The individuals, when they +re-entered their houses, only resided at the windows : so that +the whole population of the city seemed constantly in public +view. Not only business as well as society was annihilated, but +even every species of occupation. All of which we seemed capable +was, to inquire or to relate, to speak or to hear. Yet no +clamour, no wrangling, nor even debate was intermixed with either +question or answer ; curiosity, though incessant, was serene ; +the faces were all monotony, though the tidings were all variety. +I could attribute this only to the length of time during which +the inhabitants had been habituated to change both of masters and +measures, and to their finding that, upon an average, they +neither lost nor gained by such successive revolutions. And to +this must be joined their necessity of submitting, be it what it +might, to the result. This mental consciousness probably kept +their passions in order, and crushed all the impulses by which +hope or fear is excited. No love of liberty buoyed up resistance; +no views of independence brightened their imagination; and they +bore even suspense with the calm of apparent philosophy, and an +exterior of placid indifference. + +The first intelligence Madame d'Henin now gave me was, that the +Austrian minister extraordinary, M. le Comte de Vincent, had been +wounded close by the side of the Duke of Wellington ; and that he +was just brought back in a litter to her hotel. As she was much +acquainted with him, she desired me to accompany her in making +her personal inquiries. No one now sent servants, cards, or +messages, where there was any serious interest in a research. +There was too much eagerness to bear delay, and ceremony and +etiquette always fly from distress and from business. + +Le Comte de Vincent, we had the pleasure to hear, had been hurt +only in the hand ; but this wound afterwards proved more serious +than at first was apprehended, threatening for ,many weeks either +gangrene or amputation. News, however, far more fatal struck our +ears soon after : the gallant Duke of Brunswick was killed! and +by a shot close also to the Duke of Wellington! + +The report now throughout Brussels was that the two Mighty +chiefs, Bonaparte and Wellington, were almost constantly in view +of each other. + +Page 352 + + FLIGHT To ANTWERP DETERMINED ON. + +But what a day was the next--June 18th--the greatest, perhaps, in +its result, in the annals of Great Britain! + +My slumbers having been tranquillized by the close Of the +17th, I was calmly reposing, when I was awakened by the sound of +feet abruptly entering my drawing-room. I started, and had but +just time to see by my watch that it was only six o'clock, when a +rapping at my bedroom door so quick as to announce as much +trepidation as it excited, made me slip on a long kind of domino +always, in those times, at hand, to keep me ready for +encountering surprise, and demanded what was the matter? "Open +your door! there is not a moment to lose! " was the answer, in +the voice of Miss Ann Boyd. I obeyed, in great alarm, and saw +that pretty and pleasing young woman, with her mother, Mrs. Boyd, +who remembered having known and played with me when we were both +children, and whom I had met with at Passy, after a lapse of more +than forty years. They both eagerly told me that all their new +hopes had been overthrown by better authenticated news, and that +I must be with them by eight o'clock, to proceed to the wharf, +and set sail for Antwerp, whence we sail on for England, should +the taking of Brussels by Bonaparte endanger Antwerp also. + +To send off a few lines to the post, with my direction at +Antwerp, to pack and to pay, was all that I could attempt, or +even desire ; for I had not less time than appetite for thinking +of breakfast. My host and my maid carried my small package, and +I arrived before eight in the Rue d'Assault. We set off for the +wharf on foot, not a fiacre or chaise being procurable. Mr. and +Mrs. Boyd, five or six of their family, a governess, and I +believe some servants, with bearers of our baggage, made our +party. Though the distance was short, the walk was long, because +rugged, dirty, and melancholy. Now and then we heard a growling +noise, like distant thunder, but far more dreadful. When we had +got about a third part of the way, a heavy rumbling sound made us +stop to listen. It was approaching nearer and nearer, and we soon +found that we were followed by innumerable carriages, and a +multitude of persons. + +All was evidently military, but of so gloomy, taciturn, and +forbidding a description, that when we were overtaken we had not +courage to offer a question to any passer by. Had +Page 353 + +we been as certain that they belonged to the enemy as we felt +convinced that, thus circumstanced, they must belong to our own +interests, we could not have been awed more effectually into +silent passiveness, so decisively repelling to inquiry was every +aspect, In truth, at that period, when every other hour changed +the current of expectation, no one could be inquisitive without +the risk of passing for a spy, nor communicative without the +hazard of being suspected as a traitor. + +Arrived at the wharf, Mr. Boyd pointed out to us our barge, which +seemed fully ready for departure ; but the crowd already come and +still coming so incommoded us, that Mr. Boyd desired we would +enter a large inn, and wait till he could speak with the master, +and arrange our luggage and places, We went, therefore, into a +spacious room and ordered breakfast, when the room was entered by +a body of military men of all sorts ; but we were suffered to +keep our ground till Mr, Boyd came to inform us that we must all +decamp! + + + A CHECK MET WITH. + +Confounded, but without any interrogatory, we vacated the +apartment, and Mr. Boyd conducted us not to the barge, not to the +wharf, but to the road back to Brussels ; telling us, in an +accent of depression, that he feared all was lost-that Bonaparte +was advancing-that his point was decidedly Brussels-and that the +Duke of Wellington had sent orders that all the magazines, the +artillery, and the warlike stores of every description, and all +the wounded, the maimed, and the sick, should be immediately +removed to Antwerp. For this purpose he had issued directions +that every barge, every boat should be seized for the use of the +army, and that everything of value should be conveyed away, the +hospitals emptied, and Brussels evacuated. + +If this intelligence filled us with the most fearful alarm, how +much more affrighting still was the sound of cannon which next +assailed our ears ! The dread reverberation became louder and +louder as we proceeded. Every shot tolled to our imaginations the +death of myriads; and the conviction that the destruction and +devastation were so near us, with the probability that if all +attempt at escape should prove abortive, we might be personally +involved in the carnage, gave us sensations too awful for verbal +expression; we could only gaze and tremble, listen and shudder. +Page 354 + +Yet, strange to relate! on re-entering the city, all seemed quiet +and tranquil as usual! and though it was in this imminent and +immediate danger of being invested, and perhaps pillaged, I saw +no outward mark of distress or disturbance, or even of hurry or +curiosity. + +Having re-lodged us in the Rue d'Assault, Mr. Boyd tried to find +some land carriage for our removal. But not only every chaise +had been taken, and every diligence secured, the cabriolets, the +calches, nay, the waggons and the carts; and every species of +caravan, had been seized for Military service. And, after the +utmost efforts he could make, in every kind of way, he told us we +must wait the chances of the day, for that there was no +possibility of escape from Brussels either by land or water. + +Remedy there was none; nor had we any other resource; we were +fain, therefore, quietly to submit. Mr. Boyd, however, assured me +that, though no land carriage was likely to find horses during +this furious contest, he had been promised the return of a barge +for the next morning, if he and his party would be at the wharf +by six o'clock. We all therefore agreed that, if we were spared +any previous calamity, we would set out for the wharf at five +o'clock, and I accepted their invitation to be with them in the +evening, and spend the night at their house. We then separated; +I was anxious to get home, to watch the post, and to write to +Trves. + + + A CAPTURED FRENCH GENERAL. + +My reappearance produced no effect upon my hosts : they saw my +return with the same placid civility that they had seen my +departure. But even apathy, or equanimity,--which shall I call +it?--like theirs was now to be broken; I was seated at my bureau +and writing, when a loud "hurrah!" reached my ears from some +distance, while the daughter of my host, a girl of about +eighteen, gently opening my door, said the fortune of the day had +suddenly turned, and that Bonaparte was taken prisoner. At the +same time the "hurrah!" came nearer. I flew to the window; +my host and hostess came also, crying, "Bonaparte est pris! le +voil! le Voil!"(278) + +I then saw, on a noble war-horse in full equipinent, a general in +the splendid uniform of France but visibly disarmed, and, + +Page 355 + +to all appearance, tied to his horse, or, at least, held on, so +as to disable him from making any effort to gallop it off, and +surrounded, preceded, and followed by a. crew of roaring +wretches, who seemed eager for the moment when he should be +lodged where they had orders to conduct him, that they might +unhorse, strip, pillage him, and divide the spoil. + +His high, feathered, glittering helmet he had pressed down as low +as he could on his forehead, and I could not discern his face ; +but I was instantly certain he was not Bonaparte, on finding the +whole commotion produced by the rifling crew above mentioned, +which, though it might be guided, probably, by some subaltern +officer, who might have the captive in charge, had left the field +of battle at a moment when none other could be spared, as all the +attendant throng were evidently amongst the refuse of the army +followers. + +I was afterwards informed that this unfortunate general was the +Count Lobau. He met with singular consideration during his +captivity in the Low Countries, having thence taken to himself a +wife. That wife I had met when last in Paris, at a ball given by +Madame la Princesse de Beauvau. She was quite young and extremely +pretty, and the gayest of the gay, laughing, chatting the whole +evening, chiefly with the fat and merry, good-humoured Duchesse +de Feltre (Madame la Marchale Clarke) - and her husband, high in +office, in fame, and in favour, was then absent on some official +duty. + + + THE DEARTH OF NEWS. + +The dearth of any positive news from the field of battle, even in +the heart of Brussels, at this crisis, when everything that was +dear and valuable to either party was at stake, was at one +instant nearly distracting in its torturing suspense to the wrung +nerves, and at another insensibly blunted them into a kind of +amalgamation with the Belgic philosophy. At certain houses, as +well as at public offices, news, I doubt not, arrived; but no +means were taken to - promulgate it - no gazettes, as in London, +no bulletins, as in Paris, were cried about the streets ; we were +all left at once to our conjectures and our destinies. + +The delusion of victory vanished into a merely passing advantage, +as I gathered from the earnest researches into which it led me; +and evil only met all ensuing investigation; retreat and defeat +were the words in every mouth around me! +Page 356 + +The Prussians, it was asserted, were completely vanquished on the +15th, and the English on the 16th, while on the day just passed, +the 17th, a day of continual fighting and bloodshed, drawn +battles on both sides left each party Proclaiming what neither +party could prove--success. + +It was Sunday ; but church service was out of the question though +never were prayers more frequent, more fervent, Form, indeed, +they could not have, nor union, while constantly expecting the +enemy with fire and sword at the gates, Who could enter a place +of worship, at the risk of making it a scene of slaughter? But +who, also, in circumstances so awful, could require the +exhortation of a priest or the example of a congregation, to +stimulate devotion? No! in those fearful exigencies, where, in +the full vigour of health, strength, and life's freshest +resources, we seem destined to abruptly quit this mortal coil, we +need no spur--all is spontaneous; and the soul is unshackled. + + + RUMOURS OF THE FRENCH COMING. + +Not above a quarter of an hour had I been restored to my sole +occupation of solace, before I was again interrupted and startled +; but not as on the preceding occasion by riotous shouts ; the +sound was a howl, violent, loud, affrighting, and issuing from +many voices. I ran to the window, and saw the March aux Bois +suddenly filling with a populace, pouring in from all its +avenues, and hurrying on rapidly, and yet as if unconscious in +what direction; while women with children in their arms, or +clinging to their clothes, ran screaming out of doors - and +cries, though not a word was ejaculated, filled the air, and from +every house, I saw windows closing, and shutters fastening ; all +this, though long in writing, was presented to my eyes in a +single moment, and was followed in another by a burst into my +apartment, to announce that the French were come! + +I know not even who made this declaration; my head was out of the +window, and the person who made it scarcely entered the room and +was gone. + + How terrific was this moment ! My perilous situation urged me to +instant flight; and, without waiting to speak to the people of +the house, I crammed my papers and money into a basket, and +throwing on a shawl and bonnet, I flew down stairs and out of +doors. + +My intention was to go to the Boyds, to partake, as I had +engaged, their fate , but the crowd were all issuing from the +Page 357 + +way I must have turned to have gained the Rue d'Assault, and I +thought, therefore, I might be safer with Madame de Maurville, +who, also, not being English, might be less obnoxious to the +Bonapartists. To the Rue de la Montagne I hurried, in +consequence, my steps crossing and crossed by an affrighted +multitude ; but I reached it in safety, and she received me with +an hospitable welcome. I found her calm, and her good humour +undisturbed. Inured to revolutions, under which she had smarted +so as she could smart no more, from the loss of all those who had +been the first objects of her solicitude, a husband and three +sons! she was now hardened in her feelings upon public events, +though her excellent heart was still affectionate and zealous for +the private misfortunes of the individuals whom she loved. + +What a dreadful day did I pass! dreadful in the midst of its +glory! for it was not during those operations that sent details +partially to our ears that we could judge of the positive state +of affairs, or build upon any permanency of success. Yet here I +soon recovered from all alarm for personal safety, and lost the +horrible apprehension of being in the midst of a city that was +taken, sword in hand, by an enemy-an apprehension that, while it +lasted, robbed me of breath, chilled my blood, and gave me a +shuddering ague that even now in fancy returns as I seek to +commit it to paper. + + + FRENCH PRISONERS BROUGHT IN. + +The alerte(279) which had produced this effect, I afterwards +learnt, though not till the next day, was utterly false ; but +whether it had been produced by mistake or by deceit I never +knew. The French, indeed, were coming; but not triumphantly ., +they were prisoners, surprised and taken suddenly, ,and brought +in, being disarmed, by an escort ; and, as they were numerous, +and their French uniform was discernible from afar, the almost +universal belief at Brussels that Bonaparte was invincible, might +perhaps, without any intended deception, have raised the report +that they were advancing as conquerors. + + + NEWS OF WATERLOO. + +I attempt no description of this day, the grandeur of which was +unknown, or unbelieved, in Brussels till it had taken its +Page 358 + +flight, and could only be named as time past. The Duke of +Wellington and Prince Blcher were too mightily engaged in +meriting fame to spare an instant for either claiming or +proclaiming it. + +I was fain, therefore, to content myself with the intelligence +that reached Madame de Maurville fortuitously. The crowds in the +streets, the turbulence, the inquietude, the bustle the noise, +the cries, the almost yells, kept up a perpetual expectation of +annoyance. The door was never opened, but I felt myself pale and +chill with fear of some sanguinary attack or military surprise. +It is true that as Brussels was not fortified and could, in +itself, offer no resistance, it could neither b' besieged nor +taken by storm ; but I felt certain that the Duke of Wellington +would combat for it inch by inch, and that in a conflict between +life and death, every means would be resorted to that could be +suggested by desperation. + +Madame de Maurville now told me that an English commissary was +just arrived from the army, who had assured her that the tide of +success was completely turned to the side of the Allies. She +offered to conduct me to his apartment, which was in the same +hotel as her own, and in which he was writing and transacting +business gravely assuring me, and I really believe, herself, that +he could not but be rejoiced to give me, in person, every +particular I could wish to hear. I deemed it, however, but +prudent not to put his politeness to a test so severe. + +Urgent, nevertheless, to give me pleasure, and not easily set +aside from following her own conceptions, she declared she would +go down stairs, and inform Mr. Saumarez that she had a +countrywoman of his in her room, whom he would be charmed to +oblige. I tried vainly to stop her; good humour, vivacity, +curiosity, and zeal were all against my efforts; she went, and to +my great surprise returned escorted by Mr. Saumarez himself. His +narration was all triumphant and his account of the Duke of +Wellington might almost have seemed an exaggerated panegyric if +it had painted some warrior in a chivalresque romance. . . . I +could not but be proud of this account: independent from its +glory; my revived imagination hung the blessed laurels of peace. + +But though Hope was all alive, Ease and Serenity were not her +companions: Mr. Saumarez could not disguise that there was still +much to do, and consequently to apprehend; and he had never, he +said, amongst the many he had viewed, seen a field + +Page 359 + +of battle in such excessive disorder. Military carriages of all +sorts, and' multitudes of groups unemployed, occupied spaces that +ought to have been left for manoeuvring or observation. I +attribute this to the various nations who bore arms on that great +day in their own manner; though the towering generalissimo of all +cleared the ground, and dispersed what was unnecessary at every +moment that was not absorbed by the fight. + +When the night of this memorable day arrived, I took leave of +Madame de Maurville to join the Boyds, according to my +engagement: for though all accounts confirmed the victory of the +Duke of Wellington, we had so little idea of its result, that we +still imagined the four days already spent in the work of carnage +must be followed by as many more, before the dreadful conflict +could terminate. + +Madame de Maurville lent me her servant, with whom I now made my +way tolerably well, for though the crowd remained, it was no +longer turbulent. A general knowledge of general success to the +Allies was everywhere spread ; curiosity therefore began to be +satisfied, and inquietude to be removed. The concourse were +composedly--for no composure is like that of the Flemings- +-listening to details of the day in tranquil groups, and I had no +interruption to my walk but from my own anxiety to catch, as I +could, some part of the relations. As all these have since been +published, I omit them, though the interest with which I heard +them was, at the moment, intense. + +Three or four shocking sights intervened during my passage, of +officers of high rank, either English or Belge, and either dying +or dead, extended upon biers, carried by soldiers. The view of +their gay and costly attire, with the conviction of their +suffering, or fatal state, joined to the profound silence of +their bearers and attendants, was truly saddening ; and if my +reflections were morally dejecting, what, oh what were my +personal feelings and fears, in the utter uncertainty whether +this victory were more than a passing triumph! In one place we +were entirely stopped by a group that had gathered round a horse, +of which a British soldier was examining one of the knees. The +animal was a tall war-horse, and one of the noblest of his +species. The soldier was enumerating to his hearers its high +qualities, and exultingly acquainting them it was his own +property, as he had taken it, if I understood right, from the +fields He produced also a very fine ring, which was all he had +taken +Page 360 + +of spoil, Yet this man gravely added that pillage had been +forbidden by the commander-in-chief! + +I found the Boyds still firm for departure. The news of the +victory of the day, gained by the Duke of Wellington and Prince +Blcher, had raised the highest delight; but further intelligence +had just reached them that the enemy, since the great battle, was +working to turn the right wing of the Duke of Wellington, who was +in the most imminent danger; and that the capture of Brussels was +expected to take place the next morning, as everything indicated +that Brussels was the point at which Bonaparte aimed, to retrieve +his recent defeat. Mr. Boyd used every possible exertion to +procure chaises or diligence, or any sort of land conveyance, for +Antwerp, but every horse was under military requisition - even +the horses of the farmers, of the nobility and gentry, and of +travellers, The hope of water-carriage was all that remained. We +were to set off so early, that we agreed not to retire to rest. + + + THE VICTORY DECLARED TO BE COMPLETE. + +A gentleman, however, of their acquaintance, presently burst into +the room with assurances that the enemy was flying in all +directions, his better news reanimated my courage for Brussels +and my trust in the Duke of Wellington; and when the Boyd family +summoned me the next morning at four or five o'clock to set off +with them for Antwerp, I permitted my repugnance to quitting the +only spot where I could receive letters from Trves to conquer +every obstacle, and begged them to excuse my changed purpose. +They wondered at my temerity, and probably blamed it ; but there +was no time for discussion, and we separated. + +It was not till Tuesday, the 20th, I had certain and satisfactory +assurances how complete was the victory. At the house of Madame +de Maurville I heard confirmed and detailed the matchless triumph +of the matchless Wellington, interspersed with descriptions of +scenes of slaughter on the field of battle to freeze the blood, +and tales of woe amongst mourning survivors in Brussels to rend +the heart. While listening with speechless avidity to these +relations, we were joined by M. de la Tour du Pin, who is a +cousin of Madame de Maurville, and who said the Duke of +Wellington had galloped to Brussels from Wavre to see the Prince +of Orange and inquire in person after his wounds. Prince +Page 361 + +Blcher was in close pursuit of Bonaparte, who was totally +defeated, his baggage all taken, even his private equipage and +personals, and who was a fugitive himself, and in disguise! The +duke considered the battle to be so decisive, that while prince +Blcher was posting after the remnant of the Bonapartian army, he +determined to follow himself as convoy to Louis XVIII.; and he +told M. de la Tour du Pin and the Duke de Fitzjames, whom he met +at the palace of the King of Holland, to acquaint their king with +this his proposal, and to beg his majesty to set forward without +delay to join him for its execution. The Duke de Fitzjames was +gone already to Gand with his commission. + +How daring a plan was this, while the internal state of France +was so little known, while les places fortes(280) were all +occupied, and while the corps of Grouchy was still intact, and +the hidden and possible resources of Bonaparte were unfathomed! + +The event, however, demonstrated that the Duke of Wellington had +judged with as much quickness of perception as intrepidity of +valour. + +'Twas to Tournay he had desired that the King of France would +repair. + + + THE WOUNDED AND THE PRISONERS. + +The duke now ordered that the hospitals, invalids, magazines, +etc., should all be stationed at Brussels, which he regarded as +saved from invasion and completely secure. It is not near the +scene of battle that war, even with victory, wears an aspect of +felicity-no, not even in the midst of its highest resplendence of +glory. A more terrific or afflicting sojourn than that of +Brussels at this period can hardly be imagined. The universal +voice declared that so sanguinary a battle as that which was +fought almost in its neighbourhood, and quite within its hearing, +never yet had spread the plains with slaughter; and though +exultation cannot ever have been prouder, nor satisfaction more +complete, in the brilliancy of success, all my senses were +shocked in viewing the effects of its attainment. For more than a +week from this time I never approached my window but to witness +sights of wretchedness. Maimed, wounded, bleeding, mutilated, +tortured victims of this exterminating contest passed by every +minute: the fainting, the sick, the dying and the dead, on +brancards,(281) In carts, in waggons, succeeded one another +without intermission. There + +Page 362 + +seemed to be a whole and a large army of disabled or lifeless +soldiers! All that was intermingled with them bore an aspect of +still more poignant horror ; for the Bonapartian Prisoners who +were now poured into the city by hundreds, had a mien of such +ferocious desperation, where they were marched on, uninjured, +from having been taken by surprise or overpowered by numbers - or +faces of such anguish, where they were drawn on in open vehicles, +the helpless victims of gushing wounds or horrible dislocations, +that to see them without commiseration for their sufferings, or +admiration for the heroic, however misled enthusiasm, to which +they Were martyrs, must have demanded an apathy dead to all +feeling but what is personal, or a rancour too ungenerous to +yield even to the view of defeat. + +Both the one set and the other of these unhappy warriors endured +their calamities with haughty forbearance of complaint, The +maimed and lacerated, while their ghastly visages spoke torture +and death, bit their own clothes, perhaps their flesh ! to save +the loud utterance of their groans; while those of their comrades +who had escaped these corporeal inflictions seemed to be smitten +with something between remorse and madness that they had not +forced themselves on to destruction ere thus they were exhibited +in dreadful parade through the streets of that city they had been +sent forth to conquer. Others of these wretched prisoners had, +to me, as I first saw them, the air of the lowest and most +disgusting of jacobins, in dirty tattered vestments of all sorts +and colours, or soiled carters' frocks; but disgust was soon +turned to pity, when I afterwards learnt that these shabby +accoutrements had been cast over them by their conquerors after +despoiling them of their own. + +Everybody was wandering from home; all Brussels seemed living in +the streets. The danger to the city, which had imprisoned all its +inhabitants except the rabble or the military, once completely +passed, the pride of feeling and showing their freedom seemed to +stimulate their curiosity in seeking details on what had passed +and was passing. But neither the pride nor the joy of victory +was anywhere of an exulting nature. London and Paris render all +other places that I, at least, have dwelt in, tame and insipid. +Bulletins in a few shop-windows alone announced to the general +public that the Allies had vanquished and that Bonaparte was a +fugitive. + +I met at the embassy an old English officer who gave me +Page 363 + +most interesting and curious information, assuring me that in the +carriage of Bonaparte, which had been seized, there were +proclamations ready printed, and even dated from the palace of +Lachen, announcing the downfall of the Allies and the triumph of +Bonaparte ! But no satisfaction could make me hear without deadly +dismay and shuddering his description of the field of battle. +Piles of dead!--Heaps, masses, hills of dead bestrewed the +plains! + +I met also Colonel Jones; so exulting in success! so eager to +remind me of his assurances that all was safe! And I was much +interested in a narration made to me by a wounded soldier, who +was seated in the courtyard of the embassy. He had been taken +prisoner after he was severely wounded, on the morning of the +18th, and forced into a wood with many others, where he had been +very roughly used, and stripped of his coat, waistcoat, and even +his shoes ; but as the fortune of the day began to turn, there +was no one left to watch him, and he crawled on all-fours till he +got out of the wood, and was found by some of his roving +comrades. + +Thousands, I believe I may say without exaggeration, were +employed voluntarily at this time in Brussels in dressing wounds +and attending the sick beds of the wounded. Humanity could be +carried no further ; for not alone the Belgians and English were +thus nursed and assisted, nor yet the Allies, but the prisoners +also ; and this, notwithstanding the greatest apprehensions being +prevalent that the sufferers, from their multitude, would bring +pestilence into the heart of the city. + +The immense quantity of English, Belgians, and Allies, who were +first, of course, conveyed to the hospitals and prepared houses +of Brussels, required so much time for carriage and placing, that +although the carts, waggons, and every attainable or seizable +vehicle were unremittingly in motion-now coming, now returning to +the field of battle for more,- it was nearly a week, or at least +five or six days, ere the unhappy wounded prisoners, who were +necessarily last served, could be accommodated. And though I was +assured that medical and surgical aid was administered to them +wherever it was possible, the blood that dried upon their skins +and their garments, joined to the dreadful sores occasioned by +this neglect, produced an effect so pestiferous, that, at every +new entry, eau de Cologne, or vinegar, was resorted to by every +inhabitant, even amongst the shopkeepers, even amongst the +commonest persons, for averting the menaced contagion. +Page 364 + +Even the churches were turned into hospitals, and every house in +Brussels was ordered to receive or find an asylum for some of the +sick. + +The Boyds were eminently good in nursing, dressing wounds, making +slops, and administering comfort amongst the maimed, whether +friend or foe. Madame d'Henin sent her servants, and money, and +cordials to all the French that came within her reach ; Madame de +la Tour du Pin was munificent in the same attentions; and Madame +de Maurville never passed by an opportunity of doing good. M. de +Beaufort, being far the richest of my friends at this place, was +not spared; he had officers and others quartered upon him without +mercy. + +We were all at work more or less in making lint. For me, I was +about amongst the wounded half the day, the British, s'entend! +The rising in France for the honour of the nation now, and for +its safety in independence hereafter, was brilliant and +delightful, spreading in some directions from La Manche to La +Mditerrane: the focus of loyalty was Bordeaux. The king left +Gand the 22nd. All Alost, etc., surrounded followed, or preceded +him. The noble Blcher entered France at Mortes le Chteau. + + + HOSTILITIES AT AN END: TE DEUM FOR THE VICTORY, + +It was not till June 26th that the blessed news reached me of the +cessation of hostilities. Colonel Beaufort was the first who +brought me this intelligence, smiling kindly himself at the +smiles he excited. Next came la Princesse d'Henin, escorted by my +and her highly valued M, de Lally Tolendal. With open arms that +dear princess reciprocated congratulations. Madame de Maurville +next followed, always cordial where she could either give or +behold happiness. The Boyds hurried to me in a body to wish and +be wished joy. And last, but only in time, not in kindness, came +Madame la Vicomtesse de Laval, mother to the justly honoured +philanthropist, or, as others--but not I--call him, bigot, M. +Mathieu de Montmorency, who, at this moment, is M. le Duc de +Montmorency. + +Brussels now, which had seemed for so many days, from the +unremitting passage of maimed, dying, or dead, a mere out-door +hospital, revived, or, rather, was invigorated to something above +its native state ; for from uninteresting tameness it became +elevated to spirit, consequence, and vivacity. +Page 365 + +On the following Sunday I had the gratification of hearing, at +the Protestant chapel, the Te Deum for the grand victory, in +presence of the King and Queen of the Low Countries--or Holland, +and of the Dowager Princess of Orange, and the young warrior her +grandson. This prince looked so ill, so meagre, so weak, from his +half-cured wounds, that to appear on this occasion seemed +another, and perhaps not less dangerous effort of heroism, added +to those which had so recently distinguished him in the field. +What enthusiasm would such an exertion, with his pallid +appearance, have excited in London or Paris ! even here, a little +gentle huzza greeted him from his carriage to the chapel - and +for the same short passage, back again. After which, he drove off +as tranquilly as any common gentleman might have driven away, to +return to his home and his family dinner. + +About the middle of July-but I am not clear of the date -the news +was assured and confirmed of the brilliant reenthronement of +Louis XVIII., and that Bonaparte had ,surrendered to the English. +Brussels now became an assemblage of all nations, from the +rapturous enthusiasm that pervaded all to view the field of +battle, the famous Waterloo, and gather upon the spot ,,details +of the immortal victory of Wellington. + + + MATERNAL ADVICE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to her son.) +April 26, 1815. +At length, my long expecting eyes meet again your hand-writing, +after a breach of correspondence that I can never 'recollect +without pain. Revive it not in my mind by any repetition, and I +will dismiss it from all future power of tormenting me, by +considering it only as a dream of other times. Cry "Done!" my +Alex, and I will skip over the subject, not perhaps as lightly, +but as swiftly as you skip over the hills of Norbury Park. I +delight to think of the good and pleasure that sojourn may do +you; though easily, too easily, I conceive the melancholy +reflections that were awakened by the sight of our dear, dear +cottage; yet your expressions upon its view lose much of their +effect by being Overstrained, recherchs, and designing to be +pathetic. We never touch others, my dear Alex, where we study to +show we -,are touched ourselves. I beg you, when you write to +me, +Page 366 + +to let your pen paint your thoughts as they rise, not as you seek +or labour to embellish them. I remember you once wrote me a +letter so very fine from Cambridge, that, if it had not made me +laugh, it would certainly have made me sick. Be natural, my dear +boy, and you will be sure to please Your mother without wasting +your time. + +Let us know what you have received, what you have spent, what you +may have still unpaid, and what you yet want. But for this last +article, we both desire you will not wait our permission to draw +upon your aunt, whom we shall empower to draw upon Mr. Hoare in +our names. We know you to have no wanton extravagances, and no +idle vanity, we give you, therefore, dear Alex, carte blanche to +apply to your aunt, only consulting with her, and begging her +kind, maternal advice to help your inexperience in regulating +your expenses. She knows the difference that must be made between +our fortune and that of Clement - but she knows our affection for +our boy, and our confidence in his honour and probity, and will +treat him with as much kindness, though not with equal luxury. + +Your father charges you never to be without your purse, and never +to let it be empty. Your aunt will counsel you about your +clothes. About your books we trust to yourself. And pray don't +forget, when you make sleeping visits, to recompense the trouble +you must unavoidably give to servants. And if you join any party +to any public place, make a point to pay for yourself. It will +be far better to go seldom, and with that gentlemanly spirit, +than often, with the air of a hanger-on. How infinitely +hospitable has been your uncle James! But hospitality is his +characteristic. We had only insisted upon your regularity at +chapel and at lectures, and we hear of your attention to them +comparatively, and we are fixed to be contented en attendant. +Don't lose courage, dear, dear Alex , the second place is the +nearest to the first. I love you with all my heart and soul! . . +. + + + ABOUT THE GREAT BATTLE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to General d'Arblay.) +Monday, June 19, 1815- +The sitting up all night, however little merrily, made me, I know +not how, seem to have lived a day longer than real time, for I +thought to-day the 20th when I finished my letter of this +morning. I have now, therefore, to rectify that Mistake, + +Page 367 + +and tell you that there is, therefore, no chasm in the known +history of the Duke of Wellington. But, to my infinite regret, +with all the great, nay marvellous feats he has performed, he is +less, not more, in public favour, from not being approved, or +rather, I think, comprehended, in the opening of this tremendous +business. As I am sure the subject must be of deeper interest to +you than any other, at such an instant, I will tell you all I +know-all I have heard and gathered, for I know nothing, and add +my own consequent conjectures, as soon as I have first acquainted +you that I separated from the Boyds at about half past seven in +the morning, too much satisfied with the news of Lord +Wellington's victory to endure to distance myself still further +from all I love most upon earth. They, therefore, still alarmed, +went to Antwerp, and I am again at the little bureau, upon which +my dearest ami has sometimes written in the March aux Bois. + +The first news the Duke of Wellington was known to receive of the +invasion of les Pays Bas was at a ball at the Duchess of +Richmond's. He would not break up the party, more than half of +which was formed of his officers, nor suffer any interruption. +Some time after, however, he went out, and when he returned +distributed cards of orders to the several commanding officers. +But he stayed to supper - after which fifty red-coats retired +abruptly. Not so the duke--and he is now much-- + +Ah, mon ami, two letters arrive at the same instant, that curtail +all subjects but what belong to themselves. Nous allons +commencer!--Heaven preserve and prosper the beloved partner of my +soul. I dare enter upon nothing; I can only say the first of the +two letters, written before the order of commencer was issued, is +one of the fullest and dearest I have in my possession; and I +shall read and re-read its interesting contents with heart-felt +pleasure. + +Tell, tell me, my beloved ami, where, when you would have me +remove? I will not ask how--I will find that out. To be nearer to +you--to hear more frequently--oh, what a solace! + +The maimed, wounded, bleeding, fainting, arrive still every +minute. There seems a whole, and a large army of mutilated +Soldiers. Jerome is said to be killed, and Vandamme to have lost +both legs.(282) Our loss is yet incalculable. +Page 368 + +Every creature that was movable is gone to Antwerp, or England, +but myself - but my intense desire not to lose ground or time in +my letters made me linger to the last, and now, thank heaven, all +danger here is at an end, and all fugitives are returning. + +The imperial guard is almost annihilated. They fought like +demons. Napoleon cried out continually to them, the prisoners +say, "A Bruxelles, mes enfans! Bruxelles! Bruxelles!" They +were reported one day to be actually arrived here. I never saw, +never, indeed, felt such consternation. Not only money, jewels, +and valuables of pecuniary sorts were shut up, but babies from +the arms of their terrified mothers and nurses. I flew out +myself, to take refuge in the apartments of Madame de Maurville, +and I never witnessed such horror and desolation. + +I have left this for a word at the last minute, This is +Wednesday, June 21st.... Mr Kirkpatrick tells me Murat is dead of +his wounds;(283) Vandamme lost his two thighs, and is dead also; +Jerome died of a cannon-ball at once. Poor M, de Vincent, the +Austrian, has a ball still in his arm, which they cannot extract, +Lord Fitzroy Somerset has an arm shot off; Lord Uxbridge a leg. +Col. Hamilton is killed. Lobau is here a prisoner. I shall +continue to write all the + +Page 369 + +particulars I can gather. It has been the most bloody battle that +ever was fought, and the victory the most entire. + + + AN ACCIDENT BEFALLS GENERAL D'ARBLAY. + +on the 19th of July, 1815, during the ever memorable Hundred +Days, I was writing to my best friend, when I received a visit +from la Princesse d'Henin and Colonel de Beaufort, who entered +the room with a sort of precipitancy and confusion that +immediately struck me as the effect of evil tidings which they +came to communicate. My ideas instantly flew to the expectation +of new public disaster, when Madame d'Henin faintly pronounced +the name of M. d'Arblay. Alarmed, I turned from one to the other +in speechless trepidation, dreading to ask, while dying to know +what awaited me. Madame d'Henin then said, that M. de Beaufort +had received a letter from M. d'Arblay: and I listened with +subdued, yet increasing terror, while they acquainted me that M. +d'Arblay had received on the calf of his leg a furious kick from +a wild horse, which had occasioned so bad a wound as to confine +him to his bed - and that he wished M. de Beaufort to procure me +some travelling guide, that I might join 'him as soon as it would +be possible with safety and convenience. + +But what was my agony when I saw that the letter was not in his +own band! I conjured them to leave me, and let me read it alone. +They offered, the one to find me a clever femme de chambre, the +other to inquire for a guide to aid me to set out, if able, the +next day; but I rather know this from recollection than from +having understood them at the time: I only entreated their +absence; and having consented to their return in a few hours, I +forced them away. + +No sooner were they gone, than, calming my spirits by earnest and +devout prayer, which alone supports my mind, and even preserves +my senses, in deep calamity, I ran over the letter, which was +dated the fourth day after the wound, and acknowledged that three +incisions had been made in the leg unnecessarily by an ignorant +surgeon, which had so aggravated the danger, as well as the +suffering, that he was now in bed, not only from the pain of the +lacerated limb, but also from a nervous fever! and that no hope +was held Out to him of quitting it in less than a fortnight or +three weeks. + +Page 370 + + MADAME D'ARBLAY'S DIFFICULTIES IN REJOINING HER HUSBAND. + +I determined not to wait, though the poor sufferer himself had +charged that I should, either for the femme de chambe of Madame +d'Henin or the guide of M. de Beaufort, which they could not +quite promise even for the next day; and to me the next hour +seemed the delay of an age. I went, therefore to order a chaise +at six on the road to Luxembourg. The' answer was, that no horses +were to be had! + +Almost distracted, I flew myself to the inn; but the answer was +repeated! The route to Luxembourg, they told me, was infested +with straggling parties, first, from the wandering army of +Grouchy, now rendered pillagers from want of food ; and next, +from the pursuing army of the Prussians, who made themselves +pillagers also through the rights of conquest. To travel in a +chaise would be impracticable, they assured me, without a guard. + +I now resolved upon travelling in the diligence, and desired to +secure a place in that for Trves. There was none to that city ! + +"And what is the nearest town to Trves, whence I might go on in +a chaise?" + +"Luxembourg." + +I bespoke a place, but was told that the diligence had set off +the very day before, and that none other would go for six days, +as it only quitted Brussels once a week. + +My friend the Baroness de Spagen next told me that, if travel I +would, I had but to go by Lige, which, though not a direct, was +the only safe road; that then she would put me under the +protection of her brother-in-law, the Comte de Spagen, who was +himself proceeding to that city by the ensuing night- coach. + +I accepted this kindness with rapture. I flew myself to the +book-keeper I had so abruptly quitted, and instantly secured a +place in the Lige diligence for night; and I was taking leave of +my hosts, a Brussels fiacre being at the door, laden with my +little luggage, when I was told that Le Roi, the confidential +servant of Madame d'Henin, besought to speak a word to me from +his mistress. He told me that the Princesse 'was quite miserable +at my hazardous plan, which she had gathered from Madame de la +Tour du Pin, and that she +Page 371 + +supplicated me to postpone my purpose only till the next day, +when I should have some one of trust to accompany me. + +I assured him that nothing now could make me risk +procrastination, but begged him to still the fears of the +excellent Princesse by acquainting her I should be under the +protection of the Comte de Spagen. + +arrived at the inn after this last unprepared-for impediment, +three or four minutes too late ! What was the fermentation of my +mind at this news! A whole week I must wait for the next +diligence, and even then lose the aid and countenance of le Comte +de Spagen. + +Le Roi, who, through some short cut of footpaths and alleys, had +got to the inn before me, earnestly pressed me, in the style of +the confidential old servants of the French nobility, to go and +compose myself chez la princesse. Even my host and hostess had +pursued to wish me again good-bye, and now expressed their warm +hopes I should return to them. But the book-keeper alone spoke a +language to snatch me from despair, by saying my fiacre might +perhaps catch the diligence two miles off, in the Alle Verte, +where it commonly stopped for fresh passengers or parcels. + +Eagerly I promised the coachman a reward if he could +succeed, and off he drove. The diligence was at the appointed +place, and that instant ready to proceed ! I rushed into it with +trepidation of hurry, and when more composed, I was eager to find +out which of my fellow- travellers might be the Comte de Spagen; +but I dared risk no question. I sat wholly silent. We arrived at +Lige about nine in the morning I now advanced to the +book-keeper, and made inquiries about the Comte de Spagen. + +He had arrived in the earlier coach, and was gone on in some +other to his estates. + +As calmly as was in my power, I then declared my purpose to go to +Trves, and begged to be put on my way. + +I was come wrong, the book-keeper answered; the road was by +Luxembourg. + +And how was I to get thither? + +By Brussels, he said, and a week hence, the diligence having set +off the day before. + +Alas, I well knew that! and entreated some other means to forward +me to Trves, + +Page 372 + +He replied that he knew of none from Lige; but that if I would +go to Aix, I might there, perhaps, though it was out of the road, +hear of some conveyance; but he asserted it was utterly +impossible I could leave Lige without a passport from the +Prussian police-office, where I should only and surely be +detained if I had not one to show from whence I came. This +happily, reminded me of the one I had from M. de jaucourt' in +Paris, and which was fortunately, though accidentally, in my +hand-basket. + +Arrived at Aix, I earnestly inquired for a conveyance to Trves; +none existed! nor could I hear of any at all, save a diligence to +juliers, which was to set out at four o'clock the next morning. +To lose thus a whole day, and even then to go only more north +instead of south, almost cast me into despair. But redress there +was none, and I was forced to secure myself a place to juliers, +whence, I was told, I might get on. + +At any more tranquil period I should have seized this interval +for visiting the famous old cathedral and the tomb of +Charlemagne; but now I thought not of them; I did not even +recollect that Aix-la-Chapelle had been the capital of that +emperor. I merely saw the town through a misty, mizzling rain, +and that the road all around it was sandy and heavy, or that all +was discoloured by my own disturbed view. + +I laid down, in a scarcely furnished apartment, without +undressing. I suffered no shutter or curtain to be closed, lest i +should lose my vehicle ; and such was my anxiety, that at three +o'clock, by my own watch, I descended to inquire if we were not +to set off. I wandered about by the twilight of a season that is +never quite dark, but met no one. I returned to my chamber, but, +always in terror of being forgotten, descended again in a quarter +of an hour, though still without success. An hour, says Dr. +Johnson, may be tedious, but it cannot be long : four o'clock at +last struck, and I ran into a vehicle then ready in the courtyard +of the auberge.(284) + +I found myself alone, which, at first, was a great relief to my +mind, that was overburthened with care and apprehension, and glad +of utter silence. Ere long, however, I found it fed my +melancholy, which it was my business rather to combat and I was +not, therefore, sorry when a poor woman with a child was admitted +from the outside through the charity of the coachman, as the rain +grew heavier. +Page 373 + +At juliers we stopped at a rather large inn, at the head of an +immensely long market-place. It was nearly empty, except where +occupied by straggling soldiers, poor, lame, or infirm labourers, +women, and children. The universal war of the Continent left +scarcely a man unmaimed to be seen in civil life. The women who +met my eyes were all fat, with very round and very brown faces. +Most of them were barefooted, nay, barelegged, and had on odd +small caps, very close round their visages. The better sort, I +fancy, at that critical time, had hidden themselves or fled the +town. + +We entered Cologne through an avenue, said to be seven miles in +length, of lime-trees. It was evening, but very light, and +Cologne had a striking appearance, from its magnitude and from +its profusion of steeples. The better sort of houses were white +and looked neat, though in an old-fashioned style, and +elaborately ornamented. But, between the ravages of time and of +war, the greater part of them seemed crumbling away, if not +tumbling down. + + + A FRIENDLY RECEPTION AT COLOGNE. + +But while I expected to be driven on to some auberge, a police +officer, in a Prussian uniform, came to the coach-door, and +demanded our passports. My companion made herself known as a +native, and was let out directly. The officer, having cast his +eye over my passport, put his head through the window of the +carriage, and, in a low whisper, asked me whether I were French? + +French by marriage, though English by birth, I hardly knew which +to call myself; I said, however, "Oui." He then, in a voice yet +more subdued, gave me to understand that he could serve me. I +caught at his offer, and told him I earnestly desired to go +straight to Trves, to a wounded friend. He would do for me what +he could, he answered, for he was French himself, though employed +by the Prussians. He would carry my passport for me to the +magistrate of the place and get it signed without my having any +further trouble though only, he feared, to Bonn, or, at farthest, +to Coblenz, whence I might probably proceed unmolested. He knew +also, and could recommend me to a most respectable lady and +gentleman, both French, and under the Prussian hard gripe, where +I might spend the evening en famille, and be spared entering any +auberge. +Page 374 +He conducted me, in silence, passing through the cloisters to a +house not far distant, and very retired in its appearance'. +Arrived at a door at which he knocked or rang, he still spoke not +a word, but when an old man came to open it, in a shabby dress, +but with a good and lively face, be gave him some directions in +German and in a whisper, and then entrusted with my passport, he +bowed to me and hurried away. + +The old man led me to a very large room, scarcely at all +furnished. He pulled out of a niche a sort of ebony armchair, +very tottering and worn, and said he would call madame, for whom +he also placed a fauteuil, at the head of an immense and clumsy +table. I was then joined by an elderly gentlewoman, who was led +in ceremoniously by a gentleman still more elderly. The latter +made me three profound obeisances, which I returned with due +imitation, while the lady approached me with good breeding, and +begged me to take my seat. + +The old man then, who I found was their domestic, served the tea. + I know not whether this was their general custom, or a +compliment to a stranger. But when we had all taken some, they +opened into a little conversation. It was I, indeed, who began +by apologising for my intrusion, and expressing at the same time +my great relief in being spared going to an auberge, alone as I +was; but I assured them that the gentleman who had brought me to +their dwelling had acted entirely by his own uninfluenced +authority. + +They smiled or rather tried to smile, for melancholy was seated +on their countenances in its most fixed colours and they told me +that person was their best friend, and lost no opportunity to +offer them succour or comfort. He had let them know my +situation, and had desired they would welcome and cheer me. +Welcome me, the lady added in French, they did gladly, since I +was in distress; but they had little power to cheer me, involved +as they were themselves in the depths of sorrow. + +Sympathy of compassion soon led to sympathy of confidence; and +when they heard to whom I belonged, and the nature of my terrible +haste, they related their own sad history. Death, misfortune, and +oppression had all laid on them their iron hands ; they had lost +their sons while forcibly fighting for a usurpation which they +abhorred; they had lost their property by emigration; and they +had been treated with +Page 375 + +equal harshness by the revolutionists because they were suspected +of loyalty, and by the royalists because their children had +served in the armies of the revolutionists. They were now living +nearly in penury, and owed their safety and peace solely to the +protection of the officer who had brought me to them. + +With communications such as these, time passed so little heavily, +however sadly, that we were ill-disposed to separate; and eleven +o'clock struck, as we sat over their economical but well served +and well cooked little supper, ere the idea of retiring was +mentioned. They then begged me to go to rest, as I must be at the +diligence for Coblenz by four o'clock the next morning. + +To another large room, nearly empty except the old, high, and +narrow bed, the domestic now conducted me, promising to call me +at half-past three o'clock in the morning, and to attend me to +the diligence. I did not dare undress; I tied my watch, which +was a small repeater, round my wrist, and laid down in my +clothes-but to strike my watch, and to pray for my beloved +invalid, and my safe restoration to him, filled up, without, I +believe, three minutes of repose, the interval to my conductor's +return. + +At half-past three we set out, after I had safely deposited all I +durst spare, where my disinterested, but most poor host would +inevitably find my little offering, which, if presented to him, +he would probably have refused. I never heard his name, which he +seemed studious to hold back; but I have reason to think he was +of the ancient provincial noblesse. His manners, and those of +his wife, had an antique etiquette in them that can only accord +with that idea. + +The walk was immensely long; it was through the scraggy and hilly +streets I have mentioned, and I really thought it endless. The +good domestic carried my luggage. The height of the houses made +the light merely not darkness ; we met not a creature; and the +painful pavement and barred windows, and fear of being too late, +made the walk still more dreary. + +I was but just in time; the diligence was already drawn out of +the inn-yard, and some friends of the passengers were taking +leave. I eagerly secured my place - and never so much regretted +the paucity of my purse as in my inability to recompense as I +wished the excellent domestic whom I now quitted. +Page 376 + + FROM COLOGNE TO COBLENZ AND TREVES. + +I found myself now in much better society than I had yet been, +consisting of two gentlemen, evidently of good education, and a +lady. They were all, German, and spoke only that language one to +another, though they addressed me in French as often as my +absorption in my own ruminations gave any opening for their +civility. + +And this was soon the case, by my hearing them speak of the Rhine +; my thoughts were so little geographical that it had not +occurred to me that Cologne was upon that river - I had not, +therefore, looked for or perceived it the preceding evening: but +upon my now starting at the sound of its name and expressing my +Strong -curiosity to behold it, they all began to watch for the +first point upon which it became clearly visible, and all five +with one voice called out presently after, "Ah, le voil!"(285) +But imagination had raised expectations that the Rhine, at this +part of its stream, would by no means answer. It seemed neither +so wide, so deep, so rapid, nor so grand as my mind had depicted +it nor yet were its waters so white or bright as to suit my ideas +of its fame. At last my heart became better tuned. I was now on +my right road; no longer travelling zig-zag, and as I could +procure any means to get on, but in the straight road, by +Coblenz, to the city which contained the object of all my +solicitude. + +And then it was that my eyes opened to the beauties of nature; +then it was that the far-famed Rhine found justice in those poor +little eyes, which hitherto, from mental preoccupation, or from +expectations too high raised, had refused a cordial tribute to +its eminent beauty, unless indeed its banks, till after Bonn, are +of inferior loveliness. Certain it is, that from this time till +my arrival at Coblenz, I thought myself in regions of +enchantment. + +>From Coblenz to Trves I was two days travelling, though it might +with ease have been accomplished in less than half that time. We +no longer journeyed in any diligence that may be compared with +one of France or of England, but in a queer German carriage, +resembling something mixed of a coach, a chaise, and a cart. + +Page 377 + + MEETING WITH GENERAL D'ARBLAY. + +At Trves, at length, on Monday evening, the 24th of July, 1815, +I arrived in a tremor of joy and terror indescribable. But my +first care was to avoid hazarding any mischief from surprise; and +my first measure was to obtain some intelligence previously to +risking an interview. It was now six days since any tidings had +reached me. My own last act in leaving Brussels had been to write +a few lines to M. de Premorel, my General's aide-de-camp, to +announce my journey, and prepare him for my arrival. + +I now wrote a few lines to the valet of Monsieur d'Arblay, and +desired he would come instantly to the inn for the baggage of +Madame d'Arblay, who was then on the road. Hardly five minutes +elapsed ere Franois, running like a race-horse, though in +himself a staid and composed German, appeared before me. How I +shook at his sight with terrific suspense ! The good-natured +creature relieved me instantly though with a relief that struck +at my heart with a pang of agony--for he said that the danger was +over, and that both the surgeons said so. + +He was safe, I thanked God ! but danger, positive danger had +existed! Faint I felt, though in a tumult of grateful +sensations: I took his arm, for my tottering feet would hardly +support me; and M. de Premorel, hastening to meet me at the +street-door, told me that the general was certain I was already +at Trves; I therefore permitted myself to enter his apartment at +once. + +Dreadfully suffering, but still mentally occupied by the duties +of his profession, I found him. Three wounds had been inflicted +on his leg by the kick of a wild horse, which he had bought at +Trves, with intent to train to military service. He was felled +by them to the ground. Yet, had he been skilfully attended, he +might have been completely cured! But all the best surgeons, +throughout every district, had been seized upon for the armies : +and the ignorant hands into which he fell aggravated the evil, by +incisions hazardous, unnecessary, and torturing. + + + WAITING FOR LEAVE TO RETURN To FRANCE. + +The adjoint of M. d'Arblay, M. le Comte de Mazancourt, had been +sent to Paris by M. d'Arblay, to demand leave and +Page 378 + +passports for returning to France, the battle and peace of +Waterloo having ended the purpose for which he had been appointed +by Louis XVIII., through the orders of the Marchal Duc de +Feltre, minister at war, to raise recruits from the faithful who +wished to quit the usurper. + +My poor sufferer had been quartered upon M. Nell, a gentleman of +Trves; but there was no room for me at M. Nell's, and I was +obliged-most reluctantly-to be conducted to an hotel at some +distance. But the next day M. d'Arblay entered into an agreement +with Madame de la Grange, a lady of condition who resided at +Trves, to admit me to eat and lodge at her house, upon the +picnic plan, of paying the overplus of that expense I should +cause her, with a proper consideration, not mentioned, but added +by my dear general, for my apartment and incidental matters. This +sort of plan, since their ruin by the Revolution, had become so +common as to be called fashionable amongst the aristocratic +noblesse, who were too much impoverished to receive their friends +under their roofs but by community of fortune during their +junction. Every morning after breakfast one of the family +conducted me back to M. Nell's, where I remained till the hour of +dinner, when M. Godefroy de Premorel commonly gave me le bras for +returning, and Franois watched for me at the end of the repast. +This was to me a cruel arrangement, forcing my so frequent +absences; but I had no choice. + +It was not till after reiterated applications by letter, and by +MM. de Mazancourt and Premorel in person, that my poor general +could obtain his letters of recall; though the re-establishment +of Louis XVIII. on his throne made the mission on the frontiers +null, and though the hapless and helpless state of health of M. +d'Arblay would have rendered him incapable of continuing to +fulfil its duties if any yet were left to perform. The mighty +change of affairs so completely occupied men's minds, as well as +their hands, that they could work only for themselves and the +present : the absent were utterly forgotten. The Duc de +Luxembourg, however, at length interfered, and procured +passports, with the ceremonies of recall. + + + DEPARTURE FOR PARIS. + +On the morning of our departure from Trves, all the families of +Nell and La Grange filled the courtyard, and surrounded the +little carriage in which we set out, with others, + +Page 379 + +unknown to me, but acquainted with the general, and lamenting to +lose sight of him-as who that ever knew him failed doing? M. de +Mazancourt and the De Premorels had preceded us. The difficulty +of placing the poor wounded leg was great and grievous, and our +journey was anything but gay; the cure, alas, was so much worse +than incomplete! The spirits of the poor worn invalid were sunk, +and, like his bodily strength, exhausted; it was so new to him to +be helpless, and so melancholy ! After being always the most +active, the most enterprising, the most ingenious in difficulty +and mischance, and the most vivacious in conquering evils, and +combating accidents;-to find himself thus suddenly bereft not +only of his powers to serve and oblige all around him, but even +of all means of aiding and sufficing to himself, was profoundly +dejecting ; nor, to his patriot-heart, was this all: far +otherwise. We re-entered France by the permission of foreigners, +and could only re-enter at all by passports of all the Allies! +It seemed as if all Europe had freer egress to that country than +its natives! + +Yet no one more rejoiced in the victory of Waterloo--no one was +more elated by the prospect of its glorious results: for the +restoration of the monarchy he was most willing to shed the last +drop of his blood. But not such was the manner in which he had +hoped to see it take place ; he had hoped it would have been more +spontaneous, and the work of the French themselves to overthrow +the usurpation. He felt, therefore, severely shocked, when, at +the gates of Thionville, upon demanding admittance by giving his +name, his military rank, and his personal passport, he was +disregarded and unheard by a Prussian sub-officer--a Prussian to +repulse a French general, in the immediate service of his king, +from entering France! His choler rose, in defiance of sickness +and infirmity; but neither indignation nor representation were of +any avail, till he condescended to search his portefeuille for a +passport of All the Allies, which the Duc de Luxembourg had +wisely forwarded to Trves, joined to that of the minister at +war. Yet the Prussian was not to blame,. save for his uncourteous +manners : the King of France was only such, at that moment, +through Blcher and Wellington. + +Three or four days, I think, we passed at Metz, where the general +put himself Into the hands of a surgeon of eminence, who did what +was now to be done to rectify the gross mismanagement at Trves. + + In this time I saw all that was most +Page 380 + +worth remark in the old and famous city of Metz. But it looked +drear and abandoned- as everywhere during my journey. Nothing +was yet restored, for confidence was wanting in the state of +things. Wellington and Blcher, the lords of the ascendant, +seemed alone gifted with the Power of foreseeing, as they had +been instrumentally of regulating, events. + + + A CHANCE VIEW OF THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA. + +Not long after, I forget exactly where, we came under new yet +still foreign masters--the Russians ; who kept Posts, like +sentinels, along the high road, at stated distances. They were +gentle and well-behaved, in a manner and to a degree that was +really almost edifying. On the plains of Chalons there was a +grand Russian encampment. We stopped half a day for rest at some +small place in its neighbourhood and I walked about, guarded by +the good Franois, to view it. But, on surveying a large old +house, which attracted my notice by a group of Russian officers +that I observed near its entrance, how was I struck on being told +by Franois, that the Emperor of all the Russias was at that +moment its inhabitant! At the entrance of the little gate that +opened the palisade stood a lady with two or three gentlemen. +There was no crowd, and no party of guards, nor any sign of +caution or parade of grandeur, around this royally honoured +dwelling. And, in a few minutes, the door was quietly opened and +the emperor came out, in an undress uniform, wearing no stars nor +orders, and with an air of gay good humour, and unassuming ease. +There was something in his whole appearance of hilarity, freedom, +youthfulness, and total absence of all thought of state and +power, that would have led me much sooner to suppose him a jocund +young Lubin, or country esquire, than an emperor, warrior, or a +statesman. + +The lady curtsied low, and her gentlemen bowed profoundly as he +reached the group. He instantly recognised them, and seemed +enchanted at their sight. A sprightly conversation ensued, in +which he addressed himself chiefly to the lady, who seemed +accustomed to his notice, yet to receive it with a species of +rapture. The gentlemen also had the easy address of conscious +welcome to inspirit them, and I never followed up a conversation +I could not hear, with more certainty of its being agreeable to +all parties. They all spoke French, and I was restrained only by +my own sense of propriety from advancing + +Page 381 + +within hearing 'of every word; for no sentinel, nor guard of any +kind, interfered to keep the few lookers on at a distance; + +This discourse over, be gallantly touched his bat and leaped into +his open carriage, attended by a Russian officer, and was out of +sight in a moment. How far more happy, disengaged, and to his +advantage, was this view of his imperial majesty, than that which +I had had the year before in England, where the crowds that +surrounded, and the pressure of unrestrained curiosity and +forwardness, certainly embarrassed, if they did not actually +displease him! + + + ENGLISH TROOPS IN OCCUPATION. + +At Meaux I left again my captive companion for a quarter of an +hour to visit the cathedral of the sublimely eloquent Bossuet. +In happier moments I should not have rested Without discovering +and tracing the house, the chamber, the library, the study, the +garden which had been as it were sanctified by his virtues, his +piety, his learning, and his genius and oh, how eagerly, if not a +captive, would my noble-minded companion have been my conductor! + +A new change again of military control soon followed, at which I +grieved for my beloved companion. I almost felt ashamed to look +at him, though my heart involuntarily, irresistibly palpitated +with emotions which had little, indeed, in unison with either +grief or shame; for the sentinels, the guards, the camps, became +English. + +All converse between us now stopped involuntarily, and as if by +tacit agreement. M. d'Arblay was too sincere a loyalist to be +sorry, yet too high-spirited a freeman to be satisfied. I could +devise nothing; to say that might not cause some painful +discussion or afflicting retrospection, and we travelled many +miles in pensive silence-each nevertheless intensely observant of +the astonishing new scene presented to our view, on re-entering +the capital of France, to see the vision of Henry V. revived, and +Paris in the hands of the English! + +I must not omit to mention that notwithstanding this complete +victory over Bonaparte, the whole of the peasantry and common +people, converse with them when or where or how I might during +our route, with one accord avowed themselves utterly incredulous +of his defeat. They all believed he +Page 382 + +had only given way in order that he might come forward with new +forces to extirpate all opposers, and exalt himself on their +ashes to permanent dominion. + + + LEAVETAKING: M. DE TALLEYRAND. + +On the eve of setting out for England, I went round to all I +could reach of my intimate acquaintance, to make--as it has +proved--a last farewell! M. de Talleyrand came in to Madame de +Laval's drawing-room during my visit of leavetaking. He was named +upon entering; but there is no chance he could recollect me, as I +had not seen him since the first month or two after my marriage, +when he accompanied M. de Narbonne and M. de Beaumetz to our +cottage at Bookham. I could not forbear whispering to Madame de +Laval, how many souvenirs his sight awakened! M. de Narbonne was +gone, who made so much of our social felicity during the period +of our former acquaintance; and Mr. Locke was gone, who made its +highest intellectual delight; and Madame de Stael,(286) who gave +it a zest of wit, deep thinking, and light speaking, of almost +unexampled entertainment; and my beloved sister Phillips, whose +sweetness, intelligence, grace, and sensibility won every heart: +these were gone, who all, during the sprightly period in which I +was known to M. Talleyrand, had almost always made our society. +Ah! what parties were those! how select, how refined though +sportive, how investigatingly sagacious though invariably +well-bred! + +Madame de Laval sighed deeply, without answering me, but I left +M. de Talleyrand to Madame la Duchesse de Luynes, and a sister of +A le Duc de Luxembourg, and another lady or two, while I engaged +my truly amiable hostess, till I rose to depart: and then, in +passing the chair of M. de Talleyrand, who gravely and silently, +but politely, rose and bowed, I said, "M. de Talleyrand m'a +oubli: mais on n'oublie pas M. de Talleyrand."(287) I left the +room with quickness, but saw a movement of surprise by no means +unpleasant break over the habitual placidity, the nearly +imperturbable composure of his made-up countenance. + + Page 383 + +our journey was eventless, yet sad; sad, not solely, though +chiefly, from the continued sufferings of my wounded companion, +but sad also, that I quitted so many dear friends, who had +wrought themselves, by innumerable kindnesses, into my +affections, and who knew not, for we could not bring ourselves to +utter words that must have reciprocated so much pain, that our +intended future residence was England. The most tender and +generous of fathers had taken this difficult resolution for the +sake of his son, whose earnest wish had been repeatedly expressed +for permission to establish himself in the land of his birth. +That my wishes led to the same point, there could be no doubt, +and powerfully did they weigh with the most disinterested and +most indulgent of husbands. All that could be suggested to +compromise what was jarring in our feelings, so as to save all +parties from murmuring or regret, was the plan of a yearly +journey to France. + +(273) Minister of war. + +(274) About the close of the year 1813, when Napoleon's star was +setting, and his enemies were pressing hard upon him, the Dutch +threw off the yoke of France, recalled the Prince of Orange, and +proclaimed him at Amsterdam King of the United Netherlands, by +the title of William I.-ED. + +(275) On the first floor. + +(276) Lady Caroline Lamb (born in 1785) was the wife of the Hon. +William Lamb, afterwards Lord Melbourne and prime minister of +England. A year or two before Fanny saw her, she was violently in +love with Lord Byron: "absolutely besieged him," Rogers said. +Byron was not unwilling to be besieged, though he presently grew +tired of the lady, and broke off their correspondence, to her +great distress, with an insulting and rather heartless letter. +But it was more than a mere flirtation on Lady Caroline's part. +She fainted away on meeting Byron's funeral (1824); "her mind +became more affected; she was separated from her husband and died +26 January, 1828, generously cared for by him to the last."(Dict. +of National Biography.) She was the author of two or three +novel.-ED. + +(277) Son of the Duke of Brunswick who invaded France in 1792, +and who died in 1806 of the wounds which he received in the +battle of Jena. His son was killed at Quatre Bras, June 16, +1815.-ED. + +(278) "Bonaparte is taken! there he is!" + +(279) Alarm. + +(280) Fortresses. + +(281) Litters. + +(282) Both reports were false. Jerome Bonaparte, Napoleon's +youngest brother, formerly King of Westphalia, was wounded in the +groin at Quatre Bras, two days before the battle of Waterloo. +His wound, however, was not so severe as to prevent him from +serving at Waterloo, and, after the flight of the Emperor to +Paris, Jerome remained to conduct the retreat and rally the +fugitives. General Vandamme was not at Waterloo at all, nor was +he wounded. He was attached to the army commanded by Marshal +Grouchy, and was engaged in a useless conflict with the Prussian +rear-guard at Wavres on the day of the decisive battle.-ED. + +(283) Another false rumour. Murat was in France during the whole +of the Waterloo campaign. This distinguished soldier had married +Caroline Bonaparte, the youngest sister of Napoleon, by whom he +was made King of Naples. In December, 1813, Murat was ungrateful +enough to join the allied powers against the Emperor, but, after +Napoleon's return from Elba, he threw himself into the war with +characteristic precipitation. Marching from Naples with an army +of 50,000 men, he occupied Rome and Florence, but was soon after +totally defeated by the Austrians, and escaped with difficulty to +France. The Emperor refused to see him. After the final +abdication of Napoleon, Murat made a desperate attempt, with a +handful of men, to regain his kingdom of Naples. He was taken +prisoner, tried by a military commission, condemned to death, and +immediately shot. At St. Helena Napoleon said of him, "It was his +fate to ruin us every way; once by declaring against us, and +again by unadvisedly taking our part."-ED. + +(284) Inn. + +(285) "Ah! there it is!" + +(286) This was a misapprehension. Madame de Stael died at Paris, +July 14, 1817. The above narrative was written at a period some +years later than that of the events to which it relates, and +hence, in all probability, the mistake arose.-ED. + +(287) "M. de Talleyrand has forgotten me; but one does not forget +M. de Talleyrand." + + + + +Page 384 + SECTION 26. + (1815-8) + + + AT BATH AND ILFRACOMBE: GENERAL D'ARBLAY'S ILLNESS AND +DEATH. + + + ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Locke and Mrs. Angerstein.) +Dover, Oct. 18, 1815. +Last night, my ever dear friends, we arrived once more in old +England. + +I write this to send the moment I land in London. I cannot boast +of our health, our looks, our strength, but I hope we may recover +a part of all when our direful fatigues, mental and corporeal, +cease to utterly weigh upon and wear us. + +We shall winter in Bath. The waters of Plombires have been +recommended to my poor boiteux,(288) but he has obtained a cong +that allows this change. Besides his present utter incapacity +for military service, he is now unavoidably on the retraite(289 +list, and the King of France permits his coming over, not alone +without difficulty, but with wishing him a good journey, through +the Duc de Luxembourg, his captain in the gardes du corps. + +Adieu, dearest both--Almost I embrace you in dating from Dover. +Had you my letter from Trves? I suspect not, for my melancholy +new history would have brought your kind condolence: or, +otherwise, that missed me. Our letters were almost all +intercepted by the Prussians while we were + +Page 385 + +there. Not one answer arrived to us from Paris, save by private +hands. . . . + +December 24, 1815. My heart has been almost torn asunder, of +late, by the dreadful losses which the newspapers have +communicated to me, of the two dearest friends(290) of my absent +partner ; both sacrificed in the late sanguinary conflicts. It +has been with difficulty I have forborne attempting to return to +him ; but a winter voyage might risk giving him another loss. The +death of one of these so untimely departed favourites, how will +Madame de Stael support? Pray tell me if you hear any thing of +her, and what. . . . + +[With the year 1816 a new section of Madame d'Arblay's +correspondence may be said to commence in her letters to her son, +the late Rev. A. d'Arblay, who was then pursuing his studies at +Caius college, Cambridge. It has been thought advisable to be +more sparing in publication from this, than from the earlier +portions of Madame d'Arblay's correspondence. Without, however, +a few of these letters to her son, "the child of many hopes," +this picture of her mind, with all its tenderness, playfulness, +and sound sense, would scarcely be complete.] + + + ALEXANDER D'ARBLAY: SOME OLD BATH FRIENDS. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Locke) +Bath, February 15, 1816. +Incredible is the time I have lost without giving in that claim +which has never been given in vain for news of my own ,dear +friend - but I have been-though not ill, so continually unwell, +and though not, as so recently, in disordered and disorganizing +difficulties, yet so incessantly occupied with small, but +indispensable occupations, that the post hour has always gone by +to-day to be waited for to-morrow. Yet my heart has never been +satisfied-I don't mean with itself, for with that it can never +quarrel on this subject,-but with my pen-my slack, worn, +irregular, fugitive, fatigued, yet ever faithful, though never +punctual pen. My dearest friend forgives, I know, even that; but +her known and unvarying lenity is the very cause I cannot forgive +it myself. + +We have had our Alexander for six weeks; he left us three +\ + Page 386 + +days ago, and I won't tell my dear friend whether or not we miss +him. He is precisely such as he was--as inartificial in his +character, as irregular in his studies. He cannot bring himself +to conquer his disgust of the routine of labour at Cambridge; and +while he energetically argues upon the innocence of a preference +to his own early practice,(291) which he vindicates, I believe +unanswerably, with regard to its real superiority, he is +insensible, at least forgetful, of all that can be urged of the +mischiefs to his prospects in life that must result from his not +conquering his inclinations,"- I have nearly lost all hope of his +taking the high degree A judged to him by general expectation at +the University, from the promise of his opening. + +Of old friends here, I have found stationary, Mrs. Holroyd, and +Mrs. Frances. and Harriet Bowdler. Mrs. Holroyd still gives +parties, and tempted me to hear a little medley music, as she +called it. Mrs. F. Bowdler lives on Lansdowne-crescent, and +scarcely ever comes down the hill. Mrs. Harriet I have missed, +though we have repeatedly sought a meeting on both sides ; but +she left Bath for some excursion soon after my arrival. Another +new resident here will excite, I am sure, a more animated +interest ' Mrs. Piozzi. + +The Bishop of Salisbury, my old friend, found me out, and came to +make me a long and most amiable visit, which was preceded by Mrs. +I-, and we all spent an evening with them very sociably and +pleasantly. + + + FRENCH AFFAIRS. GENERAL D'ARBLAY'S HEALTH. + +(Madame d'Arblay to her Son.) +Bath, Friday, April 2, 1816. +......The Oppositionists, and all their friends, have now a dread +of France, and bend their way to Italy. But the example now +given at Paris, in the affair of Messrs. Wilson and Co.(292) that +Englishmen are as amenable to the laws and customs of the +countries which they inhabit, as foreigners while in England are +to ours, will make them more careful, both in spirit and conduct, +than heretofore they have deemed it necessary to be, all over the +globe. It is a general opinion + +Page 387 +that there will be a great emigration this summer, because John +Bull longs to see something beyond the limited circumference of +his birthright - but that foreign nations will be now so watchful +of his proceedings, so jealous of his correspondence, and so +easily offended by his declamation or epigrams, that he will be +glad to return here, where liberty, when not abused, allows a +real and free exercise of true independence of mind, speech, and +conduct, such as no other part of the world affords. + +I am truly happy not to be at Paris at such a juncture ; for +opinions must be cruelly divided, and society almost out of the +question. Our letters all confess that scarcely one family is +d'acord even with itself. The overstraining royalists make +moderate men appear jacobins. The good king must be torn to +pieces between his own disposition to clemency, and the vehemence +of his partisans against risking any more a general amnesty. +All that consoles me for the length of time required for the cure +of your padre's leg is the consequence, in its keeping off his +purposed visit. A cold has forced him to relinquish the pump +till to-day, when he is gone to make another essay. He is so +popular in Bath, that he is visited here by everybody that can +make any pretext for calling. I have this moment been +interrupted by a letter to invite me with my " bewitching husband +" to a villa near Prior Park. He is not insensible to the +kindness he meets with - au contraire, it adds greatly to his +contentment in the steadiness of a certain young sprig that is +inducing him here to plant his final choux; and the more, as we +find that, as far as that sprig has been seen here, he, also, has +left so favourable an impression, that we are continually desired +to introduce him, on his next arrival, wherever we go. + +Your kind father, upon your last opening of "All here is well," +instantly ran down stairs, with a hop, skip, and a jump, and +agreed to secure our pretty lodgings for a year. + + + THE ESCAPE OF LAVALETTE. THE STREATHAM PORTRAITS. + +(Madame d'Arblay to her Son.) +Bath, April 30, 1816. +The three chevaliers have all been condemned as culpable of +aiding a state-criminal to escape, but not accused of any +conspiracy against the French government. They +Page 388 +are therefore, sentenced merely to three months' +imprisonment.(293) Certainly, if their logic were irrefutable, +and if the treaty of Paris included the royal pardon with the +amnesty accorded by the allied generals, then, to save those who +ought not to have been tried would have been meritorious rather +than illegal; but the king had no share in that treaty, which +could only hold good in a military sense, of security from +military prosecution or punishment from the Allies. These Allies, +however, did not call themselves conquerors, nor take Paris, nor +judge the Parisians ; but so far as belonged to a capitulation, +meant, on both sides, to save the capital and its inhabitants +from pillage and the sword. Once restored to its rightful +monarch, all foreign interference was at an end. Having been +seated on the throne by the nation, and having never abdicated, +though he had been chased by rebellion from his kingdom, he had +never forfeited his privilege to judge which of his subjects were +still included in his original amnesty, and which had incurred +the penalty or chances of being tried by the laws of the land - +and by them, not by royal decree, condemned or acquitted. + +A false idea seems encouraged by all the king's enemies, that his +amnesty ought to have secured pardon to the condemned: the +amnesty could only act up to the period when it was granted and +accepted; it could have nothing to do with after-offences. + +I am grieved to lose my respect and esteem for a character I had +considered so heroical as that of Sir R. Wilson: but to find, +through his intercepted correspondence, that the persecution + + Page 389 + +of the Protestants was to be asserted, true or false, to blacken +the reigning dynasty. . . to find this truly diabolic idea +presented to him by a brother of whom he speaks as the partner of +all his thoughts, etc., has consumed every spark of favour in +which he was held throughout the whole nation, except, perhaps, +in those whom party will make deaf and blind for ever to what +opposes their own views and schemes. I do not envy Lord Grey for +being a third in such an intercourse, an intercourse teeming with +inventive plots and wishes for new revolutions ! + +Your uncle has bought the picture of my dearest father at +Streatham.(294) I am truly rejoiced it will come into our +family, since the collection for which it was painted is broken +up. Your uncle has also bought the Garrick, which was one of the +most agreeable and delightful of the set. To what recollections, +at once painful and pleasing, does this sale give birth! In the +library, in which those pictures were hung, we always +breakfasted; and there I have had as many precious conversations +with the great and good Dr. Johnson as there are days in the +year. Dr. Johnson sold the highest of all! 'tis an honour to our +age, that!--360 pounds! My dear father would have been mounted +higher, but that his son Charles was there to bid for himself, +and, everybody must have seen, was resolved to have it. There +was besides, I doubt not, a feeling for his lineal claim and +pious desire. + + + REGARDING HUSBAND AND SON. + +(Madame d'Arblay to a Friend.) +Bath, August 17, 1816. +I have been in a state of much uncertainty and disturbance since +I wrote last with respect to one of the dearest possible +interests of life, the maternal: the uncertainty, however, for +this epoch is over, and I will hasten to communicate to you its +result, that I may demand further and frequent accounts of your +own plans, and of their execution or change, success + +Page 390 + +or failure. All that concerns you, must to me always be near and +dear. + +General d'Arblay is gone to France, and here at Bath rest sa +femme et son fils.(295) There was no adjusting the excursion but +by separation. Alexander would have been wilder than ever for his +French mathematics in re-visiting Paris ; and, till his degree is +taken, we must not contribute to lowering it by feasting his +opposing pursuits with fresh nourishment, M. d'Arblay +nevertheless could by no means forego his intention which a +thousand circumstances led him to consider as right' He could +not, indeed, feel himself perfectly sa place without paying his +devoirs to his king, notwithstanding he has been put by his +majesty himself, not by his own desire, en retraite. The +exigencies of the treasury demand this, for all who are not young +enough for vigorous active service; but his wounded leg prevented +his returning thanks sooner for the promotion with which the king +finished and recompensed his services;(296) and therefore he +deems it indispensable to present himself at the foot of the +throne for that purpose now that he is able to "bear his body +more seemly" (like Audrey) in the royal presence. He hopes also +to arrange for receiving here his half-pay, when sickness or +affairs or accident may prevent his crossing the Channel. Choice +and happiness will, to his last breath, carry him annually to +France ; for, not to separate us from his son, or in the bud of +life, to force that son's inclination in fixing his place or mode +of residence, alone decides his not fixing there his own last +staff. But Alexander, young as he left that country, has seen +enough of it to be aware that no line is open there to ambition +or importance, but the military, most especially for the son of +an officer so known and marked for his military character: and I +need not tell you that, with my feelings and sentiments, to see +him wield a sword that could only lead him to renown by being +drawn against the country of his birth and of mine, would +demolish my heart, and probably my head; and, to believe in any +war in which England and France will not be rivals, is to +entertain Arcadian hopes, fit only for shepherds and +shepherdesses of the drama. + +Page 391 + + MATERNAL ANXIETIES. + +(Madame d'Arblay to General d'Arblay.) +Bath, October 28th, 1816. +Certainement, et trs certainement, mon bien cher ami, your +beautiful strictures upon la connoissance et l'usage du monde +would have given "un autre cours mes ides"(297) were the +object of our joint solicitude less singular; but our Alexander, +mon ami, dear as he is to us, and big as are my hopes pour +l'avenir,(298) our Alexander is far different from what you were +at his age. More innocent, I grant, and therefore highly +estimable, and worthy of our utmost care, and worthy of the whole +heart of her to whom he shall permanently attach himself. But O, +how far less aimable! He even piques himself upon the difference, +as if that difference were to his advantage. He is a medley of +good qualities and of faults the most extraordinary and the most +indescribable. Enfin, except in years, in poetry, and in +mathematics, il n'est encore qu'un enfant.(299) + +Were he so only as to la connoissance, et mme l'usage du monde, +I should immediately subscribe to the whole of your really +admirable dissertation upon the subject in the letter now before +me, for I should then sympathise in your idea that a lovely young +companion might mould him to her own excellence, and polish him +to our wishes; but O, nous n'en sommes pas l!(300) When he is +wholly at his ease, as he is at present, with his mother, and as +he would soon inevitably be with his wife, he is so uncouth, so +negligent, and absent, that his frightened partner would either +leave him in despair to himself, or, by reiterated attempts to +reason with him, lose her bridal power, and raise the most +dangerous dissensions. He exults rather than blushes in +considering himself ignorant of all that belongs to common life, +and of everything that is deemed useful. Even in mathematics he +disdains whatever is not abstract and simply theoretical. +"Trouble I hate" he calls his motto. You will easily conceive +that there are moments, nay, days, in which he is more +reasonable; I should else be + + Page 392 + +hopeless : nor will he ever dare hold such language to you. but +it is not less the expression of his general mind. Sometimes, +too, he wishes for wealth, but it is only that he might be +supine. Poor youth ! he little sees 'how soon he would then +become poor ! Yet, while thus open to every dupery and +professedly without any sense of order, he is so fearful of +ridicule, that a smile from his wife at any absurdity would fill +him with the most gloomy indignation. It does so now from his +mother. + +A wife, I foresee you will reply, young and beautiful, sera bien +autre chose; mais je crois que vous Vous trompez:(301) a +mistress, a bride,--oui! a mistress and a bride would see him her +devoted slave ; but in the year following year, when ardent +novelty is passed away, a mother loved as I am may form much +judgment what will be the lot of the wife, always allowing for +the attractions of reconciliation which belong exclusively to the +marriage state, where it is happy. + +Nevertheless, I am completely of your opinion, that a good and +lovely wife will ultimately soften his asperity, and give him a +new taste for existence, by opening to him new sources of +felicity, and exciting, as you justly suggest, new emulation to +improvement, when he is wise enough to know how to appreciate, to +treat, and to preserve such a treasure. But will four months fit +him for beginning such a trial? Think of her, mon ami, as well as +of him. The "responsibility" in this case would be yours for +both, and exquisite would be your agony should either of them be +unhappy. A darling daughter-an only child, nursed in the lap of +soft prosperity, sole object of tenderness and of happiness to +both her parents. rich, well-born, stranger to all care, and +unused to any control; beautiful as a little angel, and (be very +sure) not unconscious she is born to be adored ; endowed with +talents to create admiration, independently of the clat of her +personal charms, and indulged from her cradle in every wish, +every fantaisie.--Will such a young creature as this be happy +with our Alexander after her bridal supremacy, when the ecstasy +of his first transports are on the wane? That a beauty such as +you describe might bring him, even from a first interview, to her +feet, notwithstanding all his present prejudices against a French +wife, I think probable enough, though he now thinks his taste in +beauty different from yours; for he has never, he says, been +struck but by a commanding air. All beauty, + +"Page 393 + +however, soon finds its own way to the heart. But could any +permanent amendment ensue, from working upon his errors only +through his passions? Is it not to be feared that as they, the +passions, subside, the errors would all peep up again ? And she, +who so prudently has already rejected a nearly accepted +prtendant for his want of order!!!(302) (poor Alexander!) how +will she be content to be a monitress, where she will find +everything in useful life to teach, and nothing in return to +learn? And even if he endure the perpetual tutoring, will not she +sicken of her victories ere he wearies of his defeats? + +And will Alexander be fit or willing to live under the eye, which +he will regard as living under the subjection, of his wife's +relations? In this country there is no notion of that mode of +married life -, and our proud Alexander, the more he may want +counsel and guidance, will the more haughtily, from fearing to +pass for a baby, resent them. Let me add, that nothing can be +less surprising than that he should have fixed his own +expectation of welfare in England. Recollect, mon ami, it is now +nearly three years ago since you gave him, in a solemn and +beautiful letter, his choice between Cambridge and la compagnie +de -Luxembourg, into which you had entered him saying that your +position exacted that you should take your son back to serve, or +not at all. You have certainly kept his definite answer, from +which he has never wavered. And again, only at your last +departure, this August, you told us positively that you could not +take your son to France at twenty-one years of age with any +honour or propriety but to enter him in the army. I would else, +you know, have shut myself up with him in some cottage au lys, +merely for the great pleasure of accompanying you. + +Alexander, therefore, now annexes an idea of degradation to a +residence non-military in France. He would deem himself humbled +by the civil place at which you hint, even if you could bring +him, which I doubt above all, to submit to its duties. He +regards himself, from peculiar circumstances, as an established +Englishman (though born of a French father), with your own full +consent, nay, by your own conditions. I by no means believe he +will ever settle out of England, though he delights to think of +travelling. + +And such, mon ami, appeared to be your own sentiments + +Page 394 + +when we parted, though they are changed now, or overpowered by +the new view that is presented to you of domestic felicity, for +Alexander. I have written thus fully, and after the best +meditation in my power, according to your desire ; an(] every +reflection and observation upon the subject, and upon Alexander, +unites in making me wish, with the whole Of my judgment and +feeling at once, to keep back, not to forward, any matrimonial +connection, for years, not months, unless month,,; first produce +the change to his advantage that I dare only expect from years. + + +ADVANTAGES OF BATH: YOUNG D'ARBLAY's DECREE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Locke.) +Bath, November 10, 1816. +I wish to live at Bath, wish it devoutly ; for at Bath we shall +live, or no longer in England. London will only do for those who +have two houses, and of the real country I may say the same; for +a cottage, now Monsieur d'Arblay cannot, as heretofore, brave all +the seasons, to work, and embellish his wintry hours, by +embellishing anticipatingly his garden, would be too lonely, in +so small a family, for the long evenings of cold and severe +weather; and would lose us Alexander half the year, as we could +neither expect nor wish to see him begin life as a recluse from +the world. Bath, therefore, as it eminently agrees with us all, +is, in England, the only place for us, since here, all the year +round, there is always town at command, and always the country +for prospect, exercise, and delight. + +Therefore, my dear friend, not a word but in favour of Bath, if +you love me. Our own finishing finale will soon take root here, +or yonder; for Alex will take his degree in January, and then, +his mind at liberty, and his faculties in their full capacity for +meditating upon his lot in life, he will come to a decision what +mountain he shall climb, upon which to fix his staff; for all +that relates to worldly prosperity will to him be up-hill toil, +and labour. Never did I see in youth a mind so quiet, so +philosophic, in mundane matters, with a temper so eager, so +impetuous, so burningly alive to subjects of science and +literature. The Tancred scholarship is still in suspense. The +vice-chancellor is our earnest friend, as well as our faithful +Dr. Davy, but the trustees have come to no determination - and +Alex is my companion-or rather, I am Alex's +Page 395 + +flapper-till the learned doctors can agree. At all events, he +will not come out in Physic; we shall rather enter him at another +college, with all the concomitant expenses, than let him, from +any economy, begin his public career under false colours. When he +entered this institution, I had not any notion of this +difficulty; I was ignorant there would be any objection against +his turning which way he pleased when the time for taking the +degree should arrive. + +I am now in almost daily hope of the return of my voyager. His +last letter tells me to direct no more to Paris. + +[After this time General d'Arblay made frequent journeys to +Paris.] + + + PLAYFUL REPROACHES AND SOBER COUNSEL. + +(Madame d'Arblay to her Son.) +Bath, Friday, April 25, 1817. +Why, what a rogue you are! four days in town! As there can be no +scholarship--hlas! it matters not; but who knew that +circumstance when they played truant? Can you tell me that, hey! +Mr Cantab? Why, you dish me as if I were no more worth than Paley +or Newton, or such like worthies! + +Your dear padre is very considerably better, surtout in looks, +but by no means re-established ; for cold air--too much exertion- +-too little--and all sorts of nourishment or beverage that are +not precisely adapted to the present state of the poor shattered +frame, produce instant pain, uneasiness, restlessness, and +suffering. Such, however, is the common condition of +convalescence, and therefore I observe it with much more concern +than surprise - and Mr. Hay assures me all is as well as can +possibly be expected after so long and irksome an illness. + +"The scholarship is at an end-- +So much for that!" + +pretty cool, my friend! + +Will it make you double your diligence for what is not at an end? +hey, mon petit monsieur? + +But I am sorry for your disappointment in the affair you mention, +my dear Alex : though your affections were not so far engaged, +methinks, but that your amour propre(303) is still more +bless(304) than your heart! hey? However, 'tis a real loss, + +Page 396 + +though little more than of an ideal friend, at present. But no +idea is so flattering and so sweet, as that which opens to +expectation a treasure of such a sort. I am really, therefore, +sorry for you, my dear Alex. + +Your determination to give way to no sudden impulse in future is +quite right. Nothing is so pleasant as giving way to impulse; +nothing so hazardous. + +But this history must double your value for Messrs. Jones +Musgrave, Jacobs, Ebden, Theobald, and Whewell. "Cling to those +who cling to you!" said the immortal Johnson to your mother, when +she uttered something that seemed fastidious relative to a person +whose partiality she did not prize. + +Your padre was prevailed upon to go to the play. We were both +very well pleased with H. Payne in certain parts; in some +instances I even thought him excellent, especially in the +natural, gentlemanly, and pensive tones in which he went through +the gravedigger's and other scenes of the last act. But, for the +soliloquies, and the grand conference with the mother! oh, there, +Garrick rose up to my remembrance with an clat of perfection +that mocks all approach of approbation for a successor. + +But you, M. Keanite, permit a little hint against those looks +that convey your resentment. They may lead to results that may +be unpleasant. It is best to avoid displaying a susceptibility +that shows the regret all on your own side ! Let the matter die +away as though it had never been. Assume your cool air; your "so +much for that!" but do not mark a dpit that will rather flatter +than vex. At first, it was well ; you gave way to Nature and to +truth, and made apparent you had been sincere : but there, for +your dignity's sake, let all drop ; and be civil as well as cool, +if you would keep the upper hand. + + + PREPARATIONS FOR LEAVING BATH. + +(Madame d'Arblay to General d'Arblay.) +1817. +.....June 18.-I made a morning visit to Mrs. Piozzi, whom I found +with +Dr. Minchin, an informed, sensible physician. She was +strange, as usual, at first; but animated, as usual, afterwards. +The sisters, Mrs. Frances and Mrs Harriet Bowdler, called upon +me, and were admitted, for I heard their names in time; and we +had much good old talk), +Page 397 + +that is, Frances and I; for Harriet is ever prim and demure and +nearly mute before her elder sister. + +June 25.-Fixing the last day of the month for my journey, I set +seriously to work to hasten my preparations. What a business it +was! You have no conception how difficult, nor how laborious, it +is to place so many books, such a quantity of linen, such a +wardrobe, and such a mass of curiosities, in so small a compass. +How fagged and fatigued I retired to rest every night, you may +imagine. Alex vigorously carried heavy loads at a time from the +study to the garret, but only where he might combine and arrange +and order all for himself. However, he was tolerably useful for +great luggages. + +June 26.-We spent the afternoon at Larkhall place, to meet there +Maria and Sophy. My dear sister(305) was all spirit and vivacity. +Mr. Burney, all tranquil enjoyment--peace, rest, leisure, books, +music, drawing, and walking fill up his +serene days, and repay the long toils of his meritorious life. +And my sister, who happily foresees neither sickness nor ennui, +is the spirit and spring of the party. + +June 28.-I devoted all day to leave-taking visits, for so many +houses were opened, and claimed long confabulations, from their +rarity, that I had not finished my little round till past ten +o'clock at night. Yet of these hosts, Mrs. Frances Bowdler, Mrs. +Piozzi, Mrs. Morgan, and Mrs. Andr were out. Two of the three +latter ladies are now in France, and they have written word, that +the distress in their province exceeds all they have left in this +country! Madame do Sourches has written a similar melancholy +account; and Mrs. Holroyd, who received my longest call this +morning, read me a letter from Lady B. with words yet stronger of +the sufferings in the Low Countries! O baleful effects of "Bella, +horrida bella!" I sat an hour also with Mrs. Harriet Bowdler, in +sober chat and old histories. She has not--il s'en faut--the +exhilaration and entertainment of her clever sister; but there is +all the soft repose of good sense, good humour, urbanity, and +kindness. One cannot do better than to cultivate with both; for +if, after the spirited Frances, the gentle Harriet seems dull, +one may at least say that after the kind Harriet, the satirical +Frances seems alarming. + +But my longest visit was to the excellent Mrs. Ogle, who is the +oldest acquaintance with whom I have any present connection in +the world. It was at her house I first saw Mrs, + +Page 398 + +Chapone, who was her relation; I visited her, with my dear +father, my mother-in-law, and my sisters ; though from +circumstances we lost sight of each other, and met no more till I +had that happy encounter with her at Cheltenham, when I brought +her to the good and dear king. My respect for her age, her +virtues, and this old connection, induced me to stay with her +till it was too late to present myself elsewhere. I merely +therefore called at the door of Madame de Sommery to inquire +whether they Could receive me sans cremonie for half an hour in +the evening. This was agreed to , and Alex accompanied or rather +preceded me to Madame de Sommery, who had her two jolies +daughters, Stephanie and Pulchrie, at work by her side, the +tea-table spread l'Anglaise, and four of your thtre(306)I +upon the table, with Alex just beginning "Lido" as I entered. I +was never so pleased with them before, though they have always +charmed me; but in this private, comfortable style they were all +ten times more easy, engaging, and lively than I had ever yet +seen them. + + + INSTALLED AT ILFRACOMBE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to General d'Arblay.) +Ilfracombe, Devonshire, June 31,(sic) 1817. +. . .This very day of our arrival, before Alex had had time to +search out Mr. Jacob, somebody called out to him in the street, +"Ah, d'Arblay!" who proved to be his man. They strolled about the +town, and then Jacob desired to be brought to me. Unluckily, I +was unpacking, and denied. He has appointed Alex for a lesson +to-morrow. May he put him a little en train! + +July 5.--I must now give you some account of this place. We are +lodged on the harbour. The mistress of our apartments is widow to +some master of a vessel that traded at Ilfracombe, with Ireland +chiefly. She has three or four children: the eldest, but twelve +years old, is the servant of the lodgers, and as adroit as if she +were thirty. Our situation is a very amusing one; for the quay +is narrow, and there are vessels just on its level, so close that +even children walk into them all day long. When the sea is up, +the scene is gay, busy, and interesting; but on its ebb the sands +here are not + + Page 399 + +clean and inviting, but dark and muddy, and the contrary of +odoriferous. But the entrance and departure of vessels, the +lading, unlading, and the management of ships and boats, offer +constantly something new to an eye accustomed only to land views +and occupations. + + + A CAPTURED SPANISH SHIP. + +But chiefly I wish for you for the amusement you would find from +a Spanish vessel, which is close to the quay, immediately +opposite to our apartments, and on a level with the parlour of +the house. It has been brought in under suspicion of piracy, or +smuggling, or aiding the slave trade. What the circumstances of +the accusation are I know not - but the captain is to be tried at +Exeter on the ensuing western circuit. Meantime, his goods are +all sequestered, and he has himself dismissed all his sailors and +crew to rejoin him when the trial is over. He is upon his parole, +and has liberty to go whithersoever he will; but he makes no use +of the permission, as he chooses not to leave his cargo solely +under the inspection of the excisemen and custom officers here, +who have everything under lock and key and seal. He is a +good-looking man, and, while not condemned, all are willing to +take his word for his innocence. Should that be proved, what +compensation will be sufficient for repairing his confinement? He +has retained with him only his physician, his own servant his +cook, and a boy, with another lad, who is an American. I see him +all day long, walking his quarter-deck, and ruminating upon his +situation, with an air of philosophy that shows strong character. +His physician, who is called here the " doctor," and is very +popular, is his interpreter; he speaks English and French, has a +spirited, handsome face, and manners the most courteous, though +with a look darkly shrewd and Spanish. + + + THE SPANISH CAPTAIN'S COOK. + +But the person who would most entertain you is the cook, who +appears the man of most weight in the little coterie ; for he +lets no one interfere with his manoeuvres. All is performed for +the table in full sight, a pale(307) being lighted with a +burning fierce fire upon the deck, where he officiates. He wears +a complete white dress, and has a pail of water by his side, in +Page 400 + +which he washes everything he dresses, and his Own hand, to boot, +with great attention. He begins his pot au feu soon after seven +every morning, and I watch the operation from my window; it is +entirely French, except that he puts in more meat, and has it +cut, apparently, into pounds; for I see it all carved into square +morsels, seemingly of that weight, which he inserts bit by bit, +with whole bowls, delicately cleaned, washed and prepared, of +cabbages, chicory, turnips, carrots celery, and small herbs. Then +some thick slices of ship ham and another bowl of onions and +garlic; salt by a handful, and pepper by a wooden spoon full. +This is left for many hours; and in the interval he prepares a +porridge of potatoes well mashed, and barley well boiled, with +some other ingredient that, when it is poured into a pan, bubbles +up like a syllabub. But before he begins, he employs the two lads +to wash all the ship. + +To see all this is the poor captain's only diversion ; but the +cook never heeds him while at his professional operations; he +even motions to him to get out of the way if he approaches too +near, and is so intent upon his grand business that he shakes his +head without answering, when the captain speaks to him, with an +air that says, "Are you crazy to try to take off my attention?" +And when the doctor, who often advances to make some observation, +and to look on, tries to be heard, he waves his hand in disdain, +to silence him. Yet, when all is done, and he has taken off his +white dress, he becomes all obsequiousness, respectfully standing +out of the way, or diligently flying forward to execute any +command. + + + SHIPS IN DISTRESS. + +July 6.-Alex and I went to church this morning, and heard a +tolerable sermon. In the evening there was a storm, that towards +night grew tremendous. The woman of the house called us to see +two ships in distress. We went to the top of the house for a +view of the sea, which was indeed frightful. One ship was +endeavouring to gain the harbour; the other, to steer further +into the main ocean ; but both appeared to be nearly swamped by +the violence of the winds and waves. People mounted to the +lighthouse with lights ; for at this season the lantern is not +illuminated ; and a boat was sent out to endeavour to assist, and +take any spare hands or passengers, if such there were, from the +vessel ; but the sea was so boisterous +Page 401 + +that they could not reach the ship, and were nearly lost in the +attempt. Alex ran up to the lighthouse, to see what was doing ; +but was glad to return, as he could with difficulty keep his +feet, and was on the point of being lifted off them down the +precipice into the sea. I never was so horrified as when, from +the top of the house, I perceived his danger. Thank God, he felt +it in time, and came back in safety. It requires use to sustain +the feet in such a hurricane, upon a rock perpendicularly +standing in the ocean. + + + YOUNG D'ARBLAY's TUTOR. + +July 7.-We have heard that one of the vessels got off; but no +tidings whatsoever have been received of the other. It is +suspected to be a passage vessel from Bristol to Ireland. I have +had Mr. Jacob to tea; I could not yet arrange a dinner, and he +was impatient for an introduction. I like him extremely: he has +everything in his favour that can be imagined ; sound judgment +without positiveness, brilliant talents without conceit, +authority with gentleness, and consummate knowledge of science +with modesty. What a blessing that such a character should +preside over these inexperienced youths ! Mr. Jacob has aided us +to remove. Time is a plaything to the diligent and obliging, +though a thief to the idle and capricious ; the first find it, in +the midst of every obstacle, for what they wish, while the latter +lose it, though surrounded by every resource, for all that they +want. I had such success that I now write from my new dwelling, +which I will describe to-morrow. + +July 9.-Quelle joie! this morning I receive a welcome to my new +habitation, to make it cheer me from the beginning. 'Tis begun +June 28th, and finished July 2nd. How propos is what I had just +written of time in the hands of the diligent and obliging! yet +how it is you can bestow so much upon me is my admiration. + +I have not mentioned a letter I have received from Mrs. Frances +Bowdler. She tells me of the marriage of Miss---- to a Prussian +gentleman, and expresses some vexation at it, but adds, "Perhaps +I ought not to say this to you," meaning on account of the +objection to a foreigner; and then elegantly adds, "but one +person's having gained the great prize in the lottery does not +warrant another to throw his whole wealth into the wheel." Not +very bad English that? + +Page 402 + + GENERAL D'ARBLAY'S ILL-HEALTH. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Broome.) +Ilfracombe, Post Office, July 23, 1817. +.....I have letters very frequently from Paris, all assuring me +M. d'A. is re-establishing upon the whole; yet all letting me +see, by collateral accounts, anecdotes, or expressions, that he +is constantly in the hands of his physician, and that a +difficulty of breathing attacks him from time to time, as it did +before his journey: with a lassitude, a weakness, and a +restlessness which make him there, as here they made him since +his illness, unfit for company, and incapable, but by starts and +for moments to have any enjoyment of mixed society! I do not +therefore, feel comfortable about him, though, thank heaven, not +alarmed. And at all events I am glad he tries the change of air. +Change of scene also was advised for him by all * but he is too +kind to find that beneficial when we are separated; and he writes +me frequent avowals of seizures of dejection and sadness that +reduce him to a state of great suffering. The parting, while he +was in a situation so discouraging, was very cruel but Alexander +had, and has, no chance of taking a tolerable degree without a +friend constantly at hand to remind him of the passage of time. +He never thinks of it: every day seems a day by itself, which he +may fill up at pleasure, but which opens to him no prospect of +the day that will succeed! So little reflection on the future, +with so good capacity for judging the present, were never before +united. + + + PARTICULARS OF ILFRACOMBE. + +We are very well lodged for pleasantness, and for excellent +people. We have a constant view of the sea from our drawing room, +which is large and handsome - our bedrooms also are good; but our +minor accommodations, our attendance, dinner equipage, cooking, +etc., would very ill have contented my general had he been here. + The best men, the most moderate and temperate, are difficult, +nay, dainty, compared with women. When he comes, if I am so happy +as to see him return while we are here, I must endeavour to +ameliorate these matters. +Ilfracombe is a long, narrow town, consisting of only one regular +street, though here and there small groups of houses hang upon +its skirts, and it is not destitute of lanes and alleys. +Page 403 + +The town part or side Is ugly, ill paved and ill looking: but the +backs of the habitations offer, on one side the street, prospects +of fine hills, and on the other, noble openings to the sea. The +town is built upon a declivity, of which the church is at the +summit, and the harbour makes the termination. It was in the +harbour, that is upon the quay, that we were at first lodged ; +and our apartments were by no means without interest or +amusement; but just as we were comfortably settled in them, we +were told the ebbs and flows, etc., of the tides left +occasionally, or brought, odours not the most salubrious. To +this representation I thought it right to yield so implicitly, +that I sought a new abode, and changed my quarters instantly. + + +YOUNG D'ARBLAY's AVERSION TO STUDY. + +(Madame d'Arblay to General d'Arblay.) +Friday, September 12, 1817. +I have so much to say to my dearest friend, that I open my new +sheet at the moment of finishing the old one, though I shall not +send it for a week - and let me begin by quieting your poor +nerves relative to La Chapelle, in assuring you I neglect no +possible means to follow, substantially and effectually, your +injunctions, though I dare not tell him that you would never +pardon the smallest infraction of our new treaty. He is not +capable, mon ami, of an exactitude of that undeviating character. +To force further solemn promises from so forgetful, so +unreflecting, yet so undesigning and well-meaning a young +creature, is to plunge him and ourselves into the culpability of +which we accuse him. To attempt in that manner to couper +court,(308) etc., instead of frightening him into right, would +harden him into desperation. His disgust to his forced study is +still so vehement, that it requires all I can devise of +exhortation, persuasion, menace, and soothing, tour tour, to +deter him from relinquishing all effort! The times, mon ami, are +"out of joint:" we must not by exigeance precipitate him to his +ruin, but try patiently and prudently, every possible means, to +rescue him from the effects of his own wilful blindness and +unthinking, idle eccentricity. If we succeed, how will he bless +us when his maturer judgment opens his eyes to the evils he will +have escaped! but if we fail why should we lie down and die +because he + +Page 404 + +might have obtained fame and riches, yet obstinately preferred +obscurity with a mere competence? Put not Your recovery and your +happiness upon such a cast! My own struggles to support the +disappointment for which I am forced to prepare myself, in the +midst of all my persevering, unremitting efforts to avert it, are +sufficiently severe ; but the manner in which I see your +agitation threaten your health, makes his failure but secondary +to my apprehensions! Oh, mon ami, ought we not rather to unite in +comforting each other by sustaining ourselves? Should we not have +done so mutually, if the contagious fever at Cambridge had +carried him off? And what is the mortification of a bad degree +and a lessened ambition, with all the mundane humiliation +belonging to it, compared with the total earthly loss of so dear +an object, who may be good and happy in a small circle, if he +misses, by his own fault, mounting into a larger? Take courage, +my dearest ami, and relieve me from the double crush that else +may wholly destroy mine. Let us both, while we yet venture to +hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Nothing on my part +shall be wanting to save this blow; but should his perversity +make it inevitable, we must unite our utmost strength, not alone +to console each other, but to snatch from that "sombre +dcouragement"(309) you so well foresee, the wilful, but ever +fondly-loved dupe of his own insouciance. . . .(310) + + + A VISIT FROM THE FIRST CHESS PLAYER IN ENGLAND. + +And now to lighter matters. I hope I have gained a smile from you +by my disclosure that I lost my journal time for my usual +post-day by successive dissipation ? What will you have +conjectured ? That I have consented at last to listen to Mr. +Jacob's recommendation for going to the Ilfracombe ball, and +danced a fandango with him! or waltzed, au moins! or that I have +complied with his desire of going to the cricket-ground, just +arranged by the Cantabs and some officers who are here, in +subscribing three guineas for the use of a field? Vous n'tes +pas;(311) for though I should like, in itself, to see a +cricket-match, in a field which Mr. Jacob says is beautifully +situated, and where the Bishop of Ossory and his lady, Mrs. +Fowler, go frequently, as two of their sons are amongst the +Page 405 + +players; yet, as Jacob evidently thinks our poor Alexander ought +not to spare time for being of the party, I cannot bear to quit +my watchful place by his side, and go thither without him. + +Mais--Vous vous rendez, n'est-ce-pas?(312) Eh bien--to go back +to Sept. 2nd. Alexander and I were nearly finishing our evening, +tea being over, and nine o'clock having struck, while he was +reading the "Spiritual Quixote"(313) for a little relaxation; +when Miss Elizabeth Ramsay came to tell me that a gentleman was +just arrived at Ilfracombe who begged leave to wait upon me, if I +would admit him; and she gave me a card with the name of Mr. +Bowdler. Of course I complied, and Alexander was wild with joy at +the thought of such an interview, as Mr. Bowdler is acknowledged +the first chess-player in England, and was the only man, when +Philidor was here, who had the honour of a drawn battle with him: +a thing that Philidor has recorded by printing the whole of the +game in his treatise on chess. I was not glad to bring back his +ideas to that fascination, yet could not be sorry he should have +so great a pleasure. + +Mr. Bowdler presented himself very quickly, though not till he +had made a toilette of great dress, such as would have suited the +finest evening assembly at Bath. He was always a man of much +cultivation, and a searcher of the bas bleus(314) all his life. +He is brother to our two Mrs. Bowdlers, and was now come to +escort Mrs. Frances from his house in Wales, where she has spent +the summer, to Ilfracombe. I had formerly met this gentleman +very often, at bleu parties, and once at a breakfast at his own +house, given in honour of Mrs. Frances, where I met Sophy +Streatfield, then a great beauty and a famous Greek scholar, of +whom the " Literary Herald says:-- + +"Lovely Streatfield's ivory neck, +Nose and notions la Grecque." + +He was extremely civil to Alex, whom he had longed, he said, to +see, and Alex listened to every word that dropped from him, as if +it would teach some high move at chess. + +We had much talk of old times. We had not met since we parted in +St. James's-place, in the last illness of my dear Mrs. +Page 406 + +Delany, whom he then attended as a physician. He stayed till past +ten, having left his sister at the hotel, too tired with a sea +passage to come out, or to receive chez elle. But he entreated +me to dine with them next day, the only day he should spend at +Ilfracombe, with such excess of earnestness and Alex seconded the +request with so many "Oh, mamma's!" that he overpowered all +refusal, assuring me it could not interfere with my Bath +measures, as it was a dinner, pour ainsi dire,(315) on the road, +for he and his sister were forced to dine at the hotel. He also +declared, in a melancholy tone that he might probably never see +me more, unless I made a tour of Wales, as -he began to feel +himself too old for the exertion of a sea voyage. + +The next morning, immediately after breakfast, I waited upon my +old friend and namesake, Fanny Bowdler, and sat with her two +hours tte--tte, for her brother was unwell, and she is +admirable in close dialogue. I had hardly got home ere she +followed me, and stayed till it was time to dress for dinner; +when again we met, and only parted for our downy pillows. Her +strong sense, keen observation, and travelled intelligence and +anecdotes, made the day, thus devoted to her, from ten in the +morning to ten at night, pass off with great spirit and +liveliness: but Alex, oh! he was in Elysium. Mr. Bowdler took a +great fancy to him, and indulged his ardent wish of a chess talk +to the full; satisfying him in many difficult points, and going +over with him his own famous game with Philidore - and, in short, +delivering himself over to that favourite subject with him +entirely. It will not, however, be mischievous, for Mr. +Bowdler's own enthusiasm is over, and he has now left the game +quite off, not having played it once these seven years. + + + + THE DIARY CONTINUED. + + A COAST RAMBLE IN SEARCH OF CURIOSITIES. + +The term for Alexander's studies with Mr. Jacob was just +finishing, and a few days only remained ere the party was. to be +dispersed, when I determined upon devoting a morning to the +search of such curiosities as the coast produced. . I marched +forth, attended only by M. d'Arblay's favourite little dog, +Diane, with a large silk bag to see what I could + +Page 407 + +find that I might deem indigenous, as a local offering to the +collection of my general, who was daily increasing his +mineralogical stores, under the skilful direction of his friend, +-the celebrated naturalist, M. de Bournon. + +I began my perambulation by visiting the promontory called "the +Capstan"--or rather attempting that visit; for after mounting to +nearly its height, by a circuitous path from the town, by which +alone the ascent is possible, the side of the promontory being a +mere precipice overlooking the ocean, a sudden gust of wind +dashed so violently against us, that in the danger of being blown +into the sea, I dropped on the turf at full length, and saw Diane +do the same, with her four paws spread as widely as possible, to +flatten her body more completely to the ground. + +This opening to my expedition thus briefly set aside, I repaired +to the coast, where there are pebbles, at least, in great beauty +as well as abundance. The coast of Ilfracombe is broken by rocks, +which bear evident marks of being fragments of some one immense +rock, which, undermined by the billows in successive storms, has +been cast in all directions in its fall. We went down to the edge +of the sea, which was clear, smooth, and immovable as a lake, the +wind having subsided into a calm so quiet, that I could not tell +whether the tide were in or out. Not a creature was in sight; +but presently a lady descended, with a book in her hand, and +passed on before us to the right, evidently to read alone. +Satisfied by this circumstance that the tide was going out, and +all was safe, I began my search, and soon accumulated a +collection of beautiful pebbles, each of which seemed to merit +being set in a ring. + +The pleasure they afforded me insensibly drew me on to the +entrance of the Wildersmouth, which is the name given to a series +of recesses formed by the rocks, and semicircular, open at the +bottom to the sea, and only to be entered from the sands at low +tide. I coasted two or three of them, augmenting my spoil as I +proceeded; and perceiving the lady I have- already mentioned +composedly engaged with her book, I hurried past to visit the +last recess, whither I had never yet ventured. I found it a sort +of chamber, though with no roof but a clear blue sky. The top was +a portly mountain, rough, steep and barren - the left side was +equally mountainous, but consisting of layers of a sort of slate, +intermixed with moss ; the right side was the elevated Capstan, +Page 408 + +which here was perpendicular; and at the bottom were ,the sands, +by which I entered it, terminated by the ocean. The whole was +altogether strikingly picturesque, wild and original. There was +not one trace of art, or even of any previous entrance into it of +man. I could almost imagine myself its first human inmate. + +My eye was presently caught by the appearance, near the top, of a +cavern, at the foot of which I perceived something of so +brilliant a whiteness that, in hopes of a treasure for my bag, I +hastened to the spot. What had attracted me proved to be the +jawbone and teeth of some animal. Various rudely curious things +at the mouth of the cavern invited investigation; Diane, however, +brushed forward, and was soon out of sight, but while I was +busily culling, hoarding, or rejecting whatever struck my fancy, +she returned with an air so piteous, and a whine so unusual, +that, concluding she pined to return to a little puppy of a week +old that she was then rearing, I determined to hasten; but still +went on with my search, till the excess of her distress leading +her to pull me by the gown, moved me to take her home; but when I +descended, for this recess was on a slant, how was I confounded +to find the sands at the bottom, opening to the recess, whence I +had entered this marine chamber, were covered by the waves; +though so gentle had been their motion, and so calm was the sea, +that their approach had not caught my ear. I hastily remounted, +hoping to find some outlet at the top by which I might escape, +but there was none. This was not pleasant but still I was not +frightened, not conceiving or believing that I could be +completely enclosed: the less, as I recollected, in my passage to +the cavern, having had a glimpse of the lady who was reading in +the neighbouring recess. I hastily scrambled to the spot to look +for her, and entreat her assistance ; but how was I then startled +to find that she was gone, and that her recess, which was on less +elevated ground than mine, was fast filling with water! + + + CAUGHT BY THE RISING TIDE. + +I now rushed down to the sea, determined to risk a wet jerkin, by +wading through a wave or two, to secure myself from being shut up +in this unfrequented place : but the time was past! The weather +suddenly changed, the lake was gone, and billows mounted one +after the other, as if with enraged +Page 409 + +pursuit of what they could seize and swallow. I eagerly ran up +and down, from side to side, and examined every nook and corner, +every projection and hollow, to find any sort of opening through +which I could pass-but there was none. + +Diane looked scared; she whined, she prowled about - her dismay +was evident, and filled me with compassion-but I could not +interrupt my affrighted search to console her. Soon after, +however, she discovered a hole in the rock at the upper part, +which seemed to lead to the higher sands. She got through it, +and then turned round to bark, as triumphing in her success, and +calling upon me to share its fruits. But in vain !-the hollow was +too small for my passage save of my head, and I could only have +remained in it as if standing in the pillory. I still, +therefore, continued my own perambulation, but I made a motion to +my poor Diane to go, deeming it cruel to detain her from her +little one. Yet I heard her howl as if reduced to despair, that +I would not join her. Anon, however, she was silent--I looked +after her, but she had disappeared. + +This was an alarming moment. Alone, without the smallest aid, or +any knowledge how high the sea might mount, or what was the +extent of my danger, I looked up wistfully at Capstan, and +perceived the iron salmon; but this angle of that promontory was +so steep as to be utterly impracticable for climbing by human +feet; and its height was such as nearly to make me giddy in +considering it from so close a point of view. I went from it, +therefore, to the much less elevated and less perpendicular rock +opposite; but there all that was not slate, which crumbled in my +hands, was moss, from which they glided. There was no hold +whatsoever for the feet. + +"I ran therefore to the top, where a large rock, by reaching from +the upper part of this slated one to Capstan, formed the chamber +in which I was thus unexpectedly immured. But this was so rough, +pointed, sharp, and steep that I could scarcely touch it. The +hole through which Diane had crept was at an accidentally thin +part, and too small to afford a passage to anything bigger than +her little self. + +The rising storm, however, brought forward the billows with +augmented noise and violence; and my wild asylum lessened every +moment. Now, indeed, I comprehended the fulness of my danger. If +a wave once reached my feet, while coming upon me with the +tumultuous vehemence of this storm, I had +Page 410 + +nothing I could hold by to sustain me from becoming its prey and +must inevitably be carried away into the ocean. + + + EFFORTS TO REACH A PLACE OF SAFETY. + +I darted about in search of some place of safety, rapidly, and +all eye; till at length I espied a small tuft of grass on the +pinnacle of the highest of the small rocks that were scattered +about my prison; for such now appeared my fearful dwelling-place. + +This happily pointed out to me a spot that the waves had never +yet attained; for all around bore marks of the visits. To reach +that tuft would be safety, and I made the attempt with eagerness +; but the obstacles I encountered were terrible. The roughness of +the rock tore my clothes - its sharp points cut, now my feet, and +now my fingers - and the distances from each other of the holes +by which I could gain any footing for my ascent, increased the +difficulty. I gained, however, nearly a quarter of the height, +but I could climb no further and then found myself on a ledge +where it was possible to sit down - and I have rarely found a +little repose more seasonable. But it was not more sweet than +short : for in a few minutes a sudden gust of wind raised the +waves to a frightful height, whence their foam reached the base +of my place of refuge, and threatened to attain soon the spot to +which I had ascended. I now saw a positive necessity to mount yet +higher, cote qui cote, and, little as I had thought it +possible, the pressing danger gave me both means and fortitude to +accomplish it: but with so much hardship that I have ever since +marvelled at my success. My hands were wounded, my knees were +bruised, and my feet were cut for I could only scramble up by +clinging to the rock on all fours. + +When I had reached to about two-thirds of the height of my rock, +I could climb no further. All above was so sharp and so +perpendicular that neither hand nor foot could touch it without +being wounded. My head, however, was nearly on a level with the +tuft of grass, and my elevation from the sands was very +considerable. I hoped, therefore, I was safe from being washed +away by the waves; but I could only hope; I had no means to +ascertain my situation; and hope as I might, it was as painful as +it was hazardous. The tuft to which I had aimed to rise, and +which, had I succeeded, would have been security, was a mere +point, as unattainable as it was unique, +Page 411 + +not another blade of grass being anywhere discernible. I was +rejoiced, however, to have reached a spot where there was +sufficient breadth to place one foot at least without cutting it, +though the other was poised on such unfriendly ground that it +could bear no part in sustaining me. Before me was an immense +slab, chiefly of slate, but it was too slanting to serve for a +seat-and seat I had none. My only prop, therefore, was holding by +the slab, where it was of a convenient height for my hands. This +support, besides affording me a little rest, saved me from +becoming giddy, and enabled me from time to time to alternate the +toil of my feet. + + + A SIGNAL OF DISTRESS. + +Glad was I, at least, that my perilous clambering had finished by +bringing me to a place where I might remain still ; for with +affright, fatigue, and exertion I was almost exhausted. The wind +was now abated, and the sea so calm, that I could not be sure +whether the tide was still coming in. To ascertain this was +deeply necessary for my tranquillity, that I might form some idea +what would be the length of my torment. I fixed my eyes, +therefore, upon two rocks that stood near the sea entrance into +my recess, almost close to the promontory, from which they had +probably been severed by successive storms. As they were always +in the sea I could easily make my calculation by observing +whether they seemed to lengthen or shorten. With my near-sighted +glass I watched them ; and great was my consternation when, +little by little, I lost sight of them. I now looked wistfully +onward to the main ocean, in the hope of espying some vessel, or +fishing-boat, with intention of spreading and waving my parasol, +in signal of distress, should any one come in sight. But nothing +appeared. All was vacant and vast ! I was wholly alone-wholly +isolated. I feared to turn my head lest I should become giddy, +and lose my balance. + + + LITTLE DIANE. + +In this terrible state, painful, dangerous, and, more than all, +solitary, who could paint my joy, when suddenly, reentering by +the aperture in the rock through which she had quitted me, I +perceived my dear little Diane ! For the instant I felt as if +restored to safety-I no longer seemed + +Page 412 + +abandoned. She soon leaped across the flat stones and the sands +which separated us, but how great was the difficulty to make her +climb as I had climbed! Twenty times she advanced only to retreat +from the sharp points of the rock, till ultimately she picked +herself out a passage by help of the slate, and got upon the +enormous table, of which the upper part was my support ; but the +slant was such, that as fast as she ascended she slipped down, +and we were both, I believe almost hopeless of the desired +junction, when, catching at a favourable moment that had advanced +her paws within my reach, I contrived to hook her collar by the +curved end of my parasol and help her forward. This I did with +one hand, and as quick as lightning, dragging her over the slab +and dropping her at my feet, whence she soon nestled herself in a +sort of niche of slate, in a situation much softer than mine, but +in a hollow that for me was impracticable. I hastily recovered my +hold, which I marvel now that I had the temerity to let go; but +to have at my side my dear little faithful Diane was a comfort +which no one not planted, and for a term that seemed indefinite, +in so unknown-a solitude, can conceive. What cries of joy the +poor little thing uttered when thus safely lodged! and with what +tenderness I sought to make her sensible of my gratitude for her +return ! + +I was now, compared with all that had preceded, in Paradise : so +enchanted did I -feel at no longer considering myself as if alone +in the world. O, well I can conceive the interest excited in the +French prisoner by a spider, even a spider! Total absence of all. +of animation in a place of confinement, of which the term is +unknown, where volition is set aside, and where captivity is the +work of the elements, casts the fancy into a state of solemn awe, +of fearful expectation, which I have not words to describe; while +the higher mind, mastering at times that fancy, seeks resignation +from the very sublimity of that terrific vacuity whence all seems +exiled, but self: seeks, and finds it in the almost Visible +security of the omnipresence of God. + +To see after my kind little companion was an occupation that for +awhile kept me from seeing after myself, but when I had done what +I could towards giving her comfort and assistance, I again looked +before me, and saw the waters at the base of my rock of refuge, +still gradually rising on, while both my rocks of mark were +completely swallowed up! +Page 413 + + the INCREASING DANGER, + +My next alarm was one that explained that of Diane when she came +back so scared from the cavern ; for the waves, probably from +some subterraneous passage, now forced their way through that +cavern, threatening inundation to even the highest part of my +chamber. This was horrific. I could no longer even speak to +Diane; my eyes were riveted upon this unexpected gulf, and in a +few moments an immense breaker attacked my rock, and, impeded by +its height from going straight forward, was dashed in two +directions, and foamed onward against each side. + +I did not breathe--I felt faint--I felt even sea-sick. On, then, +with added violence came two wide-spreading waves, and, being +parted by my rock, completely encompassed it, meeting each other +on the further and upper ground. I now gave up my whole soul to +prayer for myself and for my Alexander, and that I might +mercifully be spared this watery grave, or be endowed with +courage and faith for meeting it with firmness. + +The next waves reached to the uppermost end of my chamber, which +was now all sea, save the small rock upon which I was mounted! +How I might have been subdued by a situation so awful at once, +and so helpless, if left to unmixed contemplation, I know not -- +had I not been still called into active service in sustaining my +poor Diane. No sooner were we thus encompassed than she was +seized with a dismay that filled me with pity. She trembled +violently, and rising and looking down at the dreadful sight of +sea, sea, sea all around, and sea still to the utmost extent of +the view beyond, she turned up her face to me, as if appealing +for protection and when I spoke to her with kindness, she crept +forward to my feet, and was instantly taken with a shivering fit. + +I could neither sit nor kneel to offer her any comfort, but I +dropped down as children do when they play at hunt the slipper, +for so only could I loose my hold of the slab without falling, +and I then stroked and caressed her in as fondling a way as if +she had been a child; and I recovered her from her ague-fit by +rubbing her head and back with my shawl. She then looked up at +me somewhat composed, though still piteous and forlorn, and +licked my hands with gratitude. +Page 414 + + THE LAST WAVE OF THE RISING TIDE. + +While this passed the sea had gained considerably in height, and, +a few minutes afterwards all the horrors of a tempest seemed +impending. The wind roared around me, pushing on the waves with a +frothy velocity that, to a bystander, not to an inmate amidst +them, would have been beautiful. It whistled with shrill and +varying tones from the numberless crevices in the three immense +rocky mountains by whose semicircular adhesion I was thus immured +- and it burst forth at times in squalls, reverberating from +height to height or chasm to chasm, as if "the big-mouthed +thunder" + +"Were bellowing through the vast and boundless deep." + +A wave, at length, more stupendous than any which had preceded +it, dashed against my rock as if enraged at an interception of +its progress, and rushed on to the extremity of this savage +chamber, with foaming impetuosity. This moment I believed to be +my last of mortality ! but a moment only it was ; for scarcely +had I time, with all the rapidity of concentrated thought, to +recommend myself, my husband, and my poor Alexander, humbly but +fervently to the mercy of the Almighty, when the celestial joy +broke in upon me of perceiving that this wave, which had bounded +forward with such fury, was the last of the rising tide ! In its +rebound, it forced back with it, for an instant, the whole body +of water that was lodged nearest to the upper extremity of my +recess, and the transporting sight was granted me of an opening +to the sands but they were covered again the next instant, and as +no other breaker made a similar opening, I was still, for a +considerable length of time, in the same situation: but I lost +hope no more. The tide was turned: it could rise therefore no +higher; the danger was over of so unheard-of an end; of vanishing +no one knew how or where--of leaving to my kind, deploring +friends an unremitting uncertainty of my fate--of my +re-appearance or dissolution. I now wanted nothing but time, and +caution, to effect my deliverance. + +The threat of the tempest, also, was over ; the air grew as +serene as my mind, the sea far more calm, the sun beautifully +tinged the west, and its setting upon the ocean was resplendent. +By remembrance, however, alone, I speak of its glory, not from +any pleasure I then experienced in its sight: it told +Page 415 + +me of the waning day; and the anxiety I had now dismissed for +myself redoubled for my poor Alexander. . . . + +With my bag of curiosities I made a cushion for Diane, which, +however little luxurious, was softness itself compared with her +then resting-place. She, also, could take no repose, but from +this period I made her tolerably happy, by caresses and continual +attentions. + +But no sooner had the beams of the sun vanished from the broad +horizon, than a small, gentle rain began to fall, and the light +as well as brightness of the day became obscured by darkling +clouds. + +This greatly alarmed me, in defiance of my joy and my philosophy; +for I dreaded being surprised by the night in this isolated +situation. I was supported, however, by perceiving that the sea +was clearly retrograding, and beholding, little by little, the +dry ground across the higher extremity of my apartment. How did +I bless the sight ! the sands and clods of sea-mire were more +beautiful to my eyes than the rarest mosaic pavement of +antiquity. Nevertheless, the return was so gradual, that I +foresaw I had still many hours to remain a prisoner. + + + ARRIVAL OF SUCCOUR. + +The night came on--there was no moon - but the sea, by its +extreme whiteness, afforded some degree of pale light, when +suddenly I thought I perceived something in the air. Affrighted, +I looked around me but nothing was visible; yet in another moment +something like a shadow flitted before my eyes. I tried to fix +it, but could not develop any form : something black was all I +could make out; it seemed in quick motion, for I caught and lost +it alternately, as if it was a shadow reflected by the waters. + +I looked up at Capstan: nothing was there, but the now hardly +discernible Iron salmon. I then looked at the opposite side. . . +. ah, gracious heaven, what were my sensations to perceive two +human figures! Small they looked, as in a picture, from their +distance, the height of the rock, and the obscurity of the night; +but not less certainly from their outline, human figures. I +trembled--I could not breathe--in another minute I was espied, +for a voice loud, but unknown to my ears, called out "Holloa!" I +unhesitatingly answered, "I am safe!" + +"Thank God!" was the eager reply, in a voice hardly +Page 416 + +articulate, "Oh, thank God!" but not in a Voice unknown though +convulsed with agitation--it was the voice of my dear son! Oh +what a quick transition from every direful apprehension to' joy +and delight! yet knowing his precipitancy, and fearing a rash +descent to join me, in ignorance of the steepness and dangers of +the precipice which parted us, I called out with all the energy +in my power to conjure him to await patiently, as I would myself, +the entire going down of the tide. + +He readily gave me this promise, though still in sounds almost +inarticulate. I was then indeed in heaven while upon earth. + +Another form then appeared, while Alex and the first companion +retired. This form, from a gleam of light on her dress, I soon +saw to be female. She called out to me that Mr. Alexander and his +friend were gone to call for a boat to come round for me by sea. +The very thought made me shudder, acquainted as I now was with +the nature of my recess, where, though the remaining sea looked +as smooth as the waters of a lake, I well knew it was but a +surface covering pointed fragments of rock, against which a boat +must have been overset or stranded. Loudly, therefore, as I could +raise my voice, I called upon my informant to fly after them, and +say I was decided to wait till the tide was down. She replied +that she would not leave me alone for the world. + +The youths, however, soon returned to the top of the mountain, +accompanied by a mariner, who had dissuaded them from their +dangerous enterprise. I cheerfully repeated that I was safe, and +begged reciprocated patience. They now wandered about on the +heights, one of them always keeping in view. + +Meanwhile, I had now the pleasure to descend to the sort of +halfway-house which I had first hoped would serve for my refuge. +The difficulty was by no means so arduous to come down as to +mount, especially as, the waters being no longer so high as my +rock, there was no apprehension of destruction should my footing +fail me. + +Some time after I descried a fourth figure on the summit, bearing +a lantern. This greatly rejoiced me, for the twilight now was +grown so obscure that I had felt much troubled how I might at +last grope my way in the dark out of this terrible Wildersmouth. +Page 417 + +They all now, from the distance and the dimness, looked like +spectres : we spoke no more, the effort being extremely +fatiguing. I observed, however, with great satisfaction, an +increase of figures, so that the border of the precipice seemed +covered with people. This assurance that if any accident +happened, there would be succour at hand, relieved many a fresh +starting anxiety. + +Not long after, the sea wholly disappeared, and the man with the +lantern, who was an old sailor, descended the precipice on the +further part, by a way known to him ; and placing the lantern +where it might give him light, yet allow him the help of both his +hands, he was coming to me almost on all fours - when Diane +leaped to the bottom of the rock, and began a barking so loud and +violent that the seaman stopped short, and I had the utmost +difficulty to appease my little dog, and prevail with her, +between threats and cajolements, to suffer his approach. . . . + + MEETING BETWEEN MOTHER AND SON. + +My son no sooner perceived that the seaman had found footing, +though all was still too watery and unstable for me to quit my +rock, than he darted forward by the way thus pointed out, and +clambering, or rather leaping up to me, he was presently in my +arms. Neither of us could think or care about the surrounding +spectators-we seemed restored to each other, almost miraculously, +from destruction and death. Neither of us could utter a word, but +both, I doubt not, were equally occupied in returning the most +ardent thanks to heaven. + +Alexander had run wildly about in every direction; visited hill, +dale, cliff, by-paths, and public roads, to make and instigate +inquiry-but of the Wildersmouth he thought not, and never, I +believe, had heard; and as it was then a mere part of the sea, +from the height of the tide, the notion or remembrance of it +occurred to no one. Mr. Jacob, his coolheaded and excellent +hearted friend, was most unfortunately at Barnstaple, but he at +length thought of Mr. John Le Fevre, a young man who was +eminently at the head of the Ilfracombe students, and had +resisted going to the ball at Barnstaple, not to lose an hour of +his time. Recollecting this, Alex went to his dwelling, and +bursting into his apartment, called out, "My mother is missing!" +Page 418 + +The generous youth, seeing the tumult of soul in which he was +addressed, shut up his bureau without a word, and hurried off +with his distressed comrade, giving up for that benevolent +purpose the precious time he had refused himself to spare for a +moment's recreation. + +Fortunately, providentially, Mr. Le Fevre recollected +Wildersmouth, and that one of his friends had narrowly escaped +destruction by a surprise there of the sea. He no sooner named +this than he and Alexander contrived to climb up the rock +opposite to Capstan, whence they looked down upon my recess. At +first they could discern nothing, save one small rock uncovered +by the sea : but at length, as my head moved, Le Fevre saw +something like a shadow--he then called out, "Holloa!" etc. To +Mr. Le Fevre, therefore, I probably owe my life. + +Two days after, I visited the spot of my captivity, but it had +entirely changed its appearance. A storm of equinoctial violence +had broken off its pyramidal height, and the drift of sand and +gravel, and fragments of rocks, had given a new face to the whole +recess. I sent for the seaman to ascertain the very spot: this +he did; but told me that a similar change took place commonly +twice a year - and added, very calmly, that two days later I +could not have been saved from the waves. + + + GENERAL D'ARBLAY'S RETURN TO ENGLAND. + +(Madame d'Arblay to a Friend.) +Bath, November 9, 1817. +Can I still hope, my dear friend, for that patient partiality +which will await my tardy answer ere it judges my irksome +silence? Your letter Of Sept. 27th I found upon my table when I +returned, the 5th of October, from Ilfracombe. I returned, with +Alexander, to meet General d'A. from Paris. You will be sorry, I +am very sure, and probably greatly surprised, to hear that he +came in a state to occupy every faculty of my mind and thoughts-- +altered--thin--weak--depressed--full of pain--and disappointed in +every expectation of every sort that had urged his excursion! + +I thank God the fever that confined him to his bed for three days +is over, and he yesterday went down stairs and his repose now is +the most serene and reviving. The fever, Mr. Hay assured me, was +merely symptomatic ; not of inflammation + +Page 419 + +or any species of danger, but the effect of his +sufferings. Alas! that is heavy and severe enough, but still, +where fever comes, 'tis of the sort the least cruel, because no +ways alarming. + + +Nov. 15-I never go out, nor admit any one within - nor shall I, +till a more favourable turn will let me listen to his earnest +exhortations that I should do both. Mr. Hay gives me strong +hopes that that will soon arrive, and then I shall not vex him by +persevering in this seclusion: you know and can judge how little +this part of my course costs me, for to quit the side of those we +prize when they are in pain, would be a thousand times greater +sacrifice than any other privation. + + + THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE'S DEATH. + +You are very right as to Lady Murray, not only, of course, I am +honoured by her desire of intercourse, but it can never be as a +new acquaintance I can see the daughter of Lord and Lady +Mulgrave. I have been frequently in the company of the former, +who was a man of the gayest wit in society I almost ever knew. He +spread mirth around him by his sprightly ideas and sallies, and +his own laugh was as hearty and frank as that he excited in +others ; and his accomplished and attaching wife was one of the +sweetest creatures in the world. Alas ! how often this late +tragedy in the unfortunate royal family has called her to my +remembrance!(316) She, however, left the living consolation of a +lovely babe to her disconsolate survivor ;-the poor Prince +Leopold loses in one blow mother and child. + +The royal visit here has been a scene of emotion:--first of joy +and pleasure, next of grief and disappointment. The queen I +thought looked well till this sudden and unexpected blow; after +which, for the mournful day she remained, she admitted no one to +her presence, but most graciously sent me a message to console +me. She wrote instantly, with her own hand, to Prince +Leopold-that prince who must seem to have had a vision of +celestial happiness, so perfect it was, so exalted, and so +transitory. The poor Princess Charlotte's passion for him had +absorbed her, yet was so well placed as only to form her to +excellence, and it had so completely won his return, that like +herself he coveted + + Page 420 + +her alone...... Princess Elizabeth is much altered personally, to +my great concern; but her manners, and amiability, and talents, I +think more pleasing and more attaching than ever, How delighted I +was at their arrival ! + + + THE QUEEN AND PRINCESSES AT BATH. + +(Madame d'Arblay to her Son.) +Bath, November 9, 1817. +We have here spent nearly a week in a manner the most +extraordinary, beginning with hope and pleasure, proceeding to +fear and pain, and ending in disappointment and grief. + +The joy exhibited on Monday, when her majesty and her royal +highness arrived, was really ecstatic ; the illumination was +universal. The public offices were splendid; so were the +tradespeople's who had promises or hopes of employment; the +nobles and gentles were modestly gay, and the poor eagerly put +forth their mite. But all was flattering, because voluntary. +Nothing was induced by power, or forced by mobs. All was left to +individual choice. Your padre and I patrolled the principal +streets, and were quite touched by the universality of the homage +paid to the virtues and merit of our venerable queen, upon this +her first progress through any part of her domains by herself. +Hitherto she has only accompanied the poor king, as at Weymouth +and Cheltenham, Worcester and Exeter, Plymouth and Portsmouth, +etc. ; or the prince regent, as at Brighthelmstone. But here, +called by her health, she came as principal, and in her own +character of rank and consequence. And, as Mr. Hay told me, the +inhabitants of Bath were all even vehement to let her see the +light in which they held her individual self, after so many years +witnessing her exemplary conduct and distinguished merit. ::She +was very sensible to this tribute; but much affected, nay, +dejected, in receiving it, at the beginning; from coming without +the king where the poor king had always meant himself to bring +her - but just as he had arranged for the excursion, and even had +three houses taken for him in the Royal-crescent, he was +afflicted by blindness. He would not then come; for what, he +said, was a beautiful city to him who could not look at it? This +was continually in the remembrance of the queen during the +honours of her reception ; but she had recovered from the +melancholy recollection, and was +Page 421 + +cheering herself by the cheers of all the inhabitants, when the +first news arrived of the illness of the Princess Charlotte. +At that moment she was having her diamonds placed on her head for +the reception of the mayor and corporation of Bath, with an +address upon the honour done to their city, and upon their hopes +from the salutary spring she came to quaff. Her first thought +was to issue orders for deferring this ceremony but when she +considered that all the members of the municipality must be +assembled, and that the great dinner they had prepared to give to +the Duke of Clarence could only be postponed at an enormous and +useless expense, she composed her spirits, finished her regal +decorations, and admitted the citizens of Bath, who were highly +gratified by her condescension, and struck by her splendour, +which was the same as she appeared in on the greatest occasions +in the capital. The Princess Elizabeth was also a blaze of +jewels. And our good little Mayor (not four feet high) and +aldermen and common councilmen were all transported. + + + NEWS ARRIVES OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE'S DEATH. + +The Duke of Clarence accepted their invitation, and was joined by +the Marquis of Bath and all the queen's suite. But the dinner +was broken up. The duke received an express with the terrible +tidings: he rose from table, and struck his forehead as he read +them, and then hurried out of the assembly with inexpressible +trepidation and dismay. The queen also was at table when the same +express arrived, though only with the princess and her own party: +all were dispersed in a moment, and she shut herself up, +admitting no one but her royal highness. She would have left Bath +the next morning; but her physician, Sir Henry Halford, said it +would be extremely dangerous that she should travel so far, in +her state of health, just in the first perturbation of +affliction. She would see no one but her suite all day, and set +out the next for Windsor Castle, to spend the time previous to +the last melancholy rites, in the bosom of her family. + +All Bath wore a face of mourning. The transition from gaiety and +exultation was really awful. What an extinction of youth and +happiness ! The poor Princess Charlotte had never known a +moment's suffering since her marriage. Her lot seemed perfect. +Prince Leopold is, indeed, to be pitied. +Page 422 + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Broome.) +Bath, November 25, 1817. +.....We are all here impressed with the misfortunes of the royal +house, and chiefly with the deadly blow inflicted on the perfect +conjugal happiness of the first young couple in the kingdom. The +first couple not young bad already received a blow yet, perhaps, +more frightful : for to have, yet lose-to keep, yet never to +enjoy the being we most prize, is surely yet more torturing than +to yield at once to the stroke which we know awaits us, and by +which, at last, we must necessarily and indispensably fall. The +queen supports herself with the calm and serenity belonging to +one inured to misfortune, and submissive to Providence. The +Princess Elizabeth has native spirits that resist all woe after +the first shock, though she is full of kindness, goodness, and +zeal for right action. + + + AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE. SERIOUS ILLNESS OF GENERAL D'ARBLAY. + +(Mrs. Piozzi to Madame d'Arblay.) +Bath, Thursday, February 26, 1818. +I had company in the room when Lady K-'s note arrived, desiring I +would send you some papers of hers by the person who should bring +it. I had offered a conveyance to London by some friends of my +own, but she preferred their passing through your hands. Accept +my truest wishes for the restoration of complete peace to a mind +which has been SO long and so justly admired, loved, and praised +by, Dear madam,--Your ever faithful, H. L. P. +Who attends the general? and why do you think him SO very bad? + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Piozzi.) +Bath, February 26, 1818. +There is no situation in which a kind remembrance from you, my +dear madam, would not awaken me to some pleasure; but my poor +sufferer was so very ill when your note came, that it was not +possible for me to answer it. That I think him so very bad, is +that I see him perpetually in pain +Page 423 + +nearly insupportable ; yet I am assured it is local and +unattended with danger while followed up with constant care and +caution. This supports my spirits, which bear me and enable me +to help him through a malady of anguish and difficulty. It is a +year this very month since he has been in the hands of Mr. Hay as +a regular patient. Mr. Hay was recommended to us by Mrs. Locke +and Mrs. Angerstein, whom he attends as physician, from their +high opinion of his skill and discernment. But, alas ! all has +failed here ; and we have called in Mr. Tudor, as the case +terminates in being one that demands a surgeon. Mr. Tudor gives +me every comfort in prospect, but prepares me for long suffering, +and slow, slow recovery. + +Shall I apologise for this wordy explanation? No - you will see +by it with what readiness I am happy, to believe that our +interest in each other must ever be reciprocal. + +Lady K- by no means intended to give me the charge of the papers; +she only thought they might procure some passing amusement to my +invalid. I must, on the contrary, hope you will permit me to +return them you, in a few days, for such conveyance as you may +deem safe; I am now out of the way of seeking any. + +I hope you were a little glad that my son has been among the high +Wranglers. + + NARRATIVE OF THE ILLNESS AND DEATH OF GENERAL D'ARBLAY. + + THE GENERAL'S FIRST ATTACK: DELUSIVE HOPES. + +Bolton Street, Berkeley Square. +It is now the 17th of November, 1819. A year and a half have +passed since I was blessed with the sight of my beloved husband. +I can devise no means to soothe my lonely woe, so likely of +success as devoting my evening solitude to recollections of his +excellences, and of every occurrence of his latter days, till I +bring myself up to the radiant serenity of their end. I think it +will be like passing with him, with him himself, a few poor +fleeting but dearly-cherished moments. I will call back the +history of my beloved husband's last illness. Ever present as it +is to me, it will be a relief to set it down. + +In Paris, in the autumn Of 1817, he was first attacked with +Page 424 + +the deadly evil by which he was finally consumed. I suspected not +his danger. He had left me in June, in the happy but most +delusive persuasion that the journey and his native air would +complete his recovery from the jaundice, which had attacked him +in February, 1817. Far from ameliorating, his health went on +daily declining. His letters, which at first were the delight and +support of my existence, became disappointing, dejecting, +afflicting. I sighed for his return ! I believed. he was trying +experiments that hindered his recovery; and, indeed, I am +persuaded he precipitated the evil by continual changes of +system. At length his letters became so comfortless, that I +almost expired with desire to join him - but he positively +forbade my quitting our Alexander, who was preparing for his +grand examination at Cambridge. + +On the opening of October, 1817, Alex and I returned from +Ilfracombe to Bath to meet our best friend. He arrived soon +after, attended by his favourite medical man, Mr. Hay, whom he +had met in Paris. We found him extremely altered-not in mind, +temper, faculties--oh, no!--but in looks and strength: thin and +weakened so as to be fatigued by the smallest exertion. He +tried, however, to revive; we sought to renew our walks, but his +strength was insufficient. He purchased a garden in the Crescent +fields, and worked in it, but came home always the worse for the +effort. His spirits were no longer in their state of native +genial cheerfulness : he could still be awakened to gaiety, but +gaiety was no longer innate, instinctive with him. + + + GENERAL D'ARBLAY PRESENTED TO THE QUEEN. + +In this month, October, 1817, I had a letter from the Princess +Elizabeth, to inform me that her majesty and herself were coming +to pass four weeks in Bath. The queen's stay was short, abruptly +and sadly broken up by the death of the Princess Charlotte. In +twenty-four hours after the evil tidings, they hastened to +Windsor to meet the prince regent and almost immediately after +the funeral, the queen and princess returned, accompanied by the +Duke of Clarence. I saw them continually, and never passed a day +without calling at the royal abode by the queen's express +permission ; and during the whole period of their stay, my +invalid appeared to be stationary in his health. I never quitted +him save for this royal visit, and that only of a morning. +Page 425 + +He had always purposed being presented to her majesty in +the pump-room, and the queen herself deigned to say "she should +be very glad to see the general." Ill he was! suffering, +emaciated, enfeebled! But he had always spirit awake to every +call; and just before Christmas, 1817, we went together, between +seven and eight o'clock in the morning, in chairs, to the +pump-room. I thought I had never seen him look to such advantage. +His fine brow so open, his noble countenance so expressive, his +features so formed for a painter's pencil! This, too, was the +last time he ever wore his military honours--his three orders of +"St. Louis," "the Legion of Honour," and "Du Lys," or "De la +Fidlit;" decorations which singularly became him, from his +strikingly martial port and character. + +The queen was brought to the circle in her sedan-chair, and led +to the seat prepared for her by her vice-chamberlain, making a +gracious general bow to the assembly as she passed. Dr. Gibbs and +Mr. Tudor waited upon her with the Bath water, and she conversed +with them, and the mayor and aldermen, and her own people, for +some time. After this she rose to make her round with a grace +indescribable, and, to those who never witnessed it, +inconceivable ; for it was such as to carry off age, infirmity, +sickness, diminutive stature and to give her, in defiance of such +disadvantages, a power of charming that rarely has been equalled. +Her face had a variety of expression that made her features soon +seem agreeable; the intonations of her voice so accorded with her +words, her language was so impressive, and her manner so engaging +and encouraging, that it was not possible to be the object of her +attention without being both struck with her uncommon abilities +and fascinated by their exertion. + +Such was the effect which she produced upon General d'Arblay, to +whom she soon turned. Highly sensible to the honour of her +distinction, he forgot his pains in his desire to manifest his +gratitude;--and his own smiles--how winning they became! Her +majesty spoke of Bath, of Windsor, of the Continent; and while +addressing him, her eyes turned to meet mine with a look that +said, "Now I know I am making you happy!" She asked me, archly, +whether I was not fatigued by coming to the pump-room so early? +and said, "Madame d'Arblay thinks I have never seen you before ! +but she is mistaken, for I peeped at you through the window as +you passed to the Terrace at Windsor." Alas! the queen no +Page 426 + +sooner ceased to address him than the pains he had suppressed +became intolerable, and he retreated from the circle and sank +upon a bench near the wall - he could stand no longer, and we +returned home to spend the rest of the day in bodily misery. + + + GLOOMY FOREBODINGS. + +Very soon after the opening of this fatal year 1818, expressions +dropped from my beloved of his belief of his approaching end : +they would have broken my heart, had not an incredulity --now my +eternal wonder,--kept me in a constant persuasion that he was +hypochondriac, and tormented with false apprehensions. +Fortunate, merciful as wonderful, was that incredulity, which, +blinding me to my coming woe, enabled me to support my courage by +my hopes, and helped me to sustain his own. In his occasional +mournful prophecies, which I always rallied off and refused to +listen to, he uttered frequently the kind words, "Et jamais je +n'ai tant aim la vie! Jamais, jamais, la vie ne m'a t plus +chre!"(317) How sweet to me were those words, which I thought- +-alas, how delusively--would soothe and invigorate recovery! + +The vivacity with which I exerted all the means in my power to +fly from every evil prognostic, he was often struck with, and +never angrily; on the contrary, he would exclaim, "Comme j'admire +ton courage!"(318) while his own, on the observation, always +revived. "My courage?" I always answered, "What courage? Am I +not doing what I most desire upon earth--remaining by your side? +When you are not well, the whole universe is to me, there!" + +Soon after, nevertheless, recurring to the mournful idea ever +uppermost, he said, with a serenity the most beautiful, "Je +voudrois que nous causassions sur tout cela avec +calme,---doucement,--cheerfully mme(319) as of a future voyage-- +as of a subject of discussion--simply to exchange our ideas and +talk them over." + +Alas, alas ! how do I now regret that I seconded not this +project, so fitted for all pious Christian minds, whether their +pilgrimage be of shorter or longer duration. But I saw him + +Page 427 + +I, oh, how ill! I felt myself well ; it was, therefore, apparent +who must be the survivor in case of sunderment; and, therefore, +all power of generalizing the subject was over. And much and +ardently as I should have rejoiced in treating such a theme when +he was well, or on his recovery, I had no power to sustain it +thus situated. I could only attend his sick couch; I could only +'live by fostering hopes of his revival, and seeking to make them +reciprocal. + + +During this interval a letter from my affectionate sister +Charlotte suggested our taking further advice to aid Mr. Hay, +since the malady was so unyielding. /On January the 24th Mr. +Tudor came, but after an interview and examination, his looks +were even forbidding. Mr. Hay had lost his air of satisfaction +and complacency, Mr. Tudor merely inquired whether he should come +again? "Oh, yes, yes, yes!" I cried, and they retired together. +And rapidly I flew, not alone from hearing, but from forming any +opinion, and took refuge by the side of my beloved, whom I sought +to console and revive. And this very day, as I have since found, +he began his Diary for the year. It contains these words:-- + +"Jamais je n'ai tant aim la vie que je suis en si grand danger +de perdre; malgr que je n'aye point de fivre, ni le moindre mal + la tte; et que j'aye non seulement l'esprit libre, mais le +coeur d'un contentement Parfait. La volont de Dieu soit faite! +J'attends pour ce soir ou demain le resultat d'une +consultation."(320) + + + + PRESENTS FROM THE QUEEN AND PRINCEss ELIZABETH. + +On this same day Madame de Soyres brought me a packet from her +majesty, and another from the Princess Elizabeth. The kind and +gracious princess sent me a pair of silver camp candlesticks, +with peculiar contrivances which she wrote me word might amuse +the general as a military man, while they might be employed by +myself to light my evening researches among the MSS. of my dear +father, which she wished me to collect and to preface by a +memoir. + +Her mother's offering was in the same spirit of benevolence - it +was a collection of all the volumes of "L'Hermite de + +Page 428 + +la Chausse d'Antin," with Chalmers's Astronomical Sermons, and +Drake's two quartos on Shakespeare; joined to a small work of +deeper personal interest to me than them all, which was a book of +prayers suited to various circumstances, and printed at her +majesty's own press at Frogmore. In this she had condescended to +write my name, accompanied by words of peculiar kindness. My poor +ami looked over every title-page with delight, feeling as I did +myself that the gift was still more meant for him than for me--or +rather, doubly, trebly for me in being calculated to be pleasing +to him!--he was to me the soul of all pleasure on earth. + +What words of kindness do I find, and now for the first time +read, in his Diary dated 2nd February! After speaking--hlas, +hlas!--"de ses douleurs inouies," (321) he adds, "Quelle trange +maladie! et quelle position que la mienne! il en est une, +peuttre plus ficheuse encore, c'est celle de ma malheureuse +compagne; avec quelle tendresse elle me soigne! et avec quel +courage elle supporte ce qu'elle a souffrir! Je ne puis que +rpter, La volont de Dieu soit faite!"(322) + +Alas! the last words he wrote in February were most melancholy:-- +"20 Fvrier, Je sens que je m'afaiblis horriblement--je ne crois +pas que ceci puisse tre encore bien long.(323) Chre Fanny, cher +Alex! God bless you! and unite us for ever, Amen!" + +Oh my beloved! + Delight, pride, and happiness of my heart! May heaven in its +mercy hear this prayer! . . . + + + + THE GENERAL RECEIVES THE VISIT OF A PRIEST. + +In March he revived a little, and Mr. Tudor no longer denied me +hope; on the 18th Alex came to our arms and gratulations on his +fellowship; which gave to his dearest father a delight the most +touching. + +I have no Diary in his honoured hand to guide my narrative in +April; a few words only he ever wrote more, and these, after +speaking of his sufferings, end with "Pazienza! + +" +Page 429 + +Pazienza!"--such was his last written expression! 'Tis on the 5th +of April. . . . + +On the 3rd of May he reaped, I humbly trust, the fair fruit of +that faith and patience he so pathetically implored and so +beautifully practised. + +At this critical period in April I was called down one day to +Madame la Marquise de S-, who urged me to summon a priest of the +Roman catholic persuasion to my precious sufferer. I was greatly +disturbed every way; I felt in shuddering the danger she +apprehended, and resisted its belief; yet I trembled lest I +should be doing wrong. I was a protestant, and had no faith in +confession to man. I had long had reason to believe that my +beloved partner was a protestant, also, in his heart ; but he had +a horror of apostasy, and therefore, as he told me, would not +investigate the differences of the two religions; he had besides +a tie which to his honour and character was potent and +persuasive; he had taken an oath to keep the catholic faith when +he received his Croix de St. Louis, which was at a period when +the preference of the simplicity of protestantism was not +apparent to him. All this made me personally easy for him, yet, +as this was not known, and as nothing definite had ever passed +between us upon this delicate subject, I felt that he apparently +belonged still to the Roman catholic church; and after many +painful struggles I thought it my absolute duty to let him judge +for himself, even at the risk of inspiring the alarm I so much +sought to save him! . . . I compelled myself therefore to tell +him the wish of Madame de S-, that he should see a priest. "Eh +bien," he cried, gently yet readily, "je ne m'y oppose pas. +Qu'en penses tu?" I begged to leave such a decision wholly to +himself. + +Never shall I forget the heavenly composure with which my beloved +partner heard me announce that the priest, Dr. Elloi, was come. +Cheerfully as I urged myself to name him, still he could but +regard the visit as an invitation to make his last preparations +for quitting mortal life. With a calm the most gentle and +genuine, he said he had better be left alone with him, and they +remained together, I believe, three hours. I was deeply disturbed +that my poor patient should be so long without sustenance or +medicine - but I durst not intrude, though anxiously I kept at +hand in case of any sudden summons. When, at length, the priest +re-appeared, I found +Page 430 + +my dearest invalid as placid as before this ceremony, though +fully convinced it was meant as the annunciation of his expected +and approaching departure. + + + THE LAST SACRAMENT ADMINISTERED. + +Dr. Elloi now came not only every day, but almost every hour of +the day, to obtain another interview; but my beloved, though +pleased that the meeting had taken place, expressed no desire for +its repetition. I was cruelly distressed ; the fear of doing +wrong has been always the leading principle of my internal +guidance, and here I felt incompetent to judge what was right. +Overpowered, therefore, by my own inability to settle that point, +and my terror lest I should mistake it, I ceased to resist ; and +Dr. Elloi, while my patient was sleeping from opium, glided into +his chamber, and knelt down by the bedside with his prayer book +in his hand. Two hours this lasted; but when the doctor informed +me he had obtained the general's promise that he should +administer to him the last sacrament, the preparations were made +accordingly, and I only entreated leave to be present. + +This solemn communion, at which I have never in our own church +attended with unmoistened eyes, was administered the same +evening. The dear invalid was in bed: his head raised with +difficulty, he went through this ceremony with spirits calm, and +a countenance and voice of holy composure. + + + FAREWELL WORDS OF COUNSEL. + +Thenceforth he talked openly, and almost solely, of his +approaching dissolution, and prepared for it by much silent +mental prayer. He also poured forth his soul in counsel for +Alexander and myself. I now dared no longer oppose to him my +hopes of his recovery - the season was too awful. I heard him +only with deluges of long-restrained tears, and his generous +spirit seemed better satisfied in thinking me now --awakened to a +sense of his danger, as preparatory for supporting its +consequence. + +"Parle de moi." He said, afterwards, "Parle--et souvent. Surtout + Alexandre; qu'il ne m'oublie pas!"(325) + +"Je ne parlerai pas d'autre chose!"(326) I answered . . . and +Page 431 + +I felt his tender purpose. He knew how I forbore ever to speak of +my lost darling sister, and he thought the constraint injurious +both to my health and spirits : he wished to change my mode with +regard to himself by an injunction of his own. "Nous ne parlerons +pas d'autre chose!" I added, "mon ami!--mon ami!--je ne survivrai +que pour cela!"(327) He looked pleased, and with a calm that +taught me to repress my too great emotion. + +He then asked for Alexander, embraced him warmly, and half +raising himself with a strength that had seemed extinct but the +day before, he took a hand of Alexander and one of mine, and +putting them together between both his own, he tenderly pressed +them, exclaiming, "How happy I am! I fear I am too happy!" + +Kindest of human hearts! His happiness was in seeing us together +ere he left us his fear was lest he should too keenly regret the +quitting us! + +At this time he saw for a few minutes my dear sister Esther and +her Maria, who had always been a great favourite with him. When +they retired, he called upon me to bow my knees as he dropped +upon his own, that he might receive, he said, my benediction, and +that we might fervently and solemnly join in prayer to Almighty +God for each other. He then consigned himself to uninterrupted +meditation : he told me not to utter one word to him, even of +reply, beyond the most laconic necessity. He desired that when I +brought him his medicine or nutriment, I would give it without +speech and instantly retire; and take care that no human being +addressed or approached him. This awful command lasted unbroken +during the rest of the evening, the whole of the night, and +nearly the following day. So concentrated in himself he desired +to be!--yet always as free from irritation as from despondence-- +always gentle and kind even when taciturn, and even when in +torture. + +When the term of his meditative seclusion seemed to be over, I +found him speaking with Alexander, and pouring into the bosom of +his weeping son the balm of parental counsel and comfort. I +received at this time a letter from my affectionate sister +Charlotte, pressing for leave to come and aid me to nurse my +dearest invalid. He took the letter and pressed it to his lips, +saying, "Je l'aime bien; dis le lui. Et + +Page 432 + +elle M'aime."(328) But I felt that she could do me no good. We +had a nurse whose skill made her services a real blessing ; and +for myself, woe, such as he believed approaching, surpassed all +aid but from prayer and from heaven--lonely meditation. + +When the morning dawned, he ordered Payne to open the shutters +and to undraw the curtains. The prospect from the windows facing +his bed was picturesque, lively, lovely: he looked at it with a +bright smile of admiration, and cast his arm over his noble brow, +as if hailing one more return of day' and light, and life with +those he loved. But when, in the course of the day, something +broke from me of my reverence at his heavenly resignation, +"Rsign?" he repeated, with a melancholy half smile; "mais comme +ah!" and then in a voice of tenderness the most touching, he +added, "Te quitter!" I dare not, even yet, hang upon my emotion +at those words! + +That night passed in tolerable tranquillity, and without alarm, +his pulse still always equal and good, though smaller. On Sunday, +the fatal 3rd of May, my patient was still cheerful, and slept +often, but not long. This circumstance was delightful to my +observation, and kept off the least suspicion that my misery +could be so near. + + + THE END ARRIVES. + +My pen lingers now!-reluctant to finish the little that remains. + +About noon, gently awaking from a slumber, he called to me for +some beverage, but was weaker than usual, and could not hold the +cup. I moistened his lips with a spoon several times. He looked +at me with sweetness inexpressible, and pathetically said, "Qui?" +He stopped, but I saw he meant "Who shall return this for you?" I +instantly answered to his obvious and most touching meaning, by a +cheerful exclamation of "You! my dearest ami! You yourself! You +shall recover, and take your revenge." He smiled, but shut his +eyes in silence. After this, he bent forward, as he was supported +nearly upright by pillows in his bed, and taking my hand, and +holding it between both his own, he impressively said, "Je ne +sais si + +Page 433 + +ce sera le dernier mot--mais ce sera la dernire pense--notre +runion!"(329) Oh, words the most precious that ever the +tenderest of husbands left for balm to the lacerated heart of a +surviving wife! I fastened my lips on his loved hands, but spoke +not. It was not then that those words were my blessing! They +awed--they thrilled--more than they solaced me. How little knew I +then that he should speak to me no more ! + +Towards evening I sat watching in my arm-chair, and Alex remained +constantly with me. His sleep was so calm, that an hour passed in +which I indulged the hope that a favourable crisis was arriving; +that a turn would take place by which his vital powers would be +restored; but when the hour was succeeded by another hour, when I +saw a universal stillness in the whole frame, such as seemed to +stagnate all around, I began to be strangely moved. "Alex!" I +whispered, "this sleep is critical! a crisis arrives! Pray God-- +Almighty God!--that it be fav--." I could not proceed. +Alex looked aghast, but firm. I sent him to call Payne. I +intimated to her my opinion that this sleep was important, but +kept a composure astonishing, for when no one would give me +encouragement, I compelled myself to appear not to want it, to +deter them from giving me despair. Another hour passed of +concentrated feelings, of breathless dread. + +His face had still its unruffled serenity, but methought the +hands were turning cold; I covered them - -I watched over the +head of my beloved; I took new flannel to roll over his feet; the +stillness grew more awful; the skin became colder. + +Alex, my dear Alex, proposed calling in Mr. Tudor, and ran off +for him. + +I leant over him now with sal volatile to his temple, his +forehead, the palms of his hands, but I had no courage to feel +his pulse, to touch his lips. + +Mr. Tudor came - he put his hand upon the heart, the noblest of +hearts, and pronounced that all was over! + +How I bore this is still marvellous to me! I had always believed +such a sentence would at once have killed me. But his sight--the +sight of his stillness, kept me from distraction! Sacred he +appeared, and his stillness I thought should be mine, and be +inviolable. + +I suffered certainly a partial derangement, for I cannot to this +moment recollect anything that now succeeded, with truth + +Page 434 + +or consistency; my memory paints things that were necessarily +real, joined to others that could not possibly have happened, yet +so amalgamates the whole together as to render it impossible for +me to separate truth from indefinable, unaccountable fiction. + +Even to this instant I always see the room itself charged with a +medley of silent and strange figures grouped against the wall +just opposite to me, Mr. Tudor, methought, was come to drag me by +force away; and in this persuasion, which was false, I remember +supplicating him to grant me but one hour, telling him I had +solemnly engaged myself to pass it in watching. . . . + +But why go back to my grief? Even yet, at times, it seems as +fresh as ever, and at all times weighs on me with a feeling that +seems stagnating the springs of life. But for Alexander ,our +Alexander!--I think I could hardly have survived. His tender +sympathy, with his claims to my love, and the solemn injunctions +given me to preserve for him, and devote to him, my remnant of +life--these, through the Divine mercy, sustained me. + +May that mercy, with its best blessings, daily increase his +resemblance to his noble father. + +March 20, 1820. +(288) M. d'Arblay, who was, it appears, still lame (boiteux) from +the kick which he had received from a horse.-ED, + +(289) Half-pay. + +(290) The Comte de Narbonne and Comte F. de la Tour Maubourg. + +(291) He had studied mathematics in Paris according to the +analytical method, instead of the geometrical, which was at that +time exclusively taught at Cambridge. + +(292) See infra, p. 387-8.-ED. + +(293) It is not without pain that we find Fanny, in this letter +defending the harsh treatment accorded by the Bourbon king to +Lavalette and others of the partisans of the emperor. Lavalette +had served Napoleon both as soldier and diplomatist. At the +restoration of the Bourbons in 1814 he retired from public life, +but on the return of Napoleon he again entered the service of his +old master. He was arrested after the downfall of the emperor, +tried for treason, and condemned to death. His wife implored the +king's mercy in vain, Lavalette was confined in the Conciergerie, +and December 21, 1815, was the day fixed for his execution. The +evening before that day his wife visited him in the prison. He +exchanged clothes with her, and thus disguised, succeeded in +making his escape. His safety was secured by three English +gentlemen, one of whom, Sir Robert Wilson, conveyed Lavalette, in +the disguise of an English officer, across the Belgian frontier. +For this generous act the three Englishmen were tried in Paris, +and sentenced, each, to three months' imprisonment.-ED. +(294) At the sale of the collection, formed by Mr. Thrale, of +portraits of his distinguished friends, painted by one of the +most distinguished of them-Sir Joshua Reynolds. The collection +comprised portraits of Johnson, Burke, Dr. Burney, Reynolds, etc. + Reynolds painted two portraits of Johnson for Mr. Thrale. That +referred to by Fanny is probably the magnificent portrait painted +about 1773, and now in the National Gallery, for which Thrale +paid thirty-five guineas.-ED. + +(295) "His wife and son." + +(296) M. d'Arblay had been promoted by Louis XVIII. to the rank +of Lieutenant-General.-ED. + +(297) "Certainly, and very certainly, my dearest, your beautiful +strictures upon the knowledge and the customs of the world would +have given another current to my ideas." + +(298) "For the future." + +(299) "He is still but a child." + +(300) "That is not our case." +(301) "Will be quite another thing; but I think you are +mistaken." + +(302) This paragon of perfection, then, was an actual person, +whom General d'Arblay was thinking of as a wife for his son!-ED. + +(303) Self-love. + +(304) Wounded. +(305) Esther Burney.-ED. + +(306) Volumes of plays.-ED. + +(307) Stove. + +(308) "Make short work." + +(309) "Gloomy discouragement." + +(310) "Apathy." + +(311) "You are quite mistaken." + +(312) "You give it up, don't you?" + +(313) An interesting and humorous novel by the Rev. Richard +Graves, the friend of Shenstone.-ED. + +(314) Blue stockings. + +(315) "So to speak." + +(316) The Princess Charlotte, only child of the prince and +princess of Wales, was married at the age of twenty (May 2, 1816) +to Prince Leopold of SaxeCoburg. On the 5th of November, 1817, +she was delivered of a still-born child, and died a few hours +later.-ED. +(317) "I have never loved life so much! Never, never has life +been dearer to me!" + +(318) "How I admire your courage!" + +(319) "I should like us to talk of all that with calmness,-- +mildly,--even cheerfully." + +(320) "Never have I so much loved life as now that I am in so +great danger of losing it ; notwithstanding that I have no fever, +nor is my head in the least affected ; and not only is my mine] +clear, but my heart perfectly at ease. God's will be done! I +await the result of a consultation this evening or to-morrow." + +(321) "Of his unheard-of sufferings." + +(322) "What a strange malady! and what a position is mine! there +is one perhaps more grievous yet, that of my unhappy companion-- +with what tenderness she cares for me! and with what courage she +bears what she has to suffer! I can only repeat, God's will be +done!" + +(323) "February 20. I feel that I am getting horribly weak--I do +not think this can last much longer." +(324) "Well, I have no objection. What do you think of it?" + +(325) "Speak of me! Speak--and often. Especially to Alexander; +that he may not forget me!" + +(326) "I shall speak of nothing else!" + +(327) "We shall speak of nothing else! my dear!--my dear!--I +shall survive only for that!" + +(328) "I love her well; tell her so. And she loves me." + +(329) "I do not know if this will be my last word--but it will be +my last thought--our reunion." + + + + +Page 435 + SECTION 27. + (1818-40) + + + YEARS OF WIDOWHOOD. DEATH OF MADAME D'ARBLAY'S SON. + HER OWN DEATH. + + + (Extracts from Pocket-book Diary.) + + + MOURNFUL REFLECTIONS. + +May 17, 1818. +This melancholy second Sunday since My +irreparable loss I ventured to church. I hoped it might calm my +mind and subject it to its new state--its lost--lost happiness. +But I suffered inexpressibly; I sunk on my knees, and could +scarcely contain my sorrows--scarcely rise any more! but I +prayed--fervently--and I am glad I made the trial, however +severe. Oh mon ami! mon tendre ami! if you looked down! if that +be permitted, how benignly will you wish my participation in your +blessed relief! + +Sunday, May 31.-This was the fourth Sunday passed since I have +seen and heard and been blessed with the presence of my angel +husband. Oh loved and honoured daily more and more! Yet how can +that be? No! even now, in this cruel hour of regret and +mourning it cannot be! for love and honour could rise no higher +than mine have risen long, long since, in my happiest days. + +June 3.-This day, this 3rd of June, completes a calendar month +since I lost the beloved object of all my tenderest affections, +and all my views and hopes and even ideas of happiness on earth. +. . . + +June 7.-The fifth sad Sunday this of earthly separation! oh +heavy, heavy parting! I went again to church. I think + +Page 436 + +it right, and I find it rather consolatory-rather only, for the +effort against sudden risings of violent grief at peculiar +passages almost destroys me; and no prayers do me the service I +receive from those I continually offer up in our apartment by the +side of the bed on which he breathed forth his last blessing. Oh +words for ever dear! for ever balsamic! "Je ne sais si ce sera le +dernier mot--mais ce sera bien la dernire pense--notre +runion." + + + VISITS RECEIVED AND LETTERS PENNED. + +June 18.-My oldest friend to my knowledge living, Mrs. Frances +Bowdler, made a point of admission this morning, and stayed with +me two hours. She was friendly and good, and is ever sensible and +deeply clever. Could I enjoy any society, she would enliven and +enlighten it, but I now can only enjoy sympathy!--sympathy and +pity! + +Alex and I had both letters from M. de Lafayette. + + +June 23.-To-day I have written my first letter since my +annihilated happiness-to my tenderly sympathising Charlotte. I +covet a junction with that dear and partial sister for ending +together our latter days. I hope we shall bring it to bear. + +With Alex read part of St. Luke. + +June 29.-To-day I sent a letter, long in writing and painfully +finished, to my own dear Madame de Maisonneuve. She will be glad +to see my hand, grieved as she will be at what it has written. + +With Alex read part of St. Luke. + +June 30-I wrote--with many sad struggles--to Madame Beckersdorff, +my respectful devoirs to her majesty, with the melancholy apology +for my silence during the royal nuptials of the Dukes of +Clarence, Kent, and Cambridge; and upon the departure of dear +Princess Eliza,' and upon her majesty's so frequent and alarming +attacks of ill health. + +With Alex read the Acts of the Apostles. . . . + +July 8.-I have given to Alex the decision of where we shall +dwell. Unhappy myself everywhere, why not leave unshackled his +dawning life? To quit Bath--unhappy Bath!--he had long desired: +and, finally, he has fixed his choice in the very capital itself. +I cannot hesitate to oblige him. + +August 28.-My admirable old friend, Mrs. Frances +Page 437 + +Bowdler, spent the afternoon with me. Probably we shall meet no +more but judiciously, as suits her enlightened understanding, and +kindly, as accords with her long partiality,- she forbore any +hint on that point. Yet her eyes swam in tears, not ordinary to +her, when she bade me adieu. + +August 30.-The seventeenth week's sun rises on my deplorable +change! A very kind, cordial, brotherly letter arrives from my +dear James. An idea of comfort begins to steal its way to my +mind, in renewing my intercourse with this worthy brother, who +feels for me, I see, with sincerity and affection. + +Sept. 5.-A letter from dowager Lady Harcourt, on the visibly +approaching dissolution of my dear honoured royal mistress ! +written by desire of my beloved Princess Mary, Duchess of +Gloucester, to save me the shock of surprise, added to that of +grief. + +Sunday, Sept. 6.-A fresh renewal to me of woe is every returning +week ! The eighteenth this of the dread solitude of my heart ; +and miserably, has it passed, augmenting sorrow weighing it in +the approaching loss of my dear queen! + +Again I took the Sacrament at the Octagon, probably for the last +time. Oh, how earnest were my prayers for re-union in a purer +world! Prayers were offered for a person lying dangerously ill. I +thought of the queen, and prayed for her fervently. + +Sunday, Sept. 27-This day, the twenty-first Sunday of my +bereavement, Alexander, I trust, is ordained a deacon of the +Church of England. Heaven propitiate his entrance! I wrote to the +good Bishop of Salisbury to beseech his pious wishes on this +opening of clerical life. + + + REMOVAL FROM BATH TO LONDON. + +Sept. 28.-Still my preparations to depart from Bath take up all +of time that grief does not seize irresistibly; for, oh! what +anguish overwhelms my soul in quitting the place where last he +saw and blessed me!--the room, the spot on which so softly, so +holily, yet so tenderly, he embraced me and breathed his last! + +Sept. 30.-This morning I left Bath with feelings of profound +affliction - yet, reflecting that hope was ever open-- that +future union may repay this laceration--oh, that my torn soul +could more look forward with sacred aspiration! Then better would +it support its weight of woe. +Page 438 + +My dear James received me with tender pity; so did his good wife, +son, and daughter. + +Oct. 6.-My dear Alexander left me this morning for Cambridge. How +shall I do, thus parted from both! My kind brother, and his +worthy house, have softened off the day much; yet I sigh for +seclusion--my mind labours under the weight of assumed +sociability. + +Oct. 8. I came this evening to my new and probably last dwelling, +No. 11, Bolton-street, Piccadilly. My kind James conducted me. +Oh, how heavy is my forlorn heart ! I have made myself very busy +all day ; so only could I have supported this first opening to my +baleful desolation ! No adored husband! No beloved son ! But +the latter is only at Cambridge. Ah! let me struggle to think +more of the other, the first, the chief, as also only removed +from my sight by a transitory journey! + +Oct. 14.-Wrote to my--erst--dearest friend, Mrs. Piozzi. I can +never forget my long love for her, and many obligations to her +friendship, strangely as she had been estranged since her +marriage. + +Oct. 30.-A letter from my loved Madame de Maisonneuve, full of +feeling, sense, sweetness, information to beguile me back to +life, and of sympathy to open my sad heart to friendship. + +Nov. 7.-A visit from the excellent Harriet Bowdler, who gave me +an hour of precious society, mingling her commiserating sympathy +with hints sage and right of the duty of revival from every +stroke of heaven. + +Oh, my God, Saviour! To thee may I turn more and more. + + + + DEATH OF THE QUEEN: SKETCH OF HER CHARACTER.(331) + +Nov. 17-This day, at one o'clock, breathed her last the +inestimable Queen of England.(332) Heaven rest and bless her +soul! + +Her understanding was of the best sort ; for while it endued her +with powers to form a judgment of all around her, it pointed out +to her the fallibility of appearances, and thence kept her always +open to conviction where she had been led by circumstances into +mistake. + +>From the time of my first entrance into her household her manner +to me was most kind and encouraging, for she had + +Page 439 + +formed her previous opinion from the partial accounts of my +beloved Mrs. Delany. She saw that, impressed with real respect +for her character, and never-failing remembrance of her rank, she +might honour me with confidence without an apprehension of +imprudence, invite openness without incurring freedom, and +manifest kindness without danger of encroachment. . . . + +When I was alone with her she discarded all royal constraint, all +stiffness, all formality, all pedantry of grandeur, to lead me to +speak to her with openness and ease; but any inquiries which she +made in our tte--ttes never awakened an idea of prying into +affairs, diving into secrets, discovering views, intentions, or +latent wishes, or amuses. No,. she was above all such minor +resources for attaining intelligence; what she desired to know +she asked openly, though cautiously if of grave matters, and +playfully if of mere news or chit-chat, but always beginning +with, "If there is any reason I should not be told, or any that +you should not tell, don't answer me." Nor were these words of +course, they were spoken with such visible sincerity, that I have +availed myself of them fearlessly, though never without regret, +as it was a delight to me to be explicit and confidential in +return for her condescension. But whenever she saw a question +painful, or that it occasioned even hesitation, she promptly and +generously started some other subject. + +Dec. 2.-The queen, the excellent exemplary queen, was this day +interred in the vault of her royal husband's ancestors,(133) to +moulder like his subjects, bodily into dust; but mentally, not +so! She will live in the memory of those who knew her best, and +be set up as an example even by those who only after her death +know, or at least acknowledge her virtues. + +I heard an admirable sermon on her departure and her character +from Mr. Repton in St. James's church. I wept the whole time, as +much from gratitude and tenderness to hear her thus appreciated +as from grief at her loss--to me a most heavy one! for she was +faithfully, truly, and solidly attached to me, as I to her. + +Dec. 12.-A letter from the Duchess of Gloucester,(134) to My +equal gratification and surprise. She has deigned to answer my +poor condolence the very moment, as she says, that she + +Page 440 + +received it. Touched to the heart, but no longer with pleasure +in any emotion, I wept abundantly. + + + MADAME D'ARBLAY'S SON IS ORDAINED. + +Sunday, April 11, 1818.-This morning my dearest Alexander was +ordained a priest by the Bishop of Chester in St. James's church. +I went thither with my good Eliz. Ramsay, and from the gallery +witnessed the ceremony. Fifty-two were ordained at the same time. +I fervently pray to God that my son may meet this his decided +calling with a disposition and conduct to sanction its choice ! +and with virtues to merit his noble father's name and exemplary +character! Amen Amen! + + + WITH some ROYAL HIGHNESSES. + +July 15-A message from H. R. H. Princess Augusta, with whom I +passed a morning as nearly delightful as any, now, can be! She +played and sang to me airs of her own composing-unconscious, +medley reminiscences, but very pretty, and prettily executed. I +met the Duke of York, who greeted me most graciously- saying, as +if with regret, how long it was since he had seen me. + +In coming away, I met, in the corridor, my sweet Duchess of +Gloucester, who engaged me for next Sunday to herself. + +July 26.-Her royal highness presented me to the duke, whom I +found well-bred, Polite, easy, unassuming, and amiable; kind, not +condescending. + + + QUEEN CAROLINE. + +(Madame d"Arblay to Mrs. Locke.) +Wednesday, June 7, 1820. . . . +All London now is wild about the newly arrived royal +traveller.(135) As she is in this neighbourhood, our part of the +Page 441 + +town is surprised and startled every other hour by the arrival of +some new group of the curious rushing on to see her and her +'squire the alderman, at their balcony. Her 'squire, also, now +never comes forth unattended by a vociferous shouting multitude. +I suppose Augusta, who resides still nearer to the dame and the +'squire of dames, is recreated in this lively way yet more +forcibly. + +The 15th of this month is to be kept as king's birthday at Court. +Orders have been issued to the princesses to that effect, and to +tell them they must appear entirely out of mourning. They had +already made up dresses for half mourning, of white and black. I +should not marvel if the royal traveller should choose to enter +the apartments, and offer her congratulations upon the festival. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Locke.) +Elliot Vale, London, August 15, 1820. +How long it seems--"Seems, madam! nay, it is! +since I have heard from my most loved friend!--I have had, +Page 442 + +however, I thank heaven, news of her, and cheering news, though I +have lost sight of both her dear daughters. . . . + +We are all, and of all classes, all opinions, all ages, and all +parties, absolutely absorbed by the expectation of Thursday. The +queen has passed the bottom of our street twice this afternoon in +an open carriage, with Lady Ann(336) and Alderman Wood!-How very +inconceivable that among so many adherents, she can find that +only esquire!-And why she should have any, in her own carriage +and in London, it is not easy to say. There is a universal alarm +for Thursday.(337) the letter to the king breathes battle direct +to both Houses of Parliament as much as to his majesty. Mr. +Wilberforce is called upon, and looked up to, as the only man in +the dominions to whom an arbitration should belong. Lord John +Russell positively asserts that it is not with Lord Castlereagh +and the ministers that conciliation or non-conciliation hangs, +but with Mr. Wilberforce and his circle. If I dared hope such was +the case, how much less should I be troubled by the expectance +awakened for to-morrow--it is now Wednesday that I finish my poor +shabby billet. Tremendous is the general alarm at this moment for +the accused turns accuser, public and avowed, of King, Lords, and +Commons, declaring she will submit to no award of any of them. +What would she say should evidence be imperfect or wanting, and +they should acquit her? + +It is, however, open war, and very dreadful, She really invokes a +revolution in every paragraph of her letter to her sovereign and +lord and husband. I know not what sort of conjugal rule will be +looked for by the hitherto lords and masters of the world, if +this conduct is abetted by them. . . . + +The heroine passed by the bottom of our street yesterday, in full +pomp and surrounded with shouters and vociferous admirers. She +now dresses superbly every day, and has always six horses and an +open carriage. She seems to think now she has no chance but from +insurrection, and therefore all her harangues invite it. Oh Dr. +Parr!--how my poor brother would have blushed for him! he makes +those orations +Page 443 + +with the aid of Cobbett!--and the council, I suppose. Of course, +like Croaker in "The Good-natured Man" I must finish with "I wish +we may all be well this day three months!" + + + GOSSIP FROM AN OLD FRIEND, AND THE REPLY. + +(From Mrs. Piozzi to Madame d'Arblay.) +Bath, October 20. +It was very gratifying, dear madam, to find myself so kindly +remembered, and with all my heart I thank you for your letter. My +family are gone to Sandgate for the purpose of bathing in the +sea, this wonderfully beautiful October ; and were you not +detained in London by such a son as I hear you are happy in, I +should wish you there too, Apropos to October, I have not your +father's admirable verses upon that month ; those upon June, I +saw when last in Wales could you get me the others ? it would be +such a favour and you used to like them best. + +How changed is the taste of verse, prose, and painting since le +bon vieux temps, dear madam! Nothing attracts us but what +terrifies, and is within--if within--a hair's breadth of positive +disgust. The picture of Death on his Pale Horse, however, is very +grand certainly-and some of the strange things they write remind +me of Squoire Richard's visit to the Tower Menagerie, when he +says "Odd, they are pure grim devils,"--particularly a wild and +hideous tale called Frankenstein. Do you ever see any of the +friends we used to live among? Mrs. Lambert is yet alive, and in +prosperous circumstances ; and Fell, the bookseller in +Bond-street, told me a fortnight or three weeks ago, that Miss +Streatfield lives where she did in his neighbourhood,-- +Clifford-street, S. S. still. + +Old Jacob and his red night-cap are the only live creatures, as +an Irishman would say, that come about me of those you remember, +and death alone will part us,-he and I both lived longer with Mr. +Piozzi than we had done with Mr. Thrale. + +Archdeacon Thomas is, I think, the only friend you and I have now +quite in common : he gets well ; and if there was hope of his +getting clear from entanglement, he would be young again,-he is a +valuable mortal. + +Adieu! Leisure for men of business, you know, and business for +men of leisure, would cure many complaints. +Page 444 +Once more, farewell ! and accept my thanks for your good-natured +recollection of poor H. L. P. + +(Madame d'Arblay. to Mrs. Piozzi-) +Bolton-street, December 15, 1820. +Now at last, dear madam, with a real pen I venture to answer your +kind acceptance of my Bath leave-taking address, of a date I +would wish you to forget-but the letter is before me, and has no +other word I should like to relinquish. But more of grief at the +consequence of my silence, namely your own, hangs upon the +circumstance than shame, for i have been so every way +unwell,-unhinged, shattered, and unfitted for any correspondence +that could have a chance of reciprocating pleasure, that perhaps +I ought rather to demand your thanks than your pardon for this +delay. I will demand, however, which you please, so you will but +tell me which you will grant, for then I shall hear from you +again. + +I must, nevertheless, mention, that my first intention, upon +reading the letter with which you favoured me, was to forward to +you the verses on October, of my dear father, which you honoured +with so much approbation .- but I have never been able to find +them, unless you mean the ode, written in that month, on the +anniversary of his marriage with my mother-in-law, beginning:-- + +Hail, eldest offspring of the circling year, +October! bountiful, benign, and clear, +Whose gentle reign, from all excesses free, +Gave birth to Stella--happiness to me." + +If it be this, I will copy it out with the greatest alacrity, for +the first opportunity of conveyance. + +So here, again, like the dun of a dinner card, I entitle myself +to subjoin "An answer is required." . . . + +You inquire if I ever see any of the friends we used to live +amongst :-almost none; but I may resume some of those old ties +this winter, from the ardent desire of my son. I have, till very +lately, been so utterly incapable to enjoy society, that I have +held it as much kindness to others as to myself, to keep wholly +out of its way. I am now, in. health, much better, and +consequently more able to control the murmuring propensities that +were alienating me from the purposes of life while yet +living,-this letter, indeed, will show that I am +Page 445 +* +restored to the wish, at least, of solace, and that the native +cheerfulness of my temperament is opening from the weight of +sadness by which I had long believed it utterly demolished. But +Time, " uncalled, unheeded, unawares, "-works as secretly upon +our spirits as upon our years, and gives us as little foresight +into what we can endure, as into how long we shall exist. . . . + + + MORE Gossip. + +(From Mrs. Piozzi to Madame d'Arblay.) +Penzance, Thursday, January 18, 1821. +Dear Madame d'Arblay was very considerate in giving me something +to answer, for something original to say would be difficult to +find at Penzance; but your letter has no date, and I am not sure +that Bolton-street is sufficient. Poor Mrs. Byron, who used to +inhabit it, would have enjoyed her grandson's(338) reputation, +would not she? had it pleased God to lengthen her life like that +of Mrs. Lambart, who died only last week, but a few days short of +her expected centenary-as did Fontenelle. You are truly +fortunate, dear madam, so was your father, in leaving those +behind who knew and could appreciate your merits--every scrap +will properly be valued--but those verses belong not to the +October I meant. . . . + +Mrs. Bourdois and her sisters--all true Burneys--will be angry I +don't live wholly at Bath, and their society would prove a strong +temptation; but Bath is too much for me, who am now unwilling to +encounter either crowds or solitude: I feared neither for +three-score years of my life, and earnestly now join my too +disinterested solicitations to those of your son, that you will +no longer bury your charming talents in seclusion. Sorrow, as +Dr. Johnson said, is the mere rust of the soul. Activity will +cleanse and brighten it. + +You recollect the --'s; Fanny married Sir Something --, and is a +widowed mother. The young man, of whom high expectations were +formed, took to the gaming table, forged for 5000 pounds, and was +saved out of prison by the dexterity of his servant:--a complete +coup de thtre. That I call sorrow scarce possible to be borne. +You saw the story in the newspapers, but possibly were not aware +who was the sufferer. + +Will it amuse you to hear that "fine Mr. Daniel," as you + +Page 446 + +used to call my showy butler, died an object of disgust and +horror, whilst old Jacob, with whose red nightcap you comically +threatened the gay dandy--lived till the other day, and dying, +left 800 pounds behind him! Such stuff is this world made of! + +The literary world is to me terra incognita, far more deserving +of the name (now Parry and Ross are returned) than any part of +the polar region; but the first voyage amused me most and when I +had seen red snow, and heard of men who wanted our sailors to +fly, because they perceived they could swim, I really thought it +time to lie down and die; but one cannot die when one will, so I +have hung half on, half off, society this last half year; and +begin 1821 by thanking dear Madame d'Arblay for her good-natured +recollection of poor H. L. Piozzi. + + + + ILL-HEALTH OF THE REV. A. D'ARBLAY. DR. BURNEY'S MSS. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Piozzi.) +Bolton-street, Berkeley-square, Feb. 6, 1821. +You would be repaid, dear madam, if I still, as I believe, know +you, for the great kindness of your prompt answer, had you +witnessed the satisfaction with which it was received ; even at a +time of new and dreadful solicitude; for my son returned from +Cambridge unwell, and in a few days after his arrival at home was +seized with a feverish cold which threatened to fasten upon the +whole system of his existence, not with immediate danger, but +with a perspective to leave but small openings to any future view +of health, strength, or longevity. I will not dwell upon this +period, but briefly say, it seems passed over. He is now, I thank +heaven, daily reviving, and from looking like-not a walking, but +a creeping spectre, he is gaining force, spirit, and flesh +visibly, and almost hour by hour; still, however, he requires the +utmost attention, and the more from the extreme insouciance, from +being always absorbed in some mental combinations, with which he +utterly neglects himself. I am therefore wholly devoted to +watching him. + +I am quite vexed not to find the right October. However, I do not +yet despair, for in the multitude of MSS. that have fallen to my +mournfully surviving lot to select, or destroy, etc., chaos seems +come again; and though I have worked at them during the last year +so as to obtain a little light, it is scarcely +Page 447 + +more than darkness visible. To all the vast mass left to my +direction by my dear father, who burnt nothing, not even an +invitation to dinner, are added not merely those that devolved to +me by fatal necessity in 1818, but also all the papers possessed +from her childhood to her decease of that sister you so well, +dear madam, know to have been my heart's earliest darling. When +on this pile are heaped the countless hoards which my own now +long life has gathered together, of my personal property, such as +it is, and the correspondence of my family and my friends, and +innumerable incidental windfalls, the whole forms a body that +might make a bonfire to illuminate me nearly from hence to +Penzance. And such a bonfire might perhaps be not only the +shortest, but the wisest way to dispose of such materials. This +enormous accumulation has been chiefly owing to a long unsettled +home, joined to a mind too deeply occupied by immediate affairs +and feelings to have the intellect at liberty for retrospective +investigations. . . . + + + A LAST GOSSIPING LETTER. + +(From Mrs. Piozzi to Madame d'Arblay.) +Sion Row, Clifton, near Bristol, March 15, 1821. +I feel quite happy in being able to reply to dear Madame +d'Arblay's good-natured inquiries, from this, the living world. +Such we cannot term Penzance--not with propriety--much like Omai, +who said to you, "No mutton there, missee, no fine coach, no +clock upon the stairs," etc.; but en revanche here is no Land's +End, no submarine mine of Botallock! What a wonderful thing is +that extensive cavern ! stretching out half a mile forward under +the roaring ocean, from whence 'tis protected only by a slight +covering, a crust of rock, which, if by any accident exploded, + +"Would let in light on Pluto's dire abodes, +Abhorr'd by men, and dreadful ev'n to Gods." + +Plutus, however, not Pluto, is professed proprietor - 'tis an +immense vacuity filled with the vapours of tin and copper, +belonging to Lord Falmouth and a company of miners, where sixty +human beings work night and day, and hear the waves over their +heads , sometimes regularly beating the Cornish cliffs, sometimes +tossing the terrified mariner upon the inhospitable shore; where +shipwreck is, even in these civilized days, considered as a +Godsend. +Page 448 + +I am glad I saw it, and that I shall see it no more. You would +not know poor Streatham Park. I have been forced to dismantle and +forsake it; the expenses of the present time treble those of the +moments you remember; and since giving up my Welsh estate, my +income is greatly diminished. I fancy this will be my last +residence in this world, meaning Clifton, not Sion Row, where I +only live till my house in the Crescent is ready for me. A high +situation is become necessary to my breath, and this air will +agree with me better than Bath did. + +You ask how the Pitches family went on. Jane married a rough man, +quarter-master to a marching regiment, and brought him three +sons: the first a prodigy of science, wit, and manners; he died +early: the second I know nothing of: the third, a model of grace +and beauty, married the Duke of Marlborough's sister. Peggy is +Countess Coventry, you know, and has a numerous progeny. Emily is +wife to Mr. Jolliffe, M.P. for some place, I forget what. +Penelope married Sir John Sheffield, but died before he came to +the title. I dined with them all last time I was in London, at +Coventry House. Poor old Davies's departure grieved me, so did +that of good Mr. Embry; au reste, the village of Streatham is +full of rich inhabitants, the common much the worse for being so +spotted about with houses, and the possibility of avoiding +constant intercourse with their inhabitants (as in Mr. Thrale's +time) wholly lost!..... + + + DEATH OF MRS. PIOZZI. + +May, 1821.--I have lost now, just lost, my once most dear, +intimate, and admired friend, Mrs. Thrale Piozzi,(339) who +preserved her fine faculties, her imagination, her intelligence, +her powers of allusion and citation, her extraordinary memory, +and her almost unexampled vivacity, to the last of her existence. +She was in her eighty-second year, and yet owed not her death to +age nor to natural decay, but to the effects of a fall in a +journey from Penzance to Clifton. On her eightieth birthday she +gave a great ball, concert, and supper, in the public rooms at +Bath, to upwards of two hundred persons, and the ball she opened +herself. She was, in truth, a most wonderful character for +talents and eccentricity, for wit, genius, generosity, spirit, +and powers of entertainment. +Page 449 + + MRS. PIOZZI COMPARED WITH MADAME DE STAEL. + +She had a great deal both of good and not good, in common with +Madame de Stael Holstein. They had the same sort of highly +superior intellect, the same depth of learning, the same general +acquaintance with science, the same ardent love of literature, +the same thirst for universal knowledge, and the same buoyant +animal spirits, such as neither sickness, sorrow, nor even +terror, could subdue. Their conversation was equally luminous, +from the sources of their own fertile minds, and from their +splendid acquisitions from the works and acquirements of others. +Both were zealous to serve, liberal to bestow, and graceful to +oblige; and both were truly highminded in prizing and praising +whatever was admirable that came in their way. + +Neither of them was delicate nor polished, though each was +flattering and caressing; but both had a fund inexhaustible of +good humour, and of sportive gaiety, that made their intercourse +with those they wished to please attractive, instructive, and +delightful and though not either of them had the smallest +real malevolence in their compositions, neither of them could +ever withstand the pleasure of uttering a repartee, let it wound +whom it might, even though each would serve the very person they +goaded with all the means in their power. Both were kind, +charitable, and munificent, and therefore beloved; both were +sarcastic, careless, and daring, and therefore feared. The +morality of Madame de Stael was by far the most faulty, but so +was the society to which she belonged so were the general manners +of those by whom she was encircled. + + + SISTER HETTY. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Burney.) +October 21, 1821. +"Your mind," my dearest Esther, was always equal to literary +pursuits, though your time seems only now to let you enjoy them. +I have often thought that had our excellent and extraordinary own +mother been allowed longer life, she would have contrived to make +you sensible of this sooner. I do not mean in a common way, for +that has never failed, but in one striking and distinguished ; +for she very early indeed began to form your taste for reading, +and delighted + +Page 450 + +to find time, amidst all her cares, to guide you to the best +authors, and to read them with you, commenting and pointing out +passages worthy to be learned by heart. + +I perfectly recollect, child as I was, and never of the party, +this part of your education. At that very juvenile period, the +difference even of months makes a marked distinction in bestowing +and receiving instruction. I, also, was so peculiarly backward, +that even our Susan stood before me; she could read when I knew +not my letters. But though so sluggish to learn, I was always +observant: do you remember Mr. Seaton's denominating me, at +fifteen, "the silent, observant Miss Fanny"? Well I recollect +your reading with our dear mother all Pope's works and Pitt's +"AEneid." I recollect, also, your spouting passages from Pope, +that I learned from hearing you recite them before--many years +before I read them myself. But after you lost, so young, that +incomparable guide, you had none left. Our dear -father was +always abroad, usefully or ornamentally; and, after giving you a +year in Paris with the best masters that could be procured, you +came home at fifteen or sixteen to be exclusively occupied by +musical studies, save for the interludes that were + +"Sacred to dress and beauty's pleasing cares:" + +for so well you played, and so lovely you looked, that admiration +followed alike your fingers and your smiles : and the pianoforte +and the world divided your first youth, which, had that exemplary +guide been spared us, I am fully persuaded would have left some +further testimony of its passage than barely my old journals, +written to myself, which celebrate your wit and talents as highly +as your beauty. And I judge I was not mistaken, by all in which +you have had opportunity to show your mental faculties, i.e. your +letters, which have always been strikingly good and agreeable, +and evidently unstudied. + +When Alex comes home I will try to get "Crabbe," and try to hear +it with pleasure. The two lines you have quoted are very +touching. + +Thus much, my dear Etty, i wrote on the day I received your last; +but . . . . + +November.-I write now from Eliot Vale, under the kind and elegant +roof of sweet Mrs. Locke, who charges me with her most +affectionate remembrances. Perhaps I may meet here with your +favourite Crabbe: as I subscribe to no library, I know not how +else I shall get at him. I thank you a +Page 451 + +thousand times for the good bulletin of your health, my dearest +Esther; and I know how kindly you will reciprocate my +satisfaction when I tell you mine is inconceivably ameliorated, +moyennant great and watchful care: and Alex keeps me to that with +the high hand of peremptory insistence, according to the taste of +the times for the "rising generation" expects just as much +obedience to orders as they withhold. If you were to hear the +young gentleman delivering to me his lectures on health, and +dilating upon air, exercise, social intercourse, and gay spirits, +you would be forced to seek a magnifying glass to believe that +your eyes did not deceive you, but that it was really your nephew +haranguing his mother. However, we must pass by the exhorting +impetuosity, in favour of the zealous anxiety that fires it up in +his animated breast. + + + OFFICIAL DUTIES TEMPORARILY RESUMED. + +I was kept in town by a particular circumstance--I might say, +like the play-bills, by particular desire; for it was a fair +royal personage who condescended to ask me to remit my visit to +Eliot Vale, that I might attend her sittings for her picture, her +two ladies being at that time absent on cong. You may believe +how much I was gratified, because you know my sincere and truly +warm attachment for all those gracious personages; but you may be +surprised Your poor sister could now be pitched upon, where so +much choice must always be at hand, for whiling away the +tediousness of what she, the princess, calls the odious +occupation of sitting still for this exhibition - but the fact +is, I was able to fulfil her views better than most people could, +in defiance of my altered spirits and depressed faculties, by +having recourse simply to my memory in relating things I saw, or +heard, or did, during the long ten years, and the eventful--added +one year more, that I spent abroad. Only to name Bonaparte in +any positive trait that I had witnessed or known, was sufficient +to make her open her fine eyes in a manner extremely advantageous +to the painter. + + + THE Rev. A. D'ARBLAY NAMED LENT PREACHER. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Burney.) +February 29, 1823. +.....Thanks for that kind jump of joy for the success of Alex at +Lee, and for my hopes from St. Paul's. You ask who +Page 452 + +named him preacher for the 5th Sunday in Lent: How could I omit +telling you 'twas the Bishop of London himself? -This has been +brought about by a detail too long for paper, but it is chiefly +to my faithful old friends Bishop Fisher of Salisbury and the +Archdeacon of Middlesex that we owe this mark of attention; for +Alex has never been presented to the Bishop of London. + + + MADAME D'ARBLAY'S HEALTH AND OCCUPATION. + +You still ask about my health, etc. I thought the good result +would have sufficed ; but thus stands the detail : I was packing +up a board of papers to carry with me to Richmond, many months +now ago, and employed above an hour, bending my head over the +trunk, and on my knees -when, upon meaning to rise, I was seized +with a giddiness, a glare of sparks before my eyes, and a +torturing pain on one side of my head, that nearly disabled me +from quitting my posture, and that was followed, when at last I +rose, by an inability to stand or walk. + +My second threat of seizure was at Eliot Vale, while Alex was at +Tunbridge. I have been suddenly taken a third time, in the +middle of the night, with a seizure as if a hundred windmills +were turning round in my head: in short,-I had now recourse to +serious medical help, and, to come to the sum total, I am now so +much better that I believe myself to be merely in the common road +of such gentle, gradual decay as, I humbly trust, I have been +prepared to meet with highest hope, though with deepest awe--for +now many years back. + +The chief changes, or reforms, from which I reap benefit are, +1st. Totally renouncing for the evenings all revision or +indulgence in poring over those letters and papers whose contents +come nearest to my heart, and work upon its bleeding regrets. +Next, transferring-to the evening, as far as is in my power, all +of sociality, with Alex, or my few remaining friends, or the few +he will present to me of new ones. 3rd. Constantly going out +every day-either in brisk walks in the morning, or in brisk +jumbles in the carriage of one of my three friends who send for +me, to a tte--tte tea converse. 4th. Strict attention to diet. +. . . + +I ought to have told you the medical sentence upon which I act. +These were the words--"You have a head over-worked, and a heart +over-loaded." This produces a disposition to +Page 453 + +fulness in both that causes stagnation, etc., with a consequent +want of circulation at the extremities, that keeps them cold and +aching. Knowing this, I now act upon it as warily as I am able. + +The worst of all is, that I have lost, totally lost, my pleasure +in reading! except when Alex is my lecturer, for whose sake my +faculties are still alive to what--erst! gave them their greatest +delight. But alone; I have no longer that resource; I have +scarcely looked over a single sentence, but some word of it +brings to my mind some mournful recollection, or acute regret, +and takes from one all attention--my eyes thence glance vainly +over pages that awaken no ideas.--This is melancholy in the +extreme; yet I have tried every species of writing and writer-- +but all pass by me mechanically, instead Of instructing or +entertaining me intellectually. But for this sad deprivation of +my original taste, my evenings might always be pleasing and +reviving--but alas! + + + DESTROYED CORRESPONDENCE. + +(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Burney.) +August, 1823. +What an interesting letter is this last, my truly dear Hetty 'tis +a real sister's letter, and such a one as I am at this time +frequently looking over of old times! For the rest of my life I +shall take charge' and save my own executor the discretionary +labours that with myself are almost endless ; for I now regularly +destroy all letters that either may eventually do mischief, +however clever, or that contain nothing of instruction or +entertainment, however innocent. This, which I announce to all +my correspondents who write confidentially, occasions my +receiving letters that are real conversations. Were I younger I +should consent to this condition with great reluctance-or perhaps +resist it : but such innumerable papers, letters, documents, and +memorandums have now passed through my hands, and, for reasons +prudent, or kind, or conscientious, have been committed to the +flames, that I should hold it wrong to make over to any other +judgment than My Own, the danger or the innoxiousness of any and +every manuscript that has been cast into my power. To you, +therefore, I may now safely copy a charge delivered to me by UP +our dear vehement Mr. Crisp, at the opening of my juvenile +Page 454 + +correspondence with him,--"Harkee, you little monkey!--dash away +whatever comes uppermost; if you stop to consider either what you +say, or what may be said of you, I would not ,give one fig for +your letters."--How little, in those days, did either he or I +fear, or even dream of the press! What became of letters, jadis, +I know not; but they were certainly both written and received +with as little fear as wit. Now every body seems -obliged to +take as much care of their writing desks as of their trinkets or +purses,-for thieves be abroad of more descriptions than belong to +the penniless pilferers. + + + THE PRINCESS AND THE REV. A. D'ARBLAY. + +(Madame dArblay to Mrs. locke.) +11 Bolton-street, Nov. 1824. +Now then for a more cheerful winding-up. I came from Camden Town +very unwillingly,--but Alex was called to Cambridge to an audit, +and so I took that opportunity to make a break-up. But the day +before I quitted it I received the highest resident honour that +can be bestowed upon me--namely, a visit from one of my dear and +condescending princesses. She came by appointment,-yet her +entrance was so quick that Alex had not time to save +himself.-However, she took the incident not only without +displeasure but with apparent satisfaction, saying she was very +glad to renew her acquaintance with him. She had not seen him +since the time of his spouting, "The spacious firmament on +high"--"Ye shepherds so cheerful and gay," etc.,--all of which +she remembers hearing. Ah--I have never recollected till this +instant that I ought to have gone to her the next day !-how +shocking!--and now that I have the consciousness, I can do +nothing, for I am lame from a little accident.--Well!--she is all +goodness-and far more prone to forgive than I, I trust, am to +offend. + + + A VISIT FROM SIR WALTER SCOTT. + +Although Madame d'Arblay's intercourse with society was now +usually confined to that of her relations and of old and +established friends, she yet greeted with admiration and pleasure +Sir Walter Scott, who was brought to her by Mr. Rogers. Sir +Walter, in his Diary for Nov. 18th, 1826, thus +Page 455 + +describes the visit:--"I have been introduced to Madame d'Arblay, +the celebrated authoress of 'Evelina' and 'Cecilia,' an elderly +lady with no remains of personal beauty, but with a simple and +gentle manner, and pleasing expression of countenance, and +apparently quick feelings. She told me she had wished to see two +persons-myself, of course, being one, the other, George Canning. +This was really a compliment to be pleased with--a nice little +handsome pat of butter made up by a neat-handed Phillis of a +dairy-maid, instead of the grease fit only for cartwheels which +one is dosed with by the pound. + +"I trust I shall see this lady again." + + + + MEMOIRS OF DR. BURNEY. + +>From the year 1828 to 1832 Madame d'Arblay was chiefly occupied +in preparing for the press the Memoirs of her father; and on +their publication, she had the pleasure to receive letters from +Dr. Jebb, Bishop of Limerick, and from Mr. Southey, the poet. + +Among the less favourable criticisms of her work, the Only one +which gave Madame d'Arblay serious pain was an attack (in a +periodical publication) upon her veracity--a quality which, in +her, Dr. Johnson repeatedly said "he had never found failing," +and for which she had been through life trusted, honoured, and +emulated. + + + DEATHS OF HESTER BURNEY AND MRS. LOCKE. + (1835 to 1838.) + +Madame d'Arblay's letters were now very few. - A complaint in one +of her eyes, which was expected to terminate in a cataract, made +both reading and writing difficult to her. The number of her +correspondents had also been painfully lessened by the death of +her eldest sister, Mrs. Burney, and that of her beloved friend, +Mrs. Locke ; and she had sympathised with other branches of her +family in many similar afflictions, for she retained in a +peculiar degree not only her intellectual powers, but the warn) +and generous affections of her youth. + +"Though now her eightieth year was past," she took her wonted and +vivid interest in the concerns, the joys, and sorrows of those +she loved. +Page 456 + + DEATH OF THE REV. A. D'ARBLAY. + +At this time her son formed an attachment which promised to +secure his happiness, and to gild his mother's remaining days +with affection and peace : and at the close of the year 1836 he +was nominated minister of Ely chapel, which afforded her +considerable satisfaction. But her joy was mournfully +short-lived. That building, having been shut for some years, was +damp and ill-aired. The Rev. Mr. d'Arblay began officiating there +in winter, and during the first days of his ministry he caught +the influenza, which became so serious an illness as to require +the attendance of two physicians. Dr. Holland and Dr. Kingston +exerted their united skill with the kindest interest; but their +patient, never robust, was unable to cope with the malady, and on +the 19th of January, 1837, in three weeks from his first seizure, +the death of this beloved son threw Madame d'Arblay again into +the depths of affliction. Yet she bore this desolating stroke +with religious submission, receiving kindly every effort made to +console her, and confining chiefly to her own private memoranda +the most poignant expressions of her anguish and regret, as also +of the deeply religious trust by which she was supported. + +The following paragraph is taken from her private notebook:-- + + "1837.-On the opening of this most mournful--most earthly +hopeless, of any and of all the years yet commenced of my long +career! Yet, humbly I bless my God and Saviour, not hopeless; but +full of gently-beaming hopes, countless and fraught with +aspirations of the time that may succeed to the dread infliction +of this last irreparable privation, and bereavement of my darling +loved, and most touchingly loving, dear, soul--dear Alex." + + + DEATH OF MADAME D'ARBLAY'S SISTER CHARLOTTE. + +Much as Madame d'Arblay had been tried by the severest penalty of +lengthened days, the loss of those who were dearest to her, *one +more such sorrow remained in her cup of life. Her gentle and +tender sister Charlotte, many years younger than herself, was to +precede her in that eternal world for which they were both +preparing; and in the autumn of the year 1838, a short illness +terminated in the removal of that beloved sister. +Page 457 + + ILLNESS AND DEATH OF MADAME D'ARBLAY. + (1839-40.) + +Madame d'Arblay's long and exemplary life was now drawing to a +close; her debility increased, her sight and hearing nearly +failed her; but in these afflictions she was enabled to look +upwards with increasing faith and resignation. In a letter on the +5th of March, 1839, she wrote the following paragraph,(340) which +was perhaps the last ever traced by her pen :-- + +"March 5, 1839. +"Ah, my dearest! how changed, changed I am, since the irreparable +loss of your beloved mother! that last original tie to native +original affections! . . . + +"Wednesday.-I broke off, and an incapable unwillingness seized my +pen; but I hear you are not well, and I hasten--if that be a word +I can ever use again--to make personal Inquiry how you are. + +"I have been very ill, very little apparently, but with nights of +consuming restlessness and tears. I have now called in Dr. +Holland, who understands me marvellously, and I am now much as +usual; no, not that--still tormented by nights without repose-- +but better. + +"My spirits have been dreadfully saddened of late by whole days- +-nay weeks--of helplessness for any employment. They have but +just revived. How merciful a reprieve! How merciful IS ALL we +know! The ways of Heaven are not dark and intricate, but unknown +and unimagined till the great teacher, Death, develops them." + +In November, 1839, Madame d'Arblay was attacked by an illness +which showed itself at first in sleepless nights and nervous +imaginations. Spectral illusions, such as Dr. Abercrombie has +described, formed part of her disorder; and though after a time +Dr. Holland's skill removed these nervous impressions, yet her +debility and cough increased, accompanied by constant fever. For +several weeks hopes of her recovery were entertained; her +patience assisted the remedies of her kind physician , and the +amiable young friend, " who was to her as a daughter," watched +over her with unremitting care and attention but she became more +and more feeble, + +Page 458 + +and her mind wandered ; though at times every day she was +composed and collected, and then given up to silent prayer, with +her hands clasped and eyes uplifted. + +During the earlier part of her illness she had listened with +comfort to some portions of St. John's Gospel, but she now said +to her niece, "I would ask you to read to me, but I could not +understand one word--not a syllable! but I thank God my mind has +not waited till this time." + +At another moment she charged the same person with affectionate +farewells and blessings to several friends, and with thanks for +all their kindness to her. Soon after she said, "I have had some +sleep." "That is well," was the reply; "you wanted rest." "I +shall have it soon, my dear," she answered emphatically: and +thus, aware that death was approaching, in peace with all the +world, and in holy trust and reliance on her Redeemer, she +breathed her last on the 6th of January, 1840 ; the anniversary +of that day she had long consecrated to prayer, and to the memory +of her beloved sister Susanna. + +(330) Her departure for Germany with her husband, the Prince of +Hesse-Homburg, to whom she had been recently married.-ED. ' + + +(331) From a Memorandum book of Madame d'Arblays. + +(332) Queen Charlotte died at the palace at Kew, in the +seventy-fifth year of her age, after an illness of six +months.-ED. +(133) At Windsor.-ED. + +(134) The Princess Mary, who had married her cousin, the Duke of +Gloucester.-ED. + +(135) Queen Caroline. George IV. was now king, George III. having +died January 29, 1820. A brief account of the life of Queen +Caroline may be of assistance to the reader. Her father was the +Duke of Brunswick: her mother a sister of George II. She was +born in 1768, and married her cousin, the Prince of Wales, in +April, 1795, A speedy estrangement followed, brought about by the +prince's intrigues, especially with Lady Jersey; and, after the +birth of their daughter, the Princess Charlotte, a total +separation took place. In 1806 a charge of adultery was brought +against the Princess of Wales. The charge was declared +disproved, but colour had been given to it by the undoubted +levity and imprudence of her conduct. In 1813 she went +abroad, and spent several years in travelling on the continent. +Her behaviour during this period gave rise to fresh charges, from +which she has never been entirely cleared. She returned to +England, June 6, 1820, came to London, and took up her residence +in South Audley-street, at the house of her friend, Alderman +Wood, one of the members of Parliament for the city of London. +Shortly before her return, the king's ministers had proposed to +settle upon her an annuity of -/'50,000 for life, subject to the +conditions of her continuing to reside abroad, and refraining +from assuming the title of queen. This proposal she instantly +rejected. She was received in England by the people with +unbounded enthusiasm, to which the general discontent then +prevailing questionless contributed. A secret committee of the +House of Lords, appointed to examine the charges against the +queen, having made their report, the government brought in a bill +to deprive her of the title of queen, and to dissolve the +marriage. She was defended by counsel before the House of Lords, +her leading advocate being Mr. (afterwards Lord) Brougham, The +Motion for the third reading of the bill passed (November 10) by +a small majority, but the bill was immediately afterwards +abandoned by the government. This proceeding was generally +considered as tantamount to an acquittal, and was celebrated by +illuminations and the voting of congratulatory addresses in all +parts of the country. Queen Caroline did not long enjoy her +triumph. She presented herself at Westminster Abbey on the +occasion of the king's coronation, July 19, 1821, but was refused +admission. Less than three weeks later she was dead.-ED. + +(336) Lady Ann Hamilton, who had formerly belonged to Queen +Caroline's household, and had joined her in France, shortly +before her return to England.-ED. + +(337) Thursday, August 17, was the day on which the queen's trial +commenced before the House of Lords.-ED. + +(338) Lord Byron, the poet.-ED. + +(339) Mrs. Piozzi died at Clifton, May 2, 1821, having survived +her second husband about twelve years.-ED. + + (340) To her niece Mrs. Barrett. + + + + + INDEX +Addington, Dr., attends the king, ii. 262. +Agujari, Lucrezia, vocalist, i. 162. +Aiken, John, M.D., iii. 179. +Akenside, his "Pleasures of Imagination" discussed, ii. 193. +Alexander I. of Russia, iii. 289, 380. +Allen, Mrs. S., marries Dr. Burney, i, xviii. +Althorpe, Lord, i. 176, +Amelia, Princess, her childish ways and sports, 1. 349, 420, 437; + her birthday, 364; 439, 442; ii. 34, 72, 75, 303, 309, 4o6; + her AFFECtion for Fanny, 434; iii. 108, 138, 140, 156, 165; + at Juniper Hall, 180. +Amiens, Fanny's supper at, iii. 319. +Ancaster, Duchess of, i. 350 355, 361, 365, 379, 385, 387, + 391, 393-4, 396; ii. 10, 39, 85. +Andrews, Miles, ii. 32. +Angouleme, Duchess d', in London, iii. 276, 281, 291-3; + conversation with Fanny, 295. + Anstey, Christopher, "Evelina" attributed to, i. xxv, 63. +Anstruther, Mr. M.P., ii. 97, 145, 345, 352. +Antwerp, projected flight to, iii. 352. +Arblay, general Alex. d', acount of, i. xliv; + at Juniper Hall, iii. 14, 28-9, 31, 33, 35, 40, 42, 43, 45; + he and Fanny in love, 48, 50, 53, 55, 59, 62; + named to Fanny, 67; 68, 74; + his pursuits, 75, 85; + at Windsor, 99, 102, 105-6; + noticed by George III., 109; + plans Camilla Cottage, 115, 122-3, 154; + his brother's death, 126; 135, 155-6, 171, 192; + his French property, 194; + goes to France, 198; + his military appointment, 203-7; + in Paris, 224-5; + his old comrades, 227; + his relatives, 234; + his pension and property, 241-2; 255, 272, 287; + returns to France, 289; + enters Louis XVIII's bodyguard, 290; + reinstated as marchal de Camp, 291; + his loyalty, 298; + on the eve of the Hundred Days, 304-8, 311; + reaches Belgium, 337; + his mission to Luxemburg, 339, 342; + his audience with Wellington, 342; + his accident, 369; + joined by Fanny at Treves, 370-7; + returns to England, 383-5; + his affairs and plans, 390; + his failing health, 07, 400, 418, 422-3; + presented to the queen, 424-6; + gradually sinking, 426, 428-32; + his death, 433. +Arblay, Rev. Alexander d', iii. 82, 97, 121, 138, 143, 156-7; + at Court, 163; + presented to the queen, 167; + his precocity, 177, 182, 192, 196; + goes to France, 209; + at Dunkirk, 252; + returns to England, 263; + secures a scholarship, 266, 270; + at Cambridge, 272, 275, 293; + maternal advice to, 365; + his waywardness and prospects, 386, 390-6; + his tutor, 401; + his aversion to study, 403; + his alarm for his mother, 415-8; + at his father's death-bed, 430-3; + at Cambridge, 436; + ordained, 437, 440; + in ill-health, 446; + named Lent preacher, 451; + with one Of the princesses, 454; + his death, 456. +Arblay, Madame d' (Frances Burney), + announces her marriage, iii. 67-70; + loses her stepmother, 71; + her tragedy, "Edwy and Elgiva," 72, 90-4; + her novel, "Camilla," 72, 89, 95-6, 98-112; + birth of her son, 85; + meets Mrs. Piozzi, 88; + presents "Camilla" to royalty, 99-112; + relative success of her novels, 114; + her Camilla Cottage, 115, 122-3; + her opinion of Burke, 126; + visits the queen, 141; + chats with the princesses, 138-40, 140, 153-4; + indignant with Talleyrand, 153; + her little boy at Court, 163; + visits old friends, 172; + with Princess Amelia, 180-3; + her withdrawn comedy, "Love and Fashion," 193; + her anxiety for her husband, 205-7; + goes to France, 208; + to Paris, 215; + her life there, 216; + snubs Mdme. deStael, 220; + at the Tuileries, 224; + sees Napoleon, 232; + at Joigny, 234; + at Passy and Paris, 240-7; + her dangerous illness, 247, 252; + her adventure at Dunkirk, 249; + her return to England, 263; + regrets Mdme. de Stael, 269; + meets S. Rogers, 270; + Wilberforce, 271; + publishes "The Wanderer," 272-3-5; + loses her father, 273-4; + is presented to Louis XVIII., 276; + joined by her husband, 289; + returns to France, 292; + meets Duchess d'Angouleme, 293; + her flight from Paris, 301, 308-27; + her efforts to communicate with her husband, 328; + converses with Chateaubriand, 330-3; + arrives at Brussels, 334; + receives news of d'Arblay, 336-7, 338; + her projected flight to Antwerp, 352; + joins her husband at Treves, 370-7; + returns to France, 378; + her bon mot to Talleyrand, 382; + return to England, 383; + at Bath, 385; + Ilfracombe, 398, 402; + is caught by the rising tide, 4o6-18; + at Bath, 418, 422-37; + her husband's illness, 423; + his death, 432; + her years of widowhood, 434; + her son ordained, 440; + her correspondence with Madame PiOzzi, 443-8; + her health and occupations, 452; + is visited by Sir Walter Scott, 454; + issues the "Memoirs of Dr. Burney," 455; + her son's death, 456; + her illness and death, 458. +Argand, Aim, i. 405. +Argy, Chevalier d', iii. 346. +Arras, Fanny at, iii. 321. +Arundel, Lord, i. 198. +Auch, Countess d', iii. 313. +Augusta, Princess, i. 339, 342, 360, 362; + her birthday, 365, 375, 385, 387, 409, 439-40; ii. 9, 10; + teased by Turbulent, 26; 32, 34-5, 50, 75, 155, 164, 2o6, + 242, 270, 310, 347, 490; iii. 104, 107-8, 138, 146, 156-9, + 164, 440. +Aylesbury, Lord, ii. 332, 400; iii. 163. +Aylsham, Fanny at, iii. 37. + +Bachmeister, Mlle., successor to Mrs. Schwellenberg, iii. 142, + 162, 163. +Baker, Sir George, M.D., attends the king, ii. 222-3, 231-2, + 234-5, 250, 263. +Banks, Sir Joseph, ii. 140-1. +Bantry Bay Expedition, iii. 124. +Barbauld, Mr. and Mrs. (the authoress), iii. 178. +Barber, Frank, Johnson's negro, i. 287; iii. 129. +Barclay & Perkins, origin of, i. 203. +Baretti, Joseph, at Dr. Burney's, i. xvi; + admires "Evelina," xxvii, 83; + teases Charlotte Burney, 302; + his wager, 302, 305; +attacks Mrs. Piozzi, ii. 167, 176; +tried for murder, 176. +Barrett, Mrs., i. xi; iii. 457. + +Barrington, Lord, at Dr. Burney's, i. Xvii. +Barry, Mr., R. A., at Dr. Burney's, i. xvi; + expelled the Academy, iii. 184. +Bate, Henry, Rev., of the Morning Post and Herald, i. 164. +Bath, Fanny at, i. 165-197 423-9; iii. 385-98, 418, 422-37 + Queen Charlotte at, iii. 420. +Bath, Marquis an(l Marchioness of, ii. 330 ; + their family, 331. +Bath Easton, i. 174, 189. +Batt, Mr., ii. 83, 433. +Battiscombe (royal apothecary), i. 293, 446 ; ii. 231, 233. +Beauclerk, Topham and Lady Di., i. 154, 231-2. Beauffiremont, Princess de, iii. 237. +Beaufort, Duke of, ii. 291. +Beauvau, Prince and Princess de, iii. 218, 224-5. +Berry, Agnes and Mary, iii. 219. +Bertie, Lady Charlotte, lady of the bedchamber, i. 365, 385, +390-3; ii. 39. +Betterton, Miss, actress, iii. 149, 157. +Bewley, Mr., and Johnson's hearthbroom, i. xvi. +Birch, Selina, a prodigy, i. 150-3. +Black Brunswickers, the, iii. 347. +Blakeney, General, his disposition and conversation, i. 158-164. +Blandford, Marquis of, i. 387. +Blenheim, royal visit to, i. 397. +Bligh, Captain (afterwards Admiral), ii, 350, 358. +Blucher, Marshal, iii. 342, 345, 358, 364. +Bolt Court, Johnson's home at, i. 95-7, 258, 283-8. +Bonaparte, Jerome, iii. 367. +Bonaparte, Louis, iii. 235. +Bonaparte, Napoleon, and M. d'Arblay, i., x1v; + bon mot of, iii. 200; + and d'Arblay, 207; + at the Tuileries, 231; + returns from Elba, 301, 314; + persecutes Chateaubriand, 333; + his last campaign, 293, 351, 353, 363, 365. +Bookham, Fanny at, iii, 75, et seq. +Boscawen, Hon. Mrs., ii. 83, 291 iii. 98, 100, 133, 173. +Boswell, James, i. 234-5, 319; + his "Life of Dr. Johnson," ii. 377, 400-2; + his mimicry of Johnson, 432. +Bouchier, Captain, i. 179-80, 185-9. +Bouffiers-Rouvrel, Countess de, ii. 368. +Bourget, Le, Fanny's halt at, iii. 315. +Bowdler, Harriet, i. 190-1; iii. 386. +Bowdlers, the, i. 194; ii. 424; iii. 386, 396, 401; + the first chess-player in England, 405, 406. +Boyd, Mr. and Mrs., at Brussels, iii. 343, 352-3, 360. +Boydell, Alderman, ii. 464. +Bremyere, Mrs., iii. 142, 161. +Brighthelmstone (Brighton), Fanny at, i. 112, 133-7, 153-64, 197, +236-9-48. +Brisvane, Captain, i. 185-8. +Broglie, Marshal de, iii. 16; + Madame de, iii. 16, 29, 39. +Broome, Ralph, author of "Simkins' Letters," iii. 133, 167, 176. +Broome, Mrs., see Burney, Charlotte. +Brown, Fanny, an untidy flirt, i. 85-6, 138-9. +Bruce, James, the traveller, i. xvii; ii. 330. +Brudenell, Miss, ii. 126. +Brunswick, army of, iii. 347; + Duke of, his death, 347, 351. +Brussels, Fanny at, iii. 334; + "Rule Britannia" at, 341-2; + Fete-Dieu at, 344; + the inquietude at, 346; + plans for quitting, 350; + aspect of, before and after Waterloo, 351-65. +Bryant, Jacob, i. 402; his eccentric talk, ii. 22-3, 31, 72, 349, + 405. +Bud, General, i. 353, 355, 358, 365-6, 416-7, 421, 427, 440-1, +444; ii. 36, 47, 51, 213, 218, 224, 226, 228-9, 245, 341. +Bulkley, Lord, ii. 347. +Buller, Dean, ii. 321. +Bunbury, Henry W., ii. 51, 59, 140, 190-1, 195; + Mrs. (Goldsmith's "Little Comedy"), i. 111. +Burgoyne, General, ii. 120. +Burke, Edmund, praises "Evelina", i. xxvi, 94; + slighted by Fanny, xxxvii; + introduced to Fanny, 230; + on "Cecilia," 232, 252-4; + on Fanny's Court appointment, 290; +/ at the Hastings trial, ii. 92-3, 110, 112, 117; + his speech against Hastings, 121, 128, 134; + at the trial, 125-7, 129-30, 138, 145, 147, 345, 352, 355, + 359-61, 363-4, 392, 438, 440, 445, 452; + on the Regency Bill, 351; + on the French Revolution, 371, 377; + on Fanny's treatment at Court, 429; + Reynolds's legacy to, 444; + at Mrs. Crewe's with Fanny, 457-63; + on Fox, 459; + on Windham, 460; + subscribes for "Camilla," iii. 73; + his death and funeral, 125. +Burke, Mrs. Edmund, i. 252, ii. 457, 461. +Burke, Richard, son of Edmund, i. 254, 259; ii. 101, 121, 456; + iii. 44, 89. +Burke, Richard, brother of Edmund, i. 229; ii. 101, 121, 457; + iii. 82. +Burke, William, i. 115-9. +Burney, Charles, Mus. Doc., his early life, marriage, position, + and friends, i. xiii-xvii; + his second marriage, xviii; + authorises the publication of "Evelina," xxiv; + peruses it, xxv, 65-8; + appointed organist at Chelsea, xxxvii; + takes Fanny to Streatham, 75; + visits Reynolds, 115; + meets Murpby, 129; + visits Mrs. Paradise, 224; + dines with Reynolds, 228; + Visits Chesington, 233; + chides Mrs. Thrale, 237; + distressed at Crisp's death, 271; + at Johnson's deathbed and funeral, 285-8; + is commended by the queen, 295; + misses a Court appointment, 323-6; + is delighted at Fanny's appointment, xxxiii, 329; + takes her to Windsor, 333; + alluded to, 370, 415; + his verses on the queen's birthday, ii. 9; + is incensed at Fanny's condition, 65; + is lampooned in the Probationary Odes, 145; +George III's opinion of him, 291-2; + mentioned, 356; + his views respecting Fanny's resignation, 366, 368-70, 374, + 376-7, 380, 386-7 [See also i. xli-ii]; + takes her home, 411; + chats with Burke, 429; + with Fanny, 430-32; + meets the Burkes at Mrs. Crewe's, 456-62; + Fox at the Literary Club, iii, 44; + objects to Mdme. de Stael, 51; + to Fanny's marriage, 65; + loses his second wife, 71, 117-9; + meets the Piozzis, 88; + his "Life of Metastasio," 89, 92, 103; + attends Burke's funeral, 125; + visits Etruria and Lichfield, 128; + visits Herschel, 131, 184; + his poetical history of astronomy, 143; + his Chelsea apartments, 155, 165; + his books, 173; + converses with George III, 185, 193; + dines with the Prince of Wales, 243; + visits Bath, 244; + elected a member of the French Institute, 247; + is greatly aged, 265; + his death, 249, 273; + his portrait by Reynolds, 389; + his papers, 447; + his memoirs, 455. +Burney, Mrs., ne Allen, wife of above, I. 60; + visits Lowndes with Fanny, 79; + dresses badly, 86; + visits Reynolds, 113; + her death, iii. 71, 117. +Burney, Rev. Charles, D.D., his birth and library, i. 60; + attends Johnson's funeral, 288; + at the Hastings trial, ii. 95, 100, 103, 391; + mentioned, 375, 411; ii. 171; + dines with the Prince of Wales, 243; + meets Fanny on her return from France, 265; + his school, 270, 272; + buys his father's portrait, 389. +Burney, Charles Rousseau ("Mr. Burney"), + his parentage and mariiage, i. 59; + toasts the author of "Evelina," 72; + referred to, iii. 397. +Burney, Charlotte Anne (Mrs. Francis, afterwards Broome), + account of, i. 60; + describes her father's perusal of "Evelina," 65-7, 198, 224; + fragments of her journal, 254; + teased by Baretti, 302; 415; ii. 102, 108, 145; + at the Hastings trial, 345, 375; iii. 17; + marries Ralph Broome, 133, 167; + her death, 456. +Burney, Edward, Fanny's cousin, artist, i. 60, 61, 233. +Burney, Esther ("Hetty"), birth and marriage, i. 59; + and "Evelina," 64; ii. 350, 356; iii. 17, 397, 449, 455. +Burney, Frances (Madame d'Arblay), + Macaulay's acount of:-- + her birth and education, i. xiv-v; + surroundings, xvii; + appearance and opportunities, xviii; + her Writings, first attempts, xviii; + her Diary and Letters, xix, xxiii; + "Evelina," xxiii-vii; + "The Witlings," xxviii; + "Cecilia," xxix; + "Camilla," "Edwy and Elgiva," x1v; + "The Wanderers," and the "Memoirs of Dr. Burney," xlvi; + qualities and blemishes of her writings, xlvii-lvii; + her detractors and admirers, xxvi-vii; + her presentation to George III. and Queen Charlotte, xxx; + her appointment and life at Court, xxxi-v; + her account of the royal visit to Oxford, xxxv; + of the trial of Warren Hastings, xxxvi; + of George III's illness, xxxviii; + her last years at Court, illness and resignation, xxxix; + her trip through the south-west of England, visit to juniper + Hall, and marriage with General d'Ar.blay, xliv; + her departure for France, x1v; + return to England and death, xlvi. + Diary and Letters:-- + Her account of "Evelina," i. 61-74; + visits the Thrales and meets Dr. Johnson and Seward, 75-8; + interviews Lowndes, 79; + is confused by the praise of Johnson and others, 83-91; + meets Sir Joshua Reynolds, 92-5; + Mrs. Montagu, 100; + husbands suggested for her, 106; + is kissed by Johnson, 109; + visited by Dr. Francklin, 112; + visits Reynolds, 113; + meets R. B. Sheridan and his Wife, 123; + meets Arthur Murphy, 129; + purposes writing a play ("The Witlings"), 129, 133; + at Brighton, 133; + at Streatham, 137; + sends "The Witlings" to Crisp, 145; + her views of its fate, 146; + visits Tunbridge Wells, 149; + Brighton, 153, 236, 239, 248; + is badly treated by the Cumberlands, 155; + visits Bath, 165; + her letters on the Gordon riots, 193; + leaves Bath, 197; + at Streatham, 203; + attends Mrs. Paradise's rout, 224; + meets Edmund Burke and Gibbon, 228; + sits for her portrait, 233 + her account of General Paoli, 234-5; + of Miss Monckton's assembly, 248; + at Mrs. Walsingham's, 256; + meets Mrs. Siddons, 257; + visits Johnson, 258; + is Praised by Soames Jenyns, 261-2; + loses her friend Crisp, 270-1; + visits the Cambridges, 273-5; +her friendship for Mrs. Locke, 277; + her views on Mrs. Thrale's second marriage, 278-9; + at Norbury with the Lockes, 280; + her stormy interview with Lady F., 282; + her last chat with Johnson, 283; + her account of his death, 285; + her visits to Mrs. Delany, 265-70, 292; + hides from the queen, 297; + her first interview with the king and queen, 298; + discusses literary matters with the king and queen, 316-21; + is presented at Court, 322; + is appointed a keeper of the robes, 327-32; + her arrival and reception at Windsor, 333-8; + looks on at the queen's toilet, 339; + is visited by Court officials, 340; + her daily routine, 345; + prepares the queen's snuff, 348, 361; + accompanies the Court to Kew, 349; + is visited by Mrs. Warren Hastings, 352; + on familiar terms with the princesses, 353; + her account of an attempt against the king, 355; + her bitter experience of Mrs. Schwellenberg begins, 359; + is kissed by Princess Amelia, 365; + is promised a gown from the queen, 368; + defends Mrs. Hastings, 371; + visits Nuneham and Oxford with the Court, 373; + worries and difficulties of the excursion, 374, 382, 390, + 393-4; + her duties at Windsor and Kew, 399; + reads to the queen, 403; + repines at her Position, 403; + discusses Mdme. de Genlis, 4o5; + meets W. Herschel, 408, 444; + cannot ask: a guest to dinner, 413; + invites a wrong guest, 417 + receives a lilac tabby from the queen, 421; + is entrusted with the queen's jewels, 422; + her tea-table worries, 425; + obtains a holiday, 433 ; + her verses on "The Greatcoat," 424, 434; + romps with Princess Amelia, 437; + is too late to attend on the queen, 438; + her present to Princess Augusta, 440; + is taken ill, 445; + in a predicament at St. James's, ii. 10-15; + is worried by Turbulent, 16, 24-31, 47, 54, 57, 82, 214-5; + is complimented in an epilogue, 32; + is disappointed With Mrs. Siddons, 52; + her resignation rumoured, 62; + is persecuted by Mrs. Schwellenberg, 65; + receives a gift from the queen, 72; + discusses Johnson and Mrs. Thrale, 74; + among her old friends, 82, 85; + attends the Warren Hastings trial, 95-136, 143-9, 345-6, + 352-5, 357-65, 370-3, + 389-95, 437-47, 452, 455; + at Egham races, 151; + at Cheltenham with the Court, 154-9; + her flirtation with Fairly, 159-61, 165, 168-9, 174, 177-87, + 193-5, 197-9, 200-3, 204-6; + meets Seward, 167, 170; + meets Robert Raikes at Gloucester, 171; + visits Tewkesbury, 191; + is visited by Richard Burney, 192; + is attacked with influenza, 195; + visits Worcester, 199; + is at Windsor again, 207; + is twitted about Canon Shepherd, 209, 217; + her introduction to Lalande, 210; + is eyed curiously by the Prince of Wales, 211; + is plagued by Mrs. Schwellenberg, 215-8; +begins to write "Edwy and Elgiva," 222; + converses with George III. at the outset of his illness, + 225-6; + her anxiety for him and the queen, 230-2; + attends the public prayers for his recovery, 250; + is comforted by Pepys's prognostics, 251; + leaves for Kew, 265-6; + reports to the queen on the king's health, 270; + is chased by the king in Kew Gardens; is kissed by him, 289; + his strange talk to her, 290-2; + her meetings with Fairly during the king's illness, 237, + 239, 242, 244, 246, 248, 251, 253-64, 271, + 275, 277, 279, 281, 297-8; + Fairly's visits remarked on by the queen, 280, 282; + Mrs. Schwellenberg's treatment of her during the king's + illness, 246, 272-5, 295; + sees the king recovered, 298-9, 300; + her verses on his recovery, 303; + her parting from Fairly, 303-4; + meets Miss Fuzilier, 304; + at Lyndhurst, 310; + Southampton, 312; + Weymouth, 313; + Exeter and Saltram, 321; + Plymouth, 323; + Mount Edgecumbe, 327; + meets Fairly again, 329; + at Longleat, 330; + Tottenham Court, 332; + Windsor, 333; + hears rumours of Fairly's marriage, 334, 340; + in the crush at Covent Garden, 335; + visited by Mrs. Fairly, 344, 373; + reads Colman's plays to the queen, 347, 350; + meets Madame PiOzzi, 355; +her servant Columb, 367; + meets James Boswell, 377; + is mentioned in his "Johnson," 401; + helps the queen to write verses, 388; + her desire to resign, 366, 368-70, 374-6, 379, 389; + close of her Court duties, 401; + her successor and pension, 403; + her leave-takings, 4o5-8; + travels through the south-west of England, 410; + meets Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, 426-9; + and Bishop Percy, 428; + her literary recreation, 430; + on Reynolds's blindness, 431; + attends the queen, 434-7; + chats with her and the king, 448; + compliments the king on his birthday, 453; + with the Burkes at Mrs. Crewe's, 456; + visits Caen Wood, 464; + her adventure at the Shakespeare gallery, 465; + is invited to Arthur Young's, 468; + stays there, iii. 17; + at Aylsham, 37; + Norbury Park, 43; + meets Madame de Stael and other migrs of juniper Hall, + 44-61; + falls in love with d'Arblay, 48, 59, 64; + marries him, 67 (see Arblay, Madame d'). +Burney, James (afterwards Admiral), his birth, voyages, marriage, + and death, i. 59, 168, 173, 200; + at Chesington, 436; + at the Hastings trial, ii. 120, 122, 125, 129-39, 357-8, + 438; + his interview with the Earl of Chatham, 370; + wants a ship, 356; + mentioned, 350, 411; iii. 60. +Burney, Mrs. James, i. 436. +Burney, Richard, Fanny's uncle, i. 60. +Burney, Richard, Fanny's cousin, i. 60; + "Evelina" read to, 62; + visits Fanny at Cheltenham, ii. 192. +Burney, Richard Thomas, i. 60. +Burney, Sarah Harriet ("Sally"), i. 60, 65, 333; ii. 357, 391, + 411; iii. 17, 24, 72, 146. +Burney, Susanna Elizabeth (Mrs. Phillips), her birth, marriage, + and death, i. 60; 62-6, 65, 224, 270, 278, 280, 344, 403, + 411, 415; + her acquaintance with the emigres of juniper Hall, iii. 17, + 28-38, 54, 56-61, 64; + leaves for Ireland, 71, 121, 124; + her death, 170, 188-91. +Bute, Lady, ii. 69-70. +Byron, Augusta, i. 169, 179, 181, + 185-8; + Captain George, 169, 173; + Mrs., i. 169; ii. 424; iii. 445. + +Caen-Wood, ii. 464-' +Cagliostro, Count, i. 411. +Calais, description of, iii. 211. +Calvert, Dr., i. 92-3. +Cambaceres, iii. 231. +Cambridge, Rev. George Owen, i. 258-9, 261-4, 273, 275. +Cambridge, Miss, i. 327-30, 347; ii. 223, 271, 304, 344, 375, + 411. +Cambridge, Richard Owen, i. 258-9, 261-2, 273-5, 326; ii. 16, 83. +"Camilla," Madame d'Arblay's novel, i. x1v; + Macaulay on, li-lv; + iii. 72, 89, 95-6, 98-102, 107-12, 114; + reviewed, 116. +Camilla Cottage, iii. 115, 122-3, 135, 154, 157. +Campbell, Lady Augusta, ii. 85. +Camperdown, Duncan's victory off, iii. 140-3, 147-50. +Campo, Signor del, ii. 36, 47. +Canning, George, iii. 82-3. +Carmichael, Miss, Johnson's Poll, i. 96-7. +Caroline of Brunswick (Queen), iii. 440-3; +Carter, Elizabeth, ii. 83, 279. +Cator, Mr., i. 210-13, 221. +Cavendish, Ladies Georgiana and Harriet, ii. 425-6. +"Cecilia," Fanny's novel; + price paid for, i. Xxiv, 254; + its production, xxviii-ix, 202, 228; + Macaulay's estimate of, xxxii, l-lv; + praised by Burke, 232-3; + extolled by the "old wits," 251-4; + eulogised by Soames jenyns, 261-3; + discussed at Mrs. Delany's, 268-76; ii. 32, 176; iii. 114. +Chamier, Anthony, M.P., i. 148 +Chapman, Dr., Vice- Chancellor at Oxford, ii. 386-7. +Chapone, Mrs. (Hester Mulso), account Of, i. 265-70, 288; ii. 83, + 321; iii. 172, 398. +Charlotte, Princess, + anecdotes of, iii. 145, 159, 290; + her death, 419, 421. +Charlotte, Queen, Macaulay's account of, i. xxx-xxxii; + in favour of Warren Hastings, xxxviii; + her treatment of Fanny, xl, xli, xliii; + generosity to Mrs. Delany, 291; + inquisitive about Fanny, 294-5; + meets her, 304-13; + her disposition and manners, 314; + chats about Mdme. de Genlis, Goethe, Klopstock, Milton, + Wickliffe, and Roman Catholic superstitions, 319-21; + on the Terrace at Windsor, 325; + aPpoints Fanny a keeper of her robes, 327-32; + receives her at Windsor, 335; + ceremonial in her dressing-room, 339; + Fanny's routine with, 345-8; + er snuff, 348-9, 361; + at a Drawing-room, 350, 369; + at Kew, 351; + her pet dog, 353; + distressed by the attempt against the king, 355, 357-61, + 367; + promises Fanny a gown, 368; + visits Nuneham, 374; + Oxford, 385-95; + Blenheim, 397; + Fanny as her reader, 403; + advises her concerning Mdme. de Genlis, 407; 416, 419, 420, + 422; + praised by Fanny, 424; + cautions Fanny, 432; + tired of her gewgaws, grants Fanny a holiday, 433; + receives some verses from her, 424, 434; + rebukes her, 439; 440, 442, 446 + Dr. Burney's verses for, ii. 10; 22; + at the play, 31; + on the king's birthday, 33; + with the Polignacs, 39; + with the Duke of York, 49; 52, 85; + with the Prince of Wales, 61, 63; + her New Year gift to Fanny, 72; + remarks on Dr. Johnson, 77-8; + interested in the Hastings trial, 95, 119, 345, 361, 390-1, + 395, 448; + chats about Lady Hawke's novel, 150; + visits Cheltenham, 155-7; + her rooms there, 163; + her selfishness, 181; + remarks on Fairly, 185-7; +visits Worcester, 199; + on Fairly, 200, 205-6; + returns to Windsor, 206; + her Wit, 216; + during the king's illness, 224-31, 234-6, 238-40, 242, 244, + 246, 248-50, 252, 257-8, + 262-3; + at Kew with the king, 265, 269, 272, 276; + remarks on Fairly's visits to Fanny, 280, 282, 285; + her birthday, 281, 361; 292, 295 + walks out with the king, 297-8; 300, 302; + orders illuminations for the king's recovery, 303; + holds a Drawing-room, 304; + her poultry, 305; + visits Lyndhurst, 310; + Weymouth, 313, 315, 320-1, 323; + Longleat, 330-3; + on Fairly, 335; + at the play, 335, 342; + employs Fanny as reader, 347, 350; + her treatment of Fanny, 366, 379- 89, 390, 401-2; + her gift to Lord Harcourt, 388; + grants Fanny a pension, 403-4, 405; + takes leave of her, 408-9; + attended by Fanny, 434-7; + chats with Fanny, 447, 454-5; + Fanny presents "Camilla: to, iii. 99, 103; + gives Fanny fifty guineas, 106; + has interviews with her, 141, 154; + her bounties, 159; + alarmed by a mad woman, 266, 278; + visits Bath, 420; + receives General d'Arblay, 425; + her presents to Fanny, 427; + her approaching dissolution, 437; + her death, 438-9. +Chateaubriand, F. R. de, iii. 330-3, 338; + his wife, 331-2. +Chatham, Pitt, Earl of, i. xx; ii. 321; + receives James Burney, 370. +Chatre, Marchioness de la, iii. 10, 28, 35, 39, 53; + Marquis de la, iii. 39. +Chavagnac, Adrienne de, iii. 208. +Cheltenham, royal visit to, ii. 154; + the wells at, 164; + the walks at, 173. +Chesington, residence of S. Crisp, i. xxii, 60; + Fanny at, 64-75, 200, 233, 266, 270-1, 433 ; iii. 61-5. +Chester, Porteus, Bishop of, his sermons, i. 313; + his preferment, ii. 82. +Chesterfield, Earl of, ii. 317, 346. +Cheveley, Mrs., i. 416, 439; ii. 36, 72. +Chimay, Princess de, iii. 254. +Cholmondeley, Mrs., admires "Evelina," i. xxvii, 68, 94; + meets Fanny, 114-20; + her entertainment, 120-6; +Cholmondeley, Mr., i. 114; + Fanny, i. 114- +Claremont, Lady, ii. 97. +Clarence, Duke of, see William, Prince. +Clarges, Sir Thomas, i. 344. +Clayton, Lady Louisa, i. 325, 342. +Clerk, Mr., apothecary, ii. 195. +Clerke, Sir Philip Jennings, i. 127-8, 137-9, 194, 204-5; ii. + 312. +Clive, Kitty, i- 317. +Collumpton Church, ii. 421. +Colman, George, at Dr. Burney's, i. xvi; + his comedies, ii. 347-50. +Cologne, iii. 373. +Columb, Jacob, ii. 367. +Cond, prince de, iii. 283, 329-30. +Conway, General, ii. 23. +Cooke, Kitty, i. 60, 108, 200, 233, + 435; iii. 63. +Cork, Lord, i. 228-9. +Cotton, Captain, i. 173. +Court (the), life of an attendant at, i. xxxi, xxxiv; + monotony of, Xxxv; + Fanny's treatment at, xl-xliii ; 289-90; + presentations at, 322-3; +at Windsor, 333-49, 352-66, 400-47; + at Kew, 349, 366, 422 + at St. james's, 308, 350, 360. + royal birthdays at, 364 + visits Nuneham, 374-85, 396; +Oxford, 385-95; + Blenheim, 397; + equerries at, 429; + routine at, 443; + at St james's, ii. 9-15, 33-5, 62, 65, 85; + at Windsor, 16-31, 35-53, 55-61, 72-81 ; + at Kew, 50; + at the play, 32; + New Year's day at, 72; + visits Cheltenham, 155; + Worcester, 199; + during the king's illness, at Windsor, 222-264; + at Kew, 265-303; + at Windsor, 303; + in the New Forest, 311; + at Weymouth, 313-21, 329; + at Exeter and Saltram, 322-3; + Longleat, 330; + Tottenham Court, 332; + Windsor, 333, 340, 373, 401; + Kew, 407; + St. james's, 304, 335, 345-73, 382, 396, 408. +at Windsor, iii. 99-112, 185-7. + Courtenay, Lord, ii, 420. +Courtown, Lord, i. 366 ; ii. 155, 159, 162, 164, 165, 191, 199, + 314, 323, 399; + Lady, ii. 191, 263, 265, 274, 322; iii. 159, +Coussmaker, Miss, i. 67. +Coventry, Lady, and Crisp's "Virginia," i. xx-i. +Crawford, Mr., ii. 51. +Crewe, John, first Lord, iii. 266; + Mrs., later Lady, i. 121; ii. 129-30, 138-9, 411, 456-68; + iii. 73, 75, 77, 125-6, 129, 266-8, 277-88. +Crisp, Anne, i. 26. +Crisp, Samuel, his appearance and acquirements, i. xix; + his "Virginia," xx, xxi; + his misanthropy, xxii; + his regard for Fanny; he condemns "The Witlings," + xxviii, 145-7; + "Evelina" read to him, 64; + he guesses the author, 70-1; + learns the truth, 74-5; + alluded to, 200, 233; + his death, xxix, 238, 270-1; + his remarks on letter writing, iii. 452. +Critics, Macaulay on the, i. xix. +Croker, J. W., twits Fanny, i. xxvi. +Crutchley, Mr., M.P., chats with Fanny, 1. 106-8, 201-23; + at the Hastings trial, ii. 101-2, 114, 122; + at Egham races, 151. +Cumberland, Richard, i. xxvi, 121, 156-8, 315-6; iii. 91-4; + Mrs., i. 154-6; + Richard, the younger, i. 155-7. +Cumberland, Ernest, Duke of, ii. 98; iii. 160. +Cumberland, Lady Albinia, iii. 181. +Cure, Mr., i. 154-5. + +Damer, Hon. Mrs., ii. 328; iii. 218. +D'Arblay, see Arblay. +Davenant, Mr. and Mrs., i. 208-9. +Delany, Dr., i. xxx, 264. +Delany, Mrs., account of, i. xxx, 64; + + reads "Cecilia," 252-3; + Fanny's first Visit to, 265-70; + royal generosity to, 290; + visited by George III. and Queen Charlotte, 293; + her intercourse with Fanny and the royal family, 324, +329-30, 334-44, 351-2, 355, 358-9, + 363-6, 374, 401, 4o6, 416, 420, + 422, 426-7, 439, 441-2; ii. 21, + 32, 53, 61, 69, 72, 94; + her death, 141-3; + her marriage at Longleat, 330; + judged by Burke, 460. +Delap, Rev. John, D.D., i. 139, 141, 150, 157, 160-1. +Delawarr, Earl, ii. 321. +Desmoulins, Mrs., Johnson's "De Mullin," i. 95-6, 258. +Devonshire, Duke of, i. 248; ii. 410, 426-8; iii. 125; + Georgiana, Duchess of, i. 2 15 ; ii. 410, 426-8. +Dewes, Bernard, i. 295, 298-9, 440. +"Diary and Letters of Madame d'Arblay," original edition, i. xi, + xii, Xlv; + origin of the, xiv, xxxiv. +Dickens, Mrs., i. 154. +Digby, Colonel, Hon. Stephen, see Fairly. +Dillon, Mdlle. iii. 338. +Dobson, Mrs., authoress, i. 170. +Dorset, Duke of, i. 121, 309. +Douai, royalists at, iii. 324. +Douglas, Archibald, ii. 222-3. +Douglas, Captain, R.N., ii. 316, 337. +Douglas, Dr., i. 445. +Douglas, Lady Frances, ii, 222. +D'Oyley, Sir John and Lady, ii. 169, 173-4. +Drake, Sir Francis (royal steward), i. 363; ii. 420. +Dudley, Sir H. Bate, see Bate. +Dumouriez, General, iii. 54. +Duncan, Admiral, his victory off Camperdown, iii. 140-3, 147-50. +Duncannon, Lady, ii. 424. +Dundas, Mr. (Sir David), ii. 375. +Dunkirk, Fanny's adventure at, iii, 249; + Spanish prisoners at, 257. +Duras, Dowager Duchess de, iii. 295. +Duras, Duchess de, iii- 336; + Duke de, iii. 281-7, + +"Early Diary of Frances Burney," i. xv. +"Edwy and Elgiva," Fanny's tragedy, i. xiv; ii, 222, 349; iii. + 72, 90. +Effingham, Lady, lady of the bed-chamber, i. 343, 351-2, 361, + 439; ii. 8, 222, 225, 227. +Egerton, Mrs Ariana, iii. 69. +Egham races, Fanny at, ii. 151. +Elizabeth, Princess ; her illness, i. 296-315; + her intercourse with Fanny, 339, 355, 362, 365 374, 377-8, + 385, 387, 423; ii. 10, 34-5, 39, 155, 164, 201, 205, + 211, + 296, 347, 404, 409, 436, 447, 454; iii. 100, 108; + her marriage, 122 ; 140, 155, 158, 165, 266, 300, 346, + 420-2, 427, 436. +Ellenborough, Lord (Mr. Law), at the Hastings trial, ii. 437, + 439-41, 443- +Elliot, Sir Gilbert, ii. 97, 100, 118; iii. 80, 125. +Embry, Mr., i. 109-10. +Emigrs, French, at juniper Hall, i. xliv; iii. 11, 13, 15, + 28-61. +Erskine, Hon. Thomas, and Mrs. Siddons, i. 257; + his egotism, his wife, ii. 462-4. +"Evelina," Fanny's novel ; its publication, i. xxiv, 59, 61-2; + its success, xxv, 115; + its admirers, Nxvi; + its style, liii, liv; + Macaulay's estimate of, lvi; + attributed to Anstey, 63; + read to Crisp, 64-5; + by Dr. Burney, 66-7; + by Reynolds, 78; + by Burke, 101; + praised by Dr. Burney, Mrs. Cholmondeley, and Mrs. Thrale, + 68-72; + by Dr. Johnson, 71, 73, 76, 103; + by Crisp, 74-5; + by Seward, 77; + by Sheridan, 124; + Fanny's copy of, 69; + price paid for the NIS., 69; + Reynolds sits up reading, 78; + praised to Dr. Lort, 90-1; + curiosity respecting its author, 92-5, 224-8; + Cumberland's jealousy of, 158; + quoted, 165; + a child's enquiries about, 191-2; + Paoli's View Of, 234; + Windham's remarks on, ii. 144; + Baretti on, 176; + its sale, iii. 114. +Exeter, royal visit to, ii. 321. + +Fairly, Colonel (Hon. Stephen Digby), i. xxxix; + ii. attacks Mrs. Warren Hastings, 371; + at Nuneham, with Fanny, 380, 383; + at Oxford, 385, 390, 395-7; + embroiled with Mrs. Schwellenberg, 400; + looks melancholy, 445; + loses his first wife, ii. 53; + at Windsor, 75; + his conversation, 78; + likely to marry Miss Fuzilier, 126, 153, 177; 139; + with Fanny, 154; + at Cheltenham, 155, 158-9; + his tte-a-tte with Fanny, 159-61 ; 162 ; + talks, reads, and flirts with her, 165-8, 170, 174, 177-87, + 193, 197, 199; + ill with the gout, 171, 173; + criticises the princes, 189; + takes leave of Fanny, 200-3; + his note to her, 204; + discussed by his brother equerries, 213; + with the Gunnings, 224; + at Windsor during George III.'s illness, 228, 233, 236-7, + 239-40; + soothes the king, 241; + on familiar terms with Fanny, 242-4-6-8; + his remarks on the prayers for the king, 249; + is anxious about the queen, 251; + his intercourse with Fanny, 253-62, 264; + arrives at Kew, 267; + is concerned for the princesses, 271-2; + disliked by Mrs. Schwellenberg, 275-7; + with Fanny, 277, 279, 281; + the queen remarks on his visits, 280-2; + search for him, 285; 293-4; + meets Windham, 297-8; + takes leave of Fanny, 303-4 + at Weymouth, 329; + his marriage is rumoured, 334, 340; + his strange wedding to Miss Fuzilier, 342-4; + meets Fanny again, iii. 111. +Fairly, Mrs., ii. 344, 373; see also Fuzilier. +Farnham, ii. 411. +Farren, Miss, actresw, ii. 32; iii. 149. +Fauconberg Hall, ii. 155, 157; + Lord, ii. 155. +"Female Quixote, The," by Charlotte Lenox, i. lvi. +Ferrars, Lady De, i. 243-4; + Lord De, i. 243. +Ferry, Mr., i. 178-9. +Fielding, Henry, Dr. Johnson on, i. 91. +Fielding, Sir John, i. 192-3. +Fielding, Mrs. (woman of the bedchamber), i. 341-2, 351, 366; ii. + 10, 304. +Finch, Lady Charlotte (governess to the princesses), i. 341-2, + 355-6; ii. 184, 252, 259, 265, 270, 274, 286. +Finch, Miss, i- 06. +Fisher, Canon, i. 338, 366, 427, + 436-7; ii. 72, 75-6, 212-3, 342, + 406; iii. 99, 120. +Fisher, Kitty, and Dr. Johnson, i. 89. +Fisher, Mrs., ii. 72, 75; iii. 110. +Fite, Madame de la, at Norbury Park, i. 280-1, 311-2; + her intercourse with Fanny at Windsor, 337, 342, 355, 405-6, + 409-16, 440 ; ii. 35, 405, 451. +Fitzherbert, Mrs., ii. 320. +Flint, Bet, and Johnson, i. 87,8. +Foster, Lady Elizabeth, ii- 410, 427-8. +Fouche, iii. 250. +Fox, Charles James, at the Hastings trial, ii. 92, 93, 97, 125, + 127-8, 134-5, 361, 392, 441; + and the regency bill, 221; + Burke on, 459, 463; + and the execution of Louis xvi, iii. 44. +France, revolution in, iii. 11, 42-4; + Fanny goes to, 203; + leaves, 263; + returns to, 292-327, 378,83; + foreign occupation Of, 379-81. +Francis, Clement, marries Charlotte Burney, i. 332 ; ii. 109, + 123, 145, 345, 375, 380-1; iii. 38. +Francis, Mrs., see Burney, Charlotte. +Francis, Mr. (Sir Philip), ii. 89, 109, 346. +Francklin, Rev. Th., D. D., admires "Evelina," i. xxvii; + interviews Fanny, 112. +French Clergy Fund, the, iii. 77, 78. +French, Miss, Burke's niece, ii. 457, 461; +Fuller, Captain, and his soldiers, i. 135, 136, 137. +Fuller, Mr. Rose, at Streatham, i. 92, 109, 139; + his conversation, 148, 153. +Fuzilier, Miss (Charlotte Gunning), ii. 126, 153, 177, 224, 255, + 304, 340, 342-4, see Fairly, Mrs. + + Gabrielli, Signora, at Dr. Burney's, i. xvii. +Gage, Sir Thomas, ii. 450; iii. 23. +Galway, Dowager Lady, i. 248, 254. +Gaud (Ghent), Louis xviii. at, iii. 337, 349. +Garrick, David, at Dr. Burney's, i. xvi; + his connection with Crisp's "Virginia," xx, xxi; + his love of flattery, 122; 317; + reads "Lethe" to a royal audience, 349; + his relatives, his monument at Lichfield, iii. 129. +Garrick, Mrs., ii. 82, 432. +Garth, Major, ii- 374. +Gast, Mrs. Sophia, Crisp's sister, i. 60, 71, 169, 233, 266; ii. + 207. +Genlis, Madame de, Fanny's acquaintance with, i. 316; + her strictures on the English stage, 318 ; + Queen Charlotte on her writings, 319; +her position discussed, 405-8; + in England as Mdme. Brulard, 449; iii. 22-4, 26-7. +George III, his generosity to Mrs. Delany, i. 265, 291 ; + visits her incog, 293; + is inquisitive about Fanny, 294; + his first interview with her, XXX, 298; + his health, constitution, and diet, 299 ; + questions Fanny about her writings, 301-4; + is anxious she should continue writing, 310; + his views on sermons, 313; + his demeanour and character, 314, 318-9; + takes tea at Mrs. Delany's, etiquette, 314-5; + his opinions of Lord George Sackville, Voltaire, and +Rousseau, 316; + of plays and players, 317; + on the Terrace at Windsor, 325-6; + in the queen's dressing-room, 339; + at Kew, 349-51; + an attempt on his life, 355-61; + is cheered at Little Kew, 367; + visits Nuneham, Oxford, and Blenheim, 373-98; + protects Herschel, 408, 420; + his equerries and his barley-water, 431 ; + with his favourite daughter, Amelia, 437; + visits Fanny during her illness, 446; + converses with jacob Bryant, ii. 23; + at the play, 31; + his birthday, 33; + plays backgammon, 37; + with the Polignacs, 39; + is joyful at the Duke of York's return, 49; + criticises Goldsworthy's collar, 84; + is amused by a caricature, 140; + goes to Cheltenham, 155; + his rooms there, 163; + visits Cirencester, 171; + Tewkesbury, 174; + is solicitous about Fairly, 181-2, 186, 187-8; + lodges the Duke of York in a portable wooden house, 190; + has Fanny prescribed for, 196; + visits Worcester, 199; + returns to Windsor, 206; + his illness, 220; + is in an uncertain state, 222-4; + his want of sleep, 294-6; + progress of his illness, 226-8; + first outburst of delirium, 228; + delirious, 232; + refuses to see Dr. Warren, 234; + his night watchers, 238; + is soothed by Mr. Fairly, 240; + public prayers for, 248; + is much worse, 250; + certainty of his recovery, 251; + his charter, 254, 256; + reports upon his Condition, 257; + requires stricter management, 259; + is removed to Kew, 261, 265-6; + state of his health, 268, 272, 273; + takes his first walk, 274; + his varying condition, 276-7; + is treated by Dr. Willis, 274, 278; + on the queen's birthday, 281; + chases Fanny in Kew Gardens, 287-92; + his gradual amendment, 294-8; + is completely restored, 299; + inquires after Fanny, 300; + illuminations on his recovery, 303; + his reception in the New Forest, 310; + at LyDdhurst, 311; + at Salisbury, Dorchester, Weymouth, 313; + his sea baths, 314-6; + his amusements at and excursions from Weymouth, 316-21; + at Exeter and Saltram, 322-3; + again at Weymouth, 329; + at Longleat, 330; + at Tottenham Court, 332; + returns to Windsor, 333; + at Covent Garden Theatre, 335-40; + is interested in the Hastings trial, 395. 456 ; + his birthday, 395, 399; + reads Boswell's "Johnson," 401-2; + takes leave of Fanny, 409; + meets her again; 436; + chats with her, 448-9, 453-6; + "Camilla" presented to him, iii. 100, 106-7; + notices M. d'Arblay, 110; + remarks on "Camilla," 111; + chats with Fanny, 145; + with Dr. Burney, 185-7; + is again mad; 252, 267; + his death, 440. +Ghent, see Gand. +Gibbon eulogises Fanny, i. xxvi; + meets her, 228-32; + reads "Cecilia," 254; + falls into the Thames, 275; + admires Lady Elizabeth Foster, ii. 428. +Girardin, Alexandre de, iii. 34. +Glastonbury Abbey, ii. 421. +Gloucester, Fanny at, ii. 171. +Gloucester, Dr. Halifax, bishop of, ii. 173. +Gloucester, Princess Sophia of, iii. 151. +Gloucester, William Frederick, Duke of, iii. 151. +Gloucester, William Henry, Duke of, ii. 98, 311 ; iii. 151. +Goethe, his "Sorrows of Werther," i. xxxi, 320. +Goldsmith, Dr., his "Good-Natured man" and "The Rambler," i. + 83-4; + his love for Mary Horneck, 111; + his blundering ways, 232. +Goldsworthy, Colonel (equerry), his character and +humour, i. 421; + is offended with Fanny, 427; + his duties and discomforts, 429-31; 440; + his remarks on the Court concerts, 444; ii- 17; + character and humour, 36-7; + derides Col. Manners, 40-2; + his huge coat collar, 84; + at Worcester, 199 213 + his breach of etiquette, 216, 218; + during George III.s illness, 228-9, 231, 233, 235, 239, 261, + 268; + at Weymouth, 320, 323, 407. +Goldsworthy, Miss (governess to the princesses), i. 2o2, 342, + 365, 421; ii. 32, 231-5, 238-9, 240, 246, 252, 266; 270, + 396, 406-7, 434. +Gomme, Miss, Court attendant, ii. 34, 95, too, 270, 283, 295, + 342, 405, 434 ; iii. 105. +Gordon, Lord George, i. 192-5-7, 411; + riots, i. 165, 192-9. +Grafton, Duke of, iii. 27. +Grattan, Henry, iii. 278, 281. +Gregory, Miss, i. 100-3; ii. 424. +Grenville, General, ii. 50, 218, 407. Greville, Colonel, equerry, see Wellbred. +Greville, Fulk, patron ofDr. Burney, i. xiii. +Grey, Mr., afterwards Earl, at the Hastings trial, ii. 93, 97; + and Reform, 463; + alluded to, iii. 389. +Grub Street, Fanny's proposed visit to, i. 199. +Guibert, M., iii. 56. +Guiche, Countess de, ii. 39. +Guiffardiere, Rev. C. de, see "Turbulent." +Gunning, Charlotte, see Fuzilier. +Gunning, Sir Robt., ii. 126, 224, 342. +Gwatkin, Mr., i. 92, 119; ii. 444. +Gwynn, Colonel (king's equerry), ii- 45, 47, 51, 155, 158-9, 162, + 165, 173, 191, 247, 317, 407 ; + Mrs., see Horneck, Mary. + +Haggerdorn, Mrs., keeper of the queen's robes, succeeded + by Fanny, i. 329-31; ii. 24, 153. +Hagget, Rev. Mr., i. 379, 383, 385, 390, 396-8. +Hales, Lady, on "Evelina," i. 67. +Halifax, Dr., ii. 173. +Hamilton , "Single speech," i. 164. +Hamilton, Sir William, ii. 38. +Hamilton, Lady Ann, iii. 442. +Hamilton, Mrs., of Chesington, i. 60, 200, 233 ; iii. + 63. +Hampden, Mrs., i. 250. +Harcourt, Earl of, i. 122-3, 373-4, 379, 385, 387-8, 390, 400; + ii. 185, 191, 388, 399; + Countess of, i. 373, 377, 382, 385, 390, 393-4 ii. 185, 191. +Harcourt, General, i. 380, 383, 385, 390; ii. 39, 244, 268; + Mrs., i. 396; ii. 39, 281. +Harrington, Dr., i. 171-8, 195. +Harrington, Rev. Henry, i. 171-2, 177. +Harris, James, i. 198; ii. 355-8. +Hartington, Marquis of, ii. 426. +Hastings, Warren, Fanny's opinions of, i. xxxvii; + Queen Charlotte and, xxxviii; + meets Fanny, 326; + his marriage, 327; + the storm gathering round, ii. 44; + rsum of his career, impeachment, trial, 86-94; + Fanny's account of his trial, 95-139, 143-9, 345-6, 352-5, + 357-65, + 370-3, 389-95, 437-47, 452,455-6; + + meets Windham, 373; + is acquitted, iii. 92. +Hastings, Mrs. Warren, account of, i. 327; + visits Fanny, 352; + is defended by her, 371, 372; + mischief making about, 400; + her money, ii. 92; + her eccentricities, 451. +Hawke, Lady, i. 225-8; ii. 150. +Hawkesworth, i. xvi. +Hawkins, Mr., surgeon of the royal household, ii. 235, 252, 260, + 276. +Hawkins the, ii. 200. +Hayes, Mrs., i. 443. +Heberden, Dr., king's physician, ii. 38, 226, 232, 234, 250; + Mrs. and Miss, i. 360; ii. 39. +Henderson, John, actor, i. 317. +Henin, Princess d', iii, 56, 119, 136, 218-9, 222, 304-5, 307; + her flight from Paris with Fanny, 311, 313-25, 330; + at Brussels, 335, 343, 349, 304, 369, 370. +Herschel, Miss, her comet, i. 409; ii. 58; iii. 131. +Herschel, Dr. (afterwards Sir W.), his telescope, i. 408-9, 445; + discussed, ii. 37, 38, 40, 58; + visited by Dr. Burney, iii. 131, 184-7. +Hoole, John, i. 259, 285. +Horneck, Catherine (Mrs Bunbury), "Little Comedy," i. 111; ii. + 51. +Horneck, Mary (Mrs. Gwynn), the Jessamy Bride, i. 111, 114; ii. + 45, 140, 317, 319; +Mrs., i. 111, 114. +Howard, Lady Frances, i- 343-4, 352, 439 ; ii. 222. +Howard, Sir George, i. 344, 352 ii. 222. +Howe, Lord, and the I"Vengeur," iii. 143. +Huddisford, Mr., his libel on Fanny, i. 113, 119. +Hulin, General, iii. 224-5. +Humphries, Miss, i. 62-3. +Hundred Days, the, iii. 292-3. +Huntingdon, i. 176, 180. +Hurd, Bishop of Worcester, ii. 143, 199. + +Ilfracombe, Fanny at, iii. 398; + her adventure at, 405-18. +Illness of George III., ii. 221-99. +Imhoff, Madame, marries Warren Hastings, i. 327. +Impey, Sir Elijah, ii. 89, 118. +Inchiquin, Lord, iii. 125. + +Jacobi, Mdlle., Fanny's successor, ii. 403-9, 434, 447; iii. 102, + 106, 109, 142. +jaucourt, M. de, iii. 14, 29-32, 80. +jenyns, Soame, praises "Cecilia," i. 261-3. +jerningham, his verses, i. xxvii. +Jervis, Admiral, iii. 143. +Johnson, Commodore, i. 168. +Johnson, Samuel, LL. D., his friend- ship for Dr. Burney, i. xvi; + his opinion of "Evelina," xxvi; + his last message to Fanny, xxix; + assists her with "Cecilia," lii-lv; + "Evelina" read to him, 71, 73; +meets Fanny, 77; +tails at Langton, 81; +praises "Evelina," 83, 90, 103; + abuses the Scotch, 84-5; + criticises Mrs. Burney's dress, 86; + his stories of Bet Flint and Mrs. Pinkethman, 87-8; + his household, 95; + his opinion of Mrs. Montagu, 97-9; + his compliments and bitter sayings, 104-6; + kisses Fanny, 109; + disputes with Sir P. J. Clerke, 128-9; + advises Fanny respecting her play, 130-2; + his account of the Gordon riots, 192; + offers to take Fanny to Grub Street, 199; + is appointed Thrale's executor, 202; + intercedes for Mauritius Lowe, 209; + his "Life of Lord Lyttelton," 211-3; + his sportive moods, 215; + at Brighton, 238; + on Gray and Pope, 240-1; + his bluster at Lord de Ferrars, 243; + is held in general dread, 247 + attends Miss Monckton's assembly, 250-5; + his inmates at Bolt Court, 258; + is attacked by paralysis, 272; + his failing health, 283; + his death, 285-8; + his letters to Mrs. Thrale, ii. 74; + his intercourse with Windham, 103, 136-8; + his life by Boswell, 377, 400; + his monument at Lichfield, iii. 129; + his portrait by Reynolds, 389; + his view of sorrow, 445. +Joigny, Fanny at, iii. 234. +Jones, Colonel, commander at Brussels, iii. 350, 363. +Jordan, Mrs., ii. 79; in "The Country Girl," 185, 190. +juniper Hall, French migr's at, i. xliv; iii. 11, 13, 15, 28, + 61. + + +Kaye, Captain, a beau, i. 245-6. + Kenyon, Lord, ii. 393. +Kew Palace, the Court at, i. 349-51, 367, 422; ii. 50-4; + during the king's illness, 265-303; + gardens of, Fanny chased by George III., 287; + Fanny's farewell to, 407. +Klopstock, his "Messiah," i. x1xi, 320. + +L'AEKEN, palace of, iii. 341. +Ladd, Sir John, i. 107; + Lady, i. 92, 109. +Lafayette. Marquis de, iii, 12, 14, 29, 31, 86, 207, 426; + Marchioness de, iii. 221; + Mdlle. de, iii. 223. +Lalande, J. J. de, ii. 208-11. +Lally-Tolendol, Count de, iii. 13; + his tragedy, 54; + at Norbury, 118, 136; + his qualities, 196-7; + his flight from France, 312-4, 316-25, 328, 364, 369. +Lamb, Lady Caroline, iii, 344. +Lamballe, Princess de, ii. 50. +Lameth, iii. 16, 319-20. +Langton, Bennet, admires "Evelina," i. xxvii; + his children and affairs, 81-2; + at Johnson's deathbed, 286-8; + his wife, ii. 83; + mimics Johnson, 453. +Lansdowne, Lord, his connection with Waller and Pope, i. xxx; + iii. 260. +Latour-Maubourg, Victor de, iii. 273, 309. +Lauriston, General, iii. 171, 227, 241. +Lavalette, Marquis de, his escape, iii. 386-8. +Law, Mr., ii. 437, 439-41, 443. +Lawrence, Sir Thomas, his precocity, i. 167. +Lenox, Charlotte, her novel, "The Female Quixote," i. lvi; + Johnson on, ii. 401. +Lever, Sir Ashton, ii. 319. +Levett, Robert, at Dr. johnson's, i. 96. +Liancourt, Duke de, iii. 13, 18-22, 24-8, 37. +Lindsay, Lady Anne, i. 144. +Linley, Eliza Anne, married to Sheridan, i. 111-12, 344 [see + Sheridan, Mrs.]. +Linley, Miss, sister to Mrs. Sheridan, i. 121. +Literary Club, The, meeting at, iii. 44. +Lobau, Count, iii- 355. +Locke, Mr. and Mrs., of Norbury Park, i. 277, 280-2, 312, + 344, 411; ii. 299, 305; iii. 16, 39, + 59, 76, 81, 115, 120, 144, 154, + 202, 252, 279, 384-5, 394, 441, + 450, 455; + William, son of, his artistic talent, i. 312-3 ; ii. 60, + 141. +London, Porteus, Bishop of, ii. 82. +Long, Dudley, ii. 97. +Longleat, the Court at, ii. 330; + paintings at, 331. +Lort, Michael, D.D., and "Evelina," i. 89, 90. +Loughborough, Lord, ii. 462. +Louis xvi, his trial and execution, iii. 42-4, 48, 53-4. +Louis xviii., his levee at Grillon's, 276; + Fanny presented to, 284-8; + his reception in Paris, 291, 310, 318; + reaches Ghent, 337, 349; + leaves for France, 364-5. +"Love and Fashion," Fanny's comedy, iii. 193. +Lowe, Mauritius, painter, i. 209. +Lowndes, J., publishes "Evelina," i. xxiv, xxv, 59, 61, 69, 75; + is interviewed by Fanny, 79. +Luc, M. de, i. 443; ii. 9, 40, 48, 65-8, 70, 243-4, 262, + 320, 391, 393, 396, 403, 435-6; + Mrs de, i- 353, 363 ; ii. 405. +Lucan, Lady, and Mrs. Siddons, i. 257-8. +Lulworth Castle, The Court at, ii. 318; + Fanny at, 320. +Luxembourg, Duke de, iii. 345. +Luxemburg, M. d'Arblay's mission to, iii. 339. +Lyndhurst, the king at, ii. 311. +Lyme, Fanny at, ii. 418. + +MacBean, Johnson's amanuensis, i. 96. +Macartney, Earl, ii. 456. +Macburneys, The, i., xiii. +Malesherbes, M. de, iii. 48, 54, +Malouet, iii. 37. +Manners, +colonel, afterwards General (equerry), his eccentric sayings, ii. + 36-8; + his singing, 40-2; + plagues Mrs. Schwellenberg, 42; + his election beating, 213; + alluded to, 152, 257; + mystifies Mrs. Scbwellenberg, 305; + as an M.P., 351; + mentioned, 393, 407; iii. 110-2. +Mansfield, Lord, i. 192-3; ii. 464. +Markham, Archbishop, ii. 105. +Marlborough, Duke of, is colour-blind, i. 307; + at Oxford, 386-7-9; + Duchess of, 386-9. +Marlborough, Sarah, Duchess of, anecdote of, i. 169. +Mary, Princess, i. 353-4, 365; ii. 34, 39, 296, 396, 4o6, 434; + iii. 138, 164, 266, 437-9, 440. +Maurville, Mdme. de, iii. 334, 338, 348, 358, 364. +Mazancourt, Count de, iii. 339-40, 377. +Melbourne, Lord, iii. 243, 344. +Menage, Countess de, ii. 413. +"Memoirs of Dr. Burney,"'i. xxiii, lv, 234; iii. 455. +"Metastasio, Life of," Dr. Burney's, iii. 89, 92, 103. +Metcalf, Philip, M.P., i. 244-5, 250. +Mhaughendorf, Miss, i- 375-7, 381. +Mickleham, Fanny at, iii. 46, 49, 50, 52; + her marriage at, 67, 71. +Miller, Sir John, i. 174, 180, 190, 221. + Miller, Lady, "The Lady of the Vase," i. xxvii, 74-5, 180, 189, + 221; ii. 424. +Milton Abbey, ii. 417. +Mithoff, Rev. Mr., i. 418-20. +Molloy, Capt., R.N., ii. 324-7. +Molyneux, Sir F., ii. 98. +Monckton, Hon. Miss (afterwards Countess of Cork), meets Fanny, + i. 248; + her assembly, 249-56, 257; ii. 102-3. +Monmoulin, Mdlle., i. 365; ii. 34, 270, 282, 295-6, 342. +Montagu, Duke of, i. 365, 440. +Montagu, Elizabeth, ne Robinson, + her writings, conversation, and disposition, i. 97-8; + Johnson's opinion of, 99; + meets Fanny, 100-3; + her opinion of Johnson's "Life of Lord Lyttelton," 210; + praises "Cecilia," 251-2; + Frances Reynolds's letter to, 260; + mentioned, ii. 82, 424, 432, 450. +Montagu, Frederick, M.P., ii. 97, 291. +Montmorency, Viscount de, iii. 14, 28, 39, 53, 80. +Mordaunt, Lord, i. 134. +More, Hannah, her flattery, i. 122, 185. +Mornington, Lady, ii. 338. +Mortemart, Mdlle. de, iii. 218, 224. +Mount Edgecumbe, Lordand Lady, i. xvii ; ii. 323, 327. +Mount Edgecumbe, Fanny at, ii. 327. +Mountmorres, Lord, ii. 336-9. +Mulgrave, Lord, i. xvii, 168, 172-4-6; ii. 83, 150; + Lady, ii. 83, 150. +Mulso, Hester, see Chapone. +Murat, iii. 368. +Murphy, Arthur, offers to assist Fanny Burney in writing a play, + i. xxviii, 130-1, 133, 134. +Murray, Lady, iii. 419. +Musgrave, Mr., i. 221. +Musters, Mrs., a beauty, i. 154. + +Napoleon, see Bonaparte, +Narbonne, Count de, in England, i. xliv; iii. 29-30, 35-7, 40, + 43, 45, 52, 54, 57, 82, 97; + in France, 253; + his death, 273. +Necker, M., iii. 36, 47, 52, 220, +Netherlands, King and Queen of the, iii. 339, 365. +Newcastle, Duke of, ii. 96. +New Forest, the king's reception in the, ii. 310. +Ney, Marshal, and his iron cage for Napoleon, iii. 304. +Nicholson, Margaret, her attempt against the king, i. 355-61, + 367. +Nore, the, mutiny at, iii. 139. +Norfolk, Duke of, iii. 158. +North, Colonel, ii. 97. +North, Lord, ii, 392. +Nugent, Colonel, reads an address to Louis XVIII., iii. 286. +Nuneham, royal visits to, i. 374-85, 396 ; ii- 156. + +O'Connor, Arthur, iii. 166. +Ogle, Mrs., ii. 187-8; iii. 397. +Omai, at Dr. Burney's, i. xvii. +Orange, Prince (William 1. of Holland) and Princess of, iii. 147, + 231, 339, 365. +Orange, Prince of (William II. of Holland), iii, 365. +Ord, Mrs., a "blue stocking," i. 259, 261-3, 333-4; ii. 82, 150, + 370, 378, 410-29. +Orford, Lord, ii. 434-5. +"Original Love Letters," ii. 170, 182. +O'Riley, Miss, a flirt, i. 205. +Orleans, Mdlle d', ii. 449-50; iii. 23. +Orloff, Count, at Dr. Burney's, i. xvii. +Otaheite, rubbing noses at, iii. 60. +Owen, Miss, i. 13-5. +Oxford, royal visits to, i. xxxv-vi, 385-95; ii. 156. + +Pacchierotti, Gasparo, vocalist, i. XVii, 121, 224, 263-4; ii. + 356. +Paine, Thomas, in Suffolk, ii. 450. +Palmer, Miss, and "Evelina," i. 92-5; + at Reynolds's, 113-20, 228-9, 256; + at Cheltenham, ii. 169, 173-4, 411, 431; + inherits from Reynolds, marries Lord Inchiquin, 444. +Palmerston, Lord, i. 115-20. +Pamela, Mdme. de Genlis's, ii. 449; iii. 23. +Paoli, General Pasquale, pays homage to Fanny, i. xxvii; + her account OF, 23-5. +Paradise, Mr. and Mrs., i. 224-8. +Paris, Fanny in, iii. 215; + a parade in presence of the first Consul, 224 ; + the influenza in, 239; + on Napoleon's return from Elba, 305; + Fanny's flight from, 308 et seq.; + her return to, 378. Paston Letters," the, ii. 21-2, 150. +Payne and Cadell, publish "Cecilia," i. 254. +Pembroke, Elizabeth, Countess of, i- 135-6, 178. +Pepys, Lucas, Dr., afterwards Sir, i. 239; ii. 83, 126; + attends the king, 250-3, 262-4, 276, 284, 287; 432 ; iii. + 177, 180. +Pepys, W. W., afterwards Sir, i. 148, 210-3, 239-41 ii. + 82; iii. 177. +Percy, Bishop, ii. 428; iii. 44. +Perkins, Mr., i. 197. +Philidor, iii. 405. +Phillips, Captain Molesworth, i. 60, 224, 231 ; ii. 357, 437; + iii. 31, 35, 59, 71, 113; + Mrs., see Burney, Susanna. +Pinkethman, Mrs. and Dr. Johnson, i. 88. +Piozzi, Signor, marries Mrs. Thrale, i. 236-8, 278-9 ; iii. 88. +Piozzi, Mrs. (Thrale), leaves England, i. 237; + is gay and happy, 288 ; + publishes her correspondence with Johnson, ii. 74-8, 101; + is attacked by Baretti, ii. 167, 176; + meets Fanny, 355; + Dr. Burney, iii. 88; + at Bath, 386, 396-7, 422; + letters from, 443-5-7; + her death, 448; + compared with Mdme. de Stael, 449. +Pitt, William, and the Regency bill, i, XXXi., ii. 220-1; + and the Hastings trial, ii. 93, 108, 135; + at Windsor, 263; + D'Arblay's application to, iii. 74; + his "loyalty loan," 121. +Planta, Miss, English teacher and attendant to the princesses; + her intercourse with Fanny, i. 291, 349-51, 361, 365, +374-87, 390-8, 415, 437, 443, 446 ; ii. 18, 30-3, 46, 65-9, + 85, 139, 155-9, 161-8, 170, 180-5, 189-94, 200-1, 218, 224, + 228, 242, 246, 262, 266-9, 283, 312-4-6, 322-3, 327-9, + 335-8, 405, 434; iii. 99, 142, 155, 163. +Plymouth dockyard, ii. 323. +Polier, Colonel, a gourmand, i. 336, 340, 345. +Polignac, Duke and Duchess de, at Windsor, ii. 39; + the duchess and the Diamond Necklace scandal, ibid. +Port, Miss, account of, i. 293; + at Mrs. Delany'S, 293, 298, 300; + serves tea to George III., 315, 318; + her intercourse with Fanny, 337-8, 342, 401, 418, 427, 440; + ii. 36, 39, 40, 46, 49, 141-2, 150, 184-6, 192. +Porteus, Dr., Bishop of Chester, i. 313 ; ii. 82. +Portland, Duchess of, ne Harley, inquires after "Cecilia," i. + 251, 253; + meets Fanny, 267-70; + her death, 290; + Duke of, iii. 125. +Powderham Castle, ii. 420. +Prmorel, M. de, iii. 340, 346, 377-8. +Price, Major, equerry to George III, i. 338, 344, 352, 355, 358, + 363-6, 371, 380, 383-7, 390, 396-7, 400, 416, 421; ii, 17, + 45, 176, 203, 206, 341, 346, 436. +Princes, the, see Cumberland, Gloucester, Dukes of, Wales, + Prince of, William, Prince (Duke of Clarence), and York, + Duke of. +Princess Royal, Charlotte (Queen of Wiirtemburg), i. 339, 348, + 354, 358, 365, 375, 377-8, 385, 387, 416, 420, 422-3; ii. + 10, 35, 199, 216, 266, 340, 347, 409, 447; iii. 104, 107; + is presented to her fianc, 115; 122; + her marriage, 138-9. +Princesses, the, i- 353, 357, 365, 377, 389, 394; ii. 33, 224, + 236, 265, 269-70, 271-2, 409, 455; + their births, marriages, deaths, iii. 123; 451, 454; + see also Amelia; Augusta, Elizabeth, Mary, + Princess Royal, and Sophia. +"Probationary Odes," the, ii. 145. +Prussia, King of, iii. 289. + +Quatre Bras, battle of, iii. 347, 351. +Queen, the, see Charlotte, Queen. + +Raikes, Robert, founder of Sunday schools, ii. 171-3. +Ramsden, Colonel, equerry, ii. 36-7, 407. +Regency bill, the, i. xxxix; ii. 220-1, 271, 276, 296-9. +Regent, Prince, see Wales. +Revolution, the French, rsum of the principal events of, from + September 1791 to March 1793, iii. 11-5; + the capture of the Bastille, 18; + the invasion of the Tuileries, 19; + the Duke de Liancourt's efforts at Rouen, 19-22; + decrees against the emigres, 33; + trial and execution of Louis XVI., 42-4, 48; + sieges of Dunk-irk and Toulon, 73-4, 78; + the insurrection of the 18th Fructidor, 136; + the "Vengeur" legend, 143; + the peace of Amiens, 171; + the revolutionary calendar, 214. +Reynolds, Mrs. Frances, i. 78, 199, 260. +Reynolds, Sir Joshua, at Dr. Burney's, i. xvi; + reads "Evelina," 78; + his meeting and intercourse with Fanny, 92-5, 106, 113, 123, + 125-6; + is derided by Blakeney, 160; + his opinion of Lawrence, 167; + his picture of Beattie, 184; + introduces Fanny to Burke and Gibbon, 228-32; + with Fanny at Miss Monckton's, 29-6, 259-60, 272; ii. 82; + at the Hastings trial, 100; + his failing eyesight, 333, 377, 411, 431-2; + his death, his disposition of his fortune, 444 ; + his paintings at Streatham, iii. 389. +Rhamus, Mr., ii. 11, 13. +Rhine, scenery of the, iii, 377. +Richmond, Reynolds's dinner party at, i. 228. +Richmond, Duke of, ii. 321; + Duchess of, her ball at Brussels, iii. 367. +Riggs, Mrs., i. 174, 189. +Roberts, Dr., provost of Eton, i. 401, 440. +Roche, Mdme. de la, authoress, i. 409-16. +Rochefoucault, Duke de la, iii. 22. +Rogers, Samuel, iii. 177, 270, 454. +Rothes, Lady, ii. 432; iii. 177, 180. +Rousseau, J. J., George III. on, i. xxx, 316. +Rovigo, Duke de, iii. 253. +Royal, Princess, see Princess. +Rumford, Count, iii. 133. +Russia, Alexander 1. of, iii. 289. +Rutland, Mary Isabella, Duchess of, i. 215. + +Sackville, Lord George, R. Cumberland and George III. on, i. + 315-6. +St. Asaph's, Bishop of, 1, 229. +St. James's Palace, Court drawingrooms at, i. 308, 350, 369 ; ii. + 9-15, 33-5, 65-6, 85, 304, 335; + the Court at, 345-73, 382, 396, 408 ; + attempt against George III. outside, i. 356. +St. just, de, iii. 35. +St. Vincent, Lord, iii. 143. +Salisbury, i. 197; + Bishop of, i. 338; iii. 386, 437; + Marquis of, ii. 292, 399. +Saltram, the Court at, ii. 323. +Sandwich, Earl of, i. xvii. +Savile, Sir George, i. 193. +Saxe-Gotha, Duke of, i. 344. +Saye and Sele, Lady, i. 225-8; ii. 151; + Lord, i. 227-8. +Schwellenberg, -,Mrs., keeper of the queen's robes, + Fanny's life with, i. xxxiv, X1, x1ii, 290; + knows Mrs. Hastings, 327-8; + Fanny is introduced to her, 331-2, 335-40, 344-53, 355, 358; + Fanny's bitter experience of her begins, 359 ; 360; + invites herself to supper, 363 + falls ill, 366; + offers Fanny a gown from the queen, 367; + in a Pet, 371; 373-4; + makes mischief about Mrs. Hastings, 400; + her tyranny, 404; 4113-5, 418-20 + again ill, 421-2, 425; ii. 35; + teased by the equerries, 42-6; + suspicious of Turbulent, 46, 52, 56; + her tyrannical ways, 62, 65-8; + her capriciousness, 68-71 72; + does Fanny a favour, 74-7; + extremely ill, 84, 139; + returns to Windsor, 152; + Fanny's nickname for, 157; + twits Fanny about marriage, 209, 217; + rails at her, 215-6; + angry with Goldsworthy, 217; + again ill, 218; + during the king's illness, 246-7, 253, 269, 271; + her cruelty to Fanny, 272-4; + her aversion for Fairly' 275; 282-3; + George III. on her conduct, 290; + accuses Fanny of visiting gentlemen, 295; + in a temper, 301-2; + is mystified, 304; + rails at Fairly, 341; + with Fanny, 347, 378-9, 381, 384-7; + at Prince William's drinking bout, 396-8; + is kissed by him, 400; + her severity, 4o6; + takes leave of Fanny, 407; + with her again, 434-7; + is all civility, 447; + her death, iii. 142. +Scott, Major, ii. 92, 105, 108. +Scott, Sir Walter, iii- 454-5. +"Seduction," a play, ii. 32. +Selwyn, Mr., banker, i. 161-7. +Sercey, Henriette de, ii. 449-50; iii. 23. +Seward, William, i. xxvii; + his meetings with Fanny, 77-8, 89, 90, 109-10; + and Sophy Streatfield, 132, 137, 142, 144-5; + his ennui and suggested play, 142-4, 212-5, 218-22, 272; + meets Fanny at Cheltenham, ii. 167, 170, 173; 411 ; iii. + 174; + his death, 183. +Shakespeare, George III.'s opinions of, i. xxx, 318; + gallery, the, ii. 464. +Shelley, Lady, i. 242. +Shenstone, William, i. 212. +Shepherd, Dr. A., ii. 55, 208-11, 217. +Sherborne Castle, ii. 319, 330. +Sheridan, R. B., eulogises Fanny, i. xxvi; + marries Miss Linley, 111-2, 344; + meets Fanny, 123, 145; + Mrs. Thrale's bon mot on, 223; + at the Hastings trial, ii. 93, 139, 438. +Sheridan, Mrs., ne Linley, + her beauty, talents, marriage, i. 111-2; + meets Fanny, 121, 344. +Shipley, Georgiana, i. 229. +Siddons, Mrs., meets Fanny, i. 257 ; + praised by George III., 321; + disappointing on near acquaintance, ii. 52; 317-9; + buys Sadler-,' Wells, iii. 149. +Sidmouth, ii. 419. +Sleepe, Esther, mother of Fanny Burney, + her marriage and death, i. xiv; + Mr., i. 199. +Smelt, Mr., Court official, i. 166, 324, 327-31, 437-9, 443-5; + ii. 9, 15, 19, 20-2, 50, 83, 241, 243-4, 273, 276-7, 293, + 297, 300, 303; + Mrs., i. 437-8, 440; ii. 241. +Smith, Mr. Thrale's Cousin, i. 106-7. +Smith, Charlotte, iii. 75. +Sophia, Princess, and Mr. Webb's nose, 1. 311; 353, 365; ii. 34, + 211, 309, 406, 434, 455; iii. 140, + 156. +Sophia of Gloucester, Princess, see Gloucester. +Southwell, Lord, i. 209. +Souza, Mdme. de, iii. 236-8. +Spanish prisoners at Dunkirk, iii. 259; + ship captured, 399. +Spencer, Countess, i. 359; ii. 424-9; iii. 92; + Earl, 424-7; + the Ladies, i. 386-7-9; ii. 23. +Stael, Madame de, in England, i. xliv, iii. 14, 32; + her first letters in English, 45; + Fanny's admiration for, 46-8, 50; + Dr. Burney's disapproval of, 51; + defended by Fanny, 52, 55-61 80; + snubbed by Fanny, 220; + regretted by her, 269, 382; + compared with Mrs. Thrale, 449; + M. de, iii. 47. +Stainsforth, Mrs., ii. 399. +Stanhope, Mr., ii. 396. +Stonehenge, ii. 417. +Stormont, Lord, ii. 446. +Strange, Sir Robert and Lady, iii. 173; + Mary Bruce, i. 288. +Streatfield, Mrs., i. 149-50; + Sophia, the weeping beauty, i. 132-3, 137-42, 144-5, 149-53, + 219-21, 283; ii. 450; Iii. 405. +Streatham, the Thrales' residence at, i. xxvi; + Fanny at, 75-8, 80, 110, 127-33, 137-49, 203-23; + the paintings at, iii. 389; + dismantled and forsaken, 448. +Stuart, Lady, Louisa, ii. 69-70. +Sunday schools established, ii. 171. +Sydney, Lady, ii. 317. + +Talleyrand-PrigGord, Charles Maurice de, at juniper Hall, i. + xliv; iii. 14, 39; + is found charming, 50; 53, 55; + his letters of adieu, 83; + Fanny indignant with, 153; + her bon mot to, 382. +Tallien, iii. 47. +Taylor, Michael Angelo, ii. 97, 145, 452. +Templetown, Lord and Lady, ii. 151. +Tewkesbury, Fanny at, ii. 191. +Thackeray, Mrs., ii. 69. +Thielky, Mrs., i. 340, 345-6, 353, 374, 381-2. +Thrale, Mr., "Evelina" read to, i. 71; + his character and acquirements, 75; 82, 86, 89, 90, 92, 96, + 127-8, 132-4, 149, 153, 166, 168, 194-7; + his death, 200-3. +Thrale, Mrs., hears about "Evelina," i. xxv, + her character and disposition, xxvi; + her second marriage, xxix + admires "Evelina," 68, 71-2; + advises Fanny to write for the stage, 74, 129-31; + her kindness to Fanny, 76, 80; + praises "Evelina" to Dr. Lort, 90-1; + to Mrs. Montagu, 102-5; + makes sport with Reynolds, 92-5; + converses with Johnson, 95-7; + her opinions of him, 104-6; + suggests some husbands for Fanny, 106-8; + mentioned, 109-10; + at Brighton with Fanny, 133, 136, 149, 339-48; + with Sophy Streatfield, 132, 137-42; + meets the Cumberlands, 156-8; + converses with Blakeney, 159-63; + at Bath with Fanny, 165-97; + loses her husband, 200-3; + banters Crutchley, 216-9; + her opinion of Mrs. Siddons, 257; + alluded to, 258, 262, 265; + her fascination and Wit, 277; + marries PiOzzi, 236-8. See Piozzi, Mrs. +Thrale, Hester[" Queenie "], i. 75, 76, 92, 93, 101, 102, 133, + 149, 157, 203, 206-8, 224, 240, 243, + 284; + Susan, i. 133, 240. +Thurlow, Lord Chancellor, ii. 99, 104, 263. +Tottenham Court, royal visit to, ii. 332; + paintings at, 332-3. +Toulon, siege of, iii. 73-4, 76, 78, 90. +Tour du Pin, M. and Mdme. de la, iii. 335, 343, 349-50, 364. +Tournai, Fanny arrives at, iii. 327. +Travell, Beau, i. 76. +Treves, Fanny's journey to, iii. 370-8. +Tryon, Miss, ii. 304. +Tucker, Dean, ii. 173. +Tuileries, the, invaded, iii. 19; + Bonaparte at, 224; + Duchess d'Angouleme at, 294. +Tunbridge, Fanny at, i. 112, 149. +Turbulent, Mr. (Rev. C. de Guiffardi6re), account Of, i. 436; + on Court routine, 443-4; + introduces Wellbred to Fanny, ii. 16-21, 22; + Worries Fanny, 24; + teases Princess Augusta, 26-8; + meets with a rebuff, 28-31; + with the queen, 35; + Mrs, Schwellenberg suspicious of, 46; + annoys Fanny, 47-8; + troublesome again, 54, 56-8; + condemns himself, 80, 140-1; + his troublesome pleasantries, 151-2, 208; + rails at Fanny, 214-5; + greatly altered, 222; + during the king's illness, 244, 341, 400, 403. +Turner, Sir G. P., i. 227. +Twining, Rev. T., i. xvi. + +Valletort, Lord, ii. 327-9. +Vandamme, General, iii. 368. +"Vengeur," legend of the, iii. 143, +Vernon, the Misses, i. 379, 383-7, 393, 396-8. +Vesey, Mrs., a bluestocking, i. 98, 122, 277. 373 ; ii. 97. +Victoire, Madame, daughter of Louis XV., iii. 36-7. +Villiers, Hon. George, ii. 305, 307, 321. +Vincent, Count de, iii. 351. +Voltaire, George III. on, i. xxx, 316. + +Waldegrave, Lady Caroline, i. 340; ii, 238, 322; + Lady Elizabeth, i. 340, 365; ii. 39, 230-1, 233, 235, 238, + 240, 246, 252, 259, 265-6, 275, 322. +Wales, Prince of (George IV.), i. 360; + his good heart but suspicious conduct, 373; + his mother's anxiety regarding him, 432; + on bad terms with the king, ii. 10; + with the Polignacs, 39; + reconciled with his father, 40; + With the Duke of York at Windsor, 49-51; + with the queen, 61, 64; + at the Hastings trial, 98; + his animal spirits, 189; + eyes Fanny curiously, 211; + and the Regency bill, 221; + at Windsor during the king's illness, 228, 235, 237, 239-41, + 242-5, 263-4; + goes to Kew, 266; + at the play, 436; iii. 160; + eulogised by Dr. Burney, 243; + by the Duchess d'Angouleme, 299; + his matrimonial troubles, 440-1. +Wallace, Mr., attorney-general, i. 205. +Waller, Edmund, ii. 204. +Wallis, Miss, iii. i49. +Walpole, Horace, "Evelina" attributed to, i. 79; + chats with Fanny, ii. 85, 411; iii. 219. See Orford. +Walsingham, Mrs., entertains Fanny, i. 256-7, 307; + Lord, ii. 126. +"Wanderer, The," Mme. d'Arblay's novel, i. Xlvi, lv; iii. 248-9, + 255, 272-3-5. +Warren, Dr., ii. 224-5, 245, 280; + Lady, her tale of a dowry hunter, i. 242. +Warton, Dr. Joseph, i. 123, 401-2, 422 ; ii. 32 1. +Waterloo, battle of, iii, 357-68. +Webb, Mr., his huge nose, i. 311. +Wedderburn, Alex., see Loughborough. +Wellbred (Greville), Colonel, king's equerry, + introduced to Fanny, ii. 16-21; + disposition, 36-8; + derides Manners, 40-2, 43-4; + Fanny's opinion of, 78-9; + his powers of sight, 84, 139, 151-2; + accompanies George III. to Kew, 268, 285, 291. +Wellesley, Lady Anne, ii. 338. +Wellington, Duke of, iii. 291; + at Brussels, 341-2, 345, 355 + at Waterloo, 360-7. +Wells Cathedral, ii. 422. +Wells, Mrs., actress, ii. 318, 464-8. +West, Benjamin, R.A., ii. 35. +Wesley, Charles, i. 344; iii. 183. +Weston, Miss, i. 179-80. +Weymouth, the Court at, ii. 313 + Lady, i. 291 ; ii- 39, 155, 157, 162, 164, 185. + See Bath, Marchioness of. +Whalley, Mr. and Mrs., i. 171-5, 180. +Whitworth, Lord, iii. 240. +Wieland, i. 409-10, 412. +Wilberforce, W., iii. 271, 442. +Wilkes, John, ii. 339. +William, Prince, Duke of Clarence, ii. 98, 189, 308; + his partiality for champagne, 395-400; 436, 454; iii- 150, + 421, 436. +Williams, Anna, and " Evelina," i. 75; + Johnson's account of, 95; + befriended by Mrs. Montagu, 98, 258. +Willis, Dr., senior, attends the king, ii. 274, 276-9, 290-1, + 293, 296, 298; + Dr. John, ii. 274, 278-9, 287, 291; + Rev. Thos., ii. 277, 278-9, 335, 346. +Wilton, ii. 417; + Lord Grey de, ii. 291.'' +Winchester, ii. 413-7. +Windham, William, M.P., eulogises Fanny xxvi ; + at the Hastings trial, ii. 102-119, 120-1, 123, 130-8, + 144-9, 352-5, 357-65, 370-3, 390, 393, 438-43, 444-6, 447, + 452; + portrayed by Fairly, 297-8; + urges that Fanny should resign, 376; + judged by Burke, 460; 463; iii. 38; + at the Literary Club, 44; + at Burke's funeral, 125; + his good breeding, 279. +Windsor, Fanny at, i. )2-326, 331, 333; + the Court at, 19-49, 352-66, 400-447; ii. + 16-31, 35-53, 55-61, 72-81, 139, 207; ' + + during the king's illness, 222-64; 333, 340, 347, 373, 401; + iii. 99-112, 185-7. +"Witlings, The," Fanny's comedy, + Macaulay's account of, xviii; + praised by Arthur Murphy, 133; + its fate, 145-9. +Worcester, royal Visit to, ii. 109. +Wurtembvirg, Prince of, iii. 115, 156. +Wycherley, W, ii. 460. +Wynn, Sir Watkin, ii. 291. +W---, Miss, a young infidel, i. 180-4, 190-1; ii. 191. + +York, Archbishop Markham of, ii. 105. +York, Duchess of, ii. 436, 454; Iii. 111-2, 145. +York, Frederick, Duke of, mentioned, i. 401, 417; + returns to England, 49-51, 59, 63; + with the queen, 85; + at the Hastings trial, 98; + his animal spirits, 189; + at Cheltenham, 190; + at Windsor during the king's illness, 226, 237; + his father's favourite, 241, 242, 246, 251; + his wife, 436; + at the siege of Dunkirk, iii. 73; + commander-in-chief, 11-2. +Young, Arthur, ii. 449; + invites Fanny to Bradfield, 468; + with the Duke de Liancourt, iii. 17-28; + Mrs., ii, 449; + Mary, ii. 449. +Young, Profesor , iii. 176. + +TURNBULL AND SPEARS, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH, + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE DIARY AND LETTERS OF MADAME D'ARBLAY VOLUME 3 *** + +This file should be named 6457.txt or 6457.zip + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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