MISS BURNEY EXTENDS THE CIRCLE OF HER ACQUAINTANCE.
[During the years 1781 and 1782 Fanny was engaged upon her
second novel, “Cecilia,” which was published in July, 1782.
It is not necessary here to discuss the merits of a work
with which everyone ought to be acquainted. We may safely
leave the task of criticising “Cecilia” to an unimpeachable
authority, Edmund Burke, whose magnificent, but just eulogy
of the book will be found on page 232 Of the present volume.
In the following section of “The Diary” Fanny records one
of the most memorable events of her life,—her introduction
to Burke, in June, 1782, at Sir Joshua Reynolds's house on
Richmond Hill. Her letter to Mr. Crisp, printed in the
“Memoirs of Dr. Burney,” gives a more detailed account than
that in the “Diary,” of the conversation which passed on
this occasion. Other men of genius were present, among them
Gibbon the historian, whom she then met for the first time;
but Fanny had eyes and ears for none but Burke. Nor was she
singular in yielding thus completely to the fascination of
the great Irishman's manner and conversation. Wherever he
appeared, in what society soever he mingled, Burke was still
the man of distinction. As Johnson said, you could not
stand under a shed with Burke for a few minutes, during a
shower of rain, without feeling that you were in the company
of an extraordinary man.
Mr. Thrale's death produced no immediate change in the
situation of affairs at Streatham. Dr. Johnson's visits
were as frequent and as protracted as before; Fanny
continued to be numbered among the dearest friends of the
widow. Not yet had arisen that infatuation which eventually
alienated from Mrs. Thrale the sympathy of her former
friends, and subjected her, justly or unjustly, to such
severe and general condemnation. But to this topic we shall
revert at a later period.
The great brewer had left his wife and family in affluent
circumstances. The executors to his Will were Dr. Johnson,
Mr. Henry Smith, Mr. Cator and Mr. Crutchley, together with
Mrs. Thrale. Of the last-named gentleman we shall hear a
good deal in the following pages. He and Mr. Cator were
both chosen members of parliament In the same year—1784:
Mr. Cator for Ipswich, Mr. Crutchley for Horsham. Early in
the summer following Thrale's decease the brewery was sold
for the handsome sum of 135,000 pounds, to David Barclay,
the Quaker, who took Thrale's old manager, Perkins into
Partnership. Thus was founded the famous house Of Barclay
and Perkins.-ED-]