DETAILED CONTENTS PREFACE
MADAME D'ARBLAY, by Lord Macaulay
1. (1778) MISS BURNEY PUBLISHES HER FIRST NOVEL AND FINDS
HERSELF FAMOUS—59-110 Evelina—and the Mystery attending
its Publication—A First Visit to Mrs. Thrale and an
Introduction to Dr. Johnson—Fanny Burney Interviews her
Publisher—Conversation with Mrs. Thrale and Dr. Johnson—
Dr. Johnson on some “Ladies” of his Acquaintance—A Learned
Man on “Evelina”—Curiosity regarding the Author of
“Evelina”—The Members of Dr. Johnson's Household—
Anticipated Visit from Mrs. Montagu—Fanny Burney's
Introduction to a celebrated “Blue-Stocking”—Dr. Johnson's
Compliments and Gross Speeches—Suggested Husbands for Fanny
Burney—A Streatham Dinner Party.
2. (1779) THE AUTHOR OF “EVELINA” IN SOCIETY: VISITS
BRIGHTON AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS—111-164 A Queer Adventure—An
Evening at Sir Joshua Reynolds's: a Demonstrative “Evelina”
Enthusiast—Fanny Burney's Introduction to Sheridan—An
Aristocratic Radical of the Last Century—Mr. Murphy, the
Dramatist—A Beauty Weeping at Will—Mr. Murphy's concern
regarding Fanny Burney's Comedy—A Scene on the Brighton
Parade—Mr. Murphy finds the Dialogue charming: a Censorious
Lady—A Militia Captain officiates as Barber—“Hearts have
at ye all”—Giddy Miss Brown—Sophy Streatfield weeps again
to order—“Everything a Bore”—Proposed Match between Mr.
Seward and the Weeper-at-will—The Fate of “The Witlings”—
“Quite what we call,” and “Give me leave to tell you”—The
Crying Beauty and her Mother—A Bewitching Prodigy—At
Brighton: A “Cure.”—The jealous Cumberlands—An Amusing
Character: His Views on many Subjects,
3. (1780) A SEASON AT BATH: MR. THRALE'S DEATH—165-201 A
Youthful Prodigy—Lord Mulgrave on the “Services”—Sarah,
Duchess of Marlborough—The Byrons—“Mr. Henry will be so
Mortified”—All the best Families in the Navy—The Lady of
Bath Easton—A Fashionable Concert—A Bath Alderman's Raree
Show—Flighty Captain Bouchier—A Young and Agreeable
Infidel-Ball-room Flirtations—Further Flirtations—Bath
Easton and Sceptical Miss W....—Curiosity about the
“Evelina” Set—Alarm at the No Popery Riots—Hasty Departure
from Bath—The Gordon Riots—A Suggested Visit to Grub-
street—Promotion of Fanny Burney's Brother—The Death of
Mr. Thrale.
4. (1781-2) MISS BURNEY EXTENDS THE CIRCLE OF HER
ACQUAINTANCE—202-235 Young Mr. Crutchley ruffles Miss
Burney—Miss Burney Sulks on—Too Much of Many Things—A
“Poor Wretch of a Painter”—Dr. Johnson in a Rage—The
Miserable Host and Melancholy Guest—Two Celebrated
Duchesses discussed—Mr. Crutchley is bantered about his
Pride—Miss Sopby Streatfield is Commented on—Garrulous Mr.
Musgrave—A Parting Shot at Mr. Crutchley—Manager
Heliogabalus—Sister Authoresses—A Dinner at Sir Joshua's,
with Burke and Gibbon—A Letter from Burke to Fanny Burney—
Miss Burney sits for her Portrait—General Paoli.
5. (1782-3-4) “CECILIA”: A PAEAN OF PRAISE: LAMENTATIONS—
236-288 At Brighton again. “The Famous Miss Burney”—Dr.
Johnson Dogmatizes—A Cunning Runaway Heiress—Dr. Johnson a
Bore—Miss Burney will not be Persuaded to Dance-Dr. Johnson
held in general Dread—Miss Monckton's Assembly: Sacques and
Ruffles—At Miss Monckton's: “Cecilia” extolled by the “Old
Wits,” and by Burke—A Writer of Romances—Mrs. Walsingham—
Mrs. Siddons—Dr. Johnson's Inmates at Bolt-court—The two
Mr. Cambridges Improve upon Acquaintance—Mr. Soame Jenyns's
Eulogy on “Cecilia”—An Italian Singer's Views of England—
Raptures of the 11 Old Wits” over “Cecilia”—Illness and
Death of Mr. Crisp—Dr. Johnson attacked by Paralysis—A
Pleasant Day with the Cambridges—Dr. Johnson's Heroic
Forbearance—“Sweet Bewitching Mrs. Locke”—Mrs. Thrale's
Second Marriage—A Happy Home—Lady F.'s Anger at Mrs.
Piozzi's Marriage—Dr. Johnson's Failing Health—Dr. Johnson
Dying. His Death.
6. (1785-6) MISS BURNEY IS FAVOURABLY NOTICED BY THE KING
AND QUEEN—289-332 Royal Generosity to Mrs. Delany—A Visit
to Mrs. Delany—Royal Curiosity about Miss Burney—An
Anticipated Royal Interview—Directions for a private
encounter with the Royal Family—A Panic—“The King! aunt,
the King!”—The King categorically questions Miss Burney—
The Queen appears upon the Scene—“Miss Burney plays—but
not to acknowledge it”—A Drawing-room during a Fog—Will
Miss Burney write any more?—A Musician with a Pioboscis—
General Conversation: Royalty departs—The King again: Tea
Table Etiquette—George III. on Plays and Players—Literary
Talk with the Queen—The Queen on Roman Catholic
Superstitions—On being presented—Directions for coughing,
sneezing, or moving before the King and Queen—Dr. Burney is
Disappointed of a Place—A Visit to Warren Hastings and his
Wife—A Proposal from the Queen—Miss Burney accepts the
Queen's Offer.
7. (1786) MISS BURNEY ENTERS UPON HER COURT DUTIES—333-372
The Queen's Summons—A Military Gourmand—A Succession of
Visitors—The Tea Table of the Keeper of the Robes—Evening
Ceremonial in the Queen's Dressing Room—The Queen's
Toilettes—Congratulatory Visits from Court Officials—
Inopportune Visitors—Major Price: Adieu Colonel Polier—
Miss Burney's routine at Windsor—The Princess Royal—The
Court at Kew: A Three Year old Princess—A Drawing-room at
St. James's—Absence of State at Kew—Mis Burneys First
Evening Out—Casual Callers to be kept off: A New Arrival—
The Royal Princesses—Alarming News—The Attempt against the
King—Agitation of the Queen and Princesses—A Privilege is
Secured—The Queen continues Anxious—Snuff Preparer-in-
Chief—A Supper Mystery—Little Princess Amelia's Birthday—
The Cipher becomes a Number—Display of Loyalty at little
Kew—“Miss Bernar, the Queen will give you a Gown”—A
Crowded Drawing-room—The Keeper of the Robes is very much
put out.
8. (1786) ROYAL VISIT TO NUNEHAM, OXFORD, AND BLENHEIM—-
373-398 A job's Comforter—The Journey to Nuneham:
Ungracious Reception—A Hasty Introduction to Lady Harcourt—
Apparition of the Princesses—From Pillar to Post—“The
Equerries Want the Ladies”—Summoned to the Queen—A Check
for the Colonel—Thanksgiving Service at Nuneham—Royal
Visit to Oxford: Reception by the University—The Royal
Family are much Affected—The Presentations: Retiring
Backwards—The Colleges Visited: A Stealthy Collation—
Retreating from the Royal Presence—Surprised by the Queen—
At Nuneham again—A Lively Breakfast Incident. 9. (1786-7)
COURT DUTIES AT WINDSOR AND KEW—399-447 The Mischief-Making
Keeper of the Robes—A Terrace Party—A Nervous Reader—Miss
Burney Repines at her Position—Madame de Genlis discussed—
A Distinguished Astronomer—Effusive Madaine de la Roche—A
Dinner Difficulty—An Eccentric Lady—The Wrong Guest
Invited—The Princess Royal's Birthday—Arrival of a New
Equerry—Custodian of the Queen's Jewel Box—Tea Table
Difficulties—An Equerry's Duties and Discomforts—Royal
Cautions and Confidences—The Queen tired of Her Gewgaws—A
Holiday at last—Tea Room Gambols—A dreadful Mishap—“Is it
Permitted?”—The Plump Provost and his Lady—The Equerries
Violate the Rules—Mr. Turbulent on Court Routine—An
Equerry on the Court Concert—Dr. Herschel's Large
Telescope—Illness, and some Reflections it gave rise to.
PREFACE.
“The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay,” edited by her niece, Mrs. Barrett, were originally published in seven volumes, during the years 1842-1846. The work comprised but a portion of the diary and voluminous correspondence of its gifted writer, for the selection of which Madame D'Arblay, herself in part, and in part Mrs. Barrett, were responsible. From this selection the present one has been made, which, it is believed, will be found to include all the most valuable and interesting passages of the original. We can at least claim for this, the first popular edition of the Diary, that we have scrupulously fulfilled Madame D'Arblay's injunction to her former editor, “that whatever might be effaced or omitted, nothing should in anywise be altered or added to her records.”
Of the Diary itself it is hardly necessary here to say anything in praise. It has long been acknowledged a classic; it is indubitably the most entertaining, in some respects the most valuable, work of its kind in the English language, Regarded as a series of pictures of the society of the time, the Diary is unsurpassed for vivid Colouring and truthful delineation. As such alone it would possess a strong claim upon our attention, but how largely is our interest increased, when we find that the figures which fill the most prominent positions in the foreground of these pictures, are those of the most noble, most gifted, and Most distinguished men of the day! To mention but a few.