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The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay novel. A total of 261 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay.Vol. 1.by f.a.n.n.y Burney.PREFACE."T
The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay.Vol. 1.by f.a.n.n.y Burney.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
- 1 The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay.Vol. 1.by f.a.n.n.y Burney.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
- 2 Johnson, as Burke observed, might have added a striking page to his "The Vanity of Human Wishes," if he had lived to see his little Burney as she went into the palace and as she came out of it.The pleasures, so long untasted, of liberty, of frie
- 3 It is from no unfriendly feeling to Madame D'Arblay's memory that we have expressed ourselves, so strongly on the subject of her style. On the contrary, we conceive that we have really rendered a service to her reputation. That her later works w
- 4 "Why," cried she, taking up the book, "we have been prodigiously entertained;" and very readily she continued.I must own I suffered great difficulty in refraining from laughing upon several occasions, and several times, when they prais
- 5 Odd so! thought I, what do you mean by that?"Pooh, nonsense!" cried I, "what should make you think of me?""Why, you look guilty," answered he.This was a horrible home stroke. Deuce take my looks! thought I--I shall owe them a
- 6 At Streatham Dr. Burney had been a welcome guest since 1776, when he commenced his intimacy with the family by giving music lessons to the eldest daughter, Hester Thrale (Johnson's "Queenie"). The head of the house, Henry Thrale, the wealth
- 7 Dr. Johnson was in the utmost good humour.There was no other company at the house all day.After dinner, I had a delightful stroll with Mrs. Thrale, and she gave me a list of all her "good neighbours" in the town of Streatham, and said she was de
- 8 DR. JOHNSON ON SOME "LADIES" OF HIS ACQUAINTANCE _Sat.u.r.day._--Dr. Johnson was again all himself; and so civil to me!--even admiring how I dressed myself! Indeed, it is well I have so much of his favour--for it seems he always speaks his mind
- 9 He then repeated "Evelina"--in a very languis.h.i.+ng and ridiculous tone.My heart beat so quick against my stays that I almost panted with extreme agitation, from the dread either of hearing some horrible criticism, or of being betrayed: and I
- 10 I begin to think it was really yours! Now, was it not, Mrs. Thrale?"Mrs. Thrale only laughed."A lady of our acquaintance," said Miss Palmer, "Mrs. Cholmondeley, went herself to the printer, but he would not tell.""Would he no
- 11 ANTIc.i.p.aTED VISIT FROM MRS. MONTAGU.["The great Mrs. Montagu" deserves a somewhat longer notice than can be conveniently compressed within the limits of a footnote. She was as indisputably, in public estimation, the leading literary lady of t
- 12 I was horribly disconcerted, but I am now so irrecoverably in for it, that I begin to leave off reproaches and expostulations; indeed, they have very little availed me while they might have been of service, but now they would pa.s.s for mere parade and af
- 13 SUGGESTED HUSBANDS FOR f.a.n.n.y BURNEY._Sept. 26_--The present chief sport with Mrs. Thrale is disposing of me in the holy state of matrimony, and she offers me whoever comes to the house. This was begun by Mrs. Montagu, who, it seems, proposed a match f
- 14 "_My_ dear," cried he, taking both my hands, "I was not of _you_, I am so near sighted, and I apprehended making some Mistake." Then drawing me very unexpectedly towards him, he actually kissed me!To be sure, I was a little surprised,
- 15 "Draw? No, but I mean some of your writing.""Oh, I never write--except letters.""Letters? those are the very things I want to see.""Oh, not such as you mean.""Oh now, don't say so; I am sure you are about
- 16 "What game do you like, Miss Burney?" cried she."I play at none, ma'am.""No? Pardie, I wonder at that! Did you ever know such a toad?"Again I moved on, and got behind Mr. W. Burke, who, turning round to me, said,-- "
- 17 When we broke up to depart, which was not till near two in the morning, Mrs. Cholmondeley went up to my mother, and begged her permission to visit in St. Martin's-street. Then, as she left the room, she said to me, with a droll sort of threatening lo
- 18 "You should take care, sir," said I, "what you say: for you know not what weight it may have."He wished it might have any, he said, and soon after turned again to my father.I protest, since the approbation of the Streathamites, I have
- 19 The next day Sir Philip Jennings Clerke came. He is not at all a man of letters, but extremely well-bred, nay, elegant, in his manners, and sensible and agreeable in his conversation. He is a professed minority man, and very active and zealous in the oppo
- 20 "If not," quoth I, "I cannot do worse than Dr. Goldsmith, when his play[94] failed,--go home and cry."He laughed, but told me, repeatedly (I mean twice, which, for him, is very remarkable), that I might depend upon all the service in h
- 21 And she cast her eyes towards Mrs. H--, who is as censorious a country lady as ever locked up all her ideas in a country town. She has told us sneering anecdotes of every woman and every officer in Brighthelm stone. Mr. Murphy, checked by Mrs. Thrale'
- 22 "Seward," said Mrs. Thrale, "had affronted Johnson, and then Johnson affronted Seward, and then the S. S. cried.""_Oh_," cried Sir Philip, "that I had but been here!""Nay," answered Mrs. Thrale, "you&
- 23 "This," cried he, "is of all reading the most melancholy;--an account of possessions we have lost by our own folly."I then gave him Baretti's "Spanish Travels.""Who," cried he, flinging it aside, "can read
- 24 I give a sigh, whether I will or not, to their memory! for, however worthless, they were mes enfans. You, my dear sir, who enjoyed, I really think, even more than myself, the astonis.h.i.+ng success of my first attempt, would, I believe, even more than my
- 25 When I found, by her taught songs, what a delightful singer she was capable of becoming, I really had not patience to hear her little French airs, and entreated her to give them up, but the little rogue instantly began pestering me with them, singing one
- 26 "I think, Miss Burney," said the doctor, "you and I seem to stand in the same predicament. What shall we do for the poor man? suppose we burn a play apiece?""Depend upon it," said Mrs. Thrale, "he has heard, in town, tha
- 27 "I can't recollect now where that is; but for my part, I really cannot bear to see such sights. And then out come the white handkerchiefs, and all their pretty eyes are wiping, and then come poison and daggers, and all that kind of thing,--O ma&
- 28 LORD MULGRAVE ON THE "SERVICES."_Bath._--I shall now skip to our arrival at this beautiful city which I really admire more than I did, if possible, when I first saw it. The houses are so elegant, the streets are so beautiful, the prospects so en
- 29 "O, ma'am, I'm so prodigiously concerned; Mr. Henry won't come!""Who, ma'am?""Mr. Henry, ma'am, the doctor's son. But, to be sure, he does not know you are here, or else--but I'm quite concerned,
- 30 We found such a crowd of chairs and carriages we could hardly make our way. I had never seen any of the family, consisting of Sir J. and three daughters, but had been particularly invited. The two rooms for the company were quite full when we arrived, and
- 31 "One thing," answered she, "there is, which I believe might make me happy, but for that I have no inclination: it is an amorous disposition; but that I do not possess. I can make myself no happiness by intrigue.""I hope not, indee
- 32 "No," said she, yawning, "no more shall I,--I don't choose.""Don't you?" said Captain Bouchier, dryly, "why not?"Why, because I don't like it.""O fie!" cried he; "consider how crue
- 33 "No, never--I can't. I have tried, but I could never write verses in my life--never get beyond Cupid and stupid.""Did Cupid, then, always come in your way? what a mischievous urchin!""No, he has not been very mischievous to m
- 34 How are you? where are you? and what is to come next? The accounts from town are so frightful, that I am uneasy, not only for the city at large, but for every individual I know in it. Does this martial law confine you quite to the house? Folks here say th
- 35 I had no other adventure in London, but a most delightful incident has happened since I came hither. We had just done tea on Friday, and Mrs.Hamilton, Kitty, Jem, and Mr. Crisp, were sitting down to cards, when we were surprised by an express from London,
- 36 "Oh, then, you are setting down all these Irish folks.""No, indeed; I don't think them worth the trouble.""Oh, but I am sure you are; only I interrupted you."I went on no further with the argument, and Miss Thrale propos
- 37 _Sunday._--We had Mr. and Mrs. Davenant here. They are very lively and agreeable, and I like them more' and more. Mrs. Davenant is one of the saucy women of the ton, indeed; but she has good parts, and is gay and entertaining; and her sposo, who pa.s
- 38 "How long do you intend to stay with me, Seward?" cried Mr. Crutchley; "how long do you think you can bear it?""O, I don't know; I sha'n't fix," answered the other: "just as I find it.""Well, but
- 39 "Well said, Miss Burney!" exclaimed Mrs. Thrale. "Why that's true enough, and so he has.""A total indifference," continued I, "of what is thought of him by others, and a disdain alike of happiness or misery."&q
- 40 How abominably conceited and sure these pretty gentlemen are! However, Mr. Crutchley here made a speech that half won my heart."I wish," said he, "Miss Streatfield was here at this moment to cuff you, Seward!""Cuff me!" cried
- 41 You will wonder, perhaps, in this time of hurry, why I went thither; but when I tell you Pacchierotti[146] was there, you will not think it surprising.There was a crowd of company; Charlotte and I went together; my father came afterwards. Mrs. Paradise re
- 42 At which Lady Say and Sele, In fresh transport, again rose, and rapturously again repeated-- "Yes, she's auth.o.r.ess of 'Evelina'! Have you read it?""No; is it to be had?""Oh dear, yes! it's been printed these
- 43 Beauclerk's, soon after his marriage with Lord Bolingbroke's divorced wife, in company with Goldsmith, and told a new story of poor Goldsmith's eternal blundering.A LETTER FROM BURKE To f.a.n.n.y BURNEY.Whitehall, July 29, 1782.Madam, I sho
- 44 Brighthelmstone, Oct. 26.My journey was incidentless---but the moment I came into Brighthelmstone I was met by Mrs. Thrale, who had most eagerly been waiting for me a long while, and therefore I dismounted, and walked home with her. It would be very super
- 45 I think I shall take warning by this failure, to trust only to my own expedients for avoiding his public notice in future. However it stopped here; for Lord De Ferrars came in, and took the disputed place without knowing of the contest, and all was quiet.
- 46 In the evening came Lady De Ferrars, Miss Monckton, and Miss Ellerker.Miss Monckton is between thirty and forty very short, very fat, but handsome; splendidly and fantastically dressed, rouged not unbecomingly, yet evidently and palpably desirous of gaini
- 47 I suppose she concluded I was very intimate with her."I have not seen her," said I, "in many years.""I know, however," cried she, looking surprised, "she is your G.o.dmother.""But she does not do her duty and a
- 48 The talk upon this matter went on very long, and with great spirit. At last, a large party of ladies arose at the same time', and I tripped after them; Miss Monckton, however, made me come back, for she said I must else wait in the other room till th
- 49 The son rises extremely in my opinion and liking. He is sensible, rational, and highly cultivated; very modest in all he a.s.serts, and attentive and pleasing in his behaviour; and he is wholly free from the c.o.xcombical airs, either of impertinence, or
- 50 "And then your insects, Mr. Pacchierotti! those alone are a most dreadful drawback upon the comfort of your fine climate.""I must own," said Pacchierotti, "Italy is rather disagreeable for the insects; but is it not better, sir, t
- 51 "No book," said Mrs. Delany, "ever was so useful as this, because none other that is so good was ever so much read."I think I need now write no more. I could, indeed, hear no more; for this last so serious praise, from characters so re
- 52 DR. JOHNSON's HEROIC FORBEARANCE._Tuesday, December 9_--This evening at Mrs. Vesey's, Mr. George Cambridge came, and took the chair half beside me. I told him of some new members for Dr. Johnson's club![179]"I think," said he, &qu
- 53 Piozzi, I am no less sorry than surprised; and that if it offended you, I sincerely beg your pardon.Not to that time, however, can I wait to acknowledge the pain an accusation so unexpected has caused me, nor the heartfelt satisfaction with which I shall
- 54 I drive her, as I said, wholly from my mind."Yet, wholly to change this discourse, I gave him a history of the Bristol milk-woman, and told him the tales I had heard of her writing so wonderfully, though she had read nothing but Young and Milton &quo
- 55 The office which f.a.n.n.y shared with that "old hag," Mrs.Schwellenberg, was that of keeper of the robes, and she entered upon her new duties in the month Of July, 1786.Dress had always been one of the last subjects about which she troubled her
- 56 Mrs. Delany laughed, and exclaimed, "O ma'am! read her own works!--your majesty has no notion of Miss Burney! I believe she would as soon die!"This, of course, led to a great deal of discussion, in the midst of which the queen said, "D
- 57 A good deal of talk then followed about his own health, and the extreme temperance by which he preserved it. The fault of his const.i.tution, he said, was a tendency to excessive fat, which he kept, however, in order, by the most vigorous exercise and the
- 58 "No, sir; he could not, for--"I was going on, but he laughed so much I could not be heard, exclaiming, "Vastly well! I see you are of Mr. Baretti's'mind, and think your brother could keep your secret, and not your sister?"&qu
- 59 I a.s.sented; and the king continued his relation, which she listened to with a look of some interest; but when he told her some particulars of my secrecy, she again spoke to me."But! your sister was your confidant, was she not?""Yes, ma�
- 60 "Well," she continued, "so there was standing by me a man that I could not see in the face; but I saw the twisting of his bow; and I said to Lady Harcourt, 'I am sure that must be n.o.body but the Duke of Dorset.'--'Dear,
- 61 "It was there, at Mr. Locke's, your sister[196] laid in?""O yes, ma'am!" cried I, out of breath with surprise.The king repeated my "O yes!" and said, "I fancy--by that O--you were frightened a little for her? W
- 62 Well; but to return. The king said he had just been looking over a new pamphlet, of Mr. c.u.mberland's, upon the character of Lord Sackville, "I have been asking Sir George Baker," he said, "if he had read it, and he told me, yes, but that he could no
- 63 "I have not read it, ma'am.""Not read it?"(I believe she knew my copy, which lay on the table.) I said I had taken it to Norbury, and meant to read it with Mrs. Locke, but things then prevented."Oh! (looking pleased) have you read the last edition o
- 64 Very well, take your own choice.To begin, then, with the beginning.You know I told you, in my last, my various difficulties, what sort of preferment to turn my thoughts to, and concluded with just starting a young budding notion of decision, by suggesting
- 65 The little journey was extremely agreeable. He spoke with the utmost frankness of his situation and affairs, and with a n.o.ble confidence in his certainty of victory over his enemies, from his consciousness of integrity and honour, that filled me with ad
- 66 MISS BURNEY ENTERS UPON HER COURT DUTIES.[The original editor of Madame D'Arblay's Diary intimates that fict.i.tious names have been given to one or two of the persons spoken of in the following portion of the work.These names we retain in the present t
- 67 THE TEA TABLE OF THE KEEPER OF THE ROBES.Mrs. Schwellenberg had already made the tea; and four gentlemen were seated at the table. The Bishop of Salisbury, as I afterwards found he was, came up to congratulate me, and spoke very kindly of my father, whom
- 68 I started and looked at her; but finding her a perfect stranger to me, I only said "Ma'am!"--and my accent of surprise made her beg my pardon and walk on. I was too much in haste to desire any explanation, and was only quickening my pace, when I was ag
- 69 I had no more ready. She begged me not to mind, and not to hurry myself, for she would wait till it was done.THE COURT AT KEW: A THREE YEAR OLD PRINCESS.Mrs. Schwellenberg, Miss Planta, and myself travelled to Kew together.I have two rooms there; both sma
- 70 Amazingly well are all these children brought up. The readiness and the grace of their civilities, even in the midst of their happiest wildnesses and freedom, are at once a surprise and a charm to all who see them.The queen, when she goes to early prayers
- 71 She had escaped the news at the chapel, but had been told it afterwards by Lady Spencer, lest it should reach her ears in any worse manner. You may imagine how greatly it shocked her.I ran to answer her note in person, determining, upon such an occasion,
- 72 The manner of keeping the birth-days here is very simple. All the royal family are new-dressed; so--at least so they appear--are all their attendants. The dinners and desserts are unusually sumptuous; and some of the princ.i.p.al officers of state, and a
- 73 I mention all these little ceremonies as they occur, that hereafter I may have no occasion, when they lead to other matters, to explain them.The bedchamber woman was rung for on the queen's return. So you see I am not the only one to answer a bell. It wa
- 74 Miss Planta, asked him for Lady Harcourt's maid; he bowed slightly, and pa.s.sed on without making any answer.Very pleasant this!--I then begged we might turn back, not caring for another adventure of the same sort. Miss Planta complied; and we met two m
- 75 She was not heard by this gentleman, but what she said was echoed after him by some other, and the answer that reached our ears was, "The equerries want the ladies."This was enough; Miss Planta returned quite indignant, after hastily replying, "We don
- 76 The theatre was filled with company, all well dressed, and arranged in rows around it. The area below them was entirely empty, so that there was not the least confusion. The chancellor's chair, at the head of about a dozen steps, was prepared for the kin
- 77 Since that time, however, I have come on prodigiously, by constant practice, in the power and skill of walking backwards, without tripping up my own heels, feeling my head giddy, or treading my train out of the plaits--accidents very frequent among novice
- 78 COURT DUTIES AT WINDSOR AND KEW.[The following section and the two sections which succeed it, relate, almost exclusively, to f.a.n.n.y's dreary prison- life in the royal household. Of the world without the palace, of the friends whom she had left, we hea
- 79 Madame de la Fite has long pressed me with great earnestness to write to Madame de Genlis, whose very elegant little note to me I never have answered. Alas! what can I do? I think of her as of one of the first among women--I see her full of talents and of
- 80 The clock had struck four some time, and Madame de la Fite said she feared they kept me from dinner. I knew it must soon be ready, and therefore made but a slight negative. She then, with an anxious look at her watch, said she feared she was already too l
- 81 Mrs. Schwellenberg, just after, calling me aside, said, "For what have you brought me this man?"I could make no answer, lest he should hear me, for I saw him look uneasily towards us; and therefore, to end such interrogations, I turned to him, and asked
- 82 "Yes, ma'am,--in another illness.""O!--I know how to pity you!--I have one on at this moment!""And pray, Miss Burney," cried the princess royal, "were not you carried out of town, when you were in such a weak condition that you could not walk?""
- 83 How intolerable an impertinence in John!--it was really no wonder the poor colonel was so glum.Again I repeated my ignorance of this step; and he then said "Why, ma'am, he comes to us regularly every afternoon, and says his lady is waiting; and we are v
- 84 My dear friends will, I know, wish to see it,--and so they shall; though not this moment, as I have it not about me, and do not remember it completely.[224]My breakfast was short, the chaise was soon ready, and forth I sallied for dear--once how dear!--ol
- 85 THE PLUMP PROVOST AND HIS LADY._Nov. 23._-In the evening I had a large party of new acquaintance; the provost of Eton, Dr. Roberts, his lady, Mr. Dewes, Miss Port, the Duke of Montagu, General Bude, Colonel Goldsworthy, and Madame de la Fite.The party had
- 86 By the invitation of Mr. Herschel, I now took a walk which will sound to you rather strange: it was through his telescope and it held me quite upright, and without the least inconvenience; so would it have done had I been dressed in feathers and a bell ho
- 87 before it was printed.--ED.][Footnote 28: The above "flowers of rhetoric" are taken from the "Memoirs of Dr. Burney," published in 1832; but it is scarcely just--indeed, it is wholly unjust--to include "Camilla" and "The Wanderer" under the same c
- 88 [Footnote 70: No doubt Simon Nicolas Henri Linguet, a French author, who published numerous works, historical and political, both before and after this date.--ED.][Footnote 71: In the original edition: perhaps "vexation" was the word intended.--ED.][Foo
- 89 [Footnote 115: The Rev. Henry Bate, afterwards Sir Henry Bate Dudley, editor of the "Morning Post" from its establishment in 1772 till 1780, in which year his connection with that paper came to an end in consequence of a quarrel with his coadjutors. On
- 90 [Footnote 160: The Thrales and f.a.n.n.y were now again in London, whither they returned from Brighton, November 20. Mrs. Thrale had taken a house in Argyle-street,--ED.][Footnote 161: Lady Margaret Cavendish Harley, daughter of Robert Harley, Earl of Oxf
- 91 [Footnote 200: "Adele et Theodore, ou Lettres sur l'education" by Madame de Genlis, first published in 1782.--ED.][Footnote 201: We shall hear again of 'Mr. and Mrs. Hastings, and of the scandal which was caused by the lady's reception at Court. She
- 92 The Diary and Letters of Madam D'Arblay.Volume 2.by Madame D'Arblay.SECTION 10.(1787) COURT DUTIES AT ST. JAMES'S AND WINDSOR.THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY DRAWING ROOM.January. Go back to the 16th, when I went to town, accompanied only by Mr. de Luc. I saw m
- 93 I disclaimed believing this; but he persisted in a.s.serting it, adding "For he said if I had spoke he would come.""He is very condescending," cried I, "but I am satisfied he would not think of it at all, if you did not put it in his head.""Upon my
- 94 I believe I have already mentioned that I had no bell at all, except in my bedroom, and that only for my maid, whom I was obliged to summon first, like Smart's monkey-- "Here, Betty!--Nan!-- Go, call the maid, to call the man!"For Mrs. Haggerdorn had d
- 95 "If I am," cried he, impetuously, "I dedicate myself to you!--A volunteer, ma'am, remember that! I dedicate myself to you, therefore, of my own accord, for every journey! You shall not get rid of me these twenty years."I tried to get myself away-but
- 96 "Corrigee? That never was done!" cried she, with all her sweet good-humour, the moment she got out - and off she ran, like lightning, to the queen's apartments.What say you to Mr. Turbulent now?For my part, I was greatly surprised. I had not imagined a
- 97 The three elder princesses came in soon after: they all went up, with congratulatory smiles and curtsies, to their royal father, who kissed them very affectionately; they then, as usual every Morning, kissed the queen's hand. The door was thrown open Pag
- 98 Page 40 had no easy task in keeping them from being incommoded by the pressing of the people. They stopped to converse with these n.o.ble travellers for more than an hour. Madame la d.u.c.h.esse de Polignac is a very well-looking woman, and Madame de Guic
- 99 "Why, ma'am, it was so big and so heavy, it was as much as I could do to lift it!""Well, that was nothing from me! when it was so heavy, you might let it alone!""But, ma'am, Colonel Wellbred said it was somewhat of yours."Page 43 "Of mine?--O, ve
- 100 At night, when we were separating, he whispered Miss Port that he had something else in store for the next meeting, when he intended to introduce magnetising.MRS. SCHWELLENBERG's FROGS.July 2.-What a stare was drawn from our new equerry(238) by Major Pri