And, next only to this deeply gratifying condescension, must be ranked
for Dr. Burney, the glowing pleasure with which he welcomed, and copied
for Bookham, the cordial kindness upon this occasion of Mr. Burke.
The letter conveying its energetic and most singular expression, was
written to Dr. Burney by the great orator himself; and speaks first of
a plan that had his fullest approbation and most liberal aid, suggested
by Mrs. Crewe, in favour of the French emigrant priests; from which
Mr. Burke proceeds to treat of the taking of Toulon by Lord Hood; and
his, Mr. Burke’s, hope of ultimate success, from the possession of that
great port and arsenal of France in the Mediterranean; after which he
adds:
“Besides my general wishes, the establishment of Madame
d’Arblay is a matter in which I take no slight interest;
if I had not the greatest affection to her virtues, my
admiration of her incomparable talents would make me
desirous of an order of things which would bring forward
a gentleman of whose merits, by being the object of her
choice, I have no doubt: his choice of her too would give
me the best possible opinion of his judgment.
“I am, with Mrs. Burke’s best regards, and all our best
wishes for you and M. and Madame d’Arblay, my dear Sir,
“Yours, &c.
“EDMD. BURKE.”[32]
And Mrs. Burke, in a postscript of her own, writes:
“Will you be so good as to make my very best compliments
to Madame d’Arblay, and tell her that no person can more
sincerely wish her every happiness than I do.”
Not even the highly flattered, highly honoured Bookham Hermits
themselves could read these generous words from the pen of Mr. Burke,
whose personal kindness must apologise for their extraordinary
exaggeration, with more vivid delight than they excited in the heart of
Dr. Burney, by new stringing his hopes, and lightening his anxieties,
upon this alliance.