In the ensuing September, the Doctor writes, in a manuscript memoir:
“This autumn, September, 1798, after spending a week at
Hampton, at the house of Lady Mary Duncan, who did the
honours of that charming neighbourhood, by carrying me to
all the fine places in its circle, Hampton Court, Mrs.
Garrick’s, Richmond Hill and Park, Oatlands, Kew Gardens,
&c.; I went to Mrs. and Miss Crewe at Tunbridge; where I
enjoyed, for more than a fortnight, all the humours of
the place in the most honourable and pleasant manner.
“And thence I went to Camilla Cottage at West Hamble; a
cottage built on a slice of Norbury Park, by M. d’Arblay
and my daughter, from the production of Camilla, her
third work; where, and at Mr. and Mrs. Locke’s, I passed
my time most pleasantly, in reading, in rural quiet, or
in charming conversation.”
This small residence, here mentioned by Dr. Burney, of which the
structure was just now completed, had, playfully, received from himself
the name of Camilla Cottage; which name was afterwards adopted by all
the Friends of the Hermits.
Its architect, who was also its principal, its most efficient, and even
its most laborious workman, had so skilfully arranged its apartments
for use and for pleasure, by investing them with imperceptible
closets, cupboards, and adroit recesses; and contriving to make every
window offer a freshly beautiful view from the surrounding beautiful
prospects, that while its numerous, though invisible conveniences,
gave it comforts which many dwellings on a much larger scale do not
possess, its pleasing form, and picturesque situation, made it a point,
though in miniature, of beauty and ornament, from every spot in the
neighbourhood whence it could be discerned.
Dr. Burney promised to gratify, from that time, these happy Hermits
once a year with his presence. He could not without admiration,
as well as pleasure, witness the fertile resources with which his
son-in-law, though till then a stranger to a country, or to private
life, could fill up a rainy day without a murmur; and pass through a
retired evening without one moment of _ennui_, either felt or given.
Yet the longest day of sunshine was always too short for the vigorous
exertions, and manly projects that called him to plant in his garden,
to graft and crop in his orchard, to work in his hay-field, or to
invent and execute new paths, and to construct new seats and bowers in
his wood. From which useful and virtuous toils, when corporeally he
required rest and refreshment, his mental powers rose in full force to
the exercise of their equal share in his composition, through his love
of science, poetry, and general literature. And Dr. Burney, through
the wide extent of his varied connexions, could nowhere find taste
more congenial, principles more strictly in unison, or a temper more
harmoniously in accord with his own, than here, in the happy little
dwelling which he named Camilla Cottage.