Lady Fanshaw, whose husband was Clerk of the Council to Charles the
First and Second, and translator of the Pastor Fido, relates the
following extraordinary circumstance in some MSS memoirs of herself,
addressed to her son. The transaction took place during a voyage that
Lady Fanshaw made from Galway to Malaga, in the spring of the year 1649.
“We pursued our voyage with prosperous winds.--When we had just passed
the Straits, we saw coming towards us, with full sails, a Turkish galley
well manned, and we believed we should be carried away slaves; for the
captain had so laden his ship with goods for Spain, that his guns were
useless, though the ship carried 60 guns. He called for brandy, and
after he had well drunken and all his men, which were near 200, he
called for arms, and cleared the deck as well as he could, resolving to
fight rather than lose his ship, which was worth 30,000l. This was sad
for us passengers, but my husband bid us be sure to keep in the cabin,
and not appear, which would make the Turks think we were a man of war,
but if they saw women, they would take us for merchants and detain us.
He went upon deck, and took a gun, a bandelier, and sword, expecting the
arrival of the Turkish man of war. The beast of a Captain had locked me
up in the cabin---I knocked and called to no purpose, until the
cabin-boy came and opened the door. I, all in tears, desired him to be
so good as to give me his thrum cap and his tarred coat, which he did,
and I gave him half a crown, and putting them on, and flinging away my
night-clothes, I crept up softly, and stood upon the deck by my
husband’s side, as free from sickness and fear as, I confess, of
discretion, but it was the effect of that passion which I could never
master. By this time the two vessels were engaged in parley, and so well
satisfied with speech and sight of each other’s force, that the Turks
men tacked about, and we continued our course. But when your father saw
it convenient to retreat, looking upon me, he blessed himself, and
snatched me up in his arms, saying, “Good God, that love can make this
change!” and though he seemingly chid me, he would laugh at it as often
as he remembered that voyage.”
* * * * *
* * * *
_ANECDOTE_
OF MRS. D’ARBLAY (LATE MISS BURNEY),
The much admired Authoress of EVELINA, CECILIA, and a work of still
greater merit, entitled CAMILLA; OR, A PICTURE OF YOUTH: the latter
has but just appeared in London, is now in the press, and will
shortly be published by the EDITOR.
Miss Burney, who has lately married M. D’Arblay, a French Emigrant, is
daughter to the late Dr. Burney, so well known in the annals of music.
At an early age she was passionately fond of reading novels, which drew
on her the censure of her father, who looked on those then extant, as
but ill calculated to afford any solid improvement or rational
amusement. Soon after, Miss Burney, without the knowledge of her parent,
wrote the much admired history of Evelina---, which was immediately
published in London, without disclosing the name of the author, as she
dreaded incurring her father’s displeasure.
Dr. Burney, soon after the publication of Evelina, having accidentally
entered a bookseller’s shop, was presented with this work, and strongly
recommended to purchase it; his general dislike to novels, prevented his
compliance, till strongly urged by the bookseller to give it even a
cursory review: but no sooner had he perused a few pages, than he made
his bargain, and having gone through the whole performance, he called
his daughter, and recommended it to her as the only production of the
kind that merited her attention; observing, that “the other books she so
much read, were entirely beneath her notice, but that he was now happy
in being able to present her with a novel, possessed of such intrinsic
merit, as to render it well worthy her most attentive perusal.”
How great was Miss Burney’s surprize, on being presented with the work
of her own pen, produced during many a stolen hour snatched from
pleasures or from sleep! yet how flattering and how grateful to her
sensible mind must the eulogium of so excellent a judge have proved!
Encouraged by his approbation, she disclosed the secret to the joy of a
doating parent, who felt proud at having a daughter possessed of a
genius capable of producing a piece which he deemed inimitable. Evelina
went through four editions in the course of the first year, and Cecilia
met with the most unbounded applause. The Queen, hearing so much in
favour of our heroine, gave her the appointment of reader to her
Majesty, with a large salary annexed, but interdicted her from
publishing any thing, as derogatory to the dignity of her station.
Her marriage with Mr. D’Arblay, a gentleman suited to so amiable a
partner, occasioned the loss of her place at court. This circumstance
may be considered as a very considerable advantage to the republic of
letters.
As the sun after a long concealment behind the darkening cloud, breaks
forth with redoubled lustre, to the joy and exhilaration of mankind---so
does this amiable writer appear to the votaries of taste and literature,
holding in her hand the interesting history of Camilla---depicting in
the most striking and variegated colours the feelings and propensities
of the youthful mind, whether actuated by the celestial principles
inspired by heaven, or stimulated by the bias of evil examples or
vicious inclinations. Nor does she here omit the opportunity of
displaying virtue in the most fascinating garb, while vice is depicted
in the most forbidding and hateful dress. The sentiments she here
inculcates, are of the most noble, refined and exalted nature---such as
if generally diffused, would contribute to instil in the heart of man,
the divine attributes of his maker, and render him as happy as would be
consistent with the frailty of his probationary state. In fine, we may
pronounce Camilla a _chef d’œuvre_, worthy the perusal of all who are
desirous of rational entertainment, or anxious to have the feelings of
the heart awakened to impressions of the most delightful and charming
nature.
* * * * *
_NEW-YORK._
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