[_The following is endorsed: "Miss P.'s Narrative of the causes leading
to the celebrated Miss Burney's retirement from Court in the year
1791."_]@@The intention of this narrative of Miss Burney's later
residence at the Court of Their Majesties King George the Third and Queen
Charlotte is simple. I am informed that reports spread among her friends
have given birth to the notion that she was harshly treated, her genius
slighted, and herself subjected to an odious tyranny from Mrs
Schwellenberg, the Keeper of the Robes, and that she fled from the scene
of such cruelties as the only means of preserving her health and life. As
an eyewitness, I may be permitted to set forth another view which, though
uncoloured by the rosy or lurid hues of the genius of the author of
"Evelina," may be received as a plain account of what took place,
especially with regard to the Honourable Colonel Digby and the causes of
the lady's quitting the circle of the attendants on Royalty. These humble
notes will not appear to the world until all concerned are reposing in the
dust of the tomb.
I had the distinction to be early made privy to Miss Burney's intention to
resign her appointment; but this less from any wish of her own, than as I
concluded from my own observation. She did not suspect this, nor that the
Queen's ready penetration had prepared her also for the coming resignation
before it was respectfully laid at her feet. Indeed, much of what follows
she was a total stranger to, and might have found it difficult to credit
had it been known to her.
It was the custom that, while Her Majesty's head was powdering and her
powdering-gown had been placed upon the Royal person, she should be left
_sola_ with her _friseur_, when she usually read the newspapers.
On a certain day, however, she despatched Miss Burney for me, adding that
she need not return; and when I arrived, addressed me as follows--the
man not comprehending what was said:--
"There is a little matter which I have wished to open with you. I have
some reason to believe Miss Burney's spirits a little sunk. Do you, Miss
P., remark any failure in this respect?"
Her Majesty, all sweetness and benignity, fixed her eyes on me as well as
the operation she was undergoing would permit (the man casting clouds of
powder about her), and awaited my reply. Much embarrassed, for it is the
first rule of courts to make no comment on the affairs of others to the
ear of Royalty, I stammered a few words, to the effect that I thought Miss
Burney imagined her health a little declined, but could offer no opinion
of my own.
"She is a lady," continued the Queen, "no longer in her first youth, who
has been accustomed to much adulation in her own circle, and may miss that
incense."
I murmured that it might be supposed the dignity of a life in the Royal
service--but was gently interrupted:--
"No. We have neither the time nor the inclination to make the Court a
Bluestocking circle, and Miss Burney may prefer such surroundings. But,
why I address you, my good Miss P., is to enquire whether Miss Burney has
made any observation, of course not confidential, which would lead you to
suppose her unsettled in her intentions?"
I believed that I realised Her Majesty's views. She would probably prefer
that the severance should come from herself and not from the lower
quarter. Alas, how little did I do justice to the benevolence of her
character! I hurriedly replied that I knew nothing of Miss B.'s mind
further than all the world might know, and within myself earnestly wished
Her Majesty might turn the subject of her remarks. She, however, thought
proper to continue with a mingled dignity and sweetness which
distinguishes all she utters.
"All this is spoke in a confidence which must not be broke. But if there
were any little agitation of the affections which--"
Here the Royal speaker was herself interrupted by a cloud of powder which
the unconscious _friseur_ flung over the edifice then erecting. It
gave me a moment for hasty reflection. Impossible!--who could suppose that
Her Majesty, in whose presence every look was restrained, every word
calculated, could have remarked the preference by which I had long known
Miss Burney distinguished Colonel Digby? He, in the first anguish of
bereavement of a lovely and beloved partner, did undoubtedly seek Miss
Burney's sympathy. So much was visible to all. There was even a certain
luxury of grief,--a heightening of the loss,--which gave his very handsome
and attractive person an interest few could resist. Many indeed might have
been ready for the tender office of consolatrix, but it was Miss Burney
who was specially chosen, and the conviction formed in my own mind that
the sympathy she so feelingly tendered was not untinged by a rosy flush of
expectation. The caution incident to life at Court hindered my breathing
so delicate a suspicion to any, and that Her Majesty's calm but piercing
eye should have discerned any preference did indeed animate my soul with
astonishment.
"Ma'am, your Majesty's observation so far exceeds my own poor powers,"
said I fluttering, "that, while it is impossible for me to deny, it is
equally impossible for me to confirm it. Miss Burney's superior talents,
her reserve, constitute a barrier which--"
"I know--I knew," interrupted the Queen, "that I could not expect any
confirmation from you. You are discretion itself. I am surrounded by
discretion. We will not now pursue the subject further. Will you oblige
me, my good Miss P., by preparing the pocket-case which I give Lady
Harcourt today."
The hint was an order. I respectfully retired at once, leaving Her Majesty
almost concealed in the cloud of powder which was casting about her
headdress.
Any little unusual occurrence at Court causes comment, and I was obliged
to meet the questioning gaze of the ladies in attendance with composure. I
mentioned that Her Majesty had given me directions about Lady Harcourt's
pocket-case, and said no more. Miss Burney followed me to the room where
it was laid out in readiness for wrapping--a trifle of extreme elegance,
pink satin spangled with silver and fitted with all the little furniture
of gold scissors, bodkins, thimble, and so forth, which the venerated
friend might accept as a compliment both royal and affectionate. Miss
Burney admired it with me.
"It resembles that formerly given to sweet Mrs Delany," said she. "Dear
excellence--sweet heavenly angel departed to her kindred sphere! What
wonder that Their Majesties' discernment should single her out for the
veneration due to age and piety so unaffected. She is gone, but how will
this gift presented to the equally worthy Lady Harcourt bring the tear to
her eye and the almost pang of gratitude to her bosom!"
I made an appropriate reply, but reflected. These gushes of feeling on the
part of Miss Burney sometimes appeared to me a little overwrought and
designed to conceal a sharpness of wit and observation which she feared to
exercise in courtly circles. In this resolve she was doubtless discreet,
but it gave her conversation a turn of unreality which impressed as might
the use of some perfume of Araby to conceal a less romantic odour. It
affected my own candour disagreeably. Possibly the praise received by the
author of "Evelina" might cause her to abandon the common modes of
conversation and talk literary, if I may so express it; but it was, to my
knowledge, a great disappointment to the Queen, who loved good talk and in
her position could expect but little of it. She had formed great hopes of
the wit and originality of Miss Burney, and was always met only by a
sentimental silence, coupled with an affected modesty which promised
nothing fresh. Her reading-aloud was also not of a high order, and her
slender knowledge of books, apart from her own, astonished the hopeful
Queen, who had looked forward to much pleasing entertainment in her
company.
There were also other difficulties. Miss Burney's extreme sensitiveness to
her own dignity operated as a hindrance to herself as well as her friends.
Never can I forget her expression on hearing that a bell was to be the
means of her summons to attend her Royal Mistress. She was ever ready to
anticipate a slight; and that I may not be supposed malicious in this
statement, I will cite what was said by her old friend, the brilliant Mrs
Thrale-Piozzi on this circumstance:--
"I live with her in a degree of pain which precludes friendship--dare not
ask her to buy me a ribbon--dare not desire her to touch the bell, lest
she should think herself slighted."
It can readily be imagined that slights would in such a case be imagined
where none were intended.
It was a habit Miss Burney encouraged in herself to use the longest words
to express the simplest opinions. Colonel Manners, who laughed at all
and everyone, declared she had made the illustrious Dr Johnson her model,
and would slyly note down some of her most flowing periods to deliver
them, enhanced by humour, when she had left the room. I mean only to imply
that she chose the _corporeal_ style of the famous Doctor without
acquiring the zest and gusto of that great man.
But this is to digress.
"The equerries will attend us at tea today, Miss P.," she observed.
"Colonel Manners and Colonel Digby will be present and Mr de la
Giffardière. Colonel Digby's spirits depend much upon female support and
sustentation. He loves to contemplate the melancholy aspects in a way
which cannot but be harmful to a character so feeling."