(1797-8)
"CAMILLA" COTTAGE. SUNDRY VISITS TO THE ROYAL FAMILY.
[Fanny's pen portraits of the princesses are as fascinating as
Gainsborough's paintings of them. Their truly amiable characters
and sweet dispositions are nowhere more pleasantly illustrated
than in the following section of the "Diary." A list of their
names, with the dates of their births and deaths, may be useful
to the reader.
1. Charlotte, princess royal. born 1767: Queen of Wirtemburg:
died 1828.
2. Augusta, Fanny's favourite, as she well deserved to be. Born
1768 : never married : died 1840.
3. Elizabeth, the artist of the family. Born 1770 : married the
hereditary prince (afterwards, in 1820, Landgrave) of Hesse-
Homburg in 18 18, and settled in Germany: died 1840.
4. Mary. Born 1776 : married her cousin, William Frederick, Duke
of Gloucester, in 1816: died 1857.
5. Sophia, born 1777: died 1848.
6. Amelia, born 1783. Her health first gave way in 1798 (see p.
180): she died, unmarried, at Windsor, in 1810. A few days before
her death she gave her poor blind, old father, a ring containing
a scrap of her hair ; saying only, as she pressed it into his
hand, "Remember me!" The poor king's anguish brought on a fresh
attack of insanity, from which he never recovered.-ED.]
A DISAGREEABLE JOURNEY HoME.
(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.)
Bookham, January 3, '97.
WAS extremely vexed at missing our uncertain post yesterday, and
losing, unavoidably, another to-day, before I return my dearest
father our united thanks for the kind and sweet fortnight passed
under his roof. Our adventures in coming back were better adapted
to our departure than our
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arrival, for they were rather rueful. One of the horses did not
like his business, and wanted to be off, and we were stopped by
his gambols continually , and, if I had not been a soldier's
wife, I should have been terribly alarmed; but my soldier does
not like to see himself disgraced in his other half, and so I was
fain to keep up my courage, till, at length, after we had passed
Fetcham, the frisky animal plunged till he fastened the shaft
against a hedge, and then, little Betty beginning to scream, I
inquired of the postilion if we had not better alight. If it
were not, he said, for the dirt, yes. The dirt then was defied,
and I prevailed, though with difficulty, upon my chieftain to
consent to a general dismounting. And he then found it was not
too soon, for the horse became inexorable to all menace, caress,
chastisement, or harangue, and was obliged to be loosened.
Meanwhile, Betty, Bab, and I trudged on, vainly looking back for
our vehicle, till we reached our little home--a mile and a half.
Here we found good fires, though not a morsel
of food; this however, was soon procured, and our walking apparel
changed for drier raiment; and I sent forth our nearest cottager,
and a young butcher, and a boy, towards Fetcham, to aid the
vehicle, or its contents, for my chevalier had stayed on account
of our chattels: and about two hours after the chaise arrived,
with one horse, and pushed by its hirer, while it was half
dragged by its driver. But all came safe; and we drank a dish of
tea, and ate a mutton chop, and kissed our little darling, and
forgot all else of our journey hut the pleasure we had had at
Chelsea with my dearest father and dear Sally.
And just now I received a letter from our Susanna, which tells me
the invasion(137) has been made in a part of Ireland
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where all is so loyal there can be no apprehension from any such
attempt ; but she adds, that if it had happened in the north
everything might have been feared. Heaven send the invaders far
from all the points of the Irish compass! and that's an Irish
wish for expression, though not for meaning. All the intelligence
she gathers is encouraging, with regard to the spirit and loyalty
of all that surround her. But Mr. Brabazon is in much uneasiness
for his wife, whose situation is critical, and he hesitates
whether or not to convey her to Dublin, as a place of more
security than her own habitation. What a period this for the
usual journey of our invaluable Susan!
BURKE's FUNERAL AT BEACONSFIELD.
(Dr. Burney to Madame d'Arblay.)
Saturday Night, July 22, 1797.
I was invited to poor Mr. Burke's funeral,(138) by Mrs. Crewe and
two notes from Beaconsfield. Malone and I went to Bulstrode
together in my car, this day sevennight, with two horses added to
mine. Mrs. Crewe had invited me thither when she went down
first. We found the Duke of Portland there; and the Duke of
Devonshire and Windham came to dinner. The chancellor and speaker
of the House of Commons could not leave London till four o'clock,
but arrived a little after seven. We all set off together for
Beaconsfield, where we found the rest of the pall-bearers--Lord
Fitzwilliam, Lord Inchiquin, and Sir Gilbert Eliot, with Drs.
King and Lawrence, Lord North, Dudley North, and many of the
deceased's private friends, though by his repeated injunction the
funeral was to be very private. We had all hatbands, scarfs, and
gloves; and he left a list to whom rings of remembrance are to be
sent, among whom my name occurred, and a jeweller has been here
for my measure. I went back to Bulstrode, by invitation, with
the two dukes, the chancellor, and speaker, Windham, Malone, and
Secretary King. I ,stayed there till Sunday evening, and got home
just before the dreadful storm. The duke was extremely civil and
hospitable,--
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pressed me much to stay longer and go with them, the chancellor,
speaker, Windham, and Mrs. Crewe, to Pinn, to see the school,
founded by Mr. Burke, for the male children of French emigrant
nobles; but I could not with prudence stay, having a couple of
ladies waiting for me in London, and two extra horses with me.
So much for poor Mr. Burke, certainly one of the greatest men of
the present century; and I think I might say the best orator and
statesman of modern times. He had his passions and prejudices to
which I did not subscribe - but I always admired his great
abilities, friendship, and urbanity - and it would be ungrateful
in you and me, to whom he was certainly partial, not to feel and
lament his loss.
(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.)
Bookham, July 27, '97.
I was surprised, and almost frightened, though at the same time
gratified, to find you assisted in paying the last honours to Mr.
Burke. How sincerely I sympathise in all you say of that truly
great man! That his enemies say he was not perfect is nothing
compared with his immense superiority over almost all those who
are merely exempted from his peculiar defects. That he was
upright in heart, even where he acted wrong, I do truly believe;
and that he asserted nothing he had not persuaded himself to be
true, from Mr. Hastings's being the most rapacious of villains,
to the king's being incurably insane. He was as generous as kind,
and as liberal in his sentiments as he was luminous in intellect
and extraordinary in abilities and eloquence. Though free from
all little vanity, high above envy, and glowing with zeal to
exalt talents and merit in others, he had, I believe a
consciousness of his own greatness, that shut out those
occasional and useful self-doubts which keep our judgment in
order, by calling our motives and our passions to account.
DEATH OF M. D'ARBLAY'S BROTHER.
(Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.)
Bookham, August 10, '97.
You know, I believe, with what cruel impatience and uncertainty
my dear companion has waited for some news Of his family ; no
tidings, however, could be procure, nor has
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ever heard from any part of it till last Saturday morning, when
two letters arrived by the same post, with information of the
death of his only brother.
impossible as it has long been to look back to France without
fears amounting even to expectation of horrors, he had never
ceased cherishing hopes some favourable turn would, in the end,
unite him with this last branch of his house; the shock,
therefore, has been terribly severe, and has cast a gloom upon
his mind and spirits which nothing but his kind anxiety to avoid
involving mine can at present suppress. He is now the last of a
family of seventeen, and not one relation of his own name now
remains but his own little English son. His father was the only
son of an only son, which drives all affinity on the paternal
side into fourth and fifth kinsmen.
On the maternal side, however, he has the happiness to hear that
an uncle, who is inexpressibly dear to him, who was his guardian
and best friend through life, still lives, and has been permitted
to remain unmolested in his own house, at Joigny, where he is now
in perfect health, save from rheumatic .attacks, which though
painful are not dangerous. A son, too, of this gentleman, who
was placed as a commissaire-de-guerre by M. d'Arblay during the
period of his belonging to the war committee, still holds the
same situation, which is very lucrative, and which M. d'A. had
concluded would have been withdrawn as soon as his own flight
from France was known.
The little property of which the late Chevalier d'Arblay died
possessed, this same letter says, has been "vendu pour la
nation,"(139) because his next heir was an migr; though there
is a little niece, Mlle. Girardin, daughter of an only sister,
who is in France, and upon whom the succession was settled, if
her uncles died without immediate heirs.
Some little matter, however, what we know not, has been reserved
by being bought in by this respectable uncle, who sends M.
d'Arblay word he has saved him what he may yet live upon, if he
can find means to return without personal risk, and who solicits
to again see him with urgent fondness, in which he is joined by
his aunt with as much warmth as if she, also, was his relation by
blood, not alliance.
The late chevalier, my M. d'A. says, was a man of the softest
manners and most exalted honour ; and he was so tall and so thin,
he was often nicknamed Don Quixote, but he was so completely
aristocratic with regard to the Revolution,
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at its very commencement, that M. d'A. has heard nothing yet with
such unspeakable astonishment as the news that he died, near
Spain, of his wounds from a battle in which he had fought for the
Republic. "How strange," says M. d'A., "is our destiny! that that
Republic which I quitted, determined to be rather an hewer of
wood and drawer of water all my life than serve, he should die
for." The secret history of this may some day come out, but it is
now inexplicable, for the mere fact, without the smallest
comment, is all that has reached us, In the period, indeed, in
which M. d'A. left France, there were but three steps possible
for those who had been bred to arms-flight, the guillotine, or
fighting for the Republic, "The former this brother," M. d'A.
says, "had not energy of character to undertake in the desperate
manner in which he risked it himself, friendless and fortuneless,
to live in exile as he could. The guillotine no one could elect;
and the continuing in the service, though in a cause he detested,
was, probably, his hard compulsion." . . .
Our new habitation will very considerably indeed exceed our first
intentions and expectations. I suppose it has ever been so, and
so ever must be ; for we sought as well as determined to keep
within bounds, and M. d'A. still thinks he has done it - however,
I am more aware of our tricks upon travellers than to enter into
the same delusion.
The pleasure, however, he has taken in this edifice is my first
joy, for it has constantly shown me his heart has invariably held
to those first feelings which, before our union, determined him
upon settling in England. O! if you knew how he has been
assailed, by temptations of every sort that either ambition, or
interest, or friendship could dictate, to change his plan,-and
how his heart sometimes yearns towards those he yet can love in
his native soil, while his firmness still remains unshaken,-- you
would not wonder I make light of even extravagance in a point
that shows him thus fixed to make this object a part of the whole
system of his future life.
FROM CREWE HALL TO CHELSEA.
(Dr. Burney to Madame d'Arblay.)
Friday Night, September 13, 1797.
My dear Fanny,-Where did I leave off?--hang me if I know!--I
believe I told you, or all when with YOU, Of the Chester and
Liverpool journey and voyage. On Saturday
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26th August, the day month from leaving London, M. le prsident
de Frondeville and I left Crewe Hall on our way back. The dear
Mrs. Crewe kindly set us in our way as far as Etruria. We visited
Trentham Hall, in Staffordshire, the famous seat of the Marquis
of Stafford,--a very fine place--fine piece of water--fine
hanging woods,--the valley of Tempe--and the river Trent running
through the garden. Mrs C. introduced us to the marchioness, who
did us the honour of showing us the house herself; it has lately
been improved and enlarged by Wyatt:--fine pictures, library,
etc.
After a luncheon here, we went to Etruria, which I had never
seen. Old Mr. Wedgwood is dead, and his son and successor not at
home ; but we went to the pottery manufacture, and saw the whole
process of forming the beautiful things which are dispersed all
over the universe from this place. Mrs. C. offered to send you a
little hand churn for your breakfast butter ; but I should have
broke it to pieces, and durst not accept of it. But if it would
be of any use, when you have a cow, I will get you one at the
Wedgwood ware-house in London. Here we parted.
The president and I got to Lichfield by about ten o'clock that
night. In the morning, before my companion was up, I strolled
about the city with one of the waiters, in search of Frank
Barber,' who I had been told lived there; but on ,inquiry I was
told his residence was in a village three or four miles off. I
however soon found the house where dear Dr. Johnson was born, and
his father's shop. The house is stuccoed, has five sash-windows
in front, and pillars before it. It is the best house
thereabouts, near St. Mary's Church, in a broad street, and is
now a grocer's shop.
I went next to the Garrick house, which has been lately repaired,
stuccoed, enlarged, and sashed. Peter Garrick, David's eldest
brother, died about two years ago, leaving all his Possessions to
the apothecary that had attended him. But the will was disputed
and set aside not long since, it having appeared at a trial that
the testator was insane at the time the will was made; so that
Mrs. Doxie, Garrick's sister, a widow with a numerous family,
recovered the house and -_30,000, She now lives in it with her
family, and has been able to set up a carriage. The inhabitants
of Lichfield were so pleased
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with the decision of the court on the trial, that they
illuminated the streets, and had public rejoicings on the
occasion.
After examining this house well, I tried to find the residence of
Dr. James, inventor of the admirable fever powders, which have so
often saved the life of our dear Susey, and others without
number. But the ungrateful inhabitants knew nothing about him. .
. .
The cathedral, which has been lately thoroughly repaired
internally, is the most complete and beautiful Gothic building I
ever saw. The outside was trs mal trait by the fanatics of the
last century; but there are three beautiful spires still
standing, and more than fifty whole-length figures of saints in
their original niches. The choir is exquisitely beautiful. A fine
new organ is erected, and was well played, and I never heard the
cathedral service so well performed to that instrument only
before. The services and anthems were middle-aged music, neither
too old and dry, nor too modern and light ; the voices subdued,
and exquisitely softened and sweetened by the building,
While the lessons were reading, which I could not hear, I looked
for monuments, and found a beautiful one to Garrick, and another
just by it to Johnson; the former erected by Mrs. Garrick, who
has been daily abused for not erecting one to her husband in
Westminster Abbey ; but sure that was a debt due to him from the
public, and that due from his widow best paid here.(141)
Johnson's has been erected by his friends:--both are beautiful,
and alike in every particular.
There is a monument here to Johnson's first patron, Mr. Walmsley,
whose amplitude of learning and copiousness of communication were
such, that our revered friend said, "it might be doubted whether
a day passed in which he had not some advantage from his
friendship." There is a monument likewise to Lady M. W. Montagu,
and to the father of Mr. Addison, etc.
We left Lichfield about two o'clock, and reached Daventry that
night, stopping a little at Coventry to look at the great church
and Peeping Tom. Next day got to St. Albans time enough to look
'It the church and neighbouring ruins. Next morning breakfasted
at Barnet, where my car met me, and got to Chelsea by three
o'clock, leaving my agreeable compagnon de voyage, M. le
prsident, at his apartments in town. . . .
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AT DR. HERSCHEL'S.
(Dr. Burney to Madame d'Arblay.)
Chelsea College, Thursday, September 28.
My dear Fanny,--I read your letter pen in hand, and shall try to
answer it by to-day's post. But first let me tell you that it
was very unlikely to find me at home, for on Tuesday I went to
Lord Chesterfield's at Bailie's, and arrived there in very good
time for a four o'clock dinner - when, behold ! I was informed by
the porter that " both my lord and lady were in town, and did not
return till Saturday ! " Lord Chesterfield had unexpectedly been
obliged to go to town by indisposition. Though I was asked to
alight and take refreshment, I departed immediately, intending to
dine and lie at Windsor, to be near Dr. Herschel, with whom a
visit had been arranged by letter. But as I was now at liberty
to make that visit at any time of the day I pleased, I drove
through Slough in my way to Windsor, in order to ask at Dr.
Herschel's door when my visit would be least inconvenient to
him--that night or next morning. The good soul was at dinner, but
came to the door himself, to press me to alight immediately and
partake of his family repast - and this he did so heartily that I
could not resist. I was introduced to the family at table, four
ladies, and a little boy about the age and size of Martin.(142) I
was quite shocked at seeing so many females: I expected (not
knowing Herschel was married) only to have found Miss Herschel. .
. . I expressed my concern and shame at disturbing them at this
time of the day ; told my story, at which they were so cruel as
to rejoice, and went so far as to say they rejoiced at the
accident which had brought me there, and hoped I would send my
carriage away, and take a bed with them. They were sorry they had
no stables for my horses. I thought it necessary, You may, be
sure, to faire la petite bouche, ,but in spite of my blushes I
was obliged to submit to my trunk being taken in and the car sent
to the inn just by. . . .
Your health was drunk after dinner (put that int.) your pocket);
and after much social conversation and a few hearty laughs, the
ladies proposed to take a walk, in order, I believe, to leave
Herschel and me together. We walked and talked
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round his great telescopes till it grew damp and dusk, then
retreated into his study to philosophise. I had a string of
questions ready to ask, and astronomical difficulties to solve,
which, with looking at curious books and instruments, filled up
the time charmingly till tea, which being drank with
the ladies, we two retired again to the starry. Now having paved
the way, we began to talk of my poetical plan, and he pressed me
to read what I had done.(143) Heaven help his head! my eight
books, of from four hundred to eight hundred and twenty lines,
would require two or three days to read.
He made me unpack my trunk for my MS., from which I read him the
titles of the chapters, and begged he would choose any book or
character of a great astronomer he pleased. "Oh, let us have the
beginning." I read him the first eighteen or twenty lines of the
exordium, and then said I rather wished to come to modern times -
I was more certain of my ground in high antiquity than after the
time of Copernicus, and began my eighth chapter, entirely on
Newton and his system. He gave me the greatest encouragement
said repeatedly that I perfectly understood what I was writing'
about - and only stopped me at two places: one was at a word too
strong for what I had to describe, and the other at one too weak.
The doctrine he allowed to be quite orthodox, concerning
gravitation, refraction, reflection, optics, comets, magnitudes,
distances, revolutions, etc., but made a discovery to me which,
had I known sooner, would have overset me, and prevented my
reading any part of my work: he said he had almost always had an
aversion to poetry, which he regarded as the arrangement of fine
words, without any useful meaning or adherence to truth; but
that, when truth and science were united to these fine words, he
liked poetry very well; and next morning, after breakfast, he
made me read as much of another chapter on Descartes, etc., as
the time would allow, as I had ordered my carriage at twelve. I
read, talked, asked questions, and looked at books and
instruments, till near one, when I set off for Chelsea.
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HOSPITALITY UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Francis.)
Westhamble, November 16, 1797.
Your letter was most welcome to me, my dearest Charlotte, and I
am delighted Mr. Broome(144) and my dear father will so speedily
meet. If they steer clear of politics, there can be no doubt of
their immediate exchange of regard and esteem. At all events, I
depend upon Mr. B.'s forbearance of such subjects, if their
opinions clash. Pray let me hear how the interview went off.
I need not say how I shall rejoice to see you again, nor how
charmed we shall both be to make a nearer acquaintance with Mr.
Broome; but, for heaven's sake, my dear girl, how are we to give
him a dinner?--unless he will bring with him his poultry, for
ours are not yet arrived from Bookham; and his fish, for ours are
still at the bottom of some pond we know not where, and his spit,
for our jack is yet without clue; and his kitchen grate, for ours
waits for Count Rumford's(145) next pamphlet;--not to mention his
table-linen;--and not to speak
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of his knives and forks, some ten of our poor original twelve
having been massacred in M. d'Arblay's first essays in the art of
carpentering ;-and to say nothing of his large spoons, the silver
of our plated ones having feloniously made off under cover of the
whitening-brush--and not to talk of his cook, ours being not yet
hired ;-and not to start the subject of wine, ours, by some odd
accident, still remaining at the wine-merchant's! With all these
impediments, however, to convivial hilarity, if he will eat a
quarter of a joint of meat (his share, I mean), tied up by a
packthread, and roasted by a log of wood on the bricks,--and
declare no potatoes so good as those dug by M. d'Arblay out of
our garden,--and protest our small beer gives the spirits of
champagne,--and make no inquiries where we have deposited the
hops he will conclude we have emptied out of our table-cloth,--
and pronounce that bare walls are superior to tapestry,--and
promise us the first sight of his epistle upon visiting a
new-built cottage,--we shall be sincerely happy to receive him in
our hermitage; where I hope to learn, for my dearest Charlotte's
sake, to love him as much as, for his own I have very long
admired him.
WAR TAXES. "CAMILLA" COTTAGE.
(Madame d'Arblay to Mrs. Phillips.)
Westhamble, December, '97.
The new threefold assessment of taxes has terrified us rather
seriously ; though the necessity, and therefore justice, of them,
we mutually feel. My father thinks his own share will amount to
eighty pounds a year ! We have, this very morning, decided upon
parting with four of our new windows, --a great abatement of
agrmens to ourselves, and of ornament to our appearance; and a
still greater sacrifice to the amour Propre of my architect, who,
indeed,--his fondness for his edifice considered,--does not ill
deserve praise that the scheme had not his mere consent, but his
own free proposition. . . .
We quitted Bookham with one single regret--that of leaving our
excellent neighbours the Cookes. . . . we languished for the
moment of removal with almost infantine fretfulness at every
delay that distanced it; and when at last the grand day came, our
final packings, with all their toil
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and difficulties and labour and expense, were mere acts of
pleasantry; so bewitched were we with the impending change, that,
though from six o'clock to three we were hard at work, without a
kettle to boil the breakfast, or a knife to cut bread for a
luncheon, we missed nothing, wanted nothing, and were as
insensible to fatigue as to hunger.
M. d'Arblay set out on foot, loaded with remaining relics of
things, to us precious, and Betty afterwards with a remnant of
glass or two; the other maid had been sent two days before. I was
forced to have a chaise for my Alex and me, and a few
looking-glasses, a few folios, and not a few other oddments and
then, with dearest Mr. Locke, our founder's portrait, and my
little boy, off I set, and I would my dearest Susan could relate
to me as delicious a journey.
My mate, striding over hedge and ditch, arrived first, though he
set out after' to welcome me to our new dwelling; and we entered
our new best room, in which I found a glorious fire of wood, and
a little bench, borrowed of one of the departing carpenters :
nothing else. We contrived to make room for each other, and Alex
disdained all rest. His spirits were so high upon finding two or
three rooms totally free for his horse (alias any stick he can
pick up) and himself, unencumbered by chairs and tables and
such-like lumber, that he was as merry as a little Andrew and as
wild as twenty colts. Here we unpacked a small basket containing
three or four loaves, and, with a garden-knife, fell to work;
some eggs had been procured from a neighbouring farm, and one
saucepan had been brought. We dined, therefore, exquisitely, and
drank to our new possession from a glass of clear water out of
our new well.
At about eight o'clock our goods arrived. We had our bed put up
in the middle of our room, to avoid risk of damp walls, and our
Alex had his dear Willy's crib at our feet.
We none of us caught cold. We had fire night and day in the
maids' room, as well as Our own -or rather in my Susan's room;
for we lent them that, their own having a little inconvenience
against a fire, because it is built without a chimney. We
Continued making fires all around us the first fortnight, and
then found wood would be as bad as an apothecary's bill, so
desisted; but we did not stop short so soon as to want the latter
to succeed the former, or put our calculation to the proof.
Our first week was devoted to unpacking, and exulting in Our
completed plan. To have no one thing at hand, nothing
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to eat, nowhere to sit--all were trifles, rather, I think,
amusing than incommodious. The house looked so clean, the
distribution of the rooms and closets is so convenient, the
prospect everywhere around is so gay and so lovely, and the park
of dear Norbury is so close at hand, that we hardly knew how to
require anything else for existence than the enjoyment of our own
situation.
At this period I received my summons. I believe I have already
explained that I had applied to Miss Planta for advice whether my
best chance of admission would be at Windsor, Kew, or London. I
had a most kind letter of answer, importing my letter had been
seen, and that her majesty would herself fix the time when she
could admit me. This was a great happiness to me, and the fixture
was for the Queen's house in town.
VISITORS ARRIVE INOPPORTUNELY.
The only drawback to the extreme satisfaction of such
graciousness as allowing an appointment to secure me from a
fruitless journey, as well as from impropriety and all fear of
intrusion, was, that exactly at this period the Princess d'Henin
and M. de Lally were expected at Norbury. I hardly could have
regretted anything else, I was so delighted by my summons; but
this I indeed lamented. They arrived to dinner on Thursday: I was
involved in preparations, and unable to meet them, and my mate
would not be persuaded to relinquish aiding me.
The next morning, through mud, through mire, they came to our
cottage. The poor princess was forced to change shoes and
stockings. M. de Lally is more accustomed to such expeditions.
Nothing could be more sweet than they both were, nor indeed, more
grateful than I felt for my share in their kind exertion. The
house was re-viewed all over, even the little pot au feu was
opened by the princess, excessively curious to see our manner of
living in its minute detail.
I have not heard if your letter has been received by M. de Lally;
but I knew not then you had written, and therefore did not
inquire. The princess talked of nothing so much as you, and with
a softness of regard that quite melted me. I always tell her
warmly how you feel about her. M. de Lally was most melancholy
about France; the last new and most alas! barbarous
revolution(146) has disheartened all his hopes--alas!
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whose can withstand it? They made a long and kind visit, and in
the afternoon we went to Norbury Park, where we remained till
near eleven o'clock, and thought the time very short.
Madame d'Henin related some of her adventures in this second
flight from her terrible country, and told them with a spirit and
a power of observation that would have made them interesting if a
tale of old times ; but now, all that gives account of those
events awakens the whole mind to attention.
M. de Lally after tea read us a beginning of a new tragedy,
composed upon an Irish story, but bearing allusion so palpable to
the virtues and misfortunes of Louis XVI. that it had almost as
strong an effect upon our passions and faculties as if it had
borne the name of that good and unhappy prince. It is written
with great pathos, noble sentiment, and most eloquent language.
I parted from them with extreme reluctance-nay, vexation.
ANOTHER VISIT TO THE ROYAL FAMILY.
I set off for town early the next day, Saturday.
My time was not yet fixed for my royal interview, but I had
various preparations impossible to make in this dear, quiet,
obscure cottage. Mon ami could not accompany me, as we had still
two men constantly at work, the house without being quite
unfinished but I could not bear to leave his little
representative, who, with Betty, was my companion to Chelsea.
There I was expected, and Our dearest father came forth with open
arms to welcome us. He was in delightful spirits, the sweetest
humour, and perfectly good looks and good health. My little
rogue soon engaged him in a romp, which conquered his rustic
shyness, and they became the best friends in the world.
Thursday morning I had a letter from Miss Planta, written with
extreme warmth of kindness, and fixing the next day at eleven
o'clock for my royal admission.
Page 138
I went up-stairs to Miss Planta's room, where, while I waited for
her to be called, the charming Princess Mary passed by, attended
by Mrs. Cheveley. She recollected me and turned back, and came up
to me with a fair hand graciously held out to me. "How do you
do, Madame d'Arblay?" she cried: "I am vastly glad to see you
again and how does your little boy do?"
I gave her a little account of the rogue, and she proceeded to
inquire about my new cottage, and its actual state. I entered
into a long detail of its bare walls, and unfurnished sides, and
the gambols of the little man unencumbered by cares of fractures
from useless ornaments, that amused her good-humoured interest in
my affairs very much , and she did not leave me till Miss Planta
came to usher me to Princess Augusta.
That kind princess received me with a smile so gay, and a look so
pleased at my pleasure in again seeing her, that I quite
regretted the etiquette which prevented a chaste embrace. She
was sitting at her toilette having her hair dressed. The royal
family were all going at night to the play. She turned instantly
from the glass to face me, and insisted upon my being seated
immediately. She then wholly forgot her attire and ornaments and
appearance, and consigned herself wholly to conversation, with
that intelligent animation which marks her character. She
inquired immediately how my little boy did, and then with great
sweetness after his father, and after my father.
My first subject was the princess royal, and I accounted for not
having left my hermitage in the hope of once more seeing her
royal highness before her departure. It would have been, I told
her, so melancholy a pleasure to have come merely for a last
view, that I could not bear to take my annual indulgence at a
period which would make it leave a mournful impression upon my
mind for a twelvemonth to come. The princess said she could enter
into that, but said it as if she had been surprised I had not
appeared. She then gave ne some account of the ceremony ;(147)
and when I told her I had heard that her royal highness the bride
had never looked so lovely, she confirmed the praise warmly, but
laughingly added, "'Twas the queen dressed her! You know what a
figure she used to make of herself, with her odd manner Of
Page 139
dressing herself; but mamma said, 'Now really, princess royal,
this one time is the last, and I cannot suffer you to make such a
quiz of yourself; so I will really have you dressed such a quiz
of yourself, properly.' And indeed the queen was quite in the
right, for everybody said she had never looked so well in her
life."
The word "quiz," you may depend, was never the queen's. I had
great comfort, however, in gathering, from all that passed on
that subject, that the royal family is persuaded this estimable
princess is happy. From what I know of her disposition I am led
to believe the situation may make her so. She is born to preside,
and that with equal softness and dignity; but she was here in
utter subjection, for which she had neither spirits nor
inclination. She adored the king, honoured the queen, and loved
her sisters, and had much kindness for her brothers ; but her
style of life was not adapted to the royalty of her nature, any
more than of her birth; and though she only wished for power to
do good and to confer favours, she thought herself out of her
place in not possessing it.
I was particularly happy to learn from the Princess Augusta that
she has already a favourite friend in her new Court, in one of
the princesses of Wurtemberg, wife of a younger brother of the
hereditary prince, and who is almost as a widow, from the prince,
her husband, being constantly with the army. This is a
delightful circumstance, as her turn of mind, and taste, and
,employments, accord singularly with those of our princess.
I have no recollection of the order of our conversation, but will
give you what morsels occur to me as they arise in my memory.
The terrible mutiny occupied us some time.(148) She told me
Page 140
many anecdotes that she had learnt in favour Of various sailors,
declaring, with great animation, her security In their good
hearts, however drawn aside by harder and more cunning heads, The
sweetness with which she delights to get out of all that is
forbidding in her rank is truly adorable. In speaking of a sailor
on board the St. Fiorenzo, when the royal family made their
excursion by sea from Weymouth, she said, "You must know this man
was a great favourite of mine, for he had the most honest
countenance you can conceive, and I have often talked with him,
every time we have been at Weymouth, so that we were good
friends; but I wanted now in particular to ask him concerning the
mutiny, but I knew I should not get him to speak out while the
king and queen and my sisters were by ; so I told Lady Charlotte
Bellasyse to watch an opportunity when he was upon deck, and the
rest were in the cabin, and then we went up to him and questioned
him; and he quite answered my expectations, for, instead of
taking any merit to himself from belonging to the St. Fiorenso,
which was never in the mutiny, the good creature said he was sure
there was not a sailor in the navy that was not sorry to have
belonged to it, and would not have got out of it as readily as
himself, if he had known but how."
The Princess Elizabeth now entered, but she did not stay. She
came to ask something of her sister relative to a little fte she
was preparing, by way of a collation, in honour of the Princess
Sophia, who was twenty this day. She made kind inquiries after my
health, etc., and, being mistress of the birthday fte, hurried
off, and I had not the pleasure to see her any more.
I must be less minute, or I shall never have done.
My charming Princess Augusta renewed the conversation.
Admiral Duncan's noble victory(149) became the theme, but it was
interrupted by the appearance of the lovely Princess Amelia, now
become a model of grace, beauty and sweetness,
Page 141
in their bud. She gave me her hand with the softest expression
of kindness, and almost immediately began questioning me
concerning my little boy and with an air of interest the most
captivating. But again Princess Augusta declined any
interruptors: "You shall have Madame d'Arblay all to yourself, my
dear, soon," she cried, laughingly; and, with a smile a little
serious, the sweet Princess Amelia retreated.
It would have been truly edifying to young ladies living in the
great and public world to have assisted in my place at the
toilette of this exquisite Princess Augusta. Her ease, amounting
even to indifference, as to her ornaments and decoration, showed
a mind so disengaged from vanity, so superior to personal
appearance, that I could with difficulty forbear manifesting my
admiration. She let the hair-dresser proceed upon her head
without comment and without examination, just as if it was solely
his affair ; and when the man, Robinson, humbly begged to know
what ornaments he was to prepare the hair for, she said, "O,
there are my feathers, and my gown is blue, so take what you
think right." And when he begged she would say whether she would
have any ribbons or other things mixed with the feathers and
jewels, she said, "You understand all that best, Mr. Robinson,
I'm sure; there are the things, so take just what you please."
And after this she left him wholly to himself, never a moment
interrupting her discourse or her attention with a single
direction.
INTERVIEW WITH THE QUEEN.
Princess Augusta had just begun a very interesting account of an
officer that had conducted himself singularly well in the mutiny,
when Miss Planta came to summon me to the queen. I begged
permission to return afterwards for my unfinished narrative, and
then proceeded to the white closet.
The queen was alone, seated at a table, and working. Miss Planta
opened the door and retired without entering. I felt a good deal
affected by the sight of her Majesty again, so graciously
accorded to my request ; but my first and instinctive feeling was
nothing to what I experienced when, after my profoundly
respectful reverence, I raised my eyes, and saw in hers a look of
sensibility so expressive of regard, and so examining, so
penetrating into mine, as to seem to convey, involuntarily, a
regret I had quitted her. This, at least, was the idea that
struck me, from the species of look which met
Page 142
me; and it touched me to the heart, and brought instantly, in
defiance of all struggle, a flood of tears into my eyes. I was
some minutes recovering; and when I then entreated her
forgiveness, and cleared up, the voice with which she Spoke, in
hoping I was well, told me she had caught a little of my
sensation, for it was by no means steady. Indeed, at that
moment, I longed to kneel and beseech her pardon for the
displeasure I had felt in her long resistance of my resignation,
for I think, now, it was from a real and truly honourable wish to
attach me to her for ever. But I then suffered too much from a
situation so ill adapted to my choice and disposition, to do
justice to her opposition, or to enjoy its honour to myself. Now
that I am so singularly, alas! nearly singularly happy, though
wholly from my perseverance in that resignation, I feel all I owe
her, and I feel more and more grateful for every mark of her
condescension, either recollected or renewed.
She looked ill, pale, and harassed. The king was but just
returned from his abortive visit to the Nore, and the inquietude
she had sustained during that short separation, circumstanced
many ways alarmingly, had evidently shaken her: I saw with much,
with deep concern, her sunk eyes and spirits. I believe the sight
of me raised not the latter. Mrs. Schwellenberg had not long
been dead, and I have some reason to think she would not have
been sorry to have had me supply the vacancy; for I had immediate
notice sent me of her death by Miss Planta, so written as to
persuade me it was a letter by command. But not all my duty, all
my gratitude, could urge me, even one short fleeting moment, to
weigh any interest against the soothing serenity, the unfading
felicity, of a hermitage such as mine.
We spoke of poor Mrs. Schwelly,--and of her successor, Mlle.
Backmeister,--and of mine, Mrs. Bremyere; and I could not but
express my concern that her majesty had again been so
unfortunate, for Mlle. Jacobi had just retired to Germany, ill
and dissatisfied with everything in England. The Princess Augusta
had recounted to me the whole narrative of her retirement, and
its circumstances. The queen told me that the king had very
handsomely taken care of her. But such frequent retirements are
heavy weights upon the royal bounty.
I felt almost guilty when the subject was started; but not from
any reproach, any allusion,-not a word was dropped that had not
kindness and goodness for its basis and its superstructure at
once.
Page 143
"How is your little boy?" was one of the earliest questions. "is
he here?" she added.
"O yes," I answered, misunderstanding her, "he is my shadow; I go
nowhere without him."
"But here, I mean?"
"O no! ma'am, I did not dare presume--"
I stopped, for her look said it would be no presumption. And Miss
Planta had already desired me to bring him to her next time;
which I suspect was by higher order than her own suggestion.
She then inquired after my dear father, and so graciously, that I
told her not only of his good health, but his occupations, his
new work, a "Poetical History of Astronomy," and his
consultations with Herschel.
She permitted me to speak a good deal of the Princess of
Wurtemberg, whom they still all call princess royal. She told me
she had worked her wedding garment, and entirely, and the real
labour it had proved, from her steadiness to have no help, well
knowing that three stitches done by any other would make it
immediately said it was none of it by herself. "As the bride of a
widower," she continued, "I know she ought to be in white and
gold ; but as the king's eldest daughter she had a right to white
and silver, which she preferred."
A little then we talked of the late great naval victory, and she
said it was singularly encouraging to us that the three great
victories at sea had been "against our three great enemies,
successively : Lord Howe against the French, Lord St. Vincent
against the Spaniards, and Lord Duncan against the Dutch."(150)
She spoke very feelingly of the difficult situation of the Orange
family, now in England, upon this battle; and she repeated me the
contents of' a letter from the Princess of Orange, whose
character she much extolled, upon the occasion,
page 144
to the Princess Elizabeth, saying she could not bear to be the
only person in England to withhold her congratulations to the
king upon such an occasion, when no one owed him such
obligations; but all she had to regret was that the Dutch had not
fought with, not against, the English, and that the defeat had
not fallen upon those who ought to be their joint enemies. She
admired and pitied, inexpressibly, this poor fugitive princess.
I told her of a note my father had received from Lady Mary
Duncan, in answer to his wishing her joy of her relation's
prowess and success, in which he says, "Lady Mary has been, for
some days past, like the rest of the nation drunk for joy." This
led to more talk of this singular lady: and reciprocal stories of
her oddities.
She then deigned to inquire very particularly about our new
cottage,-its size, its number of rooms, and its grounds. I told
her, honestly, it was excessively comfortable, though unfinished
and unfitted up, for that it had innumerable little contrivances
and conveniences, just adapted to our particular use and taste,
as M. d'Arblay had been its sole architect and surveyor. "Then I
dare say," she answered, "it is very commodious, for there are no
people understand enjoyable accommodations more than French
gentleman, when they have the arranging them themselves."
This was very kind, and encouraged me to talk a good deal of my
partner, in his various works and employments ; and her manner of
attention was even touchingly condescending, all circumstances
considered. And she then related to me the works of two French
priests, to whom she has herself been so good as to commit the
fitting up of one of her apartments at Frogmore. And afterwards
she gave me a description of what another French gentleman--
elegantly and feelingly avoiding to say emigrant--had done in a
room belonging to Mrs. Harcourt, at Sophia farm, where he had the
sole superintendence of it, and has made it beautiful.
When she asked about our field, I told her we hoped in time to
buy it, as Mr. Locke had the extreme kindness to consent to part
with it to us, when it should suit our convenience to purchase
instead of renting it. I thought I saw a look of peculiar
satisfaction at this, that seemed to convey pleasure in the
implication thence to be drawn, that England was our decided, not
forced or eventual residence. And she led me on to many minute
particulars of our situation and way of living, with a sweetness
of interest I can never forget.
Page 145
Nor even here stopped the sensations of gratitude and pleasure
she thus awoke. She spoke then of my beloved Susan ; asked if
she were still in Ireland, and how the " pretty Norbury " did.
She then a little embarrassed me by an inquiry "why Major
Phillips went to Ireland?" for my answer, that he was persuaded
he should improve his estate by superintending the agriculture of
it himself, seemed dissatisfactory; however, she pressed it no
further. But I cannot judge by what passed whether she concludes
he is employed in a military way there, or whether she has heard
that he has retired. She seemed kindly pleased at all I had to
relate of my dear Norbury, and I delighted to call him back to
her remembrance.
She talked a good deal of the Duchess of York, who continues the
first favourite of the whole royal family. She told me of her
beautiful works, lamented her indifferent health, and expatiated
upon her admirable distribution of her time and plan of life, and
charming qualities and character.
But what chiefly dwells upon me with pleasure is, that she spoke
to me upon some subjects and persons that I know she would not
for the world should be repeated, with just the same confidence,
the same reliance upon my grateful discretion for her openness,
that she honoured me with while she thought me established in her
service for life. I need not tell my Susan how this binds me
more than ever to her.
Very short to me seemed the time, though the whole conversation
was serious, and her air thoughtful almost to sadness, when a
page touched the door, and said something in German. The queen,
who was then standing by the window, turned round to answer him,
and then, with a sort of Congratulatory smile to me, said, "Now
you will see what you don't expect--the king!"
I could indeed not expect it, for he was at Blackheath at a
review, and he was returned only to dress for the levee. . .
THE KING AND HIS INFANT GRAND-DAUGHTER.
The king related very pleasantly- a little anecdote of Lady --.
"She brought the little Princess Charlotte,"(151) he said "to me
just before the review. 'She hoped,' she said, 'I should not
take it ill, for, having mentioned it to the child,
Page 146
she built so upon it that she had thought of nothing else.' Now
this," cried he, laughing heartily, "was pretty strong! How can
she know what a child is thinking of before it can speak?"
I was very happy at the fondness they both expressed for the
little princess, "A sweet little creature," the king called her;
"A most lovely child," the queen turned to me to add and the king
said he had taken her upon his horse, and given her a little
ride, before the regiment rode up to him. "'TIS very odd," he
added, "but she always knows me on horseback, and never else."
"Yes," said the queen, "when his majesty comes to her on
horseback, she claps her little bands, and endeavours to say
'Gampa!' immediately." I was much pleased that she is brought up
to such simple and affectionate acknowledgment of relationship.
The king then inquired about my father, and with a look of
interest and kindness that regularly accompanies his mention of
that most dear person. He asked after his health, his spirits,
and his occupations, waiting for long answers to each inquiry,
The queen anticipated my relation of his astronomic work, and he
seemed much pleased with the design, as well as at hearing that
his protg Dr. Herschel, had been consulted.
I was then a little surprised by finding he had heard of
"Clarentine."(152) He asked me, smilingly, some questions about
it, and if it were true, what he suspected, that my young sister
had a mind to do as I had done, and bring out a work in secret? I
was very much pleased then when the queen said, "I have seen it,
sir, and it is very pretty." . . .
ADMIRAL DUNCAN'S VICTORY. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF
ORANGE.
I then, by her majesty's kind appointment, returned to my lovely
and loved Princess Augusta. Her hairdresser was just gone, and
she was proceeding in equipping herself "If you can bear to see
all this work," cried she, "pray come and sit with me, my dear
Madame d'Arblay."
Nothing could be more expeditious than her attiring herself,
nothing more careless than her examination how it succeeded. But
judge my confusion and embarrassment, when, upon my saying I came
to petition for the rest of the Story,
Page 147
she had just begun, and her answering by inquiring what it was
about, I could not tell! It had entirely escaped my memory; and
though I sought every way I could suggest to recall it, I so
entirely failed, that after her repeated demands, I was compelled
honestly to own that the commotion I had been put in by my
interview with their majesties had really driven it from my mind.
She bore this with the true good humour of good sense but I was
most excessively ashamed.
She then resumed the reigning subject of the day, Admiral
Duncan's victory and this led to speak again of the Orange
family; but she checked what seemed occurring to her about them,
till her wardrobe-woman had done and was -dismissed ; then,
hurrying her away, while she sat down by me, putting on her long
and superb diamond earrings herself, and without even turning
towards a glass, she said, "I don't like much to talk of that
family before the servants, for I am told they already think the
king too good to them."
The Princess of Orange is, I find, a great favourite with them
all ; the Prince Frederick also, I believe, they like very much;
but the prince himself, she said, " has never, in fact, had his
education finished. He was married quite a ',-,'boy - but, being
married, concluded himself a man, and not only turned off all his
instructors, but thought it unnecessary to ask, or hear, counsel
or advice of any one. He is like a fallow field,-that is, not of
a soil that can't be improved ;:but one that has been left quite
to itself, and therefore has no materials put in it for
improvement."
She then told me that she had hindered him, with great faculty,
from going to a great dinner, given at the Mansion House. upon
the victory of Admiral Duncan. It was not, she said, that he did
not feel for his country in that defeat, but that he never
weighed the impropriety of his public appearance upon an occasion
of rejoicing at it, nor the Ill effect the history of his so
doing would produce in Holland. She had the kindness of heart to
take upon herself preventing him "for no one," says she, "that is
about him dares ever speak to him, to give him any hint of
advice; which is a great "Misfortune: to him, poor man, for it
makes him never know what is said or thought of him." She related
with a great deal of humour her arguments to dissuade him, and
his nave manner of combating them. But though she conquered at
last, she did not convince,
Page 148
The Princess of Orange, she told me, had a most superior
understanding and might guide him sensibly and honourably, but he
was so jealous of being thought led by her counsel' that he never
listened to it at all. She gave me to understand that this
unhappy princess had had a life of uninterrupted indulgence and
prosperity till the late revolution - and that the suddenness of
such adversity had rather soured her mind, which, had it met
sorrow and evil by any gradations, would have been equal to
bearing them even nobly - but so quick a transition from
affluence, and power, and wealth, and grandeur, to a fugitive and
dependent state, had almost overpowered her.
A door was now opened from an inner apartment, where, I believe,
was the grand collation for the Princess Sophia's birthday, and a
tall thin young man appeared at it, peeping and staring, but not
entering.
"O! How do you do, Ernest?" cried the princess; "I hope you are
well; only pray do shut the door."
He did not obey, nor move, either forwards or backwards, but kept
peering and peeping. She called to him again, beseeching him to
shut the door- but he was determined to first gratify his
curiosity, and, when he had looked as long as he thought
pleasant, he entered the apartment; but Princess Augusta, instead
of receiving and welcoming him, only said, "Good-bye, my dear
Ernest; I shall see you again at the play."
He then marched on, finding himself so little desired, and only
saying, "No, you won't; I hate the play."
I had risen when I found it one of the princes, and with a motion
of readiness to depart - but my dear princess would not let me.
When we were alone again, "Ernest," she said, "has a very good
heart; only he speaks without taking time to think." She then
gave me an instance. The Orange family by some chance were all
assembled with our royal family when the news of the great
victory at sea arrived; or at least upon the same day. "We were
all," said she, " distressed for them upon SO trying an occasion
and at supper we talked, of' course, Of every other subject; but
Ernest, quite uneasy at the forbearance, said to me, 'You don't
think I won't drink Duncan's health to-night?' 'Hush!' cried I.
'That's very hard indeed!' said he, quite loud. I saw the
princess of
Page 149
orange looking at him, and was sure she had heard him; I trod
upon his foot, and made him turn to her. She looked so
disturbed, that he saw she had understood him, and he coloured
very high. The Princess of Orange then said, 'I hope my being
here will be no restraint upon anybody: I know what must be the
subject of everybody's thoughts, and I beg I may not prevent its
being so of their discourse.' Poor Ernest now was so sorry, he
was ready to die, and the tears started into his eyes; and he
would not have given his toast after this for all the world."
SOME NOTABLE ACTRESSES.
The play they were going to was "The Merchant of Venice," to see
a new actress, just now much talked of--Miss Betterton; and the
king, hearing she was extremely frightened at the thoughts of
appearing before him, desired she might choose her own part for
the first exhibition in his presence. She fixed upon Portia.
In speaking of Miss Farren's marriage with the Earl of Derby, she
displayed that sweet mind which her state and station has so
wholly escaped sullying; for, far from expressing either horror,
or resentment, or derision at an actress being elevated to the
rank of second countess of England, she told me, with an air of
satisfaction, that she was informed she had behaved extremely
well since her marriage, and done many generous and charitable
actions.
She spoke with pleasure, too, of the high marriage made by
another actress, Miss Wallis, who has preserved a spotless
character, and is now the wife of a man of fortune and family Mr
Campbell.
In mentioning Mrs. Siddons, and her great and affecting powers,
she much surprised me by intelligence that she had bought the
proprietorship of Sadler's-wells. I could not hear it without
some amusement it seemed, I said, so extraordinary a
combination--so degrading a one, indeed,-that of the first tragic
actress, the living Melpomene, and something so burlesque as
Sadler's-wells. She laughed, and said it offered her a very
ludicrous image, for Mrs. Siddons and Sadler's-wells," said she,
" seems to me as ill-fitted as the dish they call a toad in a
hole which I never saw, but always think of with anger, -
-putting a noble sirloin of beef into .1 ,'poor, Paltry
batter-pudding!
Page 150
THE DUKE OF CLARENCE.
The door now again opened, and another royal personage put in his
head - and upon the princess saying, "How d'ye do, William?" I
recollected the Duke of Clarence.
I rose, of course, and he made a civil bow to my curtsey The
princess asked him about the House of Lords the preceding
evening, where I found he had spoken very handsomely and
generously in eulogium of Admiral Duncan. Finding he was inclined
to stay, the princess said to me,
"Madame d'Arblay, I beg you will sit down."
"Pray, madam," said the duke, with a formal motion of his hand,
"let me beg you to be seated."
"You know--you recollect Madame d'Arblay, don't you, William ?"
said the princess. He bowed civilly an affirmative, and then
began talking to me of Chesington. How I grieved poor dear Kitty
was gone! How great would have been her gratification to have
heard that he mentioned her, and with an air of kindness, as if
he had really entered into the solid goodness of her character.
I was much Surprised and much pleased, yet not without some
perplexity and some embarrassment, as his knowledge of the
excellent Kitty was from her being the dupe of the mistress of
his aide-de-camp.
The princess, however, saved me any confusion beyond
apprehension, for she asked not one question. He moved on
towards the next apartment, and we were again alone.
She then talked to me a great deal of him, and gave me,
admirably, his character. She is very partial to him, but by no
means blindly. He had very good parts, she said, but seldom did
them justice. "If he has something of high importance to do,"
she continued, "he will exert himself to the utmost, and do it
really well; but otherwise, he is so fond of his ease, he lets
everything take its course. He can just do a great deal or
nothing. However, I really think, if he takes pains, he may make
something of a speaker by and by in the House."
She related a visit he had made at Lady Mary Duncan's, at Hampton
Court, upon hearing Admiral Duncan was there and told me the
whole and most minute particulars of the battle, as they were
repeated by his royal highness from the admiral's own account.
But You will dispense with the martial detail from me. "Lady
Mary," cried she, "is much
Page 151
enchanted with her gallant nephew. 'I used to look,' says she,
'for honour and glory from my other side, the T--s ; but I
receive it only from the Duncans ! As to the T-s, what good do
they do their country?--why, they play all day at tennis, and
learn with vast skill to notch and scotch and go one! And that's
what their country gets from them!"'
I thought now I should certainly be dismissed, for a page came to
the door to announce that the Duke of York was arrived : but she
only said, "Very well; pray shut the door," which seemed her
gentle manner of having it understood she would not be disturbed,
as she used the same words when messages were brought her from
the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary.
She spoke again of the Duchess of York with the same fondness as
at Windsor. "I told you before," she said, "I loved her like one
of my own sisters, and I can tell you no more: and she knows it;
for one day she was taken ill, and fainted, and we put her upon
one of our beds, and got her everything we could think of
ourselves, and let nobody else wait upon her ; and when she
revived she said to my brother, 'These are my sisters--I am sure
they are! they must be my own!"
PRINCESS SOPHIA OF GLOUCESTER.
Our next and last interruption, I think, was from a very gentle
tap at the door, and a "May I come in?" from a soft voice, while
the lock was turned, and a youthful and very lovely female put in
her head.
The princess immediately rose, and said, " "O yes," and held out
her two hands to her; turning at the same time to me, and saying,
"Princess Sophia."
I found it was the Duke of Gloucester's(154) daughter. She is
very fat, with very fine eyes, a bright, even dazzling bloom,
fine teeth, a beautiful skin, and a look of extreme modesty and
sweetness. She curtseyed to me so distinguishingly, that I was
almost confused by her condescension, fearing she 'Might imagine,
from finding me seated with the Princess 'Augusta, and in such
close conference, I was somebody.
"You look so fine and so grand," cried she, examining the
princess's attire, which was very superb in silver and diamonds,
"that I am almost afraid to come near you!" Her own dress was
perfectly simple, though remarkably elegant.
Page 152
O!--I hate myself when so fine cried Princess Augusta; "I cannot
bear it but there is no help--the people at the play always
expect it."
They then conversed a little while, both standing ; and then
Princess Augusta said, "Give my love to the duke (meaning of
Gloucester), "and I hope I shall see him bye and bye; and to
William."(155) (meaning the duke's son). And this, which was not
a positive request that she would prolong her visit, was
understood; and the lovely cousin made her curtsey and retired.
To me, again, she made another, so gravely low and civil, that I
really blushed to receive it, from added fear of being mistaken.
I accompanied her to the door, and shut it for her; and the
moment she was out of the room, and out of sight of the Princess
Augusta, she turned round to me, and with a smile of extreme
Civility, and a voice very soft, said, "I am so happy to see
you!--I have longed for it a great, great while--for I have read
you with such delight and instruction, so often."
I was very much surprised indeed; I expressed my sense of her
goodness as well as I could; and she curtseyed again, and glided
away. "How infinitely gracious is all your royal highness's
House to me!" cried I, as I returned to my charming princess; who
again made me take my seat next her own, and again renewed her
discourse.
I stayed on with this delightful princess till near four o'clock,
when she descended to dinner. I then accompanied her to the head
of the stairs, saying, "I feel quite low that this is over! How I
wish it might be repeated in half a year instead of a year!"
"I'm sure, and so do I!" were the last kind words she
condescendingly uttered.
I then made a little visit to Miss Planta, who was extremely
friendly, and asked me why I should wait another year before I
came. I told her I had leave for an annual visit, and could not
presume to encroach beyond such a permission. However, as she
proposed my calling upon her when I happened to be in town, I
begged her to take some opportunity to hint my wish of admission,
if possible, more frequently.
Very soon afterwards I had a letter from Miss Planta, saying she
had mentioned to her majesty my regret of the
Page 153
long intervals of annual admissions; and that her majesty had
most graciously answered, "She should be very glad to see me
whenever I came to town."
DIARY RESUMED: (Addressed to Mrs. Phillips.)
INDIGNATION AGAINST TALLEYRAND.
Westhamble, Jan. 18, 1798-I am very impatient to know
if the invasion threat affects your part of Ireland. Our 'Oracle'
is of opinion the French soldiers will not go to Ireland, though
there flattered with much help, because they can expect but
little advantage, after all the accounts spread by the Opposition
of its starving condition ; but that they will come to England,
though sure of contest, at least, because there they expect the
very road to be paved with gold.
Nevertheless, how I wish my heart's beloved here! to share with
us at least the same fears, instead of the division of
apprehension we must now mutually be tormented with. I own I am
sometimes affrighted enough. These sanguine and sanguinary
wretches will risk all for the smallest hope of plunder ; and
Barras assures them they have only to enter England to be lords
of wealth unbounded.
But Talleyrand!--how like myself must you have felt at his
conduct! indignant--amazed--ashamed! Our first prepossession
against him was instinct--he conquered it by pains indefatigable
to win us, and he succeeded astonishingly, for we became partial
to him almost to fondness. The part he now acts against England
may be justified, perhaps, by the spirit of revenge ; but the
part he submits to perform of coadjutor with the worst of
villains--with Barras--Rewbel--Merlin--marks some internal
atrocity of character that disgusts as much as disappoints me.
And now, a last stroke, which appears in yesterday's paper, gives
the finishing hand to his portrait in my eyes. He has sent (and
written) the letter which exhorts the King of Prussia to order
the Duke of Brunswick to banish and drive from his dominions all
the emigrants there in asylum --and among these are the
Archbishop of Rennes (his uncle) and--his own mother!
Poor M. de Narbonne! how will he be shocked and let down! where
he now is we cannot conjecture: all emigrants are exiled from the
Canton of Berne, where he resided; I feel extremely disturbed
about him. If that wretch Talleyrand has
Page 154
not given him some private Intimation to escape, and where to be
safe, he must be a monster.
THE D'ARBLAY MAISONNETTE.
This very day, I thank God ! we paid the last of our work men.
Our house now is our own fairly --that it is our own madly too
you will all think, when I tell you the small remnant of our
income that has outlived this payment. However, if the
Carmagnols do not seize our walls, we despair not of enjoying, in
defiance of all straitness and strictness, our dear dwelling to
our hearts' content. But we are reducing our expenses and way of
life, in order to go on, in a manner you would laugh to see,
though almost cry to hear. But I never forget Dr. Johnson's
words. When somebody said that a certain person "had no turn for
economy," he answered, "Sir, you might as well say that he has no
turn for honesty."
We know nothing yet of our taxes-nothing- of our assessments; but
we are of good courage, and so pleased with our maisonnette, we
think nothing too dear for it, provided we can but exist in it. I
should like much to know how you stand affected about the
assessment, and about the invasion. O that all these public
troubles would accelerate Your return! private blessings they
would then, at least, prove. Ah, my Susan, how do I yearn for
some little ray upon this subject!
Charles and his family are at Bath, and Charlotte is gone to them
for a fortnight. All accounts that reach me of all the house and
race are well. Mr. Locke gives us very-frequent peeps indeed,
and looks with such benevolent pleasure at our dear cottage and
its environs! and seems to say, "I brought all this to bear," and
to feel happy in the noble trust he placed in our self-belief
that he might venture to show that kind courage without which we
could never have been united. All this retrospection is
expressed by his penetrating eyes it every visit. He rarely
alights ; but I frequently enter the phaeton, and take a
conversation in an airing. And when he comes without his
precious Amelia, he indulges my Alex in being our third.
INTERVIEW WITH THE QUEEN AND THE PRINCESSES.
And now I have to prepare another Court relation for MY dearest
Susanna. I received on Wednesday morn a letter from our dearest
Page 155
father, telling me he feared he should be forced to quit his
Chelsea apartments, from a new arrangement among the officers,
and wishing me to represent his difficulties, his books, health,
time of life, and other circumstances, through Miss Planta, to
the queen. M. d'Arblay and I both thought that, if I had any
chance of being of the smallest use, it would be by endeavouring
to obtain an audience-not by letter; and as the most remote hope
of success was sufficient to urge -every exertion, we settled
that I should set out instantly for Chelsea ; and a chaise,
therefore, we sent for from Dorking, and I set off at noon. M.
d'A. would not go, as we knew not what accommodation I might find
; and I could not, uninvited and unexpected, take my little
darling boy; so I went not merrily, though never more willingly.
My dear father was at home, and, I could see, by no means
surprised by my appearance, though he had not hinted at desiring
it. Of course he was not very angry nor sorry, and we communed
together upon his apprehensions, and settled our plan. I was to
endeavour to represent his case to the queen, in hopes it might
reach his majesty, and procure some order in his favour.
I wrote to Miss Planta, merely to say I was come to pass three
days at Chelsea, and, presuming upon the gracious permission of
her majesty, I ventured to make known my arrival, ,in the hope it
might possibly procure me the honour of admittance. The next
morning, Thursday, I had a note from Miss Planta, to say that she
had the pleasure to acquaint ',.",me her majesty desired I would
be at the Queen's house next day at ten o'clock.
Miss Planta conducted me immediately, by order, to the Princess
Elizabeth, who received me alone, and kept me tte-
-tte till I
was summoned to the queen, which was near ,.an hour. She was all
condescension and openness, and inquired into my way of life and
plans, with a sort of kindness that I am sure belonged to a real
wish to find them happy and prosperous. When I mentioned how much
of our time was mutually given to books and writing, M. d'Arblay
being as great a scribbler as myself, she good-naturedly
exclaimed, "How fortunate he should have so much the same taste!"
"It was that, in fact," I answered, "which united us for our
acquaintance began, in intimacy, by reading French together, and
writing themes, both French and English, for each other's
correction."
Page 156
"Pray," cried she, " if it is not impertinent, may I ask to what
religion you shall bring up your son?"
"The Protestant," I replied; telling her it was M. d'Arblay's own
wish, since he was an Englishman born, he should be an Englishman
bred,--with much more upon the subject that my Susan knows
untold.
She then inquired why M. d'Arblay was not naturalised. This was
truly kind, for it looked like wishing our permanently fixing in
this his adopted country. I answered that he found he could not
be naturalised as a catholic, which had made him relinquish the
plan; for though he was firmly persuaded the real difference
between the two religions was trifling, and such as even appeared
to him, in the little he had had opportunity to examine, to be in
favour of Protestantism, he could not bring himself to study the
matter with a view of changing that seemed actuated by interest ;
nor could I wish it, earnest as I was for his naturalisation.
But he hoped, ere long, to be able to be naturalised as an
Irishman, that clause of religion not being there insisted upon ,
or else to become a denizen, which was next best, and which did
not meddle with religion at all. She made me talk to her a great
deal of my little boy, and my father, and M. d'Arblay; and when
Miss Planta came to fetch me to her majesty, she desired to see
me again before my departure.
The queen was in her White closet, working at a round table, with
the four remaining princesses, Augusta, Mary, Sophia, and Amelia.
She received me most sweetly, and with a look of far better
spirits than upon my last admission. She permitted me, in the
most gracious manner, to inquire about the princess royal, now
Duchess of WUrtemberg, and gave me an account of her that I hope
is not flattered ; for it seemed happy, and such as reconciled
them all to the separation. When she deigned to inquire,-
herself, after my dear father, you may be sure of the eagerness
With which I seized the moment for relating his embarrassment and
difficulties. She heard me with a benevolence that assured me,
though she made no speech, my history would not be forgotten, nor
remembered vainly. I was highly satisfied with her look and
manner. The Princesses Mary and Amelia had a little opening
between them , and when the queen was conversing with some lady
who was teaching the Princess Sophia some work, they began a
whispering conversation with me about my little
Page 157
boy. How tall is he?--how old is he?--Is he fat or thin?--is he
like you or M. d'Arblay? etc.--with sweet vivacity of interest,-
-the lovely Princess Amelia finishing her listening to my every
answer with a "dear little thing!" that made me long to embrace
her as I have done in her childhood. She is now full as tall as
princess royal, and as much formed ; she looks seventeen, though
only fourteen, but has an innocence, an Hebe blush, an air of
modest candour, and a gentleness so caressingly inviting, of
voice and eye, that I have seldom seen a more captivating young
creature.
Then they talked of my new house, and inquired about every room
it contained; and then of our grounds, and they were mightily
diverted with the mixtures of roses and cabbages, sweet briars,
and potatoes, etc.
The queen, catching the domestic theme, presently made inquiries
herself, both as to the building and the child, asking, with
respect to the latter, "Is he here?" as if she meant in the
palace. I told her I had come so unexpectedly myself upon my
father's difficulties, that I had not this time brought my little
shadow. I believed, however, I should fetch him, as, if I
lengthened my stay, M. d'Arblay would come also. "To be sure!"
she said, as if feeling the trio's full objections to separating.
She asked if I had seen a play just come out, called "He's much
to Blame;" and, on my negative, began to relate to me its plot
and characters, and the representation and its effect ; and,
warming herself by her own account and my attention, she
presently entered into a very minute history of each act, and a
criticism upon some incidents, with a spirit and judiciousness
that were charming. She is delightful in discourse when animated
by her subject, and speaking to auditors with whom, neither from
circumstance nor suspicion, she has restraint. But when, as
occasionally she deigned to ask my opinion of the several actors
she brought in review, I answered I had never seen them,--neither
Mrs. Pope, Miss Betterton, Mr. Murray, etc.,--she really looked
almost concerned. She knows my fondness for the theatre, and I
did not fear to say my inability to indulge it was almost my only
regret in my hermit life. "I, too," she graciously said, "prefer
plays to all other amusements."
By degrees all the princesses retired, except the Princess
Augusta. She then spoke more openly upon less public matters,-in
particular upon the affair, then just recent, of the
Page 158
Duke of Norfolk, who, you may have heard, had drunk, at the Whig
Club, "To the majesty of the people," in consequence of which the
king had erased his name from the privy council. His grace had
been caricatured drinking from a silver tankard with the burnt
bread still in flames touching his mouth, and exclaiming, "Pshaw!
my toast has burnt my mouth."
This led me to speak of his great brick house, which is our
immediate vis-
-vis. And much then ensued upon Lady ----
concerning whom she opened to me very completely, allowing all I
said of her uncommon excellence as a mother, but adding, "Though
she is certainly very clever, she thinks herself so a little too
much, and instructs others at every word. I was so tired with
her beginning everything with 'I think,' that, at last, just as
she said so, I stopped her, and cried., 'O, I know what you
think, Lady ----!' Really, one is obliged to be quite sharp with
her to keep her In her place." . . .
Lady C--, she had been informed, had a considerable sum in the
French funds, which she endeavoured from time to time to recover,
but upon her last effort, she had the following query put to her
agent by order of the Directory: how much she would have deducted
from the principal, as a contribution towards the loan raising
for the army of England? If Lady C-- were not mother-in-law to a
minister who sees the king almost daily, I should think this a
made story.
When, after about an hour and a half's audience, *she dismissed
me, she most graciously asked my stay at Chelsea, and desired I
would inform Miss Planta before I returned home. This gave me the
most gratifying feeling, and much hope for my dearest father.
ROYAL CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE WAR.
Returning then, according to my permission, to Princess
Elizabeth, she again took up her netting, and made me sit by her.
We talked a good deal of the new-married daughter of Lady
Templetown, and she was happy, she said, to hear from me that the
ceremony was performed by her own favourite Bishop of Durham, for
she was sure a blessing would attend his joining their hands. She
asked me much of my little man, and told me several things of the
Princess Charlotte, her niece, and our future queen; she seems
very fond of her, and says 'tis a lovely child, and extremely
like the Prince Of
Page 159
Wales. "She is just two years old," said she, "and speaks very
prettily, though not plainly. I flatter myself Aunt Liby, as she
calls me, is a great favourite with her."
My dearest Princess Augusta soon after came in, and, after
staying a few minutes, and giving some message to her sister,
said, "And when you leave Elizabeth, my dear Madame d'Arblay, I
hope you'll come to me."
This happened almost immediately, and I found her hurrying over
the duty of her toilette, which she presently despatched, though
she was going to a public concert of Ancient Music, and without
scarcely once looking in the glass, from haste to have done, and
from a freedom from vanity I never saw quite equalled in any
young woman of any class. She then dismissed her hairdresser and
wardrobe-woman, and made me sit by her.
Almost immediately we began upon the voluntary contributions to
the support of the war; and when I mentioned the queen's
munificent donation of five thousand pounds a-year for its
support, and my admiration of it, from my peculiar knowledge,
through my long residence under the royal roof, of the many
claims which her majesty's benevolence, as well as state, had
raised upon her powers, she seemed much gratified by the justice
I did her royal mother, and exclaimed eagerly "I do assure you,
my dear Madame d'Arblay, people ought to know more how good the
queen is, for they don't know it half." And then she told me
that she only by accident had learnt almost all that she knew of
the queen's bounties. "And the most I gathered," she continued,
laughing, "was, to tell you the real truth, by my own
impertinence - for when we were at Cheltenham, Lady Courtown (the
queen's lady-in-waiting for the country) put her pocket-book down
on the table, when I was alone with her, by some chance open at a
page where mamma's name was written : so, not guessing at any
secret commission, I took it up, and read-Given by her majesty's
commands--so much, and so much, and so much. And I was quite
surprised. However, Lady Courtown made me promise never to
mention it to the queen ; so I never have. But I long it should
be known, for all that; though I would not take such a liberty as
to spread it of my own judgment."
I then mentioned my own difficulties formerly, when her Majesty,
upon my ill state of health's urging my resigning the honour of
belonging to the royal household, so graciously
Page 160
settled upon me a pension, that I had been forbidden to name it.
I had been quite distressed in not avowing what I so gratefully
felt, and hearing questions and surmises and remarks I had no
power to answer. She seemed instantly to comprehend that my
silence might do wrong, on such an occasion, to the queen, for
she smiled, and with great quickness cried, "O, I dare say you
felt quite guilty in holding your tongue." And she was quite
pleased with the permission afterwards granted me to be explicit.
When I spoke of her own and her royal sisters' contributions, one
hundred pounds per annum, she blushed, bat seemed ready to enter
upon the subject, even confidentially, and related its whole
history. No one ever advised or named it to them, as they have
none of them any separate establishment, but all hang upon the
queen, from whose pin-money they are provided for till they
marry, or have an household of their own granted by Parliament.
"Yet we all longed to subscribe," cried she, "and thought it
quite right, if other young ladies did, not to be left out. But
the difficulty was, how to do what would not be improper for us,
and yet not to be generous at mamma's expense, for that would
only have been unjust. So we consulted some of our friends, and
then fixed upon one hundred pounds a-piece; and when we asked the
queen's leave, she was so good as to approve it. So then we
spoke to the king, and he said it was but little, but he wished
particularly nobody should subscribe what would really distress
them ; and that, if that was all we could conveniently do, and
regularly continue, he approved it more than to have us make a
greater exertion, and either bring ourselves into difficulties or
not go on. But he was not at all angry."
She then gave me the history of the contribution of her brothers.
The Prince of Wales could not give in his name without the leave
of his creditors. "But Ernest," cried she, "gives three hundred
pounds a-year, and that's a tenth of his income, for the king
allows him three thousand pounds."
All this leading to discourse upon loyalty, and then its
contrast, democracy, she narrated to me at full length a lecture
of Therwall's, which had been repeated to her by M. de
Guiffardire. It was very curious from her mouth. But she is
candour in its whitest purity, wherever it is possible to display
it, in discriminating between good and bad, and abstracting rays
of light even from the darkest shades. So she did even from
Therwall.
Page 161
She made me, as usual, talk of my little boy, and was much amused
by hearing that, imitating what he heard from me, he called his
father "mon ami," and tutoyed him, drinking his health at dinner,
as his father does to me--" la sant."
When at length the Princess Augusta gave me the bow of cong she
spoke of seeing me again soon: I said I should therefore lengthen
my stay in town, and induce M. d'Arblay to come and bring my boy.
"We shall see you then certainly," said she, smiling, "and do
pray, my dear Madame d'Arblay, bring your little boy with you.
And don't say anything to him," cried she, as I was departing;
"let us see him quite natural."
I understood her gracious, and let me say rational, desire, that
the child should not be impressed with any awe of the royal
presence. I assured her I must obey, for he was so young, so
wild, and so unused to present himself, except as a plaything,
that it would not be even in my power to make him orderly. . . .
My dear father was extremely pleased with what I had to tell him,
and hurried me back to Westhamble, to provide myself with baggage
for sojourning with him. My two Alexanders, you will believe,
were now warmly invited to Chelsea, and we all returned thither
together, accompanied by Betty Nurse.
INVITATION TO THE PLAY. MRS SCHWELLENBERG'S SUCCESSOR.
I shall Complete my next Court visit before I enter upon aught
else. I received, very soon, a note from Madame Bremyere, who is
my successor. [I have told you poor Mlle. Jacobi is returned to
Germany, I think; and that her niece, La Bettina, is to marry a
rich English merchant and settle in London.] This note says Mrs
Bremyere has received the queen's commands to invite Madame
d'Arblay to the play tomorrow night "-with her own desire I would
drink coffee in her apartment before we went to the theatre.
Could anything More sweetly mark the real kindness of the queen
than this remembrance of my fondness for plays ?
My dear father lent me his carriage, and I was now introduced to
the successor of Mrs. Schwellenberg, Mlle. Bachmeister, a German,
brought over by M. de Luc, who travelled to Germany to accompany
her hither. I found she was the lady I had seen with the queen
and princesses,
Page 162
ing some work. Not having been to the so-long-known apartments
since the death of Mrs. Schwellenberg, I knew not how they were
arranged, and had concluded Madame Bremyere possessed those of
Mrs. Schwellenberg. Thither, therefore, I went, and was received,
to my great surprise, by this lady, who was equally surprised by
my entrance, though without any doubt who I might be, from having
seen me with the queen, and from knowing I was to join the
play-party to my ci-devant box. I inquired if I had made any
mistake, but though she could not say no, she would not suffer Me
to rectify it, but sent to ask Madame Bremyere to meet me in her
room.
Mlle. Bachmeister is extremely genteel in her figure, though
extremely plain in her face; her voice is gentle and penetrating;
her manners are soft, yet dignified, and she appears to be both a
feeling and a cultivated character. I could not but lament such
had not been the former possessor of an apartment I had so often
entered with the most cruel antipathy. I liked her exceedingly;
she is a marked gentlewoman in her whole deportment, though
whether so from birth, education, or only mind, I am ignorant.
Since she gave me so pleasant a prejudice in her favour, you will
be sure our acquaintance began with some spirit. We talked much
of the situation she filled; and I thought it my duty to cast the
whole of my resignation of one so similar upon ill health. Mrs.
Bremyere soon joined us, and we took up Miss Barbara Planta in
our way to the theatre.
When the king entered, followed by the queen and his lovely
daughters, and the orchestra struck up " God save the king," and
the people all called for the singers, who filled the stage to
sing it, the emotion I was suddenly filled with so powerfully
possessed me, that I wished I could, for a minute or two, have
flown from the box, to have sobbed; I was so gratefully delighted
at the sight before me, and so enraptured at the continued
enthusiasm of the no longer volatile people for their worthy,
revered sovereign, that I really suffered from the restraint I
felt of being forced to behave decorously.
The play was the "Heir at Law," by Colman the younger. I liked it
extremely. It has a good deal of character, a happy plot, much
interest in the under parts, and is combined, I think, by real
genius, though open to innumerable partial criticisms. I heard a
gentleman's voice from the next box call softly to Miss Barbara
Planta, "Who is that lady?" and
Page 163
heard her answer my name, and him rejoin, "I thought so." I found
it was Lord Aylesbury, who also has resigned, and was at the play
only for the pleasure of sitting opposite his late royal
mistress. . . .
MADAME D'ARBLAY's LITTLE BOY AT COURT.
About a week after this theatrical regale, I went to the Queen's
house, to make known I had only a few more days to remain at
Chelsea. I arrived just as the royal family had set out for
Windsor; but Miss Bacbmeister, fortunately, had only ascended her
coach to follow. I alighted, and went to tell my errand. Mrs.
Bremyere, Mrs. Cheveley, and Miss Planta were her party. The
latter promised to speak for me to the queen; but, gathering I
had my little boy, in my father's carriage, she made me send for
him. They took him in, and loaded him with bonbons and
admiration, and would have loaded him with caresses to boot, but
the little wretch resisted that part of the entertainment. Upon
their return from Windsor, you will not suppose me made very
unhappy to receive the following billet:--
March 8th, 1798.
My dear friend,-The queen has commanded me to acquaint you that
she desires you will be at the Queen's house on Thursday morning
at ten o'clock, with your lovely boy. You are desired to come
upstairs in Princess Elizabeth's apartments, and her majesty will
send for you as soon as she can see you. Adieu! Yours most
affectionately, M. Planta.
A little before ten, you will easily believe, we were at the
,Queen's house, and were immediately ushered into the apartment
of the Princess Elizabeth, who, to show she expected my little
man, had some playthings upon one of her many tables; for her
royal highness has at least twenty in her principal room. The
child, in a new muslin frock, sash, etc.' did not look to much
disadvantage, and she examined him with the most good-humoured
pleasure, and, finding him too shy to be seized, had the
graciousness, as well as sense, to play round and court him by
sportive wiles, instead of being offended at his insensibility to
her royal notice. She ran about the room, peeped at him through
chairs, clapped her hands, half caught without touching him, and
showed a skill
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and a sweetness that made one almost sigh she should have no call
for her maternal propensities.
There came in presently Miss D-, a young lady about thirteen, who
seems in some measure under the protection of her royal highness,
who had rescued her poor injured and amiable mother, Lady D-,
from extreme distress, into which she had been involved by her
unworthy husband's connexion with the infamous Lady W-, who, more
hardhearted than even bailiffs, had forced certain of those
gentry, in an execution she had ordered in Sir H. D-'s house, to
seize even all the children's playthings ! as well as their
clothes, and that when Lady D-- had but just lain in, and was
nearly dying! This charming princess, who had been particularly
acquainted with Lady D- during her own illness at Kew Palace,
where the queen permitted the intercourse, came forward upon this
distress, and gave her a small independent house in the
neighbourhood of Kew, with every advantage she could annex to it.
But she is now lately no more, and, by the sort of reception
given to her daughter, I fancy the princess transfers to her that
kind benevolence the mother no longer wants.
just then, Miss Planta came to summon us to the Princess Augusta.
She received me with her customary sweetness, and called the
little boy to her. He went fearfully and cautiously, yet with a
look of curiosity at the state of her head, and the operations of
her friseur, that seemed to draw him on more powerfully than her
commands. He would not, however, be touched, always flying to my
side at the least attempt to take his hand. This would much have
vexed me, if I had not seen the ready allowance she made for his
retired life, and total want of use to the sight of anybody out
of our family, except the Lockes, amongst whom I told her his
peculiar preference for Amelia. "Come then," cried she, "come
hither, my dear, and tell me all about her,--is she very good to
you?--do you like her very much?"
He was now examining her fine carpet, and no answer was to be
procured. I would have apologised, but she would not let me.
"'Tis so natural," she cried, '"that he should be more amused
with those shapes and colours than with my stupid questions."
Princess Mary now came in, and, earnestly looking at him,
exclaimed, "He's beautiful!--what eyes!--do look at his eyes!"
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"Come hither, my dear," again cried Princess Augusta,
"come hither;" and, catching him to her for a Moment, and,
holding up his hair. to lift up his face and made him look at
her, she smiled very archly, and cried, "O ! horrid eyes!
shocking eyes!--take them away!"
Princess Elizabeth then entered, attended by a page, who was
loaded With playthings which she had been sending for. You may
suppose him caught now! He seized upon dogs, horses, chaise, a
cobbler, a watchman, and all he could grasp but would not give
his little person or cheeks, to my great confusion, for any of
them.
I was fain to call him a little savage, a wild deer, a creature
just caught from the woods, and whatever could indicate his
rustic life, and apprehension of new faces,--to prevent their
being hurt ; and their excessive good nature helped all my
excuses, nay, made them needless, except to myself. .
Princess Elizabeth now began playing upon an organ she had
brought him, which he flew to seize. "Ay, do! that's right, my
dear," cried Princess Augusta, stopping her ears at some
discordant sounds; "take it to mon ami, to frighten the cats out
of his garden."
And now, last of all, came in Princess Amelia, and, strange to
relate ! the child was instantly delighted with her! She came
first up to me, and, to my inexpressible surprise and
enchantment, she gave me her sweet beautiful face to kiss!--an
honour I had thought now for ever over, though she had so
frequently gratified me with it formerly. Still more touched,
however, than astonished, I would have kissed her hand, but,
withdrawing it, saying, "No, no,--you know I hate that!" she
again presented me her ruby lips, and with an expression of -such
ingenuous sweetness and innocence as was truly captivating. She
is and will be another Princess Augusta.
She then turned to the child, and his eyes met hers with a look
of the same pleasure that they were sought. She stooped down to
take his unresisting hands, and, exclaiming "Dear little thing!"
took him in her arms, to his own as obvious content as hers.
"He likes her!" cried Princess Augusta, "a little rogue! see how
he likes her!"
"Dear little thing!" with double the emphasis, repeated the
young princess, now sitting down and taking him upon her knee;
"and how does M. d'Arblay do?"
The child now left all his new playthings, his admired
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carpet, and his privilege of jumping from room to room, for the
gentle pleasure of sitting in her lap and receiving her caresses.
I could not be very angry, you will believe, yet I would have
given the world I could have made him equally grateful to the
Princess Augusta. This last charming personage, I now found, was
going to Sit for her picture--I fancy to send to the Duchess of
Wurtemberg. She gave me leave to attend her with my bantling.
The other princesses retired to dress for Court.
It was with great difficulty I could part my little love from his
grand collection of new playthings, all of which he had dragged
into the painting-room, and wanted now to pull them down-stairs
to the queen's apartment. I persuaded him, however, to
relinquish the design without a quarrel, by promising we would
return for them.
HIS PRESENTATION TO THE QUEEN.
I was not a little anxious, you will believe, in this
presentation of my unconsciously honoured rogue, who entered the
White closet totally unimpressed with any awe, and only with a
sensation of disappointment in not meeting again the gay young
party, and variety of playthings, he had left above. The queen,
nevertheless, was all condescending indulgence, and had a Noah's
ark ready displayed upon the table for him.
But her look was serious and full of care, and, though perfectly
gracious, none of her winning smiles brightened her countenance,
and her voice was never cheerful. I have since known that the
Irish conspiracy with France was just then discovered, and
O'Connor that very morning taken.(156) No wonder she should have
felt a shock that pervaded her whole mind and manners! If we all
are struck with horror at such developments of treason, danger,
and guilt, what must they prove to the royal family, at whom they
are
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regularly aimed ? How my heart has ached for them in that
horrible business!
"And how does your papa do?" said the queen.
"He's at Telsea," answered the child.
"And how does grandDapa do?"
"He's in the toach," he replied.
"And what a pretty frock you've got on! who made it you, mamma,
or little aunty?"
The little boy now grew restless, and pulled me about, with a
desire to change his situation. I was a good deal embarrassed, as
I saw the queen meant to enter into conversation as usual; which
I knew to be impossible, unless he had some entertainment to
occupy him. She perceived this soon, and had the goodness
immediately to open Noah's ark herself, which she had meant he
should take away with him to examine and possess at once. But he
was now soon in raptures : and, as the various animals were
produced, looked with a delight that danced in all his features;
and when any appeared of which he knew the name, he capered with
joy; such as, "O! a tow [cow]!" But at the dog, he clapped his
little hands, and running close to her Majesty; leant upon her
lap, exclaiming, "O, it's bow wow!"
"And do you know this, little man?" said the queen, showing him a
cat.
"Yes," cried he, again jumping as he leant upon her, "its name is
talled pussey!"
And at the appearance of Noah, in a green mantle, and leaning on
a stick, he said, "At's (that's] the shepherd's boy!"
The queen now inquired about my dear father, and heard all I had
to say relative to his apartments, with an air of interest, yet
not as if it was new to her. I have great reason to believe the
accommodation then arranging, and since settled, as to his
continuance in the College, has been deeply influenced by some
royal hint. . . .