1. (1778) MISS BURNEY PUBLISHES HER FIRST NOVEL AND FINDS
HERSELF FAMOUS--59-110 Evelina--and the Mystery attending
its Publication--A First Visit to Mrs. Thrale and an
Introduction to Dr. Johnson--Fanny Burney Interviews her
Publisher--Conversation with Mrs. Thrale and Dr. Johnson--
Dr. Johnson on some “Ladies” of his Acquaintance--A Learned
Man on “Evelina”--Curiosity regarding the Author of
“Evelina”--The Members of Dr. Johnson's Household--
Anticipated Visit from Mrs. Montagu--Fanny Burney's
Introduction to a celebrated “Blue-Stocking”--Dr. Johnson's
Compliments and Gross Speeches--Suggested Husbands for Fanny
Burney--A Streatham Dinner Party.
2. (1779) THE AUTHOR OF “EVELINA” IN SOCIETY: VISITS
BRIGHTON AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS--111-164 A Queer Adventure--An
Evening at Sir Joshua Reynolds's: a Demonstrative “Evelina”
Enthusiast--Fanny Burney's Introduction to Sheridan--An
Aristocratic Radical of the Last Century--Mr. Murphy, the
Dramatist--A Beauty Weeping at Will--Mr. Murphy's concern
regarding Fanny Burney's Comedy--A Scene on the Brighton
Parade--Mr. Murphy finds the Dialogue charming: a Censorious
Lady--A Militia Captain officiates as Barber--“Hearts have
at ye all”--Giddy Miss Brown--Sophy Streatfield weeps again
to order--“Everything a Bore”--Proposed Match between Mr.
Seward and the Weeper-at-will--The Fate of “The Witlings”--
“Quite what we call,” and “Give me leave to tell you”--The
Crying Beauty and her Mother--A Bewitching Prodigy--At
Brighton: A “Cure.”--The jealous Cumberlands--An Amusing
Character: His Views on many Subjects,
3. (1780) A SEASON AT BATH: MR. THRALE'S DEATH--165-201 A
Youthful Prodigy--Lord Mulgrave on the “Services”--Sarah,
Duchess of Marlborough--The Byrons--“Mr. Henry will be so
Mortified”--All the best Families in the Navy--The Lady of
Bath Easton--A Fashionable Concert--A Bath Alderman's Raree
Show--Flighty Captain Bouchier--A Young and Agreeable
Infidel-Ball-room Flirtations--Further Flirtations--Bath
Easton and Sceptical Miss W....--Curiosity about the
“Evelina” Set--Alarm at the No Popery Riots--Hasty Departure
from Bath--The Gordon Riots--A Suggested Visit to Grub-
street--Promotion of Fanny Burney's Brother--The Death of
Mr. Thrale.
4. (1781-2) MISS BURNEY EXTENDS THE CIRCLE OF HER
ACQUAINTANCE--202-235 Young Mr. Crutchley ruffles Miss
Burney--Miss Burney Sulks on--Too Much of Many Things--A
“Poor Wretch of a Painter”--Dr. Johnson in a Rage--The
Miserable Host and Melancholy Guest--Two Celebrated
Duchesses discussed--Mr. Crutchley is bantered about his
Pride--Miss Sopby Streatfield is Commented on--Garrulous Mr.
Musgrave--A Parting Shot at Mr. Crutchley--Manager
Heliogabalus--Sister Authoresses--A Dinner at Sir Joshua's,
with Burke and Gibbon--A Letter from Burke to Fanny Burney--
Miss Burney sits for her Portrait--General Paoli.
5. (1782-3-4) “CECILIA”: A PAEAN OF PRAISE: LAMENTATIONS--
236-288 At Brighton again. “The Famous Miss Burney”--Dr.
Johnson Dogmatizes--A Cunning Runaway Heiress--Dr. Johnson a
Bore--Miss Burney will not be Persuaded to Dance-Dr. Johnson
held in general Dread--Miss Monckton's Assembly: Sacques and
Ruffles--At Miss Monckton's: “Cecilia” extolled by the “Old
Wits,” and by Burke--A Writer of Romances--Mrs. Walsingham--
Mrs. Siddons--Dr. Johnson's Inmates at Bolt-court--The two
Mr. Cambridges Improve upon Acquaintance--Mr. Soame Jenyns's
Eulogy on “Cecilia”--An Italian Singer's Views of England--
Raptures of the 11 Old Wits” over “Cecilia”--Illness and
Death of Mr. Crisp--Dr. Johnson attacked by Paralysis--A
Pleasant Day with the Cambridges--Dr. Johnson's Heroic
Forbearance--“Sweet Bewitching Mrs. Locke”--Mrs. Thrale's
Second Marriage--A Happy Home--Lady F.'s Anger at Mrs.
Piozzi's Marriage--Dr. Johnson's Failing Health--Dr. Johnson
Dying. His Death.
6. (1785-6) MISS BURNEY IS FAVOURABLY NOTICED BY THE KING
AND QUEEN--289-332 Royal Generosity to Mrs. Delany--A Visit
to Mrs. Delany--Royal Curiosity about Miss Burney--An
Anticipated Royal Interview--Directions for a private
encounter with the Royal Family--A Panic--“The King! aunt,
the King!”--The King categorically questions Miss Burney--
The Queen appears upon the Scene--“Miss Burney plays--but
not to acknowledge it”--A Drawing-room during a Fog--Will
Miss Burney write any more?--A Musician with a Pioboscis--
General Conversation: Royalty departs--The King again: Tea
Table Etiquette--George III. on Plays and Players--Literary
Talk with the Queen--The Queen on Roman Catholic
Superstitions--On being presented--Directions for coughing,
sneezing, or moving before the King and Queen--Dr. Burney is
Disappointed of a Place--A Visit to Warren Hastings and his
Wife--A Proposal from the Queen--Miss Burney accepts the
Queen's Offer.
7. (1786) MISS BURNEY ENTERS UPON HER COURT DUTIES--333-372
The Queen's Summons--A Military Gourmand--A Succession of
Visitors--The Tea Table of the Keeper of the Robes--Evening
Ceremonial in the Queen's Dressing Room--The Queen's
Toilettes--Congratulatory Visits from Court Officials--
Inopportune Visitors--Major Price: Adieu Colonel Polier--
Miss Burney's routine at Windsor--The Princess Royal--The
Court at Kew: A Three Year old Princess--A Drawing-room at
St. James's--Absence of State at Kew--Mis Burneys First
Evening Out--Casual Callers to be kept off: A New Arrival--
The Royal Princesses--Alarming News--The Attempt against the
King--Agitation of the Queen and Princesses--A Privilege is
Secured--The Queen continues Anxious--Snuff Preparer-in-
Chief--A Supper Mystery--Little Princess Amelia's Birthday--
The Cipher becomes a Number--Display of Loyalty at little
Kew--“Miss Bernar, the Queen will give you a Gown”--A
Crowded Drawing-room--The Keeper of the Robes is very much
put out.
8. (1786) ROYAL VISIT TO NUNEHAM, OXFORD, AND BLENHEIM---
373-398 A job's Comforter--The Journey to Nuneham:
Ungracious Reception--A Hasty Introduction to Lady Harcourt--
Apparition of the Princesses--From Pillar to Post--“The
Equerries Want the Ladies”--Summoned to the Queen--A Check
for the Colonel--Thanksgiving Service at Nuneham--Royal
Visit to Oxford: Reception by the University--The Royal
Family are much Affected--The Presentations: Retiring
Backwards--The Colleges Visited: A Stealthy Collation--
Retreating from the Royal Presence--Surprised by the Queen--
At Nuneham again--A Lively Breakfast Incident. 9. (1786-7)
COURT DUTIES AT WINDSOR AND KEW--399-447 The Mischief-Making
Keeper of the Robes--A Terrace Party--A Nervous Reader--Miss
Burney Repines at her Position--Madame de Genlis discussed--
A Distinguished Astronomer--Effusive Madaine de la Roche--A
Dinner Difficulty--An Eccentric Lady--The Wrong Guest
Invited--The Princess Royal's Birthday--Arrival of a New
Equerry--Custodian of the Queen's Jewel Box--Tea Table
Difficulties--An Equerry's Duties and Discomforts--Royal
Cautions and Confidences--The Queen tired of Her Gewgaws--A
Holiday at last--Tea Room Gambols--A dreadful Mishap--“Is it
Permitted?”--The Plump Provost and his Lady--The Equerries
Violate the Rules--Mr. Turbulent on Court Routine--An
Equerry on the Court Concert--Dr. Herschel's Large
Telescope--Illness, and some Reflections it gave rise to.