_Sept. 26_--The present chief sport with Mrs. Thrale is disposing of me
in the holy state of matrimony, and she offers me whoever comes to the
house. This was begun by Mrs. Montagu, who, it seems, proposed a match
for me in my absence, with Sir Joshua Reynolds!--no less a man, I assure
you!
When I was dressing for dinner, Mrs. Thrale told me that Mr. Crutchley
was expected.
“Who's he?” quoth I.
“A young man of very large fortune, who was a ward of Mr. Thrale.
Queeny, what do you say of him for Miss Burney?”
“Him?” cried she; “no, indeed; what has Miss Burney done to have him?”
“Nay, believe me, a man of his fortune may offer himself anywhere.
However, I won't recommend him.”
“Why then, ma'am,” cried I, with dignity, “I reject him!”
This Mr. Crutchley stayed till after breakfast the next morning. I can't
tell you anything, of him, because I neither like nor dislike him. Mr.
Crutchley was scarce gone, ere Mr. Smith arrived. Mr. Smith is a second
cousin to Mr. Thrale, and a modest pretty sort of young man. He stayed
till Friday morning. When he was gone.
“What say you to him, Miss Burney?” cried Mrs. Thrale; “I'm sure I offer
you variety.”
“Why I like him better than Mr. Crutchley, but I don't think I shall
pine for either of them.”
“Dr. Johnson,” said Mrs. Thrale, “don't you think Jerry Crutchley very
much improved?”
Dr. J.-Yes, madam, I think he is.
Mrs. T.-Shall he have Miss Burney?
Dr. J.-Why, I think not; at least I must know more about him; I Must
inquire into his connections, his recreations, his employments, and his
character, from his intimates, before I trust Miss Burney with him. And
he must come down very handsomely with a settlement. I will not have him
left to his generosity; for as he will marry her for her wit, and she
him for his fortune, he ought to bid well, and let him come down with
what he will, his price will never be equal to her worth.
Mrs. T.-She says she likes Mr. Smith better.
Dr. J.-Yes, but I won't have her like Mr. Smith without money, better
than Mr. Crutchley with it. Besides, if she has Crutchley, he will use
her well, to vindicate his choice. The world, madam, has a reasonable
claim upon all mankind to account for their conduct; therefore, if with
his great wealth, he marries a woman who has but little, he will be more
attentive to display her merit, than if she was equally rich,--in order
to show that the woman he has chosen deserves from the world all the
respect and admiration it can bestow, or that else she would not have
been his choice.
Mrs. T.-I believe young Smith is the better man.
F.B.-Well, I won't be rash in thinking of either; I will take some time
for consideration before I fix.
Dr. J.-Why, I don't hold it to be delicate to offer marriage to ladies,
even in jest, nor do I approve such sort of jocularity; yet for once I
must break through the rules of decorum, and Propose a match myself for
Miss Burney. I therefore nominate Sir J---- L----.[72]
Mrs. T.-I'll give you my word, sir, you are not the first to say that,
for my master the other morning, when we were alone, said 'What would I
give that Sir J---- L---- was married to Miss Burney; it might restore
him to our family.' So spoke his Uncle and guardian.
F.B.-He, he! Ha, ha! He, he! Ha, ha!
Dr. J.-That was elegantly said of my master, and nobly said, and not in
the vulgar way we have been saying it. And madam, where will you find
another man in trade who will make such a speech--who will be capable of
making such a speech? Well, I am glad my master takes so to Miss Burney;
I would have everybody take to Miss Burney, so as they allow me to take
to her most! Yet I don't know whether Sir J---- L---- should have her,
neither; I should be afraid for her; I don't think I would hand her to
him.
F.B.-Why, now, what a fine match is here broken off!
Some time after, when we were in the library, he asked me very gravely
if I loved reading?
“Yes,” quoth I.
“Why do you doubt it, sir?” cried Mrs. Thrale.
“Because,” answered he, “I never see her with a book in her hand. I have
taken notice that she never has been reading whenever I have come into
the room.”
“Sir,” quoth I, courageously, “I'm always afraid of being caught
reading, lest I should pass for being studious or affected, and
therefore instead of making a display of books, I always try to hide
them, as is the case at this very time, for I have now your 'Life of
Waller' under my gloves behind me. However, since I am piqued to it,
I'll boldly produce my voucher.”
And so saying, I put the book on the table, and opened it with a
flourishing air. And then the laugh was on my side, for he could not
help making a droll face; and if he had known Kitty Cooke, I would have
called out, “There I had you, my lad!”