They afterwards spoke of Mr. Webb, a Windsor musician, who is master to
the young princesses, and who has a nose, from some strange calamity,
of so enormous a size that it covers all the middle of his face. I never
saw so frightful a deformity. Mrs. Delany told the queen I had met with
him, accidentally, when he came to give a lesson to Miss Port, and had
been quite startled by him.
“I dare say so,” said her majesty. “I must tell Miss Burney a little
trait of Sophia, about Mr. Webb.”
A small table was before the queen, who always has it brought when she
is seated, to put her tea or work upon, or, when she has neither, to
look comfortable, I believe; for certainly it takes off much formality
in a standing circle. And close to this, by the gracious motion of her
head, she kept me.
“When first,” continued she, “Mr. Webb was to come to Sophia, I told her
he had had some accident to disfigure his whole face, by making him an
enormous nose; but I desired her to remember this was a misfortune, for
which he ought to be pitied, and that she must be sure not to laugh at
it, nor stare at it. And she minded this very well, and behaved always
very properly. But, while Lady Cremorne was at the Lodge, she was with
Sophia when Mr. Webb came to give her a lesson. As soon as he was named,
she coloured very red, and ran up to Lady Cremorne, and said to her in a
whisper, 'Lady Cremorne, Mr. Webb has got a very great nose, but that is
only to be pitied--so mind you don't laugh.'”
This little princess is just nine years old!
The king joined us while the queen was telling this, and added, “Poor
Mr. Webb was very much discountenanced when he first saw me, and tried
to hide his nose, by a great nosegay, or I believe only a branch, which
he held before it: but really that had so odd a look, that it was worse,
and more ridiculous, than his nose. However, I hope he does not mind me,
now, for I have seen him four or five times.”