_Wednesday, Aug. 16_--Was the birthday of Prince Frederick, Duke of
York. The queen sent me in the morning to my dear Mrs. Delany, whom
I had but just found a moment to fly to the preceding day, and I was
commanded to bring--her, if well enough, just as she was, in her home
morning dress, to her majesty. This I did with great delight; and that
most venerable of women accepted the invitation with all the alacrity
of pleasure she could have felt at fifteen. The queen, in the late
excursion, had made many purchases at Woodstock: and she now made some
little presents from them to this dear lady.
In the evening, as it was again a birthday, I resolved upon going to the
Terrace, as did Mrs. Delany, and with her and Miss Mawer, and Miss Port,
I sallied forth. To avoid the high steps leading to the Terrace from the
Lodge, we went through a part of the Castle.
The Terrace was much crowded, though so windy we could hardly keep
our feet; but I had an agreeable surprise in meeting there with Dr.
Warton.[213] He joined Mrs. Delany instantly, and kept with us during
the whole walk. He congratulated me upon my appointment, in terms of
rapture; his ecstacies are excited so readily, from the excessive warmth
of his disposition, and its proneness to admire and wonder, that my new
situation was a subject to awaken an enthusiasm the most high-flown.
Presently after we were joined by a goodly priest, fat, jovial,
breathing plenty ease, and good living. I soon heard him whisper Mrs.
Delany to introduce him to me. It was Dr. Roberts, provost of Eton: I
had already seen him at Mrs. Delany's last winter, but no introduction
had then passed. He is a distant relation of Mr. Cambridge. His wife was
with him, and introduced also.
These also joined us; and in a few minutes more a thin, little, wizen
old gentleman, with eyes that scarce seemed to see, and a rather
tottering gait, came up to Mrs. Delany, and after talking with her some
time, said in a half whisper, “Is that Miss Burney?” and then desired a
presentation. It was Mr. Bryant, the mythologist.[214] I was very glad
to see him, as he bears a very high character, and lives much in this
neighbourhood. He talks a great deal, and with the utmost good humour
and ease, casting entirely aside his learning, which I am, nevertheless,
assured is that of one of the most eminent scholars of the age.
We had now a very good party, and seated ourselves in a sort of alcove,
to be sheltered from the wind; but it was so very violent that it
deterred the royal family from walking. They merely came on the Terrace
to show themselves to those who were eager to pay their compliments upon
the day, and then returned to the Castle.
Dr. Warton insisted upon accompanying me home as far as the iron rails,
to see me enter my royal premises. I did not dare invite him in, without
previous knowledge whether I had any such privilege; otherwise, with all
his parts, and all his experience, I question whether there is one boy
in his school at Winchester who would more have delighted in feeling
himself under the roof of a sovereign.