Of the Duc de Chaulnes, the following account is copied from Dr.
Burney’s memorandums:—
“In 1783, I dined at the Adelphi with Dr. Johnson and the
Duc de Chaulnes. This extraordinary personage, a great
traveller, and curious inquirer into the productions of art
and of nature, had recently been to China; and, amongst many
other discoveries that he had made in that immense and remote
region, of which he had brought specimens to Europe, being
a great chemist, he had particularly applied himself to the
disclosure of the means by which the Chinese obtain that
extraordinary brilliancy and permanence in the prismatic
colours, which is so much admired and envied by other nations.
“I knew nothing of his being in England till, late one night,
I heard a bustle and different voices in the passage, or
little hall, in my house in St. Martin’s-street, commonly,
from its former great owner, called Newton House; when, on
inquiry, I was informed that there was a foreign gentleman,
with a guide and an interpreter, who was come to beg
permission to see the observatory of the _grand_ Newton.
“I went out of the parlour to speak to this stranger, and to
invite him in. He accepted the offer with readiness, and I
promised to shew him the observatory the next morning; and
we soon became so well acquainted, that, two or three days
afterwards, he honoured me with the following note in English;
which I shall copy literally, for its foreign originality.
“‘The Duke of Chaulnes’ best compliments to Doctor Burney:
he desires the favour of his company to dinner with Doctor
Johnson on Sunday next, between about three and four o’clock,
which is the hour convenient to the excellent old Doctor, the
best piece of man, indeed, that the Duke ever saw.’”
This dinner took place, but was only productive of
disappointment; Dr. Johnson, unfortunately, was in a state of
bodily uneasiness and pain that unfitted him for exertion;
and well as his mind was disposed to do honour to the
civilities of a distinguished foreigner, his physical force
refused consent to his efforts. The Duke, however, was too
enlightened and too rational a man, to permit this failure
of his expectations to interfere with his previously formed
belief in the genius and powers of Dr. Johnson, when they were
unshackled by disease.
Another note in English, which much amused Dr. Burney,
was written by the Duke in answer to an invitation to St.
Martin’s-street.
“The Duke of Chaulnes’ best compliments to Doctor Burney.
He shall certainly do himself the honour of waiting on him
on Thursday evening at the English hour of tea. He begs him
a thousand pardons for the delay of his answer, but he was
himself waiting another answer which he was depending of.”
Dr. Burney received the Duke in his study, which the Duke entered with
reverence, from a knowledge that he was treading boards that had been
trodden by the great Newton. He then developed at full length his
Chinese researches, discoveries, and opinions: after which, and having
examined and discoursed upon the Doctor’s library, he made an earnest
request to be brought to the acquaintance of _Mademoiselle Beurni_.
The Doctor, who was never averse to what he thought expressive of
approbation, with quite as much pleasure, and almost as much eagerness
as the Duke, ushered his noble guest to the family tea-table; where
an introduction took place, so pompous on the part of the Duke, and so
embarrassed on that of its receiver, that finding, when it was over,
she simply bowed, and turned about to make the tea, without attempting
any conversational reply, he conceived that his eloquent _éloge_ had
not been understood; and, after a little general talk with Mr. Hoole
and his son, who were of the evening party, he approached her again,
with a grave desire to the Doctor of a second presentation.
This, though unavoidably granted, produced nothing more brilliant to
satisfy his expectations; which then, in all probability, were changed
into pity, if not contempt, at so egregious a mark of that uncouth
malady of which her country stands arraigned, bashful shyness.[69]