Madame d’Arblay’s Plans for her Son—Landing in England—Arrival at
Chelsea—Saddening Change in Dr. Burney—Alexander d’Arblay at
Cambridge—Publication of the ‘Wanderer’—Death of Dr. Burney—Madame
d’Arblay presented to Louis XVIII.—M. d’Arblay appointed to the Corps
de Gardes du Roi—Arrives in England and Carries Madame back to France—
Madame d’Arblay presented to the Duchess d’Angoulême—The Hundred Days—
Panic at Brussels—M. d’Arblay invalided—Settles in England—His Death—
Remaining Days of Madame d’Arblay—Visit from Sir Walter Scott—The
Memoirs of Dr. Burney—Tributes to their Value—Death of Alexander
d’Arblay—Death of Madame d’Arblay—Conclusion.
Madame d’Arblay had other reasons for wishing to return to England
besides the mere desire to see her father and kindred. The longer her
only child remained in France, the greater risk he ran of being caught
by the conscription, which continually increased its demands. The young
Alexander was now of an age to be prepared for a profession, and it
cannot be doubted that his mother was anxious to make provision for this
purpose. Before leaving Paris, she had begun a treaty in London for the
publication of her fourth story. Through what channel this was done we
do not learn, but as early as December, 1811, Lord Byron[123] had heard
that a thousand guineas were being asked for a new novel by Madame
d’Arblay. She brought the manuscript over with her in a half-finished
state.
The travellers did not escape the perils of the time, though happily
they were taken prisoners by their own countrymen. They and several
others had engaged berths on board an American vessel, the astute
captain of which delayed his departure so long, in order to obtain more
passengers, that when at length he entered British waters, he found
himself a prize to the coastguard, news having just arrived that the
United States had declared war against England.
It was the middle of August when mother and son found themselves again
on English ground. ‘I can hardly believe it,’ writes the former to her
sister Charlotte, now Mrs. Broome; ‘I look around me in constant inquiry
and doubt; I speak French to every soul, and I whisper still if I utter
a word that breathes private opinion.’ She goes on to describe her
meeting with her father: ‘I found him in his library by himself—but, oh!
my dearest, very much altered indeed—weak, weak and changed—his head
almost always hanging down, and his hearing most cruelly impaired. I was
terribly affected, but most grateful to God for my arrival.’ During the
separation, Dr. Burney had not been unfortunate until the infirmities of
age overcame him: the pension which he ought to have received from Mr.
Pitt had been procured for him by Mr. Fox. He had been happily employed
in writing for Rees’s Encyclopædia; had received flattering notice from
the Prince of Wales; had heard his Royal Highness quote Homer in Greek
and imitate Dr. Parr’s lisp, and talked familiarly with him at the
opera; had been a courted guest in many great houses; and had enjoyed
the meetings of the Club till his sight and hearing both began to fail.
When he could no longer go abroad, he spent most of his time in reading
in his bedroom. Madame d’Arblay employed herself during this visit to
England in nursing her father in his last days, in settling her son at
Cambridge, and in bringing out her new book.
Having obtained the Tancred scholarship, Alexander d’Arblay commenced
residence at Christ’s College, Cambridge, in October, 1813. He
eventually graduated as tenth Wrangler, and became Fellow of his
college. ‘But,’ says Macaulay, who had mixed with his fellow-students,
‘his reputation at the University was higher than might be inferred from
his success in academical contests. His French education had not fitted
him for the examinations of the Senate House;[124] but in pure
mathematics we have been assured by some of his competitors that he had
very few equals.’
‘The Wanderer; or, Female Difficulties’ appeared in the beginning of
1814. Notwithstanding the falling-off which had been observed in
‘Camilla,’ the whole edition of the new work was bespoken before it was
published. In six months, 3,600 copies were sold at two guineas a copy.
But it may be doubted whether the most conscientious reader persevered
to the end of the fifth volume. Ten years of exile had destroyed all
trace of the qualities which made ‘Evelina’ popular.
Dr. Burney lived to his eighty-eighth birthday, and died at Chelsea on
the 12th of April, 1814, in the presence of his recovered daughter, who
had tended his last hours. A tablet to his memory, bearing an
inscription from her pen, was placed in Westminster Abbey.
A few days after his death, Madame d’Arblay was presented to Louis
XVIII. By desire of Queen Charlotte, she attended a reception held by
the restored King in London on the day preceding his departure for
France. Her sovereign—for it must be remembered that she was now a
French subject—paid her the most courteous attention. Addressing her ‘in
very pretty English,’ he told her that he had known her long, for he had
been charmed with her books, and ‘read them very often.’ He bade her
farewell in French, with the words ‘Bonjour, Madame la Comtesse.’
M. d’Arblay had no further reason to complain of Bourbon ingratitude.
Within a few weeks he received a commission in the King’s Corps de
Gardes, and soon afterwards he was restored to his former rank of
Maréchal de Camp. He obtained leave of absence towards the close of the
year, and came to England for a few weeks; after which Madame d’Arblay
returned with him to Paris, leaving their son to pursue his studies at
Cambridge.
In the early weeks of 1815, Madame d’Arblay was admitted to an audience
of the Duchesse d’Angoulême, the King’s niece; close on which followed
the return of Bonaparte from Elba, and the Hundred Days. Neither the
General nor his wife seems to have felt any alarm till the Corsican
reached Lyons. Then a passport was obtained for Madame, that she might
be able to leave France in case of need, while her husband remained
fixed to his post in the capital. In the night between the 19th and 20th
of March, after the King had left Paris, and not many hours before
Napoleon entered it, Madame d’Arblay took her departure, accompanied by
the Princesse d’Hénin. After many difficulties and misadventures, the
fugitives reached Brussels. In that city Madame d’Arblay was presently
joined by her husband, who had followed Louis XVIII. to Ghent with the
rest of the royal bodyguard. She remained in Brussels till the close of
the campaign, and for some weeks longer. At a later date she wrote from
memory a narrative of what befell her during this period. It includes a
description of the scenes that occurred in the Belgian capital while the
armies were facing each other within cannon-sound of its streets. The
account is graphic, though too diffuse to be quoted at length; evidently
it furnished Thackeray with much of the material for the famous chapters
in ‘Vanity Fair.’ We give some abridged extracts:
“What a day of confusion and alarm did we all spend on the 17th!...
That day, and June 18th, I passed in hearing the cannon! Good Heaven!
what indescribable horror to be so near the field of slaughter! such I
call it, for the preparation to the ear by the tremendous sound was
soon followed by its fullest effect, in the view of the wounded....
And hardly more afflicting was this disabled return from the battle,
than the sight of the continually pouring forth victims that marched
past my windows to meet similar destruction....
“Accounts from the field of battle arrived hourly; sometimes directly
from the Duke of Wellington to Lady Charlotte Greville, and to some
other ladies who had near relations in the combat, and which, by their
means, were circulated in Brussels; and in other times from such as
conveyed those amongst the wounded Belgians, whose misfortunes were
inflicted near enough to the skirts of the spots of action, to allow
of their being dragged away by their hovering countrymen to the
city....
“During this period, I spent my whole time in seeking intelligence....
“Ten times, at least, I crossed over to Madame d’Hénin, discussing
plans and probabilities, and interchanging hopes and fears....
“Madame d’Hénin and Madame de la Tour du Pin projected retreating to
Gand, should the approach of the enemy be unchecked; to avail
themselves of such protection as might be obtained from seeking it
under the wing of Louis XVIII. M. de la Tour du Pin had, I believe,
remained there with his Majesty.
“M. de Lally and the Boyds inclined to Antwerp, where they might
safely await the fate of Brussels, near enough for returning, should
it weather the storm, yet within reach of vessels to waft them to the
British shores should it be lost.
“Should this last be the fatal termination, I, of course had agreed to
join the party of the voyage, and resolved to secure my passport,
that, while I waited to the last moment, I might yet be prepared for a
hasty retreat.
“I applied for a passport to Colonel Jones, to whom the Duke of
Wellington had deputed the military command of Brussels in his
absence; but he was unwilling to sanction an evacuation of Brussels,
which he deemed premature. It was not, he said, for _us_, the English,
to spread alarm, or prepare for an overthrow: he had not sent away his
own wife or children, and he had no doubt but victory would repay his
confidence....
“I found upon again going my rounds for information, that though news
was arriving incessantly from the scene of action, and with details
always varying, Bonaparte was always advancing. All the people of
Brussels lived in the streets. Doors seemed of no use, for they were
never shut. The individuals, when they re-entered their houses, only
resided at the windows: so that the whole population of the city
seemed constantly in public view. Not only business as well as society
was annihilated, but even every species of occupation. All of which we
seemed capable was, to inquire or to relate, to speak or to hear. Yet
no clamour, no wrangling, nor even debate was intermixed with either
question or answer; curiosity, though incessant, was serene; the faces
were all monotony, though the tidings were all variety. I could
attribute this only to the length of time during which the inhabitants
had been habituated to change both of masters and measures, and to
their finding that, upon an average, they neither lost nor gained by
such successive revolutions....
“But what a day was the next—_June 18th_—the greatest, perhaps, in its
results, in the annals of Great Britain!...
“I was calmly reposing, when I was awakened by the sound of feet
abruptly entering my drawing-room. I started, and had but just time to
see by my watch that it was only six o’clock, when a rapping at my
bedroom door ... made me slip on a long kind of domino, ... and demand
what was the matter. “Open your door! there is not a moment to lose!”
was the answer, in the voice of Miss Ann Boyd. I obeyed, in great
alarm, and saw that pretty and pleasing young woman, with her mother,
Mrs. Boyd.... They both eagerly told me that all their new hopes had
been overthrown by better authenticated news, and that I must be with
them by eight o’clock, to proceed to the wharf, and set sail for
Antwerp, whence we must sail on for England, should the taking of
Brussels by Bonaparte endanger Antwerp also....
“My host and my maid carried my small package, and I arrived before
eight in the Rue d’Assault. We set off for the wharf on foot, not a
fiacre or chaise being procurable. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd, five or six of
their family, a governess, and I believe some servants, with bearers
of our baggage, made our party.... When we had got about a third part
of the way, a heavy rumbling sound made us stop to listen. It was
approaching nearer and nearer, and we soon found that we were followed
by innumerable carriages, and a multitude of persons....
“Arrived at the wharf, Mr. Boyd pointed out to us our barge, which
seemed fully ready for departure; but the crowd, already come and
still coming, so incommoded us, that Mr. Boyd desired we would enter a
large inn, and wait till he could speak with the master, and arrange
our luggage and places. We went, therefore, into a spacious room and
ordered breakfast, when the room was entered by a body of military men
of all sorts; but we were suffered to keep our ground till Mr. Boyd
came to inform us that we must all decamp!...
“He conducted us not to the barge, not to the wharf, but to the road
back to Brussels; telling us, in an accent of depression, that he
feared all was lost—that Bonaparte was advancing—that his point was
decidedly Brussels—and that the Duke of Wellington had sent orders
that all the magazines, the artillery, and the warlike stores of every
description, and all the wounded, the maimed, and the sick, should be
immediately removed to Antwerp. For this purpose he had issued
directions that every barge, every boat, should be seized for the use
of the army; and that everything of value should be conveyed away, the
hospitals emptied, and Brussels evacuated.
“If this intelligence filled us with the most fearful alarm, how much
more affrighting still was the sound of cannon which next assailed our
ears! The dread reverberation became louder and louder as we
proceeded....
“Yet, strange to relate! on re-entering the city, all seemed quiet and
tranquil as usual! and though it was in this imminent and immediate
danger of being invested, and perhaps pillaged, I saw no outward mark
of distress or disturbance, or even of hurry or curiosity.
“Having re-lodged us in the Rue d’Assault, Mr. Boyd tried to find some
land carriage for our removal. But not only every chaise had been
taken, and every diligence secured; the cabriolets, the calèches, nay,
the waggons and the carts, and every species of caravan, had been
seized for military service. And, after the utmost efforts he could
make, in every kind of way, he told us we must wait the chances of the
day, for that there was no possibility of escape from Brussels, either
by land or water....
“I was seated at my bureau and writing, when a loud ‘hurrah!’ reached
my ears from some distance, while the daughter of my host, a girl of
about eighteen, gently opening my door, said the fortune of the day
had suddenly turned, and that Bonaparte was taken prisoner.
“At the same time the ‘hurrah!’ came nearer. I flew to the window; my
host and hostess came also, crying, ‘_Bonaparte est pris! le voilà! le
voilà!_’
“I then saw, on a noble war-horse in full equipment, a general in the
splendid uniform of France; but visibly disarmed, and, to all
appearance, tied to his horse, or, at least, held on, so as to disable
him from making any effort to gallop it off, and surrounded, preceded,
and followed by a crew of roaring wretches, who seemed eager for the
moment when he should be lodged where they had orders to conduct him,
that they might unhorse, strip, pillage him, and divide the spoil.
“His high, feathered, glittering helmet he had pressed down as low as
he could on his forehead, and I could not discern his face; but I was
instantly certain he was not Bonaparte, on finding the whole commotion
produced by the rifling crew above-mentioned, which, though it might
be guided, probably, by some subaltern officer, who might have the
captive in charge, had left the field of battle at a moment when none
other could be spared, as all the attendant throng were evidently
amongst the refuse of the army followers.
“I was afterwards informed that this unfortunate general was the Count
Lobau....
“The delusion of victory vanished into a merely passing advantage, as
I gathered from the earnest researches into which it led me; and evil
only met all ensuing investigation; retreat and defeat were the words
in every mouth around me! The Prussians, it was asserted, were
completely vanquished on the 15th, and the English on the 16th, while
on the day just passed, the 17th, a day of continual fighting and
bloodshed, drawn battles on both sides left each party proclaiming
what neither party could prove—success.
“It was Sunday; but Church service was out of the question, though
never were prayers more frequent, more fervent. Form, indeed, they
could not have, nor union, while constantly expecting the enemy with
fire and sword at the gates. Who could enter a place of worship, at
the risk of making it a scene of slaughter? But who, also, in
circumstances so awful, could require the exhortation of a priest, or
the example of a congregation, to stimulate devotion? No! in those
fearful exigencies, where, in the full vigour of health, strength, and
life’s freshest resources, we seem destined to abruptly quit this
mortal coil, we need no spur—all is spontaneous; and the soul is
unshackled.
“Not above a quarter of an hour had I been restored to my sole
occupation of solace, before I was again interrupted and startled; but
not as on the preceding occasion by riotous shouts; the sound was a
howl, violent, loud, affrighting, and issuing from many voices. I ran
to the window, and saw the _Marché aux Bois_ suddenly filling with a
populace, pouring in from all its avenues, and hurrying on rapidly,
and yet as if unconscious in what direction; while women with children
in their arms, or clinging to their clothes, ran screaming out of
doors; and cries, though not a word was ejaculated, filled the air,
and from every house, I saw windows closing, and shutters fastening;
all this, though long in writing, was presented to my eyes in a single
moment, and was followed in another by a burst into my apartment, to
announce that _the French were come_!
“I know not even who made this declaration; my head was out of the
window, and the person who made it scarcely entered the room and was
gone.
“How terrific was this moment! My perilous situation urged me to
instant flight; and, without waiting to speak to the people of the
house, I crammed my papers and money into a basket, and throwing on a
shawl and bonnet, I flew downstairs and out of doors.
“My intention was to go to the Boyds, to partake, as I had engaged,
their fate; but the crowd were all issuing from the way I must have
turned to have gained the Rue d’Assault, and I thought, therefore, I
might be safer with Madame de Maurville, who, also, not being English,
might be less obnoxious to the Bonapartists....
“What a dreadful day did I pass! dreadful in the midst of its glory!
for it was not during those operations that sent details partially to
our ears that we could judge of the positive state of affairs, or
build upon any permanency of success. Yet here I soon recovered from
all alarm for personal safety, and lost the horrible apprehension of
being in the midst of a city that was taken, sword in hand, by an
enemy....
“The _alerte_ which had produced this effect, I afterwards learnt,
though not till the next day, was utterly false; but whether it had
been produced by mistake or by deceit I never knew. The French,
indeed, were coming; but not triumphantly; they were prisoners,
surprised and taken suddenly, and brought in, being disarmed, by an
escort; and, as they were numerous, and their French uniform was
discernible from afar, the almost universal belief at Brussels that
Bonaparte was invincible, might perhaps, without any intended
deception, have raised the report that they were advancing as
conquerors.
“I attempt no description of this day, the grandeur of which was
unknown, or unbelieved, in Brussels till it had taken its flight, and
could only be named as time past.”
The writer’s pleasure at the success of the Allies was saddened by an
accident which happened to General d’Arblay, who, while employed in
raising a force of refugees at Trèves, had received a severe wound in
the calf of his leg from the kick of a restive horse. This misfortune
impaired still further a constitution already weakened. Being for the
time disabled for service, and having passed his sixtieth year, the
General found himself placed on the retired list, and obtained leave to
settle with his wife in England. When sent on a mission to Blucher, he
had been honoured by his master with the title of Comte, which, as being
conferred only _par une sorte d’usage de l’ancien régime_, and being
neither established by patent, nor connected with the ownership of an
estate, he never used after the occasion on which it was given. He died
at Bath on May 3, 1818.
Little remains to be told of the life of Madame d’Arblay. During her
residence at Bath she renewed her acquaintance with Mrs. Piozzi. We have
a long and entertaining account from her pen of an escape from drowning
which she met with while staying at Ilfracombe. But with this exception,
her last diaries and letters contain little of interest. Soon after the
death of her husband she removed to No. 11, Bolton Street, Piccadilly.
Her latter days she spent chiefly in retirement, seeing few persons but
her own relations, and a small circle of established friends. Among the
latter were Mrs. Locke and the poet Rogers, with the latter of whom she
had made acquaintance on her first return from France. She was
delighted, however, by a visit from Sir Walter Scott, who was brought to
her by Rogers. Sir Walter, in his Diary for November 18, 1826, thus
records the interview: “Introduced to Madame d’Arblay, the celebrated
authoress of ‘Evelina’ and ‘Cecilia,’ an elderly lady with no remains of
personal beauty, but with a simple and gentle manner, and pleasing
expression of countenance, and apparently quick feelings. She told me
she had wished to see two persons—myself, of course, being one, the
other George Canning. This was really a compliment to be pleased with—a
nice little handsome pat of butter made up by a neat-handed Phillis of a
dairy-maid, instead of the grease fit only for cart-wheels which one is
dosed with by the pound. I trust I shall see this lady again.”
From the year 1828 to 1832, she occupied herself in compiling the
Memoirs of Dr. Burney. This book, published in her eightieth year, has
all the faults of her later style, in their most aggravated form. But
her friend Bishop Jebb, while gently hinting at these defects, could
honestly congratulate her on the merit of her work. “Much as we already
know of the last age, you have brought many scenes of it, not less
animated than new, graphically before our eyes; whilst I now seem
familiar with many departed worthies, who were not before known to me,
even so much as by name.” Southey also wrote to her son: “‘Evelina’ did
not give me more pleasure, when I was a schoolboy, than these Memoirs
have given me now; and this is saying a great deal. Except Boswell’s,
there is no other work in our language which carries us into such
society, and makes us fancy that we are acquainted with the persons to
whom we are there introduced.”
In January, 1837, she lost the last prop of her old age. Alexander
d’Arblay, having taken Orders soon after his degree, became minister of
Ely Chapel in 1836, and was about to marry, when he was carried off by
an attack of influenza. His mother survived him nearly three years: she
had a severe illness, attended by spectral illusions, in November, 1839;
and died in London on January 6, 1840—a day which she had observed from
the beginning of the century in memory of the death of her sister
Susanna. She was buried at Walcot, near Bath, by the side of her husband
and their only child.
Except for the production of the “Memoirs,” the last quarter of a
century in Madame d’Arblay’s life was barren both of incident and
employment. The details of her experience during the preceding fifteen
years could not fail to interest us, if we had them related as she would
have told them in her prime. Especially, we should like to know
something more about that long detention in France, when chafing under
police restrictions, and fretting for news from home, her heart vibrated
to the continual echoes of cannon announcing Napoleon’s victories. But
Fanny married, and growing elderly, was quite a different person from
the Fanny of St. Martin’s Street and Chesington, of Streatham and Bath,
of Windsor and Kew. Her Diary proper came to a final stop with the death
of Mrs. Phillips in 1800. She will always be remembered as Frances
Burney of the eighteenth century. Deriving her inspiration in part from
Richardson, she heads the roll of those female novelists whose works
form a considerable part of English literature. The purity of her
writings first made the circulating library respectable. “We owe to
her,” says Macaulay very justly, “not only ‘Evelina,’ ‘Cecilia,’ and
‘Camilla,’ but ‘Mansfield Park,’ and the ‘Absentee.’ Yet great as was
her influence on her successors,[125] it was exhausted before the
present century began. Indeed, it has been suggested, with some reason,
that the excessive sensibility of her heroines is answerable for a
reaction in Miss Edgeworth and Miss Austen; for the too great amount of
bright and cold good sense of the first; for the over-sobriety of
feeling of the second.[126] Fanny’s genius for expressing character in
dialogue, aided by touches of description, placed her among the first
memoir-writers of that journalizing age. A little more power of
compression would have made her diaries equal to the best of Boswell’s
sketches.
“The author herself,” says Mr. Leslie Stephen, “with her insatiable
delight in compliments—certainly such as might well turn her head—her
quick observation and lively garrulity, her effusion of sentiment rather
lively than deep, but never insincere, her vehement prejudices corrected
by flashes of humour, is always amusing.” We may assent to every word of
this sentence, and yet feel that it does its subject something less than
justice. We trust that our readers have found Fanny amusing; we trust
also that they have recognised in her the possession of some higher
qualities. If she was vain, her egotism was of the most innocent kind.
It was more harmless than Goldsmith’s, for we cannot recall in her
utterances a single envious or jealous remark. Of how many
self-conscious authors can the like be said? The simple love of praise
which led her to entertain her acquaintance with what was said about
herself, has assisted to render her interesting to a wider circle. “Vain
glory,” says Bacon quaintly, “helpeth to perpetuate a man’s memory: like
unto varnish that makes ceilings not only shine, but last.” If she had
strong prejudices, they were free from every taint of personal
malevolence. Her dislike of the Opposition resembled Johnson’s professed
hatred of the Scotch, at which the doctor himself used to laugh. She
goes to the trial of Hastings, full of zeal for his cause, and spends
her time there chiefly in conversing with his prosecutors. And however
prejudiced on some points, she was far from narrow-minded on many
matters of controversy. Though brought up a strict Protestant, she
married a Roman Catholic. Though to the end of her days an attached
daughter of the English Church, she expresses unqualified esteem for the
piety of those very pronounced dissenters, Mr. and Mrs. Barbauld. The
sympathy between herself and her own family was at all times perfect.
There were no rivalries among them. “I am sure,” she wrote modestly in
1800, “my dear father will not think I mean to parallel our works.” She
was extremely pleased when Queen Charlotte declared a tale published by
her half-sister Sarah to be “very pretty.” Her faithfulness to duty and
her friends was celebrated by her royal mistress in the saying that Miss
Burney was “true as gold.” When she had cast in her lot with her
Chevalier, no isolation, no privation, no anxiety for the future could
make her repine. “I never forget,” she wrote in her poverty, “Dr.
Johnson’s words. When somebody said that a certain person had no turn
for economy, he answered, ‘Sir, you might as well say that he has no
turn for honesty.’“ Whatever cavils have been raised by Croker and one
or two like-minded detractors, no artifice or indirect dealing can be
laid to her charge, even in literary matters, in regard to which such
manœuvres are too often deemed excusable. We are not holding her up
as a pattern of elevated or extraordinary virtue. She was simply the
best representative of a worthy and amiable family who had been trained
in the school of Samuel Johnson. That type of character has passed away.
The rugged old dictator’s political creed is unintelligible to the
present age; his devotion is taken for superstition or formalism; his
canons of criticism are obsolete. His disciples felt nothing of what was
stirring in the air. They were but little accessible to fresh ideas. The
cause of popular freedom, the Evangelical movement in religion, the
romantic spirit in poetry appealed to them with the smallest effect.
They were zealous for authority; they were not in the least
introspective; when they wanted a line or two of verse, they nearly
always went to Pope for it. The speculations, the problems of the modern
world were all unknown to them. They were far less inclined to embrace
new dogmas of faith or agnosticism than to observe old rules of action.
Yet when we read the annals of the Burneys—the accomplished, the genial,
self-respecting, conscientious, pious Burneys—may we not be pardoned for
thinking that there was a good deal, after all, in those antiquated
Johnsonian principles?
THE END.
----------------------------
BILLING AND SONS, PRINTERS, GUILDFORD.
-----
Footnote 123:
Moore’s ‘Life of Byron,’ Letters 78, 80.
Footnote 124:
He had studied mathematics in Paris according to the analytical method
instead of the geometrical, which was at that time exclusively taught
at Cambridge.
Footnote 125:
Miss Austen took the title of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ from some words on
the last page of ‘Cecilia.’
Footnote 126:
Introduction to ‘Evelina’ by Annie Raine Ellis.
-----
Popular Science.
------------------
THE GREAT WORLD’S FARM; some Account of Nature’s Crops and How they
are Grown. By SELINA GAYE, Author of ‘The Great World’s Lumber
Room.’ With a Preface by Professor BOULGER. With Sixteen
Illustrations. Cloth. Price 5s.
‘A fascinating volume of popular science.’—_Times._
SUN, MOON, AND STARS. A Book on Astronomy for Beginners. By A.
GIBERNE. New and Revised Edition. With Coloured Illustrations.
Twenty-second Thousand. Crown 8vo., cloth. Price 5s.
‘Welcome as a prize-book.’—_Pall Mall Gazette._
RADIANT SUNS. A Sequel to ‘Sun, Moon, and Stars.’ With Illustrations.
Price 5s.
‘Miss Giberne sketches the theories and achievements of astronomers
from the dawn of science, and then treats of the spectroscope and of
the nature of the stellar universe. We know no examples of the art
of teaching so sound and stimulating.’—_Saturday Review._
THE WORLD’S FOUNDATIONS. Geology for Beginners. By A. GIBERNE. With
Illustrations. Sixth Thousand. Crown 8vo., cloth. Price 5s.
‘The exposition is clear, the style simple and attractive.’—
_Spectator._
THE OCEAN OF AIR. Meteorology for Beginners. By A. GIBERNE. With
Illustrations. Fourth Thousand. Crown 8vo., cloth. Price 5s.
‘Miss Giberne can be accurate without being formidable, and unites
a keen sense of the difficulties of beginners to a full
comprehension of the matter in hand.’—_Saturday Review._
AMONG THE STARS; or, Wonderful Things in the Sky. By AGNES GIBERNE.
With Coloured Illustrations. Sixth Thousand. Price 5s.
‘It is an attempt to teach astronomy to small children, and ... it
is very well done.’—_Saturday Review._
THE STORY OF THE HILLS: a Popular Account of Mountains, and how they
were made. By the Rev. H. N. HUTCHINSON, F.G.S. With many
Illustrations. Cloth. Price 5s.
‘A charmingly-written and beautifully-illustrated account of the
making of the mountains; an admirable gift-book.’—_Yorkshire Post._
‘It is a book that will interest the most casual reader, and
convey much solid information in a pleasant form.’—_Natural
Science._
BOOKS BY PROFESSOR CHURCH.
------------------
=The Burning of Rome.= 5s.
=A Young Macedonian.= 5s.
=Stories from Homer.= 5s.
=Stories from Virgil.= 5s.
=Stories from the Greek Tragedians.= 5s.
=Stories from the Greek Comedians.= 5s.
=Stories of the East from Herodotus.= 5s.
=The Story of the Persian War.= 5s.
=Stories from Livy.= 5s.
=Three Greek Children.= 3s. 6d.
=Heroes and Kings.= 1s. 6d.
=The Chantry Priest of Barnet.= 5s.
=With the King at Oxford.= 5s.
=Stories of the Magicians.= 5s.
=The Count of the Saxon Shore.= 5s.
=The Hammer=: a Story of the Maccab[ae]an Times. 5s.
=The Story of the Last Days of Jerusalem.= 3s. 6d.
=To the Lions=: a Tale of the Early Christians. 3s. 6d.
=The Story of the Iliad and the Æneid.= 1s. 6d.
----------------------------
BOOKS BY MRS. MARSHALL.
----------------------------
=Winifrede’s Journal.= Cloth, 5s.
=Edward’s Wife=; or, Hard Judgments. 5s.
=A Lily among Thorns.= 5s.
=Life’s Aftermath=: a Story of a Quiet People. 5s.
=Joanna’s Inheritance.= 5s.
=Dame Alicia Chamberlayne.= 5s.
=Constantia Carew.= Cloth, 5s.
=In Colston’s Days.= 5s.
=In the Service of Rachel, Lady Russell.= 5s.
=In the East Country.= 5s.
=The Mistress of Tayne Court.= 5s.
=Mrs. Willoughby’s Octave.= 5s.
=Under the Mendips.= 5s.
=In Four Reigns.= 5s.
=On the Banks of the Ouse.= 5s.
=In the City of Flowers.= 5s.
=Under Salisbury Spire=, in the Days of George Herbert. 5s.
=Winchester Meads=, in the Days of Bishop Ken. 5s.
----------------------------
_NEW AND CHEAPER EDITION OF MRS. MARSHALL’S
EARLIER WORKS._
_Price 3s. 6d., cloth._
=Violet Douglas=; or, Problems of Life.
=Christabel Kingscote.=
=Helen’s Diary.=
=Brothers and Sisters.=
=Now-a-days.=
=Edward’s Wife.=
=Lady Alice.=
=Mrs. Mainwaring’s Journal.=
=Heights and Valleys.=
=Dorothy’s Daughters.=
=Millicent Legh.=
----------------------------
LONDON: SEELEY AND CO., LIMITED, ESSEX ST., STRAND.
The Eighteenth Century.
----------------------------
DEAN SWIFT: HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS. By GERALD MORIARTY, Balliol
College, Oxford. With Nine Portraits, 7s. 6d.; large-paper copies
(150 only), 21s.
‘Mr. Moriarty is to be heartily congratulated upon having produced
an extremely sound and satisfactory little book.’—_National
Observer._
HORACE WALPOLE AND HIS WORLD. Select Passages from his Letters. With
Eight Copper Plates, after Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS and THOMAS LAWRENCE.
Second Edition. Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d., cloth.
‘A compact representative selection with just enough connecting text
to make it read consecutively, with a pleasantly-written
introduction.’—_Athenæum._
FANNY BURNEY AND HER FRIENDS. Select Passages from her Diary. Edited
by L. B. SEELEY, M.A., late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
With Nine Portraits on Copper, after REYNOLDS, GAINSBOROUGH, COPLEY,
and WEST. Third Edition. 7s. 6d., cloth.
‘The charm of the volume is heightened by nine illustrations of some
of the masterpieces of English art, and it would not be possible to
find a more captivating present for anyone beginning to appreciate
the characters of the last century.’—_Academy._
‘A really valuable book.’—_World._
MRS. THRALE, AFTERWARDS MRS. PIOZZI. By L. B. SEELEY, M.A., late
Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. With Nine Portraits on Copper,
after HOGARTH, REYNOLDS, ZOFFANY, and others. 7s. 6d., cloth.
‘Mr. Seeley had excellent material to write upon, and he has turned
it to the best advantage.’—_Pall Mall Gazette._
‘This sketch is better worth having than the autobiography, for it
is infinitely the more complete and satisfying.’—_Globe._
LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU. By ARTHUR R. ROPES, M.A., sometime Fellow
of King’s College, Cambridge. With Nine Portraits, after Sir GODFREY
KNELLER, etc. 7s. 6d.; large-paper copies (150 only), net 21s.
‘Embellished as it is with a number of excellent plates, we cannot
imagine a more welcome or delightful present.’—_National Observer._
SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. By CLAUDE PHILLIPS. With Portraits on Copper. 7s.
6d., cloth, in roxburgh and on large paper (150 only), 21s.
‘A whole library has been written about Sir Joshua, but this is the
best digest of the subject we know.’—_Athenæum._
THE PORTFOLIO
_ARTISTIC MONOGRAPHS. Price 2s. 6d. nett._
Each number has about 80 pp. of letterpress, and is complete in
itself. The illustrations generally consist of four copper-plates
and twenty illustrations in the text.
1895.
THE EARLY WORK OF RAPHAEL. By JULIA CARTWRIGHT.
W. Q. ORCHARDSON. By WALTER ARMSTRONG.
CLAUDE LORRAIN. By GEORGE GRAHAME.
WHITEHALL. By W. J. LOFTIE.
JAPANESE WOOD ENGRAVINGS. By WILLIAM ANDERSON.
ANTOINE WATTEAU. By CLAUDE PHILLIPS.
THE ISLE OF WIGHT. By C. J. CORNISH.
RAPHAEL IN ROME. By JULIA CARTWRIGHT.
DUTCH ETCHERS OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. By LAURENCE BINYON.
WILLIAM BLAKE. By RICHARD GARNETT.
MODERN SPANISH PAINTERS. By R. CORTISSOZ.
THE DULWICH GALLERY. By HUMPHRY WARD.
THE PORTFOLIO
_ARTISTIC MONOGRAPHS. Price 2s. 6d. nett._
1894.
REMBRANDT’S ETCHINGS. By P. G. HAMERTON.
MALTA AND THE KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS. By W. K. R. BEDFORD.
JOSIAH WEDGWOOD, MASTER POTTER. By A. H. CHURCH.
BASTIEN LEPAGE. By JULIA CARTWRIGHT.
D. G. ROSSETTI. By F. G. STEPHENS.
FREDERICK WALKER. By CLAUDE PHILLIPS.
FAIR WOMEN. By WILLIAM SHARP.
THE NEW FOREST. By C. J. CORNISH.
THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH. By WALTER ARMSTRONG.
BOOKBINDING IN FRANCE. By W. Y. FLETCHER.
ALBERT DÜRER. By LIONEL CUST.
ITALIAN BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH CENTURIES.
By ALFRED W. POLLARD.
------------------
BY THE AUTHOR OF ‘LIFE AT THE ZOO.’
WILD ENGLAND OF TO-DAY
_AND THE WILD LIFE IN IT_.
By C. J. CORNISH.
_With Sixteen Illustrations, demy 8vo., 12s. 6d._
‘A delightful work for genuine lovers of natural history and for all
by whom the sights and sounds of the country-side are still held in
esteem.’—_Daily Telegraph._
‘Every chapter has the charm of wild life and of the fresh unsullied
country. The illustrations are excellent.’—_Scotsman._
‘The scenes by sea or land, on the rivers of the south or the moors
of the north, are vividly drawn by one who knows them.’—_Manchester
Guardian._
------------------
UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME.
LIFE AT THE ZOO
_NOTES AND TRADITIONS OF THE REGENT’S
PARK GARDENS._
By C. J. CORNISH.
_Illustrated from Photographs by Gambier Bolton._
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
‘In its graver, as in its lighter, portions, this absorbing work is
without a single dull or superfluous line, and its value is not a
little enhanced by the several beautiful reproductions of
photographs of Mr. Gambier Bolton.’—_World._
‘Mr. Cornish is manifestly a keen lover of animals, and a close
observer of their habits and humours, and he records his
observations in a very attractive fashion, genial in tone, curiously
felicitous in description, and with frequent touches of quiet
humour.’—_Times._
‘He gives in short compass the results of long and patient
observation, and in doing so displays to an envious degree the
faculty of critical, but easy, exposition.’—_Standard._
‘A more companionable book than “Life at the Zoo” for a visitor to
the great menagerie, we cannot imagine.... Interesting, thoughtful,
and teeming with acute and often minute observation, and the
sympathy of a true naturalist.’—_Spectator._
------------------
Illustrated Books.
THE DRAGON OF THE NORTH: a Tale of the Normans in Italy. By E. J.
OSWALD. With Illustrations. Price 5s., cloth.
“There is fun and adventure enough in it to suit the youngsters,
while it is thoroughly wholesome in every way.”—_Saturday Review._
THE PHARAOHS AND THEIR LAND. Scenes of old Egyptian Life and History.
By E. BERKLEY. With Coloured Illustrations. Price 5s., cloth.
“An account of that wonderful land which is not only interesting,
but valuable.”—_Leeds Mercury._
SWITZERLAND AND THE SWISS. Sketches of the Country and its Famous Men.
By the Author of “Knights of the Frozen Sea.” Crown 8vo. With
Twenty-four Illustrations. Price 5s.
“Pleasantly written.”—_John Bull._
CHAPTERS ON ANIMALS. By G. P. HAMERTON. New Edition, with Eight
Etchings. Price 5s., cloth.
Also a larger Edition, with Twenty Etchings. Price 12s. 6d.
“Admirable in the thoughtfulness of its contents and the beauty of
its illustrations.”—_Scotsman._
THE SYLVAN YEAR. By G. P. HAMERTON. New Edition, with Eight Etchings.
Price 5s., cloth.
Also a larger Edition, with Twenty Etchings. Price 12s. 6d.
“Wise young people will not desire better books than these, and wise
old ones may read them with a good deal of advantage.”—_Scotsman._
CHURCH ECHOES. First Series. A Tale Illustrative of the Daily Service
of the Prayer-book. By Mrs. CAREY BROCK, Author of “Sunday Echoes in
Week-day Hours.” Price 5s., cloth.
“Will be found very useful in leading thoughtful young people to an
intelligent use of their Prayer-book.”—_Guardian._
CHURCH ECHOES. Second Series. A Tale Illustrative of the Sacramental
and Special Services of the Prayer-book. Price 5s.
“We can speak in terms of high praise of the teaching of the book.
The real working and power of the Sacraments is extremely well
illustrated.”—_Guardian._
------------------
Tales by Miss Winchester
------------------
A DOUBLE CHERRY. A Story. With Illustrations. Price 5s.
“The gifted author has never been more successful than in the
present book.” _Scotsman._
ADRIFT IN A GREAT CITY. A Story. With Illustrations by JACOMB HOOD.
Price 5s.
“One of Miss Winchester’s pleasantly-written tales.... In its
descriptions of slum life in Liverpool it is equal to any of her
previous efforts.”—_Daily Telegraph._
PEARL OF THE SEA. Third Thousand. Price 5s., cloth.
“A charming conception.”—_Saturday Review._
A CRIPPLED ROBIN. Fourth Thousand. Price 5s., cloth.
“A pretty story, and there is fun as well as feeling in many of the
chapters.”—_Times._
A CITY VIOLET. Fifth Edition. Price 5s., cloth.
“Miss Winchester, whose power of delineating character is giving her
an honourable place among the writers of serious fiction, has never
done anything better than this.”—_Spectator._
A NEST OF SPARROWS. Ninth Edition. Price 5s., cloth.
“Miss Winchester not only writes with skill, but writes from the
heart, and with full knowledge of her subject. Her story is most
genuine, pathetic, without being sad.”—_Pall Mall Gazette._
UNDER THE SHIELD. A Tale. Seventh Edition. Price 5s., cloth.
“We wish all religious stories were written in the same simple and
natural way. We can conceive no more healthy reading for children.”—
_Academy._
“We welcome with real pleasure another book by the author of ‘A Nest
of Sparrows.’ ‘Under the Shield’ is to be noted for its purity of
tone and high aspirations.... There is true fun in the book, too.”—
_Athenæum._
THE CABIN ON THE BEACH. A Tale. Fourth Edition. Price 5s., cloth.
“This tender story cannot fail to charm and delight the young.”—
_Guardian._
THE WAYSIDE SNOWDROP. A Tale. Fourth Edition. Price 3s. 6d., cloth.
“A bright flower indeed. With all her tenderness and grace Miss
Winchester narrates one of those pathetic stories of a poor London
waif that at once arouse the loving sympathy of children.”—
_Guardian._
Works by Mrs. Carey Brock
------------------
THE “TIMES” SAYS:—
“Mrs. Carey Brock is a writer of standard reputation, who has
achieved a series of successes. Her tales are old favourites. They
are clever, original, and extremely well written to boot.”
------------------
SUNDAY ECHOES IN WEEK-DAY HOURS. First Series. A Tale illustrative of
the Collects. Crown 8vo., 5s., cloth.
SUNDAY ECHOES IN WEEK-DAY HOURS. Second Series. A Tale illustrative of
the Church Catechism. Crown 8vo., 5s., cloth.
SUNDAY ECHOES IN WEEK-DAY HOURS. Third Series. A Tale illustrative of
the Journeyings of the Children of Israel. Crown 8vo., 5s., cloth.
SUNDAY ECHOES IN WEEK-DAY HOURS. Fourth Series. A Tale illustrative of
Scripture Characters. Crown 8vo., 5s., cloth.
SUNDAY ECHOES IN WEEK-DAY HOURS. Fifth Series. A Tale illustrative of
the Epistles and Gospels. Crown 8vo., 5s., cloth.
SUNDAY ECHOES IN WEEK-DAY HOURS. Sixth Series. A Tale illustrative of
the Parables. Crown 8vo., 5s., cloth.
SUNDAY ECHOES IN WEEK-DAY HOURS. Seventh Series. A Tale illustrative
of the Miracles. Crown 8vo., 5s., cloth.
SUNDAY ECHOES IN WEEK-DAY HOURS. Eighth Series. A Tale illustrative of
the Example of Christ. Crown 8vo., 5s., cloth.
CHANGES AND CHANCES. A Tale. Crown 8vo., 5s., cloth.
SEELEY’S
FIRST LESSON BOOKS.
CLOTH, PRICE 2s. 6d. PER VOLUME.
_A Series of Elementary Books for Home Teaching, and for use in the
Lower Forms of Schools, written in an interesting manner, printed
in clear type, and fully illustrated with cuts and diagrams._
STORIES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY. From Julius Cæsar to the Black Prince.
By Professor CHURCH. Small crown 8vo., cloth, 2s. 6d.
STORIES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY. From Richard II. to Charles I. Small
crown 8vo., cloth, 2s. 6d.
THE STARRY SKIES. First Lessons on Sun, Moon, and Stars. By AGNES
GIBERNE. Small crown 8vo., cloth, 2s. 6d.
THIS GREAT GLOBE. First Lessons in Geography. By A. SEELEY. Small
crown 8vo., cloth, 2s. 6d.
The _Saturday Review_ says:—‘Nothing could be more attractive, nor
more practical, than the method of these excellent little books.
There is an effective simplicity in the style of exposition, and an
admirable clearness of definition in the scope of the lessons. The
capital woodcuts also are of the kind which should leave a pleasant
impression with the young.’
------------------
_Issued in large crown 8vo., with Portraits on Copper,
Price 7s. 6d._
STUDIES IN MODERN MUSIC
_HECTOR BERLIOZ, ROBERT SCHUMAN, RICHARD WAGNER._
SECOND EDITION.
By W. H. HADOW, M.A., _Fellow of Worcester College, Oxon_.
‘We have seldom read a book on musical subjects which has given us
so much pleasure as this one, and we can sincerely recommend it to
all who are interested in the art.’—_Saturday Review._
‘It is a real relief, amid the rambling and slipshod effusions which
constitute the bulk of musical _belles lettres_, to encounter such a
volume as these “Studies in Modern Music,” by Mr. W. H. Hadow. Mr.
Hadow is himself a musician of no mean attainments; but there is no
parade of technical knowledge in his book. He writes like a scholar
and a gentleman, his style is felicitous and his critical attitude
at once sane and generous.’—_Graphic._
‘He writes with striking thoughtfulness and breadth of view, so that
his essays may be read with much interest by musicians. It is a
remarkable book, because, unlike the majority of musical treatises
by amateurs, it is full of truth and common-sense.’—_Athenæum._
‘The essay on musical criticism is well worth anybody’s reading; its
general tendency is to extend the basis of modern criticism,
commensurably with the larger and wider scope of modern music, to
establish standards of musical value by which modern works can be
more justly measured than by the pedantic misapplication of once
valid rules. In his whole discourse on the subject Mr. Hadow gives
evidence of immense common-sense, backed up by innate and cultivated
artistic perception.’—_Atlantic Monthly._
_BY THE SAME AUTHOR._
STUDIES IN MODERN MUSIC
SECOND SERIES.
_FREDERICK CHOPIN, ANTONIN DVORÁK, JOHANNES BRAHMS._
Preceded by an Essay on Musical Form.
_OPINIONS OF THE PRESS._
‘The three biographies are charming: and in each case the author has
something both true and new to say.’—_National Observer._
‘The development of form is described with many brilliant touches
and with complete grasp of the subject, and the book, which will
probably be considered to be even better than the former work, is
most heartily to be recommended to all who wish to attain the
highest kind of enjoyment of the best music.’—_Times._
‘Highly finished portraits are presented of the three modern masters
named, and the articles are distinguished by the same musicianly
knowledge and felicity of expression as those in the earlier book.’—
_Athenæum._
‘The amount of labour and research condensed into these pages is
really remarkable.’—_Musical Times._
‘There is not a word either in the historical or exegetical portions
of Mr. Hadow’s work which will not furnish agreeable suggestion to
the casual reader, and satisfaction to the student’—_St. James’s
Gazette._
PICTURESQUE PLACES.
_A SERIES of beautifully illustrated books published by SEELEY &
CO._
LANCASHIRE. Brief Historical and Descriptive Notes. By LEO GRINDON.
With many Illustrations by A. BRUNET-DEBAINES, H. TOUSSAINT, R. KENT
THOMAS, and others. New Edition. 6s., cloth.
PARIS. In Past and Present Times. By P. G. HAMERTON. With many
Illustrations by A. BRUNET-DEBAINES, H. TOUSSAINT, JACOMB HOOD, and
others. New Edition. 6s., cloth.
THE RUINED ABBEYS OF YORKSHIRE. By W. CHAMBERS LEFROY. With many
Illustrations by A. BRUNET-DEBAINES and H. TOUSSAINT. New Edition.
6s., cloth.
OXFORD. Chapters by A. LANG. With many Illustrations by A.
BRUNET-DEBAINES, H. TOUSSAINT and R. KENT THOMAS. 6s., cloth.
CAMBRIDGE. By J. W. CLARK, M.A. With many Illustrations by A.
BRUNET-DEBAINES and H. TOUSSAINT. 6s., cloth.
WINDSOR. By W. J. LOFTIE, dedicated by permission to Her Majesty the
Queen. With many Illustrations. 6s.
STRATFORD-ON-AVON. In the Middle Ages and the Time of the
Shakespeares. By S. L. LEE. With many Illustrations. 6s., cloth.
EDINBURGH. Picturesque Notes. By ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON. With many
Illustrations. 3s. 6d., cloth; 5s., roxburgh.
CHARING CROSS TO ST. PAUL’S. Mr. JUSTIN MCCARTHY. With Illustrations
by JOSEPH PENNELL. 6s., cloth.
----------------------------
_A few copies of the Guinea Edition of some of these volumes,
containing the original etchings, can still be had._
LONDON: SEELEY AND CO., LIMITED, ESSEX ST., STRAND.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transcriber’s Note
Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and
are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original,
or, if in a footnote, to the original page, the resequenced note number
and the line with it.
19.7 “How you remind me of my father![’”/”’] Transposed.
33.34 being hooted at[.] Added.
70.31 as well acquainted with them as herself[.] Added.
78.6 her Smiths and her Branghtons![”/’] Replaced.
98.5 “[‘]Oh, sir!’ cried I; Inserted.
99.2 to confound these outpouring[s] Added.
106.23 [‘/“]Let him be tormented, Replaced.
106.25 ‘Evelina’![”] Added.
115.23 though far inferior[.] Added.
123.29 in Fanny’s [l]iterary career. Restored.
124.54.5 died on the 30th of May 1840[.] Added.
129.22 a history of the Bristol milk-woman,[’] Removed.
131.12 have encouraged me.[’/”] Replaced.
139.13 was only six miles from Chesington[,/.] Replaced.
168.12 [‘]There is no need,’ Added.
177.29 No, no; not come to that neither.[’] Added.
190.22 Immediately below the Great Chambe[r]lain’s Inserted.
Box
221.1 I am extremely obliged to Mr. Digby indeed.[’] Added.
211.24 “[‘]No, ma’am!’ was all I dared answer. Inserted.
231.26 ‘fine, lively, natural, independent Added.
characters.[’]
242.23 [‘/“]I thanked him; Replaced.
271.3 after seventy-three of accusation.[’/”] Replaced.
272.10 [‘]for it is kind, Added.
End of Project Gutenberg's Fanny Burney and her Friends, by Fanny Burney