Memoirs of Madame d'Arblay

Front matter

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Preface

" The Diary and Lettei's of Madame D'Arblay/* edited by her Niece, have been presented to the public in so unwieldy and voluminous a form, made tedious by so many details that are foreign and uninteresting, that we cannot hesitate to believe that an attempt to separate the gold from the dross, the really valuable facts embodied in the naiTative from the trivial and dull, will be indulgently received.

The contemporary and friend of Johnson, Burke, Horace Walpole, and other master-spirits of English literature, the life of the " author of Evelina" presents the most ample materials for an entertaining and deeply instructive biography. We have endeavoured to avail ourselves of them in a manner the most acceptable to readers of taste ; omitting no incident of importance, but avoiding all that seemed in-evelant and unattractive.

The present work will be found to contain much that has never before been published in this country j while care has been taken to include all that seemed worthy of preservation in the " Diary and Letters" of Madame D'Arblay, the expensive character of which publication has rendered it a sealed book to the great majority of American readers.

New York, March, 1844,

Chapter I

Birth of Frances Burney— Remarkable feature of her childhood-limitation of the Actors — Dr. Barney's opinion of her — The flaxen wig — Death of Mrs. Burney — Self Education — Dissimilarity of Fanny to her sisters — Dr. Burney's second marriage — Mr. Crisp — The Cabin — Fanny's secret authorship. — The Conflagration. History of Caroline Evelyn, mother of Evelina — Dr. Bmney's tour. His illness. — '' Evelina." — Secret arrangements with a bookseller. The arrival — Mr. Lowndes's offer for the manuscript of ^' Evelina" — Character of Miss Burney— The Journal. 11—25.

Chapter IL

Publication ot Evelina — Its Design and Objects — Secrecy — Critique on Evelina — Mr, Crisp — " Evelina" read by Dr. Burney — His discovery of its Author — Mr. Cholmondeley and Mrs. Thrale — Invitation from Mrs. Thrale— Dr. Burney's delig-ht— Mr, Crisp discovers the Author of Evelina — Visit to Streathara — Mrs, Thrale's Reception — Introduction to Dr. Johnson — His reason for not eating Mutton on the day that he became acquainted with Miss Burney. 25—33.

Chapter III

Miss Burney a constant Visitor at Streatham — Dr. Johnson's freedom in condemnmg what he dislikes — His first allusion to '' Evelina" — Dr. Goldsmith and the " Good-natured Man" — The character of Croaker stolen from Dr. Johnson — Dr. Johnson's Opinion of the " Vicar of Wakefield" — His Repugnance to the Scotch Nation. — His fastidiousness about the Dress of Ladies — He pronounces " Evelina" superior to Fielding's works — Miss Burney becomes acquainted with Mrs. Montague — An Amusing Incident — Dr. Johnson and Miss Burney. 33 — 40.

Chapter IV»

Miss Burney's visit from Dr, Frankhn — Miss Burney and Sir Joshua Reynolds — ** Dear little Burney" — Miss Burney's annoyance at the appearance of her Name in print — Her Acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan — Personal Appearance of Sheridan — His mention of* Evelina" — " The writings" — Dr. Burney's condemnation of his Daughter's Comedy — The beautiful humility of her reply — Mr. Crisp's objection — Dr. Johnson instructs Miss Bm-ney in La-- tin — Incident at an Inn — Sir Thomas Lawrence in his childhood — - Mrs. Byron. 40 — i8

Vlll CONTENTS.

Chapter V

Death of Mr. Thrale — Miss Burney's Letter to his Widow — " Cecilia" — Fears for its Success— 'Dr. Buraey's Opinion — Enthusiastic reception of " Cecilia" — Complimentary Letter of the Honourable Edmund Burke — Mrs. Siddons — Mrs. Garrick — Mrs. Chapone — Horace Walpole — xMrs. Delany — Duchess of Portland- Death of Mr. Crisp — Dr. Johnson seized with a paralytic Stroke- His Latin Prayer — Miss Burney's Visit to Him. — Presiding at his Breakfast Table. 48—55.

Chapter VI

Miss Burney's friendship for Mrs. Thrale threatened with an interruption — Miss Burney's defence of her Friend — Mrs. Thrale's Letter and Visit — Tiie last meeting — Mrs. Thrale's Marriage with-- Piozzi — Letters between her and Miss Burney — An unanswered letter—The friendship of six years at an end — Dr. Johnson's illness — Affecting interview with Miss Burney — Recovery — His last illness — Anecdote of the Coffins— Dr. Johnson's last hours and death.

65 — 65.

Chapter VII

Miss Burney's acquaintance v/ith Madame de Genlis — Madame de Genlis's note — Mrs. Delany — The Queen's loom, and the King's gold knitting-needle— Death of the Duchess Dowager of Portland, Mrs. Delauy's grief, and Miss Burney's consolatory attentions — Kindness of King George and Queen Charlotte -to Mrs. Delany — The two dried leaves — Mrs. Delany's house at Windsor — Projected visit of the Princesses to Mis3 Burney — The King and Queen's mention of her — Miss Burney at Windsor — Queen Charlotte rcperuses " Cecilia" — Mrs. Delany's injunctions to Miss Burney respecting the Royal Family — Miss Burney's first interview with the King and Queen — Puss in the corner — Cross-questioning — Character of the King and Queen — Their affection for each other — Miss Burnev's second interview 65—84.

Chapter VIII

A vacancy in the Royal household— The office of Keeper of the Robes is offered by the Queen to Miss Burney — Her deliberation, disinclination, but final acceptance — Arrival at Windsor— Reception by the Queen— Fears and heart-aches — Account of Miss Burney's mode of life at Court— An attempt upon the life of the King— Grief and horror of the royal family — Noble conduct of King George. 84—96.

Chapter IX

Miss Burney's unfortunate timidity— Reading to the Queen— Madame de Genlis— Mrs. Delany's ad/ice— The Queen's opinion on the subject of an intimacy with Madame de Genlis— The '' great coat" —Miss Buraey's Stanzas— Singular mode of presenting them— The Queen's ackno wledgmenis— Condescension mingled with humility.

98—101.

CONTENTS. IX

Chapter X

Application from the publishers of " Cecilia " —Letter from Mrs, Leinman to the authoress of "Cecilia" — A threatened attempt at Suicide — Dr. Burney at Court— His singular non-observance of Court etiquette — The King's good-humour— Visit to Dr. Herschel — Comment of the Princess Amelia upon Dr. Burney's looks — The New Year — West's- picture of the Resurrection — The King's offering — The Bishop of Worcester — Visit from Mr. West — His enthusiasm — Dr. Burney's poem on the Queen's birthday — His daughter's mode of presenting it— The Ball— An unexpected dilemma — The young Clergyman and the chairman. 101 — 118.

Chnpter XI.

Travelling to Windsor with Mr. Turbulent— Discussion— Religion and Morality — The Queen's opinion of Mr Turbulent — The young Clergyman again— Josephus— Mr, Turbulent and the Princess Augusta — La Coquette Corrigee — The Queen studyhig Botany — The Drama of" Seduction " — An allusion in the epilogue to the Author of "Cecilia" — The King's enjoyment of Miss Burney's Confusion — S)Tnpathy of the Princesses — Mrs. Piozzi's return to England. 118—131,

Chapter XII

A visit from Dr. Beattie— Return of the Duke of York— Joy of the Royal Family — Mrs, Siddons engaged to read a play at the Pedace — Miss Burney her entertainer — Her Opinion of Mrs. Siddons — Visit to Dr. Herschel — His sister — Her character and appearance — Their mode of working together — The Telescope.

AIX HaiavH3 131—136.

Chapter XIII

An eventful year— Death of Mrs. Delany — Her last words— Mrs. Delany's niece — Trial of Hasting's — Decline of the King's health — Alarm of the Royal Family — Insanity of the King — Scene at Dinner—Confusion and Dismay of the Household— Desolate condition of the Queen, 136—143,

MEMOIRS OF MADAME D'ARBLAY.

Chapter I

Birth of Frances Bumey— Remarkable feature of her childhood — Imitation of the Actors — Dr. Burney's opinion of her — The flaxen wig — Death of Mrs. Burney — Selt Education — Dissimilarity of Fanny to her sisters — Dr. Burney's second marriage — Mr. Crisp — The Cabin — Fanny's secret authorship. — The Conflagration. History of Caroline Evelyn, mother of Evelina — Dr. Burney's tour. His illness. — '^ Evelina.'' — Secret arrangements with a bookseller. The arrival — Mr. LoAvndes's ofier for the manuscript of" EveUna" — Character of Miss Burney — The Journal.

Frances Burney, the second daughter and third child of Dr. Burney, was born at Lynn Regis in Norfolk, on the 13th of June. 1752. Her father had in the preceding year accepted the office of Organist to that royal borough, having been obliged by ill health to quit London, and to rehnquish more advantageous prospects.

The most remarkable features of Frances Burney's childhood were, her extreme shyness, and her backwardness at learning ; at eight years of age, she did not even know her letters, and her elder brother used to amuse himself by pretending to teach her to read, and presenting the book to her turned upside down, — which he declared she never found out. Her mother's friends generally gave her the name of " the little dunce ;" but her mother, more discerning as well as more indulgent, always replied, that " she had no fear about Fanny. ^^

In fact, beneath an appearance so unpromi ing to cursory observers, there was an under-current, nd^ only of deep feeling and affection, but of shrewd observation and lively invention; though the feelings were rarely called forth in the happy careless course of childish life, and the intellectual powers were concealed by shyness, except when her own individuality were forgotten in the zest with which she would enact other personages, in the little sports and gambols she invented. Her father relates, that " she used, after having seen a play in Mrs. Garrick's box, to take the actors off, and compose speeches for their characters, for she could not read them. But in company, or before strangers, she was silent, backward, and timid, even to sheepishness ; and from her shyness, had such profound gravity and composure of features, that those of Dr. Burney's friends who went often to his house, and entered into the different humours of the children, never called Fanny by any other name, from the time she had reached her eleventh year, than "the old lady."

Dr. Burney adds, "she had always a great affection for me ; had an excellent heart, and a natural simplicity and probity about her that wanted no teaching. In her plays with her sisters and some neighbours' children, tliis straightforward morality operated to an uncommon degree in one so young. There lived next door to me at that time in Poland Street, and in a private house, a capital hair-merchant, who furnished perukes to the judges and gentlemen of the law. The hair-merchant's female children and mine used to play together in the little garden behind the house, and unfortunately, one day, the door of the wig-magazine being left open, they each of them put on one of those dignified ornaments of the head, and danced and jumped about in a thousand antics, laughing till they screamed, at their own ridiculous figures. Unfortunately, in their vagaries, one of the flaxen wigs, said by the proprietor to be worth upwards of ten guineas [in those days an enormous price], fell into a tub of water placed for shrubs in the little garden, and lost all its gorgon buckle, and was declared by the owner to be totally spoilt. He was extremely angiy, and chid very severely his own children ; w^hen my little daughter, ' the old lady,' then ten years or age, advancing to him, as I was informed, with great gravity and composure, sedately said, ' What signifies talking so much about an accident ?, The wig is wet, to be sure ; and the wig was a good wig, to be sure ; but 'tis of no use to speak of it any more, because whafs done canH be undone.'

"Whether these stoical sentiments appeased the enraged perruquier, I know not ; but the younkers were stript of their honours, and my little monkeys were obliged to retreat without beat of drum or colours flying."

Mrs. Burney was well qualified to instruct and train her numerous family ; but they lost her early, and her chief attention appears to have been bestowed on the education of her eldest daughter, Esther, w^ith whom she read all Pope's'w^orks, and Pitt's ^Eneid ; while the silent, observant Fanny learnt by heart passages from Pope, merely from hearing her sister recite them, and long before she cared for reading them herself.

In the year 1760, Dr. Burney returned to London with his wife and children, and took a house in Poland Street, where he renewed, under happy auspices, the acquaintance which, during his former residence in London, he had made with several of the most distinguished literary characters of his day. At this period his eldest son James, afterwards Admiral Burney, had been sent to sea as a midshipman, in the ship of Admiral Montagu ; his second son, Charles, afterwards the celebrated Greek scholar, was still quite a child ; and his fourth daughter, Charlotte, was an infant.

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14 MEMOIKS OF

From this young family, for whom maternal care appeared so necessary, their affectionate mother was removed by death in the autumn of 1761.. During the latter period of her illness, Frances and her sister Susanna had been placed in a boarding-school in Queen Square, that they might be out of the way ; and when the sad intelligence of their loss was brought to them, the agony of Frances's grief was so great, though she was not more than nine years old, that her governess declared she had not met with a child of such intense and acute feelings.

The bereaved father soon recalled his children home, and their education carried itself on, rather than owed its progress to any regular instruction. Dr. Burney was too much occupied by his professional engagements to teach them, except by his own example of industry and perseverance. These were so great that he actually studied and acquired the French and Italian languages on horseback ; having for that purpose written out a pocket-grammar and vocabulary of each.

His son Charles was, at a proper age, sent to the Charter-House School, but his daughters remained at home ; they had no governess, and though the eldest and the third, Esther and Susanna, were subsequently taken to France, and placed for two years in a Parisian seminary, Frances shared not this advantage. Dr. Burney afterwards acknowledged that one reason which decided him against carrying her to France was her strong attachment to her maternal gi'andmother, who was a Roman Catholic. He " feared she might be induced to follow the religion of one she so much loved and honoured, if she should fall so early into the hands of any zealots who should attempt her conversion." She was, therefore, literally self-educated, and to use her own words, her " sole emulation for improvement, and sole spur for exertion, w^ere her unbounded veneration and alFection for her father, who, nevertheless, had not at the time a moment to spare for giving her any personal instruction, or even for directing her pursuits."

At ten years of age she could read, and with the occasional assistance of her eldest sister she had taught herself to write ; and no sooner had she acquired the latter accomplishment than she began to scribble, almost incessantly, little poems and works of invention, though in a character that was illegible to every one but herself. Her love of reading did not display itself till two or three years later ; thus practically reversing the axiom that

mm " Authors before they write should read."

But although the education of Dr, Burney's daughters was not conducted according to the elaborate systems of the present day, they yet enjoyed some advantages which more than compensated for the absence of regular and salaried instructors. The sentiments and example of their father excited them to love whatever was upright, virtuous, and amiable ; while, from not being secluded in a school-room, they also shared the conversation of their father's guests ; and, in London, Dr. Burney's miscellaneous but agreeable society included some of the most eminent for literature in our own country, together with many accomplished foreigners, whose observations and criticisms were in themselves lessons. Perhaps the taste of Frances Burney was formed much in the same way as that of her celebrated contemporary, Madame de Stael, who relates that she used to sit with her work, on a little stool at her mother's knee, and listen to the conversation of all Monsieur Neckar's enhghtened visitors ; thus gathering notions on literature and politics long ere it was suspected that she knew the meaning of the words.

If, however, the above methods were of themselves sufficient for education, all good conversers might offer a " royal road" to learning. But the benefit here obtained was chiefly that of directing the attention to intellectual pursuits, enlightening the judgment, and exciting a thirst for knowledge, which led the youthful Frances to diligent and laborious application. By the time she was fourteen she had carefully studied many of the best authors in her father's library, of which she had the uncontrolled range. She began also to make extracts, keeping a catalogue raisonne of the books she read ; and some of her early remarks were such as would not have disgraced a maturer judgment.

Thus passed, not idly nor unprofitably, nearly six years after the death of that mother who would have been her best instructress. Dr. Burney then made another journey to Paris, for the purpose of conducting home his daughters, Esther and Susanna, whose allotted two years' of education in that capital had expired. Their improvement had kept pace with their father's hopes and wishes, but he gave up his original plan of carrying Frances and Charlotte abroad on the return of their sister : Susanna volunteered to instruct "Fanny in French ; and they were all so enchanted to meet again, that perhaps Dr. Burney's parental kindness withheld him from proposing a new separation.

On the first return of the youthful travellers, Susanna, who was then scarcely fourteen, wrote a sort of comparison between her two elder sisters, which, as it happens to have been preserved, and may in some measure illustrate their early characters, we will give verbatim.

" Hetty seems a good deal more lively than she used to appear at Paris ; whether it is that her spirits are better, or that the great liveliness of the inhabitants made her appear grave there by comparison, I know not : but she was there remarkable for being serieuse, and is here for being gay and lively. She is a most sweet girl. My sister Fanny is unlike her in almost every thing, yet both are very amiable, and love each other as sincerely as ever sisters did. The characteristics of Hetty seem to be wit, generosity, and openness of heart : Fanny's — sense, sensibility, and bashfulness, and even a degree of prudery. Her understanding is superior, but her diffidence gives her a bashfulness before company With whom she is not intimate. Which is a disadvantage to her. My eldest sister shines in conversation, because, though very modest, she is totally free from any mauvaise honte : were Fanny equally so, I am persuaded she would shine no less. I am afraid that my eldest sister is too communicative, and that my sister Fanny is too reserved. They are both charming girls, — -des filles comrne il y ena pen."

Very soon after his return from Paris, an important change took place in Dr. Burney's domestic circle, by forming a second matrimonial connection, and bringing home to his family as their mother-in-law, Mrs. Stephen Allen, the widow of a Lynn merchant, and herself the parent of several children who had been friends and playmates Of the young Burneys. Both families were pleased at this reunion ; a larger house Was taken, in Queen Square, that they might all reside under the same roof, — although this dwelling was afterwards exchanged for a house in St. Martin's Street ; and the new Mrs. Burney, who Was herself highly intellectual, entered with intelligent delight into the hterary circle which formed the solace and refreshment of her husband.

Among those friends who were accustomed to assemble rouud their tea-table, or to enliven their simple early supper, were Sir Robert and Lady Strange, — • the former so well known for his admirable engrav-i ings, and his lady for her strong sense and original humour ; Dr. Hawkesworth, the worthy and learned Editor of Byron's and Cooke's First Voyages ; Garrick, and his amiable wife, the friend of Hannah More ; Barry, the Painter, whose works still adorn the Adelphi ; Mr. Twining, the Translator of Aristotle ; Mason, the Poet ; Mr. Greville, and his Lady, the latter celebrated as the Authoress of the beautiful " Ode to Indifference ;" Dr. Armstrong ; Arthur Young, the Agriculturist, who had married a sister of Mrs. Burney's ; John Hutton, the Moravian ; the musical and clever La Trobe, and Nollekens the Sculptor. To these might be added many others of equal or superior celebrity, who formed part of Dr. Burney's society, as time and circumstances brought them within his reach.

But the companion and counsellor who was dearest to himself, and most loved and honoured by his youthful group, was Mr. Crisp. This gentleman, several years older than Dr. Burney, had been to him a " Guide, Pilosopher, and Friend," in early life ; they had then separated in consequence of Mr. Crisp's residing on the continent during several years, but when they again met, their intimacy was renewed with a cordiality and delight that only ended with life.

At this time Mr. Crisp had given up the world, in consequence of various losses, diminished fortune, and disappointed hopes ; and he had fixed his dwelling in an old-fashioned country-house, called Chesington Hall, not far from Kingston in Surrey, and within a a few miles of Hampton. This mansion stood upon a large and nearly desolate common, and not a road or even a track led to it from Epsom, which was the nearest town. It was encircled by ploughed fields, and one-half of the building was inhabited by a farmer ; while in the remaining portion dwelt the proprietor, Christopher Hamilton, Esq., with whom Mr.

ARBLAY. 1&

Crisp had adopted some pic-nic plan, which enabled him to consider Chesington as his decided residence. At the death of Mr. Hamilton, the house, which was then his only property, devolved to his maiden sister, Mrs. Hamilton, who, with her niece, Miss Kitty Cooke, continued to receive Mr. Crisp as an inmate, and to admit other persons as occasional boarders.

This independent method of visiting his friend, and of obtaining country air and exercise for his children, exactly suited the views of Dr. Burney, and they all in turn, or in groups, enjoyed the society of their Ches* ington Daddy, as they familiarly called Mr. Crisp ; while he was indulgent to all their youthful vagaries, and amused with observing their different characters.

Among those who most frequently availed themselves of Mrs. Hamilton's arrangement, was Mrs. Gast, the sister of Mr. Crisp, who, whenever she quitted her house at Burford, in order to visit her brother, failed not to enhance the pleasure of the Chesington meetings by her good sense and kind nature, added to a considerable degree of cultivation.

But whatever might offer itself of occupation or amusement, Fanny continued secretly, yet perseveringly, her own literary attempts. When in London, she used to write in a little play-room up two pair of stairs, which contained the toys of the younger children. At Lynn, to which place the Doctor's family paid annual visits, she would shut herself up in a summer-house which they called The Cabin, and there unburden her mind, by writing the tales and compositions with which her fancy abounded.

To none but her sister Susanna was the secret of this authorship confided ; and even she could seldom hear or read those productions, for w^ant of private opportunities by which she might avoid betraying them to others.

Notwithstanding all these precautions, the vigilant eye of their mother-in-law was not long in discovering Fanny's love of seclusion, her scraps of writing, and other tokens of her favourite employment, which excited no small alarm in her.

Perhaps if she had desired to see the little manuscripts she might have perceived in them traces of genius worth encouraging ; but while her delicacy prevented such investigation, her good sense, acting upon general principles, led her to inveigh very frequentl}- and seriously against the evil of a scribbling turn in young ladies — the loss of time, the waste or thought, in idle, crude inventions — -and the (at that time) utter discredit of being known as a female writer of novels and romances.

Whatever conviction these strictures may have produced, they at least so wrought upon Fanny's sense of duty and obedience, that she resolved to make an auto da fe of all her manuscripts, and, if possible, to throw away her pen. Seizing, therefore, an opportunity when Dr. and Mrs. Burney were from home, she made over to a bonfire in a paved play-court, her whole stock of prose compositions, while her faithful Susanna stood by, weeping at the conflagration. Among the Works thus immolated, wets one tale of considerable length, the "History of Caroline Evelyn,'^ the mother of Evelina.

This sacrifice was made! in the young authoress's fifteenth year, and for some weeks she probably adhered to her resolution of composing no more works of fiction, and began, perhaps as a less objectional employment, the Journal which she continued during so many years. But the perennial fountain could not be restrained ; her imagination was haunted by the singular situations to which Caroline Evelyn's infant daughter might be exposed, from the unequal birth by which she hung suspended between the elegant connections of her mr^^her, and the vulgar ones of her grandmother ; thus presenting contrasts and mixtures of society so unusual, yet, under the supposed circumstances, so natural, that irresistibly, and almost unconsciously, the whole story of " Evelina ; or, A Young Lady's Entrance into the World," was pent up in the inventor's memory, ere a paragraph was committed to paper.

Writing was to her always more difficult than composing, because her time and her pen found ample employment in transcribing for her father, who was occupied at every spare moment with preparations for his great work, " The General History of Music."

In the summer of 1770, Fanny obtained several months of leisure for her own studies and compositions, as Dr. Burney then set out on a solitary tour through France and Italy, for the purpose of collecting materials for his " History ;" but on his return in the spring of 1771, she was employed as his principal amanuensis, in preparing the minutes of his tour for the press. All his daughters, however, shared in this service, copying his numerous manuscripts, tracing over and over again the same page when his nicety of judgment suggested alterations; while their patient and affectionate assiduity brought its own reward, in the extension of knowledge and improvement of taste which accrued from such labours.

Dr. Burney's " Italian Tour" wns no sooner published, than he set out on another journey, for the same purpose of musical research, in Germany and the Low Countries. His family resided during his absence at Lynn and at Chesington, where Fanny gradually arranged and connected the disjointed scraps and fragments in which " Evelina" had been originally written, whenever a quarter of an hour's leisure and solitude had allowed her thus to preserve the creations of her fancy. She mentions with great naivete, in her ^ Lynn Diary," that she never indulged herself with writing or reading except in the afternoon ; always scrupulously devoting her time to needle-work till after dinner. As, however, the hours of repast were somewhat earlier in those days than at present, this notable self-denial may only have sent her to her favourite pursuits with fresh vigour.

The arrival of her father from Germany turned her, thoughts into another 'channel; as along and painful illness, which Dr. Burney owed to the fatigues and difficulties of a hurried journey, " called for the incessant assiduity of his fondly-attached wife and daughters to nurse him through it." Even then, when confined to his bed by spasmodic rheumatism, he generally kept one of his daughters seated near him, pen in hand, that, during the intervals of suffering, he might dictate the ideas which occurred to him for his musical work ; and perhaps the example of such literary perseverance was a stimulus that amply compensated for the hindrance it occasioned.

After the Doctor's recovery, some years still elapsed before he was able to execute his plan ; and it was not till the year 1776 that he brought out the first volume of his " History of Music." During all this period of literary occupation and anxiety, it is not surprising that his daughter, gifted, though unconscious- Iv, with equal powers, should, even in sympathy with her father's feelings, be seized with a wish to see a work of her own also in print ; though she was far from desiring the public suffrage which he coveted ; on the contrary, she fully mtended always to remain unknown.

She communicated this idea to her sisters, under promise of inviolable secrecy ; and, in furtherance of the project, she now transcribed the manuscript of " Evelina," in an upright feigned hand ; for, as she was her father's amanuensis, she feared lest her common writing might accidentally be seen by some compositor employed in printing the " History of Music," and so lead to detection.