As we came from the millener’s they took notice how dismal London began to look. —
“Aye,” cried Lady Hales, “Poor Evelina! — No — Lord Orvilles now!” —
After tea we went in the Coach to Jones’s shop on Holborn Hill — in the way Marianne found out a queer coarse looking man to be Captain Mirvan — Miss Coussmaker a much worse to be Mr. Branghton — As we went thro’ Holborn —
“Only think” cried Miss Coussmaker “of that elegant girl Evelina to lodge in such a place as this — and to be good! neighbours to such wretches as the Branghtons!”
Then she looked out for Mr. Branghton’s silversmith’s shop —
“But you know it’s on Snow Hill,” cried Lady Hales, “Well then, that’s it” said Miss Coussmaker as we stopt at Jones’s—” and there on the first floor lives Mr. Smith, j that odious vulgar creature, who means to be fine and quite the thing — and upstairs is that sweet Evelina, with Miss Polly and Miss Biddy Branghton — and higher is poor Mr.; Macartney.”
She then told me of Mr. Smith’s complaint of the young ladies greasing his room — and of young Branghton’s vulgarity — and of poor Evelina’s letter to Miss Mirvan in which she exclaims that she should ever have danc’d with Lord Orville! This I imagine was one of the last letters they had read — but as I was to be ignorant of the book I could not ask where they left off — but I fancy the pistol scene with Mr. Macartney and the evening at Vauxhall and Marybone are yet to come. — I’m afraid I shall hear no more particulars — and that they never can get thro’ it with my father as they are so soon to leave town — but he has made them promise not to open the book but in his presence, which tormenting as it is Miss Coussmaker says she regrets the less because Dr. Burney DOES read it so well!
They brought me home with them, and I expect they will call here to morrow.
Adieu my sweet love — [S. B.]
* * * * * *
[SUSAN TO FRANCES BURNEY.]
[Continuation of reading “Evelina.” while unknown, with Lady Hales.]
* * * * * *
They were got on in reading it as far as where the two old women were to run for a wager, which is, you know in the 3rd vol.
“Oh!” said Miss Coussmaker, “I am more charmed with it than ever! It is the sweetest thing I do declare that ever I read in my life — there’s a Mrs. Selwyn, a monstrous clever woman, that does trim and cut up some impertinent fools of lords — oh! I do assure you, ’tis the highest thing I ever read in my life. And Lord Orville is such an amiable, humane, sweet character!”
She then gave me the whole account of the conversation concerning the bett between Lord Merton and Mr. Coverley — the different things proposed by every one present, and the distress occasioned by Mrs. Selwyn’s proposal, and that at last the two genius’s fix upon two poor old women to run for a wager — but that they could not make them practice. “Dear” said I “the book must be full of ridiculous things, I think—”
“Oh, but I beg your pardon,” said she, “for I think the serious part is even preferable to the comic.”
“Why is there any serious part?”
“Oh yes, I assure you, Mr. Villars’ letters, and poor Evelina’s distress of mind on leaving town. She thinks Lord Orville has offended her: — and there is a scene between her and Mr. Villars that is, I do assure you — quite affecting.”
“Aye indeed?”
“And the poor girl does get into such eternal scrapes from her innocence of mind and entire inexperience! — that really I have been ready to laugh and to cry for her at the same time — and she goes to Vauxhall, and with those vile creatures the Branghtons, — and so after supper what does Miss Biddy propose to her but to leave their company, and walk by themselves. So Evelina can’t bear the thought of this, but Miss Biddy tells her she supposes she can’t bear to leave the GENTLEMEN, and this provokes her too much; for there’s that odious creature Mr. Smith with them, that away she goes with them — and she does not know anything at all of the place or the dark walks, or anything, and those frightful girls carry her with them, for a little fun, into one of the dark alleys — and there they meet with a party of gentlemen, and are so frightened! Poor Evelina runs away but falls into a worse danger, for she meets with that creature Sir Clement Willoughby.”
“Sir Clement Willoughby? — Who’s he?”
“Oh! the worst man in the world! — instead of rescuing her, he carries her into another dark walk; — but she behaves with great spirit — charmingly, indeed — and makes him afraid of pursuing his scheme, and so he takes her back, and at last she meets her party again. But, dear sweet creature! She is so mortified that he should see her with such wretches as Mad Duval and the Branghtons! He that is drawn quite a man of ton and fashion, and that has always seen her in such high life! — But he is such an artful creature, I can’t bear him.”
She beg’d me to write her word my opinion of it — and said we would read it together when I should go to Howlett’s.
“But,” said I, “‘twill be too recent in yr memory.”
“Oh, I should like to read it all over again, for the sake of the language immediately — but indeed I believe there is not a circumstance from the beginning to the end of the book that I do not perfectly remember — for we have read it in a most delightful manner — not hurried it over — but stopt to laugh and talk it over between almost every letter.”
“Dear, I should have liked to have been with you.”
“Oh, and Dr. Burney does read the conversations, and mark the characters so well, ’tis quite delightful. But I daresay he’ ll have no objection, when he comes to Howletts, to read it again, and then you will have it in perfection, I assure you.”
They took leave very affectionately of me, and, by the bye, always enquire and send a thousand loves, comp and good wishes to you —
[SUSAN TO FRANCES BURNEY, CHESINGTON.]
[Doctor Burney’s first reading “Evelina” with Lady Hales and her daughters.]
Tuesday, June 16th.
My dearest Fanny —
* * * * * *
My mother was gone to... My dear dad came in in very good spirits and invited me into his study — told me he had — [My father] recollected that he had a letter to give me from Miss Coussmaker — written when he took leave of her, Sunday.
“I daresay,” said he, “she talks to you in it of the book — We’ve finished Evelina.”
“Indeed! — And... what are your real sentiments of “Why — upon my soul I think it the best novel I know, excepting Fieldings — and in some respects it is better than his — I have been excessively pleased with it — there are perhaps a few things might have been otherwise — Mirvan’s trick upon Lovel is I think carried too far — I don’t hate that young man enough, ridiculous as he is, to be pleased I or diverted at his having his ear torn by a monkey — there’s a something disgusting in it.”
“But the Captain is reckoned a brute by everybody.”
“Why that’s true, but in this case ’tis a brutality which does not make one laugh — Now Mad Duval[‘s] loss of her curls and all that is very diverting — However, except this instance I declare I think the book would scarce bear an improvement! — I wish I may die if I do not believe it to be the best novel in the language Fielding’s excepted — for Smollett’s are so d — d gross that they are not fit reading for women with all their wit. Mr. Villars’ character is admirably supported — and rises upon one in every letter — the language throughout his letters are as good as any body need write — (N.B. Spoken with emphasis and spirit) — I declare all good as I would wish to read! and every letter of his I seems to me better and better — Lord Orville’s character j is just what it ought to be — perfectly benevolent and upright.”
“And without being fade, I think—”
“Oh, entirely — there’s a boldness in it that struck me j mightily — He is a man not ashamed of being better than j the rest of mankind — indeed I am excessively pleased with him
— Evelina is in a new style too — so perfectly natural and j innocent — and the scene between her and her father, Sir X John Belmont — I protest I think ’tis a scene for a Tragedy I — I blubber’d.” —
“No — did you Sir? — How the ladies must cry—” —
“Oh! I don’t think they’ve recovered it yet — It made them quite ill— ’tis indeed wrought up in a most extraordinary manner — I laid the book down — and could not for some time get on with it.”
“Oh, Miss Coussmaker was distracted about it before — what she will be now I can’t tell — but she’ll be wanting me to tell her my opinion of it — and I shall scarce know what to say.”
“Oh, speak out about it as you would of another book —
I have — and if it was to be discovered I should tell them that I was as much at liberty to admire or criticise as them, for I’m sure I knew as little about it. — However keep snug for poor Fanny’s sake — tho’ I protest that sometime hence I should think there would be no kind of impropriety in its being known — on the contrary it would do her a great deal of credit — For a young woman’s work I look upon it to be really WONDERFUL!”
(His own very words, as I hope to live!)
Well — I had interrupted with frequent jumps, but now could not forbear saying —
“Lord, sir, I’m so glad to hear you say so — for I’m sure we think so!”
“What you, and Hetty?”
“Oh — she’s been distracted at your not having read it sooner.”
“Why how could I when she would not tell me the name? — But hasn’t she got something more on the stocks?”
“Oh, no sir — Her head — her poor head will scarce admit of her writing ev’n a letter now.”
“What still! poor thing! — But how sly she has been about this work!”
“Oh lord — so sly, and so cautious that tho’ I long to mention it to a few people I dare not — I declare I wanted to recommend it to Miss Fitzgerald the other night, she is [ — ] it would delight her — but ’twould be as much as my life is worth—”
“Oh, but I want to make Mrs. Thrale read it — Lady Hales has bought my Book, and Lady Radnor has got another already, but I must get another set — for I won’t be without it — I’m sure ‘twill please Mrs. Thrale — and the language is such as nobody need be ashamed of.” —
He then sent me up to dress — and thus ended a conversation which has made me inclined to grin and jump about like a fool all day — My sweet Fanny! — you must have a little vanity in spite of your talk — for I do protest solemnly to you, that tho’ I’m convinced I have in my hurry forgot many of the flattering things my father said, I have not written one word that he did not speak, and what he said received still additional force by the spirit with which he utter’d it. — I design to make you a present of Miss Couss’s letter when we meet for your nosegay, if you think her praise worth having— ’tis all about your work.
Mais Adieu — il fait si tard que je ne puis plus voir. Make my best respects to Mr. Crisp, and my love to Miss Cooke.
I wish I could see thee again my sweetest girl, but don’t wish you any where but where you are — and en attendant am for Ever and Aye
Your SUSANNA ELIZ. B — .
[No. 6 of this series is entered on Mme. D’Arblay’s own list as “Sam. Mislaid.” — It has not been found.]
[There is no date or address to this letter, which is but a leaf, numbered 19 on the first page.]
[SUSAN TO FRANCES BURNEY, AT CHESINGTON.]
[Dr. Johnson—” Evelina.”]
* * * * * *
“I have such a thing to tell you” said he [my father] “about poor Fan” —
“Dear sir, what?” and I immediately suppos’d he had spoke to Mrs. Thrale.
“Why to night, we were sitting at tea — only Johnson, Mrs. Thrale and me—’ Madam’ cried Johnson see sawing on his chair—’ Mrs. Chol’mley was talking to me last night of a new novel, which she says has a very uncommon share of merit — Evelina — She says she has not been so much entertained this great while as in reading it — and that she shall go all over London in order to discover the author’ —
“‘Good G — d’ cried Mrs. Thrale — why somebody else mentioned that book to me — Lady Westcote it was I believe — The modest writer of Evelina, she talk’d to me of.’
“‘Mrs. Chol’mley says she never met so much modesty with so much merit before in any literary performance,’ said Johnson.
“‘Why,’ said I, quite cooly and innocently—’ Somebody recommended it to me too — I read a little of it, which indeed seem’d to be above the common class works of this kind.’
“‘Well,’ said Mrs. Thrale—’ I’ll get it certainly.’
‘It will do’ said I, ‘for your time of confinement I think.’
You must have it Madam,’ cried Johnson, ‘for Mrs. Chol’mley says she shall keep it on her table the whole summer, that every body that knows her may see it — for she says everybody ought to read it!’” —
A tolerably agreable conversation this, methinks — It took away my breath, and made me skip about like a mad creature — What effect it may have on you I know not — But I think it will occasion you no less consternation than you received from the Monthly Review —
“And how did you feel sir?” cried I to my father.
“Feel? Why I liked it, of all things! — and I wanted somebody else to introduce the book there too — Twas just what I wish’d — I am sure Mrs. Thrale will be pleased with it.”
“Why in one respect ‘twill stand a fairer chance with her than with Mrs. Chol’mley, I think: — She liked, I daresay, all the fun and the comic parts of it, but Mrs. Thrale” —
“Aye,” said he interrupting me, “Mrs. Thrale will like the delicacy which is preserved throughout it.”
“Why, indeed, Fanny [would not come to any] discredit if she was known as the Authoress, shy as she is about it.”
“Discredit!” repeated my father, “no indeed, — [just the reverse]— ‘twou’d be a credit to her, and to me, and to you — there is great goodness of heart and great purity of manners in all that relates to her heroine — and even with the Captain she has in a very nice manner avoided intermingling either oaths or any other thing that a female might not safely read or write” —
[SUSAN TO FRANCES BURNEY, AT CHESINGTON.]
[“Evelina” first read by Mrs. Thrale. Mrs. Thrale’s original opinion while the book was anonymous.]
[Post-mark 7 (?) July.]
When Charlotte and I return’d home the coach was standing at the door, and my father and mother had alighted from it — they expected a great deal of company to day at Mrs. Thrale’s, so they put off their design of spending a few days there till next week. They brought in several books they had carried with them, but added to these, three in a new and not unfamiliar binding to me—” Evelina — [senza dubbio,]” thought I. However no notice was taken on any side, and I accompanied my father and mother into the study — When the latter left the room, “Your mother has got Evelina home to read,” said my father, laughing.
“So I see,” said I.
“Mrs. Thrale” — shall I go on? — exert your fortitude my dear Fanny on this trying occasion, and call up all your philosophical ideas — however your diffidence has prepared you for a little mortification, which thank heav’n you are likely, not to get over — but to escape—” Mrs. Thrale” said my dear father, his eyes beaming with the pleasure he felt and that he knew I should feel— “likes it VASTLY — is EXTREMELY pleased with it.”
I was not overpower’d with surprise, tho’ not greatly displeased at this account.
“And Miss Thrale,” said he, “said as much of it as ever she says of anything — that it was very entertaining and well written — She read it to her mother.”
“And pray, sir, how did the conversation begin about it?”
“Why, when we had sat a little while, Mr. Thrale and Johnson were in town, an
d only Queeny, your mother and me with Mrs. Thrale; I ask’d her if she had got her books safe? —
“‘Oh! yes,’ said she — and thank’d me for getting ’em her— ‘But,’ said she— ‘we found the novel very short, for we quite finish’d it in two days — but ’tis very clever I assure you — I was a little afraid (from the name I suppose) it had been a mere sentimental business; — but there’s a vast deal of humour and entertainment in it — the second volume is charming — there is such a family, silversmiths on Snow Hill, that diverted Queany and me beyond measure! — and there’s a brute of a Captain that plays tricks on a poor creature, Mad Duval, that is half French and half English, and the I vulgarest of human beings, and their characters are exceedingly well supported, and the scenes between them very comical I assure you — I wish’d it had been longer,’ said she — and then recommended it to your mother to read — and told her that Mrs. Chol’mley carried it everywhere she went, with her.’
“‘ “I think I’ve almost got over your mother’s suspicions about it — I’ve been reading part of it to her as we came home — not the verses — I miss’d them as if I had not observed them — but read the preface and dedication to her, and the two or three first letters —
“‘It begins very well,’ said she, ‘and if there is humour in it, it is a very good novel ‘ — but she told me that by something that had pass’d at Chesington, she thought Fanny and Sukey had written it together.’”
I wish she had divined right!
* * * * * *
Mrs. Thrale, he says, has not the most remote suspicion ev’n that he has read the book — is particularly pleased with the “.... ones in the 2nd Volume — and all that relates to the Branghtons” — Miss Thrale and her mother seemed to have it by heart, and quoted in the course of the day several of the Snow Hill phrases.
“Your mother,” said my father, “was telling Mrs. Thrale she was sure she would be greatly entertain’d by reading Madame Riccoboni’s novels — there was so much of human nature in them —
Complete Works of Frances Burney Page 502
