Birth of Love:”(127) but I must here abridge, or never have done. I told them all my scheme for coming again next July, which they sweetly seconded. Princess Amelia assured me she had not forgotten me; and when another summons came for the concert, Princess Augusta, comically sitting still and holding me by her side, called out, “Do you little ones go!”
But they loitered also, and we went on, on, on, with our chat,- -they as unwilling as myself to break it up,-till staying longer was impossible; and then, in parting, they all expressed the kindest pleasure in our newly-adopted plan of a yearly visit.
“And pray,” cried Princess Elizabeth, “write again immediately!”
“O, no,” cried Princess Augusta, “wait half a year — to rest; and then — increase your family — all ways!”
“The queen,” said Princess Elizabeth, “consulted me which way she should read ‘Camilla-’ whether quick, at once, or comfortably at Weymouth: so I answered, ‘Why, mamma, I think, as you will be so much interested in the book, Madame d’Arblay would be most pleased you should read it now at once, quick, that nobody may be mentioning the events before You come to them - and then again at Weymouth, slow and comfortably.’”
In going, the sweet Princess Augusta loitered last but her youngest sister, Amelia, who came to take my hand when the rest were departed, and assure me she should never forget Me.
We spent the remnant of Wednesday evening with my old friends, determining to quit Windsor the next day, if the weather did not promise a view of the royal family upon the Terrace for M. d’Arblay.
THE KING NOTICES M. D’ARBLAY.
Thursday morning was lowering, and we determined upon departing, after only visiting some of my former acquaintances. ‘We met Miss Planta in our way to the lodge, and took leave; but when we arrived at Mlle. Jacobi’s we found that the queen expected we should stay for the chance of the Terrace, and had told Mlle. Jacobi to again invite us to dinner. . . .
We left the friendly Miss Goldsworthy for other visits; — first to good old Mrs. Planta; next to the very respectable Page 110
Dr. Fisher and his wife. The former insisted upon doing the honours himself of St. George’s cathedral to M. d’Arblay which occasioned his seeing that beautiful antique building to the utmost advantage. Dr. Fisher then accompanied us to a spot to show M. d’Arblay Eton in the best view.
Dinner passed as before, but the evening lowered, and hopes of the Terrace were weak, when the Duke and Duchess of York arrived. This seemed to determine against us, as they told us the duchess never went upon the Terrace but in the finest weather, and the royal family did not choose to leave her. We were hesitating therefore whether to set off for Rose Dale, when Mlle. Jacobi gave an intimation to me that the king, herself, and the Princess Amelia, would walk on the Terrace. Thither instantly we hastened, and were joined by Dr. and Mrs. Fisher. The evening was so raw and cold that there was very little company, and scarce any expectation of the royal family - and when we had been there about half an hour the musicians retreated, and everybody was preparing to follow, when a messenger suddenly came forward, helter skelter, running after the horns and clarionets, and hallooing to them to return. This brought back the straggling parties, and the king, Duke of York, and six princesses soon appeared.
I have never yet seen M. d’Arblay agitated as at this moment; he could scarce keep his steadiness, or even his ground. The recollections, he has since told me, that rushed upon his mind of his own king and royal House were so violent and so painful as almost to disorder him. His majesty was accompanied by the duke, and Lord Beaulieu, Lord Walsingham, and General Manners; the princesses were attended by Lady Charlotte Bruce, some other lady, and Miss Goldsworthy: The king stopped to speak to the Bishop of Norwich and some others at the entrance, and then walked on towards us, who were at the further end. As he approached, the princess royal said, loud enough to be heard by Mrs. Fisher, “Madame d’Arblay, sir;” and instantly he came on a step, and then stopped and addressed me, and, after a word or two of the weather, he said, “Is that M. d’Arblay?” and most graciously bowed to him and entered into a little conversation; demanding how long he had been in England, how long in the country, etc., and with a sweetness, an air of wishing us well, that will never, never be erased from our hearts. Page 111
M. d’Arblay recovered himself immediately Upon this address, and answered with as much firmness as respect.
Upon the king’s bowing and leaving US, the commander-in- chief(128) most courteously bowed also to M. d’Arblay, and the princesses all came up to speak to me, and to curtsy to him; and the Princess Elizabeth cried, “I’ve got leave! and mamma says she won’t wait to read it first!”
After this the king and duke never passed without taking off their hats, and the princesses gave me a smile and a curtsy at every turn: Lord Walsingbam came to speak to me, and Mr. Fairly, and General Manners, who regretted that more of our old tea-party were not there to meet me once more.
THE KING AND QUEEN ON “CAMILLA.”
As soon as they all re-entered the lodge we followed to take leave of Mlle. Jacobi; but, Upon moving towards the passage, the princess royal appeared, saying, “Madame d’Arblay, I come to waylay you!” and made me follow her to the dressing-room, whence the voice of the queen, as the door opened, called out, in mild accents, “Come in, Madame d’Arblay!”
Her majesty was seated at the upper end of the room, with the Duchess of York (129) on her right, and the Princesses Sophia and Amelia on her left. She made me advance, and said, “I have just been telling the Duchess of York that I find her royal highness’s name the first Upon this list,” — producing “Camilla.”
“Indeed,” said the duchess, bowing to me, “I was so very impatient to read it, I could not but try to get it as early as possible. I am very eager for it, indeed!”
“I have read,” said the queen, “but fifty pages yet; but I am in great uneasiness for that Poor little girl that I am afraid will get the small-pox! and I am sadly afraid that sweet little other girl will not keep her fortune! but I won’t Peep! I read quite fair. But I must tell Madame d’Arblay I know a country gentleman, in Mecklenburg, exactly the very character of that good old man the Uncle!” She seemed to speak as if delighted to meet him upon paper.
The king now came in, and I could not forbear making up to him, to pour forth some part of my full heart for his goodness! He tried to turn away, but it was smilingly; and I had courage to pursue him, for I could not help it. He then slightly bowed it off, and asked the queen to repeat what she had said upon the book.
“O, your majesty,” she cried, “I must not anticipate!” yet told him of her pleasure in finding an old acquaintance.
“Well!” cried the king archly, “ and what other characters have you seized?”
“None,” I protested, “from life.”
“O!” cried he, shaking his head, “you must have some!”
“Indeed your majesty will find none!” I cried.
“But they may be a little better, or a little worse,” he answered, “but still, if they are not like somebody, how can they play their parts?”
“O, yes, sir,” I cried, “as far as general nature goes, or as characters belong to classes, I have certainly tried to take them. But no individuals!”
My account must be endless if I do not now curtail. The Duke of York, the other princesses, General Manners, and all the rest of the group, made way to the room soon after, upon hearing the cheerfulness of the voice of the king, whose .graciousness raised me into spirits that set me quite at my ease. He talked much upon the book, and then of Mrs. Delany, and then of various others that my sight brought to his recollection, and all with a freedom and goodness that enabled me to answer without difficulty or embarrassment, and that produced two or three hearty laughs from the Duke of York.
ANECDOTE OF THE DUCHESS OF YORK.
After various other topics, the queen said, “Duchess, Madame d’Arblay is aunt of the pretty little boy (130) you were so
good to.”
The duchess understood her so immediately that I fancy this was not new to her. She bowed to me again, very smilingly, upon the acknowledgments this encouraged me to offer; and the king asked an explanation.
“Sir,” said the duchess, “I was upon the road near Dorking, and I saw a little gig overturned, and a little boy was taken out, and sat down upon the road. I told them to Page 113 stop and ask if the little boy was hurt, and they said yes .- and I asked where he was to go, and they said to a village just a few miles off; so I took him into my coach, Sir, and carried him home.”
“And the benedictions, madam,” cried I, “of all his family have followed you ever since!”
“And he said your royal highness called him a very pretty boy,” cried the queen, laughing, to whom I had related it.
“Indeed, what he said is very true,” answered she, nodding.
“Yes; he said,” quoth I, again to the queen, “that he saw the duchess liked him.”
This again the queen repeated and the duchess again nodded, and pointedly repeated, “It is very true.”
“He was a very fine boy-a very fine boy indeed!” cried the king; “what is become of him?”
I was a little distressed in answering, “He is in Ireland, sir.”
“In Ireland! What does he do in Ireland? what does he go there for?”
“His father took him, Sir,” I was forced to answer.
“And what does his father take him to Ireland for?”
“Because-he is an Irishman, Sir!” I answered, half laughing.
When at length, every one deigning me a bow of leavetaking, their majesties, and sons and daughters, retired to the adjoining room, the Princess Amelia loitered to shake hands, and the Princess Augusta returned for the same condescension, reminding me of my purpose for next year. While this was passing, the princess royal had repaired to the apartment of Mlle. Jacobi, where she had held a little Conversation with M. d’Arblay.
A VISIT TO MRS. BOSCAWEN.
We finished the evening very cheerfully with Mlle. Jacobi and Mlle. Montmoulin, whom she invited to meet us, and the next morning left Windsor and visited Rose Dale.(131) Mrs. Boscawen received us very sweetly, and the little offering as if not at all her due, Mrs. Levison Gower was with her, and showed us Thomson’s temple. Mrs. Boscawen spoke of my dearest father with her Usual true sense Of how to Speak of him. She invited us to dinner, but we were anxious to return to our Bambino, and M. d’Arblay had, all this time, only fought off being ill with his remnant of cold. Nevertheless, when we came to Twickenham, my good old friend Mr. Cambridge was so cordial and so earnest that we could not resist him, and were pressed in to staying dinner. . . .
At a little before eleven we arrived at our dear cottage, and to our sleeping Bambino.
THE RELATIVE SUCCESS OF MADAME D’ARBLAY’S NOVELS.
(Madame d’Arblay to Dr. Burney.) Bookham, Friday, October, 1796. I meant to have begun with our thanks for my dear kind father’s indulgence of our extreme curiosity and interest in the sight of the reviews. I am quite happy in what I have escaped of greater severity, though my mate cannot bear that the palm should be contested by “Evelina” and “Cecilia;” his partiality rates the last as so much the highest; so does the newspaper I have mentioned, of which I long to send you a copy. But those immense men, whose single praise was fame and security — who established, by a word, the two elder sisters-are now silent, Johnson and Sir Joshua are no more, and Mr. Burke is ill, or otherwise engrossed; yet, even without their powerful influence, to which I owe such unspeakable obligation, the essential success of “Camilla” exceeds that of the elders. The sale is truly astonishing. Charles has just sent to me that five hundred only remain of four thousand, and it has appeared scarcely three months.
The first edition of “Evelina” was of eight hundred, the second of five hundred, and the third of a thousand. What the following have been I have never heard, The sale from that period became more flourishing than the publisher cared to announce. Of “Cecilia” the first edition was reckoned enormous at two thousand and as a part of payment Was reserved for it, I remember our dear Daddy Crisp thought it very unfair. It was printed, like this, in July, and sold in October, to every one’s wonder. Here, however, the sale’s increased in rapidity more than a third. Charles says, —
“Now heed no more what critics thought ‘em,
Since this you know, all people bought ‘em. A CONTEMPLATED COTTAGE.
We have resumed our original plan, and are going immediately to build a little cottage for ourselves. We shall make it as small and as cheap as will accord with its being warm and comfortable. We have relinquished, however, the very kind offer of Mr. Locke, which he has renewed, for his park. We mean to make this a property saleable or letable for our Alex, and in Mr. Locke’s park we could not encroach any tenant, if the Youth’s circumstances, profession, or inclination .should make him not choose the spot for his own residence. M. dArblay, therefore, has fixed upon a field of Mr. Locke’s, which he will rent, and of which Mr. Locke will grant him a lease of ninety years. By this means, we shall leave the little Alex a little property, besides what will be in the funds, and a property likely to rise in value, as the situation of the field is remarkably beautiful. It is in the valley, between Mr. Locke’s park and Dorking, and where land is so scarce, that there is not another possessor within many miles who would part, upon any terms, with half-an-acre. My kindest father will come and give it, I trust, his benediction. I am now almost jealous of Bookham for having received it.
Imagine but the ecstasy of M. d’Arblay in training, all his own way, an entire new garden. He dreams now of cabbage-walks, potato-beds, bean-perfumes, and peas-blossoms. My mother should send him a little sketch to help his flower-garden, which will be his second favourite object.
THE PRINCESS ROYAL’S FIRST INTERVIEW WITH HER FIANCE.
(Madame d’Arblay to Mrs. Locke.) 1796. A private letter from Windsor tells me the Prince of Wurtemberg has much pleased in the royal House, by his manner and address upon his interview, but that the poor Princess royal was almost dead with terror, and agitation, and affright, at the first meeting.(132) She could not utter a word, The queen was obliged to speak her answers. The prince said he hoped this first would be the last disturbance his page 116 presence would ever occasion her. She then tried to recover, and so far conquered her tumult as to attempt joining In a general discourse from time to time. He paid his court successfully, I am told, to the sisters, who all determine to like him; and the princess royal is quite revived in her spirits again, now this tremendous opening sight is over.
You will be pleased, and my dearest Mr. Locke, at the style of my summons: ’tis so openly from the queen herself, Indeed, she has behaved like an angel to me, from the trying time to her of my marriage with a Frenchman. “So odd, you know,” as Lady Inchiquin said.
OPINIONS OF THE REVIEWS ON “CAMILLA.”
(Dr. Burney to Madame d’Arblay.) November, 1796. . . .The “Monthly Review” has come in to-day, and it does not satisfy me, or raise my spirits, or anything but my indignation. James has read the remarks in it on “Camilla,” and we are all dissatisfied. Perhaps a few of the verbal criticisms may be worth your attention in the second edition; but these have been picked out and displayed with no friendly view, and without necessity, in a work of such length and intrinsic sterling worth. J’enrage! Morbleu!
(Madame d’Arblay to Dr. Burney.) Bookham, November, 1796. I had intended writing to my dearest father by a return of goods, but I find it impossible to defer the overflowings of my heart at his most kind and generous indignation with the reviewer. What censure can ever so much hurt as such compensation can heal? And, in fact, the praise is so strong that, were it neatly put together, the writer might challenge my best enthusiasts to find it insufficient. The truth, however, is, that the criticisms come forward, and the panegyric is entangled, and so blended with blame as to lose almost all effect, The reviews, however, as they have not mad
e, will not, I trust, mar me. “Evelina” made its way all by itself; it was well spoken of, indeed, in all the reviews, compared with general novels, but it was undistinguished by any quotation, and only put in the Monthly Catalogue, and only allowed short single paragraph. It was circulated only by the general public till it reached, through that unbiassed medium, Dr. Johnson and Mr. Burke, and thence it wanted no patron.
Nov. 14.-Upon a second reading of the Monthly Review upon “Camilla,” I am in far better humour with it, and willing to confess to the criticisms, if I may claim by that concession any right to the eulogies. They are stronger and more important, upon re-perusal, than I had imagined, in the panic of a first survey and an unprepared-for disappointment in anything like severity from so friendly an editor. The recommendation, at the conclusion, of the book as a warning guide to youth, would recompense me, upon the least reflection, for whatever strictures Might precede it. I hope my kind father has not suffered his generous — and to me most cordial — indignation against the reviewer to interfere with his intended answer to the affectionate letter of Dr. Griffiths.(133
DEATH OF MADAME D’ARBLAY’S STEPMOTHER.
(Madame d’Arblay to Mrs. Phillips.) Bookham, November 7, 1796. Yes, -my beloved Susan safe landed at Dublin was indeed all-sufficient for some time; nor, indeed, could I even read any more for many minutes. That, and the single sentence at the end, “My Norbury is with me” — completely overset ne, though only with joy. After your actual safety, nothing could so much touch me as the picture I Instantly viewed of Norbury in Your arms. Yet I shall hope for more detail hereafter.
The last letter I had from you addressed to myself shows me your own sentiment of the fatal event(134) which so speedily followed your departure, and which my dear father has himself announced to you, though probably the newspapers will anticipate his letter. I am very sorry, now, I did not write sooner; but while you were still in England, and travelling so slowly, I had always lurking ideas that disqualified me from writing to Ireland.
Complete Works of Frances Burney Page 632
