Fanny Burney's Diary and Letters

Streatham, May, Friday.  Once more, my dearest Susy, I will attempt journalising, and endeavour, according to my
promise, to keep up something of the kind during our absence, however brief and curtailed.
To-day, while Mrs. Thrale was chatting with me in my room, we saw Mr. Murphy drive into the courtyard.  Down stairs flew Mrs. Thrale, but, [...]

On Thursday, while my dear father was here, who should be announced but Mr. Murphy; the man of all other strangers to me whom I most longed to see.
He is tall and well made, has a very gentlemanlike appearance, and a quietness of manner upon his first address that, to me, is very pleasing.  His [...]

Streatham, February.-I have been here so long, MY dearest Susan, Without writing a word, that now I hardly know where or how to begin, But I will try to draw up a concise account of what has passed for this last fortnight, and then endeavour to be more minute.
Mrs. Thrale and Dr. Johnson vied with [...]

On Monday last, my father sent a note to Mrs. Cholmondeley, to propose our waiting on her the Wednesday following; she accepted the proposal, and accordingly on Wednesday evening, my father, mother, and self went to Hertford-street.  I should have told you that Mrs. Cholmondeley, when My father some time ago called on her, sent [...]

Now to this grand visit, which was become more tremendous than ever because of the pamphlet business, and I felt almost ashamed to see Sir JOShua, and could not but conclude he would think of it too.
My mother, who changed her mind, came with me.  My father promised to come before the Opera was half [...]

Monday was the day for our great party; and the Doctor came home, at Mrs Thrale’s request, to meet them.
The party consisted of Mr. C–, who was formerly a timber-merchant, but having amassed a fortune of one million of
pounds, he has left off business.  He is a good-natured busy sort of man.
Mrs. C–, his lady, [...]

Sept. 26-The present chief sport with Mrs. Thrale is disposing of me in the holy state of matrimony, and she offers me whoever comes to the house.  This was begun by Mrs. Montagu, who, it seems, proposed a match for me in my absence, with Sir Joshua Reynolds!-no less a man, I assure you!
When I [...]

Monday, Sept. 21.-I have had a thousand delightful conversations with Dr. Johnson, who, whether he loves me or not,  I am sure seems to have some opinion of my discretion, for he speaks of all this house to me with unbounded confidence, neither diminishing faults, nor exaggerating praise.
Whenever he is below stairs he keeps me [...]

Wednesday.-We could not prevail with Dr. Johnson to stay till Mrs. Montagu arrived, though, by appointment, she came very early.  She and Miss Gregory came by one o’clock.
There was no party to meet her. She is middle-sized, very thin, and looks infirm ; she has a sensible and penetrating countenance, and the air and manner [...]

I was looking over the ” Life of Cowley,” which Dr. Johnson had himself given me to read, at the same time that he gave to Mrs.Thrale that of Waller.’  But he bade me put it away.
“Do,” cried he, “put away that now, and prattle with us; I can’t make this little Burney prattle, and [...]