Fanny Burney - Diary and Letters

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 Read more [...]

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 Read more [...]

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. Read more [...]

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 was Read more [...]

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 Read more [...]

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, Read more [...]

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 I am sure she prattles Read more [...]

At tea-time the subject turned upon the domestic economy of Dr. Johnson’s household.  Mrs. Thrale has often acquainted me that his house is quite filled and overrun with all sorts of strange creatures, whom he admits for mere charity, and because nobody else will admit them,–for his charity is unbounded; Read more [...]

Streatham, Sept.– Our Monday’s intended great party was very small, for people are so dispersed at present in Various quarters: we had, therefore, only Sir Joshua Reynolds, two Miss Palmers, Dr. Calvert, Mr. Rose Fuller, and Lady Ladd. Dr. Johnson did not return. Sir Joshua I am much pleased with: Read more [...]

When we were dressed for dinner, and went into the parlour, we had the agreeable surprise of seeing Mr. Seward.  There was also Mr. Lort, who is reckoned one of the most learned men alive, and is also a collector of curiosities, alike in literature and natural history.  His manners are somewhat blunt Read more [...]

Streatham, Sunday, Aug. 23–I know not how to express the fullness of my contentment at this sweet place. All my best expectations are exceeded, and you know they were not very moderate. If, when my dear father comes, Susan and Mr. Crisp were to come too, I believe it would require at least a day’s pondering Read more [...]