Enter Lord Bruce He is younger brother of the Duke of Montague and Mr. Brudenel. How the titles came to be managed so awkwardly in this family, is no affair of mine; therefore, I shall not trouble myself with explanations là-dessus.
Lord Bruce is a very polite and agreeable man; though of no prévenant face; he is tall, thin, and plain. He repined much at having lost a full hour by mistake of his servants, who drove him to Saint Martin’s Lane, which he was danced up and down till, in a great passion, he jumped out of the carriage, gave them an oath or two, and looked and enquired for the house himself, till he was directed right.
When the Duet was over, Mrs. Brudenel was prevailed upon to sing. She was a scholar of La Signora Mingotti, and, my father told her, reminded him of the good old school of singing. She has a fine voice, and has great merit, for a lady singer; but she was extremely frightened, was not by any means steadily in tune, and sung with her mouth shut, which has never a good effect. When she had done, I turned about to Mr. Charnier, and said, “What pretty music!” for she had chosen a very sweet song of Rauzzini’s. He made me no answer; but gave me such a look expressive of an archdisapprobation, that, unable to keep my countenance, and dreading losing it, I walked suddenly into the next room. He soon after followed, and I then expostulated with him upon his cruelty in driving me out of the room. He told me he was sure I thought what he looked. “Those,” he added, “who will not sing with an open mouth, had better keep it quite shut; and those who do not sing in tune, had better not sing at all.”
“O,” cried I, “how many lady singers would such laws silence!”
“No matter,” cried he, “when a candle does not give a good light, I would always put an extinguisher upon it.”
A second song from Mrs. Brudenel called us back into the library. I told Mr. Charnier I was determined I would not look at him when it was over. He promised he would not say a word; but I did not chuse to trust him, and so mixed in with another set.
Enter His Highness Prince Orloff. This prince is of a prodigious stature, something resembling Mr. Bruce. He is handsome, tall, fat, upright, and magnifique. His dress was superb; besides a Blue Ribbon, he had a Star of Diamonds of the most dazzling lustre; a shoulder-knot of the same brilliancy,... and a picture of the Empress was hung upon his neck, which was set round with three rows of diamonds of the first magnitude and beauty. His air and address were gracious and condescending; and he seemed to have a very agreeable share of drollery in his composition. He was attended by a Russian nobleman, whose name X have forgot, and by General Baur, a Hessian — His introduction to my father, in which Dr. King figured, passed in the diningroom; after which he came into the library. Lord Bruce immediately rose and made way for him. The Prince who knew him, called out, “Ah! Milord me fuye!” Mr. Brudenel who had also the honour of being known to him, made a profound reverence, and was removing from his seat, to offer it to Son Altesse, but the Prince would by no means be induced to accept it. He retreated; — insisted on Mr. Brudenel’s keeping lus place; or declared he would himself retire, and to strengthen his determination, he added with a laugh, “Non, non, Monsieur; je ne veux pas; je suis opiniâtre, moi, comme Messieurs les Anglois, ainsi je ne veux pas!” Mr. Brudenel therefore re-seated himself, and Prince Orloff placed himself on the corner of a form which was vacant.
I said in a low voice to Mr. Charnier, that I hated such monstrous tall men. Mr. Charnier, with a very arch look, said, “He has not been so unhappy, as to meet with such objections every where!” I knew he meant the Empress; but not choosing to understand him, I only added, according, indeed, to all my meaning, that they made me, and such as me, look so very insignificantly pigmy.
Mr. Chamier’s gallantry could by no means neglect such an opportunity for civil speeches; indeed his own size is so little superior to mine, that probably he might think what he said upon that subject. He asked me if I remembered the French proverb? He then repeated one, which I don’t exactly recollect, but which was very galant pour les petites femmes.
Mr. C. was extremely curious to know which was the room that Sir Isaac used to study in, and asked me whether it was not our library? I assured him, with great truth, that our library was quite magnificent to Sir Isaac’s studying-room, which was, as we are informed, the same my father makes use of, and which is within the library, and a mere lumber-room. There was no possibility of shewing it to him then, otherwise I am sure he would have been highly diverted at sight of so much learned confusion.
While we were engaged in this light chit-chat, my mother came up to me and said—” So Fanny, I see you have got Mr. Charnier into a corner!” for he happened to be in a snug recess behind a book-case. “No, Madam,” cried Mr. Charnier, “it is I who have sought out a corner near where [Miss Burney] inhabited.” However, I don’t at all admire these sort of jokes, and therefore I moved off.
Muthel’s Duet was then played. It was, as usual, heard with great applause. Every body had some remark to make upon the couple who played it. Lord Bruce, pointing to them, said to Prince Orloff, “Monseigneur, c’est mari et femme!”
“Ma foi!” cried His Highness, “s’ils sont aussi d’accord en toutes autres choses qu’en la Musique, il faut qu’ils soient bien heureux!” He then went up to my sister, and made her many compliments, expressing at the same time his surprise, that two people of talents so similar, should happen to be united —
The Russian nobleman who came with the Prince, and who had a most triste, foreign countenance, clapping his snuff-box with great vehemence, [after the Duet,] exclaimed, “Dis is so pretty as ever I heard in my life.”
Mr. Boone said to me, who was his neighbour, “See what can be done by a man and his wife, who live in harmony together!”
Mr. Harris also observed what harmony reigned between them.
Lady Edgecumbe, in her animated way, declared she was’ set a-madding; vowed she would [willingly] practise night and day to be able to perform in such a manner, and said she had rather hear such a Duet than twenty Operas.
“Your father,” said the Dean of Winchester, to me, “has been so obliging as to make my two girls attempt something of this sort; but, if they succeed in a few years, they will be never the better for it, because they will be separated; at least they hope so! whereas husband and wife cannot give too much time and trouble to shew off each other to advantage.”
Enter General Bawr. He was the last who came; indeed many were gone, before he appeared. He is a Hessian by birth, but commanded as second in power, during the war with the Turks by the Russians, being Lieutenant-General au service de sa S. M. l’Impératrice de Russie. He has displayed so much courage, firmness, and intrepidity in the several engagements where he commanded, that Mr. Harris who told us of many anecdotes in his favour, said, “I assure you he is a man to be looked at? He has a stern aspect and an air of bravery; but is polite, and seems very fond of music. He regretted much having missed the Duets; and, if the evening had not been too far advanced, Mr. Burney would have repeated them.
Lady Edgecumbe who was now introduced to Prince Orloff, whom she had not met with before, entered into an absolute flirtation with him. She invited his Highness, in terms of the most extreme civility, to honour her with a visit, saying she had but a little house, but a great ambition. To be sure it was very presuming in her to suppose that any one she met at Dr. Burney’s, should condescend to visit Lord Edgecumbe l The Gabrielli was again mentioned. The Russians all declared that she had not yet sung near so well as when in their country. General Bawr protested that, had he shut his eyes, he should not, by her singing, have known La Gabrielli.
Mrs. Brudenel, even after her cloak was on, and she was retiring, was so obliging, at my earnest request, as to return and sing another song, which served to vary the entertainment for the Prince. She sung much better than at first, and I was very glad that her good-nature proved its own reward.
Prince Orloff enquired of Dr. King very particularly who we all were. The Doctor (who told us afterward
s) to save trouble, told His Highness, that all who were in black, were Dr. Burney’s daughters. At which the Prince exclaimed, he should have thought it impossible, for that my father did not look above thirty years of age.
Mr. Harris in a whisper said to me that he wished some of the ladies would express a desire of seeing the Empress’s picture; “for,” continued he, you know, as a man, cannot, though I much wish it, for my old eyes cannot see it at this distance.”
I immediately applied to Dr. King, who whispered to M. de Demidoff, who hinted to the General, who boldly made the request to the Prince, in the name of the ladies.
The Prince instantly, and with the utmost good-humour, asked the General to untie the picture from his neck, and had it handed about. He was very facetious upon the occasion, and declared that, if they wished the ladies might strip him entirely! Mr. Pogenpohl’s gallantry was far more polished. I was amazed, at this near view, at the size of the diamonds, which are set round the picture; one of them, I really believe, was as big as a nutmeg.
They stayed and chatted some time after the music was over, and were extremely lively and agreeable.
The Dean of Winchester and Dr. King supped with us. My father told them that if there was any crime in having music on a Sunday he hoped for absolution from them. The Dean said he thought music was a very excellent thing any and every day; and Dr. King said— “Have we not music at church?”
“Ay,” answered my father, “and much worse music than, I hope, you have heard here!”
* * * * * *
[Here two leaves have been torn from the diary. The gap may be stopped by comparing the journal with the letter to Mr. Crisp, of the 6th of December. A small part of what is missing is also supplied in the “Memoirs of Dr. Burney,” pages 64-5, vol ii., where M. de Guignes is said “to have left an amusing laugh behind him from the pomposity of his exit; for not finding, upon quitting the music-room, with an abrupt French leave, half-a-dozen of our lackeys waiting to receive his orders; half-a-dozen of those gentlemen not being positively at hand; he indignantly and impatiently called out aloud: ‘Mes gens! où sont mes gens? Qui sont-ils donc devenu? (sic) Mes gens! Je dis. Mes gens!’” To this incident Fanny refers also in a letter to her father of the 25th of April, 1802, when, narrating a visit to the Opera Buffa in Paris, with a party formed on her account, by the Princesse d’Hénin, of some few of the old French nobles, she adds that, “M. Malhoiiet failing [to come], M. de Guignes, formerly ambassador in England, took his place, you remember him, my dear padre, at one of your concerts, and ses gens. Do you think I could help recollecting his haste?” The name of this gay and gallant ambassador had been (wrongly, perhaps) connected by scandal with that of the handsome Lady Craven, who is better known as the Margravine of Anspach. She wrote two of the vainest volumes (in every sense of the word), in an attempt to prove that she was the most attractive, clever, accomplished, amiable, and innocent woman ever born, and afflicted with as unkind a set of relations as ever were. The Margravine describes De Guignes as being “the best flute-player she ever heard,” and adds that his “taste in music was exquisite.” He had been sent to Berlin as ambassador to another flute-player, Frederick II, to whom he is credited with giving a hint that his playing of the flute was bad enough to drive him out of the room. This was in well-merited repartee to an impertinent speech of Frederick’s. That King said to him, “What does the King of France do when he wishes to get rid of de Guignes?” The Count replied, “The King, my master, unfortunately, does not play upon the flute.” De Guignes was a typical French noble of the time before the taking of the Bastille. Though he had not a sous, he would not be employed by any government after the Revolution. Madame de Boufflers, and others among his old friends, lodged and maintained him.
After the break, we And Rauzzini speaking.]
— “Ah! je suis au désespoir que je ne puis pas.”
“Je le suis, moi!” cried I, “de ne vous pas entendre.” Sukey joined us, and we went on with a sort of half petition. He assured us that he himself suffered most; that nothing made him so unhappy as to be where there was a harpsichord, and musical people, and not to be employed. But he promised that he would come again some other time. When? we asked. “O!” cried he, “quand M. Borni voudra, et lors, je chanterai toute la soirée.”
He said he had dined at Gabrielli’s. “Comment se porte-elle?” cried Lady Edgecumbe.
“Fort bien, Madame.”
“Fort bien? Je suis bien fâchée, donc!”
“Comment, donc?” cried Rauzzini, surprised.
She explained herself by saying she was sorry she could [be well,] and not sing better.
Lord Edgecumbe, who is by no means at his ease in French, but who seems to love any thing ridiculous, took great pains to tell Rauzzini of the train that attended Gabrielli as she left the Opera House. After relating the ceremony, — when he came to speak of the servants carrying the train, and un autre pour le petit chien, — Rauzzini cried, “et un autre pour le peroquet, et un autre pour le singe.”
“But,” returned Lord Edgecumbe, addressing himself to Lord Ashburnham, “only think, My Lord! her lap-dog was carried in a muff, by a servant, instead of being carried in a Gentleman’s hat! Now, was not that enough to put any woman out of humour?”
Lord Barrington made up to Rauzzini, and hinted his desire of hearing him in a little air. He explained to him that he dared not sing, as he had suffered so much from straining his voice the preceding evening at the Opera House; he always exerted himself to the utmost of his power, “moi, je respecte le publique, milord.” When he was going he turned to me and said he would not disturb my father who was then engaged, but would leave with me his best compliments to him. We pressed him to stay, but he said he should go immediately to bed, to nurse his cold.
When all the company was gone, but the Lords Sandwich and Barrington, and the Baron and Baronness Deiden, Lord Sandwich expressed a very great desire to hear the Baronness perform. My sister seconded the request. “O yes,” cried she smiling, “it will be very pretty indeed, after all this fine music, for me to sit down and play a little minuet!”
“I could wish, Dr. Burney,” said Lord Sandwich, “that it were possible to prevail, by any means, with Madame Deiden, who I have heard is the finest lady-player in Europe.”
“I beg, I beg, my Lord!” cried the Baronness, waving her hand. Lord Barrington, who is intimate with her, went up to her, and offering to take [the waving] hand, beg d to lead her to the harpsichord, and was very urgent.
“Oh fie, my Lord,” cried she, “so ill-natured! I should not think was you! Besides, you have so often heard me.”
“Madame Deiden,” answered he, “I wish you to play [precisely] because my Lord Sandwich has not heard you — and because I have.”
The Baron then came forward, and said to her, she had better play something, than give so much trouble. She rose immediately, but said with a half-smile, “Now this looks just as if I was like to be so much pressed!”
She played an Overture of Abel’s and a minuet of Schobert. They were both slow and full of taste; she played them delightfully with so much expression and soul, that she did herself great credit, and gave us great pleasure. Indeed, she is a very charming player.
Thanks and compliments over, the two Lords soon departed; but the Baron and Baronness stayed above half an hour longer, and made Mr. Burney play a long lesson of Schobert’s.
When they took leave, the Baronness returned my father thanks in the prettiest manner in the world, for having remembered her, and for giving her so agreeable an evening.
[Miss BURNEY TO MR. CRISP.]
Tuesday Evening [Dec. 6th].
Dear Dada, I have this moment received your letter, and being most conveniently alone, the family being at the Sympsons, I obey your commands of writing immediately. You speak of Agujari just as she deserves to be spoke of, with enthusiasm; nay, you express yourself with such a justness and feeling at once, that, as I read, for an instant, you cheat
ed my ears into an imaginary attention to her, and my mind’s ear at least, was once more pleased, charmed, soothed, astonished and enraptured as when I actually heard her. Why, why did not you grant yourself the delight of really feeling her incomparable excellence? I can’t imagine how you, who never heard her, can contrive to describe her more to the life than any one who has! But I impute it to the remembrance of those great singers of former times whose great talents must have borne so near an affinity to hers. Indeed from the moment that I heard her, I was struck with ideas exactly similar to those which your accounts of Carestine, Farinelli, &c., had given me. However, I frankly own, I have no notion of being unjust to all other peoples merit, because Agujari united in her single self every thing. I regarded her as a prodigy (which M. Colla called her), and therefore by no means shut my ears or my heart from receiving pleasure from those who are not super-natural. Nevertheless, though not against her, I can never dispute that I was most abominably disappointed in Gabrielli, who is, notwithstanding, a singer of very great merit.
I have received your last letter my dear Daddy. You have really half-shocked — and at the same time half flattered me. I had begun to write the moment I received your first letter, but was interrupted, and have had no opportunity since; for at this cold season, when there is no writing in a fireless room, it is by no means easy to find times for letter writing, where three or four sheets are to be filled. I will not now, however, rest till I have answered all my promise and your desire.
So now back to our first concert. I must trace back the circumstances in my memory to the best of my power. I left off before the arrival of the Prince: — so now — Enter his Highness, attended by a Russian nobleman and followed by General Bawr, The Prince is another Mr. Bruce, being immensely tall and stout in proportion. He is a handsome and magnificent figure. His dress was very superb. Besides a blue Garter he had a star of diamonds of prodigious brilliancy; he had likewise a shoulder knot of the same precious jewels, and a picture of the Empress hung from his neck, which was set round with diamonds of such magnitude and lustre that, when near the candle, they were too dazzling for the eye.
Complete Works of Frances Burney Page 491