“‘Well’ said Mrs. Thrale—’ I don’t know how much of human nature there may be in Mad Riccoboni, but I am sure there’s a great deal of human life in this book, and of the manners of the present time. It’s writ by somebody that knows the top and the bottom, the highest and lowest of mankind — It’s very good language, and there’s an infinite deal of fun in it’” —
Mais adieu — réjouis toi, ma chère, et desormais ne permets —
* * * * *
[Here seven lines are crossed out.]
[SUSAN TO FRANCES BURNEY.]
[Dr. Burney’s first reading “Evelina” with Mrs. Burney, who knew not the Author.]
Sunday Mom. July 5th.
* * * * * *
This Morning between seven and eight I was woke by a noise in the next room — upon listening a minute or two I found it was my father and mother laughing in a most extra-ordinary manner — presently I heard by the voice of the former that he was reading.... I had a little suspicion of what it might be, and started up and went to the door to satisfy myself. I presently not only discovert the book he was reading — but even the page — with the assistance of your new Evelina? which I made free with on this occasion — they were in the midst of the Ridotto scene — P. 64 — and the eclats of Laughter that accompanied it — did my heart good — from my father ——
Every speach of Sir Clement’s in this scene diverted my father no less than me, and at the question— “My dear creature — why where could you be educated?” he laid the book down to laugh till he cried — and when it was done, said it was an admirable conversation, the poor girl’s mistakes extremely natural, and the man of fashion’s character touch’d with delicacy and written with great humour and spirit.
In the next letter Charlotte join’d me, and we stood till we were cramp’d to death, not daring to move, and almost stifled ourselves with laughing — the next scene was productive of no less mirth than the Ridotto — My father stopt to laugh after every speach of the Captain’s—” that’s excellent”—” isn’t that good?”—” there’s wit in spite of all his grossness in every word he says” — etc., etc. — the next letter from Mr. Villars he read with a tenderness which drew tears from me. Not a period of it did he pass over unnotic’d — the matter and the language he declared were equally good, and both excellent — P. 88. M. Dubois’ pro found bow at the Captain’s gross speach did not escape observation, and the conversation of Mad* Duval and Mirvan At Ranelagh almost convuls’d my father with laughing. I wish’d with all my heart you had been with Charlotte and me — for ’tis impossible by letter to convey an idea to you of how thoroughly he enjoy’d every line of it — this was the last letter he read — but I believe ’twas near twelve before we breakfasted.
Monday July 6th ——
This morning my father and mother were again reading in bed before I woke and so I lost all the Opera and Branghtons, and just got to the listening place time enough to hear the latter part of the Pantheon adventure, and Lord Orville’s application to the young ladies — p. 189, to hear the opinion of the public places they had seen, the Captain’s “What signifies asking them girls!” etc., was very well relished, and Lord Merton was not thrown away. P. 195, when Evelina says “Sir Clement seem’d in misery” — My father exclaim’d he was glad of that—” ’tis such a dog, that Sir Clement, — and this Lord seems to be his match.” — Poor Moll’s pug nose occasion’d a new burst of laughter — the admirable (excuse me my dear) observation upon the variety of characters and manners in all ranks of life — 198, my father stopt at some minutes.
Mr. Villars’ letter 101 he read with the utmost feeling — the dispute on leaving town between the Captain and Mad French, and the English fashion the former makes bold to shew M. Dubois, he enjoy’d in the highest degree — He finish’d the Vol before he could get up — Mr. Villars’ Letter 1 P. 220 had its full weight given it — he said it was as pathetic as anything he had ever read — that it had all the appearance of being writ by a man that had had a College education, with a goodness of heart scarce ever to be met with. 222 — after A the period that ends with “and feared lest it should be accepted”—” how delicate,” cried he, and presently after he protested that— “Johnson could not have expressed himself better” — but I must stop my pen — for I’ve just had your letter, and I would not willingly again take away your breath — I am delighted at Lowndes’ intelligence — Another Edition this year! — Well — I’ll never say that merit does not make its own way no more. As to your secret, I am afraid it must go — and my mother has said prodigious fine things of the book to-day. This morning my father call’d me into his room when he was alone to desire me to write and ask you, as a favour to him, leave to let Mrs. Thrale know you for the authoress. —
“And in that case,” said he, “I MUST likewise tell your mother — and I assure you she is greatly pleased with it.”
I told him I was sure the idea would make you start.
“Why you may be sure,” said he—” if I did not think it would do her credit, I should not think of making the request — but if she will give her permission, I will still entreat Mrs. Thrale not to acquaint a soul of it, and I’m certain ‘twill do her honour.”
He wishes for an answer if possible by return of post as he goes to Streatham the latter end of the week. He has received your sweet letter, and sends you his best love and thanks — yet desired me to write you the above mention’d request. ——
[SUSAN TO FRANCES BURNEY, AT CHESINGTON.]
[Dr. Burney’s first reading “Evelina” with Mrs. Burney.]
To my great disappointment my [mother] was weary, and they stopt before the Vauxhall scene, on shutting up the book—” Well,” said my father, “we shall begin again at 5!” and so I believe they did, for tho’ my father rose before me, he must have read a great deal, as my mother said something at dinner relating to Mad Duval’s borrowing Lord Orville’s coach—” She hoped, on going out, that she should not be caught in the rain,” she said, “for fear she should see no Lord’s coach that she knew, to call to.” I have heard no more read since, for my father had the head ache last night, and this morning rose early. — But he is tolerably to-day. — When my mother was saying something in favour of the book the other morning, “Oh,” said he—” One might be sure there must be something in it by Mrs. Cholmondeley’s recommending it so strongly — for such women as she and Mrs. Thrale are afraid of praising à tort et à travers, and if there is not something more than common, as they know they are liable to have their opinions quoted they are d — lish shy of speaking favourably.”
To me, I believe I have already told you, he said you could not have had a greater compliment than the making these two ladies your friends, as they were d — d severe and d — d knowing — you must excuse the energy of the expression. [Here Mme. D’Arblay has written between the lines, “ It came from my dear father’s energy of delight.”] —
I don’t wonder at your being in a twitter at the questions ask’d me per la dama [the morning after we were at Mrs. Ord’s,]... for Charlotte says I turn’d as pale as ashes, and I felt my voice so unsteady I was frighten’d at speaking — luckily she did not look at me — and I soon assumed a firmer tone. You ask me to tell you honestly if I am not astonished at the sale of the book — and I will not scruple to tell you I am. I never doubted its success, provided it was read — but its being generally read I confess I scarce hoped — as you would permit nobody to mention it, and would have suffered the poor babe to die in oblivion had it not been miraculously preserved. — The Monthly Review I think must have been its recommendation to Mrs. Cholmondeley — and since it has fallen into her hands, its subsequent good fortune has nothing in it that seems to me wonderful —
[SUSAN TO FRANCES BURNEY AT CHESINGTON.]
Thursday, July 16th.
* * * * *
At night my father read as usual. I found he was at p. 41, at the conversation concerning the bett, Vol. 3rd. Lord Orville’s p
roposal he admired as being characteristic — his delicate manner of returning the compliments made him by Miss Anville yet more. In the next letter he remark’d the knowledge of the world the author had in the inhumanity and impertinence with which Lovel speaks of Evelina. The race between the old women excited a roar of laughter — After the scene in which Mr. Macartney again introduced and Lord Orville’s accusation of Evelina’s making an appointment with him he left off — intending to begin again next morning at 5 — but he was up before me — so I heard nothing of it. — Mr. Strange dined with us Fryday — and Mr. Magellan came 242
LETTERS FROM SUSAN
[1778 in the evening, but did not stay — Merlin sup’d here and was very diverting. (I think you must introduce him in your next work.) At night my father open’d at P. 125, so I found he must have read two or three hours in the morning. Yet he was up early — Poor Evelina was much pitied for the effects of her altered conduct on Lord Orville. Mr. Villars’ Letter gouté as usual by my father—” that man is ALWAYS right” — said he, meaning in his advice and judgement of things — the conclusion of his Letter, P. 130, lost nothing of its pathos by the manner in which it was read. The subsequent epistle of Lady Belmont’s affected him very much — and me, by the nervous, energetic manner in which he read it, much more than when I read it myself. Indeed I have found this to be the case frequently in listening to my father, tho’ it has been impossible for me to hear him always distinctly. He stopt several times in the course of this letter — nor was his handkerchief useless — When it was done— “This is monstrously strong, surely,” said he, shutting up the book!
“Very characteristic,” said my mother.
“Upon my soul,” said he—” there seems to me a force in it, that I have scarce ever met with.” —
At Mrs. Selwyn’s expression in the next letter that a trio of females would be “nervous to the last degree” my father laugh’d violently. Indeed I can readily believe what he once said to me, that the book rose on him on the 2nd reading — for it is utterly impossible that anybody should ever enjoy it more than he has done in my hearing —
“Excellent,” said he, “how well kept up is that woman’s character!”
“And indeed all of them,” said my mother.
“Wonderfully,” — cried he.
My father, who is much in love with Lord Orville as to be almost angry that even Mr. Villars should lead Evelina into neglecting him, at the observation she makes P. 137 concerning the suddenness of the alteration in her behaviour being ill-judged, cried out —
“Well, I am glad she finds that out however! — tho’ as she thought herself obliged to change her conduct it is much! more natural that she should overdo it than otherwise.”
I was delighted at the opportunity of hearing the scene that followed — which is I think the most interesting among the many interesting scenes in the book.
Sir Clement’s satire upon the three ladies was not thrown away — the Character he gives of each, but especially that of Mrs. Selwyn, diverted my father excessively —
“How he trims them! — and all in a language of his own — entirely himself — a true, fashionable, unprincipled Man of the World!” —
“Admirably kept up!” cried he at the last speech he makes P. 141 “there’s a Galant homme for you!” — at the appearance of Lord Orville —
“Another Coup de Theatre,” cried my father!
What the preceding ones that he had mark’d had been I know not. The pistol scene with Mr. Macartney was, I suppose, one — and he frequently had before remark’d how dramatic novel it was. He admired Lord Orville as he deserved in this conversation with Sir Clement.
“She is not, indeed, like most modern young ladies, to be known in half an hour.”
“That’s very good! that’s excellent!” said my father.
P. 149, when he says— “we will discuss this point no further,” etc— “Aye,” cried he— “there the lover breaks out — The friend and the man of honour are conspicuous in the former part of the conversation — but the lover speaks here.”
He remark’d that it was at once an artful and a natural method the author had taken to dispel the suspicions of Lord Orville by Evelina’s calling out to him to free her from Sir Clement. —
“The plan is admirably laid,” said he, “and circumstances the least expected succeed each other in the most natural and probable manner.” ——
In the following scene between Evelina and Lord Orville, when Mrs. Beaumont enters —
“Oh,” cried my father, in a tone of vexation— “What a critical moment has she chose to make her appearance! — P. 155, when E. says Lord Orville sat next to her — He WOULD sit next me.”
“That’s excellent — charmingly mark’d,” said he, “ and as he almost exhausted himself in fruitless efforts to entertain me”—” Everything here turns to account,” said he—” nothing is forgotten.”
The sweet scene that follows he read with as much appearance of interest as if it had been perfectly new to him — the interruption of— “I can’t imagine what Mrs. Selwyn has done with these books!” diverted him beyond measure.
K
“This scene,” said he, “is delicately wrought — and broke off just as it should be — there’s nothing fade in it — it is more ‘ natural that Evelina should avoid greater minuteness in her own confession than that she should practice it, and at the same time it prevents the scene from bearing a resemblance to any other of the kind.”
Mrs. Selwyn’s entrance was announced by my Father with a violent eclat de rire — and “Another Coup de Theatre!”
P. 160, at “you must not a second time reproach me with making an appointment”—” That’s very well — archly put in of Miss Evelina,” said my father, laughing, “deprive her not of the pleasure of her conjectures” — produced another laugh. Lord Orville’s two speaches, 161, were follow’d by the exclamations of—” delicate!” — and “noble!” — her weeping with joy declared to be very natural, and in short almost every time produced an observation and a panergyric — Ld O’s manner of entreating permission to accompany E. to town was deservedly admired, and, 164, when the forged letter of Sir Clement came sur le tapis, “Aye,” said my father, “I am glad to have that cleared up — I was sure it could not be Lord Orville’s — Tis the only thing I guess’d in the book — but I was afraid ’twould have been forgot” — At p. 166 they stopt, and I lost several interesting scenes — tho’ I was early woke by laughing in the next room, and upon whisking to the listening place I found it was at Mrs. Selwyn’s—” poor Polly Green” P. 210 — L Orville’s proposal to wait on Mrs. Villars himself my father much admired — and likewise noticed how well laid the plan was in making his declaration to Evelina previous to his knowledge of her rank, etc — At Lady Louisa and Mrs. Beaumont’s sudden politeness to her, P. 213, he cried out — Admirable! — the world, the world!”
Lord Orville’s introduction of her by her real name he said was “quite right — but this Character,” said he, “seems to me a model for a young man — as Villars is for an old one” — his insisting on accompanying her instead of Mrs Selwyn to her father he remark’d was very well judg’d, as well as natural in him as her lover — the shortness of the ride diverted him not a little likewise — But the Scene between her and her father, 218! — you would have cried had you heard him read it, and stop as he did to cry himself — I declare I could scarce prevent myself from making a noise — his being unable to open Lady Belmonts letter and agonies at reading it — his sudden transitions from tenderness to fury and despair — his returns again to Evelina, he mark’d so well that no one could I am sure have heard him without tears — and his own flow’d plentifully — When he had done he shut up the book for a while and said—” ’twas an amazing scene” —
“I declare,” said he (N.B. it passed for the first reading)
“I never remember crying so at a Tragedy — had I not taken pains to check myself — I should
have blubber’d — I never read anything higher wrought than it is — I do protest I wish it could be brought on the stage — just as it is, without adding or taking away one word — indeed there is not a word that could be changed without injury — I am not in general very easy to please with regard to language — but I wish I may die if I think this letter could be mended in any respect — I, really think it would be almost too much for the stage — yet if it had not been printed, and I knew the author, I think I would advise its being part of a Drama— ’Tis pity it has been printed!”
After these, and some more similar observations, he went on reading — and was charm’d with the new instance of Lord Orville’s noble mind, P. 226 —
“He is so consistently generous and noble!” said he. Sir Clement’s letter — he declared was as good as any one in the book — because so proud and so characteristic from such a man in such a situation—” his Character is kept up to the last” — her observations upon it he much admired — and her answer, and rejoiced that she was prevented from signing her name to it—” ’twas a lucky circumstance,” he said —
He laugh’d at her saying the preparations went on —
“Amazing!” said he — at the end of this letter he left off, but prognosticated that there would be some fun again — and that they should have some more laughs after all their blubbering. I hope my mother thought him second sighted — Since this I heard nothing further — for at two they set off for Streatham — with the 3rd Vol loose in the chaise with them —
My father and mother returned from Streatham Tuesday — When I was alone with the latter (sic) he told me he had put confidence in the cat — told my mother on the road — but had no opportunity of speaking alone to Mrs. Thrale till Monday.
He then brought her the books — he said —
“But do you know, Ma’am,” said he, “that I have been reading it myself, upon your recommendation?”
Complete Works of Frances Burney Page 503