Читать книгу The Diary and Collected Letters of Madame D'Arblay, Frances Burney - Frances Burney - Страница 62

Table of Contents

(During the years 1781 and 1782 Fanny was engaged upon her second novel, “Cecilia,” which was published in July, 1782. It is not necessary here to discuss the merits of a work with which everyone ought to be acquainted. We may safely leave the task of criticising “Cecilia” to an unimpeachable authority, Edmund Burke, whose magnificent, but just eulogy of the book will be found on page 232 Of the present volume. In the following section of “The Diary” Fanny records one of the most memorable events of her life,—her introduction to Burke, in June, 1782, at Sir Joshua Reynolds’s house on Richmond Hill. Her letter to Mr. Crisp, printed in the “Memoirs of Dr. Burney,” gives a more detailed account than that in the “Diary,” of the conversation which passed on this occasion. Other men of genius were present, among them Gibbon the historian, whom she then met for the first time; but Fanny had eyes and ears for none but Burke. Nor was she singular in yielding thus completely to the fascination of the great Irishman’s manner and conversation. Wherever he appeared, in what society soever he mingled, Burke was still the man of distinction. As Johnson said, you could not stand under a shed with Burke for a few minutes, during a shower of rain, without feeling that you were in the company of an extraordinary man.

Mr. Thrale’s death produced no immediate change in the situation of affairs at Streatham. Dr. Johnson’s visits were as frequent and as protracted as before; Fanny continued to be numbered among the dearest friends of the widow. Not yet had arisen that infatuation which eventually alienated from Mrs. Thrale the sympathy of her former friends, and subjected her, justly or unjustly, to such severe and general condemnation. But to this topic we shall revert at a later period.

The great brewer had left his wife and family in affluent circumstances. The executors to his Will were Dr. Johnson, Mr. Henry Smith, Mr. Cator and Mr. Crutchley, together with Mrs. Thrale. Of the last-named gentleman we shall hear a good deal in the following pages. He and Mr. Cator were both chosen members of parliament In the same year—1784: Mr. Cator for Ipswich, Mr. Crutchley for Horsham. Early in the summer following Thrale’s decease the brewery was sold for the handsome sum of 135,000 pounds, to David Barclay, the Quaker, who took Thrale’s old manager, Perkins into Partnership. Thus was founded the famous house Of Barclay and Perkins.