Chapter I: Preface

The main sources for this memoir of Frances or Fanny Burney,—afterwards Madame D’Arblay,—in addition to her novels, the literature of the period, and the works specified in the footnotes, are as follows:—

1. _Memoirs of Dr. Burney, arranged from his own Manuscript,
from Family Papers, and from Personal Recollections._ By his
Daughter, Madame D’Arblay. In Three Volumes. London: Moxon,
1832.

2. _Diary and Letters of Madame D’Arblay_, Author of “Evelina,”
“Cecilia,” etc. Edited by her Niece. [In Seven Volumes.] London:
Colburn, 1842-46. [The edition here used is Swan Sonnenschein’s
four volume issue of 1892.]

3. _The Early Diary of Frances Burney 1768-1778. With a
Selection from her Correspondence, and from the Journals of her
Sisters Susan and Charlotte Burney._ Edited by Annie Raine
Ellis. In Two Volumes. London: George Bell and Sons, 1889.

I am indebted to the kindness of Archdeacon Burney, Vicar of St. Mark’s, Surbiton, for access to his unique extra-illustrated copy of the _Diary and Letters_ of 1842-6, which contains, among other interesting MSS., the originals of Mrs. Thrale’s letter mentioned at page 86 of this volume, and of Burke’s letter mentioned at page 124. Archdeacon Burney is the possessor of Edward Burney’s portrait of his cousin (page 88); of the Reynolds portraits of Dr. Burney and Garrick from the Thrale Gallery (page 94); of a very fine portrait of Dr. Charles Burney by Lawrence; and of a group by Hudson of Hetty Burney, her husband, Charles Rousseau Burney, and her husband’s father, Richard Burney of Worcester.

I am also indebted to Mrs. Chappel of East Orchard, Shaftesbury, granddaughter of Mrs. Barrett, the editor of the _Diary and Letters_, for valuable information as to Burney relics in her possession.

A. D.
75, EATON RISE, EALING, W.,
_September 18, 1903_.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
THE BURNEY FAMILY 1

CHAPTER II
NO. 1, ST. MARTIN’S STREET 31

CHAPTER III
THE STORY OF “EVELINA” 61

CHAPTER IV
THE SUCCESSFUL AUTHOR 88

CHAPTER V
“CECILIA”—AND AFTER 117

CHAPTER VI
THE QUEEN’S DRESSER 145

CHAPTER VII
HALF A LIFETIME 176

INDEX 207

Fanny Burney