New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-30
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
n,,pv ov EpANCFs BURNEY.

M NV ~ MADAME DARBLAY Revised aud Edlteo
{. The novels of Frances Burney, EveiiDa" and
q Cecilia produced almost as great an excitemen'
=. ,ha time of their original appearance In the
latter part of the eighteenth century as those OF DIT
waiter Scott and George Eliot at more recent pc
riod of fictitioun literature. IL curious TeaoeI
should be tempted to look into those productions az
the present day. he would find almost increolpie Vn0
interest with which 1t is said they were at nrs'
ceiyed Not that they are devoid OF certain A'nu
Of merit, but that they should ever nave ueen4 =.
earded as opening new era in taste ana Iet'eie !"
shsoIn,olv Uncomfortable. They are written IN
light and rather graceful STYLE Astounding ID PIC
tures Of the pote society of that day. ana Illus
.,atro some original traits of character IN inc prn
y e,nal persouages of the scene. But they nave ~
denth of plot no charm of dialogue. except an oou"
sionai rafting vvacity, no remarksoie sk'ii i'll V
aoncenton Of scenes or the description OF persons
ct,lI M,ss Burney was an interesting and IN
) soma respects an admirable woman. ohe
was a favorite in the BEST hteliectuai oO
ejety during the reign OF George LII III
Iohnson gnrke. Sheridan, and other literary
potentates of the period were among her ,n',,nuV
friends. She was appointed to place IN the hoSa
IIorsebod where for several years she had tue OPP
orunilv OF observing the mysteries of high TIC IN
tba British Court Her diary and Letters now
integently edited by Mss WOolsey, though lull Oh
insicniGcant aud vapid details, present many auT
mated personal sketches which will be tound 10
consdera bic interest not only Tor the lovers
Of eossip. but for the student OF manners 1 ne
nayv opeps with the publication OF Evellna' Id
the year 1878. IN the twenty-sixth year OF the au
thor's age One of the earliest entries describes
visit TO Streatham the seat OF the country mouse VI
Mrs. Thrae. at which she freQuentand 1avOrite
friendship with its hospitable mistress -
Ihave now TO write an account Of the most con-
seonential day have spent since my birth; namely,
nv Streatham visit. Our journey TO streathain was
fhe least pleasant part of the day, Tor the roaus
were dreadfuy dusty. and was really IN the
fidgets from thinking what my reception mlgnt ge'
and from fearing they would expecS Tess a WIZ
ward and backward kind of person than was sure
they would find. MIR. Ihrae's mouse IS Wnlte illu
very pleasantly situated, i'll tine paudock' mis-;
rbraie was strolling about, and came 10 US as we
rot ont of the chaise She then received me, taking
both my hands, and with mixed pOnIehess anu a oui
diaty welcoming me to sTestnaf 9ne s6o Inc
for few minutes to my father, as II TO give me an
Insurance she did not mean to regard me as snow
or to distress or frigbten mo by drawing me OUT
Gfterward she took me upstairs, and showed me
the house, and said she had very mucn WlSueG 10
zee me at Streatham and should always tnlnk ner-
selt much obliged to Dr. Burney Tor MS gOOuness III
bringing me- which she looked upon as very great
favor. L.. ..4Lou oDd
Though she was so very civil, she did not hint at
INV book and love her much more than ever 1oT
her delicacy in avoiding subject when sne couiu
nor but see would have greatly embarrassed me-
Soon after Mrs. Thrale took me TO the lDraryi she
talked little while upon common TOPICS ana then'
AT last she mentioned Evelina." - o..
YESTERDAY ut supper" SAID she, "wo talked 1t
all over and discussed all Jur charactersS out ~.
Johnson's favorite is Sir. Smith. HE declares tne
fne gentleman mdRqve was never better drawn; anu
he acted him all the evening, saying ne was all LOT
fhe ladiesl' He repeated whole scenes by heart:
declare was astSnisned az 6m ~ You You hank he
could not get rid OF the rogue ne told me. buO
was 1t not drol," said she, " that l should recon-
mend it to DIR. Burney and tease hun somnocentN
I now prevailed upon Mrs. Thrale to letm amuse
myself and she went to dress. then pi3wled about
To choose some book, and saw, upon the reading
table, :" Evelina"-lhad Just fixed apon , new
translation of Cicero's Lellus, when the library
stsnt Ta mt AWAY nv book, because dreaded being
Thought studious and affected. he offered ms ser
vice to find anything for me ana thee " 'HS b 5cS
breath. ran on to speak OF TIE no9k Win WHICH
had myself favored the worldl" . .
The exact words he began with cannot recoiect
his abrapt manner of letting me know he was a,
fat eqnally astOnished and provoked me: row o1
ferent from the delicacy OF MT and MIS- Lnrae!
When we were summoned to dinner, MIS- Ihrale
made nv father and me sit on each side OF her
said that hoped did not take Dr. Jonnsons PlsCe
Thrale, he will sit by You, which l am sure VII
give him great pleasure" Soon after we were seateo
This great man entered. have SO true veneIatioII
delight and reverence. Notwithstanding the crue
infirnities to which he is subject for he has almost
perpetual conyulsye movements. SaHle OF al III tn
Mrs Thrale introduced me to him. and he tool
his place. We had noble dinner and most Gle
CANT dessert Dr. johnson in the middle OF DIN
ner. asked Mrs Thrale what was IN some htte pieI
that were near him. :" Mutton" answered sne, d Sc
spise it. mo madam, no." cried he; ~ despist
nothing that is good Of it's sorts but am too PROUD
now TO eat of il. Sitting by Miss Burney makes me
very proud TO-DAY r "Miss Burney." SAID Mrs
Thrale, laughing. lyon must take great care O
m Sh1sS1 attacks vi fSs that
saw madam II cried he; are you making mischie
between the young lady and mo areadyT
Miss Burney is lavish Of words in describing TIT
enchantments of Streatbam, with which she canno
express the 'fulness of her content" Dr.. johnson
it seems, was the great attraction OF the VISIT
though his manners certainly needed little mend
ing before they would come up to the not very &c
we're requirements of the modern drawing-rOom -
Mr.. rhrale was neither well nor in spirits all day
Indeed he seems hot TO be happy man, though ht
{ has every means Of happiness in his power. But
light heart and hight spirits. Dr.. johnson was in tht
utmost good humOr. There was no other company
at tie house all day. After dinner had a delight
ma s'r0lI list " Of ali ' her good neShbors
in the town of streatham. At tea W.
all met again. aud Dr. d,o johnson Johnson. of va va
chiidren of Mr.. Iangton. wlio." he SAID, "might
be very good children, il they were let alone; but
the father is never easy when he is not making them
do something which they cannot DO; they must re-
peat fable, or q speech, or the Hebrew alphabet
and they might as well count twenty. for what they
know OF tine matter; however. the father says
half, for he prompts every word. But he could not
have chosen man who would have been less en-
tertained by such means"
= believe not 70 cried Mrs. Thrale; "nothno
IL moro ridiculous than parents examining theiI
chiidren's nonsense down other peoples threats.
keep mine much out Of the way as car. !
1Yeurs madam" answered he, are in nobody
way no children can be better managed or lea
troublesome but your fault Is q too great perverse
meas in not allowing anybody to give them any
fhing Why should they not have cherry, or
gOosebeny, as we'll assbigger children