New-York tribune., 1905-03-26

edition Of Fanny Burneys diary and letters the
details are those Of her life at court AS one Of
Queen Charlottes wardrobe women. she held
position which had many advantages, but most
Of them were clouded for her by incessant worry.
She worried morning, noon ami night lest she
should in some trifle offend against court
etiquette; she worried lest this should be for
bidden or that should not be permitted. When
Papa Burpey came to see her she worried lest
be should not do the proper thing in manners,
and when he didn't she fell into a veritable
agony of mind She worried about the be-
havior OF the gentlemen in attendance who
daily drank tea with her and Nine Schwellen-
berg-and her particular worry about the one
she calls "Mr. Turbulent" is the most comical
Of all The theatrical, sentimental fantasticality
Of this parsonage invites the conjecture that he
vas humorously initiating for Fanny's benefit
the hightiness of Sir Clement Willoughby, the
bold bad man of 'Evelina," and we cannot but
wonder at the seriousness with which she en-
duTed his absurdities. Much OF this volume is
given over to reports of long conversations with
-Adr. Turbulent" carefully set down-an amaz-
ing memory had this little Fanny for talk, no
matter how agitating
As for her worry over Nine Schwellenberg.
her companion dresser" in the Queens ser
vice, she had warrant. for this elderly
dame, who had accompanied Charlotte to Eng
land long years before, was a narrow minded
tyraut whose selfishness was increased by I'll
health The sensitive Fanny had no natural
rogance with which to subdue her, and she
could not complain to the Queen of her old
servant ITO see that face when lighted up with
fury is a sight for horrorr exclaims the
happy Fanny, apropos of one OF their journeys
f. the Schwellenberg's coach 1.-The most horri-
bic ii humor. violence and rudeness were all that
were shown There was something more than
jealousy of the Queens kindness in the German
"dressers' outrageousness-the English wom-
ans comparative youth her attractiveness, and,
above all, her cleyerness, We're ALL no doubt,
matter Of offence. It is pleasant to turn from
the graphic descriptions Of her fures to the rec
ords OF that kindness OF the Queen-the sweet
Queen little Fanny often calls her. Char
ntte's gentleness was winning, her considera-
ton for those about her unfaiing and her
daughters were as thoughtful of other peoples
sensibilities the mother. Even the wild. low
ing little Princess Amelia prettiy courteous.
Some Of the most engaging paragraphs in Fan
ny's narrative are those in which We see George
III with his beloved curly headed three-year-
cid in his arms the slave of her wiIful fascina-
tons.
Fanny's account of the trial of Warren Hast
hgs fills many pages of this voIume-an ac-
count which is oddly prosy for one who was
ordinarily so quick to observe dramatic ef-
fecta The young lady was too busy during the
sessions in talking with Macau aulay's high souled
Wndham'' to acquire the vivid impressions we
might have expected. "He is member for Nor
vlch," she says, "and a man of family and
fortune with q very pleasing though not hand
sOme face, a very elegant figure and air of
fashion and viVacity." All her syInpathes
were with the Ex-Governor General. and for his
eake she Snubbed her once admired Edmund
Burke when he came to greet her. But the ele-
CANT Windhau's assiduities she could not resist,
though he was one of the prosecutors; and thus
is that though we have here long transcripts
OF his conversations there are few gIiInpses of
the chief persons in one of the great trials of
history. once only, when the "whirlWind" of
Burkes eloquence nearly drew her into its
vortex" does she write with warmth, acknoWl-
eoging that "the wild and sudden flights of his
fancy, bursting forth from his creative imagina-
Ton In language. fluent, forcible and varied, had
charm for my ear and my attention wholly
new and perfectly irresistible"
All through these records runs a vein of NOR
old sensitiveIess concerning praise and pub
hclty for the writer of 'Evelna" and Cecilia"
The King makes smiling references to her work
and she Is ready TO sink into the earth with
embarrassment; and once when she goes to a
Play and hears these two lines Of the epilogue
Let sweet Cecilia gain your first applause