compliments" to me, in a card, to invite me to their ball; and as it was given on so joyful an occasion, and General Grenville was the commanding officer, I received her Majesty's directions to go. So did Miss Planta and the ladies of the Lower Lodge.

Mrs. Douglas called to carry Miss Planta and me. Tell me if I have introduced that lady to you? She is wife to the Bishop of Carlisle, who is also our Dean of Windsor.

All Windsor, and almost all Berkshire, assembled on this occasion; of course there was no lack of chattery and chatterers. I would not dance. General Grenville did the honours in offering partners; and Colonel Balfour, colonel of the regiment, proposed himself. However, these were soon answered, and glad to offer their services to the rest of their numerous claimants.

All the rest of our household were there. Lord Harcourt came and showed me a new medallion, just presented him by the Queen, with a Latin inscription in honour of the King's recovery. He called himself master of the order, from receiving the first in the distribution. Though," he added, "I am a very singular courtier, for I have been one, hitherto, without either profits or honours."

Not so singular, thought I; for whoever makes a speech such as that, is in secret waiting for both.

I asked him, in a line of his favourite Mason, if he meant to "weave the light dance, in festive freedom gay ?" "No," he said; but this opened to much talk upon his friend, who is pretty avowedly no courtier at all!

I think I need not mention meeting my beloved Fredy in town, on our delightful excursion thither for the Grand Restoration Drawing Room, in which the Queen received

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the compliments and congratulations of almost all the court part of the nation.

Miss Cambridge worked me, upon this occasion, a suit, in silks upon tiffany, most excessively delicate and pretty, and much admired by her Majesty.

All I shall mention of this town visit is, that, the day after the great drawing-room, Miss Fuzilier, for the first time since I have been in office, called upon me to inquire after the Queen. Miss Tryon, and Mrs. Tracey, and Mrs. Fielding, were with her.

She looked serious, sensible, interesting. I thought instantly of the report concerning Mr. Fairly, and of his disavowal: but it was singular that the only time she opened her mouth to speak was to name him! Miss Tryon, who chatted incessantly, had spoken of the great confusion at the drawing-room, from the crowd: "It was intended to be better regulated," said Miss F. "Mr. Fairly told me."

She dropped her eye the moment she had spoken his After this, as before it, she said nothing.

name.

On our return to Windsor we soon lost more of our party. The excellent Mr. and Mrs. Smelt left us first. I was truly sorry to part with them; and Mr. Smelt held a long confidential conference with me on the morning he went: he told me his plan also of retiring, to finish his life in the bosom of his children, in the north. When I expressed my inevitable concern, though unmixed with a shadow of remonstrance against a scheme so natural, right, and happy, he spoke to me in warmer terms than ever before dropped from him, of kind personal regard; and he finished it with laughingly exclaiming, "Your whole conduct, in this trying situation, has appeared to me perfection. There! now it's all out!-and I don't know

how it came to pass, for I never mentioned to you before how much I both love and honour you."

This would not lighten the projected separation; yet would I not, for the universe, even retard either of the retirements now planned by my two kind and most valuable supporters during the confinement I have endured.

Major Price also returned to his cottage: I miss him, and grieve most to lose him, as he, I know, loves the séjour, and wishes to remain near the King.

Mr. George Villiers, a younger brother of Lord Clarendon, was now here as groom of the bedchamber. He is very clever, somewhat caustique, but so loyal and vehement in the King's cause, that he has the appellation, from his party, of The Tiger. He would not obtain it for his person, which is remarkably slim, slight, and delicate.

Miss Burney to Mrs. Lock.

Kew, April, 1789.

My dearest Friends, I have her Majesty's commands to inquire whether you have any of a certain breed of poultry?

N.B. What breed I do not remember.

And to say she has just received a small group of the same herself.

N.B. The quantity I have forgotten.

And to add, she is assured they are something very rare and scarce, and extraordinary and curious.

N.B. By whom she was assured I have not heard. And to subjoin, that you must send word if you have any of the same sort.

N.B. How you are to find that out, I cannot tell. And to mention, as a corollary, that, if you have none of them, and should like to have some, she has a cock and

a hen she can spare, and will appropriate them to Mr. Lock and my dearest Fredy.

This conclusive stroke so pleased and exhilarated me, that forthwith I said you would be both enchanted, and so forgot all the preceding particulars.

And I said, moreover, that I knew you would rear them, and cheer them, and fondle them like your children.

So now-pray write a very fair answer fairly, in fair hand, and to fair purpose.

My Susanna is just now come-so all is fair with my dearest Mr. and Mrs. Lock's

F. B.

Queen's Lodge, Windsor.

APRIL.-I shall abbreviate this month also of its chronological exactness.

The same gentlemen continued, Colonel Manners and Mr. G. Villiers. But Mrs. Schwellenberg is softened into nothing but civility and courtesy to me. To what the change is owing I cannot conjecture; but I do all that in me lies to support it, preferring the entire sacrifice of every moment, from our dinner to twelve at night, to her harshness and horrors. Nevertheless, a lassitude of existence creeps sensibly upon me.

Colonel Manners, however, for the short half-hour of tea-time, is irresistibly diverting. He continues my constant friend and neighbour, and, while he affects to play off the coadjutrix to advantage, he nods at me, to draw forth my laughter or approbation, with the most alarming undisguise. I often fear her being affronted; but naturally she admires him very much for his uncommon share of beauty, and makes much allowance for his levity However, the never-quite-comprehended affair of the

leather bed-cover has in some degree intimidated her ever since, as she constantly apprehends that, if he were provoked, he would play her some trick.

He had been at White's ball, given in town upon His Majesty's recovery. We begged some account of it: he ranted away with great fluency, uttering little queer sarcasms at Mrs. Schwellenberg by every opportunity, and colouring when he had done, with private fear of enraging her. This, however, she suspected not, or all his aim had been lost; for to alarm her is his delight.

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"I liked it all," he said, in summing up his relation,

very well, except the music, and I like any caw-cawcaw, better than that sort of noise, only you must not tell the King I say that, ma'am, because the King likes it."

She objected to the word "must not," and protested she would not be directed by no one, and would tell it, if she pleased.

Upon this, he began a most boisterous threatening of the evil consequences which would accrue to herself, though in so ludicrous a manner, that how she could suppose him serious was my wonder. "Take care of yourself, ma'am," he cried, holding up his finger as if menacing a child; "take care of yourself! I am not to be provoked twice!"

This, after a proud resistance, conquered her; and, really frightened at she knew not what, she fretfully exclaimed, "Ver well, sir!-I wish I had not comm down! I won't no more! you might have your tea when get it!"

you can

Returning to his account, he owned he had been rather a little musical himself for once, which was when they all sang "God save the King," after the supper; for then he joined in the chorus, as well and as loud as any of them, though some of the company," he added, "took the

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