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Toulonnais and their external friends. But even if the assailants should make such approaches as to render it necessary to retreat, with such a powerful fleet as that of England and Spain united, it will not only be easy to carry off the garrison and inhabitants in time, but to destroy such ships as cannot be brought away, and ruin the harbour and arsenal for many years to

come.

You promised me, dear Fanny, a copy of M. d'Arblay's requête. When you have leisure, and can tell me what turn things are likely to take, perhaps you will enclose it in a future letter.

I have written to Mrs. Crewe all you have said on the subject of writing something to stimulate benevolence and commiseration in favour of the poor French ecclesiastics, amounting to 6000 now in England, besides 400 laity here and 800 at Jersey, in utter want. The fund for the laity was totally exhausted the 27th of last month, and the beginning of the next that raised by former subscriptions and briefs will be wholly expended!

I have been working with my pen night and day for more than this last fortnight, in correspondence with Mrs. Crewe, Mr. Wilmot, Mr. Huter the secretary of the Committee, and have written single letters innumerable to others as Mrs. Montagu, Mrs. Garrick, Hannah More, &c. The two first of these ladies have not yet answered my letters. Poor H. More has written a letter that has drawn tears from me. She has been dangerously ill for a twelvemonth, is now seldom able to get up, and incapable of reading or writing she approves very highly of the ladies' plan, and has sent some papers to Bath; but laments extremely her inability to act as she would have done both

with hand and head, if her health would have permitted.

The expense, in only allowing the clergy 8s. a-week, amounts to about 7500l. a-month, which cannot be supported long by private subscription, and must at last be taken up by Parliament; but to save the national disgrace of suffering these excellent people to die of hunger, before the Parliament meets and agrees to do something for them, the ladies must work hard. The list of these whom Mrs. Crewe has interested in the cause is now become very illustrious and honourable— the Marchioness of Buckingham, Lady Spencer, Lady Payne, Lady Cotton, Lady Charlotte Greville, Lady Ann Dashwood, Lady C. Douglas, Lady Hartley, Lady Macartney, Lady Gray, Lady Camelford, Miss Trimmer, Hon. Miss Fox, Mrs. Whitbread, Mrs. H. Greville, Miss Crewe, Mrs. Cooke, Miss Smith, Lady Pelham, Lady Webster, Mrs. Pierrepoint, &c. &c. We have contrived at Chelsea to enlist Lady Cremorne and others. Mrs. and Miss Locks are charming acquisitions-I beg my best thanks for them.

Your mother works hard in packing and distributing papers among her friends in town and country, and Sally in copying letters. You and M. d'Arblay are very good in wishing to contribute your mite; but I did not intend leading you into this scrape. If you subscribe your pen, and he his sword, it will best answer Mr. Burke's idea, who says, "There are two ways by which people may be charitable-the one by their money, the other by their exertions." Now, it has just struck me that, if you felt any impulse to use your pen, it should be in an éloge on female benevolence. The ladies whom I have recollected above do it so cheerfully and with so much zeal, though hoaxed and scouted by the men, who

call it "Ladies' nonsense," that I think it says a great deal in favour of religion, whose precepts still remain among the female part of Christendom, while the men seem to have given up every idea of it, and with it of every virtue and moral sentiment which all religions recommend. Pensez-y. The good Bishop of St. Pol 'de Leon has heard of my zeal as secretary to the Ladies, from M. Jumard, I suppose, and has inquired my direction, and wished for my acquaintance. I shall wait on this venerable prelate to-morrow.

I have so much writing on my hands that I fear I shall not have time now to thank M. d'Arblay for his kindness in sending me so nice a copy of his nice translation of your Willey;' but pray do you, en attendant my getting a little leisure, say mille et mille jolies choses for Yours, affectionately,

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C. B.

Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.

Sunday noon, October 21st, 1793.

My dearest father will think I have been very long in doing the little I have done; but my mind is so anxiously discomfited by the continued suspense with regard to M. d'Arblay's proposition and wish, that it has not been easy to me to weigh completely all I could say, and the fear of repeating what had already been offered upon the subject has much restrained me, for I have seen none of the tracts that may have appeared. However, it is a matter truly near my heart; and though I have not done it rapidly, I have done it with my whole mind, and, to own the truth, with a species of emotion that has greatly affected me, for I could not deeply consider the situation of these venerable men without feeling for them

to the quick. If what I have written should have to procure them one more guinea, I shall be paid.

power

I shall send the scrawl to you by the stage on Tuesday. I have still to copy it. And I have the pleasure to give you another subscriber, Mrs. Hume, a lady who has listened to the eloquence of Mrs. Lock, who never sees any one without producing the plan. Mrs. Lock begs you to trust her for the guineas. Mr. Lock enters into this business with the warmest approbation.

If you think what I have drawn up worth printing, I should suppose it might make a little sixpenny paper, and be sold for the same purpose it is written. Or will it only do to be printed at the expense of the acting ladies, and given gratis? You must judge of this.

Adieu, ever most dear sir!

F. D'A.

Madame d'Arblay to Dr. Burney.

Bookham, October 27th, 1793,

MY MOST DEAR FATHER,-The terrible confirmation of this last act of savage hardness of heart has wholly overset us again. M. d'Arblay had entirely discredited its probability, and, to the last moment, disbelieved the report; not from milder thoughts of the barbarous rulers of his unhappy country, but from seeing that the death of the Queen could answer no purpose, helpless as she was to injure them, while her life might answer some as a hostage with the Emperor. Cruelty, however, such as theirs, seems to require no incitement whatever; its own horrible exercise appears sufficient both to prompt and to repay it. Good Heaven! that that wretched Princess should so finish sufferings so unexampled !

With difficulties almost incredible, Madame de Staël has

contrived, a second time, to save the lives of M. de Jaucourt and M. de Montmorenci, who are just arrived in Switzerland. We know as yet none of the particulars; simply that they are saved is all: but they write in a style the most melancholy to M. de Narbonne, of the dreadful fanaticism of licence, which they dare call liberty, that still reigns unsubdued in France. And they have preserved nothing but their persons! of their vast properties they could secure no more than pocket-money, for travelling in the most penurious manner. They are therefore in a state the most deplorable. Switzerland is filled with gentlemen and ladies of the very first families and rank, who are all starving, but those who have had the good fortune to procure, by disguising their quality, some menial office!

No answer comes from Mr. Pitt; and we now expect none till Sir Gilbert Elliot makes his report of the state of Toulon and of the Toulonnese; till which, probably, no decision will be formed whether the Constitutionals in England will be employed or not.

**

F. D'A.

[M. d'Arblay's offer of serving in the expedition to Toulon was not accepted, and the reasons for which it was declined do not appear.]

Madame d'Arblay to Mrs.

THE account of your surprise, my sweet friend, was the last thing to create mine: I was well aware of the ge. neral astonishment, and of yours in particular. My own, however, at my very extraordinary fate, is singly greater than that of all my friends united. I had never made any vow against marriage, but I had long, long been

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