eldest son of Sir William Bunbury, Bart., of Barton Hall and Milden Hall, Suffolk, to whose title and estates he succeeded in the following year. "To show himself more of a man," Walpole had written to Sir Horace Mann a few months before, young Bunbury is going to marry Lady Sarah Lennox, who is very pretty, from exceeding bloom of youth; but as she has no features, and her beauty is not likely to last so long as her betrothed's, he will probably repent this step." Bunbury, who at the time of his marriage had just come of age, presently became a great patron of the Turf, and is famous in the annals of racing as the owner of Diomed, winner of the first Derby.

The union seems to have been happy enough at first, but Bunbury's devotion to sport increased year by year, and Lady Sarah was left largely to her own resources. She had, of course, being the beautiful woman she was, many admirers, and in one of them she became more than interested. This was Lord William Gordon, a younger son of the third Duke of Gordon, and a man of her own age. In December 1768 she gave birth to a daughter in her husband's house in Privy Gardens, Whitehall, but the father was not Sir Charles Bunbury, but Lord William Gordon.

It would appear that at one time she did not intend to avow the paternity, since she remained under Sir Charles's roof, and it was only belatedly, in the following February, that she ran away with her lover and her little girl. They stayed in the country for some time, but, yielding to the pressure increasingly exercised by the family, Lady Sarah, in November 1769, went to reside with her brother and her sister-in-law, the Duke and Duchess of Richmond, at Goodwood. The Duke built her a house, and here she lived in retirement,

occupying herself with the education of her child. After Sir Charles divorced her in 1776 she resumed her maiden name. He survived until 1821.

With her marriage in 1781 to Colonel the Hon. George Napier, second son of Francis, fifth Baron Napier, a period of real happiness began. Of this marriage there were five sons and three daughters. The three eldest sons, Charles, George, and William, entered the Army and greatly distinguished themselves. George Napier died in 1804, but his widow survived, a charming, gracious, much-beloved lady, until 1826, when she passed away at the age of eighty-one.

In Lady Sarah's correspondence there is more than one reference to the exalted position that was so nearly hers, but she does not ever seem to have regretted that she missed it by, as it were, a hair's breadth. On the contrary, it is apparent that she regarded herself as fortunate in so having done, and in her later life, when her famous and devoted sons were gathered around her, she must more than once have compared them with the Royal Princes. "I am one who will keep the King's marriage-day with unfeigned joy and gratitude to Heaven that I am not in Her Majesty's place," she wrote in 1789 to Lady Susan. "It was the happiest day for me, inasmuch as I like to attend my dear sick husband better than a King. I like my sons better than I like royal sons, thinking them better animals, and more likely to give me comfort in my old age; and I like better to be a subject, than subject to the terrors of royalty in these days of trouble. It's pleasant to have lived to be satisfied of the great advantages of a lot which in those days I might have deemed unlucky.

"Ideas of fifteen and sixty-one cannot well assimilate; but mine began at fourteen, for, if you remember, I was

not near fifteen when my poor head began to be turned by adulation, in consequence of my supposed favour. In the year 1759, on the late Princess of Wales's birthday, November 30, I ought to have been in my nursery, and I shall ever think it was unfair to bring me into the world while a child. Au reste, I am delighted to hear the King is so well, for I am excessively partial to him. I always consider him as an old friend that has been in the wrong : but does one love one's friend less for being in the wrong, even towards oneself? I don't, and I would not value the friendship of those who measure friendship by my deservings. God help me if all my friends thought thus."

CHAPTER III

FRANCES BURNEY, AFTERWARDS MADAME

D'ARBLAY (1752–1840)

Evelina published anonymously-Miss Burney's excitement at its successShe becomes a lion "-Dr. Johnson's approval-Her play, The Willings, adversely criticised-Her second novel, Cecilia, widely read-She makes the acquaintance of Mrs. Delany-Presented to the King and Queen-Offered a post in her Majesty's household-Her desire to refuse-She accepts reluctantly-She is unhappy at CourtThe Schwellenberg-Ill-health-Her resignation is accepted-A small pension granted-M. d'Arblay-Miss Burney attracted by himThey become engaged-Her father's opposition withdrawn-Marriage -The birth of a son-Mme. d'Arblay's tragedy, Edwy and Elvine, a failure-Her third novel, Camilla, financially successful-In ParisMme. d'Arblay returns to England-Death of Dr. Burney-d'Arblay joins his wife-His death-Alexander d'Arblay-Mme. d'Arblay in old age-Edits her father's Memoirs-Her Diary.

THERE appeared anonymously in January 1778 a work of fiction, bearing the title, Evelina; or, A Young Lady's Entrance into the World. The manuscript had been refused by James Dodsley, who would have nothing to do with a work to which no name was attached, and it had been offered to Lowndes, who agreed to publish it. The book created a very considerable stir in literary and social circles, and speculation was rife as to the authorship. Sir Joshua Reynolds expressed himself willing, even anxious, to pay fifty pounds for the name of the writer. The author was in a seventh heaven of delight, but her sense of humour saved her from losing her head.

"The year 1778 was ushered in by a grand and most important event!" she wrote, in high glee, in her Diary. "At the latter end of January the literary world was favoured with the first publication of the ingenious, learned, and most profound Fanny Burney! I doubt not

but this memorable affair will, in future times, mark the period whence chronologers will date the zenith of the polite arts in this island! This admirable authoress has named her most elaborate performance, Evelina; or, A Young Lady's Entrance into the World. Perhaps this may seem a rather bold attempt and title for a female whose knowledge of the world is confined, and whose inclinations, as well as situation, incline her to a private and domestic life. All I can urge is, that I have not presumed to trace the accidents and adventures to which a' young woman' is liable, but what it appears to a girl of seventeen and so far as that, surely any girl who is past seventeen may safely do? The motto of my excuse shall be taken from Pope's 'Temple of Fame':

'In every work, regard the writer's end;

None e'er can compass more than they intend.'

Of course the secret was soon out. In fact, the proud father gave it away, although his daughter wrote to him, 'As to Mrs. Thrale-your wish of telling her quite unmans me; I shook so when I read it that, had anybody been present, I must have betrayed myself." This simple maiden of five-and-twenty was a little given to running out of the room when a reference to Evelina was made; but all the same she very naturally enjoyed the fuss made of her, and was at pains to write down in the Diary each and every compliment paid to her.

And the compliments were many. No less a person than Dr. Johnson signified his approval, and that in no uncertain terms-he protested there were passages in the novel which might do honour to Richardson. Miss Burney was summoned to Streatham by Mrs. Thrale to meet Johnson at dinner. The great man was at his kindliest, and soon put the young authoress at her ease.