Fanny Burney and Her Friends: Select Passages from Her Diary and Other WritingsBurney, Fanny
General
Fanny Burney and Her Friends: Select Passages from Her Diary and Other Writings
Burney, Fanny
Burney, Fanny, 1752-1840 -- Friends and associates
“The Great Chamberlain’s Box is the only part of the hall that has any
communication with either the Committee Box or the House of Commons,
and it is also the very nearest to the prisoner. Mr. Windham I had
seen twice before—both times at Miss Monckton’s; and anywhere else I
should have been much gratified by his desire of a third meeting, as
he is one of the most agreeable, spirited, well-bred, and brilliant
conversers I have ever spoken with. He is a neighbour, too, now, of
Charlotte’s. He is member for Norwich, and a man of family and
fortune, with a very pleasing, though not handsome face, a very
elegant figure, and an air of fashion and vivacity....
“I was sorry to see him make one of a set that appeared so inveterate
against a man I believe so injuriously treated; and my concern was
founded upon the good thoughts I had conceived of him, not merely from
his social talents, which are yet very uncommon, but from a reason
dearer to my remembrance. He loved Dr. Johnson—and Dr. Johnson
returned his affection. Their political principles and connexions were
opposite, but Mr. Windham respected his venerable friend too highly to
discuss any points that could offend him; and showed for him so true a
regard, that, during all his late illnesses, for the latter part of
his life, his carriage and himself were alike at his service, to air,
visit, or go out, whenever he was disposed to accept them.
“Nor was this all; one tender proof he gave of warm and generous
regard, that I can never forget, and that rose instantly to my mind
when I heard his name, and gave him a welcome in my eyes when they met
his face. It is this: Dr. Johnson, in his last visit to Lichfield, was
taken ill, and waited to recover strength for travelling back to town
in his usual vehicle, a stage-coach. As soon as this reached the ears
of Mr. Windham, he set off for Lichfield in his own carriage, to offer
to bring him back to town in it, and at his own time....
“Charles soon told me he was at my elbow....
“After the first compliments he looked around him, and exclaimed,
‘What an assembly is this! How striking a _spectacle_! I had not seen
half its splendour down there. You have it here to great advantage;
you lose some of the Lords, but you gain all the Ladies. You have a
very good place here.’
“‘Yes; and I may safely say I make a very impartial use of it: for
since here I have sat, I have never discovered to which side I have
been listening!’
“He laughed, but told me they were then running through the charges.
“‘And is it essential,’ cried I, ‘that they should so run them through
that nobody can understand them? Is that a form of law?’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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