(177) Mr, Gibbon, “in stepping too lightly from, or to a boat of Mr. Cambridge’s, had slipt into the Thames; whence, however, he was intrepidly and immediately rescued, with no other mischief than a wet jacket, by one of that fearless, water-proof race, denominated, by Mr. Gibbon, the amphibious family of the Cambridges.” (” Memoir of Dr. Burney,” vol. ii.  P. 341.)-Ed.

(178) The “Essex Head” club, just founded by Dr. Johnson.  The meetings were held thrice a week at the Essex Head, a tavern in Essex-street, Strand, kept by Samuel Greaves, an old servant of Mr. Thrale’s.  Among the rule’s of the club, which were drawn up by Dr. Johnson, we find the following:  “Every member present at the club shall spend at least sixpence; and every member who stays away shall forfeit threepence.”  He ought to have added, “to be spen by the company in punch.” (See Goldsmith’s delightful essay on the London clubs.)-Ed.

(179) The Lockes, of Norbury Park, Surrey, were friends of Fanny’s sister, Mrs. Phillips, and, subsequently, among the most constant and attached friends of Fanny herself.-Ed.

(180) It must be borne in mind that the , Diary " is addressed to Fanny’s sister Susan (Mrs. Phillips),-ed.

(181) Mrs. Locke.-Ed.

(182) Mrs. Phillips had lately gone to live at Boulogne for the benefit of her health.-Ed.

(183) Mrs. Phillips returned in less than a twelvemonth from Boulogne, much recovered in health, and settled with her husband and family in a house at MickIcham, at the foot of Norbury Park.

(184) Fanny had called upon Dr. Johnson the same day, but he was too ill to see her.-Ed.

(185) Sunday, December 12.-Ed.

(186) Frank Barber, Dr. Johnson’s negro servant. -Ed.

(187) Mary Bruce Strange, daughter of Sir Robert Strange, the celebrated engraver.  She died, as Fanny tells us, on the same day with Dr. Johnson, December 13, 1784, aged thirty-five.  The Stranges were old and very intimate friends of the Burneys-ed. I

(188) Her brother-ed.

289
                                 Section 6
                                 (1785-6.)

Miss Burney is favourably noticed by the king and queen.

[The pleasantest portion of the following section of the Diary is that which relates to the growing intimacy between Fanny and Mrs. Delany.  It was a friendship, however, which proved dear to Fanny in every sense of the word.  On the one hand the mutual affection which subsisted between her and a lady in every way so worthy of her regard, was a source of continual gratification to both ; on the other hand it was the immediate cause of an event which may be, without exaggeration, described as the greatest misfortune of Fanny’s life—­her ill-starred appointment at Court.  We fully share Macaulay’s