Sunday, Nov. 26.-So now the royal encounters, for a while at least, are out of all question.  Nobody came last night, though Mrs. Delany I saw, and Miss Port I heard, in continual expectation; but this morning, Mr. Battiscombe, apothecary to the household, called, and said that an express arrived from Germany yesterday afternoon, with an account of the death of the queen’s youngest brother.

The queen, -whose domestic virtues rise upon me every hour, is strongly attached to all her family, and in much affliction at this news ; for though this brother was quite a boy when she left Germany, he has twice been to visit her in, England.  None of the royal family will appear till the mourning takes place ; the queen, perhaps, may shut herself up still longer.

At night, quite incog, quite alone, and quite privately, the king came, and was shut up with Mrs. Delany for an hour.  It is out of rule for any of the family to be seen till in mourning, but he knew she was anxious for an account of the queen.  I had a very narrow escape of being surprised by him, which would have vexed me, as he only meant to see Mrs. Delany

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by herself, though she says he told her he was very glad to hear I was come.

Royal curiosity about Miss Burney.

Thursday, Dec. 1.-To-day the queen sent Miss Planta to tell Mrs. Delany that if she would not yet venture to the Lodge, she would come to her in the evening.  Mrs. Delany accepted the gracious offer, and, at tea-time, she came, as well as the king, and spent two hours here.

Mrs. Delany told me afterwards, that the queen was very low-spirited, and seemed to wish for nothing but the solace of sitting perfectly quiet.  She is a sweet woman, and has all the domestic affections warm and strong in her heart.

Nevertheless they talked of me, she says, a good deal — and the king asked many questions about me.  There is a new play, he told Mrs. Delany, coming out ; “and it is said to be Miss Burney’s!” Mrs. Delany immediately answered that she knew the report must be untrue.  “But I hope she is not idle?” cried the king.  “I hope she is writing something?

What Mrs. Delany said, I know not; but he afterwards inquired what she thought of my writing a play?

“What,” said he, “do you wish about it, Mrs. Delany?”

Mrs. Delany hesitated, and the queen then said,

“I wish what I know Mrs. Delany does—­that she may not; for though her reputation is so high, her character, by all I hear, is too delicate to suit with writing for the stage.”

Sweet queen!  I could have kissed the hem of her garment for that speech, and I could not resist writing it.

Mrs. Delany then said,

" Why My opinion is what I believe to be Miss Burney’s own ; that It is too public and hazardous a style of writing for her quiet and fearful turn of mind.”

I have really the grace to be a little ashamed of scribbling this, but I know I can scribble nothing my dear father will be more curious to hear.