The prepossession the queen has taken in my favour is truly extraordinary, for it seems as if her real view was, as Mr. Smelt hinted, to attach me to her person.  She has been long, she told Mrs. Delany, looking out for one to supply the place of Mrs. Haggerdorn, whose ill health forces her back to Germany; “and I was led to think of Miss Burney, first by her books ; then by Seeing her — then by always hearing how she was loved by her friends; but chiefly by your friendship for her.”

I fancy my appointment will take place very soon.

Windsor, June 20.

Most dear Sir, I am sure you will be (glad to hear I have got one formality over, that was very disagreeable to my expectations.  I have been introduced to Mrs. Haggerdorn whom I am to succeed, and to Mrs, Schwellenberg, whom I am to accompany.  This passed at the queen’s Lodge, in their own apartments, this morning.  I cannot easily describe the sensation with which I entered that dwelling,—­the thoughts of its so soon becoming my habitation,—­ -and the great hazard of how all will go on in it—­and the sudden change!

Everything was perfectly civil and easy; the queen had herself prepared them to receive me, and requested me to go.  They made no use of the meeting in the way of business it was merely a visit of previous ceremony. . . .

The utmost astonishment will take place throughout the Court when they hear of my appointment.  Everybody has settled some successor to Mrs. Haggerdorn; and I have never,

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I am very sure, been suspected by a single person.  I saw, this morning, by all that passed with Mrs. S., how unexpected a step her majesty has taken.  The place, she told me, has been solicited, distantly, by thousands and thousands of women of fashion and rank. . . .

(Fanny Burney to Mrs. Francis.)(202)
St. Martin’s-street, June 27.

. . .  Her majesty has sent me a message, express, near a fortnight ago, with an offer of a place at Court, to succeed Mrs. Haggerdorn, one of the Germans who accompanied her to England, and who is now retiring into her own country.  ’Tis a place of being constantly about her own person, and assisting in her toilette,-a place of much confidence, and many comforts; apartments in the palace; a footmnan kept for me; a coach in common with Mrs. Schwellenberg; 200 pounds a-year, etc.

I have been in a state of extreme disturbance ever since, from the reluctance I feel to the separation it will cause me from all my friends.  Those, indeed, whom I most love, I shall be able to invite to me in the palace — but I see little or no possibility of being able to make what I most value, excursions into the country. . . .  I repine at losing my loved visits to Mickleham, Norbury, Chesington, Twickenham, and Ayle sham ; all these I must now forego. . . .