I, however, who best knew the danger of its going any farther, now determined upon speaking to Major Price, and making him contrive to hush it up.  Utterly impossible, nevertheless, proved this scheme; Major Price was too great a favourite to be an instant disengaged.  I was obliged, therefore, to be quiet.

A terrace party.

Wednesday, Aug. 16-Was the birthday of Prince Frederick, Duke of York.  The queen sent me in the morning to my dear Mrs. Delany, whom I had but just found a moment to fly to the preceding day, and I was commanded to brin- her, if well enough, just as she was, in her home morning dress, to her majesty.  This I did with great delight ; and that most venerable of women accepted the invitation with all the alacrity of pleasure she could have felt at fifteen.  The queen, in the late excursion, had made many purchases at Woodstock :  and she now made some little presents from them to this dear lady.

In the evening, as it was again a birthday, I resolved upon going to the Terrace, as did Mrs. Delany, and with her and Miss Mawer, and Miss Port, I sallied forth.  To avoid the high steps leading to the Terrace from the Lodge, we went through a part of the Castle.

The Terrace was much crowded, though so windy we could hardly keep our feet ; but I had an agreeable surprise in meeting there with Dr. Warton.(213) He joined Mrs. Delany instantly, and kept with us during the whole walk.  He congratulated me upon my appointment, in terms of rapture; his ecstacies are excited so readily, from the excessive warmth of his disposition, and its proneness to admire and wonder, that my new situation was a subject to awaken an enthusiasm the most high-flown.

Presently after we were joined by a goodly priest, fat, jovial, breathing plenty, ease, and good living.  I soon heard him whisper Mrs. Delany to introduce him to me.  It was Dr. Roberts, provost of Eton:  I had already seen him at Mrs. Delany’s last winter, but no introduction had then passed.  He

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is a distant relation of Mr. Cambridge.  His wife was with him, and introduced also.

These also joined us; and in a few minutes more a thin, little, wizen old gentleman, with eyes that scarce seemed to see, and a rather tottering gait, came up to Mrs. Delany, and after talking with her some time, said in a half whisper, “Is that Miss Burney?” and then desired a presentation.  It was Mr. Bryant, the mythologist.(214) I was very glad to see him, as he bears a very high character, and lives much in this neighbourhood.  He talks a great deal, and with the utmost good humour and ease, casting entirely aside his learning, which I am, nevertheless, assured is that of one of the most eminent scholars of the age.

We had now a very good party, and seated ourselves in a sort of alcove, to be sheltered from the wind; but it was so ,ery violent that it deterred the royal family from walking.  They merely came on the Terrace to show themselves to those who were eager to pay their compliments upon the day, and then returned to the Castle.