final opinion;—­and it is such that I almost blush to write, even for my own private reading ; but yet is such as I can by no means suffer to pass unrecorded, as my whole journal contains nothing so grateful to me.  I will copy his own words, according to Susan’s solemn declaration of their authenticity.

“Upon my word I think it the best novel I know, except Fielding’s, and, in some respects, better than his!  I have been excessively pleased with it; there are, perhaps a few things that might have been otherwise.  Mirvan’s trick upon Lovel is, I think, carried too far,-there is something even disgusting in it:  however, this instance excepted, I protest I think it will scarce bear an improvement.  The language is as good as anybody need write—­I declare, as good as I would wish to read.  Lord Orville’s character is just what it should be — perfectly benevolent and upright; and there is a boldness in it that struck me mightily, for he is a man not ashamed of being better than the rest of mankind.  Evelina is in a new style too, so perfectly innocent and natural ; and the scene between her and her father, Sir John Belmont, is a scene for a tragedy!  I blubbered at it, and Lady Hales and Miss Coussmaker are not yet recovered from hearing it, it made them quite ill:  indeed, it is wrought up in a most extraordinary manner.”

This account delighted me more than I- can express.  How little did I dream of ever being so much honoured!  But the approbation of all the world put together, would not bear any competition, in my estimation, with that of my beloved father.

July 25.—­Mrs. Cholmondeley has been reading and praising “Evelina,” and my father Is quite delighted at her approbation, and told Susan that I could not have had a greater compliment than making two such women my friends as Mrs. Thrale(37) and Mrs. Cholmondeley. for they were severe and knowing, and afraid of praising `a tort et `a travers, as their opinions are liable to be quoted.

Mrs. Thrale said she had only to complain it was too short.  She recommended it to my mother to read!—­how droll!—­and she told her she would be much entertained with it, for there was a great deal of human life in it, and of the manners of the present times, and added that it was written “by somebody

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Who knows the top and the bottom, the highest and the lowest of mankind.”  She has even lent her set to my mother, who brought it home with her!

By the way, I have again resumed my correspondence with my friend Mr. Lowndes.  When I sent the errata I desired to have a set directed to Mr. Grafton, at the Orange Coffee-house, for I had no copy but the one he sent tne to make the errata from, which Was incomplete and unbound.  However, I heard nothing at all from him; and therefore, after some consideration, and much demure I determined to make an attempt once more; for my father told me it was a shame that I, the author, should not have even one set of my own work; I ought, he said, to have had six:  and indeed, he is often enraged that Lowndes gave no more for the Ms.—­but I was satisfied,-and that sufficed.(38)