I was obliged to allow of his running on with these gentle appellations for I know not how long, ere he could sufficiently compose himself after his great surprise, to ask or hear any particulars — and then, he broke out every three instants with 75

exclamations of astonishment at how I had found time to write so much unsuspected, and how and where I had picked up such various materials; and not a few times did he, with me, as he had with my father, exclaim, “wonderful!”

He has, since, made me read him all my letters upon this subject.  He said Lowndes would have made an estate had he given me one thousand pounds for it, and that he ought not to have given me less.  “You have nothing to do now,” continued he, “but to take your pen in hand, for your fame and reputation are made, and any bookseller will snap at what you write.” ’

i then told him that I could not but really and unaffectedly regret that the affair was spread to Mrs. Williams and her friends.

“Pho,” said he, “if those who are proper judges think it right, that it should be known, why should you trouble yourself about it?  You have not spread it, there can be no imputation of vanity fall to your share, and it cannot come out more to your honour than through such a channel as Mrs. Thrale.”

A first visit to Mrs. Thrale and ANINTRODUCTION To Dr. Johnson.

(an introduction to Mrs. Thrale was practically an introduction into the most brilliant literary circle of the day.  Literary lions of all sizes, from the monarch Johnson downwards, were wont to resort to Streatham, to eat Thrale’s dinners, and to enjoy the conversation of his lively wife.  At Streatham Dr. Burney had been a welcome guest since 1776, when he commenced his intimacy with the family by giving music lessons to the eldest daughter, Hester Thrale (Johnson’s “Queenie").  The head of the house, Henry Thrale, the wealthy brewer and member of Parliament for Southwark, was a sensible, unassuming man, whom Johnson loved and esteemed, and who returned Johnson’s attachment with the sincerest regard.  His acquirements, in Johnson’s opinion were of a far more solid character than those Of his wife, whose wit and vivacity, however, gave her more distinction in those brilliant assemblies to which Fanny is now, for the first time, to be introduced.  Mrs. Thrale was in her thirty-eighth year at the date of Fanny’s first visit.-Ed.] -411PSt-I have now to write

August.—­I have now to write an account of the most consequential day I have spent since my birth:  namely, my visit.

76

Our journey to Streatham, was the least pleasant part of the day.. for the roads were dreadfully dusty, and I was really in the fidgets from thinking what my reception might be, and from fearing they would expect a less awkward and backward kind of person than I was sure they would find.