I actually shook from head to foot !  I felt myself already in Drury Lane, amidst the hubbub of a first night.

“Oh, no!” cried I, “there may be a noise, but it will b, just the reverse.”  And I returned his salute with a hissing.

Mr. Sheridan joined Sir Joshua Very warmly.

“O sir,” cried I, “you should not run on so, you don’t know what mischief you may do!”

Mr. S.-I wish I may-I shall be very glad to be accessory,

Sir j.-She has, certainly, something of a knack at characters; where she got it I don’t know, and how she got it, I can’l imagine; but she certainly has it.  And to throw it away is—–­

Mr. S.-Oh, she won’t, she will write a comedy, she has promised me she will!

F.B.-Oh! if you both run on in this manner, I shall—­”

I was going to say get under the chair, but Mr. Sheridan, interrupting me with a laugh, said,

“Set about one ? very well, that’s right.”

“Ay,” cried Sir Joshua, “that’s very right.  And You (to Mr. Sheridan) would take anything of hers, would you not? unsight, unseen?"(90) What a point blank question! who but Sir Joshua would have ventured it!

" Yes,” answered Mr. Sheridan, with quickness, “and make her a bow and my best thanks into the bargain.”

Now my dear Susy, tell me, did you ever hear the fellow to such a speech as this! it was all I could do to sit it.

“Mr. Sheridan,” I exclaimed, “are you not mocking me?”

“No, upon my honour! this is what I have meditated to say to you the first time I should have the pleasure of seeing you.”

To be sure, as Mrs. Thrale says, if folks are to be spoilt, there is nothing in the world so pleasant as spoiling !  But I was never so much astonished, and seldom have been so much delighted, as by this attack of Mr. Sheridan.  Afterwards he took my father aside, and formally repeated his opinion that I should write for the stage, and his desire to see my play, with encomiums the most flattering of “Evelina.”

And now, my dear Susy, if I should attempt the stage, I think I may be fairly acquitted of presumption, and however I may fall, that I was strongly pressed to try by Mrs. Thrale, and by Mr. Sheridan, the most successful and powerful of all dramatic living authors, will abundantly excuse my temerity.

127

An aristocratic Radical of the last century.

Streatham, February.-I have been here so long, my dearest Susan, Without writing a word, that now I hardly know where or how to begin, But I will try to draw up a concise account of what has passed for this last fortnight, and then endeavour to be more minute.

Mrs. Thrale and Dr. Johnson vied with each other in the kindness of their reception of me.  Mr. Thrale was, as usual at first, cold and quiet, but soon, as usual also, warmed into sociality,