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Extracted from
her own Journal, and now
first published
FRANCES SHERIDAN
The Editor of the following sheets takes this opportunity of paying thetribute due to exemplary Goodness and distinguished Genius, when foundunited in One Person, by inscribing these Memoirs to
The AUTHOR
OF
CLARISSA
AND
Sir Charles Grandison
Volume I (1)
The Editor’s Introduction (3)
Memoirs of Miss Sidney Bidulph (9)
The Journal (11)
Volume II (141)
Volume III (287)
Cecilia’s Narrative &c. being a Supplement to Mrs. Arnold’s Journal (423)
I was invited to pass a month last summer in Buckinghamshire by afriend, who paid annually a visit to his mother: a lady pretty faradvanced in years, but extremely chearful, sensible, and well-bred.
She lived altogether in the country, in a good old fashioned house,which was part of her jointure; and it was to this hospitable mansion hecarried me.
The lady received me very politely, as her son’s friend; and I havegreat reason to be obliged to him for the introduction.
My friend and I generally dedicated our evenings to the entertainment ofthis obliging Lady. She loved reading, and was a woman of an excellenttaste; but as her years rendered that employment not so easy to her asit had been, her son and myself usually spared her the task, and read toher such authors as she chose for her entertainment; nor was she soconfined to particular studies, as not to allow us to vary our subjectsas inclination led us.
It happened one evening, which was on the eve of the day appointed forour departure, that we had made choice of the tragedy of Douglas for ourentertainment, when a neighbouring lady (a sensible woman) who had dranktea with us, desired to make one of our auditors.
After the tea-table was removed, we entered on our task; my friend and Ireading alternately, to relieve each other, that we might not injure theperformance by a wearied or flat delivery.
Neither of the ladies had ever seen or read this play before; and bothgave that true testimony of nature to its merit, tears.
When we had finished the reading of it, they each in her turn bestowedhigh praises on i