The Weather makes no alteration in their pursuits, – a sportsman defies Wind, Rain, and all inclemencies of either heat or Cold. As to Mr Rishton, he seems bent on being proof against every thing; he seeks all kinds of manly Exercise and grows sun Burnt, strong and hardy.

18. From Journal 24 November 1773

[Queen Square]

Since I wrote last, I have myself been ill with a sore Throat, which I believe was the effect of overrating my strength. Dr Fothergill1 has been my very good friend, and that whether I would or not; he immediately perceived when I was taken ill, and, after seeing Mama, said to me ‘I am afraid Thee art not well thyself?’ On Examining my Throat, he advised me to be very careful for that it was Catching, the sort which I had, which was the putrid, though in a slight degree. He told me what to take etc., and was most exceeding Attentive to me the whole Time and really, for him, has been amazingly civil and polite to me. But yesterday, after complaining of his fatigue and great business, he turned suddenly to me, and taking my Hand, cried ‘My dear, never marry a Physician! If he has but little to do, he may be distressed; if he has much – it is a very uncomfortable life for his Companion.’

He came here several Times before he saw my Father, who, when at Home, is always shut up in his study; but one Evening, when Mama was very ill, being anxious to hear the Doctor’s opinion, he came up stairs. He addressed himself, like a man of the World, to the Doctor, – who rose, and with great solemnity said ‘I suppose it is Dr Burney that I see?’ My Father Bowed, and said he was happy in being known to him – ‘I never,’ answered he, ‘had the satisfaction of seeing Dr Burney before!’ ‘No, Sir,’ said my Father, ‘I have always been so unfortunate as to be out when you have been here.’ ‘ Most commonly,’ answered the old Quaker, with a dryness that seemed not to give implicit faith to the assertion. But since this, they have had many Conversations, and are very good friends. And really, with all his stiffness and solemnity, he appears to be as humane as he is skillful.

19. From Letter to Samuel Crisp1 December 1773

The Death of poor Dr Hawkesworth2 is most sincerely lamented by us all, the more so, as we do really attribute it to the Abuse he has of late met with from the news papers: his book was dearly purchased, at the price of his Character and peace – and those envious and malignant Witlings who persecuted him, from his gaining money, are now satisfied and silent. You may perhaps doubt of this – but indeed if you had known him more, you would not. He Dined with us about a month before he died – and we all agreed that we never saw a man more Altered – thin, livid – harrassed! He conversed very freely upon the affair of his Book and abuse: my Father told him that there was hardly a man in the kingdom who had never had a Pen in his Hand, who did not think that he could have done it with more propriety – and that his Enemies were all occasioned by his success, for that if he had failed, every one would have said ‘Poor man! ’tis an ingenious, well written Book – he deserved more encouragement.’ Dr Hawkesworth said that he had not yet made any answer to the torrent poured upon him – except to Dalrymple, who had attacked him by Name3 – he told my Father, that he had earned every thing he possessed by dint of labour and industry, except the last £6000 – that he had had no Education or advantage but what he had given himself: but that he had preserved an unblemished Character and reputation till his last year. – Since when, I believe, he has had reason to detest the Fortune, which only preceded detraction and defamation. He Died of a lingering Fever – which had begun to prey upon him when we last saw him.

20. From Letter to Samuel Crisp 9 February 1774

Coquetry, I must acknowledge is almost universal – and I know fewer Girls exempt from that passion, than from any other. It seems irresistable – I was going to add something of Vanity and love of pleasure – but there is no sort of occasion to make concessions to you, who are so little inclined to over rate our merits – I will therefore only say, that though I readily allow you a general superiority over us in most other particulars, yet in constancy, Gratitude and Virtue, I regard you as unworthy all competition or comparison. The flights and failings of Women are oftener from some defect in the Head than the Heart, which is just reversed by you – so that where we are Weak, you are Wicked – Now which is least justifiable?

21. From Journal May 1774

We had a good deal of Conversation upon Lord Chesterfield’s Letters, which I have just read.1 I had the satisfaction to find that our opinions exactly coincided – that they were extremely well written, contained some excellent hints for Education – but were written with a tendency to make his son a man wholly unprincipled; inculcating immorality; countenancing all Gentlemanlike vices; advising deceit; and exhorting to Inconstancy.2

‘It pleased me much,’ said Mr Hutton, ‘in speaking to the King3 about these Letters, to hear him say – “For my part, I like more streight forward work.”’

22. From Journal July 1774

But now let me come to a matter of more importance, and at the same Time more pleasure. My Brother1 is returned; – in Health, spirits and Credit. He has made what he calls a very fine Voyage; – but it must have been very dangerous: indeed he has had several personal Dangers – and in these Voyages of hazard and Enterprise so I imagine, must every Individual of the ship.

Captain Cooke was parted from in bad weather accidentally2 – in the passage from the Society Isles to New Zealand, in the second and so fatal Visit which they made to that Barbarous Country, where they lost 10 men in the most inhuman manner.

My Brother, unfortunately for himself, was the witness and Informer of that horrid massacre.

Mr Rowe, the acting Lieutenant, a midshipman, and 8 men, were sent from the ship, in a Boat to shore, to get some vegetables. The whole ship’s Company had Lived so long upon good terms with the New Zealanders, that there was no suspicion of treachery or ill usage. They were ordered to return at 3 o’clock; but upon their failure, Capt. Furneaux sent a Launch, with Jem to Command it, in search of them. They Landed at 2 places without seeing any thing of them – they went among the people and bought Fish – and Jem says he imagined they were gone further up the Country, but never supposed how very long a way they were gone. At the 3d place – it is almost too terrible to mention – they found –3

23. From Journal Letter to Susanna Burney 28 September 1774

[Chessington]

I have almost, though very undesignedly, occasioned a grand fracas in the House, by a ridiculous conceit which I sported for the amusement of Miss Simmons and Kitty.1 We had been laughing at some of poor Mrs Moone’s queer phrases, and then I mentioned some of Kitty’s own, – her Cousin joined in laughing violently, and as I proceeded from one absurd thing to another, I took Miss Simmons herself to task upon some speeches she had made; and in conclusion, I told them that I intended to write a Treatise upon politeness for their Edification. All this was taken as it was said, in sport, and we had much diversion in consequence of my scheme, which I accompanied by a thousand flighty speaches and capricios.

After this, upon all indecorums, real or fanciful, I referred Miss Simmons and Kitty to my Book for Instruction – and it became a sort of standard among us, to which we made every thing that passed applicable, and Miss Simmons, who enjoyed hearing me run on, as she called it, introduced the subject perpetually. Indeed the chief amusement I have made myself when with the two Cousins, has been in indulging liberally in that kind of Rhodomantide2 Discourse, that it will be easy to you to recollect some Instances of.

All this did very well among ourselves; – but the Day after the Simmons left us, while we were at Dinner, Kitty blundered out ‘Good people I tell you what; – she’s going to write something about politeness, and that, and it’s to be for all of you, here at chiss [Chessington], to mind your manners.’

‘I’m sure,’ cried Mlle Courvoisyois, ‘we shall be very much obligé to the lady.’

‘I’ll subscribe to the Book with all my Heart,’ cried Mlle Rosat. ‘I beg leave to bespeak the first Copy.