D'ARBLAY, MADAME FRANCES, (ante), 1752-1840; daughter of Charles Burney, an English professor of music. Frances taught herself to read and write. From her 15th year she lived in an exceptionally brilliant circle of literary men, musicians and actors. As her step-mother disapproved of her "scribbling," she burned all her manuscripts, among them a History of Caroline Evelyn, a story of which her first published novel Evelina was the sequel. About the same time (not much beyond her 15th year), she began her famous diary, which extended over a varied and interesting life of 72 years further. Her novel Erelina, or a Young Lady's Entrance into the world. was planned when she was about 16, written some years later, but not published until she was 26; and then by stealth. She disposed of it through her brother to Dr. Lowndes for $100, and did not herself know of its appearance until she saw an advertisement of it in the newspapers, after it had been everywhere commented upon with unqualified praise. The proud father, who had been in the secret, told it to Mrs. Thmle, and the authoress was at once admitted to the literary coterie of which Dr. Johnson was the center. The great lexicographer entertained a friendship for her which caused Boswell a jealousy as keen as it was absurd. Her Cecilia, or the Nemoirs of an heiress, was even more suc
cessful. In 1786, she obtained the position of second keeper of robes to queen Char lotte, wife of George III., and for five years her chief business was to assist the queen to dress, and look after her lap-dog and snuff-box, perhaps now and then to read to her. After five years she resigned, and in 1793, married M. D'Arblay, a French artil lery officer. The next year her only child (who became the Rev. A. D'Arblay) was born. From 1802 to 1812, she was with her husband in France, and in 1814, published The Wanderer, or Female Difficulties. Her husband died in 1818. She was not remark able for personal beauty: was small, retiring, rather prudish, delighting to be lionized, while she dreaded nothing so much as to be thought unfeminine or eccentric. Her novels are now not much read, but her Journal and Letters, full of egotism, are known everywhere. Her mania was to succeed as a dramatic writer, and Mrs. Siddons and Kemble appeared in one of her tragedies at Drury Lane in 1705, but the piece was a complete failure.