The next day Frances enjoyed the privilege of listening to some
equally valuable criticism uttered by the queen touching Goethe ,
Page xxxi

And Klopstock, and might have learned an important lesson of
economy from the mode in which her majesty's library had been
formed. "1 picked the book up on a stall," said the queen. "Oh,
it is amazing what good books there are on stalls!" Mrs. Delany,
who seems to have understood from these words that her majesty
was in the habit of exploring the booths of Moorfields and
Holywell-street in person, could not suppress an exclamation of
surprise. "Why," said the queen, "I don't pick them up myself.
I have a servant very clever; and if they are not to be had at
the booksellers, they are not for me more than for another." Miss
Burney describes this conversation as delightful; and, indeed, we
cannot wonder that, with her literary tastes, she should be
delighted at hearing in how magnificent a manner the greatest
lady in the land encouraged literature.

The truth is, that Frances was fascinated by the condescending
kindness of the two great personages to whom she had been
presented. Her father was even more infatuated than herself.
The result was a step of which we cannot think with patience, but
recorded as it is with all its consequences in these volumes
deserves at least this praise, that it has furnished a most
impressive warning.

A German lady of the name of Haggerdorn, one of the keepers of
the queen's robes, retired about this time, and her majesty