Difficulties--An Equerry's Duties and Discomforts--Royal Cautions
and Confidences--The Queen tired of Her Gewgaws--A Holiday at
last--Tea Room Gambols--A dreadful Mishap--"Is it Permitted?"--
The Plump Provost and his Lady--The Equerries Violate the
Rules--Mr. Turbulent on Court Routine--An Equerry on the Court
Concert--Dr, Herschel's Large Telescope--Illness, and some
Reflections it gave rise to.
PREFACE.

"The Diary and Letters of Madame D'Arblay," edited by her niece,
Mrs. Barrett, were originally published in seven volumes, during
the years 1842-1846. The work comprised but a portion of the
diary and voluminous correspondence of its gifted writer, for the
selection of which Madame D'Arblay, herself in part, and in part
Mrs. Barrett, were responsible. From this selection the present
one has been made, which, it is believed, will be found to
include all the most valuable and interesting passages of the
original. We can at least claim for this, the first popular
edition of the Diary, that we have scrupulously fulfilled Madame
D'Arblay's injunction to her former editor, "that whatever might
be effaced or Omitted, nothing should in anywise be altered or
added to her records."

Of the Diary itself it is hardly necessary here to say anything
in praise. It has long been acknowledged a classic; it is
indubitably the most entertaining, in Some respects the most
valuable, work of its kind in the English language, Regarded as a
series of pictures of the society of the time, the Diary is
unsurpassed for vivid Colouring and truthful delineation. As
such alone it would possess a strong claim upon our attention,