Note 62 — Chapter V

The editor of Mrs. Delany’s ‘Correspondence,’ having a grudge against Madame d’Arblay, labours to prove that the Duchess of Portland cannot have been present at this interview. The supposed proof consists in showing from some old letters that the Duchess did not read ‘Evelina’ for nearly twelve months after the date spoken of. But this is nothing to the purpose. ‘Evelina’ does not appear to have been mentioned when its author was introduced to Miss Delany. The conversation recorded to have passed related wholly to ‘Cecilia.’