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DIARY • 1779 29
coach, with four horses, and two of the servants in a
chaise, besides two men on horseback; so we were obliged
to Stop for some time at three places on the road.
Reigate, the first town, is a very old, half-ruined borough,
in a most neglected condition. A high hill, leading to it,
afforded a very fine prospect, of the Malvern Hill nature,
though inferior.
At Cuckfleld, which is in Sussex, and but fourteen miles
hence, we dined.
The view of the South Downs from Cuckfleld to this
place is very curious and singular. We got home by
about nine o'clock. Mr Thrale's house is in West Street,
which is the court end of the town here as well as in
London. 'Tis a neat, small house, and I have a snug,
comfortable room to myself. The sea is not many yards
from our windows. Our journey was delightfully
pleasant, the day being heavenly, the roads in fine order,
the prospers charming, and everybody good-humoured
and cheerful.
THURSDAY. We pass our time here most delectably.
This dear and most sweet family grow daily more kind
to me; and all of them contrive to make me of so much
consequence, that I can now no more help being easy
than, till lately, I could help being embarrassed. Mrs
Thrale has, indeed, from the first moment of our acquaintance,
been to me all my heart could wish; and now her
husband and daughter gain ground in my good grace
and favour every day.
Dr Delap arrived in the morning, and is to stay two
days. He is too silent for me to form much judgment
of his companionable talents, and his appearance is snug
and reserved. Mrs Thrale is reading his play, and likes
it much. It is to come out next season. It is droll
enough that there should be, at this time, a tragedy and
comedy * in exactly the same situation, placed so accidentally
in the same house.
1 Strongly urged by Mrs Thrale, Murphy, Sheridan, and others,
Fanny had been at work on a comedy which she called The Witlings.