Cecilia, Memoirs of an Heiress, vol 1

Cecilia Volume 1, by Frances
Burney

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Title: Cecilia Volume 1
Author: Frances Burney

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CECILIA
OR
Memoirs of an Heiress
by
FRANCES BURNEY
PREFACE
"Fanny's Cecilia came out last summer, and is as much liked and read, I
believe, as any book ever was," wrote Charlotte Burney in Jan. 1783.
"She had 250 pounds for it from Payne and Cadell. Most people say she
ought to have had a thousand. It is now going into the third edition,
though Payne owns that they printed two thousand at the first edition,
and Lowndes told me five hundred was the common number for a
novel." [Footnote: The Early Diary of Frances Burney, with a selection
from her correspondence, and from the journals of her sisters Susan

and Charlotte Burney. Edited by Annie Raine Ellis. 1889. Vol. II. p.
307.]
The manuscript of Cecilia was submitted to Dr Burney and Mr Crisp
during its composition, and their suggestions were in some cases
adopted, as we learn from the Diary. Dr Johnson was not consulted, but
a desire at once to imitate and to please him evidently controlled the
work.
Under these circumstances it is naturally less fresh and spontaneous
than Evelina, but it is more mature. The touch is surer and the plot
more elaborate. We cannot to-day fully appreciate the "conflict scene
between mother and son," for which, Miss Burney tells us, the book
was written; but the pictures of eighteenth century affectations are all
alive, and the story is thoroughly absorbing, except, perhaps, in the last
book.
Miss Burney often took the name of her characters from her
acquaintances, and it seems probable that some of the "types" in
Cecilia are also drawn from real life. The title of Miss Austen's Pride
and Prejudice was borrowed from Cecilia, and some points of
resemblance may be traced between the two novels.
The present edition is reprinted from:--
CECILIA, or, Memoirs of an Heiress. By the author of Evelina. In five
volumes. London: Printed for T. Payne and Son, at the Newsgate, and
T. Cadell in the Strand. MDCCLXXXII. R. B. J.
THE RIGHT HON. EDMUND BURKE TO MISS F. BURNEY.
(AFTER READING CECILIA.)
Madam,--I should feel exceedingly to blame if I could refuse to myself
the natural satisfaction, and to you the just but poor return, of my best
thanks for the very great instruction and entertainment I have received
from the new present you have bestowed on the public. There are
few--I believe I may say fairly there are none at all--that will not find
themselves better informed concerning human nature, and their stock of

observation enriched, by reading your "Cecilia." They certainly will, let
their experience in life and manners be what it may. The arrogance of
age must submit to be taught by youth. You have crowded into a few
small volumes an incredible variety of characters; most of them well
planned, well supported, and well contrasted with each other. If there
be any fault in this respect, it is one in which you are in no great danger
of being imitated. Justly as your characters are drawn, perhaps they are
too numerous. But I beg pardon; I fear it is quite in vain to preach
economy to those who are come young to excessive and sudden
opulence.
I might trespass on your delicacy if I should fill my letter to you with
what I fill my conversation to others. I should be troublesome to you
alone if I should tell you all