AbstractsWomens Studies

In presenting the letters of Mrs.Montagu, Mrs. Thrale,and Fanny Burney, I have tried to allow the ladies to speak for themselves. I have giventheir comments on everyday routine, on striking events and on their O'Vll friends and acquaintances, so that they may reveal their ownpersonalities and experiences. In their comments the accent of the eighteenth century is heard plainly, and through these letters we are givenan opportunity of meeting the people of a past age. The three ladies may speak in different tones, uut it blends into,one striking picture.Mrs.Montagu is the best observer of political events. Even as a young girl she shovve.d her aptitude for writing news letters, and as a maturematron, living in London, she made an excellent reporter. Her interest in her husband's business sharpened her powers of observation to a morethan feminine acuteness. Mrs. Thrale does not show as much interest in this aspect of her 'world: she does not mention politics as often in herletters, and her references do not have such detailed information or show such command of the subject. Fanny Burney is the poorest politicalreporter of all. Politics did not often appeal to her imagination; she seldom mentions finy public events unless they affected those dear to her.Mrs Montagu' s letters show the state of public feeling in London on many of the most important questions of the day. Fenny Burney excels both ladiesin her skill at drawing characters. [...]