Jonty Claypole

And if you think of all those scenes in Jane Austen, all those awkward proposal scenes, what we have here is in almost live streamed a transcript of what happens written down by Frances Burney herself.

It's completely invaluable.

So in May 1775,

which is incidentally a few months before Jane Austen is born, Francis Burney meets Mr. Barlow.

He is a lodger with a quote in Francis's words, a very stupid family called the O'Connors who the Burneys know.

And Frances writes in her diary, she recounts this meeting.

She says he's rather short, but handsome.

He's very well bred, good tempered and sensible.

So, you know, he sounds like a likely candidate for marriage.

But then she sort of sticks the knife in a bit.

She says he has read more than he has conversed and seems to know but little of the world.

His language, therefore, is stiff and uncommon and seems laboured, if not affected."

And his unworldliness becomes very apparent because after this one single meeting, he writes to her proposing marriage.

And she's astonished to receive this, considering how little they know one another.

And she shares the letter with members of her family and friends.

And to her kind of uneasiness,

Her friends and family are saying, well, you know, Francis, you are 23.

He seems, you know, eligible.

This might be the best bet you get.

And Charles, her father, says, look, don't be too hasty, Francis, in saying anything to him.