Autograph letter signed : Great Bookham, to James Burney, 1794 April 25-27.

Thanking James for his invitation, but writing that she and her husband Alexandre d'Arblay have no plans to come to London in the near future: "we are seized with no spirit of misanthropy -- on the contrary, we are in perfect charity with our own lot, & consequently with all mankind, -- for nothing so surely inspires good humour with the World, as good humour with our own fireside -- & it would be hard if we quarrelled with ours at this moment -- having got none!"; adding that when they do come to London they "may make a division of our favours, & M. d'Arblay may seek to sustain -- attain, rather -- the character of a French husband, by accepting an apartment in one House, while I betake me to another. You know the French custom -- & I would not have such a Cavalier pass, in the Metropolis, for a Goth & Barbarian, however he may content himself to be no more refined in the Country"; referring to the idea of James and his family coming to see them and explaining that they have little to offer them: "We can give you nothing but Chaste Embraces! -- very meagre fare after such a journey! You will conclude me a very fit Partner for a poor half starved Monseer French!"; discussing the death of a distant relative and the health of her two aunts Rebecca and Ann; writing that they have heard that James has come up with "some scheme about our internal defence, & we both wish much to see it -- for I forgot to mention our Philanthropy extends not to the National Convention of France -- to Robertspierre, rather, for he alone has all power there"; sending "kind love" to her sister-in-law Sarah Payne Burney and a "baiser" (kiss) to her nephew Martin; adding a note at the top of the first page on April 27th after receiving a letter from James and chiding him for making "such horrid tempting propositions, to allure to indiscretion & frolic...".