Thrale died on the 4th April, 1781, and Mrs. Thrale left Streatham on the 7th October, 1782.  The intervening eighteen months have been made the subject of an almost unprecedented amount of misrepresentation.  Hawkins, Boswell, Madame D’Arblay, and Lord Macaulay have vied with each other in founding uncharitable imputations on her conduct at this period of her widowhood; and it has consequently become necessary to recapitulate the authentic evidence relating to it.  As Piozzi’s name will occur occasionally, he must now be brought upon the scene.

He is first mentioned in “Thraliana” thus: 

“Brighton, July, 1780.—­I have picked up Piozzi here, the great Italian singer.  He is amazingly like my father.  He shall teach Hester.”

A detailed account of the commencement of the acquaintance is given in one of the autobiographical fragments.  She says he was recommended to her by letter by Madame D’Arblay as “a man likely to lighten the burthen of life to her,” and that both she and Mr. Thrale took to him at once.  Madame D’Arblay is silent as to the introduction or recommendation; but gives an amusing account of one of their first meetings: 

“A few months after the Streathamite morning visit to St. Martin’s Street, an evening party was arranged by Dr. Burney, for bringing thither again Dr. Johnson and Mrs. Thrale, at the desire of Mr. and Mrs. Greville and Mrs. Crewe; who wished, under the quiet roof of Dr. Burney, to make acquaintance with these celebrated personages.”  The conversation flagged, and recourse was had to music—­

“Piozzi, a first-rate singer, whose voice was deliciously sweet, and whose expression was perfect, sung in his very best manner, from his desire to do honour to il Capo di Casa; but il Capo di Casa and his family alone did justice to his strains:  neither the Grevilles nor the Thrales heeded music beyond what belonged to it as fashion:  the expectations of the Grevilles were all occupied by Dr. Johnson; and those of the Thrales by the authoress of the Ode to Indifference.  When Piozzi, therefore, arose, the party remained as little advanced in any method or pleasure for carrying on the evening, as upon its first entrance into the room....

“Dr. Burney now began to feel considerably embarrassed; though still he cherished hopes of ultimate relief from some auspicious circumstance that, sooner or later, would operate, he hoped, in his favour, through the magnetism of congenial talents.

“Vainly, however, he sought to elicit some observations that might lead to disserting discourse; all his attempts received only quiet, acquiescent replies, ‘signifying nothing.’  Every one was awaiting some spontaneous opening from Dr. Johnson.