SundayJan 18, 2026
Quotes: 53419 Authors: 9969
... a hermitage, which is about an acre of ground an island, planted with all variety of trees, shrubs and flowers that will grow in this country, abundance of little winding walks, differently embellished with little seats and banks; in the midst is place a hermit's cell, made of the roots of trees, the floor is paved with pebbles, there is a couch made of matting, and little wooden stools, a table with a manuscript on it, a pair of spectacles, a leathern bottle; and hung up in different parts, an hourglass, a weatherglass and several mathematical instruments, a shelf of books, another of wood platters and bowls, another of earthen ones, in short everything that you might imagine necessary for a recluse.
Mrs. Delany describes her first meeting with the Queen thus: The King desired me to show the Queen one of my books of plants. She seated herself in the gallery; a table and the book laid before her. I kept my distance till she called me to ask some questions about the mosaic paper work, and as I stood before Her Majesty the King set a chair behind me. I turned with some confusion and hesitation on receiving so great an honour, when the Queen said- 'Mrs. Delany, sit down, sit down; it is not every lady that has a chair brought her by a King.' So I obeyed.
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