Nov. 8.-This was the birth-day of the Princess Augusta, now eighteen. I could not resist this opportunity of presenting her one of my fairings, though I had some little fear she might think herself past the age for receiving birth-day gifts, except from the royal family: however they had arrived so seemingly à propos, and had been so much approved by the queen, that I determined to make the attempt. I took one of the work-boxes, and wrote with a pencil, round the middle ornament, "Est-il permis?"—and then I sent for Miss Makentomb, the princess's wardrobe woman, and begged her to place the box upon her royal highness's table.
At the queen's dressing-time, as I opened the door, her majesty said, " "O, here she is!—Est-il permis?—Come, come in to Augusta!" and made me follow her into the next room, the door of which was open, where the princess was seated at a writing-desk, probably answering some congratulatory letters.
Immediately, in a manner the most pleasing, she thanked me for the little cadeau, saying, "Only one thing I must beg, that you will write the motto with a pen."
The queen seconded this motion, smilingly repeating "Est-il permis?"
And afterwards, in the evening, the Princess Augusta came to the parlour, to fetch Mrs. Delany and Mrs. Smelt, and again said, "Now, will you, Miss Burney—will you write that for me with a pen?"
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