Burney was in France until 1766, learning the language which was thought likely to improve her prospects of employment as a governess.

He was an organist who became known for his writing after he published books on the music of France, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany.

She and her sister Fanny were very close: the singer Gaspare Pacchierotti said they had "one mind",[1] although it was Susanna who loved his "divine" castrato singing[3] and as usual recorded these thoughts in her journal letters.

Susan's letters have proved to be a valuable source about society and music, and also history – including her eye-witness account of the Gordon Riots.

The three of them lived at Chessington Hall with a dramatist friend of their fathers, Samuel Crisp, until he died in the following year.

[5] Burney died at Parkgate near Chester, having recently sailed to England to escape mistreatment by her husband.