Letter 13, Post 13

Saturday 29 December 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "My father has applied to Mr May for an alehouse for Robert, at his request, and to Mr Deane, of Winchester, likewise. This was my mother's idea, who thought he would be proud to oblige a relation of Edward in return for Edward's accepting his money. He sent a very civil answer indeed, but has no house vacant at present. May expects to have an empty one soon at Farnham, so perhaps Nanny may have the honour of drawing ale for the Bishop." - Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

The following, from Wikipedia, was an Act in place during Jane Austen's time concerning Ale-houses:

"The Ale Houses Act 1551 (5 & 6 Edw. 6 c. 25), or An Act for Keepers of Ale-houses to be bound by Recognizance’s, sometimes the Licensing Act 1551, was an Act of the Parliament of England passed in 1552. It was passed to control the "abuses and disorders as are had and used in common ale-houses", and laid the foundation of modern licensing law. It provided that the Justices of the Peace were given power within their jurisdiction to stop the common selling of ale and beer in common ale-houses and tippling-houses, where they felt it to be appropriate and convenient. No-one was to be permitted to keep an ale-house without being so licensed by the Justices at Quarter Sessions, and the Justices were to take bond and surety of the keepers of common ale-houses and tippling-houses. This surety was to prevent the playing of unlawful games as well as for the maintenance of public order. Common selling of ale in booths at a fair by any person was permitted, however, "for the relief of the King's subjects that shall repair to the same", notwithstanding the rest of the Act.

It was repealed by section 35 of the Alehouse Act 1828 (9 Geo.4 c.61).

Tanner, J. R. Tudor Constitutional Documents, AD 1485-1603. Cambridge University Press, 1951. p. 500."

The notes in the back of Jane Austen's Letters offer that Mr. May and Mr. Deane were "Probably Thomas May, brewer, of Basingstoke, and Thomas Deane, brewer and brandy-merchant, of Winchester."

This would seem proof that Reverend George Austen was a respected man even in the surrounding villages of Steventon, that Mr. May and Mr. Deane would reply favorably to a request from him.

Nanny Hilliard was a maidservant at Steventon rectory. Her real name was Anne Knight Hilliard. She married John Hilliard in 1795. John might have been nicknamed "Robert" to "distinguish him from their other servant John Littleworth." Perhaps they were related to Edward through the Knights on Anne's side.

Anyway, the fact that Nanny might "have the honour of drawing ale for the Bishop" was a joke, as Farnham Castle was the an official residence of the Bishops of Winchester.

Here is some information about Farnham Castle, nine hundred years old!

http://www.farnhamcastle.com/history

                                                 Farnham Castle, amazing!

This is a picture of May's Brewery House in Basingstoke from the Hampshire Library and Information Service Hampshire County Council. This building was on Brook Street and demolished in 1966. What a great building. It was the family house of Mr. Thomas May to whom Reverend Austen had sent his request.

Here is the link to some information about it.

http://www.hantsphere.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=hants&f=generic_objectrecord.htm&_IXFIRST_=1&_IXMAXHITS_=1&%3Dcms_con_core_identifier=hs-hl-hs5575-i-00-000.jpg&t=hs-hl-lostbasingstoke&s=08RDvtk7TQR

I hope you enjoy your day today!

Terrie

Letter 13, Post 12

Friday 21 December 2012
To Casssandra, from Steventon, "Lizzie Bond is just apprenticed to Miss Small, so we may hope to see her able to spoil gowns in a few years." - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

Lizzie Bond was John Bond's youngest daughter. John Bond was Reverend George Austen's farm bailiff at Steventon. Elizabeth, "Lizzy" was born in 1782, so she would have been fifteen or sixteen when this letter was written.

Miss Small was a dressmaker, probably in Overton.

It does not seem as though Lizzy Bond made dressmaking a career as she married Joseph Beale of Overton, at Steventon, in 1809.

It would be such a shame to spoil gowns such as these! I love the look of the Regency, so feminine!

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Happy 237th Birthday Jane Austen!

Sunday 16 December 2012

TODAY IS JANE AUSTEN'S 237TH BIRTHDAY!


This is an excerpt from a letter Jane Austen’s father, Revd. George Austen, wrote to his sister-in-law, Mrs. Walter, the morning after Jane was born:

‘…last night the time came, and without a great deal of warning, everything was soon happily over. We have now another girl, a present plaything for her sister Cassy and a future companion. She is to be Jenny, and seems to me as if she would be as like Henry, as Cassy is to Neddy. Your sister thank God is pure well after it, and sends her love to you and my brother…’

Jane wrote to Cassandra Tuesday 18 December 1798, “…I am very much obliged to my dear little George for his messages, for his Love at least; - his Duty I suppose was only in consequence of some hint of my favourable intentions towards him from his father or Mother. – I am sincerely rejoiced however that I ever was born, since it has been the means of procuring him a dish of Tea. – Give my best Love to him.”

Little George was her nephew, Edward’s son. He was born in 1795, so he would have been around three years old.

Happy Birthday Jane!

Let's all have a cup of tea today in honor of Jane Austen's birthday!
I hope you enjoy it!
Terrie

Letter 13, Post 11

Monday 10 December 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "John Bond begins to find himself grow old, which John Bonds ought not to do, and unequal to much hard work; a man is therefore hired to supply his place as to labour, and John himself is to have the care of the sheep. There are not more people engaged than before, I believe; only men instead of boys. I fancy so at least, but you know my stupidity as to such matters." - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

You can hear the affection Jane Austen has for John Bond here, can't you? John Bond was the farm bailiff at Steventon. He was born around 1738 at Laverstoke, so he would have been around sixty-five years old at this time. He married Anne Naishon or Nation of Deane in 1772. They had four children: Hannah, born in 1772, George, born in 1776, John, born in 1780 and Elizabeth, born in 1782. John and Anne both passed away in 1825.

                                          Steventon Parsonage.

The link below is to a flicker photo stream that has some amazing pictures of Steventon taken by Jeff Dodgson Photography. They are worth checking out.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffdodgson/3570969628/in/photostream/

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

"P. & P. is sold."

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Sunday 29 November 1812 was a pretty big day in the world of Jane Austen. I am posting this today because of time zones. In some places it will already be the 29th.

On Sunday 29 November 1812, two hundred years ago, Jane Austen wrote a letter, number 77, to her friend, Martha Lloyd. The letter starts out thanking Martha for her letter, praising Martha for her good works, going on to discuss Martha's good health, the purchase of a cloak, imparts praises towards Martha from Sally (the maidservant at Chawton Cottage). Then on to page two... a little information about Edward and his choice of bedchamer, the pleasant visit they had with Edward and Lizzy, the favourable weather, the finalization of Edward's name being changed to Knight and the need to learn to make a better K, and the mention that their next visitor was likely to be William, Edward's fourth son. On to page three... The list for a dinner party they were to have on Tuesday evening, what seems to be an answer to a question about a poem Jane Austen sent to Martha about Miss Urania Wallop's engagement to Reverend Henry Wake...

And then, inserted amongst all this, "P. & P. is sold. - Egerton gives L110 for it. - I would rather have had L150, but we could not both be pleased, & I am not at all surprised that he should not chuse to hazard so much. - Its' being sold will I hope be a great saving of Trouble to Henry, & therefore must be welcome to me. - The money is to be paid at the end of the twelvemonth. -"

Then she goes on to suggest the gift of a shawl to Miss Benn, and etc.

This is a great example of Jane Austen's wit, is it not? The most exciting news, and the news she knew would thrill Martha Lloyd the most, inserted nonchalantly on page three! like it was not foremost on her mind, just another everyday occurrence.

Martha Lloyd loved the story, even back when it was First Impressions. Of Martha Lloyd, Jane Austen jokingly wrote to Cassandra in letter number 21, dated Tuesday 11 June 1799, "I would not let Martha read First Impressions again upon any account, & am very glad that I did not leave it in your power.-She is very cunning, but I see through her design;-she means to publish it from Memory, & one more perusal must enable her to do it."

Pride and Prejudice first appeared for sale on Thursday 28 January 1813. We should all plan to do something Pride and Prejudicey on that day... have a ball, watch Pride and Prejudice all day like we do A Christmas Story and It's A Wonderful Life, dress in Regency costume, take the day and read Pride and Prejudice (just one more time, maybe in your Regency costume, aloud to your Mr. Darcy or Miss Elizabeth), or... what else can you think of? Please leave a comment.

I remember the first time I read through Jane Austen's Letters, when I came upon this sentence it surprised me, and I admit it brought a tear to my eye. Here we are two hundred years later and still enchanted by Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth...

Well done Jane... well done indeed!

I hope you enjoy your day today!
Terrie

Letter 13, Post 10

Sunday 25 November 2012

To Cassandra, from Steventon, "Mr. Lyford gratified us very much yesterday by his praises of my father's mutton, which they all think the finest that was ever ate." - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

What kind of meat is mutton anyway? Jane Austen has mentioned mutton a few times just so far in her letters... Okay, Wikipedia tells me that mutton is the meat of adult sheep. I am not an adventurous cook, so if it is not poultry, beef, pork, or fish I am not familiar with it.

It seems this sentence was started earlier in this same letter, Letter 13, Post 3,
http://allthings-jane-austen.blogspot.com/2012/10/letter-13-post-3.html
in which Jane Austen wrote, "Mr Lyford was here yesterday; he came while we were at dinner, and partook of our elegant entertainment. I was not ashamed at asking him to sit down to table, for we had some pease-soup, a sparerib, and a pudding." It must have been a mutton sparerib. Some information about Mr. Lyford, the surgeon from Basingstoke attending Mrs. Austen, is on this post also.

                                            Enjoy your day today!
                                                      Terrie

Letter 13, Post 9

Saturday 17 November 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "There is no reason to suppose that Miss Morgan is dead after all." - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

This is very good news for Miss Morgan, is it not? But, I cannot find anything out about her, fiction or non-fiction. So, we will just let her be.

Instead, let's take a walk down memory lane...

This video was made by Cornish Blue Pixie on youtube. It is one of my favorites.
I hope you enjoy it,
Terrie

Letter 13, Post 8

Friday 16 November 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "I find great comfort in my stuff gown, but I hope you do not wear yours too often. I have made myself two or three caps to wear of evenings since I came home, and they save me a world of torment as to hair-dressing, which at present gives me no trouble beyond washing and brushing, for my long hair is always plaited up out of sight, and my short hair curls well enough to want no papering. I have had it cut lately by Mr. Butler." - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

From what I understand "stuff" would be referring to the type of fabric used to make the gown, either cotton or wool. It can also be used to refer to the gowns barristers wear or wore in England.

So, I am imagining Jane Austen sitting at her writing table in the dressing-room, in her, probably wool (being that this letter was written in December) night gown, in a night cap, drinking a glass of wine, peering over the top of her spectacles, writing to Cassandra by the light of the crackling fire, all snuggly warm and comfortable, maybe fuzzy slippers?... maybe not.

By not wanting Cassandra to be wearing her stuff gown too often she was probably hoping Cassandra's life to be a bit more exciting at Godmersham than hers at Steventon at the time.

                                 The sketch of Jane Austen, her sister, Cassandra made ca. 1810.

                                 The enhanced version of the same sketch!

It looks like her hair in 1810 was much the same as she described it in this letter twelve years earlier, as would be considered the style of the day.

Mr. Butler was Mr. Richard Butler, hairdresser from Basingstoke.

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

We have received an invitation to the Darcy/Bingley wedding!

We have been invited to the wedding of the centuries! Two centuries to be exact! Pride and Prejudice was first released on January 28, 1813 and we still delight in the romance and sweetness of the story.

Let's join the fun, shall we!

Hmm, what shall I wear? If I sit on the groom's side I should dress quite formal... Perhaps I would feel more comfortable on the bride's side... I feel I know them all so well...

I hope I see you there!

Love,

Terrie

Letter 13, Post 7

Sunday 11 November 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "Who is Miss Maria Montresor going to marry, and what is to become of Miss Mulcaster?" - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

This reads like the opening scene for a soap opera, does it not?

Miss Maria-Lucy Montresor of Nash Court, Kent was the sister to General Sir Henry-Tucker Montresor. She married Lt.-gen. Sir F. W. Mulcaster in September of 1801. Miss Mulcaster was his sister. So, Miss Mulcaster became Miss Maria Montresor's sister-in-law.

                                         Nash Court, Kent
I love that these beautiful, massive estates are still around. It seems as though England does a very good job of taking care of it's national treasures.

The house Tom Lefroy built in 1837, Carrigglas Manor, county Longford, Ireland, before, from this website:
http://chooseireland.com/county/longford/carrigglas-manor-house/

It is a very sad story, what has happened to Tom Lefroy's estate in Ireland. In August 2007 the Becoming Jane Fansite posted that Tom Lefroy's estate, Carrigglas, was to be sold and turned into a four star hotel. You can read about it here.
http://becomingjane.blogspot.com/2007/08/oh-no-carrigglas-is-turned-into-hotel.html

This is bad enough, but, it got worse. At the end of September this year they posted an update. If you have time take a few minutes and watch this video showing what has happened to Carrigglas.
http://becomingjane.blogspot.nl/2012/09/the-sad-fate-of-carrigglas-manor.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYDKZ33pWX8

                                         Carrigglas Manor, currently.

This is a link to another video on youtube about Carrigglas, but this one has some great views of Carrigglas as it was before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZqIJdSW1ko&feature=related

I told my husband that if we had a lot of money I would buy Carrigglas and turn it back into a bed and breakfast. He was not big on it. I have also been known to say that I would buy the swamp land Steventon sat on and rebuild it as close to the original as could be known. I suppose that is why we do not have a lot of money;)

I hope you had a good day today!
Terrie

Letter 13, Post 6

Monday 29 October 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "No news from Kintbury yet. Eliza sports with our impatience. She was very well last Thursday." - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

Miss Austen was referring to Eliza Lloyd Fowle. She married her cousin Reverend Fulwar-Craven Fowle on the 15th of September 1788. He became vicar of Kintbury, Berks. in 1798. Reverend Fulwar-Craven and Eliza had eight children, but Jane must have been concerned with Eliza's laying in with Elizabeth-Caroline, their fifth child, at this time, as she was born in 1798.

The Reverend Fulwar-Craven Fowle was Tom Fowle's, Cassandra's fiance, older brother. They had both been students of Mr. Austen's.

                                         St. Mary's in Kintbury.

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter 13, Post 5

Wednesday 17 October 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "We live entirely in the dressing-room now, which I like very much; I always feel so much more elegant in it than in the parlour." - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

This picture is of the library/dressing room in a Georgian townhouse. What a great room. There are more pictures of this townhouse at the link below.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/9440568/Inside-a-Georgian-London-townhouse.html?frame=2294068

This is a fun interior decorating page, all about decorating in the Georgian style.
http://www.interior-design-it-yourself.com/georgian-interior-design.html

This was Jane and Cassandra's bedroom at Chawton. The wash basin and potty are in the closet to the left of the fireplace. The link below has some great information about Georgian dressing customs. It seems the Georgians entertained while dressing, but it sounds more like the family were all using the dressing room. She wrote, "We live entirely in the dressing room now." So maybe it was just that the dressing room was a nicer room than the parlor like the dressing room in the first picture. I could see the Austen's using their dressing room like a library.
http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/an-18th-century-ladys-toilette-hours-of-leisurely-dressing-and-private-affairs/

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter #13, Post #4

Saturday 6 October 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "I was at Deane yesterday morning. Mary was very well, but does not gain bodily strength very fast. When I saw her so stout on the third and sixth days, I expected to have seen her as well as ever by the end of a fortnight. James went to Ibthorp yesterday to see his mother and child. Letty is with Mary at present, of course exceedingly happy, and in raptures with the child. Mary does not manage matters in such a way as to make me want to lay in myself. She is not tidy enough in her appearance; she has no dressing-gown to sit up in; her curtains at all too thin, and things are not in that comfort and style about her which are necessary to make such a situation an enviable one. Elizabeth was really a pretty object with her nice clean cap put on so tidily and her dress so uniformly white and orderly." - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

This is a sad situation here, is it not? I cannot help but feel badly for both James and Mary.

                                    Anne Mathew Austen.
This picture is from Ancestry.com and listed from JA's Family by Maggie Lane.
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gl=ROOT_CATEGORY&rank=1&new=1&so=3&MSAV=1&msT=1&gss=ms_r_f-2_s&gsfn=Anne&gsln=Mathew&msbdy=1756&msbpn__ftp=&msddy=1795&msdpn__ftp=&cpxt=0&catBucket=rstp&uidh=000&cp=0

James' first wife, Anne Mathew had died 3 May 1795. They were married on 27 March 1792, so they had only been married a little over three years. They had a daughter, Jane-Anna-Elizabeth, who was born 15 April 1793. On 26 October 1792, Eliza de Feuillide, James Austen's cousin, and Henry Austen's future wife, wrote of her to Philadelphia Walter, "I suppose you know that both Mrs. James & Mrs. Edward Austen are in the encreasing way, The latter I have only had a peep at, and the former I have not seen a great deal more of, as She is so much incommoded by her present Situation as to be confined to her Bed for whole Days; I think them both pleasant as far as I can judge."

                                             Mary Lloyd Austen

James married Mary Lloyd on 17 January 1797, so a year and eight months after Anne passed away. I think, possibly, James was looking more for a mother for Anna and maybe a companion. I do not think he married for love this time. James had asked his cousin, Eliza de Feuillide, to marry him before he asked Mary. The Lloyd family, Martha, Mary and their mother, were family friends of the Austens, so James was probably familiar and friendly with them.

This is what Eliza had to say about it on 30 December 1796, "Has Cassandra informed You of the Wedding which is soon to take place in the family? James has chosen a second Wife in the person of Miss Mary Floyd who is not either rich or handsome, but very sensible & good humoured - you have perhaps heard of the family for they occupied my Uncle's house at Dean six or seven years since, and the eldest Sister is married to Mr. Fulwar Fowle who is Brother to Cassandra's intended; Jane seems much pleased with the match, and it is natural she should having long known & liked the Lady."

But, it seems, maybe, Mary had stepped into a situation she was not prepared for, a young step-daughter and a husband who, although amiable, was not in love with her and, as such, left her feeling vulnerable, insecure, and still alone. If you read between the lines, Mary seems to be trying to exert control and possibly shows a great deal of jealousy. In letter number ten written to Cassandra on Saturday 27-Sunday 28 October 1798, Jane writes, "James seems to have taken to his old Trick of coming to Steventon inspite of Mary's reproaches, for he was here before Breakfast, & is now paying us a second visit." For Jane to know of Mary's reproaches, James would have had to mention them and he, most likely, would not have if he were not bothered by them. Mary did not want him to visit his family, but it did not stop him doing so.

Further, years later, on Tuesday 30 April 1811, Jane was visiting Henry and Eliza in London, and in letter number seventy-two, she wrote to Cassandra, "Eliza has not yet quite resolved on inviting Anna- but I think she will." Eliza did end up sending Anna, James' then eighteen year old daughter, an invitation to visit she and Henry in London.

The invitation was declined and this is a remembrance from one of Anna's daughters, "The invitation was sent, but my mother was not permitted to go. The reason of the hesitation on Mrs.H. Austen's part was that she was not on terms with her sister-in-law, who would neither go to her house nor receiver her at Steventon - I believe the ci-devant Countess, who was an extremely pretty woman, was a great flirt, and during her brief widowhood flirted with all her Steventon cousins, our Grandfather inclusive, which was more than his after wife could stand or could ever forgive - and I think it is very probable that he hesitated between the fair Eliza and Miss Mary Lloyd. I can testify that to the last days of her life my Grandmother continued to dislike and speak ill of her. It must have cost Mrs. H. Austen a great effort to send the invitation, and certainly shows her to have been the more amiable woman of the two."

Perhaps Mary was still in bed two weeks later because she wanted the attention? How badly I have judged Mary here. I have no idea of the situation, I am just guessing. But, it does not sound like a very good situation for Mary, James, Anna or the baby. Oh, now I feel even worse, perhaps she was suffering with post-partum depression. They would not have even known about that back then or how to treat it.

Ibthorp was eighteen miles away and the home of Mrs. Lloyd at this time. It seems Anna had been sent to stay with Mrs. Lloyd while Mary was recovering. James was visiting his daughter.

I am starting to feel very bad about this post. I will stop now. All of this information is speculation and conjecture. No one alive today can really know these people, and people are constantly changing, responding to situations the best way they know how to. When I think about it, I do not think I would appreciate being second guessed two hundred years in the future about the decisions I make today. Hum, something to think about. Forgiveness, Grace and Mercy!

I hope you enjoy your day today!
Terrie

Letter #13, Post #3

Monday 1 October 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "Mr. Lyford was here yesterday; he came while we were at dinner, and partook of our elegant entertainment. I was not ashamed at asking him to sit down to table, for we had some pease-soup, a sparerib, and a pudding. He wants my mother to look yellow and to throw out a rash, but she will do neither." - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

Mr. John Lyford (1740-1829) was the surgeon of Basingstoke. He married Mary Windover in 1766. They had three children.

What a different time this was; the doctor made house calls and stayed for dinner; very sweet.

Mr. Lyford wanting Mrs. Austen to look yellow and throw out a rash must have had something to do with her body expelling her illness? I am not sure, I have absolutely no medical experience, but if I start to look yellow and throw out a rash my family might as well start digging a hole for me in the backyard because I doubt I am going to recover. Yikes!

Anyway, on to pease-soup. This is Martha Lloyd Austen's recipe for Pease Soup. Martha Lloyd was a close family friend to the Austen ladies. Her sister, Mary, was James Austen's second wife. In later years she actually married Frank Austen as his second wife.

                     Martha Lloyd Austen

A Pease Soup
Take two quarts of pease. Boil them to a pulp. Strain them. Put a ½ a lb of butter into a stew pan, Celery, half an onion, and stew them till tender. Then put two anchovies, powdered pepper, salt, mint and parsley, (of each a small handful) and spinach, and heat of each a small quantity. Half a spoonful of sugar. The soup be boiled as thick as you like it and the whole to be ground together, boiled up and dished. 
Martha Lloyd, Martha Lloyd's Household Book

The Jane Austen House Museum actually, recently, posted about a pudding recipe in verse from the actual Martha Lloyd Household Book which is on display this year at the museum! How cool is that!

Check out this post for a clearer translation and more information. I love it when cool things collide!

http://janeaustenshousemuseumblog.com/

If you could work or volunteer anywhere, wouldn't the Jane Austen House Museum be the place!

I don't think I have ever made Pea Soup, but I like it and I think I will give it a try; maybe Paula Deen has a recipe. But, soup is not on the menu for dinner tonight. It is at least 100 degrees outside right now, and, it is the first of October, what is up with that? They say "it never rains in California", well, they would be right about that.

I hope you enjoy your day today!

Terrie

Letter #13, Post #2

Friday 28 September 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "My mother made her entree into the dressing-room through crowds of admiring spectators yesterday afternoon, and we all drank tea together for the first time these five weeks. She has had a tolerable night, and bids fair for a continuance in the same brilliant course of action to-day." - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

Mrs. Austen had sure been sick for a long time; five weeks later and she was just able to come downstairs  and have tea. There is something to be said for modern medicine.

I am not sure what Mrs. Austen's illness was. Jane Austen wrote in letter number ten which was written Saturday 27-Sunday 28 October 1798, "-Soon after I had finished my letter from Staines, my Mother began to suffer from the exercise & fatigue of travelling so far, & she was a good deal indisposed from that particular kind of evacuation which has generally preceded her Illnesses-. She had not a very good night at Staines, & felt a heat in her throat as we travelled yesterday morning, which seemed to foretell more Bile."

It sounds as though this was something she had suffered with before, possibly her stomach?

Mrs. Cassandra Leigh Austen

Mrs. Cassandra Leigh Austen was born the 26th September 1739. She married Reverend George Austen (1 May 1731 to 21 Janaury 1805) on 26 April 1764 at Walcot, Bath. They had eight children.

1. James Austen born 13 February 1765

2. George Austen born 26 August 1766

3. Edward Austen born 7 October 1767

4. Henry-Thomas Austen born 8 June 1771

5. Cassandra-Elizabeth Austen born 9 January 1773

6. Francis-William Austen born 23 April 1774

7. Jane Austen born 16 December 1775

8. Charles-John Austen born 23 June 1779

St. Nicholas Churchyard. Photo by Iain MacFarlaine 4/23/2005. This is such a pretty church.

Mrs. Austen passed away on 17 January 1827. She is buried in Chawton at St Nicholas Churchyard. Mrs. Austen lived almost ten years after Jane Austen's death.

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter #13, Post #1

Saturday 22 September 2012
Today we start Letter number thirteen. Jane was writing to Cassandra who has been at Godmersham since at least September 1, 1798. Elizabeth had a baby, little William Austen, and Cassandra stayed at Godmersham to assist Elizabeth.

There maybe a letter missing between twelve and thirteen dated 28-29 November 1798.

To Cassandra, from Steventon, "My dear Cassandra
     I am so good as to write to you again thus speedily, to let you know that I have just heard from Frank. He was at Cadiz, alive and well, on October 19, and had then very lately received a letter from you, written as long ago as when the 'London' was at St Helen's. But his raly latest intelligence of us was in one from me of September 1, which I sent soon after we got to Godmersham. He had written a packet full for is dear-est friends in England, early in October, to go by the 'Excellent'; but the 'Excellent' was not sailed, nor likely to sail, when he despatched this to me. It comprehended letters for both of us, for Lord Spencer, Mr Daysh, and the East India Directors. Lord St Vincent had left the fleet when he wrote, and was gone to Gibraltar, it was said to superintend the fitting out of a private expedition from thence against some of the enemies' ports; Minorca or Malta were conjectured to be the objects. Frank writes in good spirits, but says that our correspondence cannot be so easily carried on in future as it has been, as the communication between Cadiz and Lisbon is less frequent than formerly. You and my mother, therefore, must not alarm yourselves at the long intervals that may divide his letters. I address this advice to you two as being the most tender-hearted of the family." - Jane Austen, Saturday 1-Sunday 2 December 1798

"Raly" - ha, ha, Georgian Valley Girls!

                                      Francis-William Austen. He looks like such a kind person.                          

Frank Austen, aka, Francis-William Austen, was the sixth Austen in the family line; born just before Jane. He was born at Steventon on 23 April 1774. He left for the Royal Naval Academy in 1786, at just twelve years old. Frank had an illustrious Naval career. At the time of this letter he was a Commander. By the end of his career in 1865 he was Admiral of the Fleet.

Frank married first Mary Gibson of Ramsgate on 24 July 1806. They had eleven children.
1. Mary-Jane born  on 27 April 1807
2. Francis-William born on 12 July 1809
3. Henry-Edgar born on  21 April 1811
4. George born on 20 October 1812
5. Cassandra-Eliza born on 8 January 1814
6. Herbert-Grey born on 8 November 1815
7. Elizabeth born on 15 April 1817
8. Catherine-Anne born on 7 July 1818
9. Edward-Thomas born on 28 January 1820
10. Frances-Sophia born on 12 December 1821
11. Cholmeley born on 8 July 1823. He died 11 January 1824.

Mary Gibson Austen died on 15 July 1823, just a few days after Cholmeley was born.

Frank remarried five years later to Martha Lloyd (Jane and Cassandra's friend and James Austen's wife, Mary's, sister) on 24 July 1828.

Here is a link to his wiki page. You know you are famous when you have a wiki page, right?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Austen

Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain.

                                   Cadiz, Spain

                                   Cadiz, Spain

Frank passed away on 10 August 1865 at the age of 91. He is buried at Wymering, Hants. He was the last surviving Austen in Jane's generation.

In the notes at the back of the book Deirdre Le Faye says it could be that Jane had written a br instead of an m, (they look much the same in her handwriting) so that she would have been saying her brother Edward and Cassandra were the most tender-hearted of the family. Either way, it was sweet that Jane was concerned they would be worried about not hearing from Frank. It seems she might have been a bit tender-hearted herself.

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter # 12, Post #11

Friday 7 September 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "Ask little Edward whether Bob Brown wears a great coat this cold weather.

Miss Austen,
Godersham Park." - Jane Austen, Sunday 25 November 1798

Little Edward was Edward and Elizabeth Austen's second child and eldest son. He was born 10 May 1794 so he would have been four years old at the time of this letter. He married (1) Mary-Dorothea Knatchbull in May of 1826. They had seven children. On 3 March 1840 he married Adela Portal. They had nine children, so little Edward had sixteen children altogether. He moved to the Chawton Great House in 1826 and died in Chawton 5 November 1879. It is pretty awesome that his descendants still own Chawton Great House; that is how it should be.

                                    Chawton Great House

The notes in the back of the Jane Austen's Letters book say that perhaps Bob Brown was a manservant at Godmersham. He sounds rather like a character in a children's book to me. I could not find any information on him, but there is an interesting mention of him being a snowman which might be very possible. Whoever he was, he was known by Jane, Cassandra and little Edward Austen.
http://listserv.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind1102d&L=austen-l&T=0&F=&S=&P=992

The customary close at the end of this letter is missing.

Today we finished letter number twelve. I hope you enjoyed it. I know I did. I hope you have a great day today!

I wish you well,
Terrie

Letter #12, Post #10

Wednesday 5 September 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "By the bye, I have written to Mrs. Birch among my other writings, and so I hope to have some account of all the people in that part of the world before long. I have written to Mrs E. Leigh too, and Mrs Heathcote has been ill-natured enough to send me a letter of enquiry; so that altogether I am tolerably tired of letter-writing, and unless I have anything new to tell you of my mother or Mary, I shall not write again for many days; perhaps a little repose may restore my regard for a pen." - Jane Austen, Sunday 25 November 1798

Mrs. Birch was a childhood friend of Mrs. Austen, Jane Austen's mother. Jane seemed to like her very much. I wonder what happened to the letters Jane wrote to Mrs. Birch? I wonder if they might still remain with the Birch family? Anyway, we covered Mrs. Birch in letter twelve, post number two. Here is the link if you would like to check it out.
http://allthings-jane-austen.blogspot.com/2012/08/letter-12-post-2.html

I believe Mrs. E. Leigh would have been Mrs. Elizabeth Leigh, Jane Austen's mother's sister, so Jane Austen's aunt. She never married but out of respect for her age Jane referred to her as Mrs. She was Cassandra's godmother.

Mrs. Heathcote was probably Elizabeth Bigg Heathcote of Manydown (Harris Bigg-Wither's sister). She had married Reverend William Heathcote 11 January 1798, so they were still newlyweds at the writing of this letter. I believe Jane was teasing when she referred to Mrs. Heathcote as being ill-natured. She would have been obliged to respond to Mrs. Heathcote's letter and she was tired of writing.

There is a sweet little book called Gift of a Letter by Alexandra Stoddard. I love this book. It discusses letter writing why's and how's with passion. It bothers me that no one writes letters any more. I used to write to two of my grandmother's sisters. They are gone now, but I have the letters and I cherish them.

People connect with each other on facebook and by email, but it is just not the same. What if Jane Austen would have had email? I am very sure we would not have the email's to read and learn about her and the time she lived in. How sad! And what about our generations, our children and their children, what will they have of us that would be as personal as a letter can be? That little trash can at the top of the email list is a scary thing - delete!

http://www.alexandrastoddard.com/book.asp?ID=17

In Gift of a Letter Alexandra Stoddard states, "Letters allow us to be personal, natural and specific. More than any other medium, letters provide an uninhibited view of everyday life-the most accurate and natural form of autobiography. Like an intimate conversation between friends, they record immediate circumstances, events, news, gossip and feelings... When I write a letter to a friend, I bring that person into my day,..." We are seeing this proven in taking the time to dissect Jane Austen's letters. We are learning about her, her daily life, and the people around her.

Perhaps we should all sit down and write a letter to someone we think about often, but have not taken the time to connect with. Hummm. Maybe they will write back, and then we could write back, and...

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter # 12, Post #9

Monday 3 September 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "We have got Boswell's 'Tour to the Hebrides', and are to have his 'Life of Johnson'; and, as some money will yet remain in Burdon's hands, it is to be laid out in the purchase of Cowper's works. This would please Mr. Clarke, could he know it." - Jane Austen, Sunday 25 November 1798

You can read Boswell's 'Tour to the Hebrides' on-line or download it here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=1461743
And, this book has it's own Wiki page. I still find it amazing that things people did back in the seventeen hundreds still effect us today. It is really a small world when you think about how we, each of us, make a mark on each other.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Journal_of_a_Tour_to_the_Hebrides

Boswell's 'Life of Johnson' can be read here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1564
And the Wiki page here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_of_Samuel_Johnson

The notes in the back of Jane Austen's Letters by Deirdre Le Faye say Burdon's hands could be either "John Burdon, bookseller, College Street, or Thomas B., bookseller and wine-merchant, Kingsgate Street, both of Winchester." It sounds a bit like Reverend Austen may have been doing some bartering doesn't it? or maybe, he sold some books back, kind of like a seventeen hundreds version of Amazon.com ;) Anyway, it seems like a good way to update your library.

Again from the notes, "William Cowper (1731-1800)-either the 6th edn. of his poems 1797, or the new edn. 1798."

The Wiki page on The Task by William Cowper is interesting. It is a poem in six books. Its six books are called The Sofa, The Timepiece, The Garden, The Winter Evening, The Winter Morning Walk and The Winter Walk at Noon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Task_(poem)

Cowper is said to have greatly influenced Jane Austen. She quoted him in Sense and Sensibility, The Sofa in Mansfield Park, The Winter Evening in Emma, and Tirocinium (another poem by Cowper) in Mansfield Park. In fact, her brother, Henry Austen, wrote in the preface to Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, “Her reading was very extensive in history and belles lettres; and her memory extremely tenacious. Her favourite moral writers were Johnson in prose, and Cowper in verse.”

Mr. Clarke was John Clarke (1752-1842) of Worting, Hants. His wife, Mrs. Clarke, was Anne Mildmay, the second daughter of Carew Mildmay. Worting is near Basingstoke and Deane, so they were neighbors. Mr. Clarke must have been a great reader also.

So, it would seem the purchases Reverend Austen made in this venture proved to be very important to Jane Austen. You just never know what a day will bring!
\
And, I hope you have enjoyed your day today!!
Terrie

Letter #12, Post #8

Monday 27 August 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "You must tell Edward that my father gives 25s. a piece to Seward for his last lot of sheep, and, in return for this news, my father wishes to receive some of Edward's pigs." - Jane Austen, Sunday 25 November 1798

Edward would be interested in this because Mr. Bridger Seward was Edward's farm bailiff at Chawton. He and his wife lived in the cottage at Chawton. After he died in 1808 Edward refurbished the Cottage for his mother, Cassandra, and Jane, and later Martha Lloyd.

                                   Chawton Cottage, Mrs. George Austen, Cassandra and Jane's House

I think Edward sometimes gets a bad rap for waiting so long after his father's death to provide a stable home for his mother and sisters, but, perhaps his hands were tied. The Seward's still lived at Chawton and Edward does not seem like the type to just kick them out. He must have been an amiable person; there was a reason the Knight's liked him well enough to adopt him when he had a perfectly good family at home;)

    

                                    Chawton House, Edward's House

Edward's House is now a library. How awesome is that!

I hope you had a great day today!
Terrie

Letter #12, Post #7

Wednesday 22 August 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "We have got 'Fitz-Albini'; my father has bought it against my private wishes, for it does not quite satisfy my feelings that we should purchase the only one of Egerton's works of which his family are ashamed. That these scruples, however, do not at all interfere with my reading it, you will easily believe. We have neither of us yet finished the first volume. My father is disappointed-I am not, for I expected nothing better. Never did any book carry more internal evidence of its author. Every sentiment is completely Egerton's. There is very little story, and what there is told in a strange, unconnected way. There are many characters introduced, apparently merely to be delineated. We have not been able to recognise any of them hitherto, except Dr and Mrs Hey and Mr Oxenden, who is not very tenderly treated." - Jane Austen, Sunday  25 November 1798

This is not a great review for this book is it. I would be curious to peruse it just because it sounds so bad, or at least check it out of the library.

There is a Revd Dr Thomas Hey in the Biographical Index at the back of the Jane Austen's Letters book. he was the Rector of Wickhambreux, vicar of Eastchurch, and Prebendary of Rochester, and the Oxenden family, who were baronets of Deane Park, Wingham, and Broome House, Kent. They must be who she is referring to here as characters in the book, "merely to delineated."

Here is a little peak into Jane Austen's personality, "my father has bought it against my private wishes, for it does not quite satisfy my feelings that we should purchase the only one of Egerton's works of which his family are ashamed. That these scruples, however, do not at all interfere with my reading it, you will easily believe." (I think I should not, but... I cannot resist.) And that Cassandra would easily believe it says a lot also. How amusing... and charming of her to admit it.

I hope you are having a good day today!
Terrie

Letter #12, Post #6

Monday 20 August 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "The Overton Scotchman has been kind enough to rid me of some of my money, in exchange for six shifts and four pair of stockings. The Irish is not so fine as I should like it; but as I gave as much money for it as I intended, I have no reason to complain. It cost me 3s. 6d. per yard. It is rather finer, however, than our last, and not so harsh a cloth." - Jane Austen, Sunday 25 November 1798

                                        This sweet shift is from history.org

This definition of a shift is from history.org:
The shift was the undermost garment worn by children and women. It served the same purpose as the man's shirt. Made from various qualities of white linen, it had either a drawstring or plain neck, as well as drawstrings or cuffs at the elbows. It could be plain or lace trimmed.

The Irish would have been the Irish linen. I wonder if you can still get Irish linen like that. It looks to be thin. I work at a fabric store, but we cater more to quilter's, so we do not carry linen. I should check the internet. I am sure if it is still being made it will be offered somewhere on-line. I know linen is available for cross stitch.

The Overton Scotsman was a door-to-door peddler who did not necessarily have to be Scotch. It seems to me he would have been to Jane Austen, like the Fed-ex man who delivers our ever-anticipated internet orders, right?

                                    The Peddler's Wares by Felix Schlesinger (1833-1910)

                                      The Pedlar's Visit by Thomas Creswick (1811-1869)

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter #12, Post #5

Monday 14 August 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "The ball on Thursday was a very small one indeed, hardly so large as an Oxford smack. There were but seven couples, and only twenty-seven people in the room." - Jane Austen, Sunday 25 November 1798

This would have been the ball at Basingstoke that she mentioned in letter number eleven.
http://allthings-jane-austen.blogspot.com/2012/06/letter-11-post-6.html

The Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary gives a definition of the word smack as: a small quantity. James and Henry both attended Oxford. Maybe this was a term she had heard from them and knew Cassandra would know what she was referring to.

The balls at Baskingstoke were held in the upper rooms of the Town Hall in the Market Place. This is a drawing of what the Town Hall would have looked like in Jane Austen's time.

I hope you enjoyed your day today.
Terrie

Letter #12, Post #4

Sunday 12 August 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "Amusing enough! Our family affairs are rather deranged at present, for Nanny has kept her bed these three or four days, with a pain in her side and fever, and we are forced to have two charwomen, which is not very comfortable. She is considerably better now, but it must still be some time, I suppose, before she is able to do anything. You and Edward will be amused, I think, when you know that Nanny Littlewart dresses my hair." - Jane Austen, Sunday 25 November 1798


Nanny, Mrs. Hilliard, the maidservant at Steventon rectory, should have felt safe in her employment, job security, as it took two charwomen (hired house cleaners) to fill her shoes.

We discussed Nanny Littlewart in letter #10, post #7. This was amusing because Nanny (Anne) Littlewart was either the cook or the dairymaid. She was also the woman who took care of the Austen babies after they were born, until they were able to walk and such.

I read somewhere that Reverend Austen made over six hundred pounds a year between the rectories, his farm, and teaching. That does not sound like very much, but they were able to have at least Mr. and Mrs. Hilliard, and, Mrs. Littlewart as their servants. It seems like these people worked for the Austen's more than that they lived with and were supported by the Austen's, such as the servants at large estates like Pemberley and Downton Abbey.

This is such a sweet painting, possibly, of a servant and a child. I actually bought a copy of it at an estate sale. It is The Pantry (The Cellar Room) by Pieter De Hooch, painted in 1658. This painting deals with illumination, the "light is pale gold by reflection and the composition is warmed with the sensation that though it may be comparatively dark in the cellar room, there is sunshine outside."

It is another extremely hot day here today, 106 degrees right now. In comparison, it is currently 62 degrees in Hampshire and 63 degrees in Kent! Of course it is ten o'clock at night there, but still...

I hope you enjoy your day today!

Terrie

Letter #12, Post #3

Friday 10 August 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "I suppose you have heard from Henry himself that his affairs are happily settled. We do not know who furnishes the qualification. Mr. Mowell would have readily given it, had not all his Oxfordshire property been engaged for a similar purpose to the Colonel. - Jane Austen, Sunday 25 November 1798

At this time Henry had been married to his cousin Eliza, previously de Feuillide, for almost a year. They were married 31 December 1797. He had joined the Oxfordshire militia in 1793 and "by now had become Captain, Paymaster, and Adjutant. The qualification was that of creditworthiness-Paymasters had to provide financial guarantees, both personally and from two other sureties, to a total of at least 2,000 pounds, as a safeguard against misappropriation of regimental funds."

Deirdre Le Faye also says Mr. Mowell may have been a misreading for Mr. Morrell. Mr. Morrell was Mr. James Morrell of 1 St Giles, oxford. His son, Deacon Morrell (1775-1854) may have been one of Reverend Austen's students.

                                           This photograph was taken in September 1995 by Brush Veteran.

In 1782 Mr. James Morrell and Mr. Mark Morrell became partners with Mr. Richard Tawney in the Morrell   Brewing Company. This company remanded in business until 1998 when it was forced to close due to a bitter family dispute.

The colonel was William Gore-Langton, (1760-1847). He was sometimes MP for Somerset between 1795 and 1847, Lt.-Colonel of the Oxfordshire Militia in 1782 and became Colonel on 4 October 1798; so, Mr. Morrell had tied up some of his finances in this man's qualifications.

Pretty cool that the Austen's knew Mr. James Morrell well enough to ask him to help with Henry's qualification.

I hope you enjoy your day today! It is too, too hot here and they say 114 degrees tomorrow, too hot to do anything but stay inside.

Terrie

Letter #12, Post #2

Monday 6 August 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "She looks much as she used to do, is netting herself a gown in worsteds, and wears what Mrs Birch would call a pot hat. A short and compendious history of Miss Debary!" - Jane Austen, Sunday 25 November 1798

Sounds a bit like Mary Poppins! but, not liked quite as well.

                                        Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins

Mrs. Birch seems to be a remarkable woman whom Jane Austen seemed to like quite well. In letter number 90, written Monday 11-Tuesday 12 October 1813, Jane is writing to Cassandra from Godmersham Park in reference to Mrs. & Miss Milles, of whom she says, "I like the mother, 1st because she reminds me of Mrs. Birch & 2dly because she is chearful & grateful for what she is at the age of 90 & upwards."

The following information is from the back of Jane Austen's Letters by Deirdre Le Faye:
Mrs. Birch was the daughter of Thomas Newell of Henley Park, Henley, Oxon. She married George Birch on 22 December 1770. They had three sons. He was barrister of Middle Temple and St Leonard's Hill near Windson. Mrs. Birch later lived at Barton Lodge, Windsor. She died 29 March 1837 at the age of ninty-nine. "Up to five days before her death she was still writing letters that were 'most remarkable instances of clearness of intellect, vivacity of mind, and warmth and vividness of feeling and affection.'"

She was a girlhood friend of Mrs. George Austen and also knew the Cooper and Powys families.

In letter number 64 Jane was writing from Castle Square to Cassandra, who was at Godmersham Park, on Tuesday 10-Wednesday 11 January 1809 and she says, "To make you amends for being at Bookham, it is in contemplation to spend a few days at Barton Lodge in our way out of Kent.- The hint of such a visit is most affectionately welcomed by Mrs. Birch, in one of her odd, pleasant Letters lately, in which she speaks of us with the usual distinguished kindness; declaring that she shall not be at all satisfied unless a very handsome present is made us immediately, from one Quarter."

It sounds to me like Jane was joking with Cassandra by saying since you got to go to Bookham you should know I may be spending a few days at Barton Lodge. Mrs. Birch does sound like a very kind person does she not? And was it not to Barton Cottage that the Dashwood ladies took refuge?

                                  Barton Lodge, Windsor

Barton Lodge has it's own webpage. The pictures are pdf's so you will have to go to their page to see a more detailed account of Barton Lodge, but it is amazing and well worth your time.
http://img.findaproperty.com/savills/bourdon-street/m18406383.pdf?v=1

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter #12, Post #1

Friday 27 July 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon: "Sunday November 25,
"My dear Sister
     "I expected to have heard from you this morning, but no letter is come. I shall not take the trouble of announcing to you any more of Mary's children, if, instead of thanking me for the intelligence, you always sit down and write to James. I am sure nobody can desire your letters so much as I do, and I don't think anybody deserves them so well. Having now relieved my heart of a great deal of malevolence, I will proceed to tell you that Mary continues quite well, and my mother tolerably so. I saw the former on Friday, and though I had seen her comparatively hearty the Tuesday before, I was really amazed at the improvement which three days had made in her. She looked well, her spirits were perfectly good, and she spoke much more vigorously than Elizabeth did when we left Godmersham. I had only a glimpse at the child, who was asleep; but Miss Debary told me that his eyes were large, dark, and handsome." - Jane Austen, Sunday 25 November 1798

It had been seven days since Jane wrote letter number 11; but there was possibly a letter written 20-22 November 1798.

The beginning of this letter brought to mind a bit of Elizabeth Bennet Darcy's wit, a pretty good chastising! given tongue in cheek.

                                          Keira Knightley as Lizzy Bennet Darcy P & P 2005

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter #11, Post #16

Saturday 21 July 2012
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "I called yesterday on Betty Londe, who enquired particularly after you, and said she seemed to miss you very much, because you used to call in upon her very often. This was an oblique reproach at me, which I am sorry to have merited, and from which I will profit. I shall send George another picture when I write next, which I suppose will be soon, on Mary's account. My mother continues well.

Yours,
J.A.

Miss Austen,
Godmersham." - Jane Austen Saturday 17-Sunday 18 November 1798

George, Mary and Mrs. Austen have been covered, so let's see who Betty Londe is.

Well, I am not too sure who Betty Londe is. She must have been a neighbor to the Austen's. It sounds as though she was close enough to call on often, possibly like Mrs. and Miss Bates?

It sounds as though Betty Londe had a pretty good wit about her. She certainly got her point across and Jane did not seem to be offended by it; in fact, she was very gracious about it.

So, today we finished letter number eleven. I hope you have enjoyed it, I have.

Terrie