To Cassandra, from Rowling, "I am in great Distress.-I cannot determine whether I shall give Richis half a guinea or only five Shillings when I go away. Counsel me, amiable Miss Austen, and tell me which will be the most.-" - Jane Austen, Monday 5 September 1796
In the notes to letter #5, Richis was a servant at Rowling. She is asking how much tip she should leave him. It was customary for guests to leave a tip, even at dinner parties. I have read that some people would refuse invitations because they could not pay the servants.
The answer to her question, from what I gather, is a guinea equals one Pound and one Shilling, which equals 21 Shillings, so half a guinea would have been ten and a half Shillings, half a guinea would be more.
Jane Austen was generous with what she had. There are other situations she writes about in her letters in which this is the case also. Even in her books the heroic characters are generous; Henry Tilney, Colonel Brandon, of course Mr. Darcy, Fanny Price was very giving of herself, Emma, even though she had to grow into the right attitude about it, and Anne Elliot was giving of herself to the point of standing up to her family to visit a friend in lower circumstances.
I hope you enjoy your day today! I have much to do.
Terrie
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