Letter #6, Post #1

Monday 13 February 2012
Letters missing between five and six
Thursday 15 - Friday 16 September 1796
From Rowling to Steventon
"My dear Cassandra
     "We have been very gay since I wrote last; dining at Nackington, returning by Moonlight, and everything quite in Stile, not to mention Mr Claringbould's Funeral which we saw go by on Sunday. I beleive I told you in a former Letter that Edward had some idea of taking the name of Claringbould; but that scheme is over, tho' it would be a very eligible as well as a very pleasant plan, would any one advance him Money enough to begin on. We rather expected Mr Milles to have done so on Tuesday; but to our great Surprise, nothing was said on the subject, and unless it is in your power to assist your Brother with five or six Hundred pounds, he must entirely give up the idea." - Jane Austen, Thursday 15-Friday 16 September 1796

Nackington was home to the Milles family. It was 2 miles south of Canterbury on the B 2068. The house was demolished in 1921, (so sad), but the domestic quarters and stabling survived. I Googled Nackington 2 miles south on the B 2068 just to see what came up and Merton Farm came up. They have the Kent Beer Festival there every year. How Fun!

Here is a link:

http://www.kentbeerfestival.com/index.php

Merton, Meryton, maybe it is not that far from Longbourn. I wonder if the Bennet's are home. Perhaps we could pay them a visit.

Anyway, back to business,

                                            This is an engraving of Nackington done in 1795 by Ravenhill.

Richard Milles (1736 to 1820) lived at Nackington. He was MP for Canterbury 1761 to 1780. He was married to Mary-Elizabeth Tanner Milles. They had one daughter, Mary, who first married 2nd Baron Sondes and secondly Sir Henry Montresor.

In 1870 Nackington House was listed as the seat of Capt. T. Hilton and the manor belonged to Lord Sondes.

What a romantic Jane Austen was, "returning by moonlight".

The conversations around the dinner table at the Austen's house must have been humorous. You can hear reminisces of a previous conversation in her satirical description of Edward being willing to take the name of Claringbould to get his farm, making it seem as though Edward would take anyone's name to acquire land or money.

In both letters number five and six she seems happy.
I must go for now. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day,
Terrie