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