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