Letter Fourteen, Post Twenty-three

Tuesday 7 October 2014
"To Cassandra, from Steventon, "I have been forced to let James & Miss Debary have two sheets of your Drawing paper, but they sha'nt have any more. - There are not above 3 or 4 left, besides one of a smaller & richer sort. -Perhaps you may want some more if you come thro' Town in your return, or rather buy some more, for your wanting it will not depend on your coming thro' Town I imagine." - Jane Austen, Wednesday 19 December 1798

James would be her eldest brother and Miss Ann Debary (1763-1834) was the nurse/nanny. Miss Debary was at the James Austen's to help with Mary and the baby.

Jane refers to London as Town as in the dinner scene at Rosings Park and in Pride and Prejudice, chapter 29.

I hope you enjoy your day today!
Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Twenty-Two

Monday 6 October 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "-I expect a very stupid Ball, there will be nobody worth dancing with, & nobody worth talking to but Catherine; for I beleive Mrs Lefroy will not be there; Lucy is to go with Mrs. Russell. -People get so horridly poor & economical in this part of the World, that I have no patience with them.- Kent is the only place for happiness, Everybody is rich there; -I must do similar justice however to the Windsor neighbourhood." - Jane Austen, Wednesday 19 December 1798

Catherine was probably Catherine Bigg. Jane mentioned visiting Catherine and her sisters at Manydown just a few sentences ago.

I hope you enjoy your day today!

Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Twenty-one

Sunday 5 October 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "-The letter to Gambier goes to day." - Jane Austen, Wednesday 19 December 1798

Admiral Lord James Gambier

This letter would have been written to Admiral Lord Gambier, (James Gambier 1756-1833). He was married to Louisa Mathew. She was the daughter of Daniel Mathew.

Daniel Mathew was the brother of General Edward Mathew who had a daughter-Anne. She was James Austen's first wife.

So it would seem that Mr. Austen was appealing to his eldest son's first wife's uncle's son-in-law for the advancement of his sailor sons, Frank and Charles. He was successful on Frank's account because in letter sixteen Jane writes to Cassandra, "Frank is made.-He was yesterday raised to the Rank of Commander, & appointed to the Petterel Sloop, now at Gibraltar."

Talk about networking!

I hope you enjoy your day today!
Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Twenty

3 October 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "-Martha sends me word that she is too busy to write to me now, & but for your letter, I should have supposed her deep in the study of Medicine preparatory to their removal from Ibthrop." - Jane Austen, Wednesday 19 December 1798

Martha Lloyd Austen

Martha Lloyd (1765 to 24 January 1843) was Mary Lloyd Austen's sister. Mary was James Austen's wife. Martha must have sent word to Jane through Mary.

The words "but for your letter" are written above a longer phrase which Jane had cancelled out.

Martha was a kind person always helping someone or another. She lived with Mrs. Austen, Cassandra and Jane at Chawton for quite some time and did not marry until 24 July 1828 when she married Sir Francis (Frank) Austen, Jane's older, sailor brother. She never had any children.

I have written a bit about Martha also. If you are interested here is a link to the search.

http://allthings-jane-austen.blogspot.com/search?q=martha+lloyd

I hope you have a good today!
Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Nineteen

3 October 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "-Perhaps I may stay at Manydown as long as Monday, but not longer." - Jane Austen Wednesday 19 December 1798

Manydown Park had been home to the Bigg-Wither family since 1789 and remained so until it was demolished in 1965. It was six miles from Steventon.

Manydown Park

Jane and Cassandra were friends with Elizabeth, Catherine and Alethea Bigg which might be the reason for her visit to Manydown.

Their brother Harris Bigg-Wither proposed marriage to Jane in December 1802. She accepted. Harris Bigg-Wither was to inherit at least this estate and one other, Wymering, near Cosham, Hants, that I know of. She thought about it and withdrew her acceptance the next morning. I suppose she just could not marry without love.

Wymering Manor

Wymering Manor is known as "Britain's Most Haunted House." Just think, if Jane would have married Harris her books might have taken quite a different tone. Perhaps Mr. Darcy might really have had fangs and General Tilney might really have been hiding his wife's ghost in the upstairs bedroom, you just never know.

An interesting fact is that Wymering Manor is linked with St Peter & St Paul Church and churchyard, which is where Jane's brother Vice Admiral Sir Francis Austen and his family are buried.

Jane and Cassandra remained friends with Elizabeth, Catherine and Alethea even after Jane declined Harris' offer.

A few fun facts from just one sentence.

I hope you enjoy your day today!

Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Eighteen

2 October 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "Mary went to Church [p. 4] on Sunday, & had the weather been smiling, we should have seen her here before this time." - Jane Austen, Wednesday 19 December 1798

She is referring to Mary Lloyd Austen, James' wife. She had given birth to James Edward-Austen Leigh on November 17, 1798. Jane was letting Cassandra know that Mary was doing well attending church just a month after giving birth.

Silhouette of Mary Lloyd Austen around 1825, probably done by her son James Edward Austen Leigh.

I have written a bit about Mary Lloyd Austen so I will not repeat myself.

http://allthings-jane-austen.blogspot.com/search?q=mary+lloyd+austen+

I hope you enjoy your day today!
Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Seventeen

1 October 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "-Wednesday.- I have changed my mind, & changed the trimmings of my Cap this morning; they are now such as you suggested;- I felt as if I should not prosper if I strayed from your directions, & I think it makes me look more like Lady Conyngham now than it did before, which is all that one lives for now.-I believe I shall make my new gown like my robe, but the back of the latter is all in a peice with the tail, & will 7 yards enable me to copy it in that respect?" - Jane Austen, Wednesday 19 December 1798

This entry is very great evidence of the famous quote from Mrs. Austen, "if Cassandra’s head had been going to be cut off, Jane would have hers cut off too." Cassandra did have a great influence on her.

Lady Elizabeth Conyngham (31 July 1769 – 11 October 1861), became the last mistress of George IV.

Lady Elizabeth Conyngham

It is said, "she was considered vulgar, shrewd, greedy, and a voluptuous woman by aristocratic society, on account of her common background; however, she attracted lovers and admirers, including the Tsarevitch of Russia, the future Nicholas I."

And, Princess Dorothea Lieven, whose husband was the Russian Ambassador to London, dismissed her with contempt as having "not an idea in her head...not a word to say for herself, nothing but a hand to accept pearls and diamonds, and an enormous balcony to wear them on." Do you think she might not have been referring to a balcony with a view? (Sorry, I could not resist; a Mrs. Elton moment I think.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Conyngham,_Marchioness_Conyngham

This letter was written in December 1798. Lady Conyngham had become The Rt Hon. The Countess Conyngham on 27 December 1797 so that might be why Jane Austen would have made this sarcastic reference to her.

Can you imagine walking around in 7 yards of fabric all day?

Well, I hope you enjoy your day!
Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Sixteen

Wednesday 19 March 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "James Digweed has had a very ugly cut-how could it happen?-It happened by a young horse which he had lately purchased, & which he was trying to back into its stable;-the Animal kicked him down with his forefeet, & kicked a great hole in his head;- he scrambled away as soon as he could, but was stunned for a time, & suffered a good deal of pain afterwards.-Yesterday he got up the Horse again, & for fear of something worse, was forced to throw himself off.-" - Jane Austen, Tuesday 18-Wednesday 19 December 1798

This is just a fun fact, but the Miss Lyford mentioned in the last post would eventually marry James Digweed in June 1803-even with the "great hole in his head."

James Digweed was born in 1774 so he was about twenty-four at this time. Jane may have given us a little insight into James Digweed's personality when she wrote in letter number fifteen, "We are to have Company to dinner on friday; the three Digweeds and James.-We shall be a nice silent party I suppose." I believe James would have been her brother, James. It is said he was reserved.

 The Digweeds were tenants of Steventon manor-house and estate. The estate was owned by Edward Austen Knight, Jane Austen's brother.

I suspect this is what the manor house looked like in Jane Austen's time. It has been demolished four times since then. The following link has some interesting information:

http://hantsgtrg.pbworks.com/w/page/16630138/Steventon%20Manor

Steventon Manor

I believe this is what it looks like today. It is a beautiful house.

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Fifteen

Tuesday 18 March 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "Miss Lyford is gone into Suffolk with her Brother & Miss Lodge-. Everybody is now very busy in making up an income for the two latter. Miss Lodge has only 800L of her own, & it is not supposed that her Father can give her much, therefore the good offices of the Neighbourhood will be highly acceptable.-John Lyford means to take pupils.-" - Jane Austen, Tuesday 18-Wednesday 19 December 1798

Miss Lyford was Mary Susannah Lyford (1772-1840) of Basingstoke. She was the sister to Reverend John Lyford (1769-12 June 1799) and Charles Lyford (1778-1859). Charles followed in his father's footsteps and became a surgeon.

Reverend John Lyford is the brother mentioned here and I believe the occasion for their leaving Basingstoke was his upcoming marriage to Miss Lodge. He and Miss Jane Lodge married 19 April 1799. Miss Lodge was the daughter of John Lodge of Great Blakenham near Ipswich, Suffolk. She had 800 pounds of her own, which seems like quite a bit for that day, but I am no expert. It seems like I read somewhere that Mr. Austen made just under 700 pounds a year with farming, teaching, and being the rector of two churches. I don't know, but it is very sweet for everyone to be busy making up an income for them.

For some reason this entry made me think of Cranford. We rented it from Netflix. It is a mini-series about a rural English village in the 1840's. It is just a very sweet story of a neighborhood-very similar to the feel of, how I imagine, Jane Austen's neighborhood would have been. If you have not seen it I would recommend it. Judi Dench is in it, need I say more?

The Ladies of Cranford

I hope you enjoy your day today!

Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Fourteen

Friday 7 March 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "The third Miss Irish Lefroy is going to be married to a Mr Courtenay, but whether James or Charles I do not know." - Jane Austen, Tuesday 18-Wednesday 19 December 1798

The notes in the back of the book say Capt. Thomas Courtenay married Sarah Lefroy 9 May 1799. This information must have come from Madame Lefroy or someone of the neighbors in the Lefroy family.

Sarah was actually the fourth sister.

Do you remember the scene towards the end of Becoming Jane when Jane asks Tom how many brothers and sisters he had back in Limerick? Well, here is the answer.

Tom Lefroy had quite a few brother's and sisters.
1. Lucy Lefroy (1January 1768 to May 1853)
2. Phoebe Lefroy (15 April 1770 to 5 December 1839)
3.Catherine Lefroy (18 September 1771 to 3 September 1805)
4. Sarah Lefroy (18 March 1773 to 1836)
5. Thomas Lefroy (8 January 1776 to 4 May 1869)
6. Anthony Lefroy (19 October 1777 to 7 September 1857)
7. Elizabeth Lefroy (17 April 1780 to 22 July 1867)
8. Benjamin Lefroy (born 5 May 1782)
9. Christopher Lefroy (26 June 1784 to 14 February 1805)
10. Anne Lefroy (born 26 January 1786)
11. Henry Lefroy (5 May 1789 to 29 January 1876)

I just found a book I have to get.

This one will become required reading. It came out in 2007. I do not know how I missed it. I have read that some of Mrs. Austen's letters have survived; but I often wonder if any of Cassandra's have survived except for the letter's she wrote concerning Jane's death. Her letter's would be interesting to read also.

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Thirteen

Tuesday 4 March 2014 (already!)
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "My Mother continues hearty, her appetite & nights are good, but her Bowels are still not entirely settled, & she sometimes complains of an Asthma, a Dropsy, Water in her Chest & a Liver Disorder." - Jane Austen, Tuesday 18-Wednesday 19 December 1798

Poor Mrs. Austen! She had been ill since Mr. Austen, she, and Jane left Godmersham the 24th of October. I noticed Jane capitalized all of her conditions - I wonder if that was consciously done?

Cassandra Leigh Austen - Jane Austen's mother

Jane Austen's mother was born in 1739. She was from the Leigh's of Adlestrop, Glos.

Aldestrop Park owned by the Leigh's since 1553. Some people say this house was the inspiration for Mansfield Park.

Adlestrop House where Jane Austen's second cousin, Reverend Thomas Leigh (1734-26 June 1813), was the rector.

 Mrs. Austen was the daughter of Reverend Thomas Leigh (1696-1764) and Jane Walker (1704-1768). Her father was the rector of Harpsden near Henley-on-Thames, Oxford.

St. Margaret's Church, Harpsden, Oxford

Mrs. Austen grew up in Oxford which is how she met Mr. Austen. He went to Oxford University. They married on 26 April 1764. Mrs. Austen would have been thirty years old, or close to it, when she married Mr. Austen. Interesting, since Anne Elliot would have been considered past the marrying age at twenty-seven in Persuasion. This was also the year Mrs. Austen's father died.

I will not make another list of their children. I am sure you are familiar with them by now.

Mrs. Austen passed away 17 January 1827.

I hope you enjoy your day today!

Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Twelve

Tuesday 25 February 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "We dine now at half after Three, & have done dinner I suppose before you begin-We drink tea at half after six.-I am afraid you will despise us.-My father reads Cowper to us in the evening, to which I listen when I can. How do you spend your Evenings?-I guess that Eliz:th works, that you read to her, & that Edward goes to sleep.-", Jane Austen, Tuesday 18-Wednesday 19 December 1798

This is such a sweet insight into her daily life... life in the country.

I have loved the hymn, There Is A Fountain, for so many years. It may not be one of the most popular hymns, but it brings tears to my eyes. I did a Google search and discovered that it was written by William Cowper not long before his death on 25 April 1800.

Jane Austen was a big fan of William Cowper. She quoted him in Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Emma, and Sanditon. He was her favorite poetical moralist.

William Cowper, himself, is interesting. He sometimes suffered from melancholia and depression and spent some time in an asylum. But, Romans 8:28 came into play in his life. He moved into a little house in Olney, England who's backyard connected with the parsonage backyard. And, guess who was the reverend of the parish; it was John Newton, the man who wrote Amazing Grace!

William Cowper and John Newton became very close friends. They worked together to write poetry for the services at the parish and collaborated to write a book called Olney Hymns. This book contains 349 hymns and became one of the most important contributions to musical worship in Evangelical Christianity.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28

William Cowper had bouts of doubt about his salvation and God's love for him, but one day while sitting alone at his desk after reading Zechariah 13:1-"In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity." the Holy Spirit inspired him to write these words:

There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Immanuel's veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
and there may I, though vile as he
Wash all my sins away

Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood
Shall never lose it's power
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are saved, to sin no more

For since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme
and shall be till I die

When this poor lisping,
stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave
Then in a nobler, sweeter song

I'll sing thy power to save

There is a Fountain by Selah - a beautiful song...

I hope you enjoy your day today!
Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Eleven

Monday 24 February 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "Earle Harwood & his friend Mr Bailey came to Deane yesterday, but are not to stay above a day or two.-Earle has got the ap: [p. 3] :pointment to a Prison ship at Portsmouth, which he has been for some time desirous of having; & he & his wife are to live on board for the future.-" - Jane Austen, Tuesday 18-Wednesday 19 December 1798

The Harwood family had lived at Deane House for generations. Earle Harwood (1773-1811) was the son of John Harwood VI and his wife, Anne, who lived at Deane House at this time.

What a great picture of Deane House from Rachel French!

Earle had married Sarah Scott on 2 August 1797. For some reason the Harwood family did not take to Sarah well, not really sure why. Here is a link to a post we covered on this subject before:

http://allthings-jane-austen.blogspot.com/search?q=earle+harwood

Earle served as a Lieutenant on the HMS Prothee, which was a French ship captured in 1780 and commissioned as a prison ship in 1799. It was moored at Portsmouth. Here is a little information about the HMS Prothee:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_ship_Prot%C3%A9e_(1772)

Mr. Bailey was a Lieutenant in the Royal Marines. He was perhaps a member of the Bailey family at Dummer.

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Ten

Sunday 23 February 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "Charles Powlett has been very ill, but is getting well again;-his wife is discovered to be everything that the Neighbourhood could wish her, silly & cross as well as extravagant." - Jane Austen, Tuesday 18-Wednesday 19 December 1798

We have covered Charles Powlett a few times; here is a link.
http://allthings-jane-austen.blogspot.com/search?q=charles+powlett

Charles Powlett's wife was Anne (Nancy) Temple. They married in November 1796. She was from the Temple family of St. Gluvias, Cornwall. Her father was Reverend William-Johnston Temple.

St. Gluvias Church, Cornwall

Reverend William-Johnston Temple has his own Wikipedia page and not because his son-in-law was a close neighbor to Jane Austen, but because he was a college classmate, close friend, and correspondent to James Boswell.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Johnson_Temple

The same James Boswell who wrote The Journal of a Tour of the Hebrides and the Life of Johnson.
http://www.jamesboswell.info/aboutjb

Jane Austen wrote to Cassandra about their father purchasing James Boswell's books in Letter Twelve, Post Nine. Here is a link:
http://allthings-jane-austen.blogspot.com/search?q=life+of+johnson

The letter's James Boswell wrote to Reverend Temple have been published and can be read at this link:
https://archive.org/stream/lettersofjamesbo00bosw/lettersofjamesbo00bosw_djvu.txt

How cool is that?

It is interesting how small a world we live in. It does not seem that Jane Austen cared for the Reverend's daughter Anne very much, but she just might have enjoyed a conversation with the Reverend himself, and I would guess he would have been quite entertained.

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter Fourteen, Post Nine

Sunday 9 February 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "I enjoyed the hard black Frosts of last week very much, & one day while they lasted walked to Deane by myself.-I do not know that I ever did such a thing in my life before." - Tuesday 18-Wednesday 19 December 1798

A hard black frost according to the Free Dictionary is a "frost without snow or rime that is severe enough to blacken vegetation."

Frost on trees in Hampshire from this post,
https://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/tag/18th-century-fashion/

I am not sure if this is a hard black frost or not, but it is a beautiful scene of a frost in Hampshire.

Jane Austen's comment, "I do not know that I ever did such a thing in my life before" is just such a reminder of how secluded, but sweet their lives were. Also, this seems an insight into her personality, that she took the walk. She did not stay home because she likely did not have anyone to walk with. Good for her!

I hope you enjoyed your day today!
Terrie

Letter 14, Post 8

Friday 10 January 2014
To Cassandra, from Steventon, "I took care to tell Mrs Lefroy of your calling on her Mother, & she seemed pleased with it.-" - Jane Austen, Tuesday 18-Wednesday 19 December 1798

The Lefroy's were neighbors to the Austen's. They lived at Ashe Rectory. Jane Austen liked Mrs. Lefroy and I wonder if she did not memorialize her in Persuasion in the character of Lady Russell, who always had Anne Elliot's best interest at heart, but gave her terrible advice. As one might think Mrs. Lefroy may have done when, as it is said, she separated Jane and Mr. Tom Lefroy.

Mrs. Lefroy's mother, was Mrs. Jemima Egerton Brydges of Wootton Court, Kent. She was the widow of Edward Brydges "'and a lively, witty person who surrounded herself with merry company and became known in Kent for her brilliant though modest salon'".

This is very cool,

a picture of Wooton Court, Kent on a mug! and available from Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/Photo-Wootton-Court-Picture-Library/dp/B00GNF3K5S

Someone has the beginnings of a good idea here, don't you think? A set of mugs with places relevant to Jane Austen and her families.

I hope you enjoy your weekend!

Terrie

Happy Birthday Cassandra!

Thursday 9 January 2014

Today is Cassandra Elizabeth Austen, Jane Austen's sister's two-hundred-forty-first birthday!

Cassandra Elizabeth Austen

Let's have a cup of tea in honor of Cassandra today.
Terrie

Happy Birthday Mr. Tom Lefroy!

Wednesday 8 January 2014
Happy two-hundred-thirty-eighth Birthday Mr. Tom Lefroy!

Jane Austen also had a niece born on this day. Cassandra-Eliza Austen was born in 1814 at Portsmouth. She was the daughter of Jane's brother Frank (Francis) and Mary Gibson Austen. She died unmarried 6 May 1849.

I watched Becoming Jane yesterday and enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time. My favorite scene is when Mr. Lefroy joins the dance late. Their response to each other is so sweet.

I hope you enjoy your day today!
Terrie