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