Part 14 (1/2)

[91] General Mathew, father of James Austen's first wife

[92] The Miss Austens seem to have had a dress allowance of 20 a year

Cf _Brabourne_, vol i p 189

[93] Brighton had possibly been suggested to her brother Edward as an alternative for Bath

[94] This is of course an a mis-statement of the writer's real opinion See p 83

[95] The Hon Mary Leigh, of Stoneleigh

[96] Eliza de Feuillide

[97] Lady Williatail

CHAPTER IX

THE LEIGH PERROTS AND BATH

1799-1800

Mrs Austen's brother, Jah Perrot, and his wife had for many years led a prosperous and uneventful life at Scarlets, enjoying the respect and friendshi+p of a large circle of acquaintances Scarlets was a small property on the Bath road, about thirtythe hareat highroad) a nuated within easy reach of each other Ah Perrots were Maria Edgeworth's father Richard Lovell Edgeworth (who speaks of the help he received fro from Hare Hatch to Nettlebed by means of windmills), and Thomas Day, the author of _Sandford and Merton_ The house at Scarlets in its then existing shape was the work of Mr Leigh Perrot, and was of a suitable size for a childless couple in easy circuht have stood hiood stead in any profession, had he adopted one; and he was of a kind and affectionate disposition, co an easy temper with ready wit, and much resolution of character His as hardly forhly respected She was not exactly open-handed, but she had a great idea of the claims of family ties, and a keen sense of justice as between herself and others The couple were unusually devoted to each other The only crook in their lot appeared to be the constant gout attacks from which the husband suffered, and the necessity for frequent visits to Bath: visits, by the hich had helped to give to their niece, Jane Austen, such good opportunities for studying the Bath varieties of human nature

The journey, however, of the Austens to Bath in the spring of 1799 (described in our next letters) was independent of the Leigh Perrots

Edward Austen had been suffering, like his uncle, froout, and determined to try the waters of Bath; hishis family party thither But the Perrots were already settled in Paragon Buildings[99] when the Austens arrived, and the two fa

The Austens took up their quarters in Queen Square, which Jane seeroves like it when she wrote _Persuasion_, sixteen years later

13 Queen Square: Friday [May 17, 1799]

MY DEAREST CassANDRA,--Our journey yesterday went off exceedingly well; nothing occurred to alarm or delay us We found the roads in excellent order, had very good horses all the way, and reached Devizes with ease by four o'clock I suppose John has told you in what manner ere divided e left Andover, and no alteration was afterwards ood dinner, to which we sat down about five; aus and a lobster, which made me wish for you, and sohtful a supper as to endear the town of Devizes to theot here about one o'clock, and have been arrived just long enough to go over the house, fix on our rooms, and be very well pleased with the whole of it Poor Elizabeth has had a dismal ride of it from Devizes, for it has rained almost all the way, and our first view of Bath has been just as glooot so s equally important, that I know not on which to decide at present, and shall therefore go and eat with the children

We stopped in Paragon as we caet out, we could only see Frank, who told us that his ht last night than usual

We are exceedingly pleased with the house; the rooe as we expected Mrs