Part 18 (1/2)

Pray give lad to hear he can skip so well already, and that I hope he will continue to send me word of his improvement in the art

_Friday_--Sidmouth is now talked of as our summer abode Get all the infore

My father's oldhim to pay their court to his son The brown mare, which as well as the black, was to devolve on James at our removal, has not had patience to wait for that, and has settled herself even now at Deane The death of Hugh Capet, which, like that of Mr Skipsey, though undesired, was not wholly unexpected, being purposely effected, has made the im else I suppose will be seized by degrees in the same manner Martha and I work at the books every day

Steventon: Wednesday [January 14, 1801]

Your letter to Mary was duly received before she left Deane with Martha yesterday reat pleasure to know that the Chilhareeable, and that you danced four dances with Mr Kemble Desirable, however, as the latter circu place Why did you dance four dances with so stupid a ant brother officer as struck with your appearance as soon as you entered the room?

At present the environs of Laura Place seem to be his [my father's] choice His views on the subject are rows quite ambitious, and actually requires now a co brought hly affectionate is its tenor She thinks with the greatest pleasure of our being settled in Bath--it is an event which will attach her to the placeelse could do, &c, &c

She is, ent with on, if she should continue unwell, and even reco the whole winter with them At present and for many days past ed by any relapse to alter her arrangements

Mention is norance of it In 1799, while co the sloop _Peterel_, he had been entrusted by Lord St Vincent with dispatches conveying to Nelson at Paler news of Admiral Bruix's escape from Brest with a considerable fleet, and his entry into the Mediterranean So ience to be, that he landed his first lieutenant with the dispatches on the coast of Sicily so unfavourable for the approach to the capital by sea Nelson next e Malta Frank spent the autu various prizes; the urienne_--a French national brig convoying two vessels laden with corn for the French forces in Egypt This exploit took place in March 1800, and was considered of such importance that he was made a post-captain for it; but so slow and uncertain was co of his pro after his friends at ho 'collared and thrust out of the _Peterel_ by Captain Inglis' (his successor) is of course a graphic way of describing his change of vessel and promotion

Steventon: Wednesday [January 21, 1801]

MY DEAR CassANDRA,--Expect aoverburdened with subject (having nothing at all to say), I shall have no check toto end

Well, and so Frank's letter has made you very happy, but you are afraid he would not have patience to stay for the _Haarle safer than the merchantman Poor fellow! to wait from the middle of Noveer, it must be sad work; especially in a place where the ink is so abominably pale What a surprise to him it must have been on October 20, to be visited, collared, and thrust out of the _Peterel_ by Captain Inglis He kindly passes over the poignancy of his feelings in quitting his shi+p, his officers, and his land at the time of his promotion, because he certainly would have had an appointht for me to say it too Had he been really here, the certainty of the appointreat, but as it could not be brought to the proof his absence will be always a lucky source of regret

Eliza[121] talks of having read in a newspaper that all the First Lieutenants of the frigates whose Captains were to be sent into line-of-battle shi+ps were to be promoted to the rank of Commanders If it be true, Mr Valentine may afford himself a fine Valentine's knot, and Charles h I suppose Captain Durha a villain with him under that deno for the environs of Laura Place, but do not venture to expect it My mother hankers after the Square dreadfully, and it is but natural to suppose that my uncle will take _her_ part It would be very pleasant to be near Sydney Gardens; we o into the labyrinth every day

Steventon: Sunday [January 25, 1801]

Your unfortunate sister was betrayed last Thursday into a situation of the utmost cruelty I arrived at Ashe Park before the party fro-roohts of insisting on the housekeeper or Mary Corbett being sent for, and nothing could prevail on me to move two steps from the door, on the lock of which I kept one hand constantly fixed We ain, and were very cross

Your brother Edward makes very honourable mention of you, I assure you, in his letter to Jareat comfort to me to think that my cares have not been throay, and that you are respected in the world Perhaps you may be prevailed on to return with him and Elizabeth into Kent, when they leave us in April, and I rather suspect that your great wish of keeping yourself disengaged has been with that view Do as you like; I have overco to Bath withone to

On her way back from Godmersham, Cassandra spent some time with the Henry Austens now in Upper Berkeley Street; and while she was there, Jane sent her a letter, of which the folloas a part Infor the sailor brothers on active service was always rare, and proportionately valuable

Manydown: Wednesday [February 11, 1801][122]

MY DEAR CassANDRA,--I should not have thought it necessary to write to you so soon, but for the arrival of a letter from Charles to myself It ritten last Saturday from off the Start, and conveyed to Pophaham He came from Lisbon in the _Endymion_ I will copy Charles's account of his conjectures about Frank: 'He has not seen my brother lately, nor does he expect to find hi up to take co down; but supposes he will arrive in less than a fortnight froland about that time with despatches from Sir Ralph Abercrombie' The event must shohat sort of a conjuror Captain Boyle is The _Endyued with any more prizes Charles spent three pleasant days in Lisbon

They were very well satisfied with their royal passenger[123] whousta as his wife, and seems much attached to her

When this letter ritten the _Endymion_ was becalmed, but Charles hoped to reach Portsmouth by Monday or TuesdayHe received land, was much surprised, of course, but is quite reconciled to them, and means to come to Steventon once more while Steventon is ours