Part 20 (1/2)

So the house had at last been fixed on; and we learn in the _Memoir_ that it was No 4 Sydney Terrace,[128] in the parish of Bathwick The houses here face the Sydney Gardens, and it is a part of Bath that Jane seems to have fancied Her residence there is now co the Austens resided in this house cannot definitely be stated; perhaps they took it for three years--at any rate, by the beginning of 1805 they had s

Possibly Mr Austen, as he grew older, had found the distance to the centre of the town too great for his powers of walking

One of the few facts we know concerning their stay in Sydney Place is that at one time Mrs Austen was extremely ill, but the skill of her medical adviser, a certain Mr Bowen,[129] and the affectionate care of her daughters pulled her through and enabled her to live for another twenty-five years Mrs Austen has recorded the fact of her illness in soue between Death and Mrs A'

Says Death, 'I've been trying these three weeks and more To seize on old Madam here at Number Four, Yet I still try in vain, tho' she's turned of three score; To what is ?'

'I'll tell you, old Fellow, if you cannot guess, To what you're indebted for your ill success-- To the prayers of hters, whom Heaven will bless, To the skill and attention of Bowen'

In 1802, in addition to the visit to Steventon with its distressing incidents,[130] Jane was at Dawlish; for, in a letter written in 1814, she says of the library at Dawlish that it 'was pitiful and wretched twelve years ago and not likely to have anybody's publications' A writer, too, in _Temple Bar_[131] for February 1879, states that about this tinmouth (which would be very easily combined with a stay at Dawlish), and that they resided there some weeks

This was the year of the short cessation of hostilities brought about by the Peace of A its continuance, we are told that the Henry Austens went to France in the vain hope of recovering so included aiven by Bonaparte's Governlish travellers; but at the post-houses Mrs Henry Austen gave the necessary orders herself, and her French was so perfect that she passed everywhere for a native, and her husband escaped under this protection'[132]

Our only evidence of Jane's having been absent fro of her, says: 'The last tiate in 1803'

On Francis Austen's promotion (already one out of his way to choose hi-captain on the _Neptune_; but on the Peace of Amiens, he, like many others, went on half-pay His first e fro the Kent fishermen of a corps of 'sea fencibles,'

to protect the coast froate, and it was quite likely that Jane would visit him there, especially if she could combine this visit with one to Godmersham We shall see later that the 'sea fencibles' did not take up the whole of Frank's tiain to her neglected MSS, and especially to _Northanger Abbey_ This, no doubt, underwent a thorough revision (_Belinda_, mentioned in the famous dissertation on novels, was not published till 1801); and there is evidence[134]

that she sold the MS, under the title of _Susan_, in the spring of 1803: not, indeed, to a Bath publisher--as has been often stated--but to Messrs Crosby & Son of London, for ten pounds, stipulating for an early publication Distrustful of appearing under her own name in the transaction, Jane seems to have employed a certain Mr

Seymour--probably her brother Henry's ests that the sale was effected while Jane was staying in London with Henry For reasons best known to himself, Mr Crosby did not proceed with the publication

Besides _Northanger Abbey_, Jane see of a tale which was published in the second edition of the Meiven that, or any other na of the story was very like that of the novels hich we are so familiar, and the characters were sketched in with a firht have been expected to re-appear in another book (if this as to be laid aside); but such a procedure was contrary to Jane Austen's invariable practice It is the character of a young ood-natured toady, with rather more attractive qualities than usually fall to the lot of the members of that fraternity But as it laid aside? The writer of the _Meests[136] that the authorplaced her heroine too low, in a position of poverty and obscurity, which, though not necessarily connected with vulgarity, has a sad tendency to degenerate into it; and therefore, like a singer who has begun on too low a note, she discontinued the strain'

To this we may add that circuinal composition for a considerable period; and when at last she returned to it, she was much more likely to think of the two co in her desk than of one that was only begun She did, however, retain in her recollection the outline of the intended story The MS of _The Watsons_, still existing, is written on the small sheets of paper described in the _Memoir_: sheets which could be easily covered with a piece of blotting-paper in case of the arrival of unexpected visitors, and which would thus fit in with her desire for secrecy All the pages are written in her beautifully neat handwriting; but some seem to floithout doubt or difficulty, while others are subject to copious corrections As all the MSS of her six published novels have perished, it is worth our while to notice her methods where we can

The first interruption that occurred to her writing in 1804 was of a pleasant nature, and none of her adret it: she went to Lyme with her family They had been joined in their summer rambles by the Henry Austens, who afterwards proceeded with Cassandra to Wey Jane with her parents at Lyht of the beauties of nature so ht it must form one of the joys of heaven; but she had few opportunities of visiting any scenes of especial beauty We need not therefore be surprised that the ireat that she retained a vivid and accurate memory of the details eleven years afterwards In _Persuasion_, she allowed herself to dwell on thereater enthusiasm than she had ever displayed on similar occasions before Readers of that book who visit Lyme--especially if they have the valuable help of the Miss Hills'

descriptions and sketches--will feel no difficulty in recognising the exact spot on the Cobb which was pointed out to Tennyson as the scene of the fall of Louisa Musgrove, or the well-placed but minute house at the corner of the pier, past which Captain Benas seen rushi+ng for the doctor, and in which the Harvilles e party; theydown to the sea where Mr

Elliot first saw Anne; and if they go to the 'Royal Lion' Hotel and engage a private sitting-roorove looked at her cousin's carriage, when she recognised the Elliot countenance, but failed to see the Elliot arreat-coat was folded over the panels[137]

The letter which folloritten when Cassandra was just leaving Weyo to Ibthorp where old Mrs Lloyd lay very ill

Lyme: Friday [September 14, 1804][138]

MY DEAR CassANDRA,--I take the first sheet of fine striped paper to thank you for your letter fro at Ibthorp before this ti, being able to get as far as Blandford on Wednesday Your account of Wey which strikesno ice in the town For every other vexation I was in some measure prepared, and particularly for your disappointo on board on Tuesday, having already heard fro too late But for there being no ice, what could prepare me?You found my letter at Andover, I hope, yesterday, and have now for many hours been satisfied that your kind anxiety on my behalf was as much throay as kind anxiety usually is

I continue quite well; in proof of which I have bathed again thisIt was absolutely necessary that I should have the little fever and indisposition which I had: it has been all the fashi+on this week in Lys by this tioes on in the usual order The servants behave very well, andcertainly can exceed the inconvenience of the offices, except the general dirtiness of the house and furniture, and all its inhabitants I endeavour, as far as I can, to supply your place, and be useful, and keep things in order I detect dirt in the water decanters, as fast as I can, and keep everything as it was under your adht of our lives, he is quite an Uncle Toby's annuity to us

My Mother's shoes were never so well blacked before, and our plate never looked so clean He waits extremely well, is attentive, handy, quick and quiet, and in short has a great many more than all the cardinal virtues (for the cardinal virtues in theer worth having), and ao to Bath, as I understand fro, which in poor James Selby was sowith hisLondon

The ball last night was pleasant, but not full for Thursday My father staid very contentedly till half-past nine (ent a little after eight), and then walked hoh I believe the lanthorn was not lit, as the reat convenience to him My mother and I staid about an hour later nobody asked me the two first dances; the two next I danced with Mr Crawford, and had I chosen to stay longer ht have danced with Mr Granville, Mrs Granville's son, whom my dear friend Miss A offered to introduce tome for some time, and at last, without any introduction, asked ain

I think heto the hon{ble} B's, who are the son, and son's wife of an Irish viscount, bold queer-looking people, just fit to be quality at Lyht it not in strict propriety to be ter?) on Miss A