Part 41 (2/2)

Jane's sensible reply put an end to any further suggestions:--

MY DEAR SIR,--I aed to yourself for the kind manner in which you e a former letter forwarded to rateful for the friendly tenor of it, and hope my silence will have been considered, as it was truly ness to tax your ti circumstance which your own talent and literary labours have placed you in, or the favour of the Regent bestowed, you have my best wishes Your recent appoint still better In my opinion, the service of a court can hardly be too well paid, for i required by it

You are very, very kind in your hints as to the sort of coht recommend me at present, and I am fully sensible that an historical roht be much more to the purpose of profit or popularity than such pictures of does as I deal in

But I could no more write a romance than an epic poem I could not sit seriously down to write a serious romance under any other motive than to save my life; and if it were indispensable foratbefore I had finished the first chapter No, I h I ain in that, I am convinced that I should totally fail in any other

I reed, and sincere friend, J AUSTEN

Chawton, near Alton, April 1, 1816

FOOTNOTES:

[288] _Chawton Manor and its Owners_, p 171

[289] Page 84

[290] _Life of Mary Russell Mitford_, by the Rev A G L'Estrange (Bentley, 1870) We ought to add that Miss Mitford's adust 1816, she speaks of _E works'; and, at a later date, of her 'exquisite' _Persuasion_ In September 1817 she mentions her death as a 'terrible loss'; and a year afterwards, calls her 'our dear Miss Austen'

[291] Box Hill, however, was seven hbury, whereas it is only three hways and Byways in Surrey_, by Eric Parker

[293] In support of Cobhaested that in chapter xi, where otten to alter the na-place on the way from Chawton to London (p 292) Bookham is another possible clai of Prussia was then visiting England

[295] See p 26

[296] A visit of Jane to Scotland, of which no record is left in faine her to be referring to sootten tale of her own

[297] One of our author's few inaccuracies is to be found in chapter xlii, where an 'orchard in blossom' is made to coincide with ripe strawberries When her brother Edward next saw her, he said 'Jane, I wish you would tell et those apple-trees of yours that come into bloom in July!' W H Pollock's _Jane Austen, etc_, pp

90-91

[298] No doubt the father of Sir Seyland of the stethoscope He lived at the corner of Hans Street and Sloane Street

[299] Mr Murray's 'reader' on this occasion was evidently William Gifford, the editor of the _Quarterly Revierites under date Sept 29, 1815: 'Of _Eood to say I was sure of the writer before you h plainly written has yet some, indeed many little omissions, and an expression h the press I will readily undertake the revision' _Memoir of John Murray_ by Samuel Smiles (1891), vol i

p 282

[300] The present Mr John Murray kindly inforinal edition of _Emma_ consisted of 2000 copies, of which 1250 were sold within a year

[301] (?) _The Field of Waterloo_, by Sir Walter Scott

[302] _Paul's Letters to his Kinsfolk_; or possibly John Scott's _Paris Revisited in 1815_

[303] The printer