Austen, Jane . Jane Austen's Letters To Her Sister Cassandra and Others
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Cassandra 1808
Godmersham, Thursday June 30th**. My dear Cassandra
I give you all joy of Frank's return, which happens in the true sailor way, just after our being told not to expect him for some weeks.-The Wind has been very much against him, but I suppose he must be in our Neighbourhood by this time. Fanny is in hourly expectation of him here.-Mary's visit in the Island is probably shortened by this Event. Make our kind Love & Congratulations to her.-What cold, disagreeable weather, ever since Sunday!-I dare say you have Fires every day. My kerseymere Spencer is quite the comfort of our Eveng* walks.-Mary thanks Anna for her Letter, & wishes her to buy enough of her new coloured frock to make a shirt handkf.-I am glad to hear of her Aunt Maitland's kind present.-We want you to send us Anna's height, that we may know whether she is as tall as Fanny;-and pray can you tell me of any little thing that wd* be probably acceptable to Mrs. F. A.-I wish to bring her something;-has she a silver knife-or wd* you recommend a Broche?
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I shall not spend more than half a guinea about it.-Our Tuesday's Engagement went off very pleasantly; we called first on Mrs. Knight, & found her very well; & at dinner had only the Milles' of Nackington in addition to Goodnestone & Godmersham & Mrs. Moore.-Lady Bridges looked very well, & wd* have been very agreable I am sure, had there been time enough for her to talk to me, but as it was, she cd* only be kind & amiable, give me good-humoured smiles & make friendly enquiries.-Her son Edward was also looking very well, & with manners as un-altered as hers. In the Eveng* came Mr. Moore, Mr. Toke, Dr. & Mrs. Walsby & others ;-one Card Table was formed, the rest of us sat & talked, & at half after nine we came away.-Yesterday my two Brothers went to Canterbury, and J. Bridges left us for London in his way to Cambridge, where he is to take his Master's Degree.-Edward & Caroline & their Mama have all had the Godmersham Cold; the former with sore-throat & fever which his Looks are still suffering from. -He is very happy here however, but I beleive the little girl will be glad to go home;-her Cousins are too much for her.-We are to have Edward, I find, at Southampton while his Mother is in Berkshire for the Races & are very likely to have his Father too. If circumstances are favourable, that will be a good time for our scheme to Beaulieu. Lady E. Hatton called here a few mornings ago, her Daughter Elizth* with her, who says as little as ever, but holds up her head & smiles & is to be at the Races.-Annamaria was there with Mrs. Hope, but we are to see her here tomorrow.-So much was written before breakfast; it is now half past twelve, & having heard Lizzy read,
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I am moved down into the Library for the sake of a fire which agreably surprised us when we assembled at Ten, & here in warm & happy solitude proceed to acknowledge this day's Letter. We give you credit for your spirited voyage, & are very glad it was accomplished so pleasantly, & that Anna enjoyed it so much. -I hope you are not the worse for the fatigue-but to embark at 4 you must have got up at 3, & most likely had no sleep at all.-Mary's not chusing to be at home, occasions a general small surprise.-As to Martha, she has not the least chance in the world of hearing from me again, & I wonder at her impudence in proposing it.-I assure you I am as tired of writing long letters as you can be. What a pity that one should still be so fond of receiving them!-Fanny Austen's Match is quite news, & I am sorry she has behaved so ill. There is some comfort to us in her misconduct, that we have not a congratulatory Letter to write. James & Edward are gone to Sandling today;-a nice scheme for James, as it will shew him a new & fine Country. Edward certainly excels in doing the Honours to his visitors, & providing for their amusement.-They come back this Eveng*.-Elizabeth talks of going with her three girls to Wrotham while her husband is in Hampshire;-she is improved in looks since we first came, & excepting a cold, does not seem at all unwell. She is considered indeed as more than usually active for her situation & size.-I have tried to give James pleasure by telling him of his Daughter's Taste, but if he felt, he did not express it.-I rejoice in it very sincerely.-Henry talks, or rather writes of going to the Downes, if the St. Albans continues there-but I hope it will be settled otherwise.-I had everybody's
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congratulations on her arrival, at Canterbury; it is pleasant to be among people who know one's connections & care about them; & it amuses me to hear John Bridges talk of " Frank."-I have thought a little of writing to the Downs, but I shall not; it is so very certain that he wd* be somewhere else when my Letter got there.-Mr. Tho. Leigh is again in Town-or was very lately. Henry met with him last sunday in St. James's Church.-He owned being come up unexpectedly on Business-which we of course think can be only one business-& he came post from Adlestrop in one day, which-if it cd* be doubted before-convinces Henry that he will live for ever.-Mrs. Knight is kindly anxious for our Good, & thinks Mr. L. P. must be desirous for his Family's sake to have everything settled.-Indeed, I do not know where we are to get our Legacy-but we will keep a sharp look-out.-Lady B. was all in prosperous Black the other day.-A letter from Jenny Smalbone to her Daughter brings intelligence which is to be forwarded to my Mother, the calving of a Cow at Steventon.-I am also to give her Mama's Love to Anna, & say that as her Papa talks of writing her a Letter of comfort she will not write, because she knows it wd* certainly prevent his doing so.-When are calculations ever right?-I could have sworn that Mary must have heard of the St. Albans return, & wd* have been wild to come home, or to be doing something.-Nobody ever feels or acts, suffers or enjoys, as one expects.-I do not at all regard Martha's disappointment in the Island; she will like it the better in the end.-I cannot help thinking & re-thinking of your going to the Island so heroically. It puts me in mind of Mrs. Hastings' voyage down the
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Ganges, & if we had but a room to retire into to eat our fruit, we wd* have a picture of it hung there.-Friday July 1st**-The weather is mended, which I attribute to my writing about it-& I am in hopes, as you make no complaint, tho' on the Water & at 4 in the morng*-that it has not been so cold with you.-It will be two years tomorrow since we left Bath for Clifton, with what happy feelings of Escape!-This post has brought me a few lines from the amiable Frank, but he gives us no hope of seeing him here.-We are not unlikely to have a peep at Henry who, unless the St. Albans moves quickly, will be going to the Downs, & who will not be able to be in Kent without giving a day or two to Godmersham.-James has heard this morng* from Mrs. Cooke, in reply to his offer of taking Bookham in his way home, which is kindly accepted; & Edwd* has had a less agreeable answer from Dr. Goddard, who actually refuses the petition. Being once fool enough to make a rule of never letting a Boy go away an hour before the Breaking up Hour, he is now fool enough to keep it.-We are all disappointed.-His Letter brings a double disappointment, for he has no room for George this summer.-My Brothers returned last night at 10, having spent a very agreable day in the usual routine. They found Mrs. D. at home, & Mr. D. returned from Business abroad, to dinner. James admires the place very much, & thinks the two Eldest girls handsome-but Mary's beauty has the preference.-The number of Children struck him a good deal, for not only are their own Eleven all at home, but the three little Bridgeses are also with them.-James means to go once more to Canty* to see his friend Dr. Marlowe, who
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is coming about this time;-I shall hardly have another opportunity of going there. In another week I shall be at home-& then, my having been at Godmersham will seem like a Dream, as my visit at Brompton seems already. The Orange Wine will want our Care soon.-But in the meantime for Elegance & Ease & Luxury-; the Hattons & Milles' dine here today-& I shall eat Ice & drink French wine, & be above vulgar Economy. Luckily the pleasures of Friendship, of unreserved Conversation, of similarity of Taste & Opinions, will make good amends for Orange Wine.-Little Edwd* is quite well again.- Yrs** affec: with Love from all, J. A.