Henry’s approbation hitherto is even equal to my wishes; he says it is very different from the other two, but does not appear to think it at all inferior.

On today’s date (2 March) in 1814 we have a letter to Cassandra that covers several topics of interest — most notably brother Henry’s reaction upon first reading Mansfield Park which was to be published that year (2oo years ago!) But there’s also interesting details to be gleaned about travel, and fashion, and even “fleas” !!! On the same date the following year (1815) there is a very small fragment (3 lines only) of a letter to niece Caroline Austen — how I wish there were more of it — that concerns dinners.

2d March 1814 to Cassandra Austen

2d March 1815 to Caroline Austen