Today’s “letter” from Jane Austen is actually a poem, written to amuse her niece Fanny in anticipation of a visit to Godmersham Park from Captain Frank Austen and his brand new wife Mary (nee Gibson).  While the exact date of its composition may be in question, the marriage took place on 24 July 1806 in Ramsgate.  [This is the only published correspondence of Jane Austen’s from the year 1806.]  Ramsgate is about 25 miles from Godmersham Park, the home of Jane Austen’s brother Edward.

24th July 1806