22 June 1808 – Wednesday – continuation from two days prior

[Continuation of a letter begun on Monday, 2oth June]

Wednesday.– The Moores came yesterday in their Curricle between one & two o’clock, & immediately after the noonshine which succeeded their arrival, a party set off for Buckwell to see the Pond dragged;– Mr Moore, James, Edward & James-Edward on hoseback, John Bridges driving Mary in his gig.– The rest of us remained quietly & comfortably at home.– We had a very pleasant Dinner, at the lower end of the Table at least; the merriment was cheifly between Edwd Louisa, Harriot & myself.– Mr Moore did not talk so much as I expected, & I understand from Fanny, that I did not see him at all as he is in general;–our being strangers made him so much more silent & quiet.  Had I had no reason for observing what he said & did, I shd scarcely have thought about him.– His manners to her want Tenderness–& he was a little violent at last about the impossibility of her going to Eastwell.– I cannot see any unhappiness in her however; & as to Kind-heartedness &c., she is quite unaltered.– Mary was disappointed in her beauty, & thought him very disagreeable; James admires her, & finds him conversible & pleasant.

I sent my answer by them to Mrs Knight, my double acceptance of her note & her invitation, which I wrote without much effort; for I was rich–& the Rich are always respectable, whatever be their stile of writing:– I am to meet Harriot at dinner tomorrow;–it is one of the Audit days, & Mr M. dines with the Dean, who is just come to Canterbury.–

On Tuesday there is to be a family meeting at Mrs C. Milles’s.– Lady Bridges & Louisa from Goodnestone, the Moores, & a party from this House, Elizth John Bridges & myself.  It will give me pleasure to see Lady B.–she is now quite well.– Louisa goes home on friday, & John with her; but he returns the next day.  These are our engagements; make the most of them.–

Mr Waller is dead, I see;– I cannot grieve about it, nor perhaps can his Widow very much.– Edward began cutting Stfoin on saturday & I hope is likely to have favourable weather;–the crop is good.– There has been a cold & sorethroat prevailing very much in this House lately, the Children have almost all been ill with it, & we were afraid Lizzy was going to be very ill one day; she had specks & a great deal of fever.– It went off however, & they are all pretty well now.–

I want to hear of your gathering Strawberries, we have had them three times here.– I suppose you have been obliged to have in some white wine, & must visit the Store Closet a little oftener than when you were quite by yourselves.– One begins really to expect the St Albans now, & I wish she may come before Henry goes to Cheltenham, it will be so much more convenient to him.  He will be very glad if Frank can come to him in London, as his own Time is likely to be very precious, but does not depend on it.– I shall not forget Charles next week.–

So much did I write before breakfast– & now to my agreable surprise I have to acknowledge another Letter from you.– I had not the least notion of hearing before tomorrow, & heard of Russell’s being about to pass the Windows without any anxiety.  You are very amiable & very clever to write such long Letters; every page of yours has more lines than this, & every line more words than the average of mine.  I am quite ashamed–but you have certainly more little events than we have.  Mr Lyford supplies you with a great deal of interesting Matter (Matter Intellectual, not physical)–but I have nothing to say of Mr Scudamore.  And now, that is such a sad stupid attempt at Wit, about Matter, that nobody can smile at it, & I am quite out of heart.  I am sick of myself, & my bad pens.– I have no other complaint however, my languor is entirely removed.–

Ought I to be very much pleased with Marmion?–as yet I am not.– James reads it aloud in the Eveng— the short Eveng— beginning at about 10, & broken by supper.– Happy Mrs Harrison & Miss Austen!– You seem to be always calling on them.– I am glad your various civilities have turned out so well; I most heartily wish you Success & pleasure in your present engagement.– I shall think of you tonight as at Netley, & tomorrow too, that I may be quite sure of being right–& therefore I guess you will not go to Netley at all.– This is a sad story about Mrs Powlett.  I should not have suspected her of such a thing.– She staid the Sacrament I remember, the last time that you & I did.– A hint of it, with Initials, was in yesterday’s Courier; & Mr Moore guessed it to be Ld Sackville, beleiving there was no other Viscount S. in the peerage, & so it proved– Ld Viscount Seymour not being there.–

Yes, I enjoy my apartment very much, & always spend two or three hours in it after breakfast.– The change from Brompton Quarters to these is material as to Space.– I catch myself going on to the Hall Chamber now & then.– Little Caroline looks very plain among her Cousins, & tho’ she is not so headstrong or humoursome as they are, I do not think her at all more engaging. — Her brother is to go with us to Canterbury tomorrow, & Fanny completes the party.  I fancy Mrs K. feels less interest in that branch of the family than any ot[her. I] dare say she will do her duty however, by the Boy.– His Uncle Edward talks nonsense to him delightfully — more than he can always understand.  The two Morrises are come to dine & spend the day with him.  Mary wishes my Mother to buy whatever she thinks necessary for Anna’s Shifts;– & hopes to see her at Steventon soon after ye 9th of July, if that time is as convenient to my Mother as any other.– I have hardly done justice to what she means on the subject, as her intention is that my Mother shd come at whatever time She likes best.– They will be at home on ye 9th.–

I always come in for a morning visit from Crondale, & Mr & Mrs Filmer have just given me my due.  He & I talked away gaily of Southampton, the Harrisons Wallers &c.– Fanny sends her best Love to You all, & will write to Anna very soon.– Yours very affecly
Jane.

I want some news from Paragon.–
I am almost sorry that Rose Hill Cottage shd be so near suiting us, as it does not quite.

Miss Austen
Castle Square
Southampton