16 February 1813 – Tuesday – from Chawton

[Letter to Martha Lloyd]

My dear Martha

Your long Letter was valued as it ought, & as I think it fully entitled to a second from me, I am going to answer it now in an handsome manner before Cassandra’s return; after which event, as I shall have the benefit of all your Letters to her, I claim nothing more.– I have great pleasure in what you communicate of Anna, & sincerely rejoice in Miss Murden’s amendment; & only wish there were more stability in the Character of their two constitutions.– I will not say anything of the weather we have lately had, for if you were not aware of its’ being terrible, it would be cruel to put it in your head.  My Mother slept through a good deal of Sunday, but still it was impossible not to be disordered by such a sky, & even yesterday she was but poorly.  She is pretty well again today, & I am in hopes may not be much longer a Prisoner.–

We are going to be all alive from this forenoon to tomorrow afternoon;– it will be over when you receive this, & you may think of me as one not sorry that it is so.– George, Henry & William will soon be here & are to stay the night–and tomorrow the 2 Deedes’ & Henry Bridges will be added to our party;– we shall then have an early dinner & dispatch them all to Winchester.  We have no late account from Sloane Str & therefore conclude that everything is going on in one regular progress, without any striking change.– Henry was to be in Town again last Tuesday.– I have a Letter from Frank; they are all at Deal again, established once more in fresh Lodgings.  I think they must soon have lodged in every house in the Town.– We read of the Pyramus being returned into Port, with interest– & fear Mrs D. D. will be regretting that she came away so soon.– There is no being up to the tricks of the Sea.–

Your friend has her little Boys about her I imagine.  I hope their Sister enjoyed the Ball at Lady Keith–tho’ I do not know that I do much hope it, for it might be quite as well to have her shy & uncomfortable in such a croud of Strangers.–

I am obliged to you for your enquiries about Northamptonshire, but do not wish you to renew them, as I am sure of getting the intelligence I want from Henry, to whom I can apply at some convenient moment “sans peur et sans reproche”.– I suppose all the World is sitting in Judgement upon the Princess of Wales’s Letter.  Poor Woman, I shall support her as long as I can, because she is a Woman, & because I hate her Husband–but I can hardly forgive her for calling herself “attached & affectionate” to a Man whome she must detest– & the intimacy said to subsist between her & Lady Oxford is bad.– I do not know what to do about it;– but if I must give up the Princess, I am resolved at least always to think that she would have been respectable, if the Prince had behaved only tolerably by her at first.–

Old Philmore is got pretty well, well enough to warn Miss Benn out of her House.  His son is to come into it.– Poor Creature!– You may imagine how full of cares she must be, & how anxious all Chawton will feel to get her decently settled somewhere.– She will have 3 months before her–& if anything else can be met with, she will be glad enough to be driven from her present wretched abode;– it has been terrible for her during the late storms or wind & rain.– Cassandra has been rather out of luck at Manydown–but that is a house, in which one is tolerably independent of weather.– The Prowtings perhaps come down on Thursday or Saturday, but the accounts of him do not improve.– Now I think I may in Quantity have deserved your Letter. My ideas of Justice in Epistolary Matters are you know very strict.– With Love from my Mother, I remain Yrs very affecly

J. Austen

Poor John Harwood!– One is really obliged to engage in Pity again on his account– & where there is a lack of money, one is on pretty sure grounds.– So after all, Charles, that thick-headed Charles is the best off of the Family.  I rather grudge him is 2,500£.– My Mother is very decided in selling Deane– And if it is not sold, I think it will be clear that the Proprietor can have no plan of marrying.