_EMMA_
1814-1815
The last letter but one of the foregoing chapter contains two sentences
mentioning the writer's brother, Mr. Knight, which will help us to carry
on our story.
Writing on March 5, 1814, Jane says: 'It is a nasty day for everybody.
Edward's spirits will be wanting sunshine, and here is nothing but
thickness and sleet'; and towards the conclusion of the same letter we
find the following: 'Perhaps you have not heard that Edward has a good
chance of escaping his lawsuit. His opponent "knocks under." The terms
of agreement are not quite settled.'
There can, we think, be little doubt that both passages--the depressed
and the hopeful--refer to a claim over Edward's Hampshire property made
by some of the heirs-at-law of the former Knight family whom the
Brodnaxes of Godmersham had succeeded. Unfortunately, the cheerful
forecast contained in the second passage did not prove to be in
accordance with the facts. The lawsuit hung on for three years and was
then compromised by Mr. Knight's paying a large sum of money.[288]
Perhaps the claim also had its influence in producing the one
unflattering estimate of Jane which we shall have to lay before the
reader.
Miss Mitford was a convinced--but apparently a reluctant--admirer of her
genius; and she dwells without disguise on what she considers the want
of taste in _Pride and Prejudice_, though even here she adds that Miss
Austen 'wants nothing but the _beau ideal_ of the female character to be
a perfect novel writer.'
In another letter she refers to her mother's unfavourable reminiscences
of Jane Austen as a husband-hunter; although Mrs. Mitford's remark must
(as we have already pointed out[289]) have been based on an entire
misrepresentation, owing to Jane's youthful age at the time when that
lady could have known her.
* * * * *
She proceeds thus:--
A friend of mine who visits her now, says that she
has stiffened into the most perpendicular,
precise, taciturn piece of 'single blessedness'
that ever existed, and that, till _Pride and
Prejudice_ showed what a precious gem was hidden
in that unbending case, she was no more regarded
in society than a poker or a fire-screen, or any
other thin, upright piece of wood or iron that
fills the corner in peace and quietness. The case
is very different now: she is still a poker--but a
poker of whom every one is afraid. It must be
confessed that this silent observation from such
an observer is rather formidable. Most writers are
good-humoured chatterers--neither very wise nor
very witty; but nine times out of ten (at least in
the few that I have known) unaffected and
pleasant, and quite removing by their conversation
any fear that may have been excited by their
works. But a wit, a delineator of character, who
does not talk, is terrific indeed!
Miss Mitford has, however, the candour to add a qualification which
diminishes the force of her earlier remarks, and bears upon our present
subject. She says:--
After all, I do not know that I can quite vouch
for this account, though the friend from whom I
received it is truth itself; but her family
connexions must render her disagreeable to Miss
Austen, since she is the sister-in-law of a
gentleman who is at law with Miss A.'s brother for
the greater part of his fortune. You must have
remarked how much her stories hinge upon entailed
estates--doubtless she has learnt to dislike
entails. Her brother was adopted by a Mr. Knight,
who left him his name and two much better legacies
in an estate of five thousand a year in Kent, and
another of nearly double the value in Hampshire;
but it seems he forgot some ceremony--passing a
fine, I think they call it--with regard to the
Hampshire property, which Mr. Baverstock has
claimed in right of his mother, together with the
mesne rents, and is likely to be successful.[290]
Miss Mitford, indeed, could hardly have done less, after repeating this
somewhat spiteful gossip, than mention the hostile quarter from which it
arose. We have considered it right to quote part of it, as the writer is
an author of some note: but we venture to think that those readers who
have accompanied us so far will believe that Jane was guilty of nothing
worse than being shy, and talking but little among strangers; and that
such strangers as knew something of her literary ability believed, but
were quite wrong in believing, that she was taking stock of their
peculiarities with a view to introducing them into her next novel.
Jane had now completed the first of three visits which she was to pay to
Henry this year, and Cassandra was in London in her place; while the
Godmersham party were spending two months at Chawton. The two following
letters were written by Jane from Chawton in anticipation of a visit to
the Cookes at Bookham. Incidentally, Mr. Cooke's remark (quoted in the
first) shows that _Mansfield Park_ was already published. We must not
forget, however, that its author had been, since January 1814, deep in
the composition of _Emma_, and she would be sure to use a visit to the
neighbourhood of Leatherhead and Box Hill to verify geographical and
other details for her new work. Since her fame was fully established,
there have been many attempts to identify the locality of Highbury.
'There is a school of serious students who place it at Esher; another
band of enthusiasts support Dorking'; but Mr. E. V. Lucas, in his
introduction to a recent edition of the novel, prefers the claim of
Leatherhead, which, he says, is rightly placed as regards London and
Kingston, and not far wrong as regards Box Hill.[291] Near Leatherhead
is a house called 'Randalls'; and in 1761 the vestry of the parish paid
their thanks 'in the most respectful manner to Mr. Knightley,' who had
remodelled the pulpit and reading-desk of the church.[292]
Cobham should be mentioned as another possible alternative, as the
distances from London, Richmond, Kingston, and Box Hill suit well.[293]
But the most probable supposition of all is that the author purposely
avoided identifying it with any one village, while sufficiently defining
its position in the county of Surrey.
Chawton: Tuesday [June 14, 1814].
MY DEAREST CASSANDRA,--Fanny takes my mother to
Alton this morning, which gives me an opportunity
of sending you a few lines without any other
trouble than that of writing them.
This is a delightful day in the country, and I
hope not much too hot for town. Well, you had a
good journey, I trust, and all that, and not rain
enough to spoil your bonnet. It appeared so likely
to be a wet evening that I went up to the Gt.
House between three and four, and dawdled away an
hour very comfortably, though Edwd. was not very
brisk. The air was clearer in the evening and he
was better. We all five walked together into the
kitchen garden and along the Gosport road, and
they drank tea with us.
The only letter to-day is from Mrs. Cooke to me.
They do not leave home till July, and want me to
come to them, according to my promise. And, after
considering everything, I have resolved on going.
In addition to their standing claims on me they
admire _Mansfield Park_ exceedingly. Mr. Cooke
says 'it is the most sensible novel he ever read,'
and the manner in which I treat the clergy
delights them very much. Altogether, I must go,
and I want you to join me there when your visit in
Henrietta St. is over. Put this into your
capacious head.
Take care of yourself, and do not be trampled to
death in running after the Emperor.[294] The
report in Alton yesterday was that they would
certainly travel this road either to or from
Portsmouth. I long to know what this bow of the
Prince's will produce.
Thursday [June 23].
I heard yesterday from Frank. When he began his
letter he hoped to be here on Monday, but before
it was ended he had been told that the naval
review would not take place till Friday, which
would probably occasion him some delay, as he
cannot get some necessary business of his own
attended to while Portsmouth is in such a bustle.
I hope Fanny has seen the Emperor, and then I may
fairly wish them all away. I go to-morrow, and
hope for some delays and adventures.
* * * * *
Henry at White's! Oh, what a Henry! I do not know
what to wish as to Miss B., so I will hold my
tongue and my wishes.
* * * * *
We have called upon Miss Dusantoy and Miss
Papillon, and been very pretty. Miss D. has a
great idea of being Fanny Price--she and her
youngest sister together, who is named Fanny.
Yours very affectionately,
J. AUSTEN.
Jane's visit to Bookham began on June 24, as soon as the Knights had
left Chawton. She was to be away for more than a fortnight, and must
have been at Chawton again for a month till the middle of August, when
she once more went to join Henry in London. On this occasion she had no
rich brother to take her in his carriage, and was forced to come by
Yalden's somewhat crowded coach--four inside and fifteen on the top.
Henry had moved between June and August, finding a house in his old
neighbourhood at 23 Hans Place. Next to him (but separated from him by
the entrance to the Pavilion, now the road leading to Pont Street), at
No. 22, was the St. Quentins' celebrated school, at which Miss Mitford
had been a pupil, as well as Miss Landon and Lady Caroline Lamb.[295]
Three doors off, at No. 26, lived Henry's partner, Mr. Tilson, with whom
it was possible to converse across the intermediate gardens.
23 Hans Place: Tuesday morning [August, 1814].
MY DEAR CASSANDRA,--I had a very good journey, not
crowded, two of the three taken up at Bentley
being children, the others of a reasonable size;
and they were all very quiet and civil. We were
late in London, from being a great load, and from
changing coaches at Farnham; it was nearly four, I
believe, when we reached Sloane Street. Henry
himself met me, and as soon as my trunk and basket
could be routed out from all the other trunks and
baskets in the world, we were on our way to Hans
Place in the luxury of a nice, large, cool, dirty
hackney coach.
There were four in the kitchen part of Yalden, and
I was told fifteen at top, among them Percy Benn.
We met in the same room at Egham, but poor Percy
was not in his usual spirits. He would be more
chatty, I dare say, in his way _from_ Woolwich. We
took up a young Gibson at Holybourn, and, in
short, everybody either _did_ come up by Yalden
yesterday, or wanted to come up. It put me in mind
of my own coach between Edinburgh and
Stirling.[296]
* * * * *
It is a delightful place--more than answers my
expectation. Having got rid of my unreasonable
ideas, I find more space and comfort in the rooms
than I had supposed, and the garden is quite a
love. I am in the front attic, which is the
bedchamber to be preferred.
* * * * *
_Wednesday._--I got the willow yesterday, as Henry
was not quite ready when I reached Hen^{a.} St. I
saw Mr. Hampson there for a moment. He dines here
to-morrow and proposed bringing his son; so I must
submit to seeing George Hampson, though I had
hoped to go through life without it. It was one of
my vanities, like your not reading _Patronage_.
* * * * *
Is not this all that can have happened or been
arranged? Not quite. Henry wants me to see more of
his Hanwell favourite, and has written to invite
her to spend a day or two here with me. His scheme
is to fetch her on Saturday. I am more and more
convinced that he will marry again soon, and like
the idea of _her_ better than of anybody else, at
hand.
Yours very truly and affectionately,
JANE.
Miss Austen, Chawton.
By favour of Mr. Gray.
All through this year and the early part of the next, _Emma_ (begun
January 1814, finished March 29, 1815) was assiduously worked at.
Although polished to the highest degree, it was more quickly composed
than any previous work and gave evidence of a practised hand. It was
also the most 'Austenish' of all her novels, carrying out most
completely her idea of what was fitted to her tastes and capacities. She
enjoyed having a heroine 'whom no one would like but herself,' and
working on 'three or four families in a country village.' _Emma_ appeals
therefore more exclusively than any of the others to an inner circle of
admirers: but such admirers may possibly place it at the head of her
compositions. There are no stirring incidents; there is no change of
scene. The heroine, whose society we enjoy throughout, never sleeps away
from home, and even there sees only so much company as an invalid father
can welcome. No character in the book is ill, no one is ruined, there
is no villain, and no paragon. On the other hand, the plot is admirably
contrived and never halts; while the mysteries--exclusively mysteries of
courtship and love--are excellently maintained. Emma never expresses any
opinion which is thoroughly sound, and seldom makes any forecast which
is not belied by the event, yet we always recognise her acuteness, and
she by degrees obtains our sympathy. The book also illustrates to the
highest degree the author's power of drawing humorous characters; Miss
Bates, Mr. Woodhouse, and Mrs. Elton in the first class, and Harriet
Smith in the second. And the humour is always essential to the
delineation of character--it is never an excrescence. It also depends
more on what is said than on any tricks of speech; there are no
catch-words, and every one speaks practically the same excellent
English. Besides this, _Emma_ also gives a very good instance of the
author's habit of building up her characters almost entirely without
formal description, and leaving analysis to her readers.
Her custom of following her creations outside the printed pages enables
us to say that the word swept aside unread by Jane Fairfax was 'pardon';
and that the Knightleys' exclusion from Donwell was ended by the death
of Mr. Woodhouse in two years' time. According to a less well-known
tradition, Jane Fairfax survived her elevation only nine or ten years.
Whether the John Knightleys afterwards settled at Hartfield, and whether
Frank Churchill married again, may be legitimate subjects for
speculation.[297]
Meanwhile, _Mansfield Park_ was selling well, and the idea of a second
edition began to be mooted. Writing from Chawton to her niece Fanny on
another subject (November 18, 1814), she tells her that the first
edition is all sold, and adds:--
Your Uncle Henry is rather wanting me to come to
town to settle about a second edition, but as I
could not very conveniently leave home now, I have
written him my will and pleasure, and, unless he
still urges it, shall not go. I am very greedy,
and want to make the most of it, but as you are
much above caring about money I shall not plague
you with any particulars. The pleasures of vanity
are more within your comprehension, and you will
enter into mine at receiving the _praise_ which
every now and then comes to me through some
channel or other.
She did, however, leave home; and our next extract is from a letter
written to Fanny from 23 Hans Place, and dated November 30:--
Thank you, but it is not yet settled whether I
_do_ hazard a second edition. We are to see
Egerton to-day, when it will probably be
determined. People are more ready to borrow and
praise than to buy, which I cannot wonder at; but
though I like praise as well as anybody, I like
what Edward calls 'Pewter' too.
Apparently, Egerton did not fancy taking the risk; for there was no
second edition until 1816, when it appeared from the publishing house of
Murray.
Jane's stay in London was a short one; but it included a visit to her
niece Anna, who had lately been married to Ben Lefroy, and who was
living for the time at Hendon. Early in December, Jane returned home;
and three weeks later she and Cassandra set out for a couple of visits:
one for a week to Mrs. Heathcote and Miss Bigg in Winchester; the other
of longer duration, to their brother at Steventon. Then the curtain is
rung down once more, not to be raised till the end of September 1815.
During this quiet time, _Emma_ was prepared for the press, and it was no
doubt in connexion with its publication that she went to Hans Place on
October 4, 1815, for a visit which proved to be much longer and more
eventful than the last. For some reason that we are unable to explain,
Jane now forsook her former publisher, Mr. Egerton, and put her
interests in the charge of the historic house of Murray. She travelled
up once more in the company of Henry, who had been paying his mother and
sisters a short visit at the cottage. The prolongation of Jane's stay in
London to more than a couple of months was caused by Henry's dangerous
illness. She gives the news in a letter written to Cassandra and dated
Tuesday, October 17:--
. . . What weather we have! What shall we do about
it? The 17th October and summer still! Henry is
not quite well--a bilious attack with fever. He
came back early from Henrietta Street yesterday
and went to bed--the comical consequence of which
was that Mr. Seymour and I dined together
_tete-a-tete_. He is calomeling, and therefore in
a way to be better, and I hope may be well
to-morrow.
* * * * *
_Wednesday._--Henry's illness is much more serious
than I expected. He has been in bed since three
o'clock on Monday. It is a fever--something
bilious but chiefly inflammatory. I am not
alarmed, but I have determined to send this letter
to-day by the post, that you may know how things
are going on. There is no chance of his being able
to leave Town on Saturday. I asked Mr. Haden[298]
that question to-day. Mr. H. is the apothecary
from the corner of Sloane Street, successor to Mr.
Smith, a very young man, said to be clever, and he
is certainly very attentive, and appears hitherto
to have understood the complaint.
* * * * *
As for myself, you may be sure I shall return as
soon as I can. Tuesday is in my brain, but you
will feel the uncertainty of it.
* * * * *
You must fancy Henry in the backroom upstairs, and
I am generally there also, working or writing.
Even in illness, the interests of _Emma_ were not neglected; and a day
or two later Henry was able to dictate the following letter to Mr.
Murray:--
DEAR SIR,--Severe illness has confined me to my
bed ever since I received yours of y^{e} 15th. I
cannot yet hold a pen, and employ an amanuensis.
The politeness and perspicuity of your letter
equally claim my earliest exertion. Your official
opinion of the merits of _Emma_ is very valuable
and satisfactory.[299] Though I venture to differ
occasionally from your critique, yet I assure you
the quantum of your commendation rather exceeds
than falls short of the author's expectation and
my own. The terms you offer are so very inferior
to what we had expected that I am apprehensive of
having made some great error in my arithmetical
calculation. On the subject of the expence and
profit of publishing you must be much better
informed than I am, but documents in my possession
appear to prove that the sum offered by you for
the copyright of _Sense and Sensibility_,
_Mansfield Park_, and _Emma_ is not equal to the
money which my sister has actually cleared by one
very moderate edition of _Mansfield Park_;--(you
yourself expressed astonishment that so small an
edition of such a work should have been sent into
the world)--and a still smaller one of _Sense and
Sensibility_.[300]
Henry, however, became so alarmingly ill that on October 22 Jane
dispatched expresses to her brothers and sister, summoning them to
London. Mr. Knight left Godmersham for town on the 23rd, but owing to a
delay in the delivery of the letter, James Austen did not receive his
till the 24th. He rode to Chawton that evening, and the next day he and
Cassandra arrived in London. For a time Henry's life was in imminent
danger, but after a week's anxiety he was so far on the road to recovery
that his two brothers were able to return home, leaving Jane and
Cassandra in charge.
It was owing to Jane's untiring exertions at this time that her health
began to suffer. One other consequence too, but of a less tragical kind,
was due to Henry's illness. The physician that attended
him--supplementing, no doubt, Mr. Haden--was one of the Prince Regent's
physicians, and he, either knowing or hearing (for it was now an open
secret) that Jane Austen was the author of _Pride and Prejudice_,
informed her that the Prince greatly admired her novels, 'that he read
them often, and kept a set in every one of his residences; that he
himself had thought it right to inform His Royal Highness that Miss
Austen was staying in London.' The Prince did not so far condescend as
to desire to see Miss Austen in person, but he instructed his
librarian, Mr. Clarke, to wait upon her and show her any civility in his
power. The result was that on November 13 Jane was shown over the
library and other apartments at Carlton House, and in the course of the
visit Mr. Clarke announced that if Miss Austen had any other novel
forthcoming, she was at liberty to dedicate it to the Prince. We cannot
tell what may have been the exact amount of pleasure given to Jane by
this piece of information, as Cassandra was at that time also in Hans
Place, and there is therefore no letter of Jane to her on the subject.
But, at any rate, Jane was loyal enough to wish to do what was right and
proper in the circumstances. Consequently, on November 15, we find her
writing to Mr. Clarke as follows:--
SIR,--I must take the liberty of asking you a
question. Among the many flattering attentions
which I received from you at Carlton House on
Monday last, was the information of my being at
liberty to dedicate any future work to His Royal
Highness, the Prince Regent, without the necessity
of any solicitation on my part. Such, at least, I
believed to be your words; but as I am very
anxious to be quite certain of what was intended,
I entreat you to have the goodness to inform me
how such a permission is to be understood, and
whether it is incumbent on me to show my sense of
the honour by inscribing the work now in the press
to His Royal Highness; I should be equally
concerned to appear either presumptuous or
ungrateful.
To which Mr. Clarke replied:--
Carlton House: November 16, 1815.
DEAR MADAM,--It is certainly not _incumbent_ on
you to dedicate your work now in the press to His
Royal Highness; but if you wish to do the Regent
that honour either now or at any future period, I
am happy to send you that permission, which need
not require any more trouble or solicitation on
your part.
Your late works, Madam, and in particular
_Mansfield Park_, reflect the highest honour on
your genius and your principles. In every new work
your mind seems to increase its energy and power
of discrimination. The Regent has read and admired
all your publications.
Accept my sincere thanks for the pleasure your
volumes have given me: in the perusal of them I
felt a great inclination to write and say so. And
I also, dear Madam, wished to be allowed to ask
you to delineate in some future work the habits of
life, and character, and enthusiasm of a
clergyman, who should pass his time between the
metropolis and the country, who should be
something like Beattie's Minstrel:--
Silent when glad, affectionate tho' shy,
And now his look was most demurely sad;
And now he laughed aloud, yet none knew why.
Neither Goldsmith, nor La Fontaine in his _Tableau
de Famille_, have in my mind quite delineated an
English clergyman, at least of the present day,
fond of and entirely engaged in literature, no
man's enemy but his own. Pray, dear Madam, think
of these things.
Believe me at all times with sincerity and respect,
Your faithful and obliged servant,
J. S. CLARKE, _Librarian_.
P.S.--I am going for about three weeks to Mr.
Henry Streatfeild, Chiddingstone, Sevenoaks, but
hope on my return to town to have the honour of
seeing you again.
On November 17 Henry was sufficiently recovered to address a letter to
Mr. John Murray on his sister's behalf. This was followed by a letter
from herself on November 23.
Hans Place: Thursday [November 23, 1815].
SIR,--My brother's note last Monday has been so
fruitless, that I am afraid there can be but
little chance of my writing to any good effect;
but yet I am so very much disappointed and vexed
by the delays of the printers, that I cannot help
begging to know whether there is no hope of their
being quickened. Instead of the work being ready
by the end of the present month, it will hardly,
at the rate we now proceed, be finished by the end
of the next; and as I expect to leave London early
in December, it is of consequence that no more
time should be lost. Is it likely that the
printers will be influenced to greater dispatch
and punctuality by knowing that the work is to be
dedicated, by permission, to the Prince Regent? If
you can make that circumstance operate, I shall be
very glad. My brother returns _Waterloo_[301] with
many thanks for the loan of it. We have heard much
of Scott's account of Paris.[302] If it be not
incompatible with other arrangements, would you
favour us with it, supposing you have any set
already opened? You may depend upon its being in
careful hands.
I remain, Sir, your ob^{t.} humble Se^{t.,}
J. AUSTEN.
Meanwhile, as Henry was mending, his brother Edward, who had brought his
daughter Fanny up to town, left her as a companion to her Aunt Jane, and
escorted Cassandra to Chawton.
Hans Place: Friday [November 24, 1815].
MY DEAREST CASSANDRA,--I have the pleasure of
sending you a much better account of _my affairs_,
which I know will be a great delight to you.
I wrote to Mr. Murray yesterday myself, and Henry
wrote at the same time to Roworth.[303] Before the
notes were out of the house, I received three
sheets and an apology from R. We sent the notes,
however, and I had a most civil one in reply from
Mr. M. He is so very polite, indeed, that it is
quite overcoming. The printers have been waiting
for paper--the blame is thrown upon the stationer;
but he gives his word that I shall have no farther
cause for dissatisfaction. He has lent us _Miss
Williams_[304] and _Scott_, and says that any book
of his will always be at _my_ service. In short, I
am soothed and complimented into tolerable
comfort.
To-morrow Mr. Haden is to dine with us. There is
happiness! We really grow so fond of Mr. Haden
that I do not know what to expect. He, and Mr.
Tilson, and Mr. Philips made up our circle of wits
last night; Fanny played, and he sat and listened
and suggested improvements, till Richard came in
to tell him that 'the doctor was waiting for him
at Captn. Blake's'; and then he was off with a
speed that you can imagine. He never does appear
in the least above his profession, or out of
humour with it, or I should think poor Captn.
Blake, whoever he is, in a very bad way.
Yours very affectionately,
J. AUSTEN.
I have been listening to dreadful insanity. It is
Mr. Haden's firm belief that a person _not_
musical is fit for every sort of wickedness. I
ventured to assert a little on the other side, but
wished the cause in abler hands.
Hans Place: Sunday [November 26, 1815].
I _did_ mention the P. R. in my note to Mr.
Murray; it brought me a fine compliment in return.
Whether it has done any other good I do not know,
but Henry thought it worth trying.
The printers continue to supply me very well. I am
advanced in Vol. III. to my _arra_-root, upon
which peculiar style of spelling there is a modest
query in the margin. I will not forget Anna's
arrowroot. I hope you have told Martha of my first
resolution of letting nobody know that I _might_
dedicate, &c., for fear of being obliged to do it,
and that she is thoroughly convinced of my being
influenced now by nothing but the most mercenary
motives.
* * * * *
Then came dinner and Mr. Haden, who brought good
manners and clever conversation. From 7 to 8 the
harp; at 8 Mrs. L. and Miss E. arrived, and for
the rest of the evening the drawing-room was thus
arranged: on the sofa side the two ladies, Henry,
and myself, making the best of it; on the opposite
side Fanny and Mr. Haden, in two chairs (I
_believe_, at least, they had _two_ chairs),
talking together uninterruptedly. Fancy the scene!
And what is to be fancied next? Why, that Mr. H.
dines here again to-morrow. To-day we are to have
Mr. Barlow. Mr. H. is reading _Mansfield Park_ for
the first time, and prefers it to _P. and P._
* * * * *
Fanny has heard all that I have said to you about
herself and Mr. H. Thank you very much for the
sight of dearest Charles's letter to yourself. How
pleasantly and how naturally he writes! and how
perfect a picture of his disposition and feelings
his style conveys! Poor dear fellow! Not a
present! I have a great mind to send him all the
twelve copies which were to have been dispersed
among my near connections, beginning with the P.
R. and ending with Countess Morley. Adieu.
Yours affectionately,
J. AUSTEN.
Miss Austen.
Saturday [December 2, 1815].
MY DEAR CASSANDRA,--Henry came back yesterday, and
might have returned the day before if he had known
as much in time.
* * * * *
I had the comfort of a few lines on Wednesday
morning from Henry himself, just after your letter
was gone, giving so good an account of his
feelings as made me perfectly easy. He met with
the utmost care and attention at Hanwell, spent
his two days there very quietly and pleasantly,
and, being certainly in no respect the worse for
going, we may believe that he must be better, as
he is quite sure of being himself. To make his
return a complete gala Mr. Haden was secured for
dinner. I need not say that our evening was
agreeable.
But you seem to be under a mistake as to Mr. H.
You call him an apothecary. He is no apothecary;
he has never been an apothecary; there is not an
apothecary in this neighbourhood--the only
inconvenience of the situation perhaps--but so it
is; we have not a medical man within reach. He is
a Haden, nothing but a Haden, a sort of wonderful
nondescript creature on two legs, something
between a man and an angel, but without the least
spice of an apothecary. He is, perhaps, the only
person _not_ an apothecary hereabouts. He has
never sung to us. He will not sing without a
pianoforte accompaniment.
* * * * *
I am sorry my mother has been suffering, and am
afraid this exquisite weather is too good to agree
with her. _I_ enjoy it all over me, from top to
toe, from right to left, longitudinally,
perpendicularly, diagonally; and I cannot but
selfishly hope we are to have it last till
Christmas--nice, unwholesome, unseasonable,
relaxing, close, muggy weather.
Yours affectionately,
J. A.
It strikes me that I have no business to give the
P. R. a binding, but we will take counsel upon the
question.
Two more letters were written by the author to her publisher while the
work was in his hands.
On December 11, she writes:--
As I find that _Emma_ is advertised for
publication as early as Saturday next, I think it
best to lose no time in settling all that remains
to be settled on the subject, and adopt this
method as involving the smallest tax on your
time. . . .
. . . The title-page must be '_Emma_, dedicated by
permission to H.R.H. the Prince Regent.' And it is
my particular wish that one set should be
completed and sent to H.R.H. two or three days
before the work is generally public. It should be
sent under cover to the Rev. J. S. Clarke,
Librarian, Carlton House. I shall subjoin a list
of those persons to whom I must trouble you to
forward also a set each, when the work is out; all
unbound with 'From the Authoress' on the first
page.[305]
. . . I return also _Mansfield Park_ as ready for a
second edition, I believe, as I can make it.[306]
I am in Hans Place till the 16th; from that day
inclusive, my direction will be Chawton, Alton,
Hants.[307]
On receipt of this, Mr. Murray seems to have sent round a note
immediately, asking if it really was Miss Austen's wish that the
dedication should be placed on the title-page, for we find Jane writing
again the same day:--
DEAR SIR,--I am very much obliged by yours, and
very happy to feel everything arranged to our
mutual satisfaction. As to my direction about the
title-page, it was arising from my ignorance only,
and from my having never noticed the proper place
for a dedication. I thank you for putting me
right. Any deviation from what is usually done in
such cases is the last thing I should wish for. I
feel happy in having a friend to save me from the
ill effect of my own blunder.
On December 11, Jane resumed her correspondence with Mr. Clarke:--
DEAR SIR,--My _Emma_ is now so near publication
that I feel it right to assure you of my not
having forgotten your kind recommendation of an
early copy for Carlton House, and that I have Mr.
Murray's promise of its being sent to His Royal
Highness, under cover to you, three days previous
to the work being really out. I must make use of
this opportunity to thank you, dear Sir, for the
very high praise you bestow on my other novels. I
am too vain to wish to convince you that you have
praised them beyond their merit. My greatest
anxiety at present is that this fourth work should
not disgrace what was good in the others. But on
this point I will do myself the justice to
declare that, whatever may be my wishes for its
success, I am very strongly haunted by the idea
that to those readers who have preferred _Pride
and Prejudice_ it will appear inferior in wit; and
to those who have preferred _Mansfield Park_, very
inferior in good sense. Such as it is, however, I
hope you will do me the favour of accepting a
copy. Mr. Murray will have directions for sending
one. I am quite honoured by your thinking me
capable of drawing such a clergyman as you gave
the sketch of in your note of November 16th. But I
assure you I am _not_. The comic part of the
character I might be equal to, but not the good,
the enthusiastic, the literary. Such a man's
conversation must at times be on subjects of
science and philosophy, of which I know nothing;
or at least occasionally abundant in quotations
and allusions which a woman who, like me, knows
only her own mother tongue, and has read little in
that, would be totally without the power of
giving. A classical education, or at any rate a
very extensive acquaintance with English
literature, ancient and modern, appears to me
quite indispensable for the person who would do
any justice to your clergyman; and I think I may
boast myself to be, with all possible vanity, the
most unlearned and uninformed female who ever
dared to be an authoress.
Believe me, dear Sir,
Your obliged and faithful hum^{bl} Ser^{t,}
JANE AUSTEN.
But Mr. Clarke had not finished with his suggestions, for he replied in
a few days:--
Carlton House: Thursday [December 1815].
MY DEAR MADAM,--The letter you were so obliging as
to do me the honour of sending, was forwarded to
me in Kent, where, in a village, Chiddingstone,
near Sevenoaks, I had been hiding myself from all
bustle and turmoil and getting spirits for a
winter campaign, and strength to stand the sharp
knives which many a Shylock is wetting [_sic_] to
cut more than a pound of flesh from my heart, on
the appearance of _James the Second_.[308]
On Monday I go to Lord Egremont's at
Petworth--where your praises have long been
sounded as they ought to be--I shall then look in
on the party at the Pavilion[309] for a couple of
nights, and return to preach at Park Street
Chapel, Green Street, on the Thanksgiving Day.
You were very good to send me _Emma_, which I have
in no respect deserved. It is gone to the Prince
Regent. I have read only a few pages, which I very
much admired--there is so much nature and
excellent description of character in everything
you describe. Pray continue to write and make all
your friends send sketches to help you--and
_Memoires pour servir_, as the French term it. Do
let us have an English clergyman after your
fancy--much novelty may be introduced--show, dear
Madam, what good would be done if tythes were
taken away entirely, and describe him burying his
own mother, as I did, because the High Priest of
the Parish in which she died did not pay her
remains the respect he ought to do. I have never
recovered the shock. Carry your clergyman to sea
as the friend of some distinguished naval
character about a Court, you can then bring
forward, like Le Sage, many interesting scenes of
character and interest.
But forgive me, I cannot write to you without
wishing to elicit your genius, and I fear I cannot
do that without trespassing on your patience and
good nature.
I have desired Mr. Murray to procure, if he can,
two little works I ventured to publish from being
at sea--sermons which I wrote and preached on the
ocean, and the edition which I published of
Falconer's _Shipwreck_.[310]
Pray, dear Madam, remember that beside my cell at
Carlton House, I have another which Dr. Barne
procured for me at No. 37 Golden Square, where I
often hide myself. There is a small library there
much at your service, and if you can make the cell
render you any service as a sort of halfway house
when you come to Town, I shall be most happy.
There is a maid servant of mine always there.
I hope to have the honour of sending you _James
the Second_ when it reaches a second edition, as
some few notes may possibly be then added.
Yours, dear Madam, very sincerely,
J. S. CLARKE.
It is evident that what the writer of the above letter chiefly desired,
was that Jane Austen should depict a clergyman who should resemble no
one so much as the Rev. J. S. Clarke. This is borne out again in a
further letter in which Mr. Clarke expressed the somewhat tardy thanks
of his Royal master.
Pavilion: March 27, 1816.
DEAR MISS AUSTEN,--I have to return you the thanks
of His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent, for the
handsome copy you sent him of your last excellent
novel. Pray, dear Madam, soon write again and
again. Lord St. Helens and many of the nobility,
who have been staying here, paid you the just
tribute of their praise.
The Prince Regent has just left us for London; and
having been pleased to appoint me Chaplain and
Private English Secretary to the Prince of
Cobourg, I remain here with His Serene Highness
and a select party until the marriage. Perhaps
when you again appear in print you may chuse to
dedicate your volumes to Prince Leopold: any
historical romance, illustrative of the history of
the august House of Cobourg, would just now be
very interesting.
Believe me at all times,
Dear Miss Austen,
Your obliged friend,
J. S. CLARKE.
Jane's sensible reply put an end to any further suggestions:--
MY DEAR SIR,--I am honoured by the Prince's thanks
and very much obliged to yourself for the kind
manner in which you mention the work. I have also
to acknowledge a former letter forwarded to me
from Hans Place. I assure you I felt very grateful
for the friendly tenor of it, and hope my silence
will have been considered, as it was truly meant,
to proceed only from an unwillingness to tax your
time with idle thanks. Under every interesting
circumstance which your own talent and literary
labours have placed you in, or the favour of the
Regent bestowed, you have my best wishes. Your
recent appointments I hope are a step to something
still better. In my opinion, the service of a
court can hardly be too well paid, for immense
must be the sacrifice of time and feeling required
by it.
You are very, very kind in your hints as to the
sort of composition which might recommend me at
present, and I am fully sensible that an
historical romance, founded on the House of Saxe
Cobourg, might be much more to the purpose of
profit or popularity than such pictures of
domestic life in country villages as I deal in.
But I could no more write a romance than an epic
poem. I could not sit seriously down to write a
serious romance under any other motive than to
save my life; and if it were indispensable for me
to keep it up and never relax into laughing at
myself or at other people, I am sure I should be
hung before I had finished the first chapter. No,
I must keep to my own style and go on in my own
way, and though I may never succeed again in that,
I am convinced that I should totally fail in any
other.
I remain, my dear Sir,
Your very much obliged, and sincere friend,
J. AUSTEN.
Chawton, near Alton, April 1, 1816.
FOOTNOTES:
[288] _Chawton Manor and its Owners_, p. 171.
[289] Page 84.
[290] _Life of Mary Russell Mitford_, by the Rev. A. G. L'Estrange
(Bentley, 1870). We ought to add that Miss Mitford's admiration
increased with time. Thus, in August 1816, she speaks of _Emma_ 'the
best, I think, of all her charming works'; and, at a later date, of her
'exquisite' _Persuasion_. In September 1817 she mentions her death as a
'terrible loss'; and a year afterwards, calls her 'our dear Miss
Austen.'
[291] Box Hill, however, was seven miles from Highbury, whereas it is
only three miles from Leatherhead.
[292] _Highways and Byways in Surrey_, by Eric Parker.
[293] In support of Cobham, it has been suggested that in chapter xi.,
where mention is made of this village, the author had forgotten to alter
the name to Highbury. Jane knew Cobham as a halting-place on the way
from Chawton to London (p. 292). Bookham is another possible claimant.
[294] Emperor of Russia, who with the King of Prussia was then visiting
England.
[295] See p. 26.
[296] A visit of Jane to Scotland, of which no record is left in family
tradition, is so improbable that we must imagine her to be referring to
some joke, or possibly some forgotten tale of her own.
[297] One of our author's few inaccuracies is to be found in chapter
xlii., where an 'orchard in blossom' is made to coincide with ripe
strawberries. When her brother Edward next saw her, he said 'Jane, I
wish you would tell me where you get those apple-trees of yours that
come into bloom in July!' W. H. Pollock's _Jane Austen, etc._, pp.
90-91.
[298] No doubt the father of Sir Seymour Haden, and the introducer into
England of the stethoscope. He lived at the corner of Hans Street and
Sloane Street.
[299] Mr. Murray's 'reader' on this occasion was evidently William
Gifford, the editor of the _Quarterly Review_, who writes under date
Sept. 29, 1815: 'Of _Emma_ I have nothing but good to say. I was sure of
the writer before you mentioned her. The MS. though plainly written has
yet some, indeed many little omissions, and an expression may now and
then be amended in passing through the press. I will readily undertake
the revision.' _Memoir of John Murray_ by Samuel Smiles (1891), vol. i.
p. 282.
[300] The present Mr. John Murray kindly informs us that the original
edition of _Emma_ consisted of 2000 copies, of which 1250 were sold
within a year.
[301] (?) _The Field of Waterloo_, by Sir Walter Scott.
[302] _Paul's Letters to his Kinsfolk_; or possibly John Scott's _Paris
Revisited in 1815_.
[303] The printer.
[304] _A narrative of the events which have lately taken place in
France_, by Helen Maria Williams. London, 1815.
[305] These included a set to Miss Edgeworth (_Life and Letters of Maria
Edgeworth_, edited by A. J. C. Hare (1894), vol. i. p. 235), and another
to Lady Morley, a clever woman, to whom _Sense and Sensibility_ and
_Pride and Prejudice_ had at one time been ascribed (_Life of M. R.
Mitford_, by the Rev. A. G. L'Estrange, vol. i. p. 241).
[306] Unfortunately, most of the worst misprints remained in the new
edition, while certain new ones were added.
[307] _Memoir_, pp. 122-4.
[308] _Life of King James II, from the Stuart MSS. in Carlton House_,
published 1816.
[309] At Brighton.
[310] Published, 1804.