Jane Austen’s Letters: Letter 54, Sun, 26 June 1808, from Godmersham

Anna Austen Lefroy, age 25

Dear friends and readers,

This is another longish letter just chock-a-block with diurnal detail of Jane Austen’s life (see letter 53): all that is omitted is (ironically) the three hours in the morning we are told she spent in her apartment at Godmersham: reading and writing.

We do get by implication and explicitly a portrait of Austen’s oldest brother’s family, Mary, her two children (little Caroline as model for Fanny Price), and adolescent Anna rejected and excluded from Godmersham because her stepmother cannot bear to have the child of her husband’s first wife around. It was Anna who supplied letters, who attempted to edit and finish Sandition; the memoir of Austen is a product of these three children, and I suggest they idealize the aunt as a antidote or counter-weight to the stress and alienation they felt going on in their household when they were young.

An idyllic illustration of Steventon graced the front of the 1870 Memoir: how James’s children yearningly saw the house from the vantage of their own hurt memories

The biography of most help for this kind of letter is David Nokes’s Jane Austen, as the core and development of his book depends on a careful analysis of the letters. Thus he picks up, more sympathetically than one would predict:

…it was actually Mrs. J.A. who felt most ill at ease at Godmersham that summer. It was her first visit to the house for more than ten years and, naturally, she made a point of exclaiming how much she was ‘struck with the beauty of the place.’ But the truth was that she felt rather overawed by its grandeur, and her children, too, found it rather daunting. ‘I don’t think I was very happy there, in a strange house’, Caroline recalled. ‘I recollect the model of a ship in a passage, and my cousins’ rabbits out of doors, in or near a long walk of high trees.’ Jane Austen noticed the little girls unease…… ‘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.’

Beyond Anna and Caroline, we have Harriot Bridges (Edward’s sister, the woman who opened up to Austen at Goodnestone, married to Mr Moore and frequently openly bullied by Mr Moore. We are told that Harriot “admired Emma very much but MP was her favourite of all’ (LeFaye, p 556n.)

Child-daughter (Anna) and wife (Harriot) abuse are part of this letter.

Also Austen’s continuing concern and identification with older women living alone, mostly impoverished. Mrs Knight (luckily for Jane) is an exception to this rule.

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Silhouettes done later in life by James-Edward Austen-Leigh, ostensibly of Barton Cottage in S&S, it is redolent of idealized memories of Steventon and later Chawton cottage

The letter opens with Austen thanking Cassandra “for writing to me on Thursday, & very glad that I owe the pleasure of hearing from you again, so soon, to such an agreable cause …” The cause of the letter was Frank’s history of himself reaching Jane in the form of a letter from Henry, another brother. Unexpected in the tonal feel but said explicitly is Jane is angry that Frank’s story is transmitted to them by Henry. Why not tell her and Cassandra directly seems to be the idea. Jane has this special relationship with Frank.

The Lefroy letter puts before them a real person, people, not an ideal: there is Frank again. They are glad to hear of his health & safety, and then a quiet ironic statement:”he wants nothing but a good Prize to be a perfect Character.” He is thinking of his wife, Mary Gibson; she shall go to the Isle of Wight to live with Mrs Craven.

Jane professes herself understanding what has not been said: Mary wants time off from her sisters-in-law and mother-in-law and enters into the whole thing too. She apparently hopes her mother will go with Mary. In the event, she didn’t.

I am very unsure about which Mrs Craven this is; if it cannot be Martha and Mary Lloyd’s mother who died in 1773; the Mrs Catherine Hughes Craven (cited in LeFaye, 513) did not live on the Isle of Wight.

Martha is not there and Edward can sleep in that bed when he’s brought Jane home by carriage. I notice that Anna is displaced. Her bed goes for young Edward.

This reminds me of how Margaret Dashwood is un-summarily kicked out of her room to make way for Edward in the 1995 film Emma Thompson (I’ve noticed this before) has read Austen’s letters too. Admittedly, Austen seems not to think of this ejection with compassion for the girl child, only of her delight in seeing Edward’s oldest son. But then her letter will be read by Cassandra, perhaps aloud to Anna, and she does not want to make the girl feel worse.

Silhouettes of deer, also by JEAL when older

The teacher is a Dr Goddard, same name as headmistress in Emma.

Then Austen’s relief at being given a ride and now, when she wants and needs it.

I have been so kindly pressed to stay longer here, in consequence of an offer of Henry’s to take me back some time in September, that not being able to detail all my objections to such a plan, I have felt myself obliged to give Edwd & Elizr one private reason for my wishing to be at home in July.

The private reason is Austen’s having rejected the brother, Catherine and Aletha Bigg’s brother: Harris Bigg-Wither. If the sisters come and find Austen there it will be uncomfortable. We see here how secretive this family was, for Elizabeth and Edward do not know of the pressured proposal. To me this opens up another aspect of these Austens: keep all secret from the outer world, and also from one another if one can.

Then Jane does hope to have Aletha and Catherine’s visit at Castle Sqaure. Even looks forward to her: her “honor as well as my affection is concerned.” She will not drop a friend because she did not marry the friend’s brother. She keeps her loyalties up — that’s more than many people.

I can imagine Mary Crawford uttering this sentence. Elizabeth has said she’d like the Austen women to be at Godmersham for Xmas. “A legacy might make it feasible — a legacy is our sovereign good.

Another reference to the Rev Mr Jefferson: now she has some money she will buy Mr Jefferson’s works. Austen was apparently impressed.

In the mean while, let me remember that I have now some money to spare, & that I wish to have my name put down as a subscriber to Mr Jefferson’s works. My last Letter was closed before it occurred to me how possible, how right, & how gratifying such a measure would be.

I found myself also remembering the touching scene in S&S where Edward says were the Dashwoods to have money he imagines book and music seller stores to be ransacked. Also Erasmus: “When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left over, I buy food and clothes”

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The Isle of Wight

And now Austen responds to Cassandra’s account of her taking Anna to the Isle of Wight:

Your account of your Visitors good Journey, Voyage, andsatisfaction in everything gave me the greatest pleasure. They have nice weather for their introduction to the Island, & I hope with such a disposition to be pleased, their general Enjoyment is as certain as it will be just. — Anna’s begin interested in the Embrakation shows a Taste that one values. — Mary Jane’s delight in the Water is quite ridiculous. Elizabeth supposes Mrs Hall will account for it, by the Child’s knowledge of her Father’s being at sea

The trip described here is to the Isle of Wight. We can see here that Elizabeth Austen was among those listening to Cassandra’s letter telling of the trip read aloud. Mrs Hall here may be the maidservant at Castle Square (Lefaye, 530) What’s interesting is Austen finds this delight ridiculous; one needs to account for it. The child would be Frank’s daughter, Mary Jane, who was 14 months old. Austen may be laughing at the polite hypocrisies of attributing such feeling to a child.

Austen concludes the opening gambit:

Mrs J. A. hopes as I said in my last, to see my Mother soon after her return home, & will meet her at Winchester on any day, she will appoint. — And now I beleive I have made all the needful replys & communications; & may disport myself as I can on my Canterbury visit.

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The river Stour passes through Canterbury town center

So, disporting herself in her imagination and through writing: a group of those at Godmersham visited a group at Canterbury:

It appears that a group of people from Godmersham went to Canterbury to visit friends there and what’s best was there: “Kindness, conversation & variety, without care or cost”

It was a very agreable visit. There was everything to make it so; Kindness, conversation, & variety, without care or cost. – Mr Knatchbull from Provender’ was at the W Friars when we arrived & staid dinner, which with Harriot- who came as you may suppose in a great hurry, ten minutes after the time-made our number 6.- Mr K. went away early;- Mr Moore & we sat quietly working & talking till 10; when he ordered his wife away, & we adjourned to the Dressing room to eat our Tart & Jelly.-Mr M. was not un-agreable, tho’ nothing seemed to go right with him. He is a sensible Man, & tells a story well

There is also a man bullying and humiliating his wife, Mr Moore orders his wife out of the room! Not un-agreeable?

The following morning:

Mrs C. Knatchhull & I breakfasted tete a tete the next day, for her Husband was gone to Mr Toke’s, & Mrs Knight had a sad headache which kept her in bed. She had had too much company the day before;-after my coming, which was not till past two, she had Mrs M[illes] of Nackington, a Mrs & Miss Gregory, & Charles Graham; & she told me it had been so all the morning.– Very soon after breakfast on friday Mrs C. K. — who is just what we have always seen her-went with me to Mrs Brydges’ & Mrs Moore’s, paid some other
visits while I remained with the latter, & we finished with Mrs C. Milles, who luckily was not at home, & whose new House is a very convenient short cut from the Oaks to the W Friars.

We have to remember that Mrs Knight has supplied Austen with the money she is using and enables her to hold up her head equally with others during such a trip. She is intent on getting time alone to talk with the woman:

We found Mrs Knight up & better-but early as it was ­only 12 o’clock — we had scarcely taken off our Bonnets before com­pany came, Ly Knatchhull & her Mother; & after them succeeded Mrs White, Mrs Hughes & her two Children, Mr Moore, Harriot & Louisa, & John Bridges, with such short intervals between any, as to make it a matter of wonder to me, that Mrs K. & I should ever have been ten minutes alone, or have had any leisure for comfortable
Talk.­Yet we had time to say a little of Everything. — Edward came to dinner, & at 8 o’clock he & I got into the Chair, & the pleasures of my visit concluded with a delightful drive home.

Now recall that the Hughes married into the Cravens (Catherine Hughes married John Craven and their children were the schoolmates of the Austen and Fowler children (LeFaye, 513n.) The Bridges are those who in earlier letters welcomed Austen to Goodnestone Farm and include as a clan Edward to whom Austen has been attracted and who has been kind to her, making her feel less humble and genuinely wanted.

Mrs & Miss Brydges seemed very glad to see me. – The poor old Lady looks much as she did three years ago, & was very particular in her enquiries after my Mother; ­And from her, & from the Knatchhulls, I have all manner of kind Compliments to give you both.

On the letter writing: there seems to be in Austen’s mind the idea she and Cassanda will be able to return to these texts later to compare letters and remember:

As Fanny writes to Anna by this post, I had intended to keep my Letter for another day, but recollecting that I must keep it two, I have resolved rather to finish & send it now. The two letters will not interfere I dare say; on the contrary, they may throw light on each other.

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Jane’s focus returns to the doings at Godmersham

Mary begins to fancy, because she has received no message on the subject, that Anna does not mean to answer her Letter; but it must be for the pleasure of fancying it. —

Elizabeth Austen has now given signs all was not well:

I think Elizth better & looking better than when we came. — Yesterday I introduced James to Mrs Inman;–in the evening John Bridges returned from Goodnestone–& this morning before we had left the Breakfast Table we had a visit from Mr Whitfield, whose object I imagine was principally to thank my Eldest Brother for his assistance. Poor Man! – he has now a little intermission of his excessive solicitude on his wife’s account, as she is rather better. – James does Duty at Godmersham today.

I think of George Eliot’s Lydgate with his sensitivity and high ideals and how Rosamond Vincy with her narrow obtuse mind mastered him. Poor James indeed.-

I note the Knatchbulls keep coming up. Eventually Fanny Austen Knight was to marry in and the group be part of the Austens’ claim on higher gentility and promotions. Amid a new welter of detail, Austen’s genuine concern for Mrs Knight comes out

The Knatchbulls had intended coming here next week, but the Rentday makes it impossible for them to be received, & I do not think there will be any spare time afterwards. They return into Somersetshire by way of Sussex & Hants, & are to be at Fareham-& perhaps may be in Southampton, on which possibility I said all that I thought right-& if they are in the place, Mrs K[night]. has promised to call in Castle Square; ­it will about the end of July. — She seems to have a pros­pect however of being in that Country again in the Spring for a longer period, & will spend a day with us if she is.-
You & I need not tell each other how glad we shall be to receive attention from, or pay it to anyone connected with Mrs Knight. – I cannot help regretting that now, when I feel enough her equal to relish her society, I see so little of the latter. —

More of the same:

The Milles’ of Nackington dine here on friday & per­haps the Hattons. — It is a compliment as much due to me, as a call from the Filmers. — When you write to the Island, Mary will be glad to have Mrs Craven informed with her Love that she is now sure it will not be in her power to visit Mrs Craven during her stay there, but that if Mrs Craven can take Steventon in her way back, it will be giving my brother & herself great pleasure.-

The Milles are another clergyman family; the Hattons the wealthy people at Eastwell who meant to make Austen feel welcome. the Filmers a baronet family, also owning a big estate, and perhaps friends with the Hattons. Mary Austen is all politeness to Mrs Craven (Arnie Perlstein claims this is the Catherine Hughes who was struggling against her marriage), but note her sarcasm over Frank’s wife’s keeping her distance from Frank as well as his family:

Namesake is an irony; Mary Gibson Austen was not named after Mary
Lloyd Austen:

She also congratulates her name­sake on hearing from her Husband.- That said namesake is rising in the World;-she was thought excessively improved in her late visit.­ Mrs Knight thought her so, last year.

Henry’s health (he falls very sick in 1816):

Henry sends us the welcome information of his having had no face-ache since I left them. You are very kind in mentioning old Mrs Williams so often. Poor Creature! I cannot hoping each letter may tell of her sufferings being over. — If she wants sugar, I should like to supply her with it

Mrs Williams may be yet another genteelly poor woman living alone; it’s hard to tell which Mrs Williams Austen is referring to (Lefaye, p 578). I like very much Austen’s empathy and think of the legacy she left Mme Bigeon, Henry’s French housekeeper.

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This portrait of the famous 19th century scientist-engineer, Michael Faraday (1791-1867) is said to be by Harriet Jane Moore. Whether related to the Moores below I know not.

In closing Austen reverts to the how the Moores are not decamping from Godmersham. Wrotham Gate is Rev Moore’s fine vicarage, a plum; Wrotham Gate was said to be a very rich living, best living in Kent (that’s saying something).

The Moores went yesterday to Goodnestone, but return tomorrow. After Tuesday we shall see them no more — tho’ Harriot is very earnest with Edwd to make Wrotham in his Journey, but we shall be in too great a hurry to get nearer to it than Wrotham Gate. — He wishes to reach Guilford on friday night-that we may have a couple of hours to spare for Alton.

Austen will therefore miss her Walker cousins. Sheregrets not seeing the people at Bookham because she lokes the Cookes (as we’ve seen). Of course she doesn’t have a traveling purse of her own.­

I shall be sorry to pass the door at Seal’ without calling, but it must be so; — & I shall be nearer to Bookham than I could wish, in going from Dorking to Guilford — but till I have a traveling purse of my own, I must submit to such things.

Since Jane’s visit to Harriot and Harriot opening up to Jane with candour at Goodnestone how Harriot longs not to visit the Finch-Hattons, Austen is so curiously reticent to admit she may be seeing a case of wife abuse in her friend.

The Moores leave Canterbury on friday — & go for a day or two to Sandling. — I really hope Harriot is altogether very happy — but she cannot feel quite so much at her ease with her Husband, as the Wives she has been used to. —

I’ll say.

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Fairy tale coach turning into a pumpkin

Now turning to Cassandra directly:

Good-bye. I hope You have been long recovered from your worry on Thursday morning – and that you do not much mind not gong to the Newbury races– I am withstanding those of Canterbury. Let that strengthen you.

These races English people did and do delight in. Austen died near one. But she and Cassandra can’t go. They lack a fairy coach. Cassandra is to be strengthened by realizing Jane going through the
same thing.

A less than affectionately intimate, a slightly more distance formal close: “Yrs very sincerely, Jane.

There have been two Cinderellas (meaning put-upon hurt women) in this letter: Anna Austen and Harriot Bridges-Moore. A few more uncomfortable ones:, Mrs Inman, Mrs Williams, Mary Gibson Austen (Mrs F. A.) Nokes wants us to see Mary Lloyd Austen (Mrs J.A.) among these. Perhaps but then she has such a source of consolation in inflicting her power on her step-daughter.

Mary’s stigmatizing and cruelty to her stepdaughter has been a motif of the past few letters. We see Cassandra is trying her best to make it up to the girl. Nokes (and others) make the point that Mary Gibson was singularly uneager to see her husband again when he returned. That’s what makes the Austen sisters and mothers uncomfortable. I surmise that like many others when she woke up from her dream of her romance, she was not keen on her sexual bargain nor aspects of his behavior to her. He was rigid.

Letters 43, 44; 45, 46, 47, and 48, 49, 50, 51, and 52, 53.

Ellen