Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters: A Family RecordAusten-Leigh, William
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Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters: A Family Record
Austen-Leigh, William
Austen, Jane, 1775-1817; Austen, Jane, 1775-1817 -- Family; Novelists, English -- 19th century -- Family relationships
Eliza is walking out by herself. She has plenty of
business on her hands just now, for the day of the
party is settled, and drawing near. Above 80
people are invited for next Tuesday evening, and
there is to be some very good music--five
professionals, three of them glee singers, besides
amateurs. Fanny will listen to this. One of the
hirelings is a Capital on the harp, from which I
expect great pleasure. The foundation of the party
was a dinner to Henry Egerton and Henry
Walter,[219] but the latter leaves town the day
before. I am sorry, as I wished _her_ prejudice to
be done away, but should have been more sorry if
there had been no invitation.
I am a wretch, to be so occupied with all these
things as to seem to have no thoughts to give to
people and circumstances which really supply a far
more lasting interest--the society in which you
are; but I do think of you all, I assure you, and
want to know all about everybody, and especially
about your visit to the W. Friars[220]; 'mais le
moyen' not to be occupied by one's own concerns?
_Saturday._--Frank is superseded in the
_Caledonia_. Henry brought us this news yesterday
from Mr. Daysh, and he heard at the same time that
Charles may be in England in the course of a
month. Sir Edward Pollen succeeds Lord Gambier in
his command, and some captain of his succeeds
Frank; and I believe the order is already gone
out. Henry means to enquire farther to-day. He
wrote to Mary on the occasion. This is something
to think of. Henry is convinced that he will have
the offer of something else,[221] but does not
think it will be at all incumbent on him to accept
it; and then follows, what will he do? and where
will he live?
* * * * *
The D'Antraigues and Comte Julien cannot come to
the party, which was at first a grief, but she has
since supplied herself so well with performers
that it is of no consequence; their not coming has
produced our going to them to-morrow evening,
which I like the idea of. It will be amusing to
see the ways of a French circle.
* * * * *
Our first object to-day was Henrietta St., to
consult with Henry in consequence of a very
unlucky change of the play for this very
night--_Hamlet_ instead of _King John_--and we are
to go on Monday to _Macbeth_ instead; but it is a
disappointment to us both.
Love to all.
Thursday [April 25, 1811].[222]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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