A Memoir of Jane Austen

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56 Jane Austen’s Letters
power–– no improbable occurrence before the battle of Trafalgar.°
Information about relatives on board men-of-war was scarce and
scanty, and often picked up by hearsay or chance means; and
every scrap of intelligence was proportionably valuable:––
‘MY DEAR CASSANDRA,°
‘I should not have thought it necessary to write to you so soon,
but for the arrival of a letter from Charles to myself. It was
written last Saturday from off the Start, and conveyed to Popham
Lane by Captain Boyle, on his way to Midgham. He came from
Lisbon in the “Endymion.” I will copy Charles’s account of his
conjectures about Frank: “He has not seen my brother lately, nor
does he expect to find him arrived, as he met Captain Inglis at
Rhodes, going up to take command of the ‘Petrel,’ as he was
coming down; but supposes he will arrive in less than a fortnight
from this time, in some ship which is expected to reach England
about that time with dispatches from Sir Ralph Abercrombie.”°
The event must show what sort of a conjuror Captain Boyle is.
The “Endymion” has not been plagued with any more prizes.
Charles spent three pleasant days in Lisbon.
‘They were very well satisfied with their royal passenger, 1
whom they found jolly and affable,° who talks of Lady Augusta as
his wife, and seems much attached to her.
‘When this letter was written, the “Endymion” was becalmed,
but Charles hoped to reach Portsmouth by Monday or Tuesday.
He received my letter, communicating our plans, before he left
England; was much surprised, of course, but is quite reconciled
to them, and means to come to Steventon once more while
Steventon is ours.’°
From a letter written later in the same year:–– °
‘Charles has received 30l. for his share of the privateer,° and
expects 10l. more; but of what avail is to take prizes if he lays out
the produce in presents to his sisters? He has been buying gold
chains and topaze crosses for us.° He must be well scolded. The
1 The Duke of Sussex, son of George III., married, without royal consent, to the
Lady Augusta Murray.