A Memoir of Jane Austen

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The Prince Regent
Hans Place. He was attended by one of the Prince Regent’s physicians.°
All attempts to keep her name secret had at this time
ceased, and though it had never appeared on a title-page, all who
cared to know might easily learn it: and the friendly physician was
aware that his patient’s nurse was the author of ‘Pride and Prejudice.’
Accordingly he informed her one day that the Prince was a
great admirer of her novels; that he read them often, and kept a
set in every one of his residences; that he himself therefore had
thought it right to inform his Royal Highness that Miss Austen
was staying in London, and that the Prince had desired Mr.
Clarke, the librarian of Carlton House,° to wait upon her. The
next day Mr. Clarke made his appearance, and invited her to
Carlton House, saying that he had the Prince’s instructions to
show her the library and other apartments, and to pay her every
possible attention. The invitation was of course accepted, and
during the visit to Carlton House Mr. Clarke declared himself
commissioned to say that if Miss Austen had any other novel
forthcoming she was at liberty to dedicate it to the Prince.
Accordingly such a dedication was immediately prefixed to
‘Emma,’ which was at that time in the press.°
Mr. Clarke was the brother of Dr. Clarke, the traveller and
mineralogist, whose life has been written by Bishop Otter.° Jane
found in him not only a very courteous gentleman, but also a
warm admirer of her talents; though it will be seen by his letters
that he did not clearly apprehend the limits of her powers, or the
proper field for their exercise. The following correspondence
took place between them.
Feeling some apprehension lest she should make a mistake in
acting on the verbal permission which she had received from the
Prince, Jane addressed the following letter to Mr. Clarke:––
‘Nov. 15, 1815.°
‘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