Another unfinished novel was begun in January, 1817, and twelve chapters
were written by the middle of March. Miss Austen died on July 18 of that
same year. This unnamed novel, to judge by extracts published in the
_Memoir_ (p. 181), promised to contain at least one admirable character
in the person of Lady Denham, who seems an ill-natured and grasping Mrs.
Jennings (if that is not a contradiction in terms), with a strong flavour
of Lady Catherine de Burgh.

Miss Austen's works are not only to be studied from the point of view of
genetics, nor merely by a naturalist whose desire is to classify without
inquiry as to the origin of his species; they also supply material for
the geographer. I do not know who first identified the Highbury of
_Emma_ with Cobham, as being seven miles from Boxhill and 18 from London
("sixteen miles, nay 18, it must be full 18 to Manchester Street"). The
identification is confirmed by a slip on the part of the authoress, who,
in a single passage, printed Cobham in place of Highbury. By this method
of mensuration my friend the Master of Downing has shown Kellynch Hall in
_Persuasion_ to be near Buckland St. Mary, and Mansfield Park to coincide
roughly with Easton, near Huntingdon.

The geography of Lyme Regis is of interest.

The party from Upper Cross drove in a leisurely way to Lyme, and the
afternoon was well advanced as they descended the steep hill into the
village. The hill is doubtless much as it was, and nearly at the bottom
are the two hotels mentioned; it is, honestly speaking, impossible to say
at which of the two the Musgroves put up. I am inclined to believe it
was that on the west side, but my reasons, if indeed they exist, are not
worth giving.

The house in which Miss Austen is known to have stayed is probably
Captain Harville's. It is near the Cobb, and presents that air of not
having much room inside, which we gather from the description in
_Mansfield Park_.

But these points are of trifling interest in comparison with the really
important question--where did Louisa's accident occur? There are three
separate flights of steps on the Cobb, and the local photographer, in the
interests of trade, had to fix on one of them as the scene of the jump.
I cannot believe that he is right. These steps are too high and too
threatening for a girl of that period to choose with such a purpose, even
for Louisa, whose determination of character we know to have been one of
her char