r in the East Indies, and
then returned to serve on the Home Station. The result of this last move
was that in 1793, rather more than a year after the marriages of James
and Edward, their parents had the delight of welcoming back a son, who,
having quitted them as a boy not yet fifteen years old, reappeared as a
young man and successful officer, of whom his family might be justly
proud.

Other events, grave and gay, were now happening at Steventon. Besides
Eliza de Feuillide, who took refuge there with her young son while the
clouds were gathering round her husband in France, the rectory had
another visitor in the summer of 1792, in Jane Cooper, daughter of Mrs.
Austen's only sister, who came here after her father's death. Dr. Cooper
had set out in June with his son and daughter, and his neighbours, the
Lybbe Powyses, on a tour to the Isle of Wight. The tour had important
results for the young Coopers, as Edward became engaged to Caroline
Lybbe Powys, and his sister to Captain Thomas Williams, R.N., whom she
met at Ryde. Dr. Cooper, whose health had been the chief reason for the
tour, did not long survive his return, dying at Sonning (of which he had
been vicar since 1784) on August 27. The date of his daughter's wedding
was already fixed, but had of course to be postponed. She went
immediately to Steventon, and was married from the Rectory on December
11 of the same year. One happy result of this marriage was to provide an
opening for the naval career of the youngest of the Austens, Charles,
who was three years younger than Jane, and whom we last met in the
nursery. As he was also five years junior to Francis, the latter must
have quitted the Naval Academy some time before his brother entered it.
Charles Austen was one of those happy mortals destined to be loved from
childhood to old age by every one with whom they come in contact. How
great a favourite he was at home is easily to be read between the lines
of his sister's letters; and when he died at the age of seventy-three as
Admiral of the British Fleet in the Burmese waters, one who was with him
wrote that 'his death was a great grief to the whole fleet--I know I
cried bitterly when I found he was dead.' The charming expression of
countenance in the miniatures still existing of this youngest brother
makes such feelings quite comprehensible.

On leaving the Academy he served under his cousin's husband, Captain
Thomas Williams, and was fortunate enough to witness an