fraid his Serene Highness will be
in a passion, and order some of our heads to be
cut off.

Steventon: Friday [December 28, 1798].

MY DEAR CASSANDRA,--Frank is made. He was
yesterday raised to the rank of Commander, and
appointed to the _Peterel_ sloop, now at
Gibraltar. A letter from Daysh has just announced
this, and as it is confirmed by a very friendly
one from Mr. Mathew to the same effect,
transcribing one from Admiral Gambier to the
General,[91] we have no reason to suspect the
truth of it.

As soon as you have cried a little for joy, you
may go on, and learn farther that the India House
have taken _Captain Austen's_ petition into
consideration--this comes from Daysh--and likewise
that Lieutenant Charles John Austen is removed to
the _Tamar_ frigate--this comes from the Admiral.
We cannot find out where the _Tamar_ is, but I
hope we shall now see Charles here at all events.

This letter is to be dedicated entirely to good
news. If you will send my father an account of
your washing and letter expenses, &c., he will
send you a draft for the amount of it, as well as
for your next quarter,[92] and for Edward's rent.
If you don't buy a muslin gown now on the strength
of this money and Frank's promotion, I shall never
forgive you.

Mrs. Lefroy has just sent me word that Lady
Dorchester meant to invite me to her ball on
January 8, which, though an humble blessing
compared with what the last page records, I do not
consider as any calamity.

I cannot write any more now, but I have written
enough to make you very happy, and therefore may
safely conclude.

Steventon: Tuesday [January 8, 1799].

I am tolerably glad to hear that Edward's income
is a good one--as glad as I can be at anybody's
being rich except you and me--and I am thoroughly
rejoiced to hear of his present to you.

* * * * *

I assure you that I dread the idea of going to
Brighton[93] as much as you do, but I am not
without hopes that something ma