view to the south.

[100] Fanny (Lady Knatchbull) and Edward (Knight).

[101] I.e. on the King's Birthday (June 4).

[102] Mr. Leigh Perrot was at this time sixty-three and his wife
fifty-four years old.

[103] Created a baronet in 1806.

[104] Before the passing of the Prisoners' Counsel Act of 1836, counsel
were not allowed to address the Court on behalf of prisoners tried for
felony.

[105] Seven minutes, according to another account.

[106] If this story were not specially well authenticated, it would be
incredible; but we must remember that this all happened before the
reforms of Sir Samuel Romilly, when the law was in a chaotic state, and
when offences against property were very severely dealt with. Any
larceny above the value of a 1_s._ was a felony, punishable--nominally
by death, and actually by seven years' transportation; though the
transportation may frequently have been commuted to a sentence of
imprisonment. Magistrates had no power of bailing a person committed for
a felony, if the stolen article were found in his possession.

CHAPTER X

CHANGE OF HOME

1800-1801

Though we can guess what was constantly occupying the thoughts of the
Austens in the autumn and winter of 1799-1800, nothing remains to tell
us how they employed themselves during these anxious months. Perhaps the
sisters were at home, and exchanged no letters; but had any been
written, we may be pretty sure they would be among those destroyed by
Cassandra. When we meet the family again, in October 1800, we find that
they have returned to everyday life with its little incidents, its
duties, and its pleasures; that Edward and his eldest son have lately
left Steventon for Godmersham, taking Cassandra with them, and that Jane
is remaining at home with her parents.

Steventon: Saturday evening [October 25, 1800].

MY DEAR CASSANDRA,-- . . . You have had a very
pleasant journey of course, and have found
Elizabeth and all the children very well on your
arrival at Godmersham, and I congratulate you on
it. Edward is rejoicing this evening, I dare say,
to find himself once more at home, from which he
fancies he has been absent a great while. His son
left behind him the very fine chestnuts which had
been selected for planting at Godmersham, and the
drawing of his own which he had intended to carry
to Georg