their spirits, but without success. Mr.
Hammond, under the influence of daughters and an
expected ball, declares he will do nothing. . . .

Yours affectionately,
J. A.

Cassandra and Jane had a scheme for going to Worthing with some of their
young nephews and nieces; but we can say no more about the plan, for the
letters now cease until January 1807. As for the events of 1806, there
is every reason to believe that the Austens spent the first part of that
year in Bath, dividing their time somewhat uncomfortably between
different lodgings.[150]

Meanwhile, Francis Austen had been helping to make history--though not
always in so front a rank as he would have desired to occupy. We left
him raising the 'sea fencibles' at Ramsgate, instructing the defenders
of the coast, and considering the possibilities of a landing by the
French in their flat-bottomed vessels. It was at Ramsgate that he was
noted as '_the_ officer who knelt in Church,' and it was there that he
met and fell in love with his future wife, Mary Gibson. She became in
time one of the best loved of the sisters-in-law; but we are told that
at the time the engagement was a slight shock to Cassandra and Jane,
because the lady chosen was _not_ Martha Lloyd, as they had hoped she
might be.

Immediate marriage was out of the question, and in May 1804 Frank was
appointed to the _Leopard_, the flagship of Admiral Louis, who at this
time held a command in the squadron blockading Napoleon's flotilla.
Frank's removal from the _Leopard_ to the _Canopus_[151] brought him
home, for a short time, just at the date of his father's death in
January 1805. In March, Admiral Louis hoisted his flag in the _Canopus_
and soon became second-in-command to Nelson. Frank, as his flag-captain,
took part in the chase after Villeneuve to the West Indies and back.
Thus far, fortune had favoured him: a state of things which seemed
likely to continue, as he was personally known to Nelson and had reason
to hope that he would soon give him the command of a frigate. But a sad
reverse was in store for him. September was spent in blockading Cadiz;
and, after Nelson's arrival from England in the _Victory_ on September
28, the _Canopus_ was ordered to 'complete supplies'[152] at Gibraltar.
After this, followed an order to Admiral Louis to give protection, as
far as Cartagena, to a convo