of
Sweden knew that I was come to Godmersham with my
brother. Yes, I suppose you have received due
notice of it by some means or other. I have not
been here these four years, so I am sure the
event deserves to be talked of before and behind,
as well as in the middle. We left Chawton on the
14th, spent two entire days in town, and arrived
here on the 17th. My brother, Fanny, Lizzie,
Marianne and I composed this division of the
family, and filled his carriage inside and out.
Two post-chaises, under the escort of George,
conveyed eight more across the country, the chair
brought two, two others came on horseback, and the
rest by coach, and so by one means or another, we
all are removed. It puts me in remind of St.
Paul's shipwreck, when all are said, by different
means, to reach the shore in safety. I left my
mother, Cassandra, and Martha well, and have had
good accounts of them since. At present they are
quite alone, but they are going to be visited by
Mrs. Heathcote and Miss Bigg, and to have a few
days of Henry's company likewise.

* * * * *

Of our three evenings in town, one was spent at
the Lyceum, and another at Covent Garden. _The
Clandestine Marriage_ was the most respectable of
the performances, the rest were sing-song and
trumpery; but it did very well for Lizzie and
Marianne, who were indeed delighted, but I wanted
better acting. There was no actor worth naming. I
believe the theatres are thought at a very low ebb
at present. Henry has probably sent you his own
account of his visit in Scotland. I wish he had
had more time, and could have gone further north,
and deviated to the lakes on his way back; but
what he was able to do seems to have afforded him
great enjoyment, and he met with scenes of higher
beauty in Roxburghshire than I had supposed the
South of Scotland possessed. Our nephew's
gratification was less keen than our brother's.
Edward is no enthusiast in the beauties of nature.
His enthusiasm is for the sports of the field
only. He is a very promising a