Mrs. James Austen went to Winchester on a Friday; perhaps Friday, June
6. Two or three days afterwards, her husband wrote to their son Edward,
who no doubt was following at Oxford with painful interest the varying
news. James, at any rate, cherished no illusions as to the possibility
of a cure.

Steventon: Thursday.

MY DEAR EDWARD,--I grieve to write what you will
grieve to read; but I must tell you that we can no
longer flatter ourselves with the least hope of
having your dear valuable Aunt Jane restored to
us. The symptoms which returned after the first
four or five days at Winchester, have never
subsided, and Mr. Lyford has candidly told us that
her case is desperate. I need not say what a
melancholy gloom this has cast over us all. Your
Grandmamma has suffered much, but her affliction
can be nothing to Cassandra's. She will indeed be
to be pitied. It is some consolation to know that
our poor invalid has hitherto felt no very severe
pain--which is rather an extraordinary
circumstance in her complaint. I saw her on
Tuesday and found her much altered, but composed
and cheerful. She is well aware of her situation.
Your Mother has been there ever since Friday and
returns not till all is over--how soon that may be
we cannot say--Lyford said he saw no signs of
immediate dissolution, but added that with such a
pulse it was impossible for any person to last
long, and indeed no one can wish it--an easy
departure from this to a better world is all that
we can pray for. I am going to Winchester again
to-morrow; you may depend upon early information,
when any change takes place, and should then
prepare yourself for what the next letter _may_
announce.

Mrs. Heathcote is the greatest possible comfort to
them all. . . .

We all join in love.

Your affectionate Father,
J. AUSTEN.

Edward's young sister Caroline (aged twelve) adds a few unhappy lines
about her aunt, saying: 'I now feel as if I had never loved and valued
her enough.'

Jane Austen 'retained her faculties, her memory,