eleton, and now
and then starved to death. At last, hunted out of civilised society,
denied the poor shelter of the humblest cottage, they are compelled to
retreat into Kamtschatka, where the poor father quite worn down,
finding his end approaching, throws himself on the ground, and after
four or five hours of tender advice and parental admonition to his
miserable child, expires in a fine burst of literary enthusiasm,
intermingled with invectives against the holders of tithes. Heroine
inconsolable for some time, but afterwards crawls back towards her
former country, having at least twenty narrow escapes of falling into
the hands of anti-hero; and at last, in the very nick of time, turning
a corner to avoid him, runs into the arms of the hero himself, who,
having just shaken off the scruples which fettered him before, was at
the very moment setting off in pursuit of her. The tenderest and
completest _eclaircissement_ takes place, and they are happily united.
Throughout the whole work heroine to be in the most elegant society,
and living in high style.'

Since the first publication of this memoir, Mr. Murray of Albemarle
Street has very kindly sent to me copies of the following letters, which
his father received from Jane Austen, when engaged in the publication of
'Emma.' The increasing cordiality of the letters shows that the author
felt that her interests were duly cared for, and was glad to find herself
in the hands of a publisher whom she could consider as a friend.

Her brother had addressed to Mr. Murray a strong complaint of the
tardiness of a printer:--

'23 Hans Place, Thursday, November 23 (1815).

'SIR,--My brother's note last Monday has been so fruitless, that I am
afraid there can be but little chance of my writing to any good
effect; but yet I am so very much disappointed and vexed by the delays
of the printers, that I cannot help begging to know whether there is
no hope of their being quickened. Instead of the work being ready by
the end of the present month, it will hardly, at the rate we now
proceed, be finished by the end of the next; and as I expect to leave
London early in December, it is of consequence that no more time
should be lost. Is it likely that the printers will be influenced to
greater dispatch and punctuality by knowing that the work is to be
dedicated, by permission, to the Prince Regent? If you c