LETTERS OF JANE AUSTEN
Well, and so Frank’s letters has made you
very happy, but you are afraid he would not
have patience to stay for the “Haarlem,” which
you wish him to have done as being safer than
the merchantman. Poor fellow! to wait from the
middle of November to the end of December,
and perhaps even longer, it must be sad work;
especially in a place where the ink is so abominably
pale. What a surprise to him it must have
been on October 20, to be visited, collared, and
thrust out of the “Petterell” by Captain Inglis.
He kindly passes over the poignancy of his feelings
in quitting his ship, his officers, and his
men.
What a pity It is that he should not be in England at the time of this promotion, because he certainly would have had an appointment, so everybody says, and therefore it must be right for me to say it too. Had he been really here, the certainty of the appointment, I dare say, would not have been half so great, but as it could not be brought to the proof his absence will be always a lucky source of regret.
Eliza talks of having read in a newspaper that all the 1st lieutenants of the frigates whose captains were to be sent into line-of-battle ships were to be promoted to the rank of commanders. If it be true, Mr. Valentine may afford himself
a fine Valentine’s knot, and Charles may perhaps
