My dear Caroline

You will receive a message from me Tomorrow, & today you will receive the parcel itself; therefore I should not like to be in that Message's shoes, it will look so much like a fool. I am glad to hear of your proceedings & improvements in the Gentleman Quack. There was a great deal of Spirit in the first part. Our objections to it You have heard, & I give your Authoship credit for bearing Criticism so well.-I hope Edwd* is not idle. No matter what becomes of the Craven Exhibition provided he goes on with his Novel. In that, he will find his true fame & his true wealth. That will be the honourable Exhibition which no V. Chancellor can rob him of.-I have just recd* nearly twenty pounds myself on the 2d* Edit: of S & S-which gives me this fine flow of Literary Ardour.-Tell your Mama, I am very much obliged to her for the Ham she intends sending me, & that the Seacale will be extreemly acceptable-is I should say, as we have got it already; the future, relates only to our time of dressing it, which will not be till Uncles Henry & Frank can dine here together.-Do you know that Mary Jane went to Town with her Papa? They were there last week from Monday to Saturday, & she was as happy as possible. She spent a day in Keppel St* with Cassy; & her Papa is sure that she must have walked 8 or 9 miles in a morng* with him. Your Aunt F. spent the week with us, & one Child with her, changed every day. The Piano Forte's Duty, & will be happy to see you whenever you can come.

Yrs affecly**

J. Austen

Chawton March 14.