Chawton, Sunday March 23.

I am very much obliged to you my dearest Fanny for sending me Mr. Wildman's conversation, I had great amusement in reading it, & I hope I am not affronted & do not think the worse of him for having a Brain so very different from mine, but my strongest sensation of all is astonishment at your being able to press him on the subject so perseveringly-and I agree with your Papa, that it was not fair. When he knows the truth he will be uncomfortable.-You are the oddest Creature!-Nervous enough in some respects, but in others perfectly without nerves! + Quite unre-pulsible, hardened & impudent. Do not oblige him to read any more.-Have mercy on him, tell him the truth & make him an apology. He & I should not in the least agree of course, in our ideas of Novels and Heroines;-pictures of perfection as you know make me sick & wicked-but there is some very good sense in what he says, & I particularly respect him for wishing to think well of all young Ladies; it shews an amiable & a delicate Mind.-And he deserves better treatment than to be obliged to read any more of my Works.-Do not be surprised at finding Uncle Henry acquainted with my having another ready for publication. I could not say No when he asked me, but he knows nothing more of it.-You will not like it, so you need not be impatient. You may perhaps like the Heroine, as she is almost too good for me.-Many thanks for your kind care for my health; I certainly have not been well for many weeks, and about a week ago I was very poorly, I have had a good deal of fever at times & indifferent nights, but am considerably better now, & recovering my Looks a little, which have been bad enough, black & white & every wrong colour. I must not depend upon being ever very blooming again. Sickness is a dangerous Indulgence at my time of Life. Thank you for everything you tell me;-I do not feel worthy of it by anything I can say in return, but I assure you my pleasure in your Letters is quite as great as ever, & I am interested & amused just as you could wish me. If there is a Miss Marsden, I perceive whom she will marry.

Eveng*.-I was languid & dull & very bad company when I wrote the above; I am better now-to my own feelings at least-& wish I may be more agreable. We are going to have Rain, & after that, very pleasant genial weather, which will exactly do for me, as my Saddle will then be completed-and air & exercise is what I want. Indeed I shall be very glad when the event at Scarlets is over, the expectation of it keeps us in a worry, your Grandmama especially; she sits brooding over Evils which cannot be remedied & Conduct impossible to be understood.-Now, the reports from Keppel St. are rather better , little Harriet's headaches are abated, & Sir Evd*: is satisfied with the effect of the Mercury, & does not despair of a Cure. The Complaint I find is not considered Incurable nowadays, provided the Patient be young enough not to have the Head hardened. The Water in that case may be drawn off by Mercury. But though this is a new idea to us, perhaps it may have been long familiar to you, through your friend Mr. Scud:-I hope his high renown is maintained by driving away William's cough. Tell William that Triggs is as beautiful & condescending as ever, & was so good as to dine with us today, & tell him that I often play at Nines & think of him.-Anna has not a chance of escape; her husband called here the other day, & said she was pretty well but not equal to so long a walk; she must come in her Donkey Carriage.-Poor Animal, she will be worn out before she is thirty.-I am very sorry for her.-Mrs** Clement too is in that way again. I am quite tired of so many Children.-Mrs** Benn has a 13th**.-The Papillons came back on friday night, but I have not seen them yet, as I do not venture to Church. I cannot hear however, but that they are the same Mr. P. & his sister they used to be. She has engaged a new Maidservant in Mrs. Calker's room, whom she means to make also Housekeeper under herself.-Old Philmore was buried yesterday, & I, by way of saying something to Triggs, observed that it had been a very handsome Funeral, but his manner of reply made me suppose that it was not generally esteemed so. I can only be sure of one part being very handsome, Triggs himself, walking behind in his Green Coat.-Mrs. Philmore attended as chief Mourner, in Bombasin, made very short, and flounced with Crape.

Tuesday.-I have had various plans as to this Letter, but at last I have determined that Un: Henry shall forward it from London. I want to see how Canterbury looks in the direction.-When once Unc. H. has left us I shall wish him with you. London is become a hateful place to him, & he is always depressed by the idea of it.-I hope he will be in time for your sick. I am sure he must do that part of his Duty as excellently as all the rest. He returned yesterday from Steventon, & was with us by breakfast, bringing Edward with him, only that Edwd* staid to breakfast at Wyards. We had a pleasant family-day, for the Altons dined with us;-the last visit of the kind probably, which she will be able to pay us for many a month;

-Very well, to be able to do it so long, for she expects much about this day three weeks, & is generally very exact.-I hope your own Henry is in France & that you have heard from him. The Passage once over, he will feel all Happiness.-I took my 1st** ride yesterday & liked it very much. I went up Mounters Lane, & round by where the new Cottages are to be, & found the exercise & everything very pleasant, and I had the advantage of agreable companions, as At* Cass: and Edward walked by my side.-At* Cass. is such an excellent Nurse, so assiduous & unwearied!-But you know all that already.-

Very affecly** Yours J. Austen