'Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

6th Jan. 1852.

'Since high critical authority has pronounced the delineations of
character in the works of Jane Austen second only to those of
Shakspeare, transatlantic admiration appears superfluous; yet it may
not be uninteresting to her family to receive an assurance that the
influence of her genius is extensively recognised in the American
Republic, even by the highest judicial authorities. The late Mr.
Chief Justice Marshall, of the supreme Court of the United States, and
his associate Mr. Justice Story, highly estimated and admired Miss
Austen, and to them we owe our introduction to her society. For many
years her talents have brightened our daily path, and her name and
those of her characters are familiar to us as "household words." We
have long wished to express to some of her family the sentiments of
gratitude and affection she has inspired, and request more information
relative to her life than is given in the brief memoir prefixed to her
works.

'Having accidentally heard that a brother of Jane Austen held a high
rank in the British Navy, we have obtained his address from our friend
Admiral Wormley, now resident in Boston, and we trust this expression
of our feeling will be received by her relations with the kindness and
urbanity characteristic of Admirals of _her creation_. Sir Francis
Austen, or one of his family, would confer a great favour by complying
with our request. The autograph of his sister, or a few lines in her
handwriting, would be placed among our chief treasures.