published; and I hope that I may claim some indulgent allowance for the
difficulty of recovering little facts and feelings which had been merged
half a century deep in oblivion.

NOVEMBER 17, 1870.




CONTENTS.


Chapter I. _Introductory Remarks--Birth of Jane Austen--Her Family
Connections--Their Influence on her Writings_

Chapter II. _Description of Steventon--Life at Steventon--Changes of
Habits and Customs in the last Century_

Chapter III. _Early Compositions--Friends at Ashe--A very Old
Letter--Lines on the Death of Mrs. Lefroy--Observations on Jane Austen's
Letter-writing--Letters_

Chapter IV. _Removal from Steventon--Residence at Bath and at
Southampton--Settling at Chawton_

Chapter V. _Description of Jane Austen's person, character, and
tastes_

Chapter VI. _Habits of Composition resumed after a long interval--First
publication--The interest taken by the Author in the success of her