Jane Austen Letters

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Little George comes to visit

Five years before Jane Austen’s birth, her mother Cassandra writes about her son George, who has recently had another fit. This is the younger George, not Jane’s father. Susanna Walter is married to the father’s half-brother, William Hampson Walter. The letter records the family’s concern without supplying a diagnosis.

Cassandra Austen (née Leigh) to Susanna Walter (née Weaver)
DEC 9, 1770

Steventon Dec 9th

Dear Sister,

Thank you kindly for your letter and Oppedeldock receipt. Thank God we are all very well, and my little Neddy’s cough seems entirely to have left him: he was so well that I ventured to leave him with his maid for a few days, while we went to Southcote, where we found my sister, Dr. Cooper and the little boy quite well, I had not seen her before, since I left them in town last July. We went on Monday and returned last night and found Neddy quite well. The day after Christmas day we are to go to my brother Perrot’s for about ten days, but there I shall take Neddy as well as Jemmy, there being no little ones there to catch anything bad of us. I wish my dear brother and sister Walter were not more than thirty instead of eighty miles from us, for believe me ’tis the distance, not the place you live in, which prevents my visiting you so often as I could wish. For your own sake I wish you were removed from the parsonage, as I think you would be happier any where else, but as to myself it is a matter of indifference, I know and care so very little about your neighbours, that they would never prevent my coming, as my visit would be to you, not to them. I rejoice to hear so good an account of dear Bill, and doubt not but he will continue to deserve the best of characters.

Mr. Hillman and Mr. Harwood are still at variance, but the former goes away at Lady-day: the house is let to two very young single gentlemen.

My poor little George is come to see me to-day, he seems pretty well, tho’ he had a fit lately; it was near a twelvemonth since he had one before, so was in hopes they had left him, but must not flatter myself so now. I find my sister Hancock has been much incommoded by the waters, so fancy she won’t be sorry when the time comes for her going to town, which I think she says is to be next month. I have a great notion she will soon be tired of Byfleet, as it seems to be a very bad winter place. My dear brother & sister farewell, our kindest love attend you and your three children.

I am, my dear sister, yrs. affectly. C: Austen.

Austen Papers supplies 1770 in angle brackets; the dateline gives only 9 December. Its fuller printing identifies Susanna Walter as recipient; Life and Letters describes the earlier extracts collectively as letters to Mr. and Mrs. Walter.

Source: Austen Papers 1704–1856, edited by R. A. Austen-Leigh (1942), p. 26.