Eliza Hancock, Jane Austen’s cousin, is about to marry a French officer. Woodman, Warren Hastings’s brother-in-law, reports the concerns of George Austen, Eliza’s uncle and Jane’s father. The fuller printed postscript also discusses protecting Eliza’s mother’s money. This is a report of George’s opinion, not a letter written by him, and not a complete Woodman letter.

J. Woodman to Warren Hastings

AUG 7, 1781

London 7 Aug. 1781.

P.S. Mrs. & Miss Hancock are yet in France & likely to continue there, the young lady being on the point of marriage with a French officer which Mrs. Hancock writes is of good family with expectation of good Fortune, but at present but little. Her letter was to Mr. Austen & self on the subject and she seems inclined to give up to them the sum which was settled on her for life, & wants the money to be transferred into the French funds which we have thought prudent for her sake to decline, and Mr. Austen is much concerned at the connection which he says is giving up all their friends, their country, & he fears their religion.

Woodman reports on Eliza Hancock’s proposed marriage to Jean-François de Feuillide. Only the postscript is printed, not a complete letter.

Extract from Austen Papers (1942), p. 97.