d divided in
age from Henry by their sister Cassandra. He must have spent some time
at home with his sisters, after their return from school, before he
entered the Royal Naval Academy, established in 1775 at Portsmouth under
the supreme direction of the Lords of the Admiralty. Francis joined it
when he was just twelve, and, 'having attracted the particular notice of
the Lords of the Admiralty by the closeness of his application, and been
in consequence marked out for early promotion,'[33] embarked two and a
half years later as a volunteer on board the frigate _Perseverance_
(captain, Isaac Smith), bound to the East Indies. His father on this
occasion wrote him a long letter--of which a great part is given in
_Jane Austen's Sailor Brothers_.[34] Nothing in this wise and kind
letter is more remarkable than the courtesy and delicacy with which the
father addresses his advice to the son, who was but a boy, but whom he
treats as an officer, and as a young man of whom he already cherished
the highest hopes, consequent upon his previous good conduct. He speaks
on many topics, religious duties being given the first place among them.
He rejoices in the high character Francis had acquired in the academy
and assures him that 'your good mother, brothers, sisters and myself
will all exult in your reputation and rejoice in your happiness.' The
letter concludes thus: 'I have nothing more to add but my blessing and
best prayers for your health and prosperity, and to beg you would never
forget you have not upon earth a more disinterested and warm friend than
your truly affectionate father, Geo. Austen.' We need not be surprised
to learn that this letter was found among the Admiral's private papers
when he died at the age of ninety-one.

The remaining brother, Charles, his sisters' 'own particular little
brother,' born in 1779, must have been still in the nursery when his
sisters left school.

These brothers meant a great deal to Jane[35]; 'but dearest of all to
her heart was her sister Cassandra, about three years her senior. Their
sisterly affection for each other could scarcely be exceeded. Perhaps it
began on Jane's side with the feeling of deference natural to a loving
child towards a kind elder sister. Something of this feeling always
remained; and even in the maturity of her powers, and in the enjoyment
of increasing success, she would still speak of Cassandra as of one
wiser and better than herself.' 'Their attachment was never