8. See letter of November 17 in
that year in _Brabourne_, vol. i. p. 165.

[39] _Memoir_, p. 42.

[40] _Memoir_, p. 45.

[41] See p. 201.

[42] _Supra_, p. 43.

[43] A reproduction of this picture appears also as a frontispiece to
the first volume of Dent's illustrated edition of the novels (1892).

[44] _Dictionary of National Biography_, s.v.

[45] By Dr. Thomas Francklin; but said to be almost a translation of
Voltaire's _Duc de Foix_.

[46] A comedy by Mrs. Cowley.

[47] _Bon Ton, or High Life above Stairs_, a comedy by David Garrick.

[48] _The Wonder: a Woman keeps a Secret_, a comedy by Mrs. Centlivre.

[49] Probably Garrick's version of Fletcher's comedy.

[50] _The Sultan: or a Peep into the Seraglio_, by I. Bickerstaffe.

CHAPTER V

GROWTH AND CHANGE

1792-1796

Though it may hardly be likely that the Austens could rival Mrs. Bennet
of _Pride and Prejudice_ by professing to dine with four-and-twenty
families, there was, nevertheless (for a quiet country neighbourhood), a
very fair amount of society to be had around Steventon.

Readers of Jane Austen's letters will come across the names of many
Hampshire neighbours, with occasional indications of the estimate which
she formed of their intellects and characters. Probably there were many
different degrees of refinement in different families; and towards the
bottom of the list must have come the squire of many acres,[51] who, we
are told, inquired of Mr. Austen whether Paris was in France or France
in Paris, and who quoted a speech of the Rector's wife as beginning with
a round oath, saying, when remonstrated with, that it was merely his
'way of telling the story.' When the author of the _Memoir_ expresses
his belief that a century and a half ago the improvement of manners in
most country parishes began with the clergy, he was no doubt thinking of
the more learned minority of that body, who would bring into the depths
of the country something of the enlightenment of a university. To this
minority Jane's father and brother belonged, and thus the family
probably gave to the society around them at least as much culture as
they received from it in return.

In the outer circle of their neighbourhood stood the houses of three
peers--those of Lord Portsmouth at Hurstbourne, Lord Bolton at Hackwood,
and Lord Dorchester at Greywell. The owners of these places now and then
gave balls at home,[52] and could also be relied upon to bring parties