e at Scarlets, enjoying the
respect and friendship of a large circle of acquaintances. Scarlets was
a small property on the Bath road, about thirty miles from London,
adjoining the hamlet of Hare Hatch, where (as was often the case on a
great highroad) a number of gentlemen's places of moderate size were
congregated within easy reach of each other. Among those who sooner or
later were neighbours of the Leigh Perrots were Maria Edgeworth's father
Richard Lovell Edgeworth (who speaks of the help he received from Mr.
Perrot in his experiments of telegraphing from Hare Hatch to Nettlebed
by means of windmills), and Thomas Day, the author of _Sandford and
Merton_. The house at Scarlets in its then existing shape was the work
of Mr. Leigh Perrot, and was of a suitable size for a childless couple
in easy circumstances. Its owner had abilities which might have stood
him in good stead in any profession, had he adopted one; and he was of a
kind and affectionate disposition, combining an easy temper with ready
wit, and much resolution of character. His wife was hardly formed for
popularity, but she was highly respected. She was not exactly
open-handed, but she had a great idea of the claims of family ties, and
a keen sense of justice as between herself and others. The couple were
unusually devoted to each other. The only crook in their lot appeared to
be the constant gout attacks from which the husband suffered, and the
necessity for frequent visits to Bath: visits, by the way, which had
helped to give to their niece, Jane Austen, such good opportunities for
studying the Bath varieties of human nature.

The journey, however, of the Austens to Bath in the spring of 1799
(described in our next letters) was independent of the Leigh Perrots.
Edward Austen had been suffering, like his uncle, from gout, and
determined to try the waters of Bath; his mother and Jane accompanying
his family party thither. But the Perrots were already settled in
Paragon Buildings[99] when the Austens arrived, and the two families
would be constantly meeting.

The Austens took up their quarters in Queen Square, which Jane seems to
have liked much better than she made her Miss Musgroves like it when she
wrote _Persuasion_, sixteen years later.

13 Queen Square: Friday [May 17, 1799].

MY DEAREST CASSANDRA,--Our journey yesterday went
off exceedingly well; nothing occurred to alarm or
delay us. We found