t with my mother not
to delay her visit in Paragon, if she should
continue unwell, and even recommends her spending
the whole winter with them. At present and for
many days past my mother has been quite stout, and
she wishes not to be obliged by any relapse to
alter her arrangements.

Mention is made in several letters of Frank's promotion and his
ignorance of it. In 1799, while commanding the sloop _Peterel_, he had
been entrusted by Lord St. Vincent with dispatches conveying to Nelson
at Palermo the startling news of Admiral Bruix's escape from Brest with
a considerable fleet, and his entry into the Mediterranean. So important
did Francis Austen believe this intelligence to be, that he landed his
first lieutenant with the dispatches on the coast of Sicily some way
short of Palermo, the wind being unfavourable for the approach to the
capital by sea. Nelson next employed him in taking orders to the
squadron blockading Malta. Frank spent the autumn and winter cruising
about the Mediterranean, and taking various prizes; the most important
capture being that of the _Ligurienne_--a French national brig convoying
two vessels laden with corn for the French forces in Egypt. This exploit
took place in March 1800, and was considered of such importance that he
was made a post-captain for it; but so slow and uncertain was
communication to and from the seat of war that he knew nothing of his
promotion till October--long after his friends at home had become
acquainted with it. His being 'collared and thrust out of the _Peterel_
by Captain Inglis' (his successor) is of course a graphic way of
describing his change of vessel and promotion.

Steventon: Wednesday [January 21, 1801].

MY DEAR CASSANDRA,--Expect a most agreeable
letter, for not being overburdened with subject
(having nothing at all to say), I shall have no
check to my genius from beginning to end.

Well, and so Frank's letter has made you very
happy, but you are afraid he would not have
patience to stay for the _Haarlem_ which you wish
him to have done as being safer than the
merchantman. Poor fellow! to wait from the middle
of November to the end of December, and perhaps
even longer, it must be sad work; especially in a
place where the ink is so abominably pale. What