a
surprise to him it must have been on October 20,
to be visited, collared, and thrust out of the
_Peterel_ by Captain Inglis. He kindly passes over
the poignancy of his feelings in quitting his
ship, his officers, and his men.

What a pity it is that he should not be in England
at the time of his promotion, because he certainly
would have had an appointment, so everybody says,
and therefore it must be right for me to say it
too. Had he been really here, the certainty of the
appointment, I dare say, would not have been half
so great, but as it could not be brought to the
proof his absence will be always a lucky source of
regret.

Eliza[121] talks of having read in a newspaper
that all the First Lieutenants of the frigates
whose Captains were to be sent into line-of-battle
ships were to be promoted to the rank of
Commanders. If it be true, Mr. Valentine may
afford himself a fine Valentine's knot, and
Charles may perhaps become First of the
_Endymion_, though I suppose Captain Durham is too
likely to bring a villain with him under that
denomination.

* * * * *

I join with you in wishing for the environs of
Laura Place, but do not venture to expect it. My
mother hankers after the Square dreadfully, and it
is but natural to suppose that my uncle will take
_her_ part. It would be very pleasant to be near
Sydney Gardens; we might go into the labyrinth
every day.

Steventon: Sunday [January 25, 1801].

Your unfortunate sister was betrayed last Thursday
into a situation of the utmost cruelty. I arrived
at Ashe Park before the party from Deane, and was
shut up in the drawing-room with Mr. Holder alone
for ten minutes. I had some thoughts of insisting
on the housekeeper or Mary Corbett being sent for,
and nothing could prevail on me to move two steps
from the door, on the lock of which I kept one
hand constantly fixed. We met nobody but
ourselves, played at _vingt-un_ again, and were
very cross.

* * * * *