n must at times be on subjects of
science and philosophy, of which I know nothing;
or at least occasionally abundant in quotations
and allusions which a woman who, like me, knows
only her own mother tongue, and has read little in
that, would be totally without the power of
giving. A classical education, or at any rate a
very extensive acquaintance with English
literature, ancient and modern, appears to me
quite indispensable for the person who would do
any justice to your clergyman; and I think I may
boast myself to be, with all possible vanity, the
most unlearned and uninformed female who ever
dared to be an authoress.

Believe me, dear Sir,
Your obliged and faithful hum^{bl} Ser^{t,}
JANE AUSTEN.

But Mr. Clarke had not finished with his suggestions, for he replied in
a few days:--

Carlton House: Thursday [December 1815].

MY DEAR MADAM,--The letter you were so obliging as
to do me the honour of sending, was forwarded to
me in Kent, where, in a village, Chiddingstone,
near Sevenoaks, I had been hiding myself from all
bustle and turmoil and getting spirits for a
winter campaign, and strength to stand the sharp
knives which many a Shylock is wetting [_sic_] to
cut more than a pound of flesh from my heart, on
the appearance of _James the Second_.[308]

On Monday I go to Lord Egremont's at
Petworth--where your praises have long been
sounded as they ought to be--I shall then look in
on the party at the Pavilion[309] for a couple of
nights, and return to preach at Park Street
Chapel, Green Street, on the Thanksgiving Day.

You were very good to send me _Emma_, which I have
in no respect deserved. It is gone to the Prince
Regent. I have read only a few pages, which I very
much admired--there is so much nature and
excellent description of character in everything
you describe. Pray continue to write and make all
your friends send sketches to help you--and
_Memoires pour servir_, as the French term it. Do
let us have an English clergyman