after your
fancy--much novelty may be introduced--show, dear
Madam, what good would be done if tythes were
taken away entirely, and describe him burying his
own mother, as I did, because the High Priest of
the Parish in which she died did not pay her
remains the respect he ought to do. I have never
recovered the shock. Carry your clergyman to sea
as the friend of some distinguished naval
character about a Court, you can then bring
forward, like Le Sage, many interesting scenes of
character and interest.

But forgive me, I cannot write to you without
wishing to elicit your genius, and I fear I cannot
do that without trespassing on your patience and
good nature.

I have desired Mr. Murray to procure, if he can,
two little works I ventured to publish from being
at sea--sermons which I wrote and preached on the
ocean, and the edition which I published of
Falconer's _Shipwreck_.[310]

Pray, dear Madam, remember that beside my cell at
Carlton House, I have another which Dr. Barne
procured for me at No. 37 Golden Square, where I
often hide myself. There is a small library there
much at your service, and if you can make the cell
render you any service as a sort of halfway house
when you come to Town, I shall be most happy.
There is a maid servant of mine always there.

I hope to have the honour of sending you _James
the Second_ when it reaches a second edition, as
some few notes may possibly be then added.

Yours, dear Madam, very sincerely,
J. S. CLARKE.

It is evident that what the writer of the above letter chiefly desired,
was that Jane Austen should depict a clergyman who should resemble no
one so much as the Rev. J. S. Clarke. This is borne out again in a
further letter in which Mr. Clarke expressed the somewhat tardy thanks
of his Royal master.

Pavilion: March 27, 1816.

DEAR MISS AUSTEN,--I have to return you the thanks
of His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent, for the
handsome copy you sent him of your last excellent
novel. Pray, dear Madam, soon write a