ht to do, as,
whatever may have been the degree of their merits, the best papers had
certainly been written by himself. He was well read in English
literature, had a correct taste, and wrote readily and happily, both in
prose and verse. He was more than ten years older than Jane, and had, I
believe, a large share in directing her reading and forming her taste.

Her second brother, Edward, had been a good deal separated from the rest
of the family, as he was early adopted by his cousin, Mr. Knight, of
Godmersham Park in Kent and Chawton House in Hampshire; and finally came
into possession both of the property and the name. But though a good
deal separated in childhood, they were much together in after life, and
Jane gave a large share of her affections to him and his children. Mr.
Knight was not only a very amiable man, kind and indulgent to all
connected with him, but possessed also a spirit of fun and liveliness,
which made him especially delightful to all young people.

Her third brother, Henry, had great conversational powers, and inherited
from his father an eager and sanguine disposition. He was a very
entertaining companion, but had perhaps less steadiness of purpose,
certainly less success in life, than his brothers. He became a clergyman
when middle-aged; and an allusion to his sermons will be found in one of
Jane's letters. At one time he resided in London, and was useful in
transacting his sister's business with her publishers.

Her two youngest brothers, Francis and Charles, were sailors during that
glorious period of the British navy which comprises the close of the last
and the beginning of the present century, when it was impossible for an
officer to be almost always afloat, as these brothers were, without
seeing service which, in these days, would be considered distinguished.
Accordingly, they were continually engaged in actions of more or less
importance, and sometimes gained promotion by their success. Both rose
to the rank of Admiral, and carried out their flags to distant stations.

Francis lived to attain the very summit of his profession, having died,
in his ninety-third year, G.C.B. and Senior Admiral of the Fleet, in
1865. He possessed great firmness of character, with a strong sense of
duty, whether due from himself to others, or from others to himself. He
was consequently a strict disciplinarian; but, as he was a very religious
man, it was remarked of him (for in those days, at least