................................................................................................
.................................................................................................
Memoirs of Mr. Clifford, by Jane Austen.
...............................................................................................
................................................................................................
"To Charles John Austen Esqre
"Sir,
"Your generous patronage of the unfinished tale, I have already taken the liberty of dedicating to you, encourages me to dedicate to you a second, as unfinished as the first.
"I am Sir with every expression of regard for you and your noble family,
"Your most obedient
"Andc. Andc.
"The Author"
................................................................................................
Rare, memoirs written in third person!
................................................................................................
"Mr Clifford lived at Bath; and having never seen London, set off one Monday morning determined to feast his eyes with a sight of that great metropolis. He travelled in his coach and four, for he was a very rich young man and kept a great many carriages of which I do not recollect half. I can only remember that he had a coach, a chariot, a chaise, a landeau, a landeaulet, a phaeton, a gig, a whisky, an Italian chair, a buggy, a curricle and a wheelbarrow. He had likewise an amazing fine stud of horses. To my knowledge he had six greys, four bays, eight blacks and a pony.
"In his coach and four bays Mr Clifford set forward about five o'clock on Monday morning the first of May for London. He always travelled remarkably expeditiously and contrived therefore to get to Devizes from Bath, which is no less than nineteen miles, the first day. To be sure he did not set in till eleven at night and pretty tight work, it was as you may imagine.
"However when he was once got to Devizes he was determined to comfort himself with a good hot supper and therefore ordered a whole egg to be boiled for him and his servants. The next morning he pursued his journey and in the course of three days hard labour reached Overton, where he was seized with a dangerous fever the consequence of too violent exercise.
"Five months did our hero remain in this celebrated city under the care of its no less celebrated physician, who at length completely cured him of his troublesome disease.
"As Mr Clifford still continued very weak, his first days journey carried him only to Dean Gate where he remained a few days and found himself much benefited by the change of air.
"In easy stages he proceeded to Basingstoke. One day carrying him to Clarkengreen, the next to Worting, the third to the bottom of Basingstoke Hill, and the fourth, to Mr Robins's....
"FINIS"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 18, 2021 - August , 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
