A Memoir of Jane Austen

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Caroline Austen
impossible to preserve a secret that so many of the family knew
and by this time, she had given up the attempt–– and her name
had been made public enough–– tho’ it was never inserted in the
title page––
Two of the great Physicians° of the day had attended my Uncle
during his illness–– I am not, at this distance of time, sufficiently
sure which they were, as to give their names, but one of them had
very intimate access to the Prince Regent, and continuing his
visits during my Uncle’s recovery, he told my Aunt one day, that
the Prince was a great admirer of her Novels: that he often read
them, and had a set in each of his residences–– That he, the
physician had told his Royal Highness that Miss Austen was now
in London, and that by the Prince’s desire, Mr. Clarke, the
Librarian of Carlton House, would speedily wait upon her––
Mr. Clarke came, and endorsed all previous compliments, and
invited my Aunt to see Carlton House, saying the Prince had
charged him to show her the Library there, adding many civilities
as to the pleasure his R.H. had received from her Novels–– Three
had then been published–– The invitation could not be declined––
and my Aunt went, at an appointed time, to Carlton House––
She saw the Library, and I beleive some other apartments, but
the particulars of her visit, if I ever heard them, I have now
forgotten–– only this, I do well recollect–– that in the course of it,
Mr. Clarke, speaking again of the Regent’s admiration of her
writing, declared himself charged to say, that if Miss Austen had
any other Novel forthcoming, she was quite at liberty to dedicate
it to the Prince.
My Aunt made all proper acknowledgments at the moment,
but had no intention of accepting the honor offered–– until she
was avised [sic] by some of her friends that she must consider the
permission as a command––
Emma was then in the Publisher’s hands–– so a few lines of
dedication were affixed to the 1st volume, and following still the
instructions of the well informed she sent a Copy, handsomely
bound, to Carlton House–– and I suppose it was duly acknowledged
by Mr. Clarke––
My Aunt soon after her visit to him, returned home, where the