A MEMOIR
OF
JANE AUSTEN.
CHAPTER I.
Introductory Remarks-Birth of Jane Austen-Her Family Connections-Their Influence on her Writings.
MORE than half a century has passed away since I, the youngest of the moumers,* attended the funeral of my dear aunt Jane in Winchester Cathedral; and now, in my old age, I am asked whether my memory will serve to rescue from oblivion any events of her life or any traits of her character to satisfy the en- quiries of a generation of readers who have been born since she died. Of events her life was singu- larly barren: few changes and no great crisis ever broke the smooth current of its course. Even her fame may be said to have been posthumous: it did
- I went to represent my father, who was too unwell to attend him-
self, and thus I was the only one of my generation present,
