The Date of "The Watsons"
TT is to Jane Austen's devotion to detail that we owe the solution, I think, of the problem why the charm. mg beginning known as The Watsons has no end. Not long ago sonic true-hearted student of Jane Austen dis. covered that the dates in Pride and Prejudice are correct throughout for the years of its revision, 1811-1812. Jane Austen did not then write down that the "Assembly at D." took place on "Tuesday, October 13th," and mean nothing thereby. In all probability Tuesday, October 13th, was the date on which she began The Watsons. But in what year ? For unless we know the year the novel was begun, all speculation as to the reasons why it was abandoned must be guesswork.
Mr. Austen Leigh, on finding the water-marks of 1806 and 1804 in the paper on which the manuscript is written, selected 1805 as the year in which she wrote. Now the water-mark, while excellent evidence that the writing was not begun before the year 1804, is flimsy evidence for any year in particular after 1804. For instance, the paper on which these words are written bears the water-mark 1926. Moreover, in 1805 October 13th fell on a Sunday. Not until 1807 could "Tuesday, October 13th," be correctly written.
In 1805 Jane's father died after a few days' illness, and in 1806 Jane and her mother paid an unexpected visit to a great house, Stoneleigh. The circumstances were curious and rather too involved to be dealt with here ; briefly, it became necessary for Mr. Leigh to take possession of Stoneleigh at very short notice, and as Mrs. Austen and Jane were staying with the Leighs at the time, they moved with the family, and finished their visit in these magnificent surroundings. Among other beauties, Stone- leigh possessed a fine picture. gallery. This place was to be the model for Osborne Castle, and no doubt Jane told Cassandra much of its grandeurs.
The unfinished manuscript of The Watsons was always greatly treasured by Aunt Cassandra, and perhaps she used to recount to one of her nieces how the story was to be developed, and of the glories of Osborne Castle.
In the year 1850, this niece, working from memory, retold the story of The Watsons, carrying it on as Aunt Cassandra had said. This book is entitled The Younger Sister, by Mrs. Hubback, a daughter of Francis Austen, but it is not to be recommended to Janeites. There are signs of other influences and decided indications of other days. In fact, the whole story takes on a mid-Victorian aspect which at times is most distressing. Its interest lies in that it carried on the thread of the story a little further ; there is at least one incident which may well have come straight from Jane's own experience, and a conversation in the picture gallery of Osborne Castle seems a link with her recollections of Stoneleigh. If we May take it that the probable date of The Watsons is October, 1807, what was it that caused her to Id the manuscript aside ? I think that the explanation lies in Jane's strong family affection. The lines the story wai to follow were that Mr. Watson was soon to die, and that his .daughters were to go and live with Robert and Jail Watson. Now Mr. Austen had just died, and Jane and Mrs. Austen were living with Francis Austen and hi young wife, Mary. Doubtless Jane felt that the parallel was too obvious.
Perhaps Aunt Cassandra pointed out that Mr. Watson's death need but be touched on—that there was no neces- sity for more than a word or two. But the life with Rnber! and Jane Watson would have to be more than indicated. It must be entertaining. It would certainly, have been entertaining at the• expense of the Robert Watson Would Francis and Mary Austen, with whom they were living, - truite Understand that she meant nothing ? I have heard that Mary was easily hurt, and that Frank was much from home.
Is it not reasonable to suppose that Jane told herself that some other idea Would occur to her soon, or that cir- cumstances might. change ? Events crowded on. They all removed to Chawton. Sense and Sensibility was pre- pared for publication and published in 1811, and Pride and Prejudice followed:- The later novels were written, and in one of them, Mansfield Park, the theme of an oppressed heroine was well worked. There were plenty of reasons for The Watsons being set aside, but it was not discarded . . . for there it was in her desk after her death. Given the date as 1807, I believe that family affection, and not the discontent of the artist, was the reason for its temporary abandonment.
For is there any real reason for such dissatisfaction ? The Watsons is not polished. It lacks the happy turns, the living phrases, of Jane's finished work, but in interest, in charm of setting, does it really fall below the opening chapters of Sense and Sensibility or Mansfield Park? Nile ballroom Scene is confessedly one of her best. Indeed it is unique; for it is the one occasion when Jane allows her love Of children to influence her Writing. The occasion is almost .unique in another way. The quality of being " so very' Comfortable," as one of Jane's home critics puts it, lies perhaps in the fact that whilst we are deeply interested we are never in the least concerned. Do we really care when Marianne Dashwood is disappointed ? Not a bit. We are sure that she will get over it. But when Charles Blake does not get his partner we really feel the pang of heartache, and the intense relief of Emma's kindness. I know of no other incident in the novel's that rouses this *personal feeling except the occasion when Miss Bates is snubbed on Box Hill. Perhaps it is for the child in Miss Bates that we feel.
Even apart from this unparalleled scene, is Elizabeth Watson to be lightly passed over ? And what of Robert and Jane ? Emma Watson herself compares pleasantly with the other heroines. She is not witty, but she is very agreeable, and has a fine quality of out-spokenness which can be trusted to land her in plenty of difficulties.
Lastly there is Tom Musgrave, the debonair vulgarian, alone in his own department (unless Robert Ferrars shares it with him), but a long-cherished character in Jane's mind, for he is to be found in the volume of early works, LOi" t' and Freindship. Among the Letters there is one from a young lady, bringing in this gentleinan very entertainingly.
Perhaps it is this fact of Tom Musgrave's resurrection, recalling; as if Must haire done, the days Of their girlhood, or it may have been the manuscript itself in the beloved handwriting, which made The Wagons ever a special favourite with Aunt Cassandra after Jane Austen's death.
BD= C. BROWN.
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