Page:A memoir of Jane Austen (Fourth Edition).pdf/73

 but that I love you as hartily as any child I have & if you serve God and take good courses I promise you my kindness to you shall be according to y own hart's desire, for you may be certain I can aime at nothing in what I have now writ but y real good which to promote shall be y study & care day & night

'ELIZA CHANDOS.

Pera of Galata, May y 6th 1686.

'P.S.-Thy ffath & I send thee our blessing, & all thy broth & sist they service. Our harty & affectionate service to my broth & sist Childe & all my dear cozens. When you see my Lady Worster & cozen Howlands pray present th my most humble service.'

This letter shows that the wealth acquired by trade was already manifesting itself in contrast with the straitened circumstances of some of the nobility. Mary Brydges's 'poor ffather,' in whose household economy was necessary, was the King of England's ambassador at Constantinople; the grandmother, who lived in 'great plenty and splendour,' was the widow of a Turkey merchant. But then, as now, it would seem, rank had the power of attracting and absorbing wealth.

At Ashe also Jane became acquainted with a member of the Lefroy family, who was still living when I began these memoirs, a few months ago; the Right Hon. Thomas Lefroy, late Chief Justice of