The Annotated Persuasion

by Jane Austen

  62. The tenderest songs would refer to Scott, and the descriptions of hopeless agony to Byron. Scott’s poems include a variety of songs, often full of tender sentiment and telling of lovers who come to grief; such lovers also figure prominently in the narratives of his poems. Byron presents a more despairing picture, with more extreme emotions: The Bride of Adybos ends with the deaths of the bride and her beloved, while in the Giaour the title character’s beloved is cruelly slain and he, retreating to a monastery, concludes the poem with an extended lament of the bitterest anguish.

  63. Anne’s advice of a moderate course corresponds to her own behavior. While a person of acute feelings, and a lover of poetry, she has always tried, even when it required great struggle, to temper her feelings with reason. This picture of Captain Benwick, and suggestion of the possible excess in his romantic emotionalism, also corresponds to Jane Austen’s own treatment of such emotionalism in other works. Sense and Sensibility criticizes the cult of sensibility that was linked to Romanticism, and Northanger Abbey directly satirizes the highly charged, and popular, Gothic novels that appealed to similar sentiments. Her last work, Sanditon, written just after this, portrays one character whose infatuation with Romantic poetry, especially that of Robert Burns, and overflowing enthusiasm for natural beauty, especially that of the sea, leads him to ludicrous extremes in both his thoughts and his language, and even helps inspire a planned course of immoral seduction.

  64. These could refer to a wide array of works, especially from earlier years. The eighteenth century, whose spirit Jane Austen exudes in many respects, was characterized by a general preference for prose and an emphasis on greater rationalism than the Romantic period. Moral essays, frequently supported by observations on life and contemporary mores, were popular throughout the century. Collections of letters, often highly polished, also appeared. Finally, biography developed as a significant genre, and it, like much of the prose of the time, often had a moralizing tone, pointing out lessons and presenting examples of virtuous behavior.

  65. The difficulty in following precepts of patience and resignation had been a popular theme of many writers, especially when discussing the influential philosophy of Stoicism, which counseled rational indifference to the ills of life. Similarly, as in all ages, many who preached virtue did not always live up to their preaching. One of the most influential prose moralists of the eighteenth century, and a favorite author of Jane Austen’s, Samuel Johnson, addresses this point in one of his essays (The Rambler, #14). He writes that “for many reasons a man writes much better than he lives.” But he argues, “Nothing is more unjust, however common, than to charge with hypocrisy him that expresses zeal for those virtues, which he neglects to practice; since he may be sincerely convinced of the advantages of conquering his passions, without having yet obtained the victory.” Rather, he claims that such a man should be commended for attempting to impart to others some of his own, possibly hard-earned, wisdom. From this perspective, Anne’s counsel to Captain Benwick, which does certainly come from her own extensive experience, would represent a valuable and benevolent service to him, whatever her own failings in achieving patience or self-control.

  VOLUME I, CHAPTER XII

  1. On a flat shore a rise in water would cause a large stretch of beach to be speedily inundated. Because Lyme faces to the south, a southeasterly breeze would add to the rapid advance of the water.

  2. sympathized: were affected similarly.

  3. spring twelvemonth: a year prior to last spring.

  4. Sea air, like bathing in and drinking seawater, was recommended by many doctors of the time as healthy. Medical thinking placed a great emphasis on environmental factors in causing disease, with the quality of the air considered to be one of the principal determinants. Jane Austen visited the seaside at one point for purposes at least partly of health.

  5. fix at: settle or establish his residence in.

  6. seizure: sudden attack, especially an attack of apoplexy, i.e., a stroke. Seaside resorts were noted for their large numbers of medical practitioners, who were attracted to them by the many visitors, usually wealthy, who came there in search of health.

  7. As already shown, the number of genteel families was very limited in rural areas. A place like Lyme, with many affluent visitors from elsewhere, would offer the possibility of far greater companionship for someone like Dr. Shirley.

  8. A dispensation would be from the church, granting him permission to retire from his post. Henrietta is probably right that someone of his age, and with his character, or reputation, would have no difficulty procuring one. Jane Austen’s father had no trouble retiring from his post, and many clergymen who did not have the excuse of old age were able to hire curates to perform their duties.

  9. Dr. Shirley’s scrupulousness, shown by his not retiring yet, was already indicated (see note 35).

  10. Meaning if people complained about the curate he hired.

  11. The young man was Captain Benwick. In his case she was able to offer useful advice he had not heard before, which means she was offering good of greater value, or higher standard, than her simple acquiescence to Henrietta.

  12. A curate who needs to reside in the parish. Currently Charles Hayter has a curacy that does not require residency.

  13. views: prospects, expectations (that is, of marriage).

  14. The sentence implies that Lady Russell is not in favor with the Musgrove family. No aversion between her and them is otherwise shown, though she is consistently portrayed as more formal than they in her conduct and manners, and more bookish and serious in her tastes and interests. Louisa said earlier that her parents believed that Lady Russell persuaded Anne to refuse to marry Charles Musgrove. It is possible this belief has spurred resentment of Lady Russell on their part, whether because of wounded pride that she thought their eldest son, and heir, not good enough for Anne, or because of a wish that they had Anne rather than Mary as a daughter-in-law.

  15. As indicated elsewhere, breakfast was not eaten early by wealthier people at this time. They would usually have a couple of hours beforehand for other things. One standard practice making this possible was a light supper late in the evening.

  16. The beach at Lyme is at a lower elevation from the town, so steps to get from one to the other are necessary.

  17. This gentleman, who will soon be identified, will consistently display very polite manners.

  18. insensible: unaware, unconscious.

  19. This is a significant moment in the novel. It shows Anne regaining some of her good looks. It is also the first time Captain Wentworth has indicated actual admiration for her, as opposed to sympathy for her distress. And it introduces the possibility of rivalry between the two men struck or inspired by Anne. Later Captain Wentworth will mention the effect of the other’s look upon him (this page). One possible inspiration for the episode is an incident Jane Austen recounted in a letter from her own visit to Lyme, when she was almost the same age as Anne Elliot. She mentions “a new odd-looking Man who had been eyeing me for some time, & at last without any introduction asked me if I meant to dance again” (Sept. 14, 1804).

  20. apartment: room, or suite of rooms. The term was used in both senses then, and it is not clear from the context which is meant here.

  21. well-looking: good-looking.

  22. A groom is a male servant who takes care of horses. Grooms could also double as valets (see note 18), and it is likely this groom does so, since he seems to be the only servant attending his master (see note 28).

  23. It was standard for servants to adopt the mourning of their masters.

  24. person: personal appearance.

  25. A sign of how quiet Lyme was in the off-season. Local people, who would mostly be working people without much money, would walk, for the town was small enough to go everywhere on foot. Visitors would be more likely to use carriages: some, like the party here, would come in their own carriages; others would be able to hire a vehicle.

  26. curricle:
an open carriage pulled by two horses; other open carriages used one. This meant two horses were pulling a lightweight vehicle, allowing them to go longer distances without becoming tired. This made it suitable to convey Charles and Captain Wentworth all the way to Lyme. Charles’s interest in comparing this other curricle to his suggests he may have enjoyed showing it off: a contemporary writer states that no vehicles “are so much regarded for fashion as these [curricles] are by those who are partial to drive their own horses” (William Felton, A Treatise on Carriages).

  27. The stable yard is probably attached to the inn. Inns normally kept horses and carriages to rent (this one is described as doing so on this page), and thus would have facilities for lodgers’ horses and vehicles.

  28. The wording of the passage leaves some ambiguity as to whether this is the same servant as the groom just mentioned. That would be logical, for the man and a servant in mourning are shortly described as driving away in the curricle, and it could seat only two comfortably. A second servant would have to travel separately in a public coach, which would involve additional complications and expense.

  29. This refers to the household of the inn. Inns would often be run by a family; even if not, “household” could mean any group of people living under the same roof. Innkeepers were of a lower social level than their usual guests, so they would behave very solicitously and courteously to them.

  30. Sidmouth: another fashionable seaside resort, about ten miles west of Lyme (see map). The man’s visiting both Sidmouth and Lyme, and then Bath, suggests he is a gentleman of leisure, as turns out to be the case.

  31. Crewkherne is a town north of Lyme, and the first significant stop on the way to Bath (see map); they will probably change horses there.

  32. smart: brisk, prompt.

  33. Mary calls him “sir” even though he is from a lower social class. Jane Austen’s novels, and other works of the time, even as they show people socializing only with those of their own class, depict them mostly treating everyone, even those lower than they are, with respectful formality.

  34. While Mr. Elliot was staying at the inn, his servant would have associated with employees of the inn like the waiter, who were of similar social rank. Thus it would be logical to ask the latter about conversations with the servant.

  35. baronight: an incorrect amalgamation of “baronet” and “knight.” The waiter, and perhaps Mr. Elliot’s servant as well, does not understand the distinction between the ranks (which were close). This mistake, and some of the poor grammar of this speech and his preceding one, indicates his lower class. Jane Austen rarely reproduces lower-class speech, but when she does it always has a marked plainness and awkwardness, an accurate reflection of the tremendous gap in education and culture between classes at this time.

  36. publish: announce, make generally known.

  37. Mary’s suspicion is characteristic, for she instinctively attributes to others her own obsession with social status. But it also may be correct, for since servants’ status derived largely from their master’s, they had a natural incentive to boast of the latter.

  38. great-coat: a large, loose coat for outerwear, reaching below the knees, that was worn by men. It was warm, but also heavy and awkward—a man in Northanger Abbey is described as hating to wear one. In this case its owner wishes to have it for traveling, for he is using an open carriage in November, but he leaves it on the carriage while walking around.

  39. The pannel, or panel, was a piece of wood set within the door; it would be where various insignia could be placed. Private carriages would often have family arms displayed there. In an open vehicle like a curricle the door would be low, so it would be natural to hang a coat over it, thereby covering the panel.

  40. For family arms, see note 44.

  41. A livery was specific to each family (see note 39). Since liveries tended to be gaudy and brightly colored, they would be particularly inappropriate to wear during mourning. For more on mourning attire, see note 20.

  42. Anne’s waiting until she could catch Mary’s attention, and the quietness of her words, indicate both her discretion, for she would not wish to announce her family’s quarrel with Mr. Elliot, and her politeness. In this section of the book, even as she enjoys and extols the more open and informal manners of the Harvilles, she maintains her own careful and discreet manners.

  43. She means Elizabeth’s disappointment and anger at Mr. Elliot’s marrying someone else. The narrator explicitly stated Elizabeth to have felt this (this page). Anne would not have witnessed the incident, for it took place just after her mother’s death, and she was away at school then. Hence she can only surmise, but, as with most of her surmises, she is correct.

  44. Mr. Elliot’s idea: the idea or conception of Mr. Elliot.

  45. Thus Anne maintains contact with her family in Bath by corresponding with Elizabeth rather than her father. It is probable that Anne feels closer to her sister, even with the latter’s coldness, and even though the unsatisfactory nature of the correspondence probably results from Elizabeth’s neglect rather than Anne’s. In addition, letter writing was an activity especially likely to be undertaken by women. Jane Austen, who wrote numerous letters herself, describes it as something women are often highly devoted to, and other evidence indicates that genteel women, even more than men, would engage in continual and lengthy correspondence with friends and relations. One reason was that women had less freedom to go outside the home and travel; letters could be their principal, or only, means of staying in touch with others.

  46. Mr. Scott is Walter Scott, the poet already discussed by these two. This was what he would be called then, for it was not until several years later, in 1820, that he was made a baronet and became Sir Walter Scott.

  47. His praise, along with Captain Benwick’s interest, show Anne’s stature increasing. Their high opinion might influence Captain Wentworth; it at least signals that he could potentially be influenced by the same considerations that made them regard her favorably.

  48. The Cape of Good Hope, where Britain had a naval base (see note 21).

  49. This means he was just promoted to a position, probably captain, of the Grappler. It is an appropriate name for a ship, for naval vessels sometimes grappled enemy ships in order to board them during a battle.

  50. He would have sent in letters for his fiancée, who was probably staying with Captain Harville, her brother, in Plymouth.

  51. run up to the yard-arm: hanged. The yardarm is the outer part of a wooden beam extending horizontally across the ship, on which sails can be hung. Sailors sentenced to death would be hanged from the yardarm.

  52. Ships normally stayed in harbor for a period of time because, having inevitably sustained wear and tear, if not damage, during their voyage, they would need repairs to be seaworthy again. Both Portsmouth and Plymouth contained substantial dockyards for performing these repairs.

  53. He would have written to the Admiralty for leave of absence. He would have known that the ship would not return to sea: being away when it was due to leave would be a serious breach of duty. But he could not be certain the request for leave would be granted, so he stood, or took, his chance on that less grave eventuality by departing before hearing from the Admiralty.

  54. return: reply.

  55. He would have traveled by land, most likely via post chaises (see note 90). Plymouth is approximately 150 miles from Portsmouth in a straight line and it would have been longer by the main roads, which veered substantially inland. The trip would have taken more than twenty-four hours, perhaps much more, which was why he needed to travel night and day.

  56. He would have rowed in a boat to the ship, sitting in harbor.

  57. The words seem to imply Captain Benwick would have killed himself otherwise. If so, this would suggest a clear flaw in his character, perhaps a product of the highly emotional nature he has shown.

  58. This is the most powerful example of Captain Wentworth’s goodness that is presented in the story. It is valuable be
cause his role in the novel gives him limited opportunity to display that goodness, even as it is necessary to have Anne regret him acutely. The incident also establishes a link between him and Anne, through their mutual service to Captain Benwick in his grief.

  59. decision: determination.

  60. Another instance of the determination Louisa has been consistently displaying since Captain Wentworth’s praise of that quality on their walk.

  61. Captain Benwick’s remaining with the party, a product particularly of the rapport Anne has established with him, will soon lead to his being available for a mission that will have momentous consequences.

  62. Byron’s The Corsair, a work Jane Austen mentions reading in a letter (March 5, 1814), begins with the lines, “O’er the glad waters of the dark blue sea, / Our thoughts as boundless, and our souls as free.”

  63. new Cobb: this probably refers to the outer section of the Cobb (see this page, and note 21). It had been swept away by a storm in 1792 and rebuilt using larger, more solid blocks of stone, fastened together by pieces of iron. This would have clearly distinguished it from the older sections, which consisted of uncut stones that were not secured by any external fastening.

  64. The Cobb contains an upper and lower level, with steps at various points leading between them. The upper is fully exposed to the wind, which can be very strong at Lyme. It would be especially difficult to walk along for ladies wearing the long, loose dresses of the time. In contrast, the lower Cobb is sheltered from the prevailing western winds by the upper Cobb, which can be as much as ten feet higher. This difference in height, in addition to making walking much easier, makes the steps more formidable, and, combined with the hardness of the pavement, makes Louisa’s game a dangerous one.

  There have been attempts to identify which set of steps might have been used by Louisa (for one set, see below). But one cannot be certain if Jane Austen had a specific set in mind: she had last visited Lyme ten years before she wrote the novel. Even if there were a specific one, it might not exist today, at least not in the same state, for in 1824 the Cobb was heavily damaged in the worst storm in Lyme’s history and had to be rebuilt in many places.