I'll bet my old hat that the Hawkins' would not be so rich

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I'll bet my old hat that the Hawkins' would not be so rich Written by Nina RG (2/22/2011 12:18 p.m.) in consequence of the missive, Well, as Bristol was even more deeply involved in, penned by Kathleen Glancy

were it not for the slave trade.

During the discussion between Jane and Mrs Elton in Ch. 35 (and I do feel so sorry for Jane that she can't get Mrs Elton to understand that she should just back off!) Jane says,

"Excuse me, ma'am, but this is by no means my intention; I make no inquiry myself, and should be sorry to have any made by my friends. When I am quite determined as to the time, I am not at all afraid of being long unemployed. There are places in town, offices, where inquiry would soon produce something -- offices for the sale, not quite of human flesh, but of human intellect."

And Mrs Elton quickly (and guiltily?) replies,

"Oh! my dear, human flesh! You quite shock me; if you mean a fling at the slave-trade, I assure you Mr. Suckling was always rather a friend to the abolition." (35)

Why is Mrs Elton so quick to see an illusion to the slave trade when Jane was clearly talking of governessing? Did Jane hit a sore spot? Is Mrs Elton ashamed that her fortune came from the slave trade?

If you look for them there are quite a few references to slavery and the slave trade in Emma, which can be said to be JA's "anti-slavery novel". I don't think it that unlikely that JA would give Mrs Elton connections to the slave trade:) I mean, there must be a reason why JA chose Bristol as Mrs Elton's hometown, and not, say, Steventon or Meryton;)

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One has not great hopes fromBirmingham Jane Marie (2/21/2011 3:39 p.m.)

Tainted by heavy industry and the slave trade? Delories (2/22/2011 3:15 a.m.)
- Well, as Bristol was even more deeply involved in Kathleen Glancy (2/22/2011 11:35 a.m.)
  - I'll bet my old hat that the Hawkins' would not be so rich Nina RG (2/22/2011 12:18 p.m.)
    - Changes my opinion of Jane Austen as one not interested AnnetteJ (2/23/2011 8:20 a.m.)
      - I found this re: Jane Austen and slavery   Nina RG (2/24/2011 8:47 a.m.)
        
        Wow! Most of that was new to me. Thanks. nfm   Tom P2 (2/24/2011 5:03 p.m.)
        
        You're very welcome:) (nfm)   Nina RG (2/25/2011 8:14 a.m.)
        
        This was a Wow for me too/Letter from Jane   BarbaraB (2/26/2011 12:29 p.m.)
  - Probably not as a slave trader Tarn (2/22/2011 12:20 p.m.)
    - Thanks for the links to the last GR *nfm* Delories (2/22/2011 2:25 p.m.)
  - Her Father's Money BarbaraB (2/22/2011 12:33 p.m.)
    - Very interesting Ramya (2/22/2011 2:20 p.m.)
    - Very thought-provoking about the surname "Hawkins" Delories (2/22/2011 2:21 p.m.)

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