Reeba, I noticed in letter 2 that Jane refers to an Edward Cooper. My edition explains this Edward as "Mrs. Austen's nepheew. Mr. Austen had earlier augmented his income by taking in a few pupils at Steveton Rectory, one of whom had been Buller." I must say that I wondered the same thing. My first thought was that she was referring to her brother but like you was puzzled if she was talking about her brother unless it is her irony showing itself in reference to something that we are not privy to...????