Poor man!—I mean Mr. Wither—his life is so useful, his character so respectable and worthy, that I really believe there was a good deal of sincerity in the general concern expressed on his account. (Letter 18)

I must confess, this glowing account of Mr. Wither’s character from JA who can be so scathing, peaked my interest in the gentleman and resulted in this post. He was Lovelace Bigg-Wither, his character seems to congeal with his name and lived at Manydown about six miles from Steventon Rectory. His daughters, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Alethea were particular friends of Jane and Cassandra Austen in their girlhood days. :D