James and Mrs. Augusta alternately read Dr. Finnis' pamphlet on the cow-pox

In letter 27 JA writes of an evening at Ashe Park:

We had a very pleasant day on Monday at Ashe, we sat down fourteen to dinner in the study, the dining-room being not habitable from the storms having blown down its chimney. Mrs. Bramston talked a good deal of nonsense, which Mr. Bramston and Mr. Clerk seemed almost equally to enjoy. There was a whist and a casino table, and six outsiders. Rice and Lucy made love, Mat. Robinson fell asleep, James and Mrs. Augusta alternately read Dr. Jenner's pamphlet on the cow-pox, and I bestowed my company by turns on all

The Brabourne edition of the Letters attributes the author of the pamphlet on cox -pox to a Dr "Finnis": but if you care to look at the facsimile (as Le Faye did, or perhpas she saw the original!) JA clearly writes of Dr.Jenner, even though she admits to taking too much wine the previous evening, and having a shaky hand!( Hmmm....a hung over JA:that makes for interesting ideas...)

This was the famous Edward Jenner,whose phamplets on cow Pox had recently been published.

Go , here, to read about his work on the smallpox inncoluation.

An interesting evening's entertainment,and very up to date.