Thanks for all the background info. It puts so much more perspective on Jane's life, letters, and stories.

We seem to be in agreement that Mary and James benefitted from the removal of their parents and sisters. But we never mentioned that the Austens thought their daughters might find husbands with the benefit of a larger and changing society. I must have read this in one or some of the biographies I've read over the years. Is there any evidence that this was part of the Rev and Mrs. Austen's thinking?