What is the "ye 24th" and the "ye 20th" short for when Jane Austen is discussing Martha and Henry's plans?

Is a neck of mutton really a sumptuous provision? And is the bit about Cassandra remembering the time of procuring mutton a reference to a trip to the butcher, or a mention of the cooking time needed, or the times of day it is available to be ordered, or something else?

Mr. 'Tilson' strikes me as being so similar a name to Mr. 'Tilney,' of Northanger Abbey fame that I can not help wondering... Does anyone else try to paint the descriptions of him with the details attributed to Catherine's love? *chuckles* After all, he is tall, and agreeable, and draws sketches! Ah, but then he wants to turn trees into money...

Did Harriet / Harriot both do for the lady's name?

The Shakespearean reference has me a trifle confused, for Daniel was known for his judgment, and Portia for hers, not the mental acuity one would suppose Cassandra used in remembering which of two sisters is oldest! I suppose Jane was just being flippant, rather than exact?

I have seen gooseberry recipes that called for them to be green and others that wanted the gooseberries ripe: does anyone know which a Regency family might prefer?

bombasin =?= bombazine