I agree with everything you say, but I still think it was foolhardy to sever relationships so throughly with Sir Thomas. During the Regency the idea was to keep good connections not get rid of them. She allowed Mrs. Norris to goad her into doing something she probably regretted pretty quickly but allowed pride to rule the day. As we know from Louise's post: a marine lieutenant's "economic status was no greater than that of a warrant officer [and]...lieutenant Marine officers were appointed by the Admiralty, largely through influence...promotion was strictly by seniority and tended to be rather slow."

I'm sure Miss Frances was aware of this and while Sir Thomas apparently lacked the influence to help her husband advance further himself, a man of his wealth, stature and as a member of Parliament probably came in the way of others who might have the influence to help. Besides I don't understand why she broke off relations with the Bertrams strictly on something Mrs. Norris told her without direct communication from the Bertrams themselves. Either Mrs. Norris included the Bertrams in her diatribe without their permission or Miss Frances decided on her own to include them as a party to Mrs. N's recriminations. Yes definitely, I agree, Miss Frances was full of her husband but should have directed her comments only to Mrs. Norris and written to her sister Lady B in a separate letter. Just mho. :)