To her sister, born Esther (or Ester) Palmer, wife of James Christie Esten.
Year of writing from Le Faye's A chronology of Jane Austen and her family, and can likewise be inferred from the writer's references to a visit she made to Sir Thomas and Lady Warren in Sheerness, an event discussed in letters to her sister Harriet in letters dated February 5 and 16 February 16 of 1814 (see MA 7303 and MA 7304 in the Morgan Library's collection), and to her anticipated reunion with her army officer brother, John, given that “our expectations of peace are very much increased”, an observation in keeping with the events of 1814.
Capt. Charles Austen served as captain of the HMS Namur from Nov. 1811 to Sept. 1814 while the vessel was on harbor duty in the Thames estuary at the Nore near Sheerness.
Crossed writing.
With Fanny Austen's seal; addressed: Mrs. J.C. Esten / St. Georges / Bermuda.
Thanking her for a box of presents sent by the HMS Dolphin; Christmas spent in town with friends and the Palmers; noting their son Palmer Esten's enthusiasm for the Navy and anything having to do with boats, regretting "your being so averse to his following his uncle's profession", and confessing that Charles Austen is preparing a model of the HMS Indian to give the boy; news of the Austen and Esten children; visits with family and friends, including a visit to Sir Thomas and Lady Williams in Sheerness; requesting news of her particular friend, Mrs. Holliday as well as her other former companions; visits with Lady Warren, who appears to be in low spirits and poor health owing to her continual anxiety about Sir John; the sincere amiability of Lady Warren, despite claims to the contrary made by certain residents of Bermuda; illness of Tom Fowle of the HMS Elephant; hopes of peace and news of John from a navy captain who recently escaped from Verdun.