Her eldest brother James, my own father, had, when a very young man, at
St. John's College, Oxford, been the originator and chief supporter of a
periodical paper called 'The Loiterer,' written somewhat on the plan of
the 'Spectator' and its successors, but nearly confined to subjects
connected with the University. In after life he used to speak very
slightingly of this early work, which he had the better right to do, as,
whatever may have been the degree of their merits, the best papers had
certainly been written by himself. He was well read in English
literature, had a correct taste, and wrote readily and happily, both in
prose and verse. He was more than ten years older than Jane, and had, I
believe, a large share in directing her reading and forming her taste.
Her second brother, Edward, had been a good deal separated from the rest
of the family, as he was early adopted by his cousin, Mr. Knight, of
Godmersham Park in Kent and Chawton House in Hampshire; and finally came
into possession both of the property and the name. But though a good
deal separated in childhood, they were much together in after life, and
Jane gave a large share of her affections to him and his children.
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