Enough with the movie stuff; it’s time for some real good chewy Janeite news! We received an e-mail from Nat Edwards, Programme Manager of the John Murray Archive at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. Mr. Edwards read our wistful speculation that something nifty be found in the Murray archive and was kind enough to write to tell us of the goodies they’ve uncovered so far.

2 als (4pp) from Jane Austen to John Murray, Ham Place, 23 Nov and 11 Dec 1815. In the first, Austen declares she is ’so very much disappointed & vexed by the delays of the Printers’ and suggests that their speed might improve if they knew ‘the work is to be dedicated to the Prince Regent’. ‘As I find that Emma is advertised for publication as early as Saturday next, I think it best to lose no time in settling all that remains to be settled’, she writes in the second, before discussing trade terms, the title-page dedication, and the allocation of free copies. She also returns ‘Mansfield Park, as ready for a 2nd Edit: I believe, as I can make it’.

These are Nos. 126 and 130, respectively, in the third edition of the Letters, edited by Deirdre Le Faye. It’s very interesting, as a working author, to read these letters in which Jane attends, very closely, to the business of publication. (One of our favorite of her quotes is, “I have now, therefore, written myself into £250, which only makes me long for more.”)

But wait! There’s more! (*squee!*)

A cheque for £38 18 1 dated October 21 1816 made out to ‘Miss Jane Austin’ and endorsed by her ‘Jane Austin’; 4 cheques to Reverend H.T. and Cassandra Austen; two letters from Cassandra about her sister’s books (’I am not disposed to part with the copy-right of my late Sister’s works, but I feel inclined to accept your proposal for the publishing of another Edition’; ‘I have received your account of the sale of Northanger Abbey & Persuasion … by which you acknowledge a balance in my favour …’).

There are also a number of related entries in the business papers, letterbooks etc of the firm dealing with aspects of the production and sale of Jane Austen’s books.

Our Gentle Readers will remember that Cassandra was Jane’s literary executor and the main beneficiary of her will. (And obviously Jane didn’t get too worked up by a misspelling of her surname.) Check out the images online of ledgers related to the sale of Emma. If you are feeling particularly wonky, poke around the online catalogue.

As to the discussion in the comments of the first post about whether Jane Austen was one of Murray’s “Four O’Clock Friends,” Mr. Edwards says:

I don’t expect that Miss Austen was a regular visitor to Albemarle Street, by any means. I think that a certain amount of journalistic license was used by the Scotsman’s subs when editing Vanessa Collingridge’s excellent article (in the famous picture of the 4 o’clock friends, the company is rather obviously exclusively male)

…which is pretty much what we all thought.

Of course, we do not yet know the full extent of the archive and who knows what may yet be discovered.

Oh, treasures! And really, even if they find nothing else related to Jane, a poke around the exhibition Web site reveals some pretty amazing stuff. Do check it out. Mr. Edwards writes that the Library plans to open an exhibition this summer. If you would like a closer look, you can apply to the Library for admission via a reader’s ticket.