69. Pride " And " Prejudice: " A Novel. " In Three Volumes. " By The " Author Of "Sense And Sensibility." " Vol. I. " London: " Printed For T. Egerton, " Military Library, Whitehall. " 1813.

Egerton published Sense and Sensibility in 1811, while Pride and Prejudice (originally named First Impressions), which had been finished in August, 1797, was first offered by Miss Austen's father to Cadell, the famous publisher, in the following letter:

"Sir,—I have in my possession a manuscript novel, comprising 3 vols., about the length of Miss Burney's 'Evelina.' As I am well aware of what consequence it is that a work of this sort sh^d make its first appearance under a respectable name, I apply to you. I shall be much obliged, therefore, if you will inform me whether you choose to be concerned in it, what will be the expense of publishing it at the author's risk, and what you will venture to advance for the property of it, if on perusal it is approved of. Should you give any encouragement, I will send you the work.

"Steventon, near Overton, Hants.

"1^st. Nov. 1797."

Cadell refused the book without reading it, and it was finally carried to Egerton, who accepted the story and made it into an attractive volume, although Gifford, who afterward read it for Murray with a view to publishing Emma, tells us that it was "—wretchedly printed, and so pointed as to be almost unintelligible."

Mansfield Park and Emma, like her two earlier novels, were issued anonymously during Miss Austen's lifetime. Though the author's name was an open secret, it did not appear in any of her books until the year after her death, when her brother, Henry Austen, announced it in a short biographical notice prefixed to Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

One hundred and fifty pounds were received from the sale of Sense and Sensibility, and less then seven hundred pounds from the sale of all four books issued before the two novels of 1818.

The work, "my own darling child," as Miss Austen called it, appeared in January, and she says of it: "There are a few typical errors; and a 'said he,' or a 'said she,' would sometimes make the dialogue more immediately clear; but 'I do not write for such dull elves' as have not a great deal of ingenuity themselves. The second volume is shorter than I could wish; but the difference is not so much in reality, as in look."

Duodecimo.

Collation: Three volumes.