Extract from chapter 26
1791: Portsmouth
Photo: Arlington Court Carriage Museum, Barnstaple, Devon.
When the time came for Charles to join the navy, Mr Austen arranged for his wife and his daughters to accompany him to Portsmouth. His youngest son’s entry into a life of service was to be marked with a holiday by the sea.
Portsmouth was like nothing the girls had known before and they found themselves buffeted and blown by the bracing, seaside air. Initially, they had been nervous about coming on the trip, thinking back to the filthy streets of Southampton and their fateful encounter with typhus on their last visit to the south coast.
But Portsmouth was different altogether; the air was invigorating and fresh, and their windswept faces held a permanent expression of joy.
Author's own photo. Photo: The Historic Docks, Portsmouth.
Photo: The Round Tower, Portsmouth.
The family walked together every day along the fortifications and across the common. Every gust of wind and every splash from the waves produced smiles from ear to ear.
The greatest wonder was the blueness of the sea. It was not a dirty green as they had expected – but the bright sunshine produced a turquoise bed of diamond-studded waves. The white fluffy clouds floating across the sky made the water twinkle and the salty air sizzled on their tongues and on their lips.
Jane and Cassandra’s light summer dresses billowed in the wind and their bonnets pulled in every direction. At first, they placed their hands firmly upon their heads to hold them, but in the end, they submitted like every other young girl and cast them off to carry in their hands. They trotted behind their parents like liberated ponies with flowing manes, whooping excitedly as the wind ruffled their crowns.
Photo: Jane Austen's House, Chawton, Hampshire.
Author's own photo.
All along the pathways, little pockets of people stood admiring the water and the ships. Invalids were assisted with sticks or in chairs; frail children were encouraged to take deep breaths; hypochondriacs took up every space along the seating areas, claiming them for their health.
It was easy to see, thought the girls, why so many people came to the seaside for their constitution, and it began to make sense why Eliza was always taking her son to some resort to try and make him better. The whole experience was exhilarating!
The highlight of every day for Cassandra and Jane was when they climbed atop the Square Tower to watch the ships. They had never seen a tall ship up close before, and no amount of pictures in a book could prepare them for the thrill of being next to one in real life.
Photo: Square Tower, Portsmouth.
Photo: Square Tower, Portsmouth.
Each morning they played the same game; they turned their backs away from the dock and positioned themselves to where they could only watch far out at sea. By monitoring the water in front of them, they would try to guess when a ship was on its way.
The build-up began with the tide gently rippling and slowly agitating. Little frothy crests formed on the water’s surface and the soothing slap, slapping against the rock transformed into louder rhythmic claps.
The most thrilling part came when the gigantic ship appeared alongside them, out of nowhere like a huge monster. Timber creaked from every crevice on its deck and the frantic sea sprayed up in all directions to tickle the girls’ faces and drop great dollops of water on their clothes. They squealed and laughed shamelessly, relishing the pleasure of such an unfamiliar and extraordinary feeling.
Photos:HMS Victory model, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Photo: HMS Warrior, Historic Dockyards, Portsmouth.
The hull of the ship bounced effortlessly over the fermenting stretch of sea, cutting through its path like scissors on lace. Tall masts stood up pencil straight, holding square white sails that bulged in the wind. It was tempting for the girls to wish they were on board themselves, to be taken on some great, faraway adventure.
‘Frank will be on a ship like that,’ thought Mrs Austen, every time a new vessel caught her eye. She knew nothing of the difference in designs, or the artillery that made up each boat, but the fact that a gigantic sailboat was leaving port full of eager young sailors was enough for her to make the comparison.
Photo: HMS Victory, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Photo: Jane Austen Centre, Bath.
“Look how smart those uniforms are, girls,” she pointed out to her daughters. She was watching a group of naval officers dressed in dark blue coats with golden buttons down their fronts. They wore the same gold and red belts around their waists, and matching gold epaulettes on their shoulders. Their hats were shaped like triangles. The men’s faces were brown from the sun and months of exposure to nature’s elements. They were an attractive sight to behold.
“Let's go down,” Mrs Austen pronounced impulsively, deftly tripping her way down the sandstone steps with the girls following daintily behind. If they hurried, they would intercept the path shortly before the officers got there; it would be gratifying to watch how Cassandra and Jane would be admired when the gentlemen were forced to step aside to allow them to pass.
Photo: Square Tower steps, Portsmouth.
Copyright Diane Jane Ball 2023