Good catch!  Austen's precision regarding such matters is notorious.

Jane Austen, of course, would've assumed that Mr. Darcy traveled in a
chaise-and-four - he would never travel with less than 4 horses, in the most
expeditious manner.  So our inquirer should probably adjust for class: a man
of wealth and distinction, with a chaise-and-four, might go 50 miles in half
a day.  Traveling post with 2 horses would be a slower, more economical
means of travel.  Your farmer taking a cart to market with a donkey, even
slower.

Jill R. Chancey, Curator
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
Laurel, MS
(phone) 601-649-6374
(fax) 601-649-6379

> Date:    Fri, 2 May 2003 09:35:27 -0400
> From:    Sandra Smith <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Horse Carriage Speed
>
> I agree with Deb - in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (published in
1813),
> Mr. Darcy refers to 50 miles as 'an easy distance':
>
> *******
> ``It must be very agreeable to her to be settled within so easy a distance
> of her own family and friends.''
>
> ``An easy distance do you call it? It is nearly fifty miles.''
>
> ``And what is fifty miles of good road? Little more than half a day's
> journey. Yes, I call it a very easy distance.''
>
> *******
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Sandra Smith
> John & Neville Bryan Director of Museum Collections
> Stewardship of Historic Sites
> National Trust for Historic Preservation
> 202-588-6154 voice
> 202-588-6232 fax
> [log in to unmask]
 > *************************************************************

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