I have been writing a retelling of Emma focussing on the JF/FC subplot, and I am somewhat confused about how they corresponded with each other. Were there post boxes at that time, or would Jane have had to hand her outgoing letters to the postmistress? It seems to me that the postmistress in Highbury would have to be an unusually close-mouthed person not to gossip about Miss Fairfax sending or receiving letters from Mr. Churchill (did letters have return addresses on the outside in those days?). I'm thinking he might have had to use an alias, and perhaps even disguise his handwriting so the postmistress wouldn't notice Jane was getting letters in the same hand as those addressed to Mrs. Weston. Also, when Jane breaks off their engagement, she writes that she is sending back all his letters "by a safe conveyance." Does anyone have any idea what this might be? It seems to imply that she cannot send them by post. Any thoughts from my fellow Janeites?