Was James Stanier Clarke trying to seduce Jane Austen?

On 15 November 1815 Jane Austen writes to James Stanier Clarke to clarify the protocol governing the dedication of Emma to HRH (Letter 125[D]). Clarke responds next day with the required information (Letter 125[A], 16 Nov), and ends with a very interesting postscript:

"P.S.
I am going for about three weeks to Mr Henry Streatfeilds [sic], Chiddingstone Sevenoaks - but hope on my return to have the honour of seeing you again."

There is no necessity to meet again. In modern terms, Clarke is asking Jane for a date. He puts it in a postscript, because that way it seems more like a spontaneous, last-minute thought, without any agenda. But Jane is evidently unimpressed; she could have written to him at Sevenoaks, but she doesn't answer his letter for three weeks, during which time she maintains a normal correspondence with everyone else in her world. When she does reply (Letter 132[D], 11 Dec) she ignores the suggestion of a personal meeting, and discusses literary matters with humour and irony. Evidently, Clarke amuses her as Mr Collins amused Mr Bennet.

Ten days later, Clarke writes again (Letter 132[A], 21 Dec). He continues to groom Jane, covering her with fulsome, sticky compliments, mingled with mawkish attempts to enlist her sympathy for his own troubles; but hitherto she has not responded as he would wish. Mindful that she doesn't seem interested in another meeting, he suggests they begin a regular (doubtless "literary") correspondence. But perhaps he needs to make his meaning plainer! He decides to go for broke. His final paragraph is worth quoting in full:

"Pray, dear Madam, remember, that besides My Cell at Carlton House, I have another which Dr Barne procured for me at No 37, Golden Square - where I often hide myself. There is a small Library there much at your Service - and if you can make the Cell render you any service as a sort of Half-way House, when you come to Town - I shall be most happy. There is a Maid Servant of mine always there."

This is an astonishingly improper proposal, and Jane is surely gobsmacked. Think about it. He is inviting her to come to town and shack up with him at a discreet private address; and, we suspect, as often and for as long as she likes. As bait, he offers the freedom of his personal library. A maid on the premises is no chaperone - is she going to make up a third, every moment of the day? What are the odds that sooner or later, such a visit wouldn't mysteriously coincide with the maid being given a day off? And without being too Freudian about it, he could have picked his words better; "cell", "procured for me", "hide myself", "half-way house" - this is not the kind of language to reassure a lady of moral integrity.

Jane Austen is being propositioned, and she knows it. "Come to town? ON the town, I should think he means!" She drops the correspondence like a hot potato. Thankfully, Clarke can take a hint. It is three months before he writes again, and then only at the command of HRH (Letter 138[A], 27 Mar). The letter is short and only politely effusive. Neverthess, he must try his luck one more time: "Pray dear Madam soon write again and again." (The "pathetic puppy" gambit!)

Jane responds courteously but firmly (Letter 138[D], 1 Apr). It is obvious by now, even to JS Clarke, that the lady is NOT interested.

Is this being unkind to the man? He does seem to have been genuinely smitten. But he is a clergyman, for heaven's sake. To suggest that Jane accommodate herself in his private lodgings - discreetly, he implies - was simply immoral. She must have been disgusted.