 Cassandra lived on alone at the cottage but continued to visit friends and relations.On one such visit to her brother Frank in March 1845, she suffered a stroke.Frank, who was still a serving Admiral at the age of 71, was preparing to depart to take command of the Royal Navy's North American Station and was obliged to leave his stricken sister at his home (Portchester House near Portsmouth) in the care of another brother, Henry.