I take "report" there the same way. One of the major themes of P&P is the variety of reports encountered. Caroline's letter to Jane with its insinuations about Georgiana, Wickham's story about the living, Colonel Fitzwilliam's concern about what Elizabeth has heard of Georgiana, Mr. Collins' letter about the rumors, Lady Catherine's visit about the same - it all suggests that Austen was writing a story as much about idle and misleading talk as she was about the titular vices. The reports that are truthful come from people who in one way or another have authority on the subject and don't have a conflict of interest. Wherever that report of Darcy's income came from, I doubt the source had authority on the subject.
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