writes from Paris-"" Castle Rackrent" has been translated into German, and we saw in a French book an extract from it, giving the wake, the confinement of Lady Cathcart, and sweeping the stairs with the wig, as common and universal occurrences in that extraordinary kingdom.' Swift's ironical proposal to relieve the Irish poor by converting their children into food for the rich, was seriously adduced by a French writer to illustrate the horrid extremities to which the country had been reduced.

6

'Belinda' was published in 1801, and was highly popular. Moral Tales' was also published in 1801, with a preface by her father, in which he explains that the tales have been written by her to illustrate the opinions delivered in Practical Education,' and describes the moral object of each-the most effective mode of repelling readers that could well be contrived by an admiring parent. The Essay on Irish Bulls' was published in 1802, in their joint names, and was reviewed by Sydney Smith. Of course he could not resist the temptation of quizzing Edgeworth, whom, for that purpose, he insists on treating as the chief, if not sole, partner in the firm of Edgeworth & Co.; but, whilst condemning the rambling style of the composition, his criticism is favourable. The firm drew tears from us in the stories of Little Dominick and of the Irish

Beggar who killed his sweetheart. Never was grief more natural or more simple.' Her own account of this book cannot be passed over:

"After "Practical Education," the next book which we published in partnership was the "Essay on Irish Bulls."

The first design of this Essay was his (her father's) :—under the semblance of attack, he wished to show the English public the eloquence, wit, and talents of the lower classes of people in Ireland. Working zealously upon the ideas which he suggested, sometimes, what was spoken by him, was afterwards written by me; or when I wrote my first thoughts, they were corrected and improved by him so that no book was ever written more completely in partnership.

:

'On this, as on most subjects, whether light or serious, when we wrote together, it would now be difficult, almost impossible, to recollect, which thoughts originally were his, and which were mine. All passages in which there are Latin quotations or classical allusions must be his exclusively, because I am entirely ignorant of the learned languages. The notes on the Dublin shoe-black's metaphorical language, I recollect, are chiefly his.

'I have heard him tell that story with all the natural, indescribable Irish tones and gestures, of which written language can give but a faint idea. He excelled in imitating the Irish because he never overstepped the modesty or the assurance of nature. He marked exquisitely the happy confidence, the shrewd wit of the people, without condescending to produce effect by caricature.'

The speech (she adds) of the poor freeholder to a candidate, in the chapter entitled Irish Wit and Eloquence,' was made to her father, and written down by her within a few hours from his dictation. In the same chapter are the complaint of the poor widow against her landlord, and his reply, quoted in Campbell's 'Lectures on Eloquence,' under a notion that they were fictitious. She declares them to be unembellished facts: her father being the magistrate before whom the rival orators appeared.

Mrs. Edgeworth relates that a gentleman much interested in improving the breed of Irish cattle, sent, on seeing the advertisement, for the work on Irish Bulls: 'he was rather confounded by the appearance of the classical bull at the top of the first page which I had designed from a gem, and when he began to read the book he threw it away in disgust: he had purchased it as secretary to the Irish Agricultural Society.'

In the autumn of 1802, during the peace of Amiens, Mr. and Mrs. Edgeworth, their two daughters and Maria, went to Paris, taking Belgium in their way. Her account of their travels is lively and sensible, and they appear to have known almost everybody worth knowing: Madame Récamier, Comte and Comtesse de Ségur, La Harpe, Suard, Boissy d'Anglas, Montmorenci, Camille Jordan, Kosciusko, and Lally Tollendal are specially mentioned. One long letter is entirely filled with a visit to Madame de Genlis, who is admirably described. But we can only afford room for Madame d'Houdetot, the Julie of Rousseau, with whom they breakfasted at the Abbé Marellet's:

'Julie is now seventy-two years of age, a thin woman in a little black bonnet: she appeared to me shockingly ugly; she squints so much that it is impossible to tell which way she is looking: but no sooner did I hear her speak than I began to like her; and no sooner was I seated beside her, than I began to find in her countenance a most benevolent and agreeable expression. She entered into conversation immediately her manner invited and could not fail to obtain confidence. She seems as gay and open-hearted as a girl of seventeen. It has been said of her that she not only never did any harm, but never suspected any. . . . I wish I could at seventy-two be such a woman!

'She told me that Rousseau, whilst he was writing so finely on education and leaving his own children in the Foundling Hospital, defended himself with so much eloquence that even those who blamed him in their hearts, could not find tongues to answer him. Once at a dinner at Madame d'Houdetot's there was a fine pyramid of fruit. Rousseau in helping himself took the peach which formed the base of the pyramid, and the rest fell immediately. "Rousseau," said she, "that is what you always do with all our systems, you pull down with a single touch, but who will build up what you pull down?" I asked if he was grateful for all the kindness shown to him? "No; he was ungrateful: he had a thousand bad qualities, but I turned my attention from them to his genius and the good he had done mankind."'

One sentence in her general estimate came upon us by surprise I have never heard any person talk of dress or fashion since we came to Paris, and very little scandal. A scandalmonger would be starved here.'

The grand event of her-of every woman's-life came to pass at this period. On quitting Paris in March, 1803, she could say for the first time, Ich habe gelebt und geliebet (I have lived and loved). Abruptly closing her catalogue of new acquaintance, she adds:

" Here, my dear aunt, I was interrupted in a manner that will surprise you as much as it surprised me, by the coming in of Monsieur Edelcrantz, a Swedish gentleman, whom we have mentioned to you, of superior understanding and mild manners he came to offer me his hand and heart!!

'My heart, you may suppose, cannot return his attachment, for I have seen but very little of him, and have not had time to have formed any judgment, except that I think nothing could tempt me to leave my own dear friends and my own country to live in Sweden.'

In a letter to her cousin on 8th December, 1802 (the proposal was on the 1st), after explaining that M. Edelcrantz was bound to Sweden by ties of duty as strong as those which bound her to Edgeworth-Town, she writes: "This is all very reasonable, but reasonable for him only, not for me; and I have never felt anything for him but esteem and gratitude.' Commenting on this passage, Mrs. Edgeworth says:

'Maria was mistaken as to her own feelings. She refused M. Edelcrantz, but she felt much more for him than esteem and admiration she was extremely in love with him. Mr. Edgeworth left her to decide for herself; but she saw too plainly what it would be to us to lose her, and what she would feel at parting from us. She decided rightly for her own future happiness and for that of her family, but she suffered much at the time and long afterwards. While we were at Paris, I remember that in a shop where Charlotte and I were making some purchases, Maria sat apart absorbed in thought, and so deep in reverie, that when her father came in and stood opposite to her, she did not see him till he spoke to her, when she started and burst into tears. . . . I do not think she repented of her refusal, or regretted her decision; she was well aware that she could not have made him happy, that she would not have suited his position at the Court of Stockholm, and that her want of beauty might have diminished his attachment. It was better perhaps she should think so, as it calmed her mind; but from what I saw of M. Edelcrantz, I think he was a man capable of really valuing her. I believe that he was much attached to her, and deeply mortified at her refusal. He continued to reside in Sweden after the abdication of his master, and was always distinguished for his high character and great abilities. He never married. He was, except very fine eyes, remarkably plain.'