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Mr。 Caton is released at last by the exertions of Mr。 Edmund Burke； of Mr。
Farr； and another devoted friend； who travel post…haste to London to
obtain a Habeas Corpus； so that he is able to write indignantly and safe
from his own home to the LONDON PACKET to describe his providential
escape。 The little sheet gives one a vivid impression of that daily life in
1779； when Miss Edgeworth must have been a little girl of twelve years
old； at school at Mrs。 Lataffiere's； and learning to write in her beautiful
handwriting。 It was a time of great events。 The world is fighting；
armies marching and counter…marching； and countries rapidly changing
hands。 Miss Seward is inditing her elegant descriptions for the use of her
admiring circle。 But already the circle is dwindling！ Mr。 Day has
parted from Sabrina。 The well…known episodes of Lichfield gaieties and
love…makings are over。 Poor Major Andre has been exiled from England
and rejected by Honora。 The beautiful Honora； whose 〃blending charms
of mind and person〃 are celebrated by one adoring lover after another； has
married Mr。 Edgeworth。 She has known happiness； and the devoted
affection of an adoring husband； and the admiring love of her little step…
daughter； all this had been hers； and now all this is coming to an end； and
the poor lady lying on her death…bed imploring her husband to marry her
sister Elizabeth。 Accordingly Mr。 Edgeworth married Elizabeth Sneyd in
1780； which was also the year of poor Andre's death。
There is a little oval picture at the National Gallery in Dublin； the
photograph of a sketch at Edgeworthstown House； which gives one a very
good impression of the family as it must have appeared in the reigns of
King George and the third Mrs。 Edgeworth。 The father in his powder and
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frills sits at the table with intelligent； well…informed finger showing some
place upon a map。 He is an agreeable…looking youngish man； Mrs。
Edgeworth； his third wife； is looking over his shoulder； she has marked
features； beautiful eyes； she holds a child upon her knee； and one can see
the likeness in her to her step…daughter Honora； who stands just behind her
and leans against the chair。 A large globe appropriately stands in the
background。 The grown…up ladies alternate with small children。 Miss
Edgeworth herself； sitting opposite to her father； is the most prominent
figure in the group。 She wears a broad leghorn hat； a frizzed coiffure；
and folded kerchief； she has a sprightly； somewhat French appearance；
with a marked nose of the RETROUSSE order。 I had so often heard that
she was plain that to see this fashionable and agreeable figure was a
pleasant surprise。
Miss Edgeworth seems to be about four…and…twenty in the sketch； she
was born in 1767； she must have been eleven in 1778； when Mr。
Edgeworth finally came over to Ireland to settle on his own estate； and
among his own people。 He had been obliged some years before to leave
Edgeworthstown on account of Mrs。 Honora Edgeworth's health； he now
returned in patriarchal fashion with Mrs。 Elizabeth Edgeworth； his third
wife； with his children by his first； second； and third marriages； and with
two sisters…in… law who had made their home in his family。 For thirty…
five years he continued to live on in the pretty old home which he now
adapted to his large family； and which； notwithstanding Miss Edgeworth's
objections； would have seemed so well fitted for its various requirements。
The daughter's description of his life there； of his work among his tenants；
of his paternal and spirited rule； is vivid and interesting。 When the
present owner of Edgeworthstown talked to us of his grandfather； one felt
that； with all his eccentricities； he must have been a man of a far… seeing
mind and observation。 Mr。 Erroles Edgeworth said that he was himself
still reaping the benefit of his grandfather's admirable organisation and
arrangements on the estate； and that when people all around met with
endless difficulties and complications； he had scarcely known any。
Would that there had been more Mr。 Edgeworths in Ireland！
Whatever business he had to do； his daughter tells us； was done in the
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midst of his family。 Maria copied his letters of business and helped him
to receive his rents。 'On most Irish estates；' says Miss Edgeworth； 'there
is； or there was； a personage commonly called a driver；a person who
drives and impounds cattle for rent and arrears。' The drivers are； alas！
from time to time too necessary in collecting Irish rents。 Mr。 Edgeworth
desired that none of his tenants should pay rent to any one but himself；
thus taking away subordinate interference； he became individually
acquainted with his tenantry。 He also made himself acquainted with the
different value of land on his estate。 In every case where the tenant had
improved the land his claim to preference over every new proposer was
admitted。 The mere plea； 'I have been on your Honour's estate so many
years；' was disregarded。 'Nor was it advantageous that each son；' says
Miss Edgeworth； 'of the original tenant should live on his subdivided little
potato garden without further exertion of mind or body。' Further on she
continues： 'Not being in want of ready money； my father was not obliged
to let his land to the highest bidder。 He could afford to have good
tenants。' In the old leases claims of duty…fowl； of duty…work； of man or
beast had been inserted。 Mr。 Edgeworth was one of the first to abolish
them。 The only clause he continued in every lease was the alienation fine；
which was to protect the landlord and to prevent a set of middlemen from
taking land at a reasonable rent； and letting it immediately at the highest
possible price。 His indulgence as to the time he allowed for the payment
of rent was unusually great； but beyond the half year the tenants knew his
strictness so well； that they rarely ventured to go into arrears； and never
did so with impunity。 'To his character as a good landlord；' she continues；
'was added that he was a real gentleman； this phrase comprises a good deal
in the opinion of the lower Irish。' There is one very curious paragraph in
which Miss Edgeworth describes how her father knew how to make use of
the tenants' prejudices； putting forward his wishes rather than his
convictions。 'It would be impossible for me；' says his daughter； 'without
ostentation to give any of the proofs I might record of my father's
liberality。 Long after they were forgotten by himself； they were
remembered by the warm…hearted people among whom he lived。'
Mr。 Edgeworth was one of those people born to get their own way。
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Every one seems to have felt the influence of his strong character。 It was
not only with his family and his friends that he held his ownthe tenants
and the poor people rallied to his command。 To be sure； it sounds like
some old Irish legend to be told that Mr。 Edgeworth had so loud a voice
that it could be heard a mile off； and that his steward； who lived in a lodge
at that distance from the house； could hear him calling from the drawing…
room window； and would come up for orders。
In 1778； says Miss Edgeworth retrospectively； when England was
despatching her armies all over the world； she had no troops to spare for
the defence of Ireland then threatened with a French invasion； and the
principal nobility and gentry embodied themselves volunteers for the
defenc