Richard Lovell Edgeworth: A Selection From His Memoirs

ravelled through the Low Countries-'a delightful tour,' Maria write

lity; not of those who had accepted of places from Buonaparte, nor yet of those emigrants who have been wittily and too justly described as returning to France after the Revolution, sans avoir rien

rpose he had put it into the hands of Morellet. D'Alembert approved of the essay; and my father became advantageously known to Morellet as a man of science, and as one who had gratuitously and honourably conducted a useful work in France. His predominating taste thus continued, as in former times, its influence, w

ificers in manufactories, such as we see in Birmingham, each artisan in Paris, working out his own purposes in his own domicile, must in his time "play many parts," and among these many to which he is incompetent, either from want of skill or want of practice: so that, in fact, even supposing French artisans to be of equal ability and industry with English competitors, they are at least a century behind, by thus being precluded from all the miraculous adv

n of a free people; but as one meditating usurpation, and on the point of overturning, for the selfish love of dominion, the liberty of France. Wit

or five months at Paris, he could become thoroughly acquainted with France. Besides, his living chiefly with the sel

the Revolution, in consequence of the marriages which, after they lost their wealth and rank, had been formed, not according to the usual fashion of old French alliances, but from disinterested mot

different directions. At one time, the hurry and necessity of the passing moment had produced political pamphlets and slight works of amusement, formed to catch the public revolutionary taste. At another period, the contending parties, and the real want of freedom in the country, had repressed literary efforts. Scienc

ely. Then he pointed out to me another table, where another clerk was pleased to place me in the most advantageous point of view for taking my portrait, and he took my written portrait with great solemnity, and this he copied into my passport. I begged to know who was the principal person in the room, and to him I applied to learn the cause of the whole proceeding. He coolly answered that if I wanted to know I must apply to the Grand Juge. To the Grand Juge I drove, and having waited till the number ninety-three was called, the number of the ticket which had been given to me at the door, I was admitted, and the Grand Juge most formally assured me that he knew nothing of the affair, but that all I had to do was to obey. I returned home, and, on examining my passport, found that I was ordered to quit Paris in twenty-four hours. I went directly to our Ambassador, Lord Whitworth, who lived at the extremity of the town: he was ill-with difficulty I got at his secretary, Mr. Talbot, to whom I pointed out that I applied to my Ambassador from a

e my friend F. D. had taken the best lodging he could find for me in the village. Madame G. had offered me her country house at Passy; but though she pressed that offer most kindly we would not accept of it, lest we should compromise our friends. Another friend, Mons. de P, offered his country house, but, for the same reason, this offer was declined. We arrived at Passy about ten o'

have seen the Grand Juge, and your detention arises from a mistake. It was supposed that you are brother to the Abbe Edgeworth-we are to deliver a petition from you,

owards me. I wrote to Lord Whitworth, stating the facts, and declaring that nothing could ever make me deny the honour of bein

at my father's letter had been read by him, and that he declared he knew nothing of the affair; and so far from objecting to any man for being re

and resolved to return home. Maria writes:-'He was prudent and decided-had he been otherwise, we might all have been among the number of our countrymen who were, contrary to the law of nations, and to justice and

d as tolerable as circumstances would permit by the indefatigable kindness of our friends the D'