Richard Lovell Edgeworth: A Selection From His Memoirs

bundle of sticks when loosened allows each stick to be used for beating, and it may therefore be argued that sticks, being meant for fighting, should never be bound in a bundle, yet each single

ted. As soon as the Commander-in-Chief and the Lord-Lieutenant (at the time joined in the same person) exerted his full military and civil power, the invaders were defeated, and the rebellion was extinguished. The petty magisterial tyrants, who had be

ses in his neighbourhood he endeavoured to discourage that spirit of recrimination and retaliation which the lower Irish are too prone to cherish, and of which t

t there is no deceiving them as to the state

disdain of vengeance-of this they had convincing proof in his refusing to listen to the tales of slan

e Longford mob, but that, for the sake of justice, and to record what his own conduc

y father felt desirous that the poor culprit, who was now ashamed and penitent, should not be punished. The evidence was not pressed against him, and he was acquitted. As they were leaving the courthouse my father saw, and spoke in a playful tone to the penitent sergeant, who,

his mind-he was of too good and too happy a nature. He forgot all, but the moral which he drew for his private use

tion, of the Union between England and Ireland, which it w

to obtain assistance in forwarding the great object of improving the education of the people: he wished also to assist in the discussion of the Union. He was not without a natural desire, whic

o the House in that state in which so many profess to find themselves, and so few ever really are-anxious to hear

vote prompted them to encourage him to proceed. This curiosity was kept alive as he went on; and when people perceived that it was not a set speech, they became interested. He stated his doubts, just as they had really occurred, balancing the arguments as he threw them by turns into each scale, as they had balanced one another in his judgment; so that the doubtful beam nodded from side to side, while all watched to see when its vibrations would settle. All the time he kept both parties in good humour, because each expect

as to make a pretence of liberality by giving a vote against the Union, while, by arguing in its favour, he was to make converts for the measure. Many on the Ministerial bench, who had still hopes that, on a future occasion, Mr. Edgeworth might be convinced and brought to vote with them, complimented him

nce than the Union, or than any merely political measure could prove to his country, the education of the people. By his exertions a select committee was appoi

ty. He would venture to assert, though the power of the sword was great, that the force of education was greater. It was notorious that the writings of one man, Mr. Burke, had changed the opinions of the whole people of England against the

s? No, the difference of mind arose from education. It therefore became the duty of Parliament to improve as much as possible the public unde

uth. The difference of religion, and the facilities of absolution, present difficulties so formidable to their moral improvement as to require all the counteracting powers of education, example, public opinion, and law. . . . Multiplying oaths injures the revenue, by increasing incalculably the means of evading the very laws and penalties by which it is attempted to bind the subject. Experience proves that this is a danger of no small account to the revenue; though trifling when compared with the

s of our debates? It is intended to force this measure down the throats of the Irish, though five-sixths of the nation are against it. Now, though I think such union as would identify the nations, so as tha

this legal by a very small majority, made up chiefly by these very borough members. When thirty-eight country members out of sixty-four are against the measure, and

ntlemen, that, if a minister could by any means win the nation to the measure

ith myself, and lose my good opinion at my time of life. What did lie in my way for a vote I will not say, but I stated in my

onable part of the community that a cordial union between the two countries would essentially advance the interests of both. When, however, the ministry found themselves in a minority, and that a spirit of general opposition was rising in the country, a member of the House, w

ches were filled with the proselytes that had been made

n passing through different parts of the country he saw, and delighted in showing us, everything curious and interesting in art and nature

seph Banks, attended the meetings of the Royal Society, and me

the commencement of valuable friendships with the same care and vividness of recollection With which so

ough of various talents, ages, and characters, did, from their first acquaintance, coalesce. . . . After he had lost such a friend as Mr. Day . . . who could have dared to hope that he should ever have found another equally deserving to possess his whole confidence

also particularly agreeable to him as

Edgeworth's family: his daughter Eliz

is, and of showing his wife the treasures of the Louvre-treasures increased by the spoil of other countries. The tour was arranged for the autumn, and Edgeworth was looking forward to visiting Dr. Darwin on the way, when he received a lett

had been taken suddenly ill with fainting fits: he revived and spoke, but died that mo

who was now no more. The Priory was all stillness, melancholy, and mourning. It was a painful visit, yet not without satisfaction; for my father's affectiona