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ML I j§ C £ iilißf < From the Lite rary World. A DAY WITH MARIA EDGEWORTH A’Iate English steamer brought us the melan chollv news of the death of Maria Edgeworth.— There are few persons to whom the present gen eration of men and women owes so. large a debt of gratitude for pleasant reading as to her. Ihe w riter is not sure whether “ Harry and Lucy” and “ Simple Susan ” continue to be favorites w ith children. Perhaps their place has been supplied with something more “ improving .” “ Belinda,^ also, and “ Patronage,” and “ Castle Rack rent, and “ Helen,” may not be sought for as of old at the circulating libraries. More highly spiced pro ductions, probably, cause them to seem insipid to “ Young America.” There must be some readers however, to whom the mere mention of these books still awakens agreeable recollections, and have found nothing in more modern fiction to take their places. Such persons, the writer ventures to think, will be interested in the description of a visit he fad the privilege of paying several years since at Edge wo rlhtown-House. He trusts that he shall be acquitted of any impropriety in pub lishing the details ot that visit. Common usage has sanctioned similar statements in the case of other distinguished authors, and in regard to Miss Edgeworth, if the writer can convey to the public a tithe of that deep respect for her character which the interviews to he narrated produced in his own mind, he knows that he shall he pardoned for the liberty he is taking. It was early in the morning of a July day, in the year 1830 (the reader will allow me to use the first person singular) when I left Dublin for Edgeworthtown, which lat ter place lies fifty-three Irish miles distant from the other in a northwesterly direction. On leaving the city we passed the fine buildings erected for the Law Courts, the Barracks, the Military Hospi tal, and Phoenix Park. We saw at a distance the spire of the Mad House in which Swift spent some of the latter melancholy days of his life.— Our road led us through Maynooth, where the large Roman Catholic College is situated,and Mul lingar. There was little, however, to interest me on the way, excepting the beggars who sur rounded the coach at every stopping place, and were most importunate in their demands, whining, blessing, flattering, pray : ng, and groaning in mel ancholy chorus, The scene was a distressing one, and only rendered tolerable by the reflection that this was made a matter ot business with ma ny of the poor creatures, and much of the grief and affliction was put on for the occasion. I reached the Inn at Edgeworthtown at half past two in the afternoon, and immediately sent a package with which I had been charged, to gether with a letter of introduction and my card to the authoress. Shortly afterwards the servant returned bearing Mrs. and Miss Edgeworth’s com pliments, and an invitation to visit them. I walked forthwith to the house, which was at no great distance from the Inn. I entered the grounds by the gate at the Porter’s Lodge and followed abroad gravelled drive, which wound thro ugh. a beautiful lawn adorned by clumps of elms. This brought me to the great Hall door of the mansion, which was square in shape, large and commodious, and painted of a vellow ish color. It was partly surrounded by flower gardens, and had on one side verandahs and trel lis work, covered with clustering roses. A ser vant received me at the entrance, and passing through the hall, which was ornamented with family portraits and specimens of natural history, ushered me into the Library, where a number of ladies were sitting engaged in writing and sew ing. One of them rose and accosted me, and I recognised Miss Edgeworth at once from descrip tions of her which I had already received. She was a very short and spare person, and appeared to be between fifty and sixty years of age, although she must have been at that time not less than sev enty. Her face had no very striking features.— It expressed, however, in a marked degree good sense and benevolence. If there was anything peculiar in her physyognomy it was the space between the eyes, which was very broad and flat. The ferehead also was broad, while the lower part of the face about the mouth and chin was quite narrow. Her e}’es were small, and of a col or between grey and hazel. They assumed a very pleasant expression when she smiled, and half closed them. Her nose was nearly straight, and mouth small and slightly compressed. She wore a slate-colored gown and a plain cap, with brown hair (a frizette, I thought) in small ends around her forehead. If her appearance was or dinary, her voice and manner were exceedingly kind and engaging. She presented me to the widow of her father, a lady of much dignity of address, and who preserved a great deal of bloom, although her hair was quite grey. Another elder ly lady and two younger women were in the room, who I afterwards learned were relatives of the family. The apartment was large and well lighted, and combined all the conveniences of a library and the elegancies qf a lady’s parlor. — There was a range of square pillars at the sides where a partition had apparently been taken down. In the recesses thus formed and else where beside the walls well-filled book-cases ex tended half-way to the ceiling, the spaces above being occupied by oil-paintings and engravings. Among them were likenesses of Ricando, the po litical economist, Sir Walter Scott, Madame De Stael, Talleyrand, Lord Longford, and Napoleon. Tables covered with books, writing materials, needle-work, and baskets of flowers, stood in dif ferent parts of the room, and about the grate in which a fire of peat was burning, large, easy-look ing chairs were disposed. Everything wore an ai r of comfort and refined taste, and it was at once to be seen that the usual occupants of that apartment devoted themselves to pursuits both ra tional and delightful. Here it was, as Miss Edge worth afterwards told me, that all her books were written. She worked there, she said, sur rounded by the different members of her family, often reading to them what she had just before composed, and receiving their corrections and suggestions. And, indeed, it was the very place in which one might suppose those elegant con versations, so full of wit and common sense, which abound in her novels, had been conceived. That cheerful library-parlor, seemed to be the home of all domestic virtues and graces. Nobody who lived in it could be dull, or ungenial, or unhappy. After luncheon, which was served in the di ning room, a most interesting conversation took place. Miss Edgeworth talked a great deal, and all that she said was full of. practical good sense and kindness of heart. The topics, at first, in compliment to her guest, related principally to America. Upon these subjects, particularly those connected with government and literature, she showed accurate information and liberal opinions. She appeared Lobe familiar with ourbestauthors, and to have a proper appreciation of their merits, making discriminating remarks, I remember, re specting Irving, Willis and Hoffman. We spoke of Indian words and their pronunciation, and she seemed pleased to be informed how Michigan, Ho bomok, and other names were pronounced. This led to the general subject of the Indians and their wrongs, in connexion with which she read with much feeling a few lines from Mrs. Sigourney, whose name she accented improperly. It happened that 1 had shortly before visited Abbotsford. W hen this was alluded to, she spoke in the most affectionate manner of Sir Walter Scott, who died a few years previous, always calling him her “ dear Sir Walter.” She de scribed a tour to the Lakes of Killarney, upon which she had accompanied him and his family. When that interesting apartment at Abbotsford was mentioned, in which the personal relics of the poet —his hat, and stick, and clothes —are pre served, the tears came to her eves, It was evi dent she was a person of the most hearty good feelings, and overflowing with love to her friends. The conversation continued upon these and other subjects until late in the afternoon, when I rose to return to the Inn, upon which I was kindly asked to remain and dine, and take a bed at the house. My luggage was forwith removed thither, and I found myselfin the possession of a most comfort able apartment, in which, besides the usual furni ture of a bed-room, were several easy sofas, screens, and curious old mirrors. At dinner my seat was next to Miss Edgeworth, who talked all the time in the most agreeable way. What she said was marked as before with the strongest practical good sense and the most cheerful and liberal views of mankind and the world. She showed also an accurate knowledge of many subjects which are usually considered to be be}’ond the reach of female study. Much of it was of an interrogative character, and re quired of me considerable self-possession and ac tivity. I was quite well satisfied if I could an swer her rapid questions with tolerable correct ness. There are persons who possess the power of extracting from you all you know’ upon any subject—who arrive at once at the pith of your replies. She was one of those. If she agreed with any opinion expressed, she carried it out and illustrated it. If she dissented, she stated her objections with such clearness and force, that 1 should not have desired to argue with her after wards, unless her winning kindness of manner had always given me courage to express my views with the greatest frankness. I ean only hope to give a spare and meagre outline of this conversation —indeed, hardly more than an enu meration of some of the topics discussed. But even this may not be without interest, although it will afford no idea whatever of the extensive information, the warm hearted generosity, and the vigorous and well-chosen language of the distinguished authoress. She said she had never known Hannah More, and much regretted she had not. She had seen Mrs. Siddons act, but it was in the latter part of that lady’s life, when her physical powers were on the decline. She spoke of the performance of Queen Catharine at tllls period as extremely interesting, the part re quiring an exhibition of mental affliction a little blunted by bodily pain, which Mrs. Siddon’s want of health enabled her to give with much ef fect. She had known Sir James Mackintosh well, and described his conversation as being of the most superior character. He knew the best that had ever been said or written upon any subject. His memory, both retentive and recollective, was most wonderful, and his modesty equally remark ble. She wished he had not known so much of other people that she might have known more of Sir James. She had been well acquainted with Watt, the improver of the Steam Engine. The statue of him by Chantrey, with its deeply wrinkled brow and expression of strong fixed meditation was spoken of as the personification of Abstraction. “ Yes,” said she, “of matbc matics.” In this connection the wonders effected by steam in America were alluded to, and she gave to Mr. Fulton the credit of having first ap plied it in navigation, She showed me in the dining-room a portrait of her father, for whose memory she seemed to cherish the deepest veneration. When inquiry was made concerning his well known talents for mechanics, she pointed to the clock, which she said was of his workmanship, and stated that the tower of the village church was raised from the ground by a contrivance of bis, and put in its place in ten or fifteen minutes. After dinner we went out upon) the verandah, and then for the first time I ventured to speak par ticularly of her own books. She seemed to be gratified with the account of the warm reception “ Helen,” had met in America. I asked about “ Taking for Granted,” anew novel, which the papers about that time promised from her pen.— She said this report had been spread, she pre sumed, by a friend, who bad seen a little of the manuscript with that title. It was, however, un finished, and she did not know when it would be completed. I spoke of how much we weie led to expect from its name, and when upon being requested to state my conception of its meaning, I answered that it was probably intended to show the dangers of precipitancy in judgement and opinion, she appeared to be pleased, and said that was her meaning exactly, and requested if any instances illustrative of this occurred to me, that I would mention them, as she often derived much proffit from such suggestions from her friends. We afterwards went into the hall, where she pointed out the portrait of her father’s uncle, the Abbe Edgeworth, who attended Louis XVI, upon the scaffold. “ This,” she said, “ was some thing for the family to be proud of.” Here also was a picture of her great-grandfather, in his le gal robes, and one of an ancestor of hers, a La dy Edgeworth, which represents her in the act of making the sign of the cross, the same which saved Cranallah Castle from the fury of a mob, as related in the memoirs of Richard Lovel Edge worth. When we returned to the library lights were brought in and the ladies commenced working, Miss Edgeworth being engaged upon a muslin cape, which sort of occupation, they said, she fol lowed so much that the people were surprised she found any time for writing. Tea was after wards served, and a pleasant conversation main tained until bed time. Everything went on in an easy and quiet manner, so indicative of refine ment and true politeness. Among all the mem bers of this family the greatest harmony and af fection seemed to exist, and 1 frequently observed little acts and words which, although unimportant in themselves, showed the constant influence of these delightful qualities. I was shown in the Library the next morning at nine o’clock. Soon afterwards Miss Edgeworth came in from the garden with a large straw bon net on her head, and holding in her hands a bas ket filled with flowers which she had just gathered. They were wet with the rain, and having engaged me to spread them out upon the floor, she retired to prepare for breakfast. In a little while we were all assembled at the meal, at which conver sation flowed on in the same easy and unrestrained manner as before. It turned at first upon Prison Reform, and she seemed to have an accurate knowledge of what had been effected in America in this department. Negro slavery was then mentioned, and upon this question she appeared to have more enlightened and just views than the English in general. Afterwards the subject of her own works was again introduced, and in answer to an inquiry if many of the characters and circumstances narrated were real ? she said, she did not remember to have drawn a charac ter which was taken entirely from life. ‘Some in cidents she had borrowed from true history. She mentioned the relater of the story in “ Castle Rackrent” as very much resembling an old steward of the family. Churchill in “ Helen,” she said, was made up from several fashionable dinner s-out, whom she had met in London.— Some of the incidents in the “ Contrast,” one of the “ Popular'Tales” were real. The shutting up of the wife in “ Qastle Rackrent” was also done by an officer who resided some time ago in the neighborhood. The story of the will, which forms one of the most interesting portions of “ Patronage,” was real, and occurred in the me moirs of the Edgeworth family, as they had been written out by her great-grandfather. Lady Day enant was an imaginary personage. Boing in terrupted here by an expression of great admira tion for ffiat character, she seemed pleased, and intimated that she felt more pride in the delinea tion of it than in any she had ever drawn. Sim ple Snsan,” she said, Sir Walter prononneed the most pathetic of her tales, and one which drew tears from him. In comparing domestic life in England with that in America, she expressed the idea that it must be much the same thin” in both O countries, and in this connexion spoke of the rapid advancement of America in many depart ments, and instanced the art of engraving. The plates of our Annuals, she said, were infinitely superior to the coarse prints of the Gentleman’s Magazine, which in their day were so highly prized. She also spoke of our reviews—which she always read—the North American and Amer ican Quarterly, which latter was then inexistence. She preferred them as reviews to the English pub lications, although their essays might be inferior She said they gave her better notions of a book and directed her what to read and what to on/ reading, more judiciously than the Edinburgh and Quarterly. Something being said of the pofo; cal bigotry of the English periodicals, and t} )ei ' r mercenary devotion to the interests of publislu/ and booksellers, she remarked she had heard 0 f this latfer charge, but from her own experien<> f . knew nothing. She sent her books to Mr. Bentiy and with the reviewing ol them she had no Con n ex ion. After breakfast we walked in the hall and looked again at the family portraits. We exn; ined that of the Lady making the Sign of th e Cross, and also one of another Lady Edgeworth who, although she was afraid of ghosts and f a l ries, had sufficient presence of mind to take :i lighted candle gently with her hands from a bar rel of gunpowder, into which it had been stuck by mistake during an attack upon her castle.— Both these circumstances had been mentioned in the life of Richard Edgeworth, and doubted in the Reviews by ill-natured scribblers. To con firm the truth of the statement, bis daughter brought out for me to read an old volume of man uscript, in her great-grandfather’s own hand, in which these stories, with that of the will before mentioned, and many other curious facts were narrated. Besides the family portraits, there was one of Mr. Day, the author of “ Sandford and Merton.” There was also in the ball sped, mens of birds and insects from America, carefully preserved ; a bead chain from a mummy’s neck, a box with a picture of the old tolbooth of Edin burgh upon it, made from the wood of the door of that prison, and several other curiosities. The time now approached for me to take leave, when Miss Edgeworth voluntarily offered to give me letters to some friends of hers in England.— Before sealing them she handed them to me to read, and most gratefully do 1 recollect the kind manner in which she had written of myself ami of America. Perhaps no better proof can be offered of the warm friendliness of Iter disposi tion than this unexpected courtesy to a youn man but recently from college, who could con trtbute nothing to her intellectual gratification, and whose chief claim upon her regard was the introduction he had brought from a valued friend, and his own most sincere respect and admira tion for her character and writings. The coach was to start for Dublin at two o’clock, and shortly before that hour I left Edge worthtown-House, most deeply impressed with the quiet good sense, the extensive information, the liberal views, the warm heart, and the unaf fected manners of her who was its chief orna ment, and whose presence now, alas I no lon ger distinguishes it above all the hospitable Homes of Ireland. W. 11. Queen Elizabeth's Ambassador. —John Basilo vvitz, the Czar of Russia, perceiving Sir Jeremy Bowes, the pjubassador of Queen Elizabeth, with his hat on in his presence, thus rebuked him : “ Have you not heard, sir, of the person I have punished for such an insult V” He had in fact punished him very savagely, by causing his hat to be nailed to his head. Sir Jeremy 7 answered : “Yes, sir; but I am the Queen of England’s ambassador, who never yet stood bare-headed to any prince whatever ; her I represent, and on her justice I depend to do me right if I am insulted.” “A brave fellow this,” replied the Czar, turn ing to his nobles—“a brave fellow this, who thus dare to act and talk for Iris sovereign’s honor; which of you would do so for me ?” ROBERT N. ADAMS, CABINET-MAKER AND UNDERTAKER, No. 93 Broughton St., Savannah, Ga., IS prepared to execute all orders in his line at the lowest prices, with dispatch. Orders from the country promptly attended to. Ready-made coffins always on band, and made to order at short notice. June 28 3mo BOOK AND JOB PRINTING, Os all kinds, executed at this Office, with neainen* ■* * despa tell. HAVING lately put our Ofilce in complete order and made large additions to it, we have now the most ex tensive Job Printing Office in the City and are prepared to execute all kinds of PLAIN AND FANCY PRINTING, with neatness and despatch, and on the most accomodating terms. Office 102 Bryan-street, entrance on Bay Lane. Savannah, March 22d, 18491 EDWARD J.’ PURSE. A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY^ A WEEKLY SOUTHERN NEWSPAPER, PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY, BY EDWARD J. PURSE. TERM S:—T WO DOLLARS A YEA K- Three Copies for one year, or one copy three years, Seven Copies, - - - _ _ . 10 0’ Twelve Copies, - - - - - .15 *** Ad vertisements to a limited extent, will be at the rate of 50 cents for a square of nine lines or less* I°* the first insertion, and 30 cents for each subsequent insert# 0 Business cards inserted for a year at Five Dollars. LSP A liberal discount will be made to Post Masters ** c will do us the favor to act as Agents. Postmasters are authorized to remit money to Publish' 1 * and all money mailed in presence of the Postmaster, ® duly forwarded by him, is at our risk. I3T All communications to be addressed (post-paid) to E. J. PURSE, Savannah,