Life And Letters Of Maria Edgeworth/Volume 2/Letter 6

by Maria Edgeworth

MRS. MARCET to MARIA EDGEWORTH.

MALAGNY, Nov. 15, 1820.

I cannot make up my mind, my dear friend, to take my departure ^[1] for a still more distant country without again bidding you adieu. I have hesitated for some time past, "Shall I or shall I not write to Miss Edgeworth?" for I felt that I could not write without touching on an article in the Quarterly—a subject which makes my blood boil with indignation, and which rouses every feeling of contempt and abhorrence. I might indeed refrain from the expression of these sentiments, but how could I restrain all those feelings of the warmest interest, the tenderest sympathy, and the softest pity for your wounded feelings? I well remember the wish you one day so piously expressed to me that your father could look down from heaven and see the purity and zeal of your intentions in writing his Memoirs; I am sure your HEAVENLY FATHER does see them. And I feel that this unjust, unchristian, inquisitorial attack will not only develop fresh sentiments of the tenderest nature in your friends, but also rally every human being of sound sense around you.

Footnotes

1. Mrs. Marcet was just setting out for Italy.