Maria Edgeworth [pp. 578-585]

gant literature should, for a like reason, be pro- surely, not to be charged against her as an unpar hibited as sinful and anti-religious, and, indeed, donable offence.
it would be difficult to decide what class of our To suffer from the shafts of detraction is the
innocent enjoyments would not be liable to a common fate of genius. nor has this talented we similar interdict. man been so fortunate as to escape the destiny
of her tribe. When the merit of her writings
But what, in effect, is the "head and front" of had been acknowledged by the universal suffrage
Miss Edgeworth's offence? It is not pretended, of the literary world, the malignant spirit of
that she has, on any occasion, expressed a senti- envy, finding no abettors in the odious task of
ment hostile to religion-that its principles, or depreciation, has sought to rob her of the glory
professors are treated with levity, or disrespect of their authorship by ascribing all that they conin any part of her writings. Her crime, then, is tained of original, or admirable, to the assistance
not positive, but negative-a matter of inference, of her father. To substantiate this assumption,
and construction, not of direct proof. Is she to (for it is nothing more,) it is alleged that the
be written down a sceptic, because, not denying works, published under her name in her fathers
the efficacy of religious instruction, she has en- lifetime, are greatly superior to those written by
deavored to excite the weak and wavering reso- her since his death. Now the existence of this
lution of man by other motives to the practice disparity may well be questioned, and, certainly,
of virtue? Because she urges considerations of it is not so marked and obvious as to warrant the
worldly advantage and utility as an inducement uncharitable inference, that this distinguished
to upright conduct, must we presume that reli- lady had stooped to the meanness of foisting hergion is excluded —frm her scheme of moral re- self on public admiration in borrowed plumes.
form-that she deems its sublime promises and The novels of Helen, and Belinda, though perprecepts a delusion unfit to regulate the actions haps slightly inferior to some of her former
of a rational being? Is it anti-christian to de- works, are yet marked by the same peculiar
monstrate how essential moral purity is to our traits of style and execution, nor can any unbitemporal happiness? Is it an attack on religion assed reader fail to recognize in them the vestito insist on the advantages of virtue even in this ges of that masterly genius, whose Tales of
imperfect state? Then it must follow, that to Fashionable Life placed her, at once, on the
represent pain, and misery, and privation in this summit of literary fame. That her father may
life as the necessary concomitants of well-doing, have, occasionally, supplied her with hints, and
is the most effectual mode of advancing the in- materials-that her writings may have been esterests of religion. But this is evidently absurd. sentially polished and improved by his friendly
On the contrary it is palpable to our humble ap- corrections, is extremely probable; and, indeed,
prehension, that to hold up to mankind an ele- in her sequel to his auto-biography she acknowvated standard of morality-to show that even ledged her literary obligations to him with a canhere a strict compliance with its principles con- dour and filial gratitude, that do honour to her
duces to our well-being-that the joys of vicious heart. But this is a very different thing from
indulgence are fleeting in their duration, and bit- being the mere amanuensis of her father, the
ter in their consequences, is eminently calculated channel through which his thoughts and invento prepare the mind for the reception of religious tions were communicated to the world, which is
truth-to incline men to embrace it as the source the import of the charge in question. In availof their comfort and consolation in this life, not ing herself of parental criticism, Miss Edgeworth
less than the instrument of their eternal salva- did nothing but what was natural, and commendtion. This is what Miss Edgeworth has la- able, nor have the greatest men in English litboured to accomplish in the series of delightful erature disdained to profit by the assistance
tales, with which she has favoured the world, of their friends without incurring thereby any
and she may be truly said to have been, so far impeachment of their originality. Indeed so
as she has succeeded, a potent and faithful aux- prone are all authors to be blinded by pateriliary to the cause of Christianity. With what nal partiality to the defects of their literary propropriety, then, can she be denounced as its ene- geny, that there is not one, who would not be
my? The business of a religious teacher should benefitted by the strictures and suggestions of a
not be lightly undertaken. It should be left to friendly adviser of even inferior endowments.
those whose qualifications, character, vocation, And this, we doubt not, is the extent of Mr.
and the sanction of the church have designated Edgeworth's agency in his daughter's producfor the exercise of that sacred function. That tions. Except his auto-biography we know of
Miss Edgeworth has modestly declined the res- no acknowledged offspring of his pen, and that
ponsible task, and has been content to labour in work, though sprightly, spirited, and entertainan inferior, though not adverse, sphere, ought, ing, certainly affords no indication of the extra
584
Mlaria Edgeworth.
[SE,PTEMBER,