And most eloquently, most beautifully did he tell the story. No mortal could ever have guessed that he was an invalid, if they had only _heard_ him _speak._ Just as I had here stopped writing my father came out of his room, looking wretchedly, but ordered the carriage, and said he would go to Longford to see Mr. Fallon about materials for William's bridge. He took with him his three sons, and "Maria to read _Ormond_"--great delight to me. He was much pleased, and this wonderful father of mine drove all the way to Longford: forced our way through the tumult of the most crowded market I ever saw--his voice heard clear all the way down the street--stayed half an hour in the carriage on the bridge talking to Mr. Fallon; and we were not home till half-past six. He could not dine with us, but after dinner he sent for us all into the library. He sat in the arm-chair by the fire; my mother in the opposite arm-chair, Pakenham in the chair behind her, Francis on a stool at her feet, Maria beside them; William next, Lucy, Sneyd; on the sofa opposite the fire, as when you were here, Honora, Fanny, Harriet, and Sophy; my aunts next to my father, and Lovell between them and the sofa. He was much pleased at Lovell and Sneyd's coming down for this day.
Mr. Edgeworth died on the 13th of June, in his seventy-second year. He had been--by his different wives--the father of twenty-two children, of whom thirteen survived him. The only son of his second marriage, Lovell Edgeworth, succeeded to Edgeworthstown, but persuaded his stepmother and his numerous brothers and sisters still to regard it as a home.
To enable the reader to understand the relationships of the large family circle, it may be well to give the children of Mr. Edgeworth.
1st marriage with Anna Maria Elers. Richard, b. 1765; d. s.p. 1796. Maria, b. 1767; d. unmarried, 1849. Emmeline married, 1802, John King, Esq. Anna, married, 1794, Dr. Beddoes.
2nd marriage with Honora Sneyd. Lovell, b. 1776; d. unmarried, 1841. Honora, d. unmarried, 1790.
3rd marriage with Elizabeth Sneyd. Henry, b. 1782; d. unmarried, 1813. Charles Sneyd, b. 1786; d .s.p. 1864. William, b. 1788; d. 1792. Thomas Day, b. 1789; d. 1792. William, b. 1794; d. s.p. 1829. Elizabeth, d. 1800. Caroline, d. 1807. Sophia, d. 1785. Honora, married, 1831, Admiral Sir J. Beaufort, and died, his widow, 1858.