EDGEWORTH, MARIA (1767-1849).--Novelist, only child of Richard E., of Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, was _b._ near Reading. Her _f._, who was himself a writer on education and mechanics, bestowed much attention on her education. She showed early promise of distinction, and assisted her _f._ in his literary labours, especially in _Practical Education_ and _Essay on Irish Bulls_ (1802). She soon discovered that her strength lay in fiction, and from 1800, when her first novel, _Castle Rackrent_, appeared, until 1834, when her last, _Helen_, was _pub._, she continued to produce a series of novels and tales characterised by ingenuity of invention, humour, and acute delineation of character. Notwithstanding a tendency to be didactic, and the presence of a "purpose" in most of her writings, their genuine talent and interest secured for them a wide popularity. It was the success of Miss E. in delineating Irish character that suggested to Sir W. Scott the idea of rendering a similar service to Scotland. Miss E., who had great practical ability, was able to render much aid during the Irish famine. In addition to the works above mentioned, she wrote _Moral Tales_ and _Belinda_ (1801), _Leonora_ (1806), _Tales of Fashionable Life_ (1809 and 1812), and a Memoir of her _f._ EDWARDS, JONATHAN (1702?-1758).--Theologian, _s._ of a minister, was _b._ at East Windsor, Connecticut, _ed._ at Yale Coll., and licensed as a preacher in 1722. The following year he was appointed as tutor at Yale, a position in which he showed exceptional capacity. In 1726 he went to Northampton, Conn., as minister of a church there, and remained for 24 years, exercising his ministry with unusual earnestness and diligence. At the end of that time, however, he was in 1750 dismissed by his congregation, a disagreement having arisen on certain questions of discipline. Thereafter he acted as a missionary to the Indians of Massachusetts. While thus engaged he composed his famous treatises, _On the Freedom of the Will_ (1754), and _On Original Sin_ (1758). Previously, in 1746, he had produced his treatise, _On the Religious Affections_. In 1757 he was appointed Pres. of Princeton Coll., New Jersey, but was almost immediately thereafter stricken with small-pox, of which he _d._ on March 22, 1757. E. possessed an intellect of extraordinary strength and clearness, and was capable of sustaining very lengthened chains of profound argument. He is one of the ablest defenders of the Calvinistic system of theology, which he developed to its most extreme positions. He was a man of fervent piety, and of the loftiest and most disinterested character.