The authoress of _Pride and Prejudice_ has been so good as to send to me a new novel just published, _Emma._ We are reading _France in 1814 and 1815_, by young Alison and Mr. Tytler: the first volume good. We are also reading a book which delights us all, though it is on a subject which you will think little likely to be interesting to us, and on which we had little or no previous knowledge. I bought it on Mr. Brinkley's recommendation, and have not repented--Cuvier's _Theory of the Earth._ It is admirably written, with such perfect clearness as to be intelligible to the meanest, and satisfactory to the highest capacity. I have enlarged my plan of plays, which are not now to be for young people merely, but rather _Popular Plays_, [Footnote: Published in 1817, in one volume, containing "Love and Law."] for the same class as _Popular Tales._ Excuse huddling things together. Mrs. O'Beirne, of Newry, who has been here, told us a curious story. A man near Granard robbed a farmer of thirty guineas, and hid them in a hole in the church wall. He was hurried out of the country by some accident before he could take off his treasure, and wrote to the man he had robbed and told him where he had hid the money: "Since it can be of no use to me you may as well have it." The owner of the money set to work _grouting_ under the church wall, and many of the good people of Granard were seized with Mr. Hill's fear there was a plot to undermine the church, and a great piece of work about it. _March 21._ I send a letter of Mrs. O'Beirne's, telling of Archdeacon de Lacy's [Footnote: It happened that when Albertine de Staël was to be married to M. de Broglie, at Florence, the only Protestant clergyman to be had was Archdeacon de Lacy, son-in-law to Mrs. Moutray, the friend of Nelson and Collingwood.] marrying Madame de Staël's daughter to the Duc de Broglie! My father is pretty well to-day, and has been looking at a fine bed of crocuses in full blow in my garden, and is now gone out in the carriage, and I must have a _scene_ ready for him on his return. I have been ever since you were here mending up the little plays; cobbling work, which takes a great deal of time, and makes no show. * * * * * It was in January 1816 that Maria Edgeworth received a letter from Miss Rachael Mordecai, of Richmond, Virginia, gently reproaching her with having so often made Jews ridiculous in her writings, and asking her to give a story with a good Jew. This was the origin of _Harrington_, and the commencement of a correspondence with Miss Mordecai, and of a friendship with her family. * * * * * _To_ MRS. RUXTON. _July 24._ Mr. Strutt and his son have within these few minutes arrived here. He wrote only yesterday to say that being at Liverpool, he would not be so near Ireland without going to Edgeworthstown; I hope my father may be able to enjoy their company, but he was very ill all last night and this morning.