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Hereditary Genius
175
resembled him in genius and disposition; one of them, viz.—
b. Lucile, had the genius, the constitution, and the eccentricity of J. J. Rousseau.
Edgeworth, Maria; a favourite authoress and moralist, whose writings exhibit “a
singular union of sober sense and inexhaustible invention.” She was aet. 31
when she began to write; d. aet. 83.
F. Richard Lovell Edgeworth (see LOVELL the Judge), writer on various subjects, in
much of which he was aided by his daughter; a wonderfully active man in body
and mind; interested in everything, and irrepressible. Married four wives.
There was forty years' difference of age between the eldest and youngest of his
numerous children. Maria was daughter of the first wife.
Etienne. See STEPHENS.
Fenelon, Francois; Archbishop of Cambrai, in France; author of “Telemaque;”
remarkable for his graceful, simple, and charming style of composition; a man
of singular serenity and Christian morality. He was very eloquent in the pulpit.
He preached his first sermon aet. 15, which had a great success. (Being a priest,
he had no family.)
?. Bertrand de Salagnac, Marquis de la Mothe, diplomatist, Ambassador to England
in the time of Elizabeth, and a distinguished officer, was his ancestor (but
quare in what degree: he died seventy years before Francois was born).
N. Gabriel Jacques Fenelon, Marquis de la Mothe, Ambassador of France to
Holland; wrote “Memoires Diplomatiques.”
NS. Francois Louis, litterateur.
NS. Abbe de Fenelon, head of a charitable establishment for Savoyards in Paris;
greatly beloved. Was guillotined in the French Revolution.
Fielding, Henry; novelist, author of “Tom Jones.” Byron calls him the “prose
Homer of human nature.” His education was desultory, owing to the narrow
means of his father, then a Lieutenant, but afterwards General. Began play-
writing aet. 21, was very dissipated, and reckless in money matters. Entered
the Temple and studied law with ardour; wrote two valuable pamphlets on
crime and pauperism, and was made a Middlesex Justice.
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