Letter from Maria Edgeworth, Edgeworthstown, to Sir Culling Smith, 1834 March 24 : autograph manuscript signed.

Concerning the health of his wife Isabella (née Carr) and her recovery from a recent illness and the sudden and acute illness of (Smith's mother-in-law) Mrs. Carr; discussing mutual friends Mr. and Mrs. [Thomas Barnwall] Martin, and the recent change in their circumstances owing to the death of Mr. Martin's father, Dick Mart (aka "humanity Martin" and "Hair-Trigger-Dick") as well as her impression that the additional money and the relief it will provide them will fall short of Mrs. Martin's expectations; urging him to return to Ireland to oversee improvements of his Irish properties, emphasizing the necessity of supervising the work directly if his efforts are to succeed, and explaining that she would hate to see his benevolence and generosity towards Ireland undone by disappointment and "false hopes as to what agents and underlings would do in your absence"; informing him that his "pleading with Mr. Littleton and [Thomas] Spring Rice in favor of Connemara roads" was not wasted, as a grant has been approved to finish "Nimmo's road", and noting that she shares his high opinion of "Spring Rice's abilities and sincere love of Ireland"; enclosing a paper given to her by Mr. Strickland evidently regarding the Irish reproductive loan funds, and entitled "Thoughts on the poor laws"; expressing her gratification at his approval of her novel "Helen" ("very glad that you were interested enough by her to be angry with her for giving up her lover for her friend - never mind very few ladies will follow such bad example."); telling him that she has heard him praised by their tenants, but warning him of the considerable difficulties he may face in any attempts to get them to adopt improved agricultural practices.