EDGEWORTHSTOWN, Wednesday [c.1803]

MY DEAR GOOD MRS. BILLAMORE,

I write as I promised you I would, to tell you how all your children do, and how all is going on in your absence. In one word the children are all well, and my father pretty well, and all going on well. Therefore enjoy yourself completely at dear Black Castle. I hope you have been well, and I need not ask you whether you are happy. I know it is impossible for any one so nearly connected with this family as you are to be anything but delighted at Black Castle.

I turned a pig away yesterday from your tree, where he was routing with all his snout, and Prince was so cowardly that he did not dare to pull him by the ears, he only barked round and round him, and the pig, despising him for a poltroon as he was, went on eating quietly–so I roared out of my window:

'Is there anybody alive in the back yard?'

'Yes Ma'am, Pat.'

'Then run and drive the pig away that is routing at Mrs. Billamore's tree.'

It was raining very hard, and Pat in his yellow waistcoat, which you know he is scruplesome about wetting, but he ran out instantly, and cursed and stoned the pig, and when the pig ran and squeaked, Prince grew wondrous brave, and chased him through the gate in triumph.

My mother gathered a bushel of roses out of your garden yesterday, and ornamented the library with them. Fanny and Sophy desire me to tell you that they do the fruit for dessert every day and Honora generally, so how it is I don't know. All I know is we have plenty of everything, and that is a wonder in these hard times, and Mrs. Billamore away!

John Langan says that Mistress Bell'more will be fit to be tied when she hears that the master has gone and given Pat Carroll four guineas a hundred for the butter, instead of three pound five for which Mrs. Bell'more bargained for it. But Kitty, my dear, if you had seen how happy Pat Carroll looked when he came to pay his rent and my father allowed him that unexpected price! His long chin became two inches shorter, and though he looked before as if he had never smiled since he was created, he then smiled without power to help it, and went away with as sunshiny a face as ever you saw, carrolling his Honor's praises for the best landlord in the three counties.

We heard of Sneyd's landing safely. My mother heard from Cork, all well. Adieu, my dear good Kitty. I am your truly affectionate

                                                                                              MARIA EDGEWORTH

 The Edgeworth Estate