who could have dared to hope that he should ever have found another equally deserving to possess his whole confidence and affection?
Yet such a one it pleased God to give him--and to give him in the brother of his wife.

And never man felt more strongly grateful for the double blessing.

To Captain Beaufort he became as much attached as he had ever been to Lord Longford or to Mr.Day.
'His father-in-law, Dr.Beaufort, was also particularly agreeable to him as a companion, and helpful as a friend.' Consumption again carried off one of Edgeworth's family: his daughter Elizabeth died at Clifton in August 1800.
The Continent, which had been practically closed for some years to travellers, was open in 1802 at the time of the short peace, and Edgeworth gladly availed himself of the opportunity of mixing in the literary and scientific society in Paris, and of showing his wife the treasures of the Louvre--treasures increased by the spoil of other countries.

The tour was arranged for the autumn, and Edgeworth was looking forward to visiting Dr.Darwin on the way, when he received a letter begun by the doctor, describing his move from Derby to the Priory, a few miles out of the town, and sending a playful message to Maria: 'Pray tell the authoress that the water nymphs of our valley will be happy to assist her next novel.' A few lines after, the pen had stopped; another hand added the sad news that Dr.Darwin had been taken suddenly ill with fainting fits: he revived and spoke, but died that morning.

The sudden death of such an old and valued friend was a great shock to Edgeworth.
Some months later, his daughter mentions that, 'in passing through England, we went to Derby, and to the Priory, to which we had been so kindly invited by him who was now no more.