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THE    AUTOBIOGRAPHY 

OF 

AETHIJE    YOUNG 


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Loaaon.Poblisheik/ Sniith.  Elder  &Co.l5.Wa»erlooFlaci 


THE    AUTOBIOGEAPHY 

OF 

ARTHUE     YOUNG 

WITH 

SELECTIONS   FROM   HIS   CORRESPONDENCE 


That  wise  and  honest  traveller'— John  Moeley 
EDITED   BY 

M.  BETHAM- EDWARDS 


WITH     PORTRAITS    AND     ILLUSTRATIONS 


LONDON 

SMITH,  ELDER,  &  CO.,  15  WATERLOO  PLACE 
1898 

[A.11    rights    reserved] 


J.  PETER  MAYER 
LIBRARY 


LIBRARY 

UNIVEHr^i  V  Di-  CALIFORNIA 
S^ViN'i'A  liAUliARA 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE 


An  apology  for  these  Memoirs  is  surely  not  needed. 
Whilst  Arthur  Young's  famous  '  Travels  in  France  ' 
have  become  a  classic,  little  is  known  of  the  author's 
life,  a  life  singularly  interesting  and  singularly  sad. 
Whether  regarded  as  the  untiring  experimentahst  and 
dreamer  of  economic  dreams,  as  the  brilliant  man  of 
society  and  the  world,  or  as  the  blind,  solitary  victim 
of  religious  melancholia,  the  figure  before  us  remains 
unique  and  impressive.  We  have  here,  moreover,  a 
strong  character  portrayed  by  himself,  an  honest 
piece  of  autobiography  erring,  if  at  all,  on  the  side  of 
outspokenness.  In  his  desire  to  be  perfectly  frank, 
the  writer  has  laid  upon  his  editor  the  obligation  of 
many  curtailments,  the  Memoirs  from  beginning  to 
end  being  already  much  too  long.  From  seven  packets 
of  MS.  and  twelve  folio  volumes  of  correspondence 
I  have  put  together  all  that  a  busy  public  will  pro- 
bably care  to  know  of  Arthur  Young — his  strength  and 
weakness,  his  one  success  and  innumerable  failures,  his 
fireside  and  his  friends.  One  striking  and  instructive 
feature  in  this  man's  history  is  his  cosmopolitanism, 
his  affectionate  relations  with  Frenchmen,  Poles, 
Russians,    Danes,    Italians,     Scandinavians.       Never 


vi  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

Englishman  was  more  truly  English  ;  never  English- 
man was  less  narrow  in  his  social  sympathies. 

The  religious  melancholia  of  his  later  years  is 
explicable  on  several  grounds  :  to  the  influence  of  his 
friend,  the  great  Wilberforce  ;  to  the  crushing  sorrow 
of  his  beloved  little  daughter  '  Bobbin's  '  death  ;  lastly, 
perhaps,  to  exaggerated  self-condemnation  for  foibles 
of  his  youth.  Few  lives  have  been  more  many-sided, 
more  varied ;  few,  indeed,  have  been  more  fortunate 
and  unfortunate  at  the  same  time. 

The  Memoirs,  whilst  necessarily  abridged  and 
arranged,  are  given  precisely  as  they  were  written — that 
is  to  say,  although  it  has  been  necessary  to  omit  much, 
not  a  word  has  been  added  or  altered.  Whenever  a 
word  or  sentence  needed  explanation  or  correction,  the 
editorial  note  is  bracketed.  The  foot-notes,  unless 
when  otherwise  stated,  are  all  editorial. 

For  the  use  of  Memoirs  and  letters,  &:c.,  I  am 
indebted  to  Mrs.  Arthur  Young,  widow  of  the  late 
owner  of  Bradfield  Hall,  the  last  of  Arthur  Young's 
race  and  name,  a  gentleman  alike  in  his  public  and 
private  life  well  worthy  of  his  distinguished  ancestry. 

Mr.  Arthur  Young,  who  died  last  year,  is  buried 
beside  the  author  of  the  '  Travels  in  France,'  in  the 
pretty  little  churchyard  of  Bradfield,  near  Bury  St. 
Edmunds. 

M.  B.-E. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTEE  I 

CHILDHOOD   AND   YOUTH,   1741-1759 

TAGB 

Ancestry — Anecdotes— Childhood — School  life — Inoculation — The 
paternal  character — Mrs.  Kennon — Letters  to  a  schoolboy — 
A  mercantile  apprenticeship — A  youthful  love  afi'air — Family 
troubles — A  gloomy  outlook        ....... 

CHAPTER   II 

FARMING   AND    MARRIAGE,    1759-1766 

The  gay  wqrld — A  call  on  Dr.  Johnson — A  venture — OfTer  of  a 
career— Farming  decided  upon — Garrick — Marriage — Mr.  Harte 
— Lord  Chesterfield  on  farming — Literary  work — Correspon- 
dence— Birth  of  a  daughter 26 

CHAPTER  III 

IN    SEARCH    OF   A   LIVING,    1767-1775 

Home  travels — A  move — Anecdote  of  a  cat — Disillusion — 'A 
Farmer's  Letters  ' — Another  move — '  In  the  full  blaze  of  her 
beauty'  —  Hetty  Burney  and  her  harpsichord — 'Scant  in 
servants' — Maternal  solicitude — Money  difficulties — More  tours 
— Lord  Sheffield — Howard  the  philanthropist — Correspondence       4 


viii  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   ARTHUR  YOUNG 

CHAPTEK  IV 

IRELAND,    1776-1778 

PAOB 

The  journey  to  Ireland — Characteristics — Residence  at  Mitchels- 
town — Intrigues — A  strange  bargain — Departure — Letter  to  his 
wife — A  terrible  journey 06 

CHAPTEK  V 

FARMING   AND   EXPERIMENTS,    1779-1782 

Corn  bounties — A  grievance  —  Reading — Hugh  Boyd — Bishop 
Watson — Howlett  on  population — Irish  Linen  Board — Experi- 
ments— Correspondence 83 

CHAPTEE  VI 

FIRST   GLIMPSE    OF   FRANCE,   1783-1785 

Birth  of  Bobbin — Ice  baths — '  The  Annals  of  Agriculture  ' — A 
group  of  friends — Lazowski — First  glimpse  of  France — Death 
of  my  mother — The  Bishop  of  Derry — Fishing  parties — 
Rainham     .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .110 

CHAPTEE  VII 

FIRST   FRENCH   JOURNEY,    1786-1787 

Death  of  my  brother — Anecdotes  of  his  character — Dr.  Burney  on 
farming — Greenwich  versus  Eton — Blenheim — Correspondence 
with  Dr.  Priestley — County  toasts — French  projects — First 
French  journey 138 

CHAPTEE  VIII 

TRAVEL   AND    INTERNATIONAL   FRIENDSHIPS,    1788-89-1790 

The  Wool  Bill — Sheridan's  speech — Count  Berchtold — Experi- 
ments— Second  French  journey— Potato-fed  sheep — Cost  of 
housekeeping — Chicory  —  Burnt  in  effigy  —  Correspondence — 
Third  French  journey — With  Italian  agriculturists — Bishop 
Watson  and  Mr.  Luther — Correspondence — Literary  work — 
Illness — The  state  of  France 163 


CONTENTS  IX 

CHAPTEE  IX 

PATRIOTIC    PROPOSALS,    1791-92 

PAGE 

Illness — Correspondence  with  Washington — The  King's  gift  of  a 
ram — Anecdotes — Eevising  MSS. — Patriotic  proposals — Deatli 
of  the  Earl  of  Orford — Agricultural  schemes — Correspondence     189 

CHAPTEE  X 

THE    BOARD    OF   AGRICULTURE,    1793 

The  Board  of  Agriculture — Secretaryship — Residence  in  London — 
Twenty-five  dinners  a  month — The  King's  bull — The  Marquis 
de  Castries — '  The  Example  of  France  ' — Encomiums  thereof — 
Correspondence 219 

CHAPTEE  XI 

THE    SECRETARYSHIP,    1791-95-1796 

The  Secretaryship  and  its  drawbacks — Social  compensations  — Ill- 
ness and  death  of  Elizabeth  Hoole — Letters  of  Jeremy  Bentham 
and  others — A  visit  to  Burke — Home  travels — Enclosures  .         .  241 

CHAPTEE  XII 

ILLNESS   AND    DEATH    OF   BOBBIN,    1797 

Illness  of  Bobbin — Letters  of  Bobbin  and  her  father's  replies- 
Dress  minutes  at  the  -opera — Hoping  against  hope — Bobbin's 
death— Seeking  for  consolation — Retrospection — Beginning  of 
diary — Correspondence 2G3 

CHAPTEE  XIII 

DIARY   AND   CORRESPONDENCE,    1798,  1799,  1800 

Assessed  taxes— Society— Mr.  Pitt  and  the  Board  of  Agriculture — 
A  foolish  joke — Dinners  to  poor  children — Interview  with  the 
King — Royal  farming — Correspondence — Bradfield— Incidents 
of  home  travel— Portrait  of  a  great  lady— Correspondence.         .     312 


X  AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG- 

CHAPTEK   XIV 

DIARY   CONTINUED,    1801-1803 

I'AGE 

Public  affairs  and  prophecy — The  divining  rod — The  appropriation 
of  waste  lands — The  word '  meanness '  defined — South's  sermons 
— Projected  theological  compendia  —  Correspondence  —  Jour- 
nalising to  '  my  friend  ' — Anecdote  of  Dean  Milner  and  Pitt — 
Death  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford — Napoleon  and  Protestantism     .     347 

CHAPTEE   XV 

APPROACHING   BLINDNESS,    1804-1807 

A  great  preacher — Arthur  Young  the  younger  goes  to  Russia — 
Cowper's  letters — Mrs.  Young's  illness — Dr.  Symonds — Novel 
reading — Skinner's  '  State  of  Peru  ' — Death  of  Pitt — Burke's 
publishing  accounts — Literary  projects — Approaching  blindness     391 

CHAPTEE   XVI 

LAST   YEARS,    1808-1820 

Gradual  loss  of  sight — Dl  ness  and  death  of  Mrs.  Oakes—  Daily  routine 
— A  disappointment — Riots — Death  of  Mrs.  Young — Anecdotes 
of  Napoleon  —  A  story  of  the  Terror  —  National  distress  — 
Close  of  diary — The  end 441 

INDEX 475 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

Portrait  of  Arthur  yocNo  .......    Frontispiece 

Bradfield  Hall  as  in  Arthur  Young's  Time.        .         .  to  face  p.  127 

Facsimile    of    Letter    from    Arthur    Young    to    Miss 

Young ,,188 

Portrait  of  '  Bobbin  '  (Martha  Young)    .         .         .         .         „         265 

Arthur  Young's  Tomb  at  Bradfield „         472 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY 


OF 


ARTHUR    YOUNG 

CHAPTER   I 

CHILDHOOD    AND   YOUTH,    1741-17o9 

Ancestry  —  Anecdotes  — •  Childhood  —  School  life  —  Inoculation  —  The 
paternal  character — Mrs.  Kennon — Letters  to  a  schoolboy — A  mer- 
cantile apprenticeship — A  youthful  love  affair- Family  troubles — A 
gloomy  outlook. 

I  WAS  born  at  Whitehall,  London,  on  September  11, 
1741,  many  years  after  my  brother  John  and  my  sister 
Elizabeth  Mary.  In  examining  the  family  papers  from 
which  the  following  detail  is  drawn,  I  should  observe 
that  difficulties  often  occurred  by  reason  of  the  ancient 
hand-writing  of  many  documents,  and  from  several 
being  written  in  the  Latin  language  not  easily 
deciphered ;  but  the  circumstances  relative  to  the 
following  dates  were  clearly  ascertained  as  far  as  they 
are  noted.  The  principal  object  is  the  possession  of 
the  Manor  of  Bradfield  Combust,  which  is  traced  in 
the  family  of   Canham  till  it  came  by  marriage  into 

B 


2        AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

that  of  Young.  Bartholomew  Canham  the  elder  had 
two  sons  and  two  daughters.  In  1672  he  transferred 
Bradfield  Hall,  manor  and  lands  to  Arthur  Young, 
married  to  Elizabeth,  his  daughter.  The  Young  shield 
bears  a  Field  Argent,  three  Bends  sable  and  a  Lyon 
rampant ;  that  of  Canham  a  Field  Gule,  Bend  Argent 
charged  with  a  cannon  ball  sable,  the  Bend  cotised 
with  Or.  The  estate  had  been  purchased  in  1620  by 
my  ancestor  of  Sir  Thomas,  afterwards  Lord  Jermyn 
of  Eushbrooke,  being  part  of  the  great  possessions  of 
that  family.  The  steward  who  acted  for  Sir  Thomas 
was  Martin  Folkes,  ancestor  of  the  present  Sir  Martin 
Folkes.  And  here  it  is  curious  to  observe  the  different 
results  affecting  the  posterity  of  the  private  gentleman 
who  purchases,  and  of  the  steward  of  the  great  man 
who  sells — I  am  a  poor  little  gentleman,  and  Sir 
Martin  Folkes  owner  of  an  estate  not  far  short  of 
10,000?.  a  year.  My  father.  Dr.  Arthur  Young,  in- 
herited Bradfield  from  my  grandfather,  Bartholomew 
Young,  Esq.,  called  Captain  from  a  command  in  the 
Militia,  and  it  is  remarkable  that  with  only  a  part  of 
the  present  Bradfield  estate  he  lived  genteely  and  drove 
a  coach  and  four  on  a  property  which  in  these  present 
times  just  maintains  the  establishment  of  a  wheel- 
barrow. 

Dr.  Arthur  Young,  my  father,  was  educated  at  Eton 
and  admitted  to  Pembroke  Hall,  Cambridge,  in  1710, 
afterwards  settling  at  Thames  Ditton,  Surrey.  He  was 
so  much  hked  by  the  inhabitants  that  they  elected  him, 
against  a  violent  opposition  of  the  inferior  classes, 
minister   of   that  parish.     Whether   the  ladies  of  the 


CHILDHOOD  AND  YOUTH  3 

place  had  a  particular  influence  I  know  not,  but  he  was 
a  remarkably  handsome  man  and  six  feet  high.  It  was 
here  he  became  acquainted  with  Miss  Anne  Lucretia 
de  Cousmaker,  to  whom  he  was  afterwards  married. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  John  de  Cousmaker,  Esq., 
who  came  to  England  with  King  William  III.,  bring- 
ing with  him  a  fortune  of  80,000/.,  the  greater  part  of 
which  he  was  deprived  of  by  the  imprudence  of  one  or 
two  of  his  sons.  If  ever  there  existed  in  human  form 
an  Israelite  without  guile,  it  was  this  worthy  man ; 
and  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  reflect  on  the  extreme 
respect  and  affection  which  were  always  felt  for  him 
and  my  dear  mother.  Mr.  de  Cousmaker,  my  maternal 
grandfather,  was  executor  and  residuary  legatee  to  a 
Mrs.  Keene,  on  which  account  he  could  have  legally 
possessed  himself  of  an  estate  left  by  her.  With  an 
honesty  unexampled  he  would  not  take  one  penny  of  it, 
but  exerted  himself  with  incredible  industry  to  discover 
some  distant  relation  to  whom  he  might  transfer  the 
property.  He  did  find  one  who  had  no  legal  claim, 
and  he  gave  him  the  estate.  This  Mr.  Keene  dying 
without  issue,  his  widow  told  my  grandfather  that  out 
of  gratitude  she  would  provide  for  two  of  his  children. 
To  a  daughter  she  left  an  annuity  of  300Z.  a  year,  to  a 
son  an  estate  which  passed  on  to  his  descendants. 

My  mother  brought  a  fortune  to  my  father,  the 
amoimt  I  know  not,  but  it  was  sufiicient  to  demand  the 
settlement  of  the  Bradfield  estate  upon  her  for  life. 
She  was  of  a  very  amiable,  cheerful  disposition,  loved 
conversation,  for  which  she  had  a  talent,  and  read  a 
great   deal   on   various   subjects.      The    residence    at 

B   2 


4        AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUK  YOUNG 

Thames  Ditton  resulted  in  a  friendship  with  the  Onslow 
family,  which  proved  highly  advantageous  to  my  father. 
General,  then  Colonel  Onslow,  appointed  him  chaplain 
to  his  own  regiment,  and  the  General's  brother,  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Commons,  also  named  him  chaplain, 
a  step  which  afterwards  led  to  the  prebendaryship  of 
Canterbury.  Mr.  Speaker  Onslow  and  the  Bishop  of 
Kochester  were  my  godfathers.  Colonel,  afterwards 
General  Onslow,  was  in  the  estimation  of  the  world  a 
highly  respectable  character,  in  the  formation  of  which 
it  may  easily  be  supposed  that  religion  formed  no  part 
from  the  following  anecdote.  One  Sunday  morning  his 
wife  obtained  his  permission  to  read  a  chapter  of  the 
Bible,  but  he  first  bolted  the  door  lest  the  servants 
should  witness  the  performance.  ,  He  was  afraid  that 
the  matter  might  reach  the  ears  of  his  Commander-in- 
Chief,  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  who  to  much  brutahty 
of  character  added  the  abhorrence  of  a  soldier  troubling 
his  head  about  religion. 

In  1734  my  father  published  his  '  Historical 
Dissertations  on  Idolatrous  Corruptions  in  Eeligion,' 
a  very  learned  work  which  is  quoted  by  Voltaire.  In 
1742  he  was  in  Flanders  acting  as  chaplain  to  Colonel 
Onslow's  regiment,  and  I  have  found  among  his  papers 
the  journal  of  a  tour  made  through  Brabant,  Flanders, 
and  a  part  of  Picardy ;  on  the  whole,  it  is  interest- 
ing, and  the  cheapness  of  living  therein  described  is 
remarkable.  The  following  letter  is  from  my  father  to 
his  relation,  his  Excellency  Governor  Vassy,  relating 
to  the  conduct  of  General  Ingoldsby  (who  married  my 
mother's  sister)  at  the  battle  of  Fontenoy,  and  which 


CHILDHOOD   AND    YOUTH  5 

throws  a  little  additional  light  upon  that  transaction, 
though  at  the  expense  of  the  Commander-in-Chief. 

'Bradfield  Hall :  July  22,  1745  (O.S.). 

'  Dear  Sir, — My  last,  which  I  wrote  some  time  before 
our  ParHament  broke  up,  was  of  such  a  length  as  I 
suppose  has  tired  you  of  my  correspondence,  since 
which  I,  having  been  here  in  the  country,  have  had 
nothing  of  news  worth  troubling  you  with.  I  make 
little  doubt  but  that  our  friend  Ingoldsby's  behaviour 
has  made  much  the  same  figure  in  your  publick  papers 
as  your  Appius's  has  done  in  ours.  But  I  can  assure 
you.  Sir,  that,  notwithstanding  the  account  published 
in  our  Gazette,  he  behaved  like  a  good  and  a  brave  officer. 
A  court-martial  has  set  upon  him,  but  what  the  result 
of  it  is  we  know  not  as  yet.  But  fear  the  worst,  since 
the  clearing  of  him  must  reflect  upon  a  King's  son  who 
has  the  command  of  an  Army.  I  have  enclosed  his 
case,  which  contains  as  much  of  the  truth  as  he  could 
have  leave  to  print,  at  the  bottom  of  which  you  will  find 
something  wrote  which  his  Eoyal  Highness  commanded 
particularly  to  be  left  out.  But  if  you,  Sir,  who  are 
nearer  to  the  Army  than  we  are,  desire  a  more  particular 
account  of  this  affair,  your  nephew  Everet,  who  will 
continue  here  with  us  for  more  than  a  month  longer, 
shall  give  you  the  full  detail  of  it. 

'  If,  dear  Sir,  the  gentleman  who  is  the  bearer  of 
this  shall  want  your  protection,  I  recommend  him  to  it ; 
he  is  going  to  the  Army  as  my  substitute.  His  name 
is  Gough,  and  is  nephew  to  Captain  Gough,  who  is  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Commons  and  director  of,  and 


6        AUTOBIOGRAPm'  OF  AETHUR  YOUNa 

the  great  manager  in,  our  East  India  Company.     All 
that  I  particularly  ask  in  behalf  of  him  is  that  you  will 
give  him  your  directions  how  to  find  our  Army,  and,  if 
it  be  necessary,  to  halt  in  your  garrison. 
'  I  am,  dear  Sir, 

'  Your  Excellency's  kinsman  and  servant, 

'  T.  Young.' 

Ingoldsby  was  cruelly  used  at  the  battle  of  Fontenoy 
by  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  who  had  sent  him  orders 
to  put  himself  at  the  head  of  a  detachment  to  attack  a 
temporary  redoubt  which  the  French  had  thrown  up, 
but  gave  him  no  directions  to  take  cannon  ;  and  when 
Ingoldsby  arrived  at  the  spot  he  saw  the  necessity. 
He  instantly  dispatched  his  Aide-de-camp  to  demand 
cannon,  but  before  they  came  the  position  of  the  troops 
changed,  and  an  order  came  to  draw  off.  No  conse- 
quences attended  this  business,  nor  had  it  any  effect  on 
the  loss  of  the  battle  ;  but  an  opportunity  was  taken  to 
throw  the  whole  blame  on  Ingoldsby,  and  to  attach  to 
him  all  the  consequences  of  that  defeat.  Ingoldsby 
complained  of  this,  and  Ligonier  himself  came  to  him 
from  the  Duke  to  assure  him  that  the  D.  knew  his 
bravery,  and  highly  valued  him,  but  advised  him  by  all 
means  to  be  quiet,  and  everything  would  blow  over,  and 
the  business  be  forgotten.  Nothing  had  been  said  on  the 
affair,  but  to  save  the  reputation  of  the  Duke.  Mrs. 
Ingoldsby,  losing  all  patience  at  his  not  being  promoted 
according  to  promise,  never  let  him  rest  till  he  pub- 
lished his  case,  which  put  an  end  to  all  hope  of  pro- 
motion in  the  Army,  and  he  was  obliged  to  retire.  He 
was  in  all  the  Duke  of  Marlborough's  campaigns,  and 


CHILDHOOD  AND   YOUTH  7 

served  with  great  reputation  to  the   moment   of  the 
battle  of  Fontenoy. 

When  I  was  of  a  proper  age  to  be  placed  at  school, 
a  choice  had  to  be  made  between  those  of  Bury 
St.  Edmunds  and  Lavenham '  ;  no  possible  motive 
could  induce  any  one  to  think  of  the  latter,  except 
the  circumstance  of  my  father  having  been  there  him- 
self. The  master  of  the  former  school,  Mr.  Kinsman, 
was  one  of  the  finest  scholars  of  his  age,  and  is 
mentioned  with  much  respect  by  Cumberland  m  his 
memoirs.^  Whilst  the  matter  was  in  abej^ance  the 
Eev.  M.  Coulter,  Master  of  Lavenham  School,  came  to 
Bradfield,  and  my  mother,  unfortunately  for  me,  was  so 
much  pleased  with  the  extreme  good  temper  manifested 
in  his  countenance  that  she  persuaded  my  father  to 
entrust  me  to  his  care.  I  was  accordingly  sent  to  that 
v^rretched  place.  I  was  to  learn  Latin  and  Greek,  with 
arithmetic,  but  whether  from  being  a  favourite  or  from 
the  diversion  of  frequent  visits  home,  I  afterwards 
found  myself  so  ill-grounded  in  the  above  languages 
that  for  some  time  before  I  left  the  school  I  found  it 
necessary  to  give  much  attention  to  them  in  order  to 
recover  the  lost  time.  It  is  easy  to  suppose  how  much 
I  was  indulged  from  one  instance  among  many  others. 
At  dinner  the  first  dish  the  boys  were  helped  to  was 
pudding,  which  I  disliked,  and  was  excused  from 
eating — the  case  of  no  other  pupil.  As  to  correction, 
I  have  no  recollection  of   receiving  any  thing  of  the 

'  Lavenham  is  a  very  pretty  village,  with  splendid  church,  lying 
between  Hudbury  and  Whelnethan,  whilst  Bury  St.  Edmunds  is  the 
second  town  in  Suffolk. 

*  Memoirs  of  Ricliard  Cumberland,  1806. 


8        AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUK  YOUNG 

sort.'  I  had,  however,  a  sufficient  awe  of  the  Master. 
During  the  last  years  of  my  stay  I  had  a  pointer  and  gun, 
and  often  went  out  with  Mr.  Coulter,  he  with  a  partridge 
net  and  I  with  my  gun.  I  had  a  room  to  myself  and 
a  neat  collection  of  books.  I  remember  beginning  to 
write  a  history  of  England,  thinking  that  I  could  make 
a  good  one  out  of  several  others.  How  early  began 
my  literary  follies !  I  seemed  to  have  a  natural  pro- 
pensity for  writing  books.  The  following  bill  for  a 
year's  schooling  and  board  must  in  the  present  period 
(about  1816)  be  considered  a  curiosity : — '  The  Eev. 
Dr.  Young  to  John  Coulter,  Xmas  1750,  to  Xmas  1751. 
A  year's  board,  &c.  151.  Sundries  21.  4s.  4d.  Total 
17Z.  4s.  4cZ.'  I  find  from  a  memorandum  book  of  my 
mother's  that  in  1746  beef  was  3d.,  veal  Sd.,  and 
mutton  S^d.  per  pound  at  Bury. 

About  the  year  1753  I  was  inoculated.  This  was 
a  scheme  of  my  mother's  which  she  had  more  than  once 
proposed,  but  my  father  would  not  consent  to  it.  Taking, 
however,  the  opportunity  of  his  visit  to  Cambridge,  she 
ventured  on  the  experiment.  At  this  period  inoculation 
was  so  little  understood  that  it  is  utterly  astonishing 
how  anyone  could  escape  ;  instead  of  the  cool  regimen 
afterwards  prescribed  by  Sutton, ^  the  practice  was  to 

'  Elsewhere  Arthur  Young  mentions  a  severe  flogging  '  very  properly ' 
administered  by  his  father  for  an  act  of  cruelty,  adding,  '  It  was  the 
only  time  that  I  ever  received  any  correction  at  his  hands,  yet  he  was  a 
remarkably  passionate  man.' 

-  Robert  Sutton,  physician  and  inoculist,  1757,  Diet,  of  Biography, 
Sampson  Low.  Dr.  Guy's  Public  Health  has  the  following  :  '  The 
Suttons  were  noted  for  their  success  in  inoculation,  but  Dr.  Gregory 
gives  more  credit  to  diet  and  exposure  to  air  than  to  the  antimonial  and 
mercurial  medicines  they  extolled.' 


CHILDHOOD   AND   YOUTH  9 

keep  the  patient's  chamber  as  close  and  hot  as  possible, 
the  shutters  were  kept  up,  and  the  door  never  opened 
without  being  shut  speedily.  I  suffered  much,  and  Dr. 
Kerrich,  the  physician  at  Bury,  for  some  time  attended 
every  day.  It  pleased  the  Almighty  that  I  should  re- 
cover, one  of  many  instances  in  which  His  providence 
preserved  a  wretch  who  was  to  sin  against  Him  by  a 
multitude  of  offences.  When  my  father  returned  and 
I  ran  out  to  meet  him,  my  mother  exclaimed  in  a 
triumphant  tone,  '  There  !  I  have  had  Arthur  inocu- 
lated, and  you  enjoy  the  comfort  of  knowing  that  your 
boy  has  had  that  terrible  disorder.'  My  father  looked 
at  me,  but  neither  spoke  a  word  on  the  subject  then 
nor  ever  after.  This  was  his  way — resolute  in  reject- 
ing all  proposals  touching  upon  novelty,  and  cool  after 
their  accomplishment.  In  an  inferior  circumstance 
he  showed  the  same  temper,  as  I  will  relate.  The 
family  pew  at  church  was  a  wretched  hole,  lined  with 
ragged  cloth  and  covered  with  dust ;  the  pulpit  also  was 
tumbling  with  age  and  rottenness.  On  my  father's 
going  to  London  and  leaving  my  brother  at  Bradfield, 
he  begged  permission  to  have  a  new  pew  and  pulpit. 
This  was  refused.  '  Good  enough.  Jack ! '  said  my 
father.  But  Jack  attacked  his  mother,  and  set  the 
carpenter  to  work,  who  made  a  spacious  pew,  with 
one  for  the  servants,  new  pulpit  and  reading  desk. 
The  first  Sunday  my  father  went  to  church,  on 
approaching  the  place,  he  stopped  short,  surveyed 
all  three  with  great  attention,  said  nothing,  and  on 
joining  the  family  party  home  never  opened  his  lips, 
nor    ever    after    mentioned    the    subject.       He    was 


10  AUTOBIOftEAPHY  OF  AETHUE,  YOUNG 

inwardly  pleased,  but  not  gracious  enough  to  confess  it. 
There  was  in  Dr.  Young  a  strong  mixture  of  obsti- 
nacy and  sang-froid,  as  the  preceding  anecdotes  prove. 

In  1753  I  went  to  London,  and  find  by  an  old 
pocket-book  that  I  saw  Mr.  Garrick  in  '  Archer,'  ^  heard 
the  Oratorio,  '  The  Messiah,'  spent  an  evening  at 
Kanelagh,  and  viewed  the  Tower  and  St.  Paul's.  I  also 
remember  visiting  the  widow  of  General  Ingoldsby,  who 
opened  her  house  every  evening  to  all  comers,  nor 
was  the  number  of  fashionable  people  inconsiderable. 
John  Wilkes,  afterwards  so  well  known,  I  met  there 
more  than  once  ;  he  was  then  considered  a  wit.  Mrs. 
Ingoldsby  made  a  point  of  going  to  Court  at  least  twice  a 
year,  but  I  never  heard  her  repeat  any  other  conversa- 
tion with  the  King  than  complaining  to  him  how 
much  she  was  afflicted  with  rheumatism. 

In  1754  died  Mrs.  Sidney  Kennon,  a  lady  highly 
respected  and  well  known  as  the  midwife  to  the  Prin- 
cess of  Wales ;  she  also  brought  into  the  world  my 
brother,  sister  and  myself,  and  was  a  very  old  friend  of 
my  father's,  and  him  she  left  executor  and  residuary 
legatee.  That  her  professional  emoluments  were  of 
some  consideration  was  proved  by  the  fact  of  a  gen- 
tleman after  her  decease  presenting  her  executor  with 
fifty  guineas  as  her  fee  for  having  delivered  his  wife. 
By  her  will  all  her  furniture  and  a  great  collection  of 
medals,  bronzes,  shells,  curiosities,  books  on  natural 
history,  &c.  with  money  in  the  funds,  came  into  his 
possession,  to  the  amount  of  nearly  five  thousand 
pounds.  By  a  codicil  she  had  ordered  that  her 
'  Hero  of  TJie  Beaux'  Stratagem,  G.  Farquhar. 


CHILDHOOD   AND   YOUTH  11 

servants  should  be  retained  and  the  house  kept  for  six 
months  after  her  death,  in  consequence  of  which  our 
family  moved  into  her  residence  in  Clifford  Street.  It 
was,  of  course,  to  be  expected  that  my  father  would  sell 
all  the  curiosities,  but  that  a  clergyman,  a  man  of 
learning,  having  a  son  of  my  brother's  attainments 
should  dispose  of  such  a  collection,  was  not  looked  for  ; 
my  maternal  Uncle,  de  Cousmaker,  dining  one  day  at 
the  house  enquired  as  to  my  father's  intentions.  On 
being  informed  that  everything  would  go  to  an  auction, 
he  asked  the  price.  My  father  repHed  that  the  articles 
had  not  been  valued,  but  he  supposed  that  they  would 
fetch  fifty  or  sixty  pounds.  Mr.  de  C.  at  once  offered 
sixty  guineas,  the  bargain  was  struck,  and  the  books 
departed  next  day,  to  our  great  mortification  ;  the  price 
was  preposterous,  as  the  collection  contained  many 
curious  and  scarce  publications,  and  my  Uncle  after- 
wards sold  many  of  the  duplicates  for  a  greater  amount 
than  he  had  given  for  the  whole,  yet  retaining  a  most 
valuable  number.  As  a  proof  of  the  worth  of  what 
might  be  called  Mrs.  Kennon's  Museum,  I  insert  a 
letter  to  her  from  Sir  Martin  Folkes,  President  of  the 
Eoyal  Society. 

'  Madame, — I  am  sorry  I  had  not  the  happiness  of 
seeing  you  when  I  was  last  to  wait  on  j^ou,  but  will 
take  another  opportunity  of  paying  my  respects.  The 
worms  you  were  pleased  to  send  seem  to  me  the  very 
same  I  received  from  Holland,  and  which  I  was  in  the 
utmost  distress  for,  being  quite  out,  and  my  Polypes  in 
great  want,  so  that  a  word  of  instruction,  how  I  may 


12  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF  AKTHUE   YOUNG 

get  at  some  of  these  worms,  will  be  a  great  obligation. 

When  I  had  the  honour  of  leaving  you  a  Polype,  I  had 

never  a  one  by  me  with  a  young  one  fairly  put  out,  so 

here  was  one  beginning.     I  now  beg  leave  to  send  you 

such  a  one ;  and  when  you  are  disposed  to  cut  one  will 

wait  on  you,  and  show  it  you  in  a  microscope,  if  you 

have  not  yet  seen  it.     I  beg  leave  to  return  very  many 

thanks  for  the  favour  of  seeing  your  noble  collection  of 

rarities,  and  have  hardly  talked  of  anything  else  since. 

*  I  am.  Madam,  with  the  sincerest  respect, 

*  Your  ladyship's  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

'  M.  FOLKES. 
'  May  6,  1743.' 

Doddington,  in  his  diary,  under  the  date  of  June  28, 
1750,  mentions  supping  at  this  lady's  house,  in  com- 
pany with  Lady  Middlesex,  Lord  Bathurst,  and  Lady 
Torrington  ;  and  in  the  '  World  '  (No.  114)  there  is  a 
humorous  paper  on  the  distinctions  between  noble  birth, 
great  birth,  and  no  birth,  in  which  the  writer  says, 
'  I  never  suspected  that  it  could  possibly  mean  the 
shrivelled  tasteless  fruit  of  an  old  genealogical  tree. 
I  communicated  my  doubts,  and  applied  for  information 
to  my  late,  worthy,  and  curious  friend,  Mrs.  Kennon, 
whose  valuable  collection  of  fossils  and  minerals,  lately 
sold,  sufficiently  prove  her  skill  and  researches  in  the 
most  recondite  parts  of  nature.  She,  with  that  frank- 
ness and  humanity  which  were  natural  to  her,  assured 
me  that  it  was  all  a  vulgar  error,  in  which,  however, 
the  nobility  and  gentry  prided  themselves ;  but  that,  in 
truth,  she  had  never  observed  the  children  of  the  quality 


CHILDHOOD   AND   YOUTH  13 

to  be  wholesomer  and  stronger  than  others,  but  rather 
the  contrary,  which  difference  she  imputed  to  certain 
causes  which  I  shall  not  here  specify.'  I  possess  several 
letters  written  to  this  lady  by  the  Governor  of  Bermuda, 
Mr.  Popple,  in  1739  and  1740,  in  which  he  considers 
her  of  sufficient  importance  to  request  that  she  would 
speak  a  good  word  for  him  in  behalf  of  his  being 
removed  to  a  better  Government,  or  some  other  employ- 
ment at  home,  and  concludes  a  letter  with  saying,  '  I 
believe  your  present  power  to  assist  your  absent  friends 
is  now  as  great  as  I  have  always  thought  your  inclination 
was.' 

When  my  father  returned  to  Bradfield,  after  passing 
the  winter  in  London,  he  pulled  down  the  old  part  of 
the  house,  a  wretched  lath  and  plaster  ill-contrived 
building ;  then,  to  the  astonishment  of  every  one,  he 
employed  a  hedge  carpenter  to  rebuild  exactly  on  the 
old  foundations.  Thereby  was  constructed  a  mansion 
which  had  not  a  single  room  free  from  every  fault  that 
could  be  found,  whether  as  to  chimney,  doors,  windows, 
or  connecting  passages,  and  this  at  a  larger  expense  than 
need  have  cost  an  excellent  house.  The  new  stables, 
with  coach-house,  brew-house  and  offices,  were  built 
of  brick,  and  cost  500/.  It  was  rather  whimsical  to 
give  his  horses,  carriage,  and  brewery  '  the  warmth 
of  solid  walls,  and  to  house  himself  in  lath  and  plaster ; 
but  in  fixing  his  new  farmery,^  a  sad  error  was  com- 
mitted.    The  whole  interposed  between  the  dwelling, 

'  Till  the  last  generation  it  was  the  fashion  to  brew  one's  own  beer 
in  Suffolk. 

-  '  The  buildings  and  yards  necessary  for  the  business  of  a  farm.' — 
Webster. 


14       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

and  four  acres  of  turf  dotted  with  beautiful  oaks.  My 
poor  father,  however,  did  not  hve  to  enjoy  his  improve- 
ments, for  he  was  very  soon  seized  with  a  dropsy,  and 
which — as  will  be  seen — terminated  his  life.  During 
one  of  his  journeys  to  London  in  order  to  consult  a 
doctor,  occurred  a  circumstance  so  whimsical  that  I  must 
mention  it.  Several  sleepless  nights  made  him  take  it 
into  his  head  that  anything  would  be  better  than  a  bed ; 
as  an  experiment  at  one  inn  he  ordered  that  a  hole 
should  be  cut  in  a  haystack,  in  which  he  passed  the 
night.  But  it  is  time  to  return  to  myself.  During  all 
these  years  I  was  at  Lavenham  School  reading  Caesar, 
Sallust,  Homer  and  the  Greek  Testament,  when  a 
sudden  whim  seized  my  father,  and  he  ordered  Latin 
and  Greek  to  be  discarded  and  algebra  to  take  their 
place.  I  thus  became  absorbed  in  Saunderson.'  But 
what  commanded  more  of  my  attention  at  this  time 
was  a  very  different  branch  of  learning,  namely,  the 
lessons  of  a  dancing  master ;  he  came  once  a  week 
from  Colchester  to  teach  the  boys,  also  some  young 
ladies  of  the  neighbourhood,  two  of  whom  made  terrible 
havoc  with  my  heart.  The  first  was  Miss  Betsy  Harring- 
ton, a  grocer's  daughter,  admitted  by  all  to  be  truly 
beautiful ;  the  second  of  my  youthful  flames  was  Miss 
Molly  Fiske,  a  clergyman's  sister.  For  one  or  two 
years  we  corresponded,  but  afterwards  I  went  away, 
and  she  married  the  Eev.  M,  Chevalier,  of  Aspall. 
Long  after  her  marriage  she  told  me  that  she  had 
accepted  that   gentleman  on   finding   that   I   did   not 

'  Nicholas  Saunderson,  D.D.,  author  of  the  Elements  of  Algebra,  in 
ten  books,  1740. 


CHILDHOOD   AND   YOUTH  15 

come   forward  with  the   proposal.     Her   fortune   was 
4,000Z. 

Arthur  Young,  from  his  Sister  Elisa  Maria 

' 1755. 

'  Dear  Brother, — I  acknowledge  it's  very  long  since 
I  last  wrote  to  you,  but  I  enclose  you  my  excuses,  and 
what  was  I  assure  you  the  occasion  of  my  delay.  I  de- 
signed making  you  a  present  of  lace  for  a  pair  of  ruffles, 
and  the  weather  had  been  so  bad  that  it  was  too  dirty 
for  me  to  go  out  and  get  them.  I  hope  they  will 
engage  your  approbation,  which  is  all  I  desire,  and 
you'll  do  me  honor  in  wearing  them.  I've  not  yet 
seen  Miss  Aspin,  and  believe  I  shall  not  till  Monday, 
when  we  propose  going  to  Gen'  Onslow's,  and  calling 
upon  her  in  our  way.  We  have  had  so  much  rain 
lately  that  there  has  been  no  stirring,  or  I  would 
have  made  her  a  visit  long  ago. 

'  I  believe  I  told  my  Mother  my  Uncle  was  dis- 
appointed of  his  company  which  were  to  be  here  on 
Saturday  last  by  Miss  Turner  being  ill,  but  she 
recovering  we  are  to  have  the  same  party  next  week, 
and  a  very  grand  concert  it  is  to  be,  because  we  are 
musical  people. 

'  Ranelagh  is  to  be  opened  on  the  8th  with  a  rural 
carnival.  I  vastly  wished  for  you  at  Mrs.  Gibber's  benefit. 
The  play  was  "  Tancred  and  Sigismunda,"  the  plan  of 
which  you  and  I  have  often  weep'd  over  together  in 
"  Gil  Bias."  It  was  most  inimitably  acted  by  Garrick  and 
Mrs.  Gibber ;  you  would  have  been  vastly  entertained. 
The  play  I  was  at  before,  but  went  purposely  to  see  the 


16       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

Princess  of  Wales  and  her  family.  The  Prince  and 
Prince  Edward  were  in  one  box,  and  the  Princess, 
Lady  Augusta,  Elizabeth,  and  Louisa  in  the  other. 
Upon  my  word,  they  are  a  fine  parcel  of  children  ;  only 
poor  Elizabeth  is,  unhappily,  almost  a  dwarf,  but  the 
rest  make  very  good  figures. 

*  Monday  your  Aunt  and  I  were  in  the  House  of 
Commons  from  one  o'clock  at  noon  till  nine  at  night ; 
it  was  the  Mitchell  Election,^  when  the  great  ones  were 
setting  themselves  in  combat  against  each  other ;  it 
was  a  most  hard-fought  battle.  The  ^  Duke  espousing 
our  party  against  the  Duke  of  Newcastle  in  support  of 
the  other,  but  the  Tories  most  of  them  going  with  the 
D.  of  N.  gave  him  the  majority.  Though  he  lost  it 
at  the  Committee.  There  was  much  speaking,  which 
was  very  entertaining  ;  Mr.  Fox  talked  a  great  deal 
with  great  vehemence,  for  this  loss  frustrates  his 
schemes,  as  he  finds  the  strength  of  the  D.  of  N.'s  party 
though  he  had  all  the  Army  and  the  Duke's  Court 
people  with  him.  And  now,  Mr.  Arthur,  you  being  a 
very  good  polititian,  I  shall  proceed  to  entertain  you 
v^dth  some  more  Parliamentary  affairs.  Tuesday  last 
the  Message  was  brought  from  the  King  to  the  House. 
It  imparted  little ;  nothing  to  be  collected  from  it  of 
either  peace  or  war.  Only  desiring  the  Parliament 
would  support  him  in  the  armaments  he  might  have 
occasion  for  by  sea  and  land,  &c.  &c.     General  Onslow 

'  The  Mitchell  Election,  a  petition  brought  by  Lord  Orwell  and 
Colonel  Wedderburn  against  undue  election  and  return  for  borough 
of  Mitchell,  in  Cornwall.  See  Commons'  Journals,  xxii.,  xxiv.  and 
xxxii. 

-  The  Duke  of  Cumberland. 


CHILDHOOD   AND   YOUTH  17 

says  during  the  eight  and  twenty  years  he  has  sat  in 
that  house  he  never  saw,  or  could  have  conceived  it  to 
be   so   unanimous   in   the  acclamations  of   the   King. 
Every  one  striving  who  should  in  the  strongest  terms 
express  their  confidence  in  him,  Tories  and  all.     Even 
Sir   John   PhiUips   declared   he  would  vote  the  King 
twenty  shillings  in  the  pound,  for  that  their  lives  and 
wJiole  fortunes   were  not   too  much  for  him,  and  the 
House  rung  with  their  confidence  in  the  King,  without 
any  one  of  the  Ministers  saying  a  syllable.     They  were 
the  silentest  people.     The  General  says  he  would  have 
given   any  money  Miripoix '  had   been  in  the  House 
to  have   heard   the   Parliament   of   England's   hearty 
affection  for  their  King.     I  should  have  much  liked  to 
have  been  there,  but  the  ladies'  privilege  extends  no 
farther  than   elections.     Lady  Crosse    sent   to   us   on 
Monday  morning  at  ten  o'clock  to    let    us  know  she 
would   call  on  us  at  eleven,  and  we  had  to  dress  in 
gowns  and  petticoats  and  eat  our  breakfasts,  which  last 
was  not  to  be  omitted,  for  it  was  certain  we  were  to 
have  no  dinner.     And  by  much  hurry  we  did  get  ready 
for  her  ladyship,  but  waited  at  her  house  for  Sir  John 
till  near  one,  frighted  to  excess,  fearing  we  should  not 
get  in.     This  Mitchell   Election    so  famous  an  aftair 
that  all  the  town  wanted  to  hear  it,  and  evidently  the 
gallery  would  hold  a  small   part  of  them.     However, 
we  had  the  luck  to  get  excellent  places,  having  a  chair 
for  one  of   us  brought  out  of  the  Speaker's  chamber. 
The  elections  for  this  year  are  now  all  over  except  the 
Oxfordshire,   and  whether  they  will  be  able  to  finish 

'  M.  de  Miripoix,  then  French  Ambassador  at  St.  James's. 

C 


18       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

that   no  one  can  tell.     In  answer  to   this  long  letter 
I  shall  hope  to  hear  very  soon  from  you,  and  am, 

'  Your  most  affectionate 

'E.  M.  Young. 

'  Friday  Good  (sic).^ 

'  August  26,  1755  (from  Bristol  Hot  Wells). 

'  Dear  Arthur, — I  was  in  hopes  you  would  have 
given  me  the  pleasure  of  hearing  from  you.  I  should 
have  wrote  to  you  before  now,  but  have  so  many  letters 
perpetually  upon  my  hands  that  no  clerk  to  an  attorney 
has  more  pen  exercise.  I  want  much  to  have  a  parti- 
cular account  of  the  Bury  Assizes ;  I  suppose  you  will 
go  to  an  Assembly,  and  therefore  pray  you  to  send  ixie 
intelligence  of  who  and  who  are  together,  who  dresses 
smartest,  looks  best,  and  seems  most  pleased  with 
themselves  and  those  about  them.  The  balls  here  are 
vastly  disagreeable.  I  dance  French  dances  constantly, 
but  none  of  the  people  of  fashion  dance  country  dances  ; 
there  are  such  numbers  of  Bristol  people  that  do,  and 
they  are  such  an  ordinary  set  that  it  prevents  the  fine 
folks.  The  rooms  of  another  night  are  much  cleverer ; 
there  is  a  lottery  table  which  we  play  at  from  eight  till 
half  an  hour  after  nine  most  nights.  My  Aunt  and  I 
have  both  hitherto  played  with  great  success.  The 
principal  support  of  our  table  we  lose  to-day,  Mr. 
Brudenell,  member  for  Butlandshire,  an  extreem  good- 
natured,  pretty  kind  of  man  ;  the  company  is  going  off 
so  fast  and  the  place  is  so  thin,  that  I  fear  we  shall  miss 
him  very  much.  My  Aunt  sends  her  love  to  you.  She 
says  she  made  you  a  promise  of  giving  you  a  pair  of 


CHILDHOOD   AND   YOUTH  19 

lace  ruffles  or  a  guinea,  which  ever  you  chose,  and 
desires  you  will  consult  with  your  mother  which  you 
will  have,  and  if  the  lace,  let  her  know  it ;  for  it's  sold 
here  as  well  as  at  Bath.  I  should  advise  the  money ; 
for  you  have  two  pair  of  lace  ruffles  which  I  am  sure  is 
as  much  as  you  can  possibly  have  occasion  for  ;  those 
you  have  must  be  taken  off  the  footings,  for  the  fine 
men  weer  them  extreemly  shallow  ;  they  should  not 
be  near  a  nail  of  a  yard  deep. 

'  Pray  make  my  compliments  to  everybody  that 
enquires  after  me,  and  let  me  have  a  very  long  letter 
from  you  very  soon.  I  have  nothing  to  add  to  your 
entertainment,  heartily  wish  I  was  at  Bradfield,  and 
beg  you  to  tell  me  all  you  can  that  is  doing  there ;  and 
'  Believe  me  with  great  sincerity, 

'  Your  most  affectionate 

'  Elisa  Makia. 

*  Be  sure  don't  speak  before  my  father  of  my  playing 
at  lottery.' 

Extracts  from  further  letters 

*  My  Uncle  Ingoldsby  I  think  looks  very  well.  He 
asked  after  you,  and  so  did  my  Aunt.  He  goes  out  of 
town  for  a  fortnight  next  Monday,  and  Mr.  and 
Miss  go  then.  Dr.  In.  has  made  a  new  coach. 
Yesterday  was  the  second  day  of  using  it,  cost  him  82?. ; 
it's  very  handsome,  all  but  being  painted  in  a  mosaic, 
which  all  the  smart  equipages  are.  Miss  Joy's  mother 
has  made  one  this  spring,  cost  147Z.  There  is  hardly 
such    a    thing    seen    as   a   two-wheeled    post-chaise ; 

c  2 


20       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

nobody  uses  anything  but  four-wheeled  ones,  and 
numbers  of  them  "with  boxes  put  on  and  run  for 
chariots,  and  vastly  pretty  they  are. 

*  Now  I  must  give  you  some  account  of  the  mas- 
querade at  Mrs.  Onslow's ;  Lady  Onslow  was  there, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Onslow,  the  Mr.  Shelley  we  met  at  the 
Speaker's,  and  Miss  Freeman.  Lady  Onslow  was  in  a 
Venetian  domino  white  lustring  trimmed  with  scarlet 
and  silver  blonde.  Mrs.  Onslow's  dress  we  thought  not 
at  all  pretty  nor  becoming ;  she  had  no  jewels  on,  but 
was  ornamented  with  mock  pearl.  Mr.  Onslow  was  in  a 
domino,  as  was  Mr.  Shelley  ;  the  first  was  very  genteel 
and  handsome,  white  lustring  trimmed  with  an  open 
shining  gold  lace  and  little  roses  of  purple  with  gold  in 
the  middle  of  them.  I  never  saw  anything  prettier. 
Miss  Freeman  was  the  sweetest  figure  I  ever  saw. 
Her  dress,  a  dancer,  blue  satin  trimmed  with  silver  in 
the  richest  genteelest  taste  and  very  fine  jewels.  They 
say  Fenton  Harvey  was  the  best  figure  there  amongst 
the  gentlemen,  with  his  masque  ;  on  his  dress  was  a 
domino  which  was  reckoned  the  genteelest  dresses. 

'  Lady  Coventry,  amongst  the  ladies,  was  the  best 
figure ;  Lady  Peterson  another  much  admired.  The 
Town  said  beforehand  that  she  was  to  be  Eve  and  wear 
a  fig  leaf  of  diamonds  ;  however,  this  was  not  true.' 


Mrs.  To7nlinson  {nee  Elisa  Maria  Young) 
to  her  Father 

'Honoured    Sir, — Mr.    Tomlinson  and   myself   are 
your  urgent  petitioners  for  a  favour  which,  if  granted. 


CHILDHOOD   AND   YOUTH  21 

will  give  us  very  great  pleasure.  It  is  that  you  will 
give  my  brother  Arthur  leave  to  make  us  a  short  visit  ; 
my  mother  (who  we  found  safe  and  well  at  Chelmsford 
and  have  conducted  hither)  rejoins  in  the  request ;  she 
desires  you  to  determine  in  what  manner  is  best  for 
him  to  come  hither  on  horseback,  the  joiner  with  him 
or  in  the  stage  coach,  but  either  way,  we  beg  to  see 
him  Tuesday  at  farthest,  but  on  Monday  if  he  comes 
on  horseback.  Be  pleased  to  direct  him  to  have  his 
linnen  washed,  stocking  (sic)  mended,  &c.,  and  in  case 
he  comes  on  horseback,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  hint  to 
him  that  he  is  not  to  reach  London  on  one  gallop,  for 
his  impatience  may  outrun  his  prudence.  It  was  a 
great  pleasure  to  hear  a  pretty  good  account  of  yom- 
health,  and  hope  we  shall  hear  often  from  Bradfield 
during  my  mother's  stay  here. 

'Beg  my  love  with  Mr.  T.'s  to  my  brother.  He 
desires  to  present  his  duty  to  you. 

'  And  I  am,  honoured  Sir, 

'  Your  most  affectionate  and  most  dutifull  daughter, 

'  E.    M.    TOMLINSON. 
'  Bucklersbury  :  Tuesday  ni^ht,  10  o'clock  (1757).' 

Whilst  at  school  I  made  in  the  playground  a  famous 
fortification,  and  then  besieged  it  with  mines  of  gun- 
powder, nearly  blowing  up  two  boys  and  an  old  woman 
seUing  pies.  A  better  example  was  my  habit  of  read- 
ing, which  became  a  sort  of  fashion.  I  was  thought 
to  be  of  an  uncommon  stamp,  and  when  the  pupils 
returned  home  their  parents  became  desirous  of  seeing 
the  lad  to  whom    they  thought  themselves   indebted. 


22       AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

My  own  acquisitions  received  a  mortal  shock  on  the 
marriage  of  my  sister  with  Mr.  TomHnson,  of  the  firm 
of  TomHnson  &  Co.  The  opportunity  of  introducing 
me  into  their  counting-house  was  thought  advantageous 
by  my  father,  and  in  consequence  orders  came  that 
I  should  receive  immediate  instruction  in  mercantile 
accounts  ;  as  a  further  preparation  the  sum  of  4001. 
was  paid  to  Messrs.  Eobertson,  of  Lynn,  Norfolk,  for 
a  three  years'  apprenticeship. 

In  February  1758  I  took  my  last  farewell  of 
Lavenham,  and  paid  a  visit  to  my  married  sister  in 
London.  I  remember  nothing  more  of  this  visit  than 
several  performances  of  Mr.  Garrick.  When  I  took 
leave  of  my  sister,  who  was  far  advanced  in  her 
pregnancy,  she  wept  and  said  she  might  never  see  me 
more.  This  proved  to  be  the  case,  as  she  died  during 
her  lying-in.  She  was  a  remarkably  clever  woman,  with 
much  beauty  and  vivacity  of  conversation,  combined 
with  much  solidity  of  judgment.  My  mother  grieved 
so  much  for  her  loss  that  she  could  never  be  persuaded 
to  go  out  of  mourning,  but  mourned  till  her  own  death, 
nor  did  she  ever  recover  her  cheerfulness.  This  had 
one  good  effect,  and  that  a  very  important  one  for  me  ; 
she  never  afterwards  looked  into  any  book  but  on  the 
subject  of  religion,  and  her  only  constant  companion 
was  her  Bible,  herein  copying  the  example  of  her 
father. 

Every  circumstance  attending  this  new  situation  at 
Lynn  was  most  detestable  to  me  till  I  effected  an 
improvement.  This  was  done  by  hiring  a  lodging, 
surrounding    myself    with   books,     and    making    the 


CHILDHOOD   AND   YOUTH  23 

acquaintance  of  Miss  Robertson,  daughter  of  my 
employer's  partner.  She  was  of  a  pleasing  figure,  with 
fine  black  expressive  eyes,  danced  well,  and  also  sang 
and  performed  well  on  the  harpsichord ;  no  wonder,  as 
she  received  instructions  from  Mr.  Burney.'  He  was 
a  person  held  in  the  highest  estimation  for  his  powers 
of  conversation  and  agreeable  manners,  which  made 
his  company  much  sought  after  by  all  the  principal 
nobility  and  gentry  of  the  neighbourhood.  Here  I  must 
reflect,  as  I  have  done  many  times  before,  on  the  un- 
fortunate idea  of  making  me  a  merchant.  The  im- 
mediate expense  absolutely  thrown  away  differently 
invested  would  have  kept  me  four  years  at  the  Uni- 
versity, enabling  my  father  to  make  me  a  clergyman 
and  Eector  of  Bradfield.  This  living  he  actually  gave 
to  my  Lavenham  schoolmaster.  The  whole  course  of 
my  life  would  in  such  a  case  have  been  changed.  I 
should  have  known  nothing  of  Lynn,  and  have  taken  a 
wife  from  a  different  quarter.  I  should  probably  have 
been  free  from  all  attraction  to  agriculture,  and  that 
circumstance  alone  would  have  changed  the  whole 
colour  of  my  existence.  I  might  never  have  been  of 
any  use  to  the  public,  but  my  years  would  have  passed 
in  a  far  more  tranquil  current,  escaping  so  many  storms 
and  vicissitudes  which  blew  me  into  a  tempest  of 
activity  and  involved  me  in  great  errors,  great  vice,  and 
perpetual  anxiety.  This  was  not  to  be  the  case,  and 
what  I  thought  an  evil  star  sent  me  to  Lynn.  In  this 
place  monthly  assemblies  were  held,    a  mayor's  feast 

'  Dr.  Charles   Burney,  author  of   the   History  of  Music,  father  of 
Madame  d'Arblay. 


24       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

and  ball  in  the  evening,  a  dancing  master's  ball  and 
assemblies  at  the  Mart.  It  was  not  common,  I  was 
told,  for  merchants'  clerks  to  frequent  these,  a  suggestion 
I  spurned,  and  attended  them,  dancing  with  the  principal 
belles.  I  was  complimented  by  the  dancing  master, 
who  assured  me  that  he  pointed  out  my  minuet  as  an 
example  to  his  scholars.  But  pleasure  alone  would  not 
satisfy  me ;  I  was  by  nature  studious,  and  from  my 
earliest  years  discovered  a  thirst  for  learning  and  books. 
These,  the  smallness  of  my  allowance  (I  think  not 
more  than  SOI.  per  annum),  with  my  great  foppery  in 
dress  for  the  balls,  would  not  permit  me  to  purchase 
and  supply  me  with  what  I  so  much  needed.  Ac- 
cordingly in  1758  I  compiled  a  political  pamphlet  named 
'  The  Theatre  of  the  Present  War  in  North  America,' 
for  which  a  bookseller  allowed  me  ten  pounds'  worth 
of  books  ;  as  he  urged  me  to  another  undertaking  I 
wrote  three  or  four  more  political  tracts,  each  of  which 
procured  me  an  addition  to  my  little  library.  My  first 
year's  apprenticeship  had  not  expired  before  the  death 
of  my  sister  overthrew  the  whole  plan  which  had  sent 
me  to  Lynn.  As  400Z.  had  been  paid  for  the  agreed 
period  of  three  years,  I  was  kept  there  from  no  other 
motive.  Under  such  circumstances  it  may  be  supposed 
that  the  counting-house  and  the  business  received  not 
an  atom  more  of  attention  than  could  be  dispensed  with. 
I  was  twenty  years  old  on  leaving  Lynn,  which  I 
did  without  education,  profession  or  employment.  In 
June  of  this  year  (1759)  my  father  died,  and  as  he 
left  debts,  my  mother  thought   it   necessary  to  take 


CHILDHOOD   AND   YOUTH  25 

an  exact  account  of  his  effects.  The  following  is  the 
result: — 

£  s. 

Household  goods 674  1 

Farming  stock 226  4 

Plate 149  13 

Books 57  0 

Total £1,106  18 

I  am  sorry  to  add  that  money  or  money  due  to  him 
made  no  part  of  the  estimate.  The  fact  was  that  my 
father  died  much  in  debt,  and  it  was  two  years  before 
my  mother  found  herself  tolerably  free. 


26       AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNQ 


CHAPTEK   II 

FAEMING   AND    MAREIAGE,    1759-1766 

The  gay  world — A  call  on  Dr.  Johnson — A  venture — Offer  of  a  career — 
Farming  decided  upon — Garrick — Marriage — Mr.  Harte — Lord  Ches- 
terfield on  farming — Literary  work — Correspondence — Birth  of  a 
daughter. 

In  1761  I  was  at  the  Coronation,  had  a  seat  in  the 
gallery  of  Westminster  Hall,  and  being  in  the  front 
row  above  the  Duke's  table,  I  remember  letting  down  a 
basket  dm'ing  dessert,  which  was  filled  by  the  present 
Duke  of  Marlborough.  On  this  visit  to  London  I  had 
a  mind  to  see  everything,  and  ordered  a  full  dress  suit  for 
going  to  Court.  This  was  in  September.  In  December 
I  was  again  in  London  figuring  in  the  gay  world.'  In 
January  1762  I  set  on  foot  a  periodical  publication 
entitled  '  The  Universal  Museum,'  which  came  out 
monthly,  printed  with  glorious  imprudence  on  my  own 
account.     I  waited  on  Dr.  Johnson,  who  was  sitting  by 

'  The  following   notes   are  taken  from  a  small  memorandum-book 
appended  to  memorials  : — 

'  1761.     July  23. — Leak  in  full  (meaning  debts),  51.  5s. 
'  Sept.  22. — Coronation. 
'     „      28.— To  Court. 
'  Oct.  9. — Blackheath  ;  cards. 
'  Dec.       — To  London  with  Ed.  Allen. 
'     „     31.— Debts  62Z. 
'  (My)  History  of  the  War  published.' 


FAEMING  AND   MAKRIAGE  27 

the  fire  so  half-dressed  and  slovenly  a  figure  as  to  make 
me  stare  at  him.  I  stated  my  plan  and  begged  that  he 
would  favour  me  with  a  paper  once  a  month,  offering 
at  the  same  time  any  remuneration  that  he  might 
name.  '  No,  sir,'  he  replied,  '  such  a  work  would  be 
sure  to  fail  if  the  booksellers  have  not  the  property,  and 
you  will  lose  a  great  deal  of  money  by  it.'  '  Certainly, 
sir,'  I  said ;  '  if  I  am  not  fortunate  enough  to  induce 
authors  of  real  talent  to  contribute.'  '  No,  sir,  you  are 
mistaken,  such  authors  will  not  support  such  a  work,  nor 
will  you  persuade  them  to  write  in  it ;  you  will  pur- 
chase disappointment  by  the  loss  of  your  money,  and  I 
advise  you  by  all  means  to  give  up  the  plan.'  Somebody 
was  introduced,  and  I  took  my  leave.  Dr.  Kenrick,' 
the  translator  of  Kousseau,  was  a  writer  of  a  very 
different  stamp  ;  he  readily  engaged  to  write  for  me  ; 
so  did  Collier  -  and  his  wife,  who  between  them  trans- 
lated the  '  Death  of  Abel.'^  I  printed  five  numbers  of 
this  work,  and  being  convinced  that  Dr.  Johnson's 
advice  was  wise  and  that  I  should  lose  money  by  the 
business,  I  determined  to  give  it  up.  With  that  view 
I  procured  a  meeting  of  ten  or  a  dozen  booksellers, 
and  had  the  luck  and  address  to  persuade  them  to  take 
the  whole  scheme  upon  themselves.  I  fairly  slipped 
my  neck  out  of  the  yoke — a  most  fortunate  occurrence, 
for,  though  they  continued  it  under  far  more  favourable 
circumstances,  I  believe  no  success  ever  attended  it. 

'  Dr.  Kenrick,  critic  of  the  Monthly  Review,  attacked  Dr.  Johnson, 
who  said,  '  I  do  not  think  myself  bound  by  Kenrick 's  rules.' 

■^  Joseph  and  Mary  Collier ;  the  first,  author  of  a  History  of 
England. 

'  Gesner  Solomon,  born  at  Zurich,  1730. 


28       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

In  September  of  the  following  year  I  broke  a  blood- 
vessel and  was  attended  by  a  Lynn  physician,  who 
ordered  me  to  Bristol  Hotwells,  as  I  was  in  a  very 
consumptive  state.  I  accordingly  went,  boarding  and 
lodging  in  a  house  where  I  met  very  intelligent  and 
agreeable  society ;  amongst  the  number  was  one 
gentleman  with  whom  I  had  many  arguments  con- 
cerning Eousseau  and  his  writings,  I,  like  a  fool,  much 
admiring  both,  my  new  acquaintance  abusing  them 
with  equal  heat.  But  the  principal  acquaintance  I 
made  at  the  Hotwells  was  Sir  Charles  Howard,  K.B., 
then  an  old  man.  Being  informed  that  I  was  a 
chess-player,  he  introduced  himself  to  me  in  the  pump- 
room  and  invited  me  to  coffee  and  a  game  of  chess. 
After  some  time  and  various  conversations  he  made 
enquiries  relating  to  my  family  and  destination.  I  took 
it  into  my  head  that  he  seemed  more  affable  when  he 
was  informed  (for  his  enquiries  were  numerous)  that 
Mr.  Speaker  Onslow  and  the  Bishop  of  Kochester  were 
my  godfathers.  On  understanding  that  I  w^as  not  bred 
to  any  profession  and  was  without  hope  of  any  settle- 
ment in  life,  he  asked  me  if  I  should  like  to  enter  the 
Army.  I  answered  in  the  affirmative,  but  added  that  it 
could  only  be  matter  of  theory,  as  I  had  not  lived 
with  any  officers.  He  often  recurred  to  the  idea,  and 
at  last  told  me  that  he  would  give  me  a  pair  of 
colours  in  his  own  cavalry  regiment,  and  bade  me 
write  to  my  mother  for  her  approval. 

This  I  did,  and  was  not  at  all  surprised  by  her 
reply.  She  begged  and  beseeched  me  not  to  think 
of  any  such  employment,  as  my  health  and  strength 


FARMING   AND   MARRIAGE  29 

were  quite  inadequate  to  the  life.  I  loved  my  dear 
mother  too  much  to  accept  an  offer  against  her  consent. 
I  also  became  acquainted  with  an  officer  in  the  Army, 
Captain  Lambert,  who  visited  the  Countess  of  B.  at 
B.  Castle.  She  was  esteemed  a  demirep,  handsome 
and  fascinating.  A  little  before  I  left  Bristol  I  was 
introduced  to  her,  and  had  my  stay  been  longer  should 
have  made  one  in  the  number  of  her  many  slaves.  On 
returning  from  Bristol  to  my  mother  at  Bradfield,  I 
found  myself  in  a  situation  as  truly  helpless  and  forlorn 
as  could  well  be  imagined,  without  profession,  busi- 
ness, or  pursuit,  I  may  add  without  one  well-grounded 
hope  of  any  advantageous  establishment  in  life.  My 
whole  fortune  during  the  life  of  my  mother  was  a  copy- 
hold farm  of  twenty  acres,  producing  as  many  pounds, 
and  what  possibility  there  was  of  turning  my  time  to 
any  advantage  did  not  and  could  not  occur  to  me  ;  in 
truth,  it  was  a  situation  without  resource,  and  nothing 
but  the  inconsiderateness  of  youth  could  have  kept  me 
from  sinking  into  melancholy  and  despair.  My  mother, 
desirous  of  fixing  me  with  her,  proposed  that  I  should 
take  a  farm,  and  especially  as  the  home  one  of  eighty 
acres  was  under  a  lease  expiring  at  Michaelmas.  I 
had  no  more  idea  of  farming  than  of  physic  or  divinity, 
but  as  it  promised,  at  least,  to  find  me  some  employ- 
ment, I  agreed  to  the  proposition,  and  accordingly 
commenced  my  rural  operations,  which  entirely  de- 
cided the  complexion  of  all  my  remaining  years.  My 
connections  at  Lynn  carried  me  often  to  that  place, 
and  my  love  of  reading  proved  my  chief  resource.  I 
farmed  during  the  years  1763-4-5-6,  having  taken  also 


/ 


30       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNa 

a  second  farm  that  was  in  the  hands  of  a  tenant.  I 
gained  knowledge,  but  not  much,  and  the  principal 
effect  was  to  convince  me  that  in  order  to  understand 
the  business  in  any  perfection  it  was  necessary  for  me 
to  continue  my  exertions  for  many  years.  And  the 
circumstance  which  perhaps  of  all  others  in  my  life  I 
most  deeply  regretted  and  considered  as  a  sin  of  the 
blackest  dye,  was  the  publishing  the  result  of  my  ex- 
perience during  these  four  years,  which,  speaking  as  a 
farmer,  was  nothing  but  ignorance,  folly,  presumption, 
and  rascality.  The  only  real  use  which  resulted  from 
those  four  years  was  to  enable  me  to  view  the  farms  of 
other  men  with  an  eye  of  more  discrimination  than  I 
could  possibly  have  done  without  that  practice.  It 
was  the  occasion  of  my  going  on  the  southern  tour  in 
1767,  the  northern  tour  in  1768,  and  the  eastern  in  1770, 
extending  through  much  the  greater  part  of  the  king- 
dom, and  the  exertion  in  these  tours  was  admitted  by 
all  who  read  them  (and  they  were  very  generally  read) 
to  be  of  most  singular  utility  to  the  general  agriculture 
of  the  kingdom.  In  these  works  I  particularly  attended 
to  the  course  of  the  farmer's  crops,  the  point  perhaps 
of  all  others  the  most  important,  and  the  more  so  at 
that  period,  because  all  preceding  writers  had  neglected 
it  in  the  most  unaccountable  manner.  They  relate 
good  and  bad  rotations  with  the  same  apathy  as  if  it 
was  of  little  consequence  in  what  order  the  crops  of  a 
farm  were  put  in  provided  the  operations  of  tillage  and 
manuring  were  properly  performed. 

It  has  been  very  justly  said  that  I  first  excited  the 
agricultural  spirit  which  has  since  rendered  Britain  so 


FAKMING   AND   MAERIAGE  31 

famous ;  and  I  should  observe  that  this  is  not  so  great 
a  compliment  as  at  first  sight  it  may  seem,  since  it  was 
nothing  more  than  publishing  to  the  world  the  exertions 
of  many  capital  cultivators  and  in  various  parts  of  the 
kingdom,  and  especially  the  local  practice  of  common 
farmers  who,  with  all  their  merit,  were  unknown  beyond 
the  limits  of  their  immediate  district,  and  whose  opera- 
tion wanted  only  to  be  known  to  be  admired. 

In  December  17G2  I  was  again  in  London,  and,  as 
usual,  constantly  at  the  theatre.  The  parts  in  which 
Mr.  Garrick  acted  to  my  great  entertainment  were, 
Macbeth,  Benedict,  Lear,  Posthumus,  Oakely,^  Abel 
Drugger,^  Sir  J.  Brute,^  Sir  J.  Dorrimant,^  Bayes,-^ 
Carlos,^  Felix,^  Kanger,**  Scrub,^  Hastings.'"  I  must 
once  for  all  remark  that  this  astonishing  actor  so  much 
exceeded  every  idea  of  representing  character  that  the 
delusion  was  complete,  Nature,  not  acting,  seemed  to  be 
before  the  spectator,  and  this  to  a  degree  a  thousand 
times  beyond  anything  that  has  been  seen  since.  The 
tones  of  his  voice,  the  clear  discrimination  of  feeling 
and  passion  in  the  vast  variety  of  characters  he  repre- 
sented, surpassed  anything  one  could  imagine,  and 
raised  him  beyond  competition.  I  have  often  reflected 
on  the  principal  personages  who  figured  in  England 
during  this  age,  and  I  am  disposed  to  think  that  Gar- 
rick was  by  far  the  greatest,  that  is  to  say,  he  excelled 

'  Tlie  Jealous  Wife.        -  The  Alcliemist.        '  The  Provoked  Wife. 

*  The  Man  of  Mode.        ^  The  Rehearsal.        *  Love  Makes  a  Man. 
'  The  Wonder.  "  The  Suspicious  Husbatid. 

*  TJie  Beaux'  Stratagem.  '"  She  Stoops  to  Conquer. 

This  last  play  seems  to  have  been  first  acted  in  1773.  See  Brewer's 
Reader's  Handbook. 


32       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

all  his  contemporaries  in  the  art  he  professed.  Few 
men  have  been  able  to  laugh  at  their  own  foibles 
with  as  much  wit  as  Garrick.  A  striking  instance  was 
his  little  publication  called  '  An  Ode  to  Garrick  on  the 
Talk  of  the  Town,'  in  which  we  find  this  stanza  : 

Two  parts  they  readily  allow 

Are  yours,  but  not  one  more  they  vow, 

And  they  close  their  spite. 
You  will  be  Sir  John  Brute  ^  all  day, 

And  Fribble  "^  all  the  night. 

In  1765  the  colour  of  my  life  was  decided.  I  mar- 
ried. My  wife  ^  was  a  daughter  of  Alderman  Allen,  of 
Lynn,  and  great-granddaughter  of  John  Allen,  Esq.,  of 
Lyng  House,  Norfolk,  who,  according  to  the  Comte  de 
Boulainvilliers,*  first  introduced  the  custom  of  marling 
in  the  above-named  county.  We  boarded  with  my 
mother  at  Lynn. 

This  year  (1765)  I  was  in  correspondence  with  the 
Kev.  Walter  Harte,-^  Canon  of  Windsor,  and  author  of 

'  '  The  coarse  pot-bouse  valour  of  Sir  John  Brute,  Gan-ick's  famous 
part,  is  finely  contrasted  with  the  fine  lady  airs  and  affectation  of  his 
^yife.' — Chambers's  English  Literature. 

-  '  All  the  domestic  business  will  be  taken  from  my  \nfe's  hands, 
shall  make  the  tea,  comb  the  dogs,  and  dress  the  children  myself.' — 
Fribble,  in  Miss  in  her  Teens  (Garrick). 

^  Mrs.  Young  was  sister  to  Fanny  Burney's  stepmother.  The 
marriage  proved  unhappy  from  the  beginning. 

^  See  his  work,  Les  Intirets  de  la  France  mal  ejitendtis,  Henri,  Comte 
de  Boulainvilliers,  voluminous  author  on  French  history,  1658-1722. 

^  Eev.  W.  Harte,  poet,  %vriter  on  rural  affairs,  historian,  1700-1774. 
Dr.  Johnson  much  commended  Harte  as  a  scholar  and  a  man  of  the 
most  companionable  talents  he  had  ever  known.  He  said  the  defects 
in  his  history  (Gustavus  Adolphus)  arose  not  from  imbecility,  but  from 
foppery.  His  Essays  on  Husbandry  is  an  elegant,  erudite,  and  valuable 
work  (Lowndes). 


FARMINa  AND   MAERL4GE  33 

the  '  Essays  on  Husbandry '  and  the  '  Life  of  Gustavus 
Adolphus.'  He  advised  me  to  collect  my  scattered 
papers  in  the  'Museum  Kusticum,'  and,  with  additions, 
to  publish  them  in  a  volume.  This  I  did  under  the  title 
of  '  A  Farmer's  Letters.'  I  visited  Mr.  Harte  at  Bath  ; 
his  conversation  was  extremely  interesting  and  in- 
structive. I  have  rarely  received  more  pleasure  than  in 
my  intercom'se  with  this  amiable  and  deeply  learned 
man.  It  is  well  known  that  he  was  tutor  to  Mr. 
Stanhope,  natural  son  of  Lord  Chesterfield,  to  whom  so 
many  of  that  nobleman's  letters  were  addressed.' 

To  Mr.  Harte 

'  Blackheath :  August  16,  1764. 

'  Sir, — I  give  you  a  thousand  thanks  for  your  book, 
of  which  I've  read  every  word  with  great  pleasure  and 
full  as  great  astonishment.  When  in  the  name  of  God 
could  you  have  found  time  to  read  the  ten  or  twenty 
thousand  authors  whom  you  quote,  of  all  countries  and 
all  times,  from  Hesiod  to  du  Hamel  ?  -  Where  have  you 
ploughed,  sowed,  harrowed,  drilled,  and  dug  the  earth 
for  at  least  these  forty  years  ?  for  less  time  could  not 
have  made  you  such  a  complete  master  of  the  practical 
part  of  husbandry.  I  can  only  account  for  it  from  the 
Pythagorean  doctrine  of  the  transmigration  of  souls, 
and  the  supposition  that  Hartlib's  soul  has  animated 
your  body  with  a  small  alteration  of  name  ;  seriously, 
your  book  entertains  me  exceedingly,  and  has  made  me 

'  The  accompanying  letter  is  included  in  Arthur  Younf,''s  corre- 
spondence of  this  year,  and  is  given,  although  not  addressed  to  himself. 

-  Duhamel  du  Monceau,  botanist  and  agronomc,  contributor  to  the 
Encyclopidie,  1700-1781. 

D 


34       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

quite  a  dilettante,  though  too  late  to  make  me  a 
virtuoso,  in  the  useful  and  agreeable  art  of  agriculture. 
I  own  myself  ignorant  of  them  all,  but  am  nevertheless 
sensible  of  their  utility,  and  the  pleasure  it  must  afford 
to  those  who  pursue  them.  Moreover,  you've  scattered 
so  many  graces  over  them  that  one  wishes  to  be  better 
acquainted  with  them,  and  that  one  reads  your  book 
with  pleasure  most  exquisite.  It  is  the  only  prose 
Georgic  that  I  know,  as  agreeable,  and  I  dare  say  much 
more  useful,  in  this  climate  than  Virgil.  ^^Tiy  have 
you  not  put  your  name  to  it  ?  for  though  some  passages 
in  it  point  you  out  to  be  the  author  here,  they  will  not 
do  it  so  in  other  countries,  and  as  I  am  persuaded  that 
your  book  will  be  translated  into  most  modem  languages 
and  be  a  polyglott  of  husbandry,  I  could  have  wished 
your  name  had  been  to  it.  How  goes  the  Havabilious 
complaint :  has  not  the  Bath  waters  washed  it  away  yet  ? 
I  heartily  wish  it  was,  as  I  sincerely  wish  you  whatever 
can  give  you  ease  or  pleasure. 

*  For  I  am  with  great  truth  your 

'  Faithful  friend  and  servant, 

'  Chesterfield. 

'  P.S. — Though  I  can  be  as  partial  as  another  to  my 
friends,  I  cannot  be  quite  blind  to  their  omissions ;  for 
though  you  have  enumerated  so  many  sorts  of  grass, 
with  a  particular  panegyrick  on  your  dear  Lucem,  you 
have  not  described,  nor  so  much  as  mentioned,  that 
particular  sort  of  grass  ivhich  while  it  grows  the  steed 
starves. 

'  Your  Eleve  is  very  well  at  Dresden.  I  will  send 
him  his  book  when  I  can  find  a  good  opportunity.' 


FARMING  AND   MARELIQE  35 

The  following  letters  Mr.  Harte  was  so  good  as  to 
address  to  me  : — 

'  Bath  :  February  3,  1765. 

'  Dear  Sir, — That  I  am  obliged  to  trouble  you  with  a 
letter,  purely  on  my  own  account,  I  balance  not  a 
moment  within  myself,  between  interrupting  a  friend 
and  being  thought  ungrateful.  The  kind  mention 
you  have  been  pleased  to  make  of  my  Essays  on 
Husbandry  in  the  last  number  of  the  Museum 
Eusticum  deserves  my  warmest  thanks  and  acknow- 
ledgements :  and  though  your  good  opinion  of  me  as 
bonus  agricola,  bonus  civis  may  be  a  little  partial,  yet 
sure  I  am  that  your  favourable  report  is  the  overflowing 
of  a  generous  mind,  and  under  that  medicament  I  must 
with  modesty  and  diffidence  arrange  it,  feeling  at  the 
same  time  that  inward  pleasure  which  Tacitus  describes 
Dulce  est  laudari  a  laudato  Viro.  For  my  own  part, 
my  ill  health,  as  I  greatly  fear,  will  make  me  unable  to 
continue  much  longer  on  the  theatre  of  agriculture ; 
but  if  it  pleases  God  that  this  nation  is  ever  touched 
with  a  true  vital  sense  of  the  uses  of  husbandry  in  their 
full  extent  (and  runs  not  mad  vnth  the  visionary  notions 
of  Colonies),  there  will  soon  be  a  succession  of  younger 
and  abler  genius's  to  perfect  that,  which  I  have  had 
the  honor  and  satisfaction  of  suggesting  to  my  beloved 
but  mistaken  country.  I  may  say  as  old  Dryden  did 
to  Congreve.  (You  will  put  aside  the  vanity  of  naming 
Dryden  in  the  same  paragraph  with  myself.) 

'  So,  when  the  States  one  Edward  did  depose, 
A  greater  Edward  in  his  room  arose, 
But  now  not  I  but  husbandry  the  curst, 
And  Tom  the  Second  writes  like  Tom  the  First. 

D  2 


36       AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

'  And  now,  Sir,  give  me  leave  to  assure  you  that  I 
am  extremely  pleased  with  your  last  published  per- 
formance, and  the  rather  as  the  idea  is  useful  and  new. 
In  order  to  send  abroad  a  truly  qualified  person,  as 
you  have  most  judiciousl}^  characterised  him,  you  do 
well  to  address  yourself  to  noble-spirited  individuals. 
Kings  and  ministers  look  upon  agriculture  as  only 
physical  means  of  supplying  mankind  with  food ;  nor 
does  one  glimpse  of  an  idea  ever  enter  their  heads  or 
hearts  concerning  the  circulation  of  profit  from  the 
highest  to  the  lowest  resulting  from  thence ;  nor  of  the 
national  strength,  health,  population,  and,  I  may  say, 
the  sobriety  of  getting  money  which  results  from  that 
art  when  it  is  exercised  and  maintained  in  full  activity. 
France  might  till  this  time  have  languished  for  her 
enclosure  of  waste  land  and  exportation  of  superfluous 
corn  if  a  shrewd  and  artful  foreigner  had  not  flattered 
a  fair  lady  into  a  passion  for  agriculture  ;  the  man  I 
mean  is  M.  Patulle.'  And  indeed,  since  the  times  of 
Augustus  and  Maecenas  (which  latter  loved  agriculture, 
before  he  loved  poetry,  but  lavishly  united  both  in 
Virgil)  and  since  the  time  of  ConstantinelV.  to  the  present 
hour  I  can  recollect  no  Princes  and  Prime  Ministers  who 
understood  the  national  advantages  of  husbandry  in 
their  full  extent  but  Henry  IV.  and  Sully.'  [Letter 
breaks  off  here.'] 

'  Windsor  :  May  1,  1765. 

'  Dear  Sir, — Your  last  kind  pacquet  was  conveyed  to 
me  here  by  our  much  esteemed  friend  Mrs.  Allen,  whom 
I  hope  to  see  at  Bath  in  about  twelve  days.    I  am  now 

'  Patulle.     A  French  writer  on  agriculture. 


FAEJVnNG   AND   MAERIAGE  37 

to  thank  you  for  entertaining  me  with  so  much  and  so 
good  matter  relating  to  Harrows,  and  look  upon  your 
improvement  to  be  a  most  sensible  and  most  ingenious 
one  at  the  same  time.  This  is  the  happy  perfection  in 
writing  which  Horace  mentions  : 

'  Omne  tulit  punctum  qui  miscuit  utile  dulci. 

'  In  the  same  manner  I  have  also  read  with  delight 
and  improvement  your  remarks  upon  broad-wheeled 
waggons,  in  the  Museum  for  last  March  :  but  why, 
my  good  friend,  do  you  bury  such  dissertations  as  yours 
in  blue-paper  Periodical  Essays?  Or  why  rather  do 
you  not  throw  them  together  in  one  book,  or  large 
pamphlet"?  I  return  you  my  best  thanks  for  your 
Technical  Terms  of  Art  in  the  Suffolk  Husbandry,  and 
the  provincial  words,  which  latter,  one  time  or  other, 
shall  be  considered  by  me  in  a  more  extensive  and 
critical  view  respecting  the  English  language  in  general. 
Many  of  these  provincial  words'  are  the  truly  classical 
words  of  our  nation.  Some  of  them  are  elegant  and 
musical,  and  most  of  them  in  general  express  the  sense 
in  their  sound.  In  one  word,  from  a  thorough  know- 
ledge of  the  provincial  words  of  our  language,  one  might 
venture  to  explain  Shakespear,  B.  Jonson,  Beaumont 
and  Fletcher,  &c.,  better  and  safer  than  all  his  editors 
and  conjectural  critics.     If  you  have  a  friend  tolerably 

'  Here  is  an  illustration.  The  Suffolk  husbandman's  afternoon 
collation  is  invariably  called  '  beaver.'  In  Nares'  Glossary  we  find, 
'  Bever,  from  the  Sp.  and  It. :  an  intermediate  refreshment  between 
breakfast  and  dinner.'  '  Without  any  prejudice  to  their  bevers,  drink- 
ings,  and  suppers.' — B.  ami  Fletcher,  '  The  Woman  Hater.' 


38       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

skilled  in  husbandry,  who  lives  in  any  part  of  England 
except  the  southern  and  western,  be  so  obliging  to  me 
as  to  solicit  his  assistance,  and  convey  the  list  of  words 
to  me ;  for  by  what  I  have  before  suggested,  you  see  I 
have  views  that  extend  beyond  husbandry. 

'  When  you  go  to  London,  will  you  not  be  tempted 
to  make  a  flying  excursion  to  Bath  ?  'Tis  a  digression, 
but  it  can  hardly  be  called  an  episode.  If  I  have  any  skill, 
or  knowledge  of  the  world,  Mrs.  Allen's  conversation 
alone  will  indemnify  you  for  your  trouble,  and  that 
most  amply.  He  also  who  subscribes  his  name  to  this 
letter  has  a  private  ambition  to  be  better  known  to  you 
than  upon  paper 

*  I  am,    dear    Sir,    your   most   obedient    and   most 

humble  servant, 

'  W.  Harte.' 

'  Kintbury,  Berks  :  May  7,  1765. 

'  Dear  Sir, — If  gratitude  did  not  operate  strongly 
upon  me  (and  that  towards  a  friend  whom  I  never 
saw  but  hope  to  see,  know,  and  cultivate  his  friendship) 
I  should  not  trouble  you  with  another  letter  so  quick 
upon  the  heels  of  my  last  from  Windsor ;  but  finding 
by  chance  here,  in  a  lone  village,  the  Museum  Eusticum, 
I  see  you  have  done  justice  to  the  Essays  on  Hus- 
bandry. I  wash  they  had  half  the  merit  which  your 
partiality  to  the  author  fancies  they  have. 

'  In  the  main  particular  you  have  spoken  exactly  my 
private  sentiments.  When  I  write  for  the  instruction 
and  amusement  of  Cuddy  and  Lohhin  and  Clout  in 
matters  of  husbandry   I   will   also  publish   a    supple- 


FAEMINCt  and   MAEELA.GE  39 

mental  essay  on  the  art  of  piish-pin/  stylo  puerili. 
Who  would  write  for  farmers,  who  perhaps  cannot 
read,  or  who,  I  am  sure,  will  never  try  to  read "? 
Were  I  condemned  to  this  punishment  I  would  desire 
my  footman  to  hold  the  pen — and  even  then  what  would 
such  critics  say?  They  would  find  fault  with 
inelegance  and  want  of  propriety  in  the  work.  They 
bring  to  my  mind  an  anecdote  which  de  Voltaire  once 
told  me  of  his  father  (by  the  way,  Voltaire  put  the 
incident  into  a  farce,  and  was  disinherited  for  it) .  The 
peevish  old  gentleman  said  one  morning  when  his  son 
rose  from  bed  at  about  11  o'clock  :  "Young  man,  you 
were  drunk  last  night ;  you  vdll  sleep  away  your  senses, 
neglect  your  studies,  and  die  a  beggar."  Piqued  at  this 
reproach,  Voltaire  got  up  at  4  next  morning,  and  by 
the  by  it  was  in  winter.  "  Son,"  said  his  father  at 
breakfast,  "  you  vnW  ruin  us  in  the  expenses  of  fire 
and  candle.  All  your  draggle-tailed  Muses  vnll  never 
indemnify  us  with  the  wood-merchant  and  chandler." 
This  is  a  just  picture  of  a  reviewing  Critic  or  a  Mago. 

'  Quo  teneam  vultus  mutantem  Protea  nolo  ? 

'  As  to  the  Museum  Rusticum  (your  writings  in  it 
excepted)  I  know  nothing  of  the  authors,  but  look 
upon  it  (as  I  am  now  speaking  to  you  sub  sigillo 
silentii)  as  a  blue-paper  job.  Books  in  this  age  are  a 
manufacture  as  much  as  hats  or  pins.  The  bookseller 
chooses  a  subject  and  the  author  writes  at  10s.  a  sheet. 
It  is  probable  that  one  man  in  a  garret,  who  does  not 
know  a  blade  of  wheat  from  a  blade  of  barley,  writes 

'  '  A  child's  game,  in  which  pins  are  pushed  alternately.' — Webster. 


40       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

half  the  letters  from  the  'Kentish  man,'  'Yorkshire 
man,'  '  Glocester  man,'  &c.  And  perhaps  the  same 
hand,  in  the  notes,  signs  with  all  the  letters  in  the 
alphabet.  Perhaps  this  very  man  Eocque  (I  speak 
only  from  conjecture),  for  I  observe  the  whole  work  has 
a  tendency  to  favour  this  avanturier  in  agriculture.  I 
declare  to  you  seriously  that  I  know  nothing  of  its 
authors,  you  excepted.  Might  it  not  be  better  if  you 
kept  your  admirable  tracts  by  you,  and  to  those  you 
have  already  published,  so  much  to  your  honour,  you 
may  add  such  occasional  pieces  as  you  shall  afterwards 
write,  and  let  them  all  appear  together  in  a  volume 
which  might  be  entitled  Sylvae,'  or  occasional  tracts 
on  husbandry  and  rural  economics.  I  would  have  all 
books  on  husbandry,  if  possible,  pocket  volumes,  that 
one  may  read  in  the  fields,  &c.  In  short,  I  would  print 
it  in  a  beautiful  duodecimo  as  du  Hamel  does  ;  you  have 
written  enough  already  to  make  one  such  volume,  or 
nearly.  However,  there  must  be  some  new  things  in 
this  work ;  doubtless  you  have  the  plan  of  more  tracts 
by  you.  If  you  read  French  I  would  recommend  a 
charming  idea  to  you  in  this  enclosing  age,  namely  a 
little  12mo.  called  "  L' amelioration  des  Terres,"  by 
Patulle.  In  that  work  are  plans,  and  also  the  manner 
of  throwing  a  square  tract  of  ground  of  three  or  four 
hundred  acres,  &c.,  into  an  ornamented  farm,  or,  as  the 
French  call  it,  ferine  ornee  :  the  house  and  buildings 
in  the  centre  ;  the  fields  are  square,  the  hedges  quick 
set,  and  the  owner  may  command  with  his  eye,  and 
almost   with    his    voice,    everybody    and   thing   he   is 

'  Included  in  A  Farmer'' s  Letters. 


FAKMING   AND   MARRIAGE  41 

concerned  with.     If  j'OU  cannot  get  the  book  (though 
you  certainly  may  at  Vaillant's)  I  will  send  you  mine. 
'  Adieu,  dear  Sir, 

'  Your  most  affectionate  and  obliged  friend, 

'  Walter  Harte.' 

'Barton  Street,  Bath  :  Oct.  16,  1766. 

'  Dear  Sir, — My  wretched  state  of  health  must  be 
my  just  excuse  for  being  so  bad  a  correspondent.  I 
owe  you  an  answer  to  a  letter  of  yours  which  was 
equally  kind  and  long,  and  that  answer  is  now  of  near  a 
quarter  of  a  year's  standing  ;  not  but  that  I  think  of 
you  and  my  honoured  friend  at  Lynn  almost  every 
day  of  my  life.  Pray  inform  me  in  your  next  how  your 
husbandry  lucubrations  go  on  in  point  of  progress  and 
advancement  ?  I  will  be  responsible  for  their  good 
taste  and  accuracy.  You  are  like  the  Matinian  bee 
mentioned  by  Horace,  which  gathers  more  fragrance 
from  a  few  sprigs  of  thyme  than  others  can  do  from  the 
stately  lilac  and  larch  trees.  You  gave  me  some  hopes 
that  my  ever  honoured  friend  at  Worcester  should 
convey  to  me,  from  you,  some  manuscript  dissertations 
on  agriculture,  but  I  have  been  so  unhappy  as  to  know 
no  more  of  them  than  of  the  lost  books  of  Liv3^  In 
the  course  of  the  winter  you  will  see  an  octavo  volume 
of  religious  poems  intituled  the  "  Amaranth,"  adorned 
with  very  fine  sculptures  from  the  designs  of  the 
greatest  masters,  and  executed  by  an  artist  of  my 
own  forming,  who  never  appeared  before  in  a  public 
capacity,  except  on  my  Essays  on  Husbandry.  The 
poetry  I  hope  will  prove  that  I  have  been  bred  up  in 


42       AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUK  YOUNG 

the  school  of  Pope,  and  I  hope  the  disciple  will  retain 
something  at  least  of  the  manner  of  the  master. 
"When  you  see  Mrs.  Allen  you  will  impart  this  little 
anecdote  to  her,  because  I  am  not  yet  quite  clear 
whether  I  shall  prefix  my  name  or  not. 

'1  am,  dear  Sir,  &c.,  &c., 

'Walter  Harte. 

'  P.S. — I  have  just  had  a  visit  from  my  old  friend 
the  Marquis  of  Eockingham,  who  (to  say  truth)  loves 
husbandry  as  much  as  you  or  I  do,  and  is,  besides,  an 
excellent  judge  of  it  speculatively  and  practically.' 

'  Bath  :  Nov.  24,  1766. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  received  safely  by  coach  your  manu- 
script, which  shall  be  perused  with  all  the  accuracy  of 
friendship,  after  having  turned  partiality  out  of  doors. 
My  impatience  about  whatever  concerns  you  has 
already  made  me  read  a  part  of  youi  work,  and  enables 
me  to  prophesy  well  concerning  it.  Pray  be  not  fearful 
about  the  execution  of  5^our  plan,  which  seems  to  me  a 
good  one  ;  authors  must  be  careful  but  not  fearful ;  we 
have  a  proverb  in  husbandry  (as  old,  I  think,  as 
Henry  VII. 's  time),  which  deserves  to  be  written  in 
letters  of  gold :  "  He  that's  afraid  of  a  blade  of  grass 
must  not  sleep  in  a  meadow." 

'  I  like  one  part  of  yom-  manuscript  exceedingly  ;  it  is 
in  truth  the  only  thing  wanted,  and  yet  the  only  thing 
too  often  omitted,  I  mean  the  idea  and  calculation  of 
the  outgoing  expenses.  M.  Patulle  felt  this  as  fully  as 
you  do,  and  as  good  wit  will  jump,  hit  upon  a  part  of 


FAEMING  AND   MAREIAGE  43 

your  plan.  You  therefore  must  see  that  book,  as  the 
French  say,  coute  que  coitte ;  I  have,  I  believe,  almost 
the  only  copy  in  England,  which  shall  be  conveyed  to 
you  in  a  week's  time. 

'  I  am,  dearest  Sir, 

'  Your  affectionate  friend, 

'Walter  Harte.' 

Mr.  Harte  published  a  volume  of  religious  poems 
called  *  Amaranth,'  which  he  sent  me.  He  took  great 
pains  about  the  decoration  of  this  book  by  a  young 
artist  of  his  own  forming,  but  it  had  no  success. 

In  1766  my  daughter  Mary  was  born,  and  I  remained 
at  Bradfield,  with  the  exception  of  several  journeys  to 
Lynn. 


44       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 


CHAPTEE   III 

IN   SEAECH   OF   A   LIVING,  1767-1775 

Home  travels — A  move — Anecdote  of  a  cat — Disillusion — '  A  Farmer's 
Letters  ' — Another  move — '  In  the  full  blaze  of  her  beauty ' — Hetty 
Burney  and  her  harpsichord — 'Scant  in  servants'  —  Maternal 
solicitude — Money  difficulties — More  tours — Lord  Sheffield — Howard 
the  philanthropist — Correspondence. 

DuEiNG  this  year  I  executed  that  journey,  the  register 
of  which  I  pubHshed  under  the  title  of  a  '  Six  Weeks' 
Tour,'  in  which,  for  the  first  time,  the  facts  and  prin- 
ciples of  Norfolk  husbandry  were  laid  before  the  public, 
and  which  have  since  become  famous  in  the  agricul- 
tural world.  Till  my  work  appeared  nothing  of 
that  husbandry  was  known  beyond  the  county.  The 
publication  excited  great  interest,  and  became  unques- 
tionably the  origin  of  many  and  great  improvements 
in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom.  I  scarcely  went  into 
any  company  in  which  it  was  not  mentioned.  Had 
I  better  understood  the  art  of  husbandry  it  might, 
perhaps,  have  been  well  for  me.  Finding  that  a 
mixture  of  families  was  inconsistent  with  comfortable 
living,  I  determined  to  quit  Bradfield,  and  advertised 
in  the  London  papers  for  such  a  house  and  farm  as 
would  suit  my  views  and  fortune,  that  is  to  say,  one 
thousand  pounds  which  I  received  with  my  wife,  the 


IN   SEAECH   OF  A  LIVING  45 

remainder  being  settled  upon  her.  I  fixed  upon  a 
very  fine  farm  in  Essex  called  Samford  Hall ;  there  I 
worked  with  incredible  avidity  both  in  the  agricultural 
and  literary  department.  I  remember  once  to  have 
written  a  quire  of  foolscap  in  one  day  !  The  work  was 
entitled  '  PoUtical  Essays  on  the  Present  State  of  the 
British  Empire.' 

And  here  I  may  mention  a  singular  instance  of 
animal  sagacity.  The  gentleman  who  gave  up  the 
house  to  me  was  a  Mr.  Farquharson.  His  wife  had  a 
favourite  cat  which,  upon  their  removal,  was  put  into  a 
sack  and  carried  away  with  the  furniture  from  Essex 
to  Yatesby  Bridge  in  Hampshire.  I  was  surprised  in 
about  five  or  six  days  to  see  poor  puss  again  at  Samford 
Hall ;  nearly  at  the  same  time  a  letter  was  received 
from  Mrs.  Farquharson  lamenting  her  loss,  but  doubting 
the  possibility  of  the  cat  having  returned  to  its  original 
home.  The  circumstance  is  astonishing,  and  shows 
an  instinct  almost  incredible,  for  the  animal  must  have 
travelled  seventy  miles  and  threaded  the  Metropolis. 

My  landlord,  a  Mr.  Lamb,  was  a  King's  messenger. 
He  had  formerly  been,  I  believe,  butler  or  valet  de 
chambre  to  the  Duke  of  Leeds,  and  gave  me  many 
accounts  of  the  journeys  he  had  made  to  Petersburg, 
Constantinople,  Naples,  &c.,  profiting  by  every  journey 
very  considerably,  as  he  expended  much  less  in  tra- 
velling than  was  allowed  by  Government.  I  write 
from  memory,  but  I  think  he  said  that  a  journey  to 
Petersburg  or  Constantinople  paid  him  a  neat  profit 
of  a  hundred  guineas. 

This  speculation  turned  out  a  bitter  disappointment. 


46       AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

I  trusted  to  the  promise  of  a  relative  to  lend  me  some 
money,  making,  with  what  I  possessed,  sufficient  for 
the  undertaking.  But  he  was  himself  disappointed  of 
the  money,  and  I  clearly  foresaw  that  an  insufficient 
capital  would  infallibly  cramp  me  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  render  all  my  efforts  very  uncomfortable  and  perhaps 
vain.  I  determined  to  make  a  short  cut  and  get  rid  of 
it  immediately,  which  I  did  at  the  end  of  six  months  at 
no  further  loss  than  of  1001.  This  was  a  lesson  of 
some  use  to  me  at  subsequent  periods  of  my  life,  and 
taught  me  early  to  distinguish  between  certainty  and 
probabilities. 

Arthur  Young  to  his  Wife 

'  Tuesday :  1767.' 
'  My  Dearest, — I  am  much  in  hopes  I  shall  have  a 
letter  from  you  to-morrow  ;  if  I  have  not  it  will  be  a 
great  disappointment ;  for  when  you  don't  write  in  huffs 
your  letters  are  my  only  comfort.  I  went  to  Yeldham's 
this  morning,  but  he,  according  to  custom,  was  out,  and 
will  not  be  home  of  some  days  ;  it  will  be  Saturday 
before  I  can  see  him.  How  this  terrible  affair  will  end 
I  cannot  conjecture,  nor  what  I  am  to  do.  The  most 
miserable  circumstance  of  all  is  the  being  in  such 
suspense  and  anxiety.  It  absolutely  stupefies  me,  and 
I  am  forced  to  pin  myself  down  to  writing  without  the 
soul  for  anything  but  mere  copying.  I  would  give  my 
right  hand  that  I  had  never  seen  this  place,  but  such 
reflections  only  make  one  the  more  miserable  ;  and  the 

'  '  We  -were  married  more  than  two  years.'     [Note  by  A.  Y.] 


rx   SEAECH  OF   A   LIVING  47 

thoughts  at  the  same  time  of  what  you  feel  with  a 
young  child  to  suckle  hurt  me  more  than  I  can  express 
in  a  word  ;  we  shall  both  be  capitally  miserable  till  we 
are  fixed  somewhere  on  a  certainty,  and  when  that  w^ll 
be  Heaven  knows.  I  had  infinitely  rather  live  in  a 
cottage  upon  bread  and  cheese  than  drag  on  the 
anxious  existence  I  do  at  present.  Whichever  way  I 
turn  my  thoughts  I  see  no  remedy,  nor  know  who  can 
advise  me  what  step  to  take.  I  know  not  which  is  best 
myself,  I  am  sure,  for  everyone  depends  so  on  con- 
tingencies that  sagacity  itself  cannot  foresee  the  conse- 
quences of  all.  An  ill  star  rose  on  my  nativity  ;  had  I 
never  been  born  it  would  have  been  just  so  much  the 
better  for  me,  for  you,  and  our  wretched  children.  If 
anybody  was  to  knock  me  on  the  head  it  would 
be  a  trifling  favour  done  to  you  all  three,  for  most 
assuredly  no  good  will  ever  come  from  mj-  hands. 

'  Adieu  !  I  have  scribbled  out  the  paper  to  but  little 

purpose. 

'  A.  Y.' 

The  gentleman  who  assisted  me  in  getting  rid  of 
this  nuisance  was  a  Mr.  Yeldham.  I  am  sure  the 
reader  will  peruse  with  gratification  the  following 
letter  (given  in  part)  : — 

'  Saling :  Dec.  10,  1768. 

'  Dear  Sir, — Your  obliging  present  of  lampreys  and 
more  obliging  letter  of  the  7th  came  safe  to  my 
hands,  as  did  your  books  and  Westphalia  ham.  I  assure 
you  I  thought  myself  amply  rewarded  for  the  service 
I  did  you  in  Essex  by  the  present  of  your  work  on 


48  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF  AETHUR   YOUNa 

agriculture,  and  everything  beyond  that  was  unneces- 
sary and  the  result  of  your  generosity.  Give  me  leave  to 
return  j^ou  my  respectful  thanks,  and  to  assure  you  that 
in  the  twenty-six  years  I  have  had  transactions  with 
mankind,  and  whenever  in  my  power  have  endeavoured 
to  assist  as  many  as  I  could,  I  have  scarce  ever  met 
with  so  much  gratitude  as  you  have  shown.  It  will 
not  be  in  my  power  ever  again  to  do  you  any  acceptable 
service,  but  for  your  sake  I  shall  be  more  ready  to  do  a 
kind  office  than  ever ;  so  if  I  mended  your  fortune  by 
helping  you  off  a  hurtful  contract,  you  will  mend  my 
heart  by  making  me  more  in  love  with  mankind,  and 
more  ready  to  seek  opportunities  of  being  useful. 

'  I  have  often  heard  of  the  fine  husbandry  of  the 
North.  If  such  things  as  you  speak  of  are  to  be  had 
every  day,  why  are  North  Country  farmers  so  poor  ? 
Here  we  give  from  ten  to  fifteen  shillings  per  acre  for 
lands  not  a  whit  better  than  you  can  have  in  the  North 
for  a  penny.  We  get  estates  and  live  like  gentlemen  ; 
North  Country  farmers  are  poor  and  live  worse  than 
our  labourers.  These  are  allowed  truths,  but  utterly 
irreconcilable  to  the  small  share  of  reason  I  possess. 
All  our  good  farmers  can  lay  up  from  one  to  two  years' 
rent  of  their  farms  in  common  years,  after  paying  the 
landlord,  the  parson,  the  poor,  servants'  wages,  &c.  &c. 
Were  the  North  Country  farms  in  the  least  comparable 
should  not  we  hear  of  it  ?  Would  not  some  of  us  get 
farther  from  the  capital  for  the  sake  of  profit  ?  Our 
mercantile  people  ramble  all  over  the  world  for  gain,  so 
would  the  farmer  could  he  find  it ;  and  any  distance 
would  be  agreeable.     There  must,  I  think,  be  some- 


IN   SEAKCH   OF  A  LIVING  49 

thing  in  the  distant  counties'  prices  which  counter- 
balances the  cheapness  of  the  land  and  labour.  I 
heartily  wish  you  success  and  comfort  in  all  your 
undertakings,  and  that  Bradmore  Farm  may  produce 
corn,  wine,  and  oil  in  abundance. 

'  Mrs.  Yeldham  joins  in  compliments  to  you   and 

Mrs.  Young. 

'  I  remain,  dear  Sir,  &c.  &c., 

'John  Yeldham.' 

My  correspondence  with  Mr.  Harte  continued. 
It  gave  me  pain  to  find  that  his  health  greatly  declined. 
He  was  a  cripple  at  Bath,  but  the  disorders  of  his 
body  seemed  little  to  affect  the  vigour  of  his  mind. 
He  spoke  very  flatteringly  of  the  reception  of  my 
'Farmer's  Letters.'  'I  am  amazed,' he  writes,  'that 
you  have  so  soon  and  so  easily  acquired  the  hardest 
point  in  all  writing — namely,  perspicuity  and  ease  of 
style.'  And  elsewhere,  'Your  letter  addressed  to  my 
Lord  Clive  on  an  experimental  farm  is  new,  spirited 
and  pleasing,  but  I  fear  he  has  not  a  spark  of  the 
divina  aura  in  him.  I  have  shown  your  pamphlet  to 
the  best  judge  in  England,  my  Lord  Chesterfield,  who 
is  now  here.  He  likes  it  extremely,  and  vows  if  he  was 
young  and  rich  enough  he  would  carry  your  scheme 
into  execution.' 

From  Samford  Hall  I  moved,  in  1768,  to  another 
farm  at  North  Mimms,  in  Hertfordshire.  I  had  scarcely 
settled  here  before  my  bookseller  united  with  many 
correspondents  in  urging  me  to  take  another  tour.  I 
accordingly  travelled  through   the  north   of   England, 

E 


50       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUK  YOUNa 

registering  so  many  observations,  and  noting  the  experi- 
ments of  such  a  number  of  gentlemen,  that  the  record  of 
the  whole,  with  the  necessary  remarks,  filled  four  octavo 
volumes,  and  enabled  me  to  present  the  public  with 
interesting  agricultural  details  never  before  published. 
I  may  assert  this  without  vanity,  because  the  real  merit 
belonged  to  those  who  furnished  me  with  the  informa- 
tion ;  and  the  success  of  the  work  was  so  great  that 
the  first  edition  was  sold  almost  as  soon  as  it  appeared. 
In  the  '  Six  Weeks'  Tour  '  I  visited  but  few  gentlemen, 
and  consequently  witnessed  but  few  experiments.  On 
the  '  Northern  Journey  '  the  case  was  very  different, 
and  the  number  of  trials  reported  on  a  variety  of  soils 
were  great  and  interesting.  I  spent  some  time  with 
my  friend,  Mr.  Ellerton,  of  Eisby,  in  the  East  Eiding  ; 
he  accompanied  me  to  York  races  and  on  a  visit  of 
several  days  to  the  Marquis  of  Eockingham,  who  had 
previously  to  the  journey  invited  me  to  see  him,  and 
pointed  out  a  number  of  persons  proper  for  me  to  visit. 
Amongst  the  company  at  Wentworth  was  Mr.  Danby, 
of  Swinton,  and  his  daughter,'  then  in  the  full  blaze 
of  her  beauty.  My  Lord  Eockingham  overheard  her 
speaking  to  me  and  using  the  expression  '  amazingly 
fine  turnips.'  '  So,  so,  Mr.  Young,'  said  his  lordship, 
'  you  are  getting  farming  intelligence  of  Miss  Danby  ; 
the  lady  must  let  us  hear  more  of  those  fine  turnips.'  ^ 
His  lordship  ordered  me  into  an  apartment,  in  a  closet 


'  '  The  Mashamshire  Molly,'  afterwards  Countess  of  Harcourt. 

2  It  must  be  remembered  that  turnips  were  a  comparative  novelty  at 
this  date,  not  being  cultivated  as  food  for  cattle  till  the  latter  part  of  the 
last  century. 


IX   SEAECH   OF  A  LIVING  51 

of  which  was  a  considerable  collection  of  ancient  and 
curious  books  on  agriculture,  which  he  pointed  out  for 
my  amusement  when  I  had  time  to  consult  them. 
There  was  one  circumstance  which  seemed  very 
awkward  to  me  at  Wentworth,  the  necessity  of  every 
person  always  having  his  hat  under  his  arm,  a  hint  of 
which  Lord  K.  gave  me  on  my  arrival,  and  I  saw  the 
want  of  it  in  one  or  two  new  comers,  who,  when  the 
horses  were  brought  to  the  door,  had  a  journey  to  make 
through  the  house  before  they  could  find  their  hats. 
From  Wentworth  I  went  to  the  Duke  of  Portland's 
and  others,  and  afterwards  examined  a  great  part  of 
the  county  of  York  with  much  attention,  everywhere 
being  received  in  a  very  flattering  manner. 

This  year  I  made  many  visits  to  my  friend.  Dr. 
Burney,  in  Poland  Street,  to  whom  my  wife's  sister  was 
married,  and  whose  daughter  Hester  (by  a  former 
marriage)  entertained,  or  rather,  fascinated  me,  by  her 
performance  on  the  harpsichord  and  singing  of  Italian 
airs.  I  was  never  tired  of  listening  to  the  '  Ah,  quelli 
occhi  ladroncelli,'  and  'Alia  larga,'  of  Piccini,'  and  it  is 
marvellous  to  me  now  to  recollect  that  I  was  thus 
riveted  to  her  side  for  six  hours  together. 

During  this  year  my  daughter  Bessy  was  born, 
and  the  second  edition  of  my  '  Farmer's  Letters  ' 
published. 

1769. — My  son  Arthur  born.  The  whole  of  this  year 
I  passed  at  North  Mimms,  very  well  received  and 
visited  in  that  thronged  neighbourhood.  The  Duke  of 
Leeds,  who  lived  in  the  parish,  condescended  to  make 

'  Nicolo  Piccini,  1728-1800,  composer  of  the  opera  Zinohie,  &c. 

E  2 


52       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

overtures  with  a  view  to  my  acquaintance.  Sir  Charles 
Cocks,  afterwards  Lord  Somers,  if  I  do  not  mistake  the 
year,  did  the  same,  and  often  drank  tea  with  me  ;  also 
Dr.  Roper  and  his  wife  Lady  Harriet.  He  was  a  man 
of  great  learning,  and  she  a  most  amiable  woman,  free 
from  all  pride  and  affectation.  I  also  often  met  Lady 
Mary  Mordaunt  at  two  or  three  houses,  and  her  sister 
Lady  Frances  Bulhely,  with  whom  she  lived  ;  with  the 
former  I  had  something  of  a  flirtation  and  lent  her 
many  books ;  she  was  rather  handsome  and  very 
agreeable.  I  was  elected  member  of  a  dining  club  at 
Hatfield,  and  became  acquainted  with  Samuel  Whitbread, 
Esq.  M.P.,'  and  Mr.  Justice  Willes  from  East  Barnet. 
I  was  very  well  received  by  Mrs.  Willes,  a  fine  lady, 
and  rather  fantastical.  They  were  both  vain  people, 
and  I  remember  one  day  at  dinner  Judge  Willes  saying 
to  his  wife,  '  My  dear,  I  think  we  are  rather  scant  in 
servants  ' — yet  there  was  one  to  every  chair  and  some  to 
spare.  She  was  making  an  ornamental  path  round  the 
homestead,  and  asked  my  advice  in  several  difficulties. 
During  this  year  Prince  Massalski,  Bishop  of  Wilna, 
wrote  me  a  long  French  letter  on  the  agricultural 
prosperity  of  England.  He  afterwards  passed  two 
days  with  me  in  Hertfordshire,  an  agreeable,  well- 
instructed  man,  who  much  lamented  the  miserable 
state  of  his  own  country. 

1770. — What  a  year  of  incessant  activity,  composi- 
tion, anxiety  and  wretchedness  was  this  !  No  carthorse 
ever  laboured  as  I  did  at  this  period,  spending  like  an 

'  Samuel  Whitbread,  son  of  a  gi'eat  brewer,  distinguished  in  Parlia- 
mentary life  as  a  vigorous  assailant  of  Pitt ;  committed  suicide  1815. 


IN   SEAKCH   OF   A  LIVING  53 

idiot,  always  in  debt,  in  spite  of  what  I  earned  '  with  the 
sweat  of  my  brow  and  almost  my  heart's  blood,  such 
was  my  anxiety ;  yet  all  was  clearly  vexation  of  spirit. 
Well  might  my  dear  mother  write  to  me  as  she  did.  I 
trusted  in  an  unparalleled  industry,  but  not  in  God ; 
and  see  how  He  brought  it  all  to  nought,  as  if  to  con- 
vince me  of  my  supreme  folly  and  infatuation.  My  old 
Suffolk  bailiff  was  the  channel  through  which  I  ran  into 
debt  to  the  Bury  banker  by  a  series  of  drawing  bills, 
one  to  pay  another,  till  the  plan  became  so  obvious  that 
he  cut  short  and  refused  to  accept  any  more.  I  had 
run  near  a  thousand  pounds  into  his  debt,  and  it  was 
necessary  for  me  to  go  over  directly  to  Bury  to  see 
what  could  be  done  to  pacify  him.  He  was  at  his 
country  seat  at  Trosston.  Thither  I  followed  him,  and, 
with  great  difficulty,  persuaded  him  to  have  patience, 
under  a  promise  that  I  would  make  arrangements  to  pay 
him  very  speedily.  This  I  did  with  difficulty,  and  I 
scarcely  recollect  how.  I  shall,  in  the  first  place,  note 
that  the  Eastern  Tour  was  accomplished,  the  journal  of 
which  was  afterwards  published  in  four  volumes.  In 
the  preface  I  returned  thanks  to  those  who  contributed 
to  my  information,  and  in  the  number  were  many 
most  distinguished  personages  amongst  the  nobility  and 
gentrj'  in  the  counties  through  which  I  travelled,  with 
numerous  distinguished  farmers. 

It  is  necessary  here  to  pause  a  little  in  order  to 
examine  the  object  and  the  effect  of  the  three  tours  I 
made   and   published.     They   have,  by  the   very  best 

'  Entry  in  memorandum-book  of   this  year :    '  The  year's  receipts, 
1,167Z.' 


54       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AKTHUE  YOUNG- 

judges,  been  esteemed  highly  useful  to  practical  agricul- 
turists, and  unquestionably  they  are  equally  so  for  the 
information  they  afford  in  political  economy  :  they  have 
accordingly,  in  these  views,  been  celebrated '  in  almost 
every  language  of  Europe.  When  a  work  appears,  the 
object  and  execution  of  which  are  equally  novel  and 
unexampled,  it  is  not  surprising  that  a  certain  measure 
of  success  should  attend  such  a  work.  Nothing  in  the 
least  similar  to  it  had  before  appeared  in  the  English 
language  ;  for  though  there  had  been  a  tour  of  Great 
Britain,  and  other  tours  through  great  part  of  the  king- 
dom, yet  all  these  works  agreed  in  one  circumstance — 
that  of  the  authors  confining  their  attention  absolutely 
to  towns  and  seats,  without  paying  any  more  thought 
to  agriculture  than  if  that  art  had  ho  existence  between 
the  towns  they  visited.  Indeed  my  work  was  admitted 
on  all  hands  to  be  perfectly  original.  In  regard  to  the 
practical  husbandry  of  the  farmers,  and  the  experimental 
observations  of  the  gentlemen  I  visited,  the  utility  of 
these  could  not  be  doubted.  When  a  Lord  Chancellor 
of  England,  amusing  himself  with  husbandry,  read  the 
English  works  on  that  subject  for  information,  and 
burnt  them  as  affording  him  nothing  but  contradictions, 
without  doubt  he  complained  that  these  writers  did  not 
describe  the  common  management  of  the  farmers,  and 
on  that  management  founding  their  propositions  of 
improvement.  But  the  fact  was,  and  it  must  be,  in  the 
nature  of  things,  writers  confined  to  their  closets,  or,  at 
most,  to  a  single  farm,  could  not  describe  what  it  was 
impossible  for  them  to  know ;  and  before  the  appearance 

'  Sic  in  author's  MS. ;  'translated'  would  seem  to  be  the  word. 


IN   SEAECH   OF   A  LIVING  55 

of  my  tours  there  was  scarcely  a  district  in  the  kingdom 
described  in  such  a  manner  as  to  convince  the  reader 
that  the  authors  had  any  practical  knowledge  of  the  art ; 
for  a  man  to  quit  his  farm  and  his  fireside  in  order  to 
examine  the  husbandry  of  a  kingdom  by  travelling  above 
four  thousand  miles  through  a  country  of  no  greater 
extent  than  England  was  certainly  taking  means 
sufficiently  effective  for  laying  a  sure  basis  for  the 
future  improvement  of  the  soil.  To  understand  well 
the  present  state  of  cultivation  is  surely  a  necessary 
step  prior  to  proposals  of  improvement.  This  I  effected  ; 
and  in  the  opinion  of  some  very  able  agriculturists  now 
living,  the  greatest  of  the  subsequent  improvements 
that  have  been  made  during  the  last  forty  years  have, 
in  a  great  measure,  originated  in  the  defects  pointed 
out  by  me  in  the  detail  of  these  journeys. 

I  shall  venture  to  insert  one  anecdote  which  occurred 
in  the  Northern  Tour.  At  Mr.  Danby's,  at  Swinton  in 
Yorkshire,  I  met  a  very  uncommon  instance  of  extra- 
ordinary industry  in  a  collier,  who  improved  some 
waste  moors  by  the  labour  of  his  own  hands  beside  his 
common  hours  of  working  in  the  colliery.  He  had  so 
animated  a  spirit  of  improvement  that  I  thought  it  a 
great  pity  that  he  should  be  left  without  better  support ; 
and  therefore  I  proposed  a  subscription  for  him,  which 
raised  in  all  about  1001.,  and  Mr.  Danby,  his  landlord, 
releasing  him  from  his  colliery,  he  was  enabled  to 
extend  his  improvements  with  much  more  comfort  to 
himself.  After  a  few  years  he  died,  leaving  his  farm 
for  the  benefit  of  his  family.  He  shortened  his  life, 
poor  fellow,  by  his  industry. 

This  year  I  was  obliged  to  decline  an   invitation 


56  AUTOBIOGKAPHY   OF   ARTHUR   YOUNG 

from  Lord  Holdernesse  to  accompany  him  to  Hornby 
Castle.  Upon  informing  my  mother  of  the  refusal,  she, 
with  her  ever  watchful  kindness  concerning  my  interests, 
wrote  thus  :  '  I  am  extremely  sorry  that  you  refused 
Lord  Holdernesse's  invitation;  it  was  an  opportunity 
you  may  never  have  again,  for  when  favours  that  great 
people  oifer  are  refused,  they  seldom,  if  ever,  make  a 
second  ;  it  is  very  extraordinary  indeed  if  they  do.  He 
is  as  likely  to  be  one  in  the  Administration  as  any  other, 
for  since  Lady  H.  is  one  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Queen's 
Bedchamber  it  is  not  likely  that  he  [Lord  H.]  will  be  long 
out  of  post ;  and  who  knows  ?  you  might  have  found 
favour  in  his  sight.  I  fear  as  long  as  my  poor  eyes  are 
open  I  shall  never  want  for  something  relating  to  your 
welfare  to  vex  me  extremely,  which  I  must  own  is  a  great 
weakness.  As  to  the  regard  of  this  world,  thank  God  I 
do  often  reflect  on  the  shortness  of  every  earthly  felicity, 
a  misery  compared  with  the  duration  of  hereafter,  and 
I  am  fully  convinced  that  on  God  all  events  depend. 
I  can't  help  transcribing  a  few  lines  out  of  a  book  you 
know  little  of.  \_Here  folloio  scriptural  texts.']  Thank 
God,  I  don't  owe  five  pounds  in  the  world,  not  that  I 
brag  of  being  free  from  debt  as  owing  to  any  merit  to 
me,  for  I  am  far  from  thinking  an5^thing  like  it  ;  no,  it 
is  to  the  mercy  and  goodness  of  God  who  has  given  me 
a  comfortable  provision  for  the  situation  I  am  in,  and 
in  a  better  I  don't  desire  to  be,  for  a  little  with  God's 
blessing  goes  much  farther  than  a  great  deal  without 
it.  You  may  call  all  this  rubbish  if  you  please,  but  a 
time  will  come  when  you  will  be  convinced  whose 
notions  are  rubbish,  yours  or  mine.' 


IN   SEAECH   OF   A  LIVING  57 

I  here  insert  another  letter  from  my  mother,  at  the 
risk  of  being  taxed  with  personal  vanity  : — 

'  I  had  a  letter  yesterday  from  yom:  brother,  in 
which  was  a  paragraph  that  I  think  will  give  yon  a 
little  pleasure.  It  is  as  follows  :  "  I  find  that  Arthur 
has  printed  lately  a  pamphlet  on  the  '  Exportation 
of  Corn.'  A  gentleman  who  came  from  the  Drawing 
Room  yesterday  told  me  that  the  King  asked  him 
whether  he  had  read  Mr.  Young's  pamphlet  on  the 
subject,  and  commended  it."  Oh,  dear  !  how  pleasing 
it  is  to  have  the  approbation  of  a  King,  even  though 
we  never  get  sixpence  by  it.  And  j'et  how  few  are 
desirous  of  the  approbation  of  the  King ;  yet  they  may 
be  sure  of  it  if  they  sincerely  try,  and  can  never  fail 
of  being  well  rewarded,  both  in  this  world  and  the 
next.  Oh !  Arthur,  with  what  capacities  are  you 
endowed — with  what  advantages  for  being  greatly 
good !  But  with  the  talents  of  an  angel  a  man  may 
be  a  fool  if  he  judges  amiss  on  the  supreme  point.' 

1771.' — The  same  unremitting  industry,  the  same 
anxiety,  the  same  vain  hopes,  the  same  perpetual  dis- 
appointment.    No  happiness,  nor  anything  like  it. 

This  year  I  published  the  third  edition  of  the 
'  Farmer's  Letters,'  the  second  edition  of  the  '  Northern 
Tour,'  the  '  Farmer's  Calendar,'  my  '  Proposals  for 
Numbering  the  People ' — the  occasion  of  which  was 
the  Earl  of  Chatham's  words :  '  When  I  compare  the 
number   of   our   people — estimated   highl}^   at    seven  - 

'  In  a  memorandum-book  occurs  the  following  entry :  '  1771. — 
Receipts,  697Z. ;  expenses,  3G0/. — I  know  not  how.' 

-'  Estimated  population  of  England  and  Wales  in  1770.  7,428,000.— 
Haydjfs  Dictionary  of  Dates. 


58       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AKTHUE  YOUNa 

millions — with  the  population  of  France  and  Spain, 
usually  computed  at  twenty-five  millions,  I  see  a  clear, 
self-evident  possibility  for  this  country  to  contend  with 
the  united  powers  of  the  House  of  Bourbon  merely 
upon  the  strength  of  its  own  resources.'  I  conceived 
that  to  draw  such  political  principles  for  the  national 
conduct  from  a  mere  supposition  of  population  was  a 
doctrine  tending  to  very  mischievous  errors.  I  there- 
fore was  convinced  that  an  actual  enumeration  of  the 
people  ought  to  take  place.  Nothing,  however,  was 
done  at  the  time,  but  thirty  years  afterwards  ^  the 
Legislature  was  of  the  same  opinion,  and  not  till  then 
were  the  numbers  ascertained.' 

This  year  I  began  my  correspondence  with  Mr. 
John  Baker  Holroyd,^  afterwards  so  well  known  for  his 
literary  productions  as  Lord  Sheffield.  In  his  first 
letter,  dated  March  1771,  he  mentions  his  wish  that  I 
should  forward  some  cabbage  seed,  and  hopes  that 
I  may  be  the  means  of  introducing  the  culture  of 
cabbages  into  that  neighbourhood  (Sussex),  but  adds — 
what  must  now  appear  singular — that  the  very  extra- 
ordinary scarcity  of  hands  cramps  him  very  much. 
'  All  the  lively,  able  young  men  are  employed  in 
smuggling.  They  can  have  a  guinea  a  week  as  riders 
and  carriers  without  any  risk  ;  therefore  it  is  not  to 
be  expected  that  they  will  labour  for  eight  shillings 
a  week  until  some  more  effectual  means  are  taken  to 
prevent  smuggling.' 

I  had  also  a  letter  from  the  deservedly  celebrated 

'  The  first  census  was  taken  in  1801. 

-  1740-1821.     The  friend  and  editor  of  Gibbon. 


IN   SEARCH   OF  A  LIVING  59 

philanthropist,  John  Howard,  with  a  basket  of  his 
American  potatoes,  afterwards  known  under  the  name 
of  'the  Howard  and  duster  potatoes.'  He  added: 
'  Permit  me,  sir,  to  offer  my  thanks  for  the  entertain- 
ment of  your  very  ingenious  and  useful  labours,  and 
the  honour  you  did  me  in  the  mention  of  my  name.' 

1772.— Published  'Pohtical  Essays  on  the  British 
Empire,'  *  Present  State  of  Waste  Lands.'  A  third 
edition  of  the  '  Six  Weeks'  Tour '  was  also  published. 

This  year  I  attended  very  much  the  meetings 
of  the  Society  for  the  Encouragement  of  Arts,'  Manu- 
factures and  Commerce,  as  well  as  the  Committee  of 
Agriculture,^  of  which  I  was  Chairman.  In  a  letter 
from  Mr.  Butterworth  Bayley,  he  lamented  the  want 
of  a  respectable  publication  by  the  Society  of  Arts, 
and  called  on  me  to  think  of  some  means  of  remedying 
the  misery  (sic).  When  I  became  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  Agriculture,  I  was  the  first  to  propose 
that  annual  publication  which  afterwards  took  place. 
This  proposition  was  at  once  acceded  to,  and  Valentine 
Green,  the  engraver,  had  the  impudence  to  assert  that 
it  originated  with  him. 

This  year  T  visited  Samuel  Whitbread,  Esq.,  at 
Cardington,  in  Bedfordshire,  and  as  Mr.  Howard,  who 
afterwards  became  so  celebrated  for  his  philanthropy, 
lived  in  the  same  parish,  Mr.  W.  took  me  to  call  upon 
him  one  morning.  He  was  esteemed  a  singular 
character,  but  was  at  that  time  quite  unknown  in  the 

'  Founded  1751,  mainly  owing  to  the  efforts  of  ^Ir.  Shipley  and  Lord 
Folkestone. 

^  This  evidently  depended  on  the  Society  of  Arts. 


60       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUK  YOUNG 

world.  He  was  then  only  famous  for  introducing  a 
new  series  of  potatoes  into  cultivation.  We  found  him 
in  a  parlour,  without  books  or  apparently  any  employ- 
ment, dressed  as  for  an  evening  in  London — a  powdered 
bag  wig,  white  silk  stockings,  thin  shoes,  and  every 
other  circumstance  of  his  habiliments  excluding  the 
possibility  of  a  country  walk.  He  was  rather  prag- 
matical in  his  speech,  very  polite,  but  expressing 
himself  in  a  manner  that  seemed  to  belong  to  two 
hundred  years  ago.  I  asked  Mr.  Whitbread  if  Mr. 
Howard  was  usually  thus  dressed  and  confined  to  his 
room,  for  he  was  as  intimate  with  Whitbread  as  with 
anybody.  He  had  never  seen  him  otherwise,  he  said, 
but  added  that  he  was  a  sensible  man  and  a  very 
worthy  one. 

At  this  time  I  published  my  '  Political  Essays  on 
the  Present  State  of  Affairs  in  the  British  Empire,' 
also  the  third  edition  of  the  '  Six  Weeks'  Tour.' 
Comber's  '  Keal  Improvements  in  Agriculture  on  the 
Principles  of  A.  Young,  Esq.,'  was  likewise  printed. 
Comber  was  afterwards  deeply  engaged  in  the  '  Monthly 
Review,'  and  belaboured  me  with  all  the  abuse  he 
could  accumulate.  I  published  also  a  tract  enti- 
tled '  The  Present  State  of  Waste  Lands  in  Great 
Britain.' 

In  March,  Mr.  Allen,  my  wife's  brother,  an  alder- 
man of  Lynn,  applied  to  the  Earl  of  Orford  to  procure 
for  me  an  establishment  in  some  public  of&ce,  and  his 
Lordship  wrote  to  Lord  North  on  the  subject.  In  his 
reply  the  latter  spoke  of  me  as  one  '  whose  very 
ingenious    and    useful   writings   point   out    as    a  very 


IN   SEAECH   OF  A  LIVING  61 

proper  object  of  notice  and  reward.'  It  was  an  appli- 
cation for  a  King's  waiter's  ^  place,  a  sinecure. 

At  this  time  I  was  so  distressed  that  I  had  serious 
thoughts  of  quitting  the  kingdom  -  and  going  to 
America.  Surelj'  the  three  last  years  ought  to  have 
convinced  me,  had  I  not  l^een  worse  than  an  idiot,  of 
the  vanity  and  folly  of  my  expenses,  and  how  utterly 
all  comfort  and  happiness  must  fly  such  pursuits. 
Feeling  a  force  and  vigour  of  mind  in  myself  erroneously, 
I  trusted  in  them.  As  to  God,  I  lived  without  Him  in 
the  world,  and  had  not  a  companion  that  could  bring 
me  to  Him.  But  my  mother,  my  ever  dear  mother, 
wrote  in  vain  to  me  ;  her  advice  was  not  listened  to. 
She  tried  to  bring  me  to  a  right  sense  of  religion, 
which  would  have  conferred  that  peace  and  content 
which  flew  before  my  vain  pursuits. 

Dr.  Hunter,^  of  York,  wrote  to  me  this  year  on  the 
Georgical  Essays,  and  on  carrots  and  their  conversion 
into  a  confection  for  the  use  of  seamen,  of  which  he 
entertained  great  expectations.  '  I  received  much 
pleasure,'  he  wrote,  *  from  the  perusal  of  your  Eastern 
Tour,  and  could  not  help  expressing  uneasiness  at  the 
rancorous  treatment  of  the  monthly  reviewers.  We 
are  all  open    to  fair   and  candid  criticism,    but  when 

'  King's  waiter.  I  have  not  been  able  to  discover  the  precise 
nature  of  this  sinecure. 

-  '  Mr.  Young  is  not  well,  and  appears  almost  overcome  with  the 
horrors  of  his  situation ;  in  fact,  he  is  almost  destitute.  This  is  a 
dreadful  trial  for  him,  yet  I  am  persuaded  he  will  find  some  means 
of  extricating  himself  from  his  distress — at  least,  if  genius,  spirit,  and 
enterprise  can  prevail.' — Early  Diaries  of  Faiuuj  Durney. 

^  Dr.  Alexander  Hunter,  died  1809,  editor  of  Evelyn's  Sylva,  and 
author  of  Georgical  Essays,  '  an  able  and  esteemed  work  '  (Lowndes). 


62       AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AKTHUR  YOUNG 

there  is  the  least  spark  of  resentment  seen  it  then 
ceases  to  be  criticism,  and  deserves  another  name.  I 
propose  to  finish  the  Georgical  Essays,  with  two  more 
volmnes,  in  1773.  My  own  natural  avocations  will 
not  permit  me  in  future  to  be  anything  but  an  editor  ; 
I  wish  I  had  leisure  to  prosecute  so  agreeable  a  study. 
I  have,  however,  some  satisfaction  in  seeing  the  art  (of 
agriculture)  improve  under  your  hands,  and  hope  that 
nothing  will  prevail  upon  you  to  withdraw  yourself 
from  the  public.  I  have,  this  year,  a  large  experiment 
with  onions  and  carrots.  These  vegetables  have  not 
hitherto  been  cultivated  in  the  field  in  th^s  country. 
Besides  the  application  of  carrots  for  horses  and  hogs, 
I  am  persuaded  that  they  may  be  converted  by  a  cheap 
process  into  a  confection  for  the  use  of  seamen.  This, 
and  the  last  year's  experiments,  convince  me  of  the 
practicability  of  the  scheme,  and  next  year  I  propose 
to  ship  a  considerable  quantity  for  the  above  purpose. 
The  expense  is  small,  and  my  expectations  are  great.' 

1773. — Here  began  a  new  career  of  industry,  ill- 
exerted,  of  new  hopes  and  never-failing  disappoint- 
ments, labour  and  sorrow,  folly  and  infatuation,  which 
it  is  scarcely  possible  for  a  man,  turned  into  the  world 
without  business  or  profession,  to  escape,  and  it  affords 
a  most  impressive  lesson  to  all  parents  to  be  almost  as 
ready  to  hang  their  children  as  to  bring  them  up 
without  a  regular  profession.  If  I  had  been  a  country 
curate  with  501.  a  year,  in  addition  to  the  income  I 
possessed,  and  had  Uved  in  a  quiet  parsonage,  the 
probability  of  happiness  would  have  been  far  greater. 
The    business    of    my   farm    at   North    Mimms    was 


IN  SEAECH   OF   A   LIVING  63 

insufficient  to  keep  me  employed,  and  the  intercom'se  I 
constantly  had  with  London  I  considered  as  a  means 
which  should  be  turned  to  some  account  in  the  in- 
crease of  a  most  insufficient  income  ;  in  fact,  I  was  in 
a  most  uncomfortable  state,  which  induced  me  to 
listen  to  the  proposals  of  a  gentleman  I  met  with — I 
have  quite  forgotten  whom — who  informed  me  that  the 
'  Morning  Post  '  proprietors  were  in  great  want  of 
some  person  to  report  the  debates  in  Parliament.  In 
consequence  of  this  information  I  applied  at  their 
office,  and  they  very  readily  engaged  me  for  a  trial,  to 
see  if  I  was  able  to  perform  the  business  they  required. 
This  was  done,  and  as  they  were  well  satisfied  with 
the  manner  in  which  the  work  was  executed,  I  con- 
tinued it  at  a  salary,  as  well  as  I  can  recollect,  of  five 
guineas  a  week.  Every  Saturday  I  walked  seventeen 
miles  to  my  farm,  and  back  again  on  the  Monday 
morning.  This  year  I  published  my  observations  on 
the  present  state  of  waste  lands,  which  contained  a 
new  idea  of  extreme  importance  in  the  mode  of 
working  any  great  and  effective  improvement.  In 
most  of  the  attempts  that  have  been  made  by  in- 
dividuals to  accomplish  these  meritorious  works,  there 
generally  appeared  a  weakness  of  effort  and  insuffi- 
ciency of  means,  which  prevented  anything  con- 
siderable being  effected,  and  the  cause  I  justly 
explained  to  be,  a  want  of  proportion  between  the 
means  and  the  end,  not  so  much  in  a  want  of  money 
as  in  a  most  erroneous  method  of  applying  it.  To  raise 
a  set  of  buildings  for  a  farm,  with  gradual  additions  to 
the  whole,   and  enclosing  from  the  waste,  field  after 


64  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF   AETHUR   YOUNa 

field  for  improvement,  with  views  merely  of  forming  a 
large  farm,  and  keeping  tlie  whole  in  hand,  demands  so 
large  a  capital  that  the  succeeding  languor  of  the 
exertions  has  been  evidently  owing  to  want  of  money, 
the  capital  being  insufficient  for  the  two  distinct 
objects  of  farming  and  improving.  The  novel  idea 
struck  me  that  the  whole  capital  in  such  cases  should 
be  appropriated  to  improvements  alone  ;  that  no  other 
buildings  should  be  raised  than  exactly  sufficient  for 
such  a  small  farm  as  lets  most  readily  in  the  district — 
and  this,  usually,  is  little  more  than  a  cottage,  and 
ten  or  twenty  acres  of  grass  round  it.  Hence  I 
proposed  that  an  entire  new  farm  should,  after  one 
course  of  crops,  be  formed,  and  let,  sold,  or  mortgaged 
every  year.  In  this  mode  of  proceeding  the  farming 
would  be  entirely  subservient  to  the  improvement,  and 
the  capital  would  be  constantly  moving  to  fresh  land. 
I  showed  that  a  small  sum  of  money,  thus  employed, 
would  gradually  improve  a  great  and  increasing  breadth 
of  waste  ;  whereas,  if  the  same  money  was  employed 
in  the  common  manner  of  farming  and  occupying  a 
larger  farm,  the  space  improved,  after  fifteen  or  twenty 
years,  would  be  trifling,  and  the  profit  very  inferior. 
My  explanation  of  this  system  carries  conviction  with 
it ;  but  the  work  appearing  at  a  period  when  the 
rapidity  of  my  publications  satiated  the  world,  little  or 
no  attention  was  paid  to  it. 

1774. — I,  this  year,  published  on  my  own  account 
my  political  arithmetic,  one  of  my  best  works,  which 
was  immediately  translated  into  many  languages,  and 
highly  commended  in  many  parts  of  Europe.     Judges 


IN   SEAECH   OF   A   LR'ING  65 

of  the  subject  here,  as  well  as  abroad,  have  considered 
it  as  abounding  in  valuable  information  and  the  justest 
views ;  but,  unfortunately,  as  in  the  case  of  my  work 
on  waste  lands,  it  followed  so  many  other  of  my  publi- 
cations that  little  attention  was  paid  to  it,  except  by 
thefeio  who  saw  the  importance  of  the  subject,  or  who 
were  able  to  judge  of  the  merit  of  the  work. 

The  winter  was  passed  in  London  in  the  same 
employment  as  the  preceding ;  but  I  had  become 
known  to  so  many  men  of  science  that  several  hinted 
to  me  the  propriety  of  my  being  a  candidate  for 
election  as  a  Fellow  of  the  Eoyal  Society,  and  my 
recommendation  as  such  being  garnished  with  some 
respectable  names  I  was  accordingly  elected,  which 
adds  the  F.R.S.  to  my  name.  Once  in  conversation 
with  Dr.  Burney  on  these  elections,  he  said,  '  No 
matter,  for  that  we  have  got  our  ends  of  them.'  This 
year  I  was  elected  an  honorary  member  of  the  Palatine 
Society  of  Agriculture  established  at  Mannheim,  also  of 
the  Geographical  Society  of  Florence. 

1775. — This  winter  I  spent  in  London.  From  1766 
to  1775  being  ten  years,  I  received  3,000Z.,  or  300/.  a 
year. 


66       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNQ 


CHAPTEK  IV 

IRELAND,  1776-1778 

The  journey  to  Ireland — Characteristics — Residence  at  Mitchelstown — 
Intrigues — A  strange  bargain — Departure — Letter  to  his  wife — A 
terrible  journey. 

The  events  which  followed  the  close  of  this  year 
carried  a  better  complexion  than  the  preceding  period, 
and  therefore  I  shall  in  general  remark  that  the  last 
four  or  five  years  of  my  life  had  been  detestable,  my 
employments  degrading,  my  anxiety  endless,  every 
effort  unsuccessful,  exertion  always  on  the  stretch,  and 
always  disappointed  in  the  result,  uneasy  at  home, 
unhappy  abroad,  existing  with  difficulty  and  struggling 
to  live,  never  out  of  debt,  and  never  enjoying  one 
shilling  that  was  spent.  What  would  not  a  sensible, 
quiet,  prudent  wife  have  done  for  me  ?  But  had  I  so 
behaved  to  God  as  to  merit  such  a  gift  ? 

The  only  pleasant  moments  that  I  passed  were  in 
visits  to  my  friend  Arbuthnot  ^  at  Mitcham,  whose 
agriculture  so  near  the  capital  brought  good  company 
to  his  house.  He  was  upon  the  whole  the  most  agree- 
able, pleasant  and  interesting  connection  which  I  ever 

'  Appears  to  have  been  brother  to  the  Hon.  Robert  Arbuthnot,  third 
son  of  John,  Viscount  Arbuthnot,  whose  death  is  recorded  in  the  Annual 
Register  of  1801. 


lEELAND  67 

made  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  brother  of  the 
present  Rt.  Honorable. 

I  had  in  1775  determined  on  making  the  tour  of 
Ireland,  to  which  the  Earl  of  Shelburne  ^  much  insti- 
gated me,  and  I  corresponded  with  several  persons  on 
the  subject,  who  urged  me  much  to  that  undertaking, 
but  I  was  obliged  to  postpone  it  to  the  following  year. 
The  following  is  a  note  from  Mr.  Burke  on  the  subject : — 

'  Mr.  Burke  sends  the  covers  with  his  best  compli- 
ments and  wishes  to  Mr.  Young.  He  would  be  very  glad 
to  give  Mr.  Young  recommendations  to  Ireland,  but  his 
acquaintance  there  is  almost  worn  out,  Lord  Charle- 
mont  and  one  or  two  more  being  all  that  he  thinks 
care  a  farthing  for  him.  However,  if  letters  to  them 
would  be  of  any  service  to  Mr.  Young,  Mr.  B.  would 
with  great  pleasure  write  them.' 

On  June  19  of  this  year  1776  I  embarked  at  Holy- 
head for  Ireland,  and  in  consequence  of  this  journey 
through  every  part  of  the  kingdom,  produced  in  1780 
that  tour  which  succeeded  so  well,  and  has  been 
reckoned  among  my  best  and  most  useful  productions  ; 
and  I  have  reason  to  believe  had  considerable  effect  in 
enlightening  the  people  of  that  country.  I  took  with 
me  many  letters  of  introduction,  from  the  Earl  of 
Shelburne,  Mr.  Burke,  and  other  persons  of  eminence 
in  England  ;  and  on  landing  at  Dublin,  was  imme- 
diately introduced  to  Colonel  Burton,  afterwards  Lord 
Cunningham,  aide-de-camp  to  the  Earl  of  Harcourt,  at 
that  time  Lord  Lieutenant,  and  well  known  to  the  whole 

'  First  Marquis  of  Lansdowne ;  took  part  in  Lord  Chatham's 
Ministry. 

F  2 


68       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

kingdom.  Colonel  Burton,  to  whom  I  was  more 
indebted  for  letters  of  introduction  than  to  any  other 
man  in  England,  was  a  most  remarkable  character. 
He  had  great  care  and  elegance  united  with  a  measure 
of  roughness,  which  may  be  attributed  to  a  sort  of 
personal  courage  which  was  apt  to  boil  over.  This  led 
him  into  many  quarrels,  and  not  a  few  duels,  one  of 
which  was  fought  across  a  table  of  no  great  length 
from  end  to  end,  and,  not  strange  to  tell  of  in  Ireland, 
several  of  the  party  stood  near  enjoying  the  sport.  He 
was  a  true  friend  to  the  interests  of  Ireland,  and  far 
more  enlightened  upon  it  than  the  greater  part  of  well- 
informed  people  to  be  found  there.  He  made  immense 
exertions  to  improve  the  fisheries  on  his  estate  at 
Donegal,  but  they  were  unsuccessful.  He  was  respect- 
able ^  for  general  knowledge,  and  possessed  a  great 
flow  of  animated  conversation.  He  carried  me  to  Lord 
Harcourt's  villa  at  St.  Woolstans,  with  whom  I  spent 
some  days  ;  and  the  Colonel  arranged  the  plan  of  my 
journey,  giving  me  a  multitude  of  letters  to  those  who 
were  best  able  to  afford  valuable  information.  I  kept 
a  private  journal  throughout  the  whole  of  this  tour,  in 
which  I  minuted  many  anecdotes  and  circumstances 
which  occurred  to  me  of  a  private  nature,  descriptive 
of  the  manners  of  the  people,  which,  had  it  been  pre- 
served, would  have  assisted  greatly  in  drawing  up  these 
papers  ;  but,  unfortunately,  it  was  lost,  with  all  the 
specimens  of  soils  and  minerals  which  I  collected 
throughout  the  whole  kingdom.  On  returning  to 
England,  I  quitted  my  whisky  ^  at  Bath,  and  got  into  a 

'  This  use  of  the  word  as  respectworthy  is  noticeable. 

2  Whisky:  a  light  carnage  built  for  rapid  motion. —  Webster. 


lEELAND  69 

stage,  and  sent  a  new  London  servant,  the  only  one  I 
had,  thither  to  bring  the  horse  and  chaise  to  London, 
and  the  trunk  containing  these  things.  The  fellow  was 
a  rascal,  stole  the  trunk,  and  pretended  that  he  had 
lost  it  on  the  road  ;  in  addition  to  the  loss  was  the 
torment  of  hunting  him  out  (for  he  went  away  directly) 
through  London  for  punishment.  With  great  difficulty 
I  found  him,  and  serving  a  w^arrant  upon  him,  carried 
him  to  Bow  Street,  where  Fielding  the  magistrate  at 
once  dismissed  the  complaint,  it  being  only  a  breach  of 
trust,  as  the  robbery  could  not  be  proved ;  and  all  I 
got  for  my  pains  was  abuse  from  the  fellow. 

This  was  a  very  great  loss  to  me,  as  the  specimens 
I  brought  of  soils  would  have  been  of  great  use  to  me 
in  the  course  of  experiments  which  I  soon  after  began 
in  the  object  of  expelling  gases  from  earths.  In  my 
journey  through  Ireland  I  was  received  with  great 
hospitality,  which  characterises  the  nation,  and  with 
that  particular  attention  which  my  peculiar  object 
excited  in  so  many  persons  who  rendered  agriculture 
either  their  profit  or  amusement. 

I  travelled  four  hundred  miles  cle  suite  without 
going  to  an  inn.  Amongst  those  who  were  most 
desirous  of  my  calling  upon  them  was  Sir  James 
Caldwell,  of  Castle  Caldwell,  on  Lough  Erne.  One 
anecdote  will  give  some  idea  of  his  character. 

The  Marquis  of  Lansdowne,  then  Earl  of  Shelburne, 
being  in  Ireland,  and  intending  to  call  on  Sir  James,  he, 
with  an  hospitality  truly  Irish,  thought  of  nothing 
night  or  day  but  how  to  devise  some  amusement  to 
entertain  his  noble  guest,  and  came  home  to  breakfast 
one  morning  with  prodigious  eagerness  to  communicate 


70       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

a  new  idea  to  Lady  Caldwell.  This  was  to  summon 
together  the  hundred  labourers  he  employed,  and  choose 
fifty  that  would  best  represent  New  Zealand  savages, 
in  order  that  he  might  form  two  fleets  of  boats  on  the 
Lough,  one  to  represent  Captain  Cook  and  his  men, 
the  other  a  New  Zealand  chief  at  the  head  of  his 
party  in  canoes,  and  consulted  her  how  it  would  be 
possible  to  get  them  dressed  in  an  appropriate  manner 
in  time  for  Lord  Shelburne's  arrival.  Lady  C,  who 
had  much  more  prudence  than  Sir  James,  reminded 
him  that  he  had  200  acres  of  hay  down,  and  the  pre- 
parations he  mentioned  would  occupy  so  much  time 
that  the  whole  would  now  stand  a  chance  of  being 
spoiled.  All  remonstrances  were  in  vain.  Tailors  were 
pressed  into  his  service  from  the  surrounding  country 
to  vamp  up,  as  well  as  time  would  permit,  the  crews  of 
men  and  fleets.  The  prediction  was  fulfilled  :  the  hay 
was  spoiled,  and  what  hurt  Sir  James  much  more,  he 
received  a  letter  from  Lord  S.  to  put  off  his  coming 
till  his  return  from  Kilkenny,  and  that  uncertain.  To 
add  to  the  mortification,  after  some  weeks.  Sir  James 
being  on  business  at  Dublin,  Lord  S.  arrived  without 
giving  notice,  and  Lady  C,  not  presuming  to  exhibit 
the  intended  battle,  but  wishing  to  amuse  his  Lordship 
as  well  as  the  place  would  afford,  told  him  at  breakfast 
that  the  morning  should  be  spent  in  fishing.  Lord  S. 
replied,  '  My  dear  Lady  C,  you  look  upon  a  fine  lake 
out  of  your  windows  ;  but  I  have  often  remarked — 
from  the  ocean  to  the  pond — that  where  at  the  first 
blush  you  have  reason  to  expect  most  fish  you  are  sure 
to  find  least.'    This  made  Lady  C.  exert  herself — boats. 


IRELAND  71 

nets,  and  all  were  collected,  and  they  caught  such  an 
immensity  as  really  proved  a  most  gratifying  spectacle 
to  his  Lordship,  who  confessed  that  his  maxim  failed 
him  for  once.  His  stay  was  too  short  for  Sir  James's 
return. 

At  Lord  Longford's  I  met  a  person  of  some  celebrity 
at  the  time  for  adventures  not  worth  reciting,  Mr. 
Medlicott.  Lord  L.  and  he  gave  me  an  account  of  a 
gentleman  of  a  good  estate  in  that  neighbourhood,  but 
then  dead,  whose  real  life,  manners  and  conversation 
far  exceeded  anything  to  be  met  with  in  '  Castle  Eack- 
rent.'  His  hospitality  was  unbounded,  and  it  never  for 
a  moment  came  into  his  head  to  make  any  provision 
for  feeding  the  people  he  brought  into  his  house. 
While  credit  was  to  be  had,  his  butler  or  housekeeper 
did  this  for  him  ;  his  own  attention  was  given  solely 
to  the  cellar  that  wine  might  not  be  wanted.  If  claret 
was  secured,  with  a  dead  ox  or  sheep  hanging  in  the 
alaughter-house  ready  for  steaks  or  cutlets,  he  thought 
all  was  well.  He  was  never  easy  without  company  in 
the  house,  and  with  a  large  party  in  it  would  invite 
another  of  twice  the  number.  One  day  the  cook  came 
into  the  breakfast  parlour  before  all  the  company  :  '  Sir, 
there's  no  coals.'  '  Then  burn  turf.'  '  Sir,  there's  no 
turf.'  'Then  cut  down  a  tree.'  Tliis  was  a  forlorn 
hope,  for  in  all  probability  he  must  have  gone  three 
miles  to  find  one,  all  round  the  house  being  long  ago 
safely  swept  away.  They  dispatched  a  number  of  cars 
to  borrow  turf.  Candles  were  equally  deficient,  for 
unfortunately  he  was  fond  of  dogs  all  half  starved,  so 
that    a   gentleman   walking   to   what    was    called  his 


72       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AKTHUE  YOUNG 

bed-chamber,  after  making  two  or  three  turnings,  met  a 
hungry  greyhound,  who,  jumping  up,  took  the  candle 
out  of  the  candlestick,  and  devoured  it  in  a  trice,  and 
left  him  in  the  dark.  To  advance  or  return  was  equally 
a  matter  of  chance,  therefore  groping  his  way,  he  soon 
found  himself  in  the  midst  of  a  parcel  of  giggling  maid- 
servants. By  what  means  he  at  last  found  his  way  to 
his  '  shakedown  '  is  unknown.  A  '  shakedown  '  when  I 
was  in  Ireland  meant  some  clean  straw  spread  upon  the 
floor,  with  blankets  and  sheets,  in  what  was  called  the 
barrack  room,  one  containing  several  beds  for  single 
men. 

At  Mr.  Kichard  Aldworth's,  in  the  county  of  Cork, 
I  met  with  an  instance,  both  in  that  gentleman  and  lady, 
of  elegant  manners  and  cultivated  minds.  He  had 
made  the  grand  tour,  and  she  had  been  educated  in  that 
style  which  may  be  imagined  in  a  person  nearly  related 
to  a  Lord  Chief  Justice  and  an  Archbishop.  But  it 
was  evident  that  patriotic  motives  alone  made  them 
residents  in  Ireland.  A  sigh  would  often  escape  when 
circumstances  of  English  manners  were  named,  and  they 
felt  the  dismal  vacuity  of  living  in  a  country  where 
people  of  equal  ideas  were  scarce.  Mrs.  Aldworth  had 
in  her  possession  one  original  manuscript  letter  of 
Dean  Swift,  entrusted  to  her  under  a  solemn  promise 
that  she  would  permit  no  copy  to  be  taken,  nor  ever 
read  it  twice  to  the  same  people.  It  was  without 
exception  the  wittiest  and  severest  satire  upon  Ireland 
that  probably  ever  was  written,  and  it  was  easy  to 
perceive  by  the  manner  in  which  it  was  read  that  the 
sentiments  were  not  a  little  in  unison  with  those  of  the 


IRELAND  73 

reader.  This  letter  was  equally  hostile  to  the  nobility, 
the  gentry,  the  people,  the  country,  nay  the  very  rivers 
and  mountains ;  for  it  declared  the  Shannon  itself 
to  be  little  better  than  a  series  of  marshes,  that  carried 
to  the  ocean  less  water  than  flows  through  one  of  the 
arches  of  London  Bridge. 

From  various  other  instances,  as  well  as  from  this, 
I  was  inclined  to  think  that  that  degree  of  a  polished 
and  cultivated  education,  which  suits  well  enough  for 
London  or  Paris,  or  a  country  residence  in  a  good 
neighbourhood  of  England,  was  ill-framed  for  a  pro- 
vince in  Ireland.  Persons  of  equal  attainments  may  now 
and  then  come  across  them,  but  they  are  compelled 
to  associate  with  so  many  who  are  the  very  reverse  that 
a  more  certain  provision  of  misery  can  scarcely  be  laid. 

The  preceding  observation  is  in  a  measure  appli- 
cable to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jefferys  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trant, 
who  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Cork.  The  two  former 
when  I  was  there  were  actually  embarking  for  France, 
after  great  speculations  in  building  a  town  and  esta- 
blishing manufactures,  which  probably  had  proved  too 
expensive.  They  were  well  informed  and  cultivated, 
and  spoke  most  modern  languages.  Mr.  Trant  was  an 
instance  of  a  singularly  retentive  memory.  It  was 
never  necessary  for  him  to  consult  the  same  book 
twice.  All  that  he  ever  read  in  a  variety  of  languages 
was  at  his  tongue's  end,  and  he  applied  these  un- 
common stores  with  great  judgment  and  propriety. 
The  most  beautiful  description  of  Kilkenny  was  written 
by  him.  It  gave  me  pleasure  to  hear  not  long  after- 
wards that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jefferys  were  at  Paris  but  a 


74       AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AKTHUE  YOUNQ 

few  days,  and  then  returned  to  England.  The  motive 
of  the  journey  was  reported  to  be  to  get  rid  of  a  much 
too  numerous  estabhshment  of  servants,  as  they  started 
again  on  a  much  more  moderate  and  comfortable  plan. 
As  a  feature  of  Irish  manners,  I  may  mention 
another  circumstance  which  astonished  me.  When 
upon  my  tour  I  spent  a  day  or  two  with  the  Eight 
Hon.  Silver  Oliver,  who  had  at  that  time  much  company 
in  his  house.  The  table  w^as  well  appointed,  and  every- 
thing wore  an  air  of  splendour  and  affluence.  After- 
wards when  I  resided  at  Mitchelstown — Mr.  Oliver  was 
either  dead  or  absent,  and  everything  in  the  house  was 
advertised  to  be  sold  by  auction — I  went  over  to  that 
auction,  which  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  examining 
the  whole  house.  I  desired  to  -  be  shown  into  the 
kitchen,  as  I  could  not  find  it  of  myself.  When 
pointed  out  I  was  in  utter  amazement.  There  never 
was  such  a  hole.  I  insisted  upon  it  that  it  could  not  be 
the  kitchen,  as  I  had  myself  partook  of  dinners  which 
could  never  have  been  dressed  in  such  a  pig-stye ;  but 
they  assured  me  there  was  no  other.  It  was  about 
eight  feet  wide  and  ten  long.  Scarcely  any  light,  and 
the  walls  black  as  the  inside  of  the  chimney.  The 
furniture  was  no  better  than  the  fitting  up  ;  dressers, 
tables,  and  shelves  seemed  to  have  been  laid  aside  as 
superfluous  luxuries.  It  must  have  been  an  effort  of 
uncommon  ingenuity  to  cook  at  a  turf  hearth,  in  such 
a  cave  as  this,  the  ample  dinners  I  had  seen  in  this 
house,  and  Etna  or  Vesuvius  might  as  soon  have  been 
found  in  England  as  such  a  kitchen.  Its  existence  for 
a  single  instant  in  the  house  of  a  man  of  fortune  would 


lEELAND  75 

be  a  moral  impossibility.  No  English  farmer  would 
submit  to  it  for  a  week.  This  strongly  shows  the 
manners  of  the  people. 

A  family  with  whom  I  resided  for  some  time,  while 
waiting  for  the  Waterford  packet,  was  that  of  Mr. 
Bolton,  in  a  beautiful  situation,  commanding  the  finest 
views.  Mr.  Bolton,  the  elder,  was  a  respectable  man  ; 
but  his  son,  the  present  proprietor  of  the  estate,  then 
in  Parliament,  was  a  man  of  singular  and  genuine 
patriotism,  and  of  so  mild  and  pleasing  a  temper  that  I 
much  regretted  I  had  him  not  for  a  neighbour  at  Brad- 
field.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  sending  him  from  Suffolk 
many  implements  &c.  for  assisting  him  in  his  improved 
husbandry  ;  and  he  has  proved  to  the  present  day  one 
of  the  most  enlightened  friends  that  Ireland  has  to 
boast,  making  an  equal  figure  in  my  tour,  and  in  the 
very  able  work  of  Mr.  "Wakefield '  published  within  an 
interval  of  thirty  years. 

Among  the  persons  who  received  me  in  the  most 
agreeable  and  hospitable  manner  I  may  be  permitted 
10  name  the  following :  Earl  of  Harcourt  (Lord 
Lieutenant),  Earl  of  Charlemont,  Lord  Chief  Baron 
Forster,  his  Grace  the  Lord  Primate,  the  Archbishop 
of  Tuam,  Sir  James  Caldwell,  &c. 

1777. — Tliis  was  the  first  favourable  turn  that 
promised  anything  after  ten  years'  anxiety  and  misery, 
yet  how  little  did  I  deserve  from  that  Providence  I  had 
so  long  neglected.  The  year  was  a  remarkable  one  in 
the  events  of  my  life. 

'  Edward  Wakefield,  An  Account  of  Ireland  :  Political  and  Statis- 
tical, 1812. 


76       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

Mr.  Danby,  of  whom  mention  has  already  been 
inserted,  was  this  spring  in  London,  and  as  Lord 
Kingsborough,  son  of  the  Earl  of  Kingston,  was 
intimately  acquainted  with  Mr.  D.,  and  at  that  time 
there  also,  his  Lordship  often  complained  of  the  sad 
state  of  neglect  in  which  his  property  remained  in  the 
hands  of  an  Irish  agent,  who  never  saw  an  acre  of  the 
estate  but  merely  on  a  rapid  journey  once,  or  at  most 
twice,  a  year  to  receive  the  rents.  For  this  pm'pose  a  clerk 
resided  at  Mitchelstown,  having  a  summer  house  in  the 
Castle  garden  for  his  office,  and  here  the  tenants  came 
to  pay  their  rents  in  a  constant  succession  of  driblets 
the  whole  year  round.  His  Lordship  observed  that  it 
would  be  of  much  importance  to  him  to  have  a  respect- 
able resident  agent  who  understood  agriculture,  and 
might  greatly  contribute  to  the  improvement  of  the 
property.  Mr.  Danby  entirely  coincided  in  this  opinion, 
and  told  his  Lordship  that  he  knew  a  gentleman  who 
possessed  the  unquestionable  knowledge  and  manage- 
ment of  estates,  and  as  he  had  known  me  for  several 
years  he  had  every  reason  to  beheve  in  my  integrity. 
He  then  named  me.  Lord  K.  begged  him  to  make  the 
application  to  me  immediately,  which  Mr.  Danby  did, 
and  invited  me  to  meet  Lord  and  Lady  K.  to  dinner. 
I  had  a  good  deal  of  conversation  with  Lord  K.,  and 
the  next  day  Mr.  Danby  made  an  agreement  with  his 
Lordship  for  me  to  become  his  agent  at  an  annual  salary 
of  5001.,  with  an  eligible  house  for  my  residence,  rent 
free,  and  a  retaining  fee,  to  be  paid  immediately,  of  500Z, 
more. 

In  consequence  of   this  arrangement,   to  which  I 


IRELAND  77 

readily  agreed,  I  disposed  of  the  lease  of  my  farm  in 
Hertfordshire,  and  sent  my  books  and  other  effects  which 
I  might  want  to  Cork  by  sea,  going  myself  to  Dublin, 
where  I  resided  some  time  in  a  constant  round  of 
Dublin  dinners,  till  I  was  informed  by  Lord  Kingsborough 
that  the  house  at  Mitchelstown  was  ready  in  which  I 
was  to  reside,  w^hilst  a  new  one  was  building  on  a  plan 
and  in  a  situation  approved  of  myself.  In  September 
I  left  Dublin  for  Mitchelstown — 130  miles  off — making 
a  detour  through  those  counties  which  I  had  not 
sufficiently  seen  the  preceding  year.  And  here  I  cannot 
avoid  inserting  the  following  excellent  advice  from  my 
ever  affectionate  mother :  '  My  memory  begins  to  fail 
me,  but  no  wonder  at  72.  That  is  not  the  cause  of  yours 
doing  so,  but  the  multiplicity  of  business  you  are 
engaged  in.  I  attribute  it  also  to  being  overbm^thened 
with  your  affairs.  I  can  get  neither  ploughman  nor 
footman  to  go  over  to  Ireland,  so  you  must  see  what 
you  can  do  when  you  come  yourself,  which,  I  am  sorry 
to  hear,  is  not  till  (next)  September.  God  only  knows 
if  I  shall  live  so  long  as  to  see  you  once  more.  However, 
to  hear  you  are  well  and  happy  is  a  great  comfort  to  me, 
and  the  only  one  I  have  left,  for  it  is  my  lot  to  be 
deprived  of  all  those  who  to  me  are  dearest.  I  hate  now 
to  do  anything  but  sit  by  the  fire  and  write  to  you.  ,  .  . 
But  the  happiness  of  this  world,  Arthur,  is  but  of  a 
short  duration  ;  I  therefore  wish  you  would  bestow  some 
thoughts  on  that  happiness  which  will  have  eternal 
duration.' ' 

'  Entries  in  memorandum-book    '  The  year's  receipts,  1,145/.   Wrote 
Alcon  and  Flavia,  a  poem.' 


78  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF  AKTHUE   YOUNGi- 

1778. — The  opening  of  this  year  found  me  at 
Mitchelstown,  where  Mrs.  Young  joined  me.  On  my 
arrival  I  busied  myself  incessantly  in  examining  and 
valuing  the  farms  which  came  out  of  lease,  and  was  so 
occupied  several  months.  I  was  most  anxious  to  per- 
suade Lord  K.  into  the  propriety  of  letting  his  lands  to 
the  occupying  cottar  as  tenant,  and  dismissing  the 
whole  race  of  middlemen.  I  adhered  steadily  to  this, 
and  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  Lord  K.  was  well 
inclined  to  the  plan.  But  a  distant  relation  of  Lady  K.'s, 
who  had  one  farm  upon  the  estate  as  middleman.  Major 
Thornhill,  feeling  the  sweets  of  a  profit  rent  upon  that 
one  farm,  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  procure  from  Lord 
K.  the  profits  of  others  upon  the  same  terms,  and  in  this 
respect  I  was  placed  in  an  awkwai'd  situation.  It  was 
impossible  for  me,  consistently  with  the  interest  of 
Lord  K.,  in  any  measure  whatever  to  promote  the 
success  of  designs  which  struck  at  the  very  root  of  all 
my  plans,  as  the  Major  had  his  eye  upon  several  of  the 
most  considerable  farms.  Lady  K.  had  a  high  opinion 
of  the  Major,  who  was  a  lively,  pleasant,  handsome 
man,  and  an  ignorant  open-hearted  duellist  ;  she  had 
of  course  favoured  his  plans,  and  I  as  carefully  avoided 
ever  saying  anything  in  favour  of  them.  Thus  from 
the  beginning  it  was  not  difficult  to  see  an  underground 
plot  to  frustrate  schemes  commencing  very  early,  but 
things  in  the  meantime  carried  a  fair  outward  appear- 
ance. I  dined  very  often  at  the  Castle,  and  generally 
played  at  chess  with  Lady  Kingsborough  for  an  hour 
or  more  after  dinner,  and  I  learned  by  report  that  her 
Ladyship  was  highly  pleased  with  me,  saying  that  I  was 


IRELAND  79 

one  of  the  most  lively,  agreeable  fellows.  Lord  Kings- 
borough  was  of  a  character  not  so  easily  ascertained, 
for  at  many  different  periods  of  his  life  he  seemed  to 
possess  qualities  very  much  in  contradiction  to  each  other. 
His  manner  and  carriage  were  remarkably  easy,  agreeable, 
and  polite,  having  the  finish  of  a  perfect  gentleman  ;  he 
w^anted,  however,  steadiness  and  perseverance  even  in 
his  best  designs,  and  w^as  easily  wrought  upon  by 
persons  of  inferior  abilities.  Mrs.  Thornhill,  the  wife 
of  the  Major,  was  an  artful  designing  woman,  ever  on 
the  watch  to  injure  those  who  stood  in  her  husband's 
way,  and  never  forgetting  her  private  interest  for  a 
moment.  I  saw  a  fixed  plan  in  her  mind  for  dis- 
possessing me  of  the  agency  and  procuring  it  for  the 
Major,  and  I  conceive  it  was  by  her  misrepresentations 
that  a  decisive  use  was  made  of  an  opportunity  which 
soon  after  offered  for  effecting  her  plan. 

Lady  K.  had  a  Catholic  governess,  a  Miss  Crosby, 
relative  to  whom  Mrs.  T.  had  inspired  Lady  K.  with 
sentiments  of  jealousy,  insomuch  that  she  was  dis- 
charged, and  I  was  employed  to  draw  up  an  engagement 
to  grant  her  an  annuity  of  50Z.  per  annum.  This 
transaction  and  others  connected  with  it  occasioned 
me  to  be  much  at  the  Castle,  and  in  situations  which 
were  converted  by  Mrs.  Thornhill  into  proofs  that  I 
was  in  league  with  Miss  C.  for  securing  the  affections 
of  Lord  Kingsborough  at  the  expense  of  his  wife,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  it  was  carefully  impressed  into  liis 
Lordship's  mind  that  I  was  in  love  with  Lady  K.  Thus 
by  a  train  of  artful  intrigues  and  deceptions  the  ladies 
brought  Lord  K.  to  the  determination  of  parting  with  me. 


80       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

after  which  nothing  remained  but  to  settle  our  accounts. 
This  was  done,  and  a  balance  being  due  to  me  of  about 
600Z.  or  700^.,  I  informed  his  Lordship  that  I  waited  only 
to  be  paid  in  order  to  set  off  for  England.     Here  was  a 
demur,  and  Major  Thornhill  came  to  inform  me  that  his 
Lordship  had  not  the  money  to  pay  me  ;  several  days 
passed  in  which  I  was  in  a  very  awkward  state  of  un- 
certainty.   It  occurred  to  me  as  I  saw  no  sign  of  payment 
to  propose  that  he  should  give  me  an  annuity  for  life, 
which  he  at  once  agreed  to.    What  that  annuity  should 
be  I  was  perfectly  ignorant,  but  there  was  an  advertise- 
ment in  a  London  paper  offering  terms,  which  I  sent 
to  his  Lordship,  with  a  note,  informing  him  that  if  he 
would  give  me  an  annuity  on  the  terms  there  specified 
I  would  agree  to  it  and  free  him  for  the  present  from 
all  payment.    This  his  Lordship  at  once  acceded  to,  and 
signed  a  bond  granting  me  an  annuity  for  life  of  72,1.,^ 
according  to  the  terms  specified  in  the  advertisement. 
This  business  being  settled  to  the  satisfaction  of  both 
parties,  and  my  books  packed  up  and  sent  to  Cork,  I 
stepped  into  my  post-chaise,  and,  with  a  pair  of  Irish 
nags,  set  off  on  a  journey  to  Waterford  on  a  visit  to  my 
excellent  friend,  Cornelius   Bolton,  Junr.  Esqr.  M.P., 
where  I  waited  for  the  packet  to  sail  for  Milford  Haven 
long  enough  to  have  gone  round  by  Dublin  and  have 
reached  Eome  or  Naples.     I  had  a  miserable  passage 
of  three  days  and  nights,  a  storm  blowing  us  almost  to 
Arklow,  but  through  the  providence  of  God  we  escaped 
the  threatened  dangers  and  landed  safely  in  the  desired 

'  This  curious  arrangement  seems  to  have  been  faithfully  kept,  as  will 
be  seen  later  on. 


lEELAND  81 

haven.  I  travelled  post  to  London,  and  thus  ended 
one  of  the  greatest  speculations  of  my  life,  and  I 
remember  observing  that  in  all  probability  the  provi- 
dence of  God  was  exerted  to  remove  me  from  a  kingdom 
in  which  no  unconnected  motives  could  induce  me  to 
remain.  The  transaction  was  not  absolutely  free  from 
circumstances  in  a  measure  favourable  to  my  future  ease 
and  repose.  I  had  received  500Z.,  which  took  me  out  of 
some  difficulties,  and  had  the  addition  of  721.  per  annum 
to  my  income,  which  was  to  me  an  object  of  some  consi- 
deration. It  also  removed  me  entirely  from  the  farm  in 
Hertfordshire,  a  most  unprofitable  one,  and,  what  was 
better,  from  a  winter  residence  in  London.  It  also  took 
me  back  to  Bradfield  to  my  aged  mother,  whose  health 
was  daily  declining,  and  whose  memory,  being  much 
impaired,  subjected  her  to  imposition  by  tenants  and 
servants. 

To  his  Wife 

'  Haverford  West :  Oct.  23. 

'  My  Dearest, — It  pleases  God  that  I  am  once  more 
to  embrace  you  and  my  children — a  passage  that  is 
common  in  eight  hours  was  from  Sunday  morn  eight 
o'clock  till  one  o'clock  this  morning  Wednesday,  thirty- 
six  hours  of  which,  a  raging  storm  ;  we  talk  of  them  at 
land,  but  those  who  have  not  seen  them  at  sea  know 
not  what  the  very  elements  are.  Pent  up  in  the  Irish 
Channel,  the  ship  ran  adrift,  wearing  '  to  keep  free  from 
rocks  and  sands — the  wind  did  not  blow,  it  was  like 
volleys  of  artillery  ;  part   of   the  sails  were  torn  into 

'  Wear  :  sea-term,  to  bring  a  ship  on.  -Bailey's  Dictionary. 

G 


82       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

fritters ;  the  waves  were  mountains  high,  while  the 
ship  was  perfectly  tossed  on  end  of  them  ;  the  cabin 
window  burst  open,  and  deluged  everything  afloat ;  the 
horses  kicked  and  groaned,  the  dogs  howled  ;  six  pas- 
sengers praying,  shrieking,  and  vomiting  ;  every  soul 
sick  but  myself  ;  the  sailors  swearing  and  storming  ; 
and  the  whole — such  a  scene  !  The  Captain,  who  has 
been  many  voyages,  and  the  pilot  tliirty-six  years, 
never  saw  such  a  storm — to  last  so  long. 

*  It  has  worried  and  starved  the  horses  so  that  I 
know  not  what  I  am  to  do — shall  go  with  them  as  far 
as  I  can,  and  if  they  knock  up  must  leave  them  and 
take  some  fly  to  be  by  you  thirty-first ;  of  which  send 
immediate  notice  to  B. 

'  I  know  not  if  Bath  be  my  nearest  way,  so  let  me 
have  a  letter  at  Nicoll's  in  case  I  am  not  in  Town,  to 
the  same  purport  as  that  to  Bath,  to  inform  me  what 
I  am  to  do  and  when  to  go. 

'  Adieu, 

'  Most  truly  yours, 
'A.  Y. 

'  Thank  God  for  me.  Peter  would  not  come  over 
with  me.  My  passage  has  cost  me  between  11.  and  8Z., 
which  is  the  very  devil,  so  that  I  shall  come  home  without 
a  shilling,  and  the  thoughts  of  coming  full  swing  upon 
poverty  again  make  me  miserable.  Two  ships  were 
lost  in  the  storm.* 


Note   in  memorandum-booJc. — '  Note   of   my  being 
thirty-eight,  and  poetry  in  my  head.' 


83 


CHAPTEK   V 

FARMING   AND   EXPERIMENTS,    1779-1782 

Corn  bounties— A  grievance — Reading — Hugh  Boyd — Bishop  Watson — 
Hewlett  on  population — Irish  Linen  Board  Experiments — Corre- 
spondence. 

1779. — Quitting  Ireland  and  coming  again  to  Bradfield 
occasioned  a  great  pause  and  break  in  my  life  and  pur- 
suits, and  had  I  made  a  proper  use  of  it  might  have 
fixed  a  quiet  destiny,  so  far  as  a  heart  not  renewed 
could  be  happy  and  content ;  but  I  wanted  religion, 
and  that  want  includes  all  others.  I  arrived  at  Brad- 
field  on  the  first  of  January,  and  had  then  full  time  to 
reflect  upon  what  should  be  the  future  pursuit  of  my 
life,  and  upon  what  plan  I  could  devise  for  that  fresh 
establishment  of  myself,  which  should,  at  the  same  time, 
prevent  any  relapse  into  those  odious  dependencies  upon 
uncertainties,  which  from  1771  to  1778  had  been  the 
perpetual  torment  of  my  life.  While  I  was  hesitating 
what  plan  to  follow,  an  emigration  to  America  arose  in 
my  mind  and  much  occupied  my  thoughts.  But  the 
advanced  period  of  my  mother's  life  and  her  persuasions 
against  any  scheme  of  that  sort  prevailed,  and  with 
some  reluctance  I  relinquished  it.  I  had  also  to  consider, 
how  far  it  would  be  prudent  to  yield  to  her  earnest 
entreaties  to  return  to  farming  at  Bradfield  and  live 

a  2 


84  xVUTO BIOGRAPHY   OF   ARTHUR   YOUNG 

with  her.  To  stock  a  farm  of  any  size  would  have 
been  to  me  a  matter  of  difficulty,  but,  at  the  same  time, 
to  get  free  from  all  London  engagements,  and  to  secure 
the  tranquillity  of  a  retired  life  after  all  the  stormy 
perplexities  thi-ough  which  I  had  passed,  was  an  object 
full  of  attraction,  and  it  prevailed.  A  small  farm  con- 
tiguous to  the  old  family  mansion  was  to  be  vacant  at 
Michaelmas,  and  notice  was  accordingly  given  to  the 
tenant  to  quit.  Thus  was  I  once  more  engaged  in 
husbandry,  with  a  prospect  of  gradually  increasing  my 
business  according  as  my  capital  should  enable  me. 
Relative  to  my  farm,  it  may  here  be  proper  once  for 
all  to  observe,  that  as  the  leases  of  the  estate  fell  vacant 
I  gradually  enlarged  my  occupation,  till  I  had  between 
tliree  and  four  hundred  acres  in  hand,  most  amply 
stocked,  and  conducted  with  such  an  expense  of  labour 
as  enabled  me  to  support  the  credit  of  my  husbandr3^ 
I  remained  at  Bradfield  the  whole  year,  and  the  only 
literary  pursuit  I  engaged  in  was  a  correspondence  with 
Mr.  Wight  upon  some  points  in  the  Scotch  system  of 
farming  ;  it  was  published  in  his  '  Present  State  of  the 
Husbandry  of  Scotland.'  ^  I  had  reason  to  believe  that 
his  letters  were  written  under  the  eye  of  Lord  Kames,- 
the  author  of  the  well-known  work  called,  '  The  Gentle- 
man Farmer,'  and  much  better  known  book,  '  Elements 
of  Criticism.' 

'  In  memorandum-book  occurs  this  note :  '  Correspondence  with 
Wight  printed  in  his  reports.'  This  seems  to  be  Alexander  Wight, 
author  of  'An  Enquiry  into  the  Rise  and  Progress  of  Parliament,  chiefly 
in  Scotland.' 

-  Henry  Home,  a  Scotch  judge,  better  known  by  the  title  of  Lord 
Kames,  author  of  several  legal  and  other  works,  among  them  '  Intro- 
duction to  the  Art  of  Thinking.'     Died  1782. 


FARMING  AND   EXPEEIMENTS  85 

About  this  period  I  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Imperial  (Economical  Society  of  Petersbmrg. 

The  first  event  of  the  year  1780  was  the  publication 
of  my  Irish  Tour  in  one  volmne  quarto.  It  was  so 
successful  and  popular  in  both  kingdoms  that  it  is 
unnecessary  to  expatiate  upon  it ;  thus  much,  however, 
I  trust  I  may  say  without  vanity,  that  it  has  stood  the 
test  of  examination,  and  received  from  the  best  judges 
the  highest  commendation.  But  there  is  one  circum- 
stance which  appears  never  to  have  been  sufficiently 
understood,  or  at  least  the  effect  properly  attributed  to 
this  work.  Perhaps  the  most  novel,  instructing,  and 
decisively  useful  part  of  the  publication  was  the  attack 
made  upon  the  bounty  paid  on  the  land  carriage  of  corn 
to  Dublin.'  I  therein  proved  beyond  the  possibility  of 
doubt  the  gross  absurdity  of  the  measure.  The  whole 
kingdom,  however,  without  exception,  considered  this 
bounty  as  the  great  palladium  of  their  national  agricul- 
ture, and  in  conversation  upon  that  subject  wdth  the 
most  able  men  then  living  there,  I  found  them  so 
strongly  prejudiced  in  its  favour  that  they  were  not 
very  willing  to  hear  anything  spoken  against  it.  But 
it  appeared  to  me  so  manifestly  absurd  that  I  exerted 
my  industry  to  examine  the  measure  on  its  very 
foundation.  When  I  was  a  complete  master  of  the 
subject  and  stated  the  result  in  conversation  to  the 
warmest  friends  of  the  measure,  I  had  the  satisfaction 

'  Corn  bounty  in  Ireland,  1780.  This  was  granted  by  the  Irish 
Parliament.  The  Lord  Lieutenant,  in  his  speech  at  the  close  of  the 
session,  said  :  '  Ample  bounties  on  the  export  of  your  corn,  your  linen, 
and  your  sail-cloth  have  been  granted.'  See  Anniuil  Rc(jistcr,  1780, 
p.  .3.S8. 


86       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

to  find   that  the  documents  thus  produced  were  utterly 
unknown  to  all,  and  they  were  fairly  beat '  out  of  their 
prejudices  in  favour  of   the   measure ;    at   least   their 
argument   entirely   failed   on   the   occasion.     But   the 
event  proved  that  the  conviction  was  real.     For  in  the 
very  first  session   after   the   publication   of   my   book 
the  bounty  was  reduced  by  half,  as  appears  by  Mr. 
Henry    Cavendish's   publication   on   the   revenue   and 
national    expenses    of    Ireland.      It    was    afterwards 
gradually  reduced,  and  at  last  gave  up  entirely.     The 
saving  to  the  nation  occasioned  palpably  bj^  this  publi- 
cation amounted  to  40,000?.  per  annum  immediately, 
and  as  the  expense  of  the  bounty  had  been  constantly 
increasing,  the  saving  was  of   course  in  reality  much 
greater.      Long     after,     in    conversation    with    Lord 
Loughborough,  he  told  me  that  he  had  read  that  part 
of  my  work  relative  to  the  bounty,  &c.,  with  particular 
attention,  and  that  he  thought  the  arguments  most  un- 
answerable, adding,  *  Ireland  ought  to  have  rewarded 
you  for  that.'     When  the  whole  was  given  up  it  was  a 
saving  of  80,000?.  a  year  to  the  nation.     This  was  much 
for  one  individual  to  effect ;  and  some  reward  for  such  ser- 
vices would  not  have  been  much  for  the  nation  to  grant. 
I  cannot  on  such  an  occasion  name  Ireland  without 
remarking  that  though  the  Irish  are  certainly  a  gene- 
rous people,  and  liberal  sometimes  almost  to  excess,  yet 
not  a  ray  of  that  spirit  was  by  any  public  body  shed  on 
my  labours. 

After  I  had  left  the  kingdom  and  published  the  tour, 
I  received  the  following  letter : — 

'  Beat :  participial  adjective. — Webster- 


FAEMING  AND  EXPEEIMENTS  87 

'  Dublin  :    Sept.  16,  1780. 

*  Sir, — With  great  pleasure  I  take  up  the  pen  in 
obedience  to  the  commands  of  the  Dubhn  Society,  to 
communicate  to  you  their  thanks  for  the  late  publica- 
tion of  your  tour  in  Ireland,  a  treatise  which,  in  doing 
justice  to  this  country,  puts  us  in  a  most  respectable 
view ;  for  which  reason  we  consider  you  to  have  great 
merit.  But  what  particularly  gained  the  attention  of 
the  Society  were  your  just  and  excellent  observations 
and  reasoning,  in  the  second  part  of  that  work,  relative 
to  the  agriculture,  manufactures,  trade,  and  police  of 
the  kingdom.  And  gentlemen  thought  the  publication 
of  that  part,  particularly  so  as  to  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  generality  of  the  people  of  this  country,  might  be 
of  great  benefit  and  use ;  and  we  wish  you  would  let  us 
know  your  sentiments  relative  to  the  preparing  a 
publication  of  that  kind,  and  in  what  mode  you  would 
think  it  most  proper,  and  would  answer  best,  and  what 
you  would  judge  a  reasonable  amends  for  all  this 
trouble,  that  we  may  lay  the  same  before  the  Society 
at  our  next  meeting,  the  beginning  of  November. 
There  are  a  great  many  useful  observations  and  hints 
interspersed  in  many  parts  of  your  tour  which  may  be 
of  great  use  to  throw  into  the  hands  of  the  public. 
'  I  am,  Sir, 

'  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

'Eed.  Morres.' 

In  answer  to  this  letter,  I  returned  sincere  thanks 
for  the  honour  of  the  vote  ;  and  assured  them  that  I 
should  be  ready  either  to  publish  any  part  of  the  work 


88       AUTOBTOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

separately,  or  to  make  an  abridgment  of  the  whole, 
reduced  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  diffused  at  a  small 
expense  over  all  the  kingdom.  In  a  few  posts  I  received, 
under  the  Dublin  post-mark,  an  envelope,  enclosing  an 
anonymous  essay,  cut  out  of  a  newspaper,  which  re- 
ferred to  the  transactions  of  the  Society  relative  to  me, 
and  condemning  pretty  heavily  my  whole  publication ; 
and  in  this  unhandsome  manner  the  business  ended. 

In  a  Society  which  disposed  of  10,000/.  a  year  of 
public  money,  granted  by  Parliament  chiefly  with 
a  view,  as  the  Act  expresses,  to  encourage  agricul- 
ture, but  which  patronised  manufacturers  far  more, 
there  will  necessarily  be  an  agricultural  party  and  a 
manufacturing  one.  According  as  one  or  the  other 
happens  to  prevail,  such  contradictions  will  arise.  All 
that  is  to  be  said  of  my  case  now  is,  that  it  was  not  so 
bad  as  that  of  poor  Whyman  Baker,  who  settled  in 
Ireland  as  their  experimenter  in  agriculture — lived  there 
in  poverty  ten  or  twelve  years — and  broke  his  heart  on 
account  of  the  treatment  which  he  met  with.  But 
while  their  Societies  acted  thus,  the  Parliament  of  the 
kingdom  paid  my  book  a  much  greater  compliment 
than  any  Society  could  do ;  for  they  passed  more  than 
one  Act  almost  directly,  to  alter  and  vary  the  police  of 
corn,  which  I  had  proved  was  vicious,  but  which  till 
then  had  been  universally  esteemed  as  the  chief  pillar 
of  their  national  prosperity,  and  I  had  thus  the  satisfac- 
tion to  see  the  Legislature  of  the  kingdom  improving  the 
policy  of  it  from  the  known  and  confessed  suggestions 
of  a  work  that,  in  other  respects,  had  proved  to  the 
author  a  mere  barren  blank.     I  have,  however,  since 


FAEMING   AND   EXPERIMENTS  89 

heard  from  many  most  respectable  gentlemen  of  that 
nation,  as  well  as  from  the  correspondence  of  others, 
that  the  book  is  even  now  esteemed  of  some  value  to 
Ireland,  and  that  the  agriculture  of  the  kingdom  has 
been  advanced  in  consequence.  But  it  is  time  to  dis- 
miss a  subject  upon  which  I  have  dilated  too  much, 
and  spoken  perhaps  with  an  unguarded  vanity  and  self- 
love  which  would  ill  become  me. 

I  was  the  chief  part  of  this  year  at  Bradfield,  but  I 
had  bought  at  London  a  pair  of  roan  mares  for  drawing 
a  post-chaise,  and  having  the  small  farm  in  hand,  I 
made  myself  by  practice  no  bad  ploughman,  and  could 
finish  the  stetches  ^  neatly,  and  execute  everything  except 
the  rivalling  the  Suffolk  ploughman  in  drawing  straight 
furrows  to  a  mark  set  for  that  purpose ;  yet  I  overcame 
this  difficulty  in  a  manner  that  would  have  been  com- 
mended in  any  other  county. 

The  Society  for  the  Encouragement  of  Arts, 
Manufactures,  and  Commerce  voted  me  their  Honorary 
Medal  for  some  experiments  I  had  communicated  to 
them  on  the  culture  of  potatoes. 

According  to  custom,  part  of  my  time  was  occupied 
in  reading,  and  among  other  works  was  highly  enter- 
tained with  Gray's  letters,  and  particularly  with  the 
following  passage,  which  displays  so  much  knowledge  of 
the  human  mind,  and,  at  the  same  time,  much  sterling 
sense  :  '  To  find  oneself  business  I  am  persuaded  is  the 
great  art  of  life,  and  I  am  never  so  angry  as  when  I 
hear  my  acquaintance  wishing  they  had  been  bred  to 

'  Stetch  :  as  much  land  as  lies  between  one  farm  and  another. — Prov- 
Eng.,  Halliwell. 


90       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

some  poking  profession,  or  employed  in  some  office  of 
drudgery,  as  if  it  were  pleasanter  to  be  at  the  command 
of  other  people  than  at  one's  own,  and  as  if  they  could 
not  go  unless  they  were  wound  up.  Yet  I  know  and 
feel  what  they  mean  by  this  complaint ;  it  proves  that 
some  spirit,  something  of  genius  (more  than  common) 
is  required  to  teach  a  man  how  to  employ  himself — I 
say  a  man,  for  women,  commonly  speaking,  never  feel 
this  distemper,  they  have  always  something  to  do. 
Time  hangs  not  on  their  hands  (unless  they  be  fine 
ladies),  a  variety  of  small  inventions  and  occupations  fill 
up  the  void,  and  their  eyes  are  never  open  in  vain  ' 
(vol.  ii.) 

Thank  heaven,  I  have  so  much  of  the  woman  in  me 
as  to  possess  this  faculty  of  employing  myself.  The  day 
is  never  too  long,  for  I  think  time  spent  in  reading  is 
always  well  employed,  unless  a  man  reads  like  an  idiot, 
that  is,  equally  removed  from  instruction  and  entertain- 
ment. Now  the  general  occupation  of  my  hfe — agri- 
culture— has  the  happy  circumstance  of  giving  much 
employment,  and  with  it  exercise,  at  the  same  time  that 
it  naturally  leads  into  a  course  of  reading,  to  which  it 
gives  the  air  and  turn  of  a  study,  and  consequently 
renders  it  more  interesting,  an  advantage  I  shall  be 
solicitous  to  preserve,  by  persisting,  at  all  events,  to  be 
much  interested  in  farming,  even  though  I  should  not 
continue  an  actual  farmer.  Gray  felt  the  advantage  of 
country  pursuits.  '  Happy  they  that  can  create  a  rose 
tree  or  erect  a  honeysuckle,  that  can  watch  the  brood 
of  a  hen,  or  see  a  fleet  of  their  own  ducklings  lamich 
into   the   water ;    it   is  with   a   sentiment   of   envy  I 


FARMING   AND   EXPERISIENTS  91 

speak  it,  who  never  shall  have  even  a  thatched  roof 
of  my  own,  nor  gather  a  strawberry  but  in  Covent 
Garden.' 

I  read  also  Koberts'  '  Map  of  Commerce,'  •  and  find 
the  following  extract  about  the  spot  where  should  be 
the  ruin  of  Troy  :  '  Anno  Domini,  1620. — I  hardly  saw 
the  reHcs  of  tliis  mighty  fabric  (Troy),  though  I  traced 
it  for  many  miles,  and  gave  ear  to  all  the  ridiculous 
fables  of  those  poor  Grecians  that  inhabit  thereabouts 
in  many  villages  within  the  compass  of  her  ancient 
walls,  from  Mount  Ida  to  the  Eiver  Scamander,  now 
only  a  brook  not  two  feet  deep,  so  that  what  Ovid  said 
of  old  I  found  by  experience  verified,  "  jam  seges  est 
ubi  Troja  fuit."  '  There  is  a  melancholy  which  attends 
such  reflections  that  with  me  makes  a  deep  impression  ; 
the  idea  that  what  was  once  the  seat  of  power,  arts,  litera- 
ture and  elegance  is  now  in  the  most  miserable  situation 
which  Turkish  oppression  and  Mahometan  superstition 
can  inflict,  that  not  a  trace  of  a  once  mighty  city  is  now 
to  be  found,  is  depressing  to  the  human  mind.  In  an 
equal  series  of  time  what  will  become  of  the  cities 
which  are  now  the  pride  of  Europe  ?  what  obscure 
farmer  of  futurity  shall  plough  the  ground  whereon 
that  House  of  Common  stands  in  which  a  Hampden, 
a  Bolingbroke,  a  Pitt,  and  a  Mansfield  have  delighted 
the  most  celebrated  assembly  now  in  the  world  '?  ^ 

My  visit  to  London  was,  part  of  it,  very  agreeable, 

•  Lewis  Roberts,  The  MerclianVs  Map  of  Comvierce,  London,  163S, 
'  The  first  systematic  writer  upon  trade  in  the  English  language ' 
(Lowndes). 

-  Had  this  sentence  appeared  in  print  anterior  to  Macaulay's  famous 
passage,  the  latter  might  have  been  deemed  a  plagiarism. 


92       AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AKTHUR  YOUNG 

my  whole  intercourse  with  Arbuthnot  entirely  so.  At 
Dr.  Burney's,  while  it  lasted,  the  same ;  the  opera, 
parties,  the  Koyal  Society,  with  some  of  the  attend- 
ance on  Parliament,  add  to  this  being  in  the  world 
and  on  the  spot  for  whatever  happened,  were  all  so 
many  opportunities  for  pleasure  and  amusement,  which, 
however,  I  did  not  make  the  most  of.  Against  these  I 
must  now  rank  ease  in  my  circumstances.  Let  it  fly, 
and  the  change  has  been  a  bad  one,  indeed.  But  I 
think  I  have  resolution  enough  to  take  special  care  of 
the  greatest  of  all  man's  chances.  I  do  not  remember 
when  my  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Hugh  Boyd  '  began, 
but  I  was  acquainted  with  him  in  London,  met  him  in 
many  companies  in  Dublin,  and  travelled  with  him 
from  thence  to  London.  It  has  been  supposed  that  he 
was  the  author  of  '  Junius,'  and  I  must  give  it  as  my 
opinion  that  there  was  much  probability  in  the  supposi- 
tion. I  have  been  many  times  at  his  house,  at  break- 
fasts, morning  calls  and  dinners,  and  never  without  seeing 
the  Ptiblic  Advertiser  and  remarking  that  they  were 
blanks,  that  is  to  say,  without  being  stamped.  All 
writers  in  newspapers  are  allowed  a  copy  gratis,  and 
these  are  never  stamped.  His  company  was  so  much 
sought  after  in  Dublin  that  I  was  scarcely  at  a  great 
dinner  without  his  being  present.  A  very  striking 
circumstance  in  his  character  was  a  memory  in  some 
points  beyond  example  ;  he  would  multiply  nine  figures 
by  eight  entirely  in  his  head,  and  would  give  the  result 

'  Hugh  Boyd,  a  writer  whose  real  name  was  Macaulay,  author  of 
two  political  tracts  now  forgotten.  Died  at  Madras  in  1791,  having 
dissipated  his  wife's  fortune  and  his  own. 


FARMING  AND   EXPERIMENTS  93 

with  the  most  perfect  accuracy.  When  it  is  considered 
that  such  an  operation  demands  the  recollection  not 
merely  of  the  figures,  but  of  their  position  in  order  for  the 
final  addition,  it  must  be  admitted  to  be  a  stupendous 
one.  He  was  on  all  occasions  and  in  every  circum- 
stance a  most  pleasing,  agreeable  companion.  His  wife 
was  a  woman  of  verj'^  good  understanding,  and  appeared 
to  be  sensible  of  her  husband's  extraordinary  talents. 
One  morning  at  breakfast  Mr.  Burke's  son  came  in,  and 
as  his  father  had  made  a  very  celebrated  speech  the  day 
before  in  the  House  of  Commons  which  he  intended  to 
publish,  but  had,  in  the  conclusion,  departed  from  his 
notes  in  a  very  fine  strain  of  eloquence,  knowing  the 
great  memory  of  Boyd,  he  sent  his  son  to  request  some 
hints  for  that  conclusion.  We  set  to  work  to  recollect 
as  much  as  possible  his  own  words,  and  furnished  young 
Burke  much  to  his  satisfaction.  Mr.  Boyd's  letters, 
of  which  I  have  preserved  several,  are  written  in  a  most 
pleasing,  lively  style. 

'  Norfolk  street :  August  IG,  1780. 
*  My  dear  Sir, — You  have  an  excellent  physician,  but 
I  should  be  glad  to  know  what  right  the  patient  has  to 
become  his  own  apothecary  ?  The  doctor's  prescription 
consists  of  such  rare  ingredients  as  require  no  common 
skill  to  discover  and  use,  Cuivis  in  sua,  arte.  If  it  had 
been  your  inferior  fate  to  wield  the  pestle  instead  of 
the  ploughshare  and  the  pen,  I  should  subscribe  to  the 
judgment  of  the  apothecary  as  fully  as  I  do  to  the 
author's  genius  and  the  farmer's  knowledge.  "  A  friend 
who  can  enliven  the  dulness  of   the  country."     Well 


94       AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

said,  doctor.  Macbeth  himself  might  take  your  advice, 
for  there  is  little  difference  between  a  dull  mind  and  "  a 
mind  diseased  ;  "  but  my  good  friend  has  neither.  His 
mistake,  therefore,  in  making  up  your  prescription,  and 
shaking  me  up  as  the  aforesaid  ingredient,  is  of  little 
consequence.  To  convince  him,  however,  that  he  is 
mistaken — for  I  love  to  set  your  clever  men  right — 
I  shall  make  my  appearance,  first  in  the  county  of 
Cambridge,  and  next  in  the  county  of  Suffolk — or  ere 
the  amorous  Phoebus  shall  have  twice  resorted  to  his 
evening  assignation  to  take  an  oyster  with  Miss  Thetis. 
By  the  bye,  we  have  had  very  good  [entertainment] 
in  town  for  some  days — though  as  to  days  I  can  only 
answer  for  one  and  a  half ;  being  no  longer  returned 
from  a  Western  Tour,  which  I  have  had  the  pleasure 
and  trouble  of  making — for  everything  is  mixed,  you 
know,  pleasure  and  pain — rose  and  thorns — man  and 
wife  ;  I  ask  Mrs.  Young  ten  thousand  pardons. 

'  I  have  had  hopes  sometimes  of  tempting  Mrs.  B. 
to  a  country  excursion,  and  she  has  almost  agreed  to 
make  it  with  me  to  Cambridge,  where  I  wish  to  call 
for  half  a  day,  and  perhaps  longer,  soon  ;  the  hopes  of 
seeing  her  friends  at  Bradfield  Hall  are  a  strong  in- 
ducement. 

'  Believe  me, 

'  Very  sincerely  yours, 

'H.  Boyd.' 

'  August  17,  1780. 

'  My  good  friend  will  be  at  least  just  in  this  instance, 
when  he  is  in  every  other  so  partial  to  his  friends  ;  and 


FAEMING  AND   EXPERIMENTS  95 

you'll  believe  that  it  is  no  small  disappointment  to  me 
quod  inclination,  though  the  cause  will  probably  be 
very  advantageous,  businesshj  speaking,  that  I  am 
obliged  to  postpone  my  Suffolk  trip.  Observe  I  esta- 
blish a  credit  by  the  term  postpone,  and  I  sincerely 
hope  it  will  not  be  a  long  term.  I  have  at  present  only 
another  half  minute  to  say  fifty  things.  But  not  being 
able  to  think,  speak,  or  write  the  fiftieth  part  as  quick 
as  certain  persons  of  my  acquaintance  (my  love  to 
Mrs.  Young),  I  must  confine  myself  to  one  subject — 
which  I  have  too  much  at  heart  to  omit — the  assuring 
you  and  her  of  my  being  very  sincerely  yours, 

'H.  Boyd.' 

'  September  2,  1780. 

'  My  dear  Friends, — You'll  excuse  coarse  paper,  and 
coarse  writing  in  every  sense,  I'm  afraid,  "  in  matter, 
form,  and  style,"  according  to  Milton's  divisions,  when 
you  know  that  I  sit  down  to  this  delectable  epistle  in  a 
City  coffee-house,  in  the  midst  of  Bob-wigs  and  worsted 
stocking  knaves,  Turks,  Jews,  and  brokers,  infidels,  and 
merchants.  Nunquam,  si  quid  mihi  credis,  amavi 
Hos  homines.  0  dialect  of  Babel!  "Who  calls  for 
coffee  ?  " — "  This  policy,  sir  " — "  Strong  convoy,  a  very 
good  thing  " — "  Pen,  ink,  and  wafer  " — "  I'sh  would  be 
rejoished  to  do  for  you,  shur  " — "  Was  Mr.  Shylock  here 
this  morning?" — "  Yesh,  just  gone  to  Jerusalem."  O 
blessed  race  !  I  wish  you  were  all  there,  with  all  your 
adopted  brethren  of  Jewish  Christians  from  this  holy 
land. 

'  I  have  continued  in  much  disappointment — at  least, 


96       AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUXa 

suspense — since  I  wrote  to  you  last,  when  I  hinted  the 
sudden  occurrence  of  some  business  preventing  the 
pleasure  of  my  proposed  trip.  Depending  on  the 
pleasures  not  only  of  some  three  or  four  different 
persons,  but  of  great  ones,  too,  who  think  themselves 
personages,  you  will  not  wonder  that  the  said  business 
has  been  like  Sisyphus's  Stone,  or  Ixion's  Cloud,  or 
Tantalus's  Apple,  or  anything  else  that's  infernally 
troublesome.  But  it  may,  and,  notwithstanding  their 
greatness,  probably  it  will,  be  very  consequential.  In 
the  meantime  I  must  deny  myself  both  Suffolk  and 
Cambridge.  The  former,  indeed,  is  the  self-denial ;  for 
Cam.  I  had  more  at  head  than  at  heart.  Besides, 
wishing  to  establish  my  Mastery  of  Arts  by  a  little 
residence  near  them,  I  had  a  little  reading  and 
writing  also  in  contemplation,  near  the  walks  locally 
— perlongo  intervaUo  in  every  other  sense — of  old 
Erasmus. 

'I  should  have  been  happy  in  being  at  Bradfield 
Hall ;  I  long  to  hear  my  friend  refute  himself,  to  com- 
plain with  good  spirits,  and  to  demonstrate,  with  much 
wit,  that  he  was  extremely  dull.  But  I  dare  say  you 
have  too  much  genuine  vivacity,  as  well  as  good  taste, 
to  enter  much  into  the  bastard  sort  of  alacrity — the 
intoxicated  bustle  that  rages  in  empty  heads  and  full 
pockets,  by  Koyal  proclamation.  I  should  not  object  if 
the  cui  bono  ?  could  be  answered.  But  in  the  present 
desperate  size  of  power  and  depopulation  of  spirit,  so 
much  and  so  expensive  pains  seem  little  better  than  a 
curious  folly.  If  a  man's  brains  must  be  blown  out, 
why  need  he  gild  his  pocket  pistol,  much  less  purchase 


FAKMIXG  AND   EXPERIMENTS  97 

a  great  gun — unless  it  be  a  Scotch  canonade,  which,  it 
must  be  confessed,  will  do  the  business,  con  amore,  for 
England  or  Ireland  ? 

'  Yours  ever, 

'H.  Boyd.' 

I  continued  farming  at  Bradfield,  and  also  reading 
and  writing  with  much  attention,  as  about  this  time  I 
had  formed  the  intention  of  delivering  lectures  on 
agriculture,  and  had  prepared  several.  The  original 
hint  came  from  Mr.  Wedderburn,'  who  persuaded  me 
to  persevere  in  this  plan ;  but  the  lectures  never  took 
place.  I  was  highly  honoured  by  the  commendation 
and  partiality  of  a  friend.  Dr.  Watson,^  the  celebrated 
Professor  at  Cambridge,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Llandaff, 
who  wrote  thus  :  '  We  owe  to  the  agricultural  societies, 
and  to  the  patriotic  exertions  of  one  deserving  citizen 
(Arthur  Young,  Esq.),  the  present  iflourishing  condition 
of  our  husbandry  '  ('  Chemical  Mag.'  vol.  4). 

I  find  from  an  application  of  my  friend,  Arbuthnot, 
that  the  Bishop  of  Chester  was  at  this  time  collecting 
materials  for  a  work  on  population  by  the  Kev.  Mr. 
Howlett,''  and  had  desired  Arbuthnot  to  apply  to  me 
for  assistance.     I  was  myself  meditating  such  a  work, 

'  Alex.  Wedderburn,  Earl  of  Rosslyn,  Baron  Loughborough.  In  1778 
Attorney-General ;  in  1793  succeeded  Lord  Thurlow  to  the  Chancellor- 
ship.    Died  180.5. 

-  Richard  Watson,  a  celebrated  prelate.  In  179G  he  published  an 
answer  to  Paine's  Age  of  Reason.  He  was  left  an  estate  worth  24,000Z. 
by  a  Mr.  Luther,  an  entire  stranger  to  him,  author  of  many  theological 
works  and  memoirs  of  himself.     Died  1816. 

^  Died  in  1804.  There  is  a  notice  of  this  writer  in  Watts'  Biblio- 
Iheca  Britannica. 

H 


98       AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

but  complied  with  the  request,  and  transmitted  the 
collections  I  had  made  to  the  Bishop,  who  wrote  me  a 
most  obliging  letter. 

'  Your  facts  are  clear  and  decisive,  and  the  conclusions 
you  draw  from  them,  unanswerable.  The  only  difficulty 
I  am  apprehensive  of  is  that  as  his  work  is  now  pretty 
far  advanced,  and  is  already  larger  than  I  could  wish 
he  will  not  be  able  to  take  in  the  whole  of  your  papers, 
especially  as  I  observe  that  he  has  in  some  part  of  his 
pamphlet  fallen  into  the  same  train  of  reasoning  as 
yourself.  If,  therefore,  you  would  allow  him  to  take 
only  your  two  general  tables  of  baptism  before  and 
after  the  Eevolution,  and  the  two  more  recent  periods 
of  thirty  years  each,  which  is  the  very  method  he  has 
himself  adopted,  subjoining  such  of  your  observations 
as  are  the  most  important  and  are  not  in  some  measure 
anticipated  by  him,  he  will  be  most  exceedingly  obliged 
to  you,  and  will,  I  am  sure,  be  very  ready  to  acknow- 
ledge in  proper  terms  the  sense  he  has  of  your  goodness 
to  him.' 

I  had  also  a  sad  letter  from  my  friend  Arbuthnot 
on  his  return  from  France,  but  it  was  written  in  so 
melancholy  a  strain  on  his  own  situation  and  that  of 
his  wife  and  family,  that  it  has  often  made  my  heart 
ache  to  read  it.  By  Lord  Loughborough's  interest 
he  got  an  appointment  in  Ireland  under  the  Linen 
Board, ^  which  carried  him  to  that  country,  where  he 

'  Irish  Linen  Board,  established  1711 ;  the  Board  aboUshed  1828. 
We  do  not  learn  upon  what  business  Mr.  Arbuthnot  had  gone  to  France. 


FAEMING  AND   EXPEREVIENTS  99 

lived  but  a  few  years.     I  lost  in  him  by  far  the  most 
agreeable  friend  I  was  ever  connected  with. 

At  this  time  I  was  much  engaged  in  making  a 
variety  of  experiments  in  expelling  gaseous  fluids  from 
specimens  of  soils,  the  results  of  which  were  afterwards 
published  in  '  The  Annals  of  Agriculture.'  As  I  met 
with  some  difficulties  I  wrote  to  Dr.  Priestley,  stating 
them,  and  begging  information.  He  very  hberally  and 
politely  answered  all  my  enquiries,  encouraging  me  to 
proceed  with  my  trials,  and  I  received  several  interest- 
ing letters  from  him. 

'  Bii-mingham  :  Dec.  12,  1781. 

'  Dear  Sir, — If  I  had  any  remarks  or  hints  respecting 
the  subject  of  your  experiments,  I  should  certainly  with 
much  pleasure  have  communicated  them  long  ago.  I 
meant,  indeed,  to  have  made  a  few  more  experiments 
on  the  growth  of  plants  in  the  course  of  the  last  summer, 
but  the  weather  was  so  bad,  and  the  sun  shone  so  little, 
that  I  dropped  the  scheme.  All  I  can  do,  therefore,  in 
return  for  your  facts,  is  to  mention  one  that  I  have 
lately  observed.  I  readily  convert  pure  loater  into 
permanent  air,  by  first  combining  it  with  quicklime, 
and  then  exposing  it  to  a  strong  heat.  The  weight  of 
the  air  is  equal  to  the  weight  of  water,  and  no  part  of 
the  water  is  turned  into  steam  in  the  process.  During 
the  whole  of  it,  a  glass  velum,  interposed  between  the 
retort  and  the  recipient  for  the  air,  remains  quite  cool 
and  dry.  The  air  I  procure  in  this  manner  is  in  part 
Jixed  air,  but  the  bulk  of  it  is  such  as  a  candle  would 
hardly  burn  in  it,  but  is  such  as  I  should  imagine  would 
be   the   best  for  plants,    which  would    pm'ify   it    and 

h2 


100      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

render  it  fit  for  respiration.  And  as  this  kind  of  air 
would  be  yielded  in  great  abundance  by  volcanoes,  from 
calcareous  matter  in  the  earth ;  such  was  perhaps  the 
original  atmosphere  of  this  earth,  which  according  to 
the  Mosaick  account  (which  you  must  allow  me  to 
respect)  had  plants  before  there  were  any  land  animals. 
'  This  letter  I  fear  is  hardly  worth  sending  you ; 
your  objects  and  mine  are  so  very  different,  though  now 
and  then  coinciding  ;  but  mine  have  seldom  any  prac- 
tical uses,  at  least  no  immediate  ones,  whereas  yours  are 
highly  and  immediately  beneficial.  Wishing  you  the 
greatest  success,  and  wishing  you  and  all  philosophers 
joy  of  the  near  prospect  of  peace, 

'  I  am,  yours  sincerely, 

'  J.  Priestley.' 

This  year's  memoranda  :  '  Wrote  "  Emigration,"  an 
ode.' 

In  the  autumn  of  this  year  I  spent  a  month  at 
Lowestoft,  where  the  sea  air  and  bathing  agreed  so 
well  with  me  that  I  do  not  recollect  in  my  life  ever 
having  spent  a  month  with  so  continued  a  flow  of  high 
spirits,  which  received  no  slight  addition  by  the  society 
of  a  very  handsome  and  most  agreeable  girl,  whose 
name  I  have  forgotten.^ 

In  a  letter  from  Dr.  Burney  (of  this  year)  he  rallied 

'  That  Arthur  Young's  society  was  equally  agreeable  to  the  other 
sex  Fanny  Burney  tells  us.  In  the  gossipy,  ecstatic  journal  of  her  girl- 
hood she  writes  :  '  Last  night,  whilst  Hetty,  Susey,  and  myself  were  at 
tea,  that  lively,  charming,  spirited  Mr.  Young  entered  the  room.  Oh, 
how  glad  we  were  to  see  him  !  ' 


FAKMING   AND   EXPEEIMENTS  101 

me  with  much  wit  on  my  culture  of  the  earth  instead 
of  the  Muses.  This  friend  of  mine  had  a  happy  talent 
of  rendering  his  letters  lively  and  agreeable,  indeed  they 
were  a  picture  of  the  man,  for  I  never  met  with  any 
person  who  had  more  decided  talents  for  conversation, 
eminently  seasoned  with  wit  and  humour,  and  these 
talents  were  so  at  command  that  he  could  exert  them 
at  will.  He  was  remarkable  for  some  sprightly  story 
or  witty  bon  mot  just  when  he  quitted  a  company,  which 
seemed  as  much  as  to  say,  '  There  now,  I  have  given  you 
a  dose  which  you  may  work  upon  in  my  absence.'  His 
society  was  greatly  sought  after  by  all  classes,  from  the 
first  nobility  to  the  mere  lioinme  de  lettres.  He  dressed 
expensively,  always  kept  his  carriage,  and  yet  died 
worth  about  15,000?.,  leaving  a  most  capital  library  of 
curious  books.  His  second  wife  was  my  wife's  sister, 
the  handsome  widow  of  a  Mr.  Allen,  of  Lynn,  who  in  a 
short  life  in  commerce  made  above  40,000/.,  leaving  her 
a  handsome  fortune  and  her  two  daughters  equally  pro- 
vided for. 

This  year  I  had  a  controversy  in  the  '  Bury  St. 
Edmunds  News '  with  Capel  Lofft,  Esq.,^  on  the  proposal 
which  originated  with  the  Earl  of  Bristol,-  for  building 
a  74-gun  ship  and  presenting  it  to  the  public.     I  wrote 

'  A  Suffolk  squire,  ardent  Whig,  and  of  considerable  literary  attain- 
ments.    At  his  expense  was  published  Bloomfield's  Farnier^s  Boy. 

^  Frederick  Hervey,  Episcopal  Earl  of  Bristol.  The  Annual  Register 
for  1803  has  the  following  :  'His  love  of  art  and  science  was  only  sur- 
passed by  love  of  his  country  and  generosity  to  the  unfortunate  of  every 
country.  He  was  a  great  traveller,  and  there  is  not  a  country  of  Europe 
in  which  the  distressed  have  not  obtained  his  succour.  He  was  among 
the  leaders  of  Irish  patriots  during  the  American  War,  and  a  member 
of  the  Convention  of  Volunteer  Delegates  in  1782.     He  was  on  this 


102      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNQ 

a  paper  in  favour  of  this  scheme,  which  so  pleased 
Lord  Bristol  that  he  complimented  me  on  my  eloquent, 
spirited  language,  and  he  caused  a  numerous  edition  of 
it  to  be  printed  and  given  away.  Lofft  attacked  the 
scheme  as  unconstitutional,  I  retorted,  and  a  paper 
war  ensued  which  lasted  for  some  time,  and  was  after- 
wards published.  The  Earl  of  Shelburne,  at  that  time 
Minister,  wrote  several  letters  to  Lord  Bristol  in  which 
he  appeared  highly  gratified  by  this  plan.  Capel  Lofft 
at  the  conclusion  of  our  controversy  wrote  to  me  a  very 
polite  letter,  expressing  his  satisfaction  that  our  names 
should  be  united  in  the  same  publication.  These 
papers  were  read  with  much  avidity,  and  established 
the  Bury  paper  in  which  they  were  written,  to  the 
great  emolument  of  the  proprietor. 

Prince  Potemkin,  the  Kussian  Prime  Minister,  sent 
this  year  to  England  three  young  men  consigned  to 
the  care  of  M.  Smirnove,  chaplain  to  the  Eussian 
Embassy,  who  requested  that  I  would  fix  them  in  my 
immediate  vicinity,  in  order  that  I  might  pay  some 
attention  to  their  progress  and  acquisitions.  This  I 
readily  did,  and  took  every  means  to  have  them  well 
instructed  in  the  English  mode  of  cultivating  land.^ 

1782. — This  year  Mrs.  Cousmaker,  sister  to  my 
mother,  died  in  her  house  at  Bradfield.     She  was    a 

occasion  escorted  from  Derry  to  Dublin  by  volunteer  cavalry,  receiving 
military  honours  at  every  town.  He  died  at  Albano,  Rome,  surrounded 
by  artists  whose  talents  his  judgment  had  directed  and  whose  wants  his 
liberality  had  supplied.' 

'  By  an  irony  of  fate,  Arthur  Young,  who  had  found  farm  after  farm 
in  his  own  hands  a  disaster,  was  now  by  general  acceptance  the  first 
European  authority  on  agriculture. 


FAKMING  AND   EXPEEEVIENTS  103 

maiden  lady  who  never  would  marry,  though  she  had 
several  advantageous  offers.  She  left  me  her  house 
and  two  farms,  and  a  long  annuity  in  the  funds  of  1501. 
a  year,  which  expired  about  fifteen  years  afterwards. 
She  had  300^.  per  annum  of  three  annuities,  the  whole 
of  which  had  once  been  left  to  me,  but  being  much 
offended  with  my  wife  she  gave  half  of  it  to  another 
person.  She  also  left  me  her  carriage  and  horses.  She 
was  a  very  religious  character ;  the  bequest  in  her  wall 
by  which  she  left  the  farms  to  me  was  not  expressed 
exactly  according  to  her  mind,  and  she  therefore  altered 
it  with  her  own  hand  after  executing  the  wall.  This 
vitiated  the  legacy,  on  consulting  Lord  Loughborough, 
and  he  had  doubts  upon  the  question  ;  but  upon  taking 
the  opinion  of  several  great  lawyers,  they  declared  the 
legacy  null,  and  that  the  estates  lapsed  to  the  heir  of 
law.  This  was  John  Cousmaker,  Esq.,  of  Hackney, 
who  very  generously  declared  that  he  would  not  take 
advantage  of  the  error,  and  desired  that  Joshua  Sharpe, 
a  celebrated  solicitor,  might  draw  up  a  deed,  by  which 
he  might  make  good  the  intention,  which  was 
accordingly  done.  Such  an  instance  of  uncommon 
liberality  deserves  to  be  recorded  for  the  credit  of 
mankind. 

This  year  the  Episcopal  Earl  of  Bristol  Hved  at 
Ickworth  both  summer  and  winter,  and  having  very 
early  called  upon  me  after  coming  to  the  title  and 
estate,  a  great  intimacy  took  place  between  us ;  and 
Lord  B.  desired  me  to  dine  with  him  every  Thursday, 
which  I  did  through  the  whole  year.  Mr.  Symonds, 
Professor  of  Modern  History  at  Cambridge,  Sir  John 


104  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF  AKTIIUR   YOUNG 

Culluin/  author  of  the  '  History  of  Hawstead,'  a  very 
learned  antiquary,  and  the  Eev.  George  Ashby,  Bector 
of  Barrow,^  another  antiquary,  and  a  man  of  universal 
knowledge,  who  for  many  years  wrote  a  multitude  of 
papers  in  the  '  Gentleman's  Magazine,'  being  constantly 
of  the  party.  It  was  a  trait  in  this  nobleman's  charac- 
ter, which  deserved  something  more  than  admiration, 
to  select  men  distinguished  for  knowledge  and  ability 
as  his  companions. 

Lord  Bristol  was  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  men 
I  ever  met  with.  He  was  a  perfect  original — dressed  in 
classical  adorning;  he  had  lived  much  abroad,  spoke 
all  modern  languages  fluently,  and  had  an  uncommon 
vein  of  pleasantry  and  wit,  which  he  greatly  exerted, 
and  without  reserve,  when  in  the  company  of  a  few 
select  friends.  When  abroad,  and  for  many  years 
afterwards,  he  lived  in  a  manner  that  was  not  very 
episcopal.  He  had  been  so  long  absent  from  Ireland 
that  the  Primate  wrote  him  three  letters  of  remon- 
strance, and  the  answer  he  sent  him  was  to  do  up  and 
send  in  three  blue  peas  in  a  blue  bladder.  The  old 
proverb  symptomatic  of  contempt,  '  Oh !  that  is  but 
three  blue  peas,'  &c.,  is  well  known.  The  Bishop 
removing,  he  could  not  be  forced  back,  and  remained 
where  he  was.  In  my  life  I  never  passed  more  agree- 
able days  than  these  weekly  dinners  at  Ickworth.  The 
conversation  was  equally  instructive  and  agreeable. 
This  eccentric  man  built  in  Ireland  a  large  and  very 

'  The  History  and  Antiqtiities  of  Hawstead  and  HardivicTce,  in 
Suffolk.  The  second  edition  appeared  in  1813,  with  notes  by  Sir  T. 
Gery-Cullum. 

-  Author  of  many  antiquarian  treatises. 


FAEMING  AND   EXPERIMENTS  105 

expensive  round  house,  on  a  plan  as  singular  as  himself ; 
and,  what  was  more  extraordinary,  a  repetition  of  it  at 
Ickworth.  The  shell  of  the  body  was  finished  and 
covered  in ;  the  wings  scarcely  begun,  and  nothing 
done  towards  completing  the  centre.  Above  40,000Z. 
was  expended,  and  it  would  require  much  more  than 
forty  more  to  finish  it  on  the  original  plan,  after 
which  it  would  be  nearly  uninhabitable.  Lady  Bristol 
used  to  call  it  a  stupendous  monument  of  folly  ;  but  the 
most  extraordinary  circumstance  in  relation  to  it  was, 
that  he  began  it  while  he  disliked  the  spot,  from  the 
wetness  of  the  soil,  and  w^ould  often  tell  me  that  he 
should  never  be  such  a  fool  as  to  build  in  so  wet  a 
situation.  It  was  then  generally  imagined  that  as  he 
must  inherit  Eushbrooke  he  would  wait  till  that  period, 
and  if  he  built  at  all,  would  do  it  there.  It  was  begun 
and  carried  on  till  the  time  of  his  death  without  his 
ever  having  seen  it ;  and  he  often  declared  in  letters  that 
he  never  would  set  his  foot  in  England  till  it  was  finished 
and  furnished  with  all  the  vertu  that  he  had  collected 
in  Italy.  He  never  did  set  his  foot  in  England  again, 
for  the  shell  of  this  fantastic  building,  and  that  of  its 
still  more  extraordinary  possessor,  were  finished  at  the 
same  time,  and  my  Lord  left  the  whole,  as  if  by  design, 
a  burthen  to  his  son  and  successor,  with  whom  he  had 
been  on  the  worst  terms,  and  from  whom  he  gave 
away  by  will  the  very  furniture  of  the  old  habitable 
house  at  Ickworth.  At  the  Thursday  dinners  I,  of 
course,  met  all  who  were  visitors  to  the  family,  among 
whom  Lord  B.'s  uncle,  General  Hervey,  was  sometimes 
present.     This   was  another  uncommon  character   in 


106      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

some  respects,  but  had  not  half  the  originahty  of  his 
brother.  He,  too,  was  a  most  determined  infidel,  but 
had  so  far  an  expectation,  not  only  of  a  future  state, 
but  also  a  kind  of  instinctive  belief  of  the  possibility 
of  rewards  and  punishments,  that  acting  happily  for 
others,  poor  man,  if  not  for  himself,  this  half-faced 
belief  made  him  one  of  the  most  charitable  men  living. 
His  morning  rides  were  generally  amongst  the  poor  of 
the  neighbouring  parishes,  amongst  whom  he  distri- 
buted clothing,  food,  and  bedding,  vdth  money  to  take 
them  out  of  difficulties,  in  a  spirit  of  liberality  rarely 
equalled,  and  gave  away  during  a  long  course  of  years 
more  in  charity  than  thousands  who  had  ten  times  his 
fortune.  This  instance  may  excite  a  reflection  upon 
the  weakness  of  judging  a  man's  .religion  only  by  his 
works ;  for  surely  it  would  be  a  strange  absurdity  to 
take  the  measure  of  piety  in  the  heart  by  any  circum- 
stance of  the  conduct  which  would  be  emulated  or 
surpassed  by  an  infidel.  But  what  is  charity  when  the 
right  motive  is  wanting  ? 

In  my  library  '  is  a  complete  edition  of  Eousseau's 
works,  given  me  by  the  Earl  of  Bristol. 

About  this  time  my  friend,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Valpy,^ 
who  had  for  some  time  been  Usher  at  the  Grammar 
School  of  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  was  elected  master  of 
that  at  Reading,  and  a  correspondence  commenced  which 
lasted  many  years.  He  was  a  most  learned,  ingenious 
and  agreeable  man,  in  so  much  that  I  greatly  regretted 

'  Sold  by  auction  in  December  189G. 

-  Richard  Valpy,  D.D.,  1754-1836,  distinguifshed  scholar,  voluminous 
writer  on  educational  works,  and  author  of  the  famous  Greek  and  Latin 
grammars. 


FARMING  AND   EXPEEDHENTS  107 

his  departure,  feeling  most  sensibly  the  loss  of  his 
society.  I  have, been  occasionally  connected  with  him 
since,  and  shall  always  hold  him  in  great  estimation 
for  his  learning,  his  talents,  and  sincerity  of  friendship. 
My  son  was  under  his  tuition  for  some  years.  In  the 
following  letter  my  brother  describes  the  state  of  this 
nation,  which  he  thinks  miserably  bad  : — 

'  Eton  College  :  Oct.  31,  1782. 

*  Dear  Arthur, — I  wrote  to  you  three  days  ago,  and 
yesterday  I  received  yours,  complaining  that  I  write 
no  politicks.  If  you  can,  I  cannot  think  of  them  with 
any  degree  of  patience.  We  are  a  ruined  people,  tear- 
ing ourselves  to  pieces,  everyone  thinking  of  his  party 
and  himself,  and  no  one  caring  for  the  publick,  and 
that  is  the  truth  whatever  you  may  hear  or  read. 
There  is  not  a  blockhead  in  England,  who  can  only 
read  and  write  and  some  who  can  only  sign  their 
names,  of  whom  I  could  give  you  instances,  who 
does  not  think  himself  qualified  to  new  model  the 
constitution.  All  true  regard  for  liberty,  and  law,  and 
a  free  government  is  gone,  and  there  seems  to  be  a 
general  resolution  not  to  be  governed  at  all,  which 
must  end  in  despotism.  We  have  no  Ministry,  nor 
do  I  see  how  we  can  have  any.  The  whole  summer 
has  been  spent  in  enlisting  recruits  against  the  winter. 
The  friends  of  the  old  Ministry  give  out  that  Lord 
North  has  the  decisive  votes,  which  I  think  may  be 
true.  He  was  very  lately  unengaged,  and,  I  am  glad 
to  hear,  has  declared  positively  against  all  innovations. 
For  I  am  sure  there  is  neither  honesty,  nor  knowledge, 


108      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUK  YOUNG 

nor  abilities  in  this  generation,  to  be  trusted  with 
altering  our  constitution.  There  are  but  two  modes 
of  governing — by  power,  or  by  influence.  I  desire  to 
be  governed  by  influence,  but  not  that  the  influence 
may  be  so  great  as  to  be  equivalent  to  power.  I  think 
that  the  Bill,^  taking  away  the  votes  of  the  Eevenue 
oflicers,  will  have  great  effect  if  ever  executed,  and  am 
against  proceeding  further  till  I  see  the  consequences 
of  that  Bill.  I  would  annihilate  the  enormous  plates 
in  the  Exchequer,  but  that  would  not  much  affect 'the 
influence  of  the  Crown,  As  to  increasing  the  Navy — 
what  do  you  mean  ?  Can  you  possibly  increase  your 
Navy  without  increasing  the  number  of  your  seamen  ? 
And  can  you  increase  them  without  increasing  your 
trade  ?  You  have  already  more  ships  than  you  can 
man.  When  your  silly  Suffolk  scheme  of  building  a  ship 
was  first  mentioned  to  Lord  Keppel,  he  said  :  If  they 
could  find  him  seamen  he  should  be  obliged  to  them, 
for  he  had  ten  more  ships  ready  if  he  had  seamen  to 
put  into  them.  We  have  got  into  one  of  those  stupid 
wars  which  the  Tories  have  always  clamoured  for, 
a  naval  war  with  France,  without  any  land  war  in 
which  our  men  might  die  in  German  ditches  ;  we  pay 
no  subsidies  to  German  princes  for  defending  them- 
selves, and  you  see  how  it  has  succeeded.  The  French 
having  no  diversion  of  their  wealth  to  a  land  war  are 
superior  at  sea,  as  any  man  of  common  sense  might 
have  foreseen.     If  your  Suffolk  gentry  would  take  care 

'  This  Bill  to  disable  Eevenue  officers  from  voting  in  Parliamentary 
elections  was  introduced  April  16,  1782,  and  read  a  third  time  on  the 
25th ;  read  a  third  time  in  the  House  of  Lords  by  34  Contents  to  18 
Non-contents,     See  Hansard. 


FAKMING   AND   EXPERIIVIENTS  109 

of  their  own  duty  and  suppress  the  smuggHng  on  their 
coast,  it  would  be  well.  The  Parliament  will  supply 
Government  with  monej^  levied  equally  on  the  subject, 
to  build  ships  as  thej"  are  wanted ;  and  Government  is 
by  common  law  armed  with  power  to  avail  itself  of 
every  seaman  in  the  country ;  and  that  is  the  only  just 
and  equitable  way  of  providing  a  Navy. 

'  I  shall  be  in  town  next  month,  and  will  call  on  our 
Aunt  Ingoldsby.  I  am  sorry  to  hear  that  my  mother's 
memory  fails  so  fast  ;  it  frightens  me  out  of  my  wits 
every  time  I  forget  anything. 

'  Yours  very  affectionately, 

'J.  Young.' 


110      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 


CHAPTEK  VI 

FIRST    GLIMPSE    OF   FRANCE,    1783-1785 

Birth  of  Bobbin — Ice  baths — '  The  Annals  of  Agriculture  ' — A  group 
of  friends — Lazowski — First  glimpse  of  France — Death  of  my  mother 
— The  Bishop  of  Derry — Fishing  parties — Rainham. 

On  May  5  of  this  year  my  dear  Bobbin  was  born.^  I 
passed  the  year  at  Bradfield,  and  was  much  in  the 
society  of  many  neighbouring  gentlemen.  At  this 
time  I  was  a  desperate  bather,  going  into  the  water 
every  morning  at  four  o'clock  each  winter,  and  with  or 
without  the  obstruction  of  a  thick  coat  of  ice,  having 
often  to  break  it  before  I  could  bathe.  All  my  friends 
much  condemned  the  practice,  and  assured  me  that  I 
should  kill  myself,  but  it  became  so  habitual  that  their 
prophecies  w^ere  vain.  As  soon  as  I  was  out  of  bed  I 
continued  my  favourite  practice,  walking  about  two 
hundred  yards  to  a  bath  I  had  constructed,  and  plunging 
in,  notwithstanding  the  inclemency  of  the  weather. 

I  had  this  year  a  severe  fever,  which  occasioned 
several  of  my  friends,  with  all  the  acrimony  that  a 
departure   from    the    usual    modes   of    life   occasions, 

'  '  My  lovely  Bobbin ' — christened  Martha  Ann — the  adored  child 
whose  loss  at  the  age  of  fourteen  was  the  great  sorrow  of  Arthur  Young's 
life.  The  pet  name  of  '  Bobbin  '  originated  in  that  of  '  Robin,'  which  the 
child  gave  herself  but  could  not  pronounce. 


FIEST   GLIMPSE   OF   FE.4NCE  111 

strongly  to  dissuade  me  from  persisting  in  my  scheme. 
I  myself  was  firmly  persuaded  that  it  was  not,  as  they 
declared,  the  cause  of  my  illness,  and  therefore  when 
I  was  perfectly  recovered  resumed  the  practice,  which 
I  continued  for  many  years  ;  and  I  once  at  Petworth, 
at  Lord  Egremont's,  went  into  the  bath  at  four  in 
the  morning,  when  the  thermometer  was  below  zero. 
Upon  coming  out,  walked  into  the  shrubbery,  and  rolled 
myself  in  the  snow  as  an  experiment  to  see  the  effect 
.  on  my  body ;  it  had  none,  except  that  of  increasing 
strength  and  activity,  and  was  not  at  all  disagreeable. 

In  January  commenced  one  of  the  greatest  specula- 
tions in  my  life — the  publication  of  '  The  Annals  of 
Agriculture.'  I  had  long  meditated  such  a  work,  and 
corresponded  upon  it  with  Mr.  ^Miyman  Baker,  of 
Ireland,  who  had  promised  communications.  The  plan 
which  first  suggested  itself  was  peculiar,  and  to  the 
exclusion  of  all  private  profit — with  a  constant  pub- 
lication of  the  printing  and  publishing  accounts — but 
the  booksellers  applied  to,  rejected  the  idea,  and  the 
work  appeared  monthly,  with  very  indifferent  success, 
for  about  a  twelvemonth.  The  correspondence  being 
highly  respectable,  and  no  papers  inserted  without  the 
name  and  place  of  abode  of  the  writer,  it  rose  gradually 
to  the  support  of  itself,  and  after  a  time  enabled  me  to 
insert  a  great  number  of  plates.  It  would  have  proved 
a  very  profitable  publication  but  for  the  many  numbers 
which  were  obliged  to  be  reprinted.  Printing  only  500 
afterwards  occasioned  reprinting  another  500,  still  a 
third  500.  This  created  so  large  an  expense  that  it 
swallowed   up  everything   that  wore  the  resemblance 


112      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

of    profit,    and   many   years    afterwards    I   continued 

reprinting    various    numbers    for   the    sole   object    of 

completing  sets ;  this  formed  a  back  current ;    which 

carried  away  what  would  have  been  profit.     It  may  be 

added  that  many  of  those  papers  written  by  myself, 

forming  perhaps  a  third  or  fourth  of  the  whole  work, 

may  be  reckoned  among  my  most  valuable  productions, 

and  have  received  the  sanction  of  approbation,  by  being 

translated   into   several    foreign   languages.     It   is  an 

anecdote  which  cannot  be  generally  known,  that  two 

very   able    letters,   which   came   under   the    name   of 

Eobinson,  the  King's  shepherd  at  Windsor,  were  really 

the  production  of   his    Majesty's  own  pen,  describing 

what  he  had  long  been  intimately  acquainted  with,  the 

husbandry  of  Mr.  Ducket.     The  King  took  in  two  sets 

of  the  work,  one  of  which  he  regularly  sent  to   that 

farmer  ;    and  in  the  interview  which  I  had  with  his 

Majesty  upon  the  terrace  of  Windsor,  the  first  word 

the  King  said  to  me  was  :  '  Mr.  Y.,  I  consider  myself  as 

more  obliged   to  you  than  to  any  other  man   in   my 

dominions,'  and  the  Queen  told   me   that  they  never 

travelled  without  my  '  Annals  '  in  the  carriage.     Lord 

Fife   informed   me   that   he   himself   always   had  the 

'  Annals  '  sent  him  the  moment  they  were  published,  but 

still   he  always  found  that  the  King   was  beforehand 

with  him,  for  upon  the  first  of  the  month,  while  the 

number  was  unopened  upon  his  table,  riding  out  and 

meeting  his  Majesty,  he  at  once  spoke  to  him  on  a 

paper    of    his   own    (Lord    Fife's)    in    that    number, 

showing  that  he  had   read   the   whole   before   it   had 

met  the  eye  of  the  author. 


FIRST   GLIMPSE   OF  FKANCE  113 

Among  the  letters  I  received  this  year  the  following 
may  be  particularly  noted  : — 

From  Lord  Bristol,  Bishop  of  Derry 

'  Londonderry :  April  23,  1783. 

'  A  thousand  thanks  to  you,  my  dear  friend,  for  your 
recollection  of  me  at  so  many  miles'  distance,  and  for 
your  summary  Gazette  of  the  present  miscellaneous 
state  of  our  neighbours,  but  no  thanks  at  all  to  you 
for  wishing  me  back  to  the  foggy,  fenny  atmosphere  of 
Ickworth,  in  preference  to  the  exhilarating  and  invigo- 
rating air,  or  rather  ether,  of  the  Downhill.  When  you 
are  vapid,  if  ever  those  petillant  spirits  of  yours  are  so, 
come  and  imbibe  some  fixed  or  unfixed  air  at  the  Down- 
hill, where  a  tree  is  no  longer  a  rarity,  since  above 
200,000  have  this  winter  been  planted  in  the  glens  round 
my  house ;  come  and  enjoy  the  rapidity  and  the  success 
with  which  I  have  converted  sixty  acres  of  moor,  by 
the  medium  of  two  hundred  spades,  into  a  green  carpet, 
sprinkled  with  white  clover.  Am  I  not  an  adept  in 
national  dialect  ?  Come  and  enjoy  some  mountain  con- 
verted into  arable,  and  grouse  metamorphosed  without 
a  miracle,  into  men  ;  come  and  teach  a  willing  disciple 
and  an  affectionate  friend  how  to  finish  a  work  he  is 
barely  able  to  begin. 

'  In  all  my  leases  to  the  tenants  of  the  See,  I  have 
providently,  and  with  a  long  forecast,  made  a  reservation 
to  myself  of  all  the  bog  and  mountain  lands  deemed 
unprofitable.  Well,  these  I  am  enabled  by  statute  to 
grant  in  trust  for  myself  during  sixty-one  years.  Now 
is   the   moment   to   execute   this   great   purpose ;   the 

I 


114  AUTOBIOGKAPHY   OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

reserved  acres  amount  to  several  thousands,  and  upon 
one  mountain  only  I  have  received  proposals  for  build- 
ing 200  cabbins  (cabins)  ;  the  limestone  is  at  the 
bottom  of  the  hill,  and  the  turf  at  the  top.  What  gold 
may  not  this  chemistry  produce,  and  who  do  you  think 
would  himself  submit  to  vegetate  at  Ickworth  whilst 
he  can  direct  such  a  laboratory  at  the  Downhill  ? 

*  Can  Ashby  crawl — Quantum  mutatiis  ah  illo  ?  I 
shall  next  expect  to  hear  of  Arthur's  creeping.  Mure 
I  knew  always  to  be  a  prince  in  his  ideas ;  I  am  glad 
to  hear  he  is  able  to  be  so  in  his  works.  Cullum 
can  dignify  any  subject,  and  interest  his  reader  in  the 
most  insignificant,  so  I  conclude  we  all  read  even  his 
Hawstead  Antiquities  with  pleasure  and  instruction. 
But  what  is  Symonds '  about  ?  not  six  yards  round  I 
hope  like  Falstaff — Ipse  quid  agis,  quae  circumvolitas 
agilis  thyma  ?  ^  Pray  ramble  once  more  to  Ireland 
either  by  the  proxy  of  a  letter  or  in  person.  You  will 
ever  be  welcome  to  your  affectionate  friend, 

'Beistol.' 

This  year  Arthur  Young,  an  American  prisoner, 
VTrote  to  me  asking  charity  ;  it  deserves  to  be  mentioned 
that  in  a  book  called '  England's  Black  Tribunal '  ^  there 
is  a  hst  of  emigrants  to  America  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  at  the  head  of  whom  stands  the  name  of  Arthur 

'  Dr.  J.  Symonds,  Pi-ofessor  of  Modern  History  at  Cambridge,  was 
LL.D.,  and  wrote  a  book,  Hints  and  Observations  on  Scripture. 

-  The  Bishop  misquotes  from  memory.  The  quotation  is  from 
Horace,  Ep.  Bk.  I.  iii.  21 ;  agis  should  be  audes. 

^  Published  1703,  giving  an  account  of  the  trial  of  Charles  I.,  of 
Montrose,  &c. 


FIRST   GLBIPSE   OF  FEANCE  115 

Young.  The  following  letters  are  from  James  Barry,' 
the  celebrated  painter.  This  was  a  very  singular 
character.  I  sat  to  him  for  the  portrait  which  he 
inserted  in  his  famous  painting  for  the  decoration  of 
the  Society's  room.^  I  met  him  often  at  Dr.  Burney's, 
and  alwaj^s  found  him  to  abound  with  original  observa- 
tions, which  marked  a  character  peculiarly  his  own.  He 
always  seemed  to  me  to  be  proud  of  his  poverty. 

'  Adelphi :  April  1783. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for 
your  kind  letter,  and  hope  your  goodness  will  make 
every  allowance  for  my  not  having  answered  it  sooner, 
but  of  all  things  I  hate  writing  at  any  time,  more 
particularly  at  present,  when  I  had  resolved  to  allow 
myself  some  days'  Sabbath,  to  the  utter  exclusion  of 
all  manner  of  labour,  even  of  that  which  was  most 
agreeable  to  me.  I  shall  be  sincerely  obliged  to  you 
for  your  corrected  copy  of  my  account  of  the  pictures,^ 
and  the  freer  and  the  more  extensive  your  strictures 
are  the  more  thankful  I  shall  be ;  whatever  is  for  use 
shall  be  adopted,  and  I  will  further  promise  you  that 
whatever  may  not  be  to  the  purpose  shall  be  thrown 
aside  with  as  little  reluctance  as  if  I  had  written  it  my- 
self. I  expect  to  find  you  on  a  wrong  scent  in  what  you 
call  my  violence,  which  you  may  think  has  been  carried 
too  far,  and  I  shall  have  a  pleasure  in  setting  you  right  as 

'  Died  in  great  poverty,  1808,  and  was  buried  in  St.  Paul's  Cathe- 
dral. 

^  The  Society  of  Arts,  Adelphi. 

*  This  apparently  refers  to  Barry's  report  of  the  Eoyal  Academy. 

I  2 


116      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

to  that  matter  the  first  time  we  meet.  You  will  find 
nothing  has  arisen  from  resentment,  nothing  from  a 
desire  of  retaliating,  nothing  from  paltry,  interested 
views  ;  such  motives,  though  I  might  be  inclined  to 
make  allowance  for  them  in  others,  I  should  reprobate 
in  myself.  It  appeared  to  me  a  bounden  duty  to  point 
out  for  the  common  good  whatever  I  could  discover  of 
those  quicksands,  shoals,  and  rocks  that  obstruct  and 
endanger  our  viaggiatori  in  the  belle  arti,  and  I  am 
confident  that  the  arts  and  the  reputation  of  the 
country  will  receive  essential  service,  whenever  this 
chart  (of  which  I  have  made  but  a  rude  sketch)  shall 
be  perfected  by  some  man  of  more  information  and 
better  abilities  (though  perhaps  not  of  more  love  for 
truth,  for  the  public  and  for  science)  and  of  penetration, 
energy,  vivacity  and  perspicuity,  to  treat  this  matter  as 
it  deserves. 

'  Though  I  don't  wish  to  hurry  you,  yet  I  hope  your 
copy  will  come  soon ;  I  accept  your  terms,  or  rather  I 
insist  upon  them,  but  do  not  content  yourself  with 
what  you  may  have  written  in  the  margin,  in  which, 
upon  this  occasion,  I  am  sorry  to  believe  you  must  be 
straitened  for  want  of  room  ;  however,  you  can  stick 
papers  between  the  leaves,  and  in  charity  spare  not 
the  rod,  as  it  may  save  the  child.  I  have  on  all 
hands  got  more  praise  than  I  well  know  what  to  do 
vnth,  and  something  else  may  now  be  more  profitable 
to  me. 

'  In  what  you  say  of  yourself  I  feel  for  the  country — 
the  loss  is  theirs,  not  yours.  God  Almighty  has  so 
ordered  matters  in  this  world  that  it  is  praiseworthy 


FIRST   GLIMPSE   OF  FRANCE  117 

and  honourable  when  genius  and  abilities  will  struggle 
to  exert  themselves  for  the  service  of  others ;  it  was  for 
this  end  they  were  given,  and  with  the  consciousness 
of  these  honest  and  dutiful  endeavours  such  men  must 
be  contented,  and,  indeed,  ought  to  be  happy,  as  no 
more  can  depend  upon  themselves.  Others  are  to  be 
accountable,  and  to  receive  glory  or  infamy  for  what 
is  done  on  their  part  in  the  assistance  or  the  obstruction 
they  may  have  flung  in  the  way.     Farewell  ! 

'  Yours  most  affectionately, 

'J,  Barry.' 

'Adelphi:  July  1783. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  am  delighted  with  your  account  of 
Ireland,  'tis  v^dse,  candid,  bold,  exceedingly  humane, 
and  just  what  the  nature  of  the  case  required.  I  have 
long  been  sick  at  heart  of  the  timid,  trimming,  mis- 
takingly  prudent,  and  palliating  conduct  of  those 
writers  who  have  been  liitherto  quacking  and  dabbling 
with  the  sores  and  miseries  of  that  country,  and  was 
without  the  least  hope  of  ever  seeing  this  matter 
undertaken  by  any  man  of  such  sufficient  courage, 
philanthropy,  or  charity  (which  are  indeed  but  dif- 
ferent points  of  view  of  the  same  virtue),  as  inight 
obtain  for  us  a  fair,  open  and  entire  exposition  of  this 
unexampled  and  very  melancholy  case.  Judge,  then, 
what  a  pleasure  I  am  receiving  in  the  perusal  of  your 
book.  You  have,  I  find,  probed  the  evil  to  the  bottom, 
and  left  me  without  a  wish.  The  men  of  Ireland 
are  surely  much  indebted  to  you,  and  will,  I  trust,  one 
day  acknowledge  it,  but  for  the  present  you  must  have 


118      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

patience  and  ought  to  bear  with  them,  as  the  illiberality 
or  meanness  you  may  justly  complain  of  may  fairly  be 
ascribed  to  an  unhappy  combination  of  circumstances, 
owing  principally  to  the  tyrannical  monopolising  dis- 
position and  rascally  interference  of  your  own  fore- 
fathers, who  had  with  the  most  abominable  and 
diabolical  poUcy  employed  their  whole  skill  and  power 
utterly  to  erase  from  the  minds  of  Irishmen  all  those 
noble  and  generous  feelings  which  w^ere  incompatible 
with  a  servile  and  enslaved  condition,  and  which  ulti- 
mately estranged  them  from  the  exercise  of  even  the 
ordinary  vulgar  virtues. 

'  In  situations  where  men  are  divided  into  large 
bodies  of  tyrants  and  slaves,  little  good  is  to  be  ex- 
pected. Their  vices  may  differ,  but  they  are  all  equally 
remote  from  virtue,  truth,  justice,  gratitude,  the  love 
of  excellence,  or  any  other  of  those  qualities  which 
constitute  the  real  dignity  of  human  nature.  Those 
who  are  attached  to  no  country  or  description  of  men, 
but  for  the  ends  and  furtherance  of  humanity,  by  equal 
justice  and  happiness,  will  with  me  rejoice  and  give 
Almighty  God  thanks  for  the  dissolution  of  whatever 
has  hitherto  obstructed  the  growth  and  spreading  of 
virtue,  and  for  that  just  sense  of  the  human  dignity 
which  is  now  diffusing  itself  so  extensively  in  Ireland, 
and  gives  fair  prospect  of  a  plentiful  harvest  (in  due 
season)  of  those  other  virtues  which,  though  but  thinly 
scattered  in  England,  are  at  present,  I  fear,  in  vain  to 
be  sought  for  anywhere  else. 

'  Yours  most  affectionately, 

'  James  Baert.' 


FIRST   GLIMPSE   OF  FEANCE  119 

At  this  period  commenced  a  most  agreeable  ac- 
quaintance with  a  French  gentleman  who  came  to 
Bury,  and  I  must  dilate  a  little  on  the  origin  of  his 
journey.  The  Duke  of  Liancourt '  was  Colonel  of  a 
French  regiment,  the  quarters  of  which  were  at  Pont 
a  Mousson,  in  Lorraine,  to  which  he  went  every  year, 
according  to  the  regulations  of  the  French  army.  At 
that  place  he  accidentally  met  Monsieur  de  Lazowski,^ 
son  of  a  Pole,  who  came  to  Lorraine  with  King 
Stanislas.  The  Duke  was  so  struck  with  his  manner 
and  conversation  that  he  resolved  to  cultivate  his 
acquaintance.  About  that  time  he  was  in  want  of  a 
tutor  for  his  two  sons — not  for  the  common  purposes 
of  education,  but  to  travel  with  them.  He  accordingly 
engaged  Lazowski  to  make  the  tour  of  France  with 
these  lads,  the  Count  de  la  Kochefoucault  and  the 
Count  Alexander  de  la  Eochefoucault.  The  Duke 
thought  it  an  important  part  of  education  to  become 
well  acquainted  with  their  own  country.  During  two 
years   they   travelled   over   the   greatest   part   of   the 

'  The  friend  of  Louis  XVI.,  who  summoned  courage  to  announce  the 
fall  of  the  Bastille.  '  It  is  a  revolt?'  said  the  King.  'Sire,'  replied 
the  Duke,  '  it  is  a  revolution.'  This  amiable  and  well-intentioned  man 
leaned  towards  a  constitutional  monarchy ;  finding  this  hopeless,  he 
emigrated,  returning  after  exile  to  Liancourt  (Seine  and  Oise),  ending 
his  days  among  a  community  he  had  raised  morally  and  materially. 
Died  1827. 

^  His  brother  must  not  be  wholly  judged  from  Madame  Koland's 
portrait,  penned  in  prison.  The  '  Queen  of  the  Gironde  '  no  more  than 
her  fellow-partisans  was  free  from  political  animus.  It  is  true  that 
Lazowski  threw  himself  into  the  very  heart  of  Sans-culottisvic,  and 
that  his  funeral  oration  (1792)  was  pronounced  by  Robespierre.  His 
alleged  share  in  the  September  massacres  requires  stronger  evidence 
than  that  of  his  bitterest  enemies  at  bay. 


120      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

kingdom  on  horseback.  The  Duke  was  so  well  pleased 
with  the  conduct  of  Lazowski  on  this  journey  that, 
having  determined  to  send  his  sons  to  England  in 
order  to  acquire  the  language  of  that  country,  and, 
generally,  in  compliance  with  the  Anglomania  which 
then  reigned  in  France,  he  continued  Lazowski  in 
his  situation  and  sent  them  all  three  to  England. 
Among  other  objects  in  France,  Lazowski  had  given 
some  attention  to  agriculture,  particularly  in  its  con- 
nection with  political  economy.  On  his  arrival  in 
London  he  made  enquirj^  who  could  most  probably 
give  him  information  relative  to  agriculture,  manu- 
factures, commerce  and  other  national  objects.  Among 
others  I  was  named  to  him  by  some  person  who  was  so 
partial  in  his  representations  that  he  at  once  determined 
to  fix  at  Bury  for  a  short  time,  which  he  understood 
was  the  nearest  town  to  my  country  residence.  He 
and  the  two  young  men  went  to  the  Angel  Inn,  from 
thence  hired  convenient  apartments,  and  enquired 
where  I  resided.  At  that  time  I  was  absent,  and  Mr. 
Symonds,  understanding  that  two  young  men  of  fashion 
from  France  were  at  Bury,  introduced  himself  and 
showed  them  various  civilities,  and  when  I  returned 
brought  them  over  to  Bradfield.  From  that  time  a 
friendship  between  me  and  Lazowski  commenced,  and 
lasted  till  the  death  of  the  latter.  He  was  about  forty 
years  of  age,  and  in  every  respect  a  most  agreeable 
companion.  He  soon  made  rapid  progress  in  the 
English  language,  which  he  spoke  not  only  w^th 
fluency,  but  often  with  extreme  wittiness.  There  was 
not  in  his  mind  any  strong  predominant   cast ;    but 


FIEST  GLIMPSE   OF  FEANCE  121 

the  grace  and  facility  of  his  manner,  with  suavity 
of  temper,  made  him  a  great  favomite,  and  being 
also  highly  elegant  and  refined,  he  often  produced 
impressions  which  were  not  easily  effaced.  From  his 
general  conversation  in  mixed  society  it  was  not  readily 
concluded  that  he  could  or  would  attend  wdth  great 
industry  and  perseverance  to  objects  of  importance. 
But  this  would  have  been  erroneous,  for  he  exerted  the 
greatest  industry  in  making  himself  a  master  of  all 
those  circumstances  which  mark  the  basis  of  national 
prosperity,  and  he  formed  in  his  own  mind  a  very 
correct  comparison  of  the  resources  both  of  Britain 
and  France.  He  often  expressed  to  me  much  surprise 
at  what  he  thought  on  this  subject  in  England,  and 
declared  that  the  ignorance  of  the  French  relative  to 
their  great  rival  was  most  profound.  The  Duke  of 
Liancourt  was  highly  gratified  by  his  correspondence, 
and  after  he  had  resided  some  time,  first  at  Bury  and 
afterwards  with  Mr.  Symonds,  he  was  directed  to  take 
the  young  men  a  tour  through  England  and  Scotland, 
which  he  did.  The  Duke  himself  came  over  on  a 
visit  to  Sjrmonds  while  his  sons  and  their  tutor  were 
in  the  house.  Soon  after  his  arrival  in  England, 
hearing  that  there  were  such  carriages  at  Bury  as  were 
called  buggies,  and  desiring  to  make  use  of  all  sorts,  he 
ordered  one  to  be  hired  to  convey  him  and  Lazowski 
to  Bradfield.  On  its  coming  to  the  door,  Lazowski 
perceiving  that,  though  it  was  drawn  by  one  horse 
only,  it  ran  upon  the  quarter,'  he  would  have  persuaded 

'  '  That  part  of  a  horse's  foot  between  the  toe  and  heel,  being  the  side 
of  the  coffin.' — Farrier's  Diet. 


122      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

the  Duke  not  to  attempt  driving,  as  it  would  be  20  to  1 
that   he   would   overthrow  it ;    but  the  Duke,  full  of 
presumption,    held    such    prudential    advice   in    con- 
tempt, and,  whipping  away,  had  not  gone  half  a  mile 
in  a  cross  road  before  he  overturned  the  carriage,  and 
in  the  fall    dislocated  his    shoulder.     The  Duke  was 
conveyed  to  Sjononds.      Lazowski   instantly  rode  off 
to  inform  me  of  the  accident,  and  the  Duke  expressed 
no  more  desire  to  drive  carriages  he  had  never  seen. 
Lazowski's  connection  with  the  Duke  was  not  put  an 
end  to  when  the  education  of  his  sons  was  finished ; 
he  was  so  useful  that  he  continued  his  salary  and  an 
apartment  in  the  Hotel  de  la   Eochefoucauld,    Paris, 
and  I  often  admired  the  independent  spirit  with  which 
he  lived  in  the  family.     A  dinner-  did  not  often  pass 
Vkdthout    an    argument   between   him    and   the  Duke, 
which   was    carried  on  with  a  great  deal  of   heat  on 
both  sides.     On  such  occasions  Lazowski  never  gave 
up  the  shadow  of  an  opinion,  and  being  gifted  with 
more  natural  fluency  than  the  Duke,  he  had  usually 
the  better  of  the  argument.     This  w^as  equally  to  the 
credit  of  both.     His  employment  was  chiefly  drawing 
up  memorials   upon  pohtical  subjects  for  the  Duke's 
information,  who  was  a  vain  man,  and,  without  doubt, 
figured  in  conversation  by  this  subsidiary  assistance. 
His  vanity  appeared  in  one  circumstance  in  which  he 
attempted  much  more  than  he  could  perform.     While 
he  was  in  the  bath,  or  dressing  by  his  valet  de  chambre, 
he  had  three   secretaries,  to  whom  he   pretended  to 
dictate  at  the  same  time.     One  of  them  told  Lazowski 
that  it  was  scarcely  credible  how  they  were  fatigued 


FIEST   GLIMPSE    OF  FKANCE  123 

by  his  incessant  blunders.  Yet  in  France,  perhaps, 
this  very  attempt  gave  a  sort  of  reputation.  It  was 
suspected  that  he  merely  attempted  this  in  imitation 
of  Csesar,  who  did  the  same  thing,  but  in  a  very 
different  manner,  it  is  presumed,  from  the  D.  de 
Liancourt.  With  a  view  similar  to  that  of  retaining 
Lazowski,  he  gave  an  apartment  to  Jarre,  an  officer 
who  had  long  been  in  the  Kussian  service,  and  after- 
wards became  famous  for  burning  the  suburbs  of 
Courtray.  He  was  well  known  in  England  as  General 
Jarre,  and  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Military  Asylum 
at  "Wycombe.  While  I  was  in  France,  M.  Jarre 
published  an  octavo  volume  under  the  title  of  '  Credit 
National,'  a  whimsical  work,  in  which  the  arguments 
were  very  ill  supported.  Lazowski  alwaj's  showed  me 
great  friendliness,  and  I  returned  it  with  great  constancy 
and  truth.  Among  all  the  men  I  met  with  in  France, 
attached  to  the  higher  classes  or  constituting  them,  all 
were  infidels,  and  poor  Lazowski  of  the  number.  He 
never  lost  himself  so  completely  as  when  he  entered 
into  an  argument  upon  the  truth  of  Christianity  with 
the  Bishop  of  Llandaff,  for,  though  civilly  done,  the 
Bishop  ground  him  to  powder.  The  latter,  of  course, 
thought  him  nothing  but  a  frothy  Frenchman,  like 
most  of  his  countrymen,  with  Voltaire  in  his  head  and 
the  devil  in  his  heart,  all  of  whom  would  have  talked 
the  same  language  had  they  had  the  same  opportunity. 
Before  Lazowski  and  his  pupils  had  learnt  English, 
Symonds  took  them  to  Cambridge,  and  introduced 
them  to  the  Bishop,  who,  understanding  that  the  young 
men  were  of  high  rank  in  France,  and  knowing  that 


124      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUK  YOUNG 

he  spoke  French  himself  with  difficulty,  put  on  his 
canonicals  to  receive  his  foreign  guests,  and,  entering 
the  room  with  a  most  stately  air,  addressed  them  all  in 
Latin,  liinting  to  Symonds  the  propriety,  as  Latin  was 
the  language  of  that  learned  University,  and,  therefore, 
in  using  it  he  was  classically  right.  The  Frenchmen, 
of  course,  replied  with  plenty  of  bows  and  grimaces 
to  every  learned  sentence  rolled  out  in  most  majestic 
tone  from  the  Bishop's  mouth,  but  giving  no  other 
answer.  The  Bishop  was  at  last  compelled  to  address 
them  in  his  broken  French  :  '  Latin,  gentlemen,  is  our 
language  here,  but  perhaps  you  had  rather  I  should 
speak  in  bad  French  than  not  use  that  language  at 
all  !  '  and  then  relaxing  his  episcopal  dignity,  he 
conversed  with  them  at  ease  and  quieted  their  ruffled 
spirits. 

1784. — This  year  I  took  a  journey  with  my  son 
for  farming  intelligence  into  Essex  and  Kent,  &c.,  and, 
being  at  Dover,  we  went  over  to  Calais  just  to  enable 
us  to  say  that  we  had  been  in  France.  But  I  had 
another  motive,  which  was  to  see  M.  Mouron,  and  the 
capital  improvements  that  gentleman  had  made  near 
Calais.  "We  lived  three  or  four  days  at  Dessein's  cele- 
brated inn.  M.  Mouron  not  only  showed  me  his  great 
farm,  but  explained  to  me  every  circumstance  of  the 
improvements,  which  I  printed  in  the  'Annals.'  Some 
years  before  the  Empress  Catherine  had  sent  over  seven 
or  eight  young  men  to  learn  practical  agriculture,  two 
or  three  of  whom  were  fixed  with  my  friend  Arbuthnot, 
and  others  in  different  parts  of  the  Kingdom.  They 
were  under  the  superintendence  of  the  Kev.  Mr.  Sam- 


FIEST  GLIMPSE   OF  FKANCE  125 

bosky,  who  wrote  to  me  at  Bradfield  earnestly  requesting 
that  I  would  go  to  London  a.nd  examine  all  the  young 
men,  that  he  might  take  or  send  them  to  St.  Petersburg. 
This  I  accordingly  did,  and  examined  them  very  closely, 
except  one,  who  refused  to  answer  any  questions  from  a 
conviction  of  his  absolute  ignorance.     I  gave  a  certifi- 
cate of  the  others'  examination,  and  I  asked  Sambosky 
what  would  become  of  the  obstinate  fool  who  would 
not  answer.     He  replied  that  without  doubt  he  would 
be  sent  to  Siberia  for  life,  but  I  never  heard  whether 
this  happened.     One   of   them,   by  much   the   ablest, 
remained  in  England,  and  became  in  time  Chaplain  to 
the  Eussian  Embassy,  in  which  situation  he  is  at  the 
present  time,  and  held  in  general  esteem.    The  intended 
establishment  of  an  Imperial  farm  never  took  place,  and 
after  at  least  an  expenditure  of  10,000/.,  the  men  on  their 
arrival  were  turned  loose,  some  to  starve,  some  driven 
into  the  army,  and  others  retained  by  Russian  noble- 
men.    In  this  wretched  and  ridiculous  manner  did  the 
whole  scheme  end,  which,  under  a  proper  arrangement, 
might  have  been  attended  with  very  important  effects. 
Prince   Potemkin,  one  of   the   first   noblemen  in  the 
Russian  Empire,  must  have  been  animated  with  truly 
liberal  and  enlarged  ideas,  or  he  would  not  now  have 
sent   three  young  men  to  learn  practical  agriculture. 
It  gave  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  be  able  to   pro- 
mote their  enquiries  during  a  part  of  their  residence 
here. 

1785. — This  year  I  wrote  a  note  in  the  '  Annals  ' 
relative  to  a  great  work  I  had  long  been  engaged  in, 
which  it  may  not  be  here  amiss  to  insert,  viz. :  to  collect, 


126      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNa 

under  regular  heads,  all  the  well-ascertained  facts  that 
are  scattered  through  books  of  agriculture,  and,  inter 
alia,  in  other  works,  with  those  to  be  deduced  from  the 
common  practice  of  various  countries ;  to  interweave 
experiments  made  purposely  to  ascertain  the  doubtful 
points  ;  and  to  combine  the  whole  into  regular  elements 
of  the  Science  is  the  great  desideratum  at  present.  It 
is  a  work  more  proper  for  an  Academy  on  a  Eoyal  founda- 
tion than  for  any  individual.  But  as  no  such  Academy 
is  to  be  looked  for,  and  as  all  private  societies  pay  their 
attention  to  desultory  objects,  as  often  to  those  already 
ascertained  as  to  points  in  which  we  want  information 
the  most,  I  undertook  the  work  myself  more  than  ten 
years  ago.^ 

I  had  this  year  the  misfortune  to  lose  my  mother, 
to  whom  I  was  most  tenderly  attached,  and  with 
the  greatest  reason,  as  her  kindness  and  affection 
for  me  had  never  failed  during  the  course  of  her  whole 
life.  She  had  been  educated  in  the  most  religious 
manner  by  her  father,  Mr.  de  Cousmaker,  of  whom 
mention  has  already  been  made  as  a  character 
eminently  pious,  but  it  was  not  till  the  loss  of  my 
sister,  Mrs.  Tomlinson,  that  deep  affliction  recalled  in 
her  heart  those  sentiments  of  religion  which  had  been 

'  This  project  developed  into  one  much  more  Iformidable  than  the 
writer  at  this  period  conceived,  namely,  that  monumental  history — or, 
rather,  encyclopaedia — of  agriculture  never  destined  to  see  the  light. 
For  three-quarters  of  a  century  the  ten  folio  volumes  of  manuscript 
garnished  the  library  of  Bradfield  Hall,  perhaps  once  in  twenty  years  to 
be  taken  down  by  some  curious  guest.  What  was  to  have  been  Arthur 
Young's  crowning  achievement  and  legacy  to  future  ages  is,  fortunately, 
not  wholly  lost  to  posterity.  The  ten  volumes  are  now  housed  in  the 
MS.  department  of  the  British  Museum. 


FIEST   GLIMPSE   OF   FEA^sXE  127 

SO  assiduously  cultivated  in  her  youth.  She  was  always 
extremely  fond  of  me,  and  ever  eager  to  do  what  could 
contribute  to  my  satisfaction,  both  as  to  worldly  views, 
but  especially  as  to  my  eternal  interests. 

The  tranquil  bosom  of  my  good  mother's  hermitage 
— my  native  Bradfield — once  more  opened  its  arms  to 
receive  us,  little  more  than  to  come  to  close  the  eye 
and  receive  the  last  signs  of  that  beloved  parent. 
Blessed  spirit ! — may  my  hitherto  restless  days  finish 
as  thine  did,  who  didst  meet  death  with  the  tranquillity 
of  a  healthy  life,  and  mightst  have  said  with  as  much 
justice  as  an  Addison, '  See  with  what  peace  a  Christian 
can  die.' 

Upon  her  death  this  patch  of  landed  property  ^ 
devolved  to  me  by  a  previous  agreement  with  my  elder 
brother,  and  by  my  mother's  will,  written  at  his  desire 
with  his  own  hand.  But  that  agreement  before  it 
terminated  cost  me  a  mortgage  of  1,200?.  The  trans- 
action does  my  brother's  memory  too  much  honour 
not  to  mention  it.  He  was  entitled  to  2,000/.,  but 
knowing  the  smallness  of  the  property,  and  humanely 
considering  that  I  had  a  family  unprovided  for,  that  he 
had  an  ample  income  and  no  family  at  all,  he  generously 
demanded  and  took  no  more  than  1,200Z.  "Whether 
such  things  happen  among  relations  or  strangers, 
they  should  be  mentioned  for  the  credit  of  the  human 
heart. 

My  correspondence  this  year  was,  upon  the  whole, 
interesting,  as  a  few  of  the  letters  will  show.    From  the 

'  Bradfield   Hall   was   sold   on   the   death  of   Arthur  Young's  last 
descendant,  the  late  Arthur  Young,  Esq.,  in  1896. 


128      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

Earl  of  Bristol,  a  panegyric  on  agriculture ;  another 
from  the  same,  an  animated  defence  of  the  Presby- 
terians. 

'  Downhill,  Coleraine  :  Jan.  15,  1785. 

'  My  dear  Arthur, — I  am  mortified,  and  should 
really  be  ashamed  to  see  your  entertaining  letter  so 
long  unanswered,  but  that  the  multiplicity,  as  well  as 
variety  of  my  occupations,  bereave  me  sometimes  of 
the  most  pleasing  ones  ;  from  sunrise  to  long  after 
sunset  I  am  not  a  moment  idle,  either  in  mind  or 
person,  and  I  can  venture  to  assure  you  that  agricul- 
ture, being  the  basis  of  all  public  and  private  virtues,  as 
it  banishes  laziness,  fortifies  the  body,  leads  to  fair  and 
honest  procreation,  provides  sustenance  and  multiplies 
the  tenderest  and  most  endearing  ties  in  nature,  has 
no  little  share  both  of  my  time  and  attention.  Let 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men  daily  employed  verify  my 
assertion ;  let  the  rocks  which  disappear  and  the  grass 
which  succeeds  to  them  corroborate  that  evidence. 
But,  then,  what  have  I  to  do  with  the  English  plough  ? 
Neither  our  soil,  nor  our  climate,  nor  our  labourers 
are  the  same ;  we  are  poor  and  you  are  rich ;  when 
industry  has  approximated  a  little  of  our  wealth  to 
yours  perhaps  we  may  be  tempted  to  adopt  your 
luxury  in  agriculture,  unless  before  that  you  shall 
have  discovered  your  errors  and  so  saved  us  the 
trouble  of  retracting  what  we  have  not  had  time  to 
adopt. 

'  As  to  my  Presbyterians,  I  am  glad  you  are  modest 
enough  not  to  censure  those,  whom  you  are  honest 
enough  to   confess  you   do  not   know ;    all  the  harm 


FIEST   GLIMPSE   OF  FKANCE  129 

which  I  find  in  them  is  that  they  love  the  rights 
of  mankind,  and  if  in  pm:suing  them  for  themselves 
they  refuse  to  participate  with  their  fellow  citizens,  I 
would  join  in  your  execrations,  and  set  them  a  better 
example  than  hitherto  they  have  received  from  our 
church.  Adieu !  let  me  hear  from  you  sometimes 
when  you  have  nothing  better  to  do,  and  tell  Symonds, 
with  my  affectionate  compliments,  that  I  have  recovered 
my  lost  map  of  the  Pontine  marshes,  and  will  send  it 
by  the  first  opportunity.  If  you  ever  see  the  learned 
and  good-humoured  Kector  (Keverend  George  Ashby) 
don't  let  him  forget 

'  Your  affectionate  friend, 

'Bristol.' 

'  Downhill,  Coleraine  :  March  9,  1785. 

'  Dear  Arthur, — I  have  but  just  received  yours  of  the 
19th,  and  though  I  do  not  think  my  letters  worth 
paying  for,  yet  since  you  do,  and  I  have  a  leisure  half 
hour,  have  at  you.  And  in  this  duel  of  our  pens, 
who  would  expect  a  Bishop  of  the  Established  Church 
to  be  an  advocate  for  the  anti-Episcopal  Schismatics, 
called  Presbyterians,  whilst  a  man  whose  religion  lies 
in  his  plough  and  his  garden,  that  is,  with  the  Goddess 
of  the  one  and  with  the  God  of  the  other,  to  be  so 
zealous  an  opponent?  My  defence  rests  principally 
on  this  point,  that  they  have  as  good  a  right  to  differ 
from  me  as  my  ancestors  from  our  joint  ancestors, 
or  the  Church  established  above  twelve  hundred  years 
before. 

'  As  to  their  political  principles,  I  think  them,  from 

K 


130      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

their  system  of  parity,  and  from  their  practice  in  most 
parts  of  Europe,  infinitely  more  favomrable  to  political 
liberty  than  om's. 

'  Witness  Germany  and  Switzerland  and  the  short 
reign  of  Old  Nol. 

'  You  say,  "  But  their  political  principles  never 
became  powerfully  active  without  involving  their 
country  in  a  civil  war."  And  are  there  not  two  words 
to  that  bargain,  and  does  not  the  pot  call  the  kettle, 
&c.  &c. '?  ^  You  might  as  well  object  the  same  to  all 
good  citizens  when  oppressed  by  bad  ones ;  you  may 
as  well  object  the  same  to  the  first  Brutus  and  to  the 
second ;  you  may  as  well  object  it  to  Luther  and 
Melanchthon.  Did  the  Presbyterians  ask  anything 
unreasonable  when  they  desired  to  have  their  nonsense 
tolerated  as  well  as  other  nonsense  ?  for  if  it  be  non- 
sense 'tis  paying  it  too  great  a  compliment,  and  our- 
selves too  bad  a  one,  to  persecute  it ;  and  if  it  be 
good  sense,  surely,  for  one's  own  sake,  as  well  as  that 
of  our  neighbours,  it  deserves  a  better  reception  than 
persecution. 

'When  I  see  Switzerland  and  Germany  pacified 
for  above  150  years,  after  throat-cutting  for  140,  by 
the  single  means  of  a  reciprocal  toleration,  and  by  the 
Pacta  Conventa  of  1648,^  which  allowed  them  to  share 
those  loaves  and  fishes  alternately  monopolised  by 
each  party,  I  must  confess,  if  I  were  Frederick  the 
First  of  Oceana,  or  of  Atlantis,  I  should  not  hesitate 
to  begin  my  reign  with  that  system  with  which  most 

'  Proverb,  'The  pot  calls  the  kettle  black.' — Bailey's  Diet. 
-  The  Peace  of  Westphalia. 


FIKST   GLIMPSE   OF   FRANCE  131 

sovereigns  are  compelled  to  close  theirs  !  The  rights 
of  humanity,  dear  Arthur,  the  rights  of  humanity 
form  a  great  article  in  my  creed,  and  that  religion,  or 
sect  of  religion,  which  can  teach  otherwise  may  come 
from  below,  but  surely  did  not  descend  from  above. 

*  Believe  me,  our  whirlwind  is  not  past,  perhaps 
'tis  only  just  beginning ;  yet  three  hundred  labourers 
with  their  spades  fill  my  mind's  eye  with  as  pleasing 
and  as  satisfactory  ideas  as  the  whole  Coleraine  Bat- 
talion with  their  muskets  before  my  door.  If  in  this 
whirlwind  I  can  direct  the  storm,  so  much  the  better 
for  humanity,  but  not  for  the  lank-haired  Divinity, 
nor  the  frizzle-topped  Divinity,  nor  the  hocus-pocus 
Divinity. 

'  I  love  agriculture  because  it  makes  good  citizens, 
good  husbands,  good  fathers,  good  children  ;  because 
it  does  not  leave  a  man  time  to  plunder  his  neighbour, 
and  because  by  its  plenty  it  bereaves  him  of  the 
temptation  ;  and  I  hate  an  aristocratical  Government 
because  it  plunders  these  honest  fellows  ;  because  it  is 
idle  ;  it  is  insolent ;  it  values  itself  on  the  merits  of  it, 
and  because,  like  an  overbearing  torrent,  the  farther  it 
is  removed  from  its  fountain  head,  and  the  less  it 
partakes  of  its  original  purity,  the  more  desolation  it 
carries  with  it ;  and  because,  like  a  stinking,  stagnated 
pool,  it  inflicts  those  very  disorders  which  it  was  the 
chief  merit  of  its  spring  and  fountain  head  to  heal  and 
remove. 

'  Adieu. 

'  Ever  affectionately, 

'  Bristol.' 

K    2 


132      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

My  brother,  the  Eev.  Dr.  Young,  Fellow  of  Eton 
College,  in  this  letter  informs  me  that  the  King  reads 
my  '  Annals '  and  is  much  pleased  with  them,  and  highly 
approves  of  my  arguments  to  show  that  we  are  far 
enough  from^being  in  a  ruined  state. 

'Eton  College  :  May  1,  1785. 

'  Dear  Arthur, — I  have  two  of  your  letters  to 
answer  ;  the  latter  directed  to  "Worcester,  why,  I  know 
not,  for  I  never  intended  to  be  there  till  the  beginning 
of  next  month.  I  see  no  reason  for  your  being  at  the 
expense  you  allude  to  for  the  public,  and  think  you 
ought  to  be  indemnified ;  you  cannot  afford  these 
journeys  to  London,  and  so  I  would  plainly  tell  the 
Ministers. 

'  Yesterday  se'nnight  as  I  returned  from  the  chase 
the  King  spoke  to  me  of  you  in  very  handsome  terms  ; 
I  find  that  he  reads  your  publications. 

'  He  commended  particularly  your  recent  periodical 
work  as  being  very  useful,  and  was  much  pleased 
with  your  argument  to  prove  that  we  are  not  a  ruined 
people,  but  have  great  resources.  I  told  him  that  you 
had  been  sent  for  by  Mr.  Kose,^  which  he  did  know. 

*  You  wrote  to  me  some  time  ago  that  you  were  of 
the  same  opinion  with  Lord  Sheffield,  but  now  you 
write  that  the  commercial  part  of  their  measure'^  is 
very  good,  but  the  political  part  is  very  bad.  How 
do  you  reconcile  this,  for  Lord  S.  is  against  the  com- 
mercial part  ? 

'  George  Eose,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trade.     Died  1818. 
'*  This  measure  is  referred  to  on  page  137. 


FIEST   GLIMPSE   OF   FEANCE  133 

'  I  wish  you  would  explain  this,  for  I  am  against 
both  parts,  though,  I  confess,  no  judge. 

'  You  ask  whether  I  continue  mj^  new  trade  of 
hunting.  If  you  think  it  is  a  profitable  one  you  are 
much  mistaken  ;  so  far  indeed  it  is,  that  I  hope  to 
take  this  year  twenty  pounds  out  of  my  apothecary's 
bill ;  I  have  not  been  for  some  winters  so  well  as  I 
have  been  since  I  took  to  hunting,  and  I  hope  to 
continue  the  trade  next  year,  I  was  yesterday  seven 
hours  and  a  half  on  horseback,  and  rode  certainly 
fifty-five  miles,  besides  fifteen  more  home  from  Henley 
in  a  post-chaise,  which  is  pretty  well  at  fifty-seven 
years  old. 

'  I  have  two  very  fine  horses  ;  the  King,  who  is 
generally  but  moderately  mounted,  will  tell  you  the 
two  best  in  the  hunt. 

'  Why  would  you  not  call  on  me  when  you  were 

in  town  ? 

'  Adieu,  dear  Arthur. 

'  Yours  affectionately, 

'  John  Young.' 

From  Dr.  Valpy,  who  corrected  a  poem  I  sent  him, 
and,  to  my  surprise,  approves  of  my  poetry  : — 

'  My  dear  Friend, — I  beg  your  pardon  again  and 
again  for  keeping  your  poem  so  long.  Unhappily  I 
had  mislaid  it,  and  chance  only  recovered  it.  There 
runs  a  vein  of  fancy  through  your  poetry  which  stamps 
a  high  character  upon  it,  and  would  yom*  genius 
but  stoop  to  the  minutiae  of  correctness  would  raise 


134      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUK  YOUNG 

you  to  an  exalted  rank  in  that  line.  Whether  you  will 
approve  my  alterations  or  not  I  cannot  tell,  but  it  would 
be  difficult  to  point  out  more  inaccuracies  in  the  poem. 
You  obliged  me  much  by  your  introductory  number. 
I  had  sent  for  one  before,  with  a  view  to  lend  it  to  my 
friends  and  to  engage  them  to  become  purchasers  of 
the  work.  It  is  very  correctly  written,  except  that 
sometimes  you  use  shook  as  a  participle. 

'  Everybody  here  is  Pitt  mad.  Addresses  upon 
addresses  crowd  the  avenue  to  St.  James's.  It  has 
even  been  proposed  to  offer  Mr.  Pitt  a  seat  in  Parlia- 
ment for  this  town  if  Mr.  Neville  can  be  engaged  to  put 
up  for  the  county.  Our  county  meeting  was  no  bad  an 
epitome  of  the  House  of  Commons.  We  had  some 
excellent  speeches.  I  had  occasion  to  be  at  the  Oxford- 
shire meeting — a  most  shabby  wrangle  and  scene  of 
illiberal  confusion.  I  admire  Mr.  Pitt — and  do  not  like 
Fox ;  but  ought  not  a  dissolution  to  have  taken  place, 
or  the  people  have  instructed  their  representatives 
rather  than  suffer  the  House  of  Commons  to  be  so 
degraded  ?  What  are  your  sentiments  on  this  unhappy 
dissension  ?  Sorry,  very  sorry  I  am  that  you  would 
not  come  down  to  Reading.  I  am  certain  you  must 
have  met  with  an  opportunity.  It  was  my  inten- 
tion last  Christmas  to  have  paid  you  a  visit,  but  I  had 
some  friends  with  me.  Next  Christmas,  however,  I 
mean  to  see  Suffolk,  if  possible.     Cullum  is  still  here. 

'  The  present  state  of  my  school  is  this  :  six-and- 
thirty  boarders  and  three  parlour  boarders,  besides  day 
scholars.  I  have  two  ushers.  I  sometimes  hear  of 
your  brother,  but  I  have  not  met  with  him.     I  am  told 


FIEST   GLIMPSE   OF   FRANCE  135 

he  has  a  mortal  aversion  to  everything  that  comes  from 
Oxford. 

'  March  18. — I  hope  your  family  and  the  mater- 
familias  are  in  a  prosperous  way.  Pray  give  my  best 
respects  to  Mrs.  Young,  and  remember  me  to  the 
3''oung  ladies  and  my  old  scholar.  Something  I  have 
heard  of  another  child.  One  of  the  greatest  luxuries 
that  I  sigh  for  in  life  is  that  you  lived  near  me.  But 
inconveniences  of  absence  do  not  seem  likely  to  be  pre- 
vented by  your  endeavour  to  come  after  me.  Let  me, 
however,  hear  from  you  as  often  as  you  can. 

*  Adieu. 

'K.  Valpy.' 

I  find  by  memoranda  that  I  was  busied  in  the 
imagination  of  new  fish-ponds,'  taking  lively  interest  in 
and  examining  how  much  of  the  low  meadow  at  Brad- 
field  could  be  laid  under  water.  What  led  me  to  this 
folly  is  not  easy  to  conceive,  because  I  could  have 
afforded  to  attempt  the  making  of  an  ocean  as  much  as 
of  a  pond ;  but  how  often  is  the  register  of  a  life  the 
register  of  human  folly  ? 

I  was  (this  year)  elected  an  honorary  member  of 
the  Royal  Society  of  Agriculture  of  Paris. ^  About  this 
time  I  went  on  a  farming  journey  to  the  Bakewells,^  in 
Leicestershire  ;  it  was  a  very  instructive  journey  and 

'  Arthur  Young's  fishing  parties  are  described  in  Fanny  Barney's 
Caviilla. 

•  Founded  178.5. 

■'  Robert  Bakewell,  died  ITDo,  a  celebrated  grazier.  It  was  wittily 
remarked  that  '  his  animals  were  too  dear  for  anyone  to  buy,  and  too  fat 
for  anyone  to  eat.' 


136  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   AETHUE   YOUNG 

in  which  I  gained  a  great  deal  of  valuable  information, 
I  also  spent  several  days  about  this  time  with  Lord 
Townshend '  at  Eainham  and  his  uncommonly  agree- 
able young  wife,  equally  elegant  and  beautiful.  During 
my  visit  I  had  an  ample  opportunity  of  admiring  the 
noble  picture  of  Belisarius  by  Salvator  Eosa,  a  perform- 
ance which  can  never  be  too  highly  commended.  With 
the  agreeableness  of  this  noble  family,  and  especially 
of  Lady  Townshend,  I  rendered  my  visit  extremely 
pleasing. 

The  noble  Lord,  to  whose  liberal  attention  I  owe 
much  information,  came  to  his  estate  in  so  high  a 
degree  of  cultivation,  owing  to  the  unrivalled  exertions 
of  his  grandfather,  that  little  was  left  for  him  to  per- 
form ;  a  life  of  great  activity  and  service,  had  the  situation 
of  his  property  been  different,  would  not  have  allowed 
a  minute's  attention.  These  notes  will,  however,  show 
that  Lord  Townshend  has  not  been  idle  at  Eainham. 

On  my  arrival  there  I  was  anxious  to  view  that 
part  of  the  estate  chiefly  near  the  house,  which  was 
improved  by  a  man  who  quitted  all  the  power  and 
lustre  of  a  Court  for  the  amusements  of  agriculture. 

Charles,  Lord  Viscount  Townshend,  who  was  Am- 
bassador Extraordinary  to  the  States  General  in  1709, 
a  Lord  of  the  Eegency  on  the  death  of  Queen  Anne, 

'  '  Turnip  Townshend,'  ancestor  of  the  Lord  Townshend  here  named, 
was  celebrated  in  the  famous  lines — 

'  Why  of  two  brothers,  rich  and  restless,  one 
Ploughs,  burns,  manures,  and  toils  from  sun  to  sun ; 
The  other  slights  for  women,  sports,  and  wines, 
All  Townshend's  turnips  and  all  Grosvenor's  mines.' 

Pope's  Gth  translation  of  Horace. 


FIRST   GLIMPSE   OF   FEANCE  137 

Knight  of  the  Garter,  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland, 
twice  Secretary  of  State,  and  Lord  President  of  the 
Council,  resigned  the  seals  in  May  1730,  and,  as  he 
died  in  1738,  it  is  probable  that  this  period  of  eight 
years  was  that  of  his  improvements  round  Rainham, 

The  Irish  propositions  ^  which  were  at  this  time 
imder  the  consideration  of  Government  meeting  with 
many  unforeseen  difficulties,  I  had  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Hose  requesting  information  relative  to  the  com- 
parative circumstances  of  the  two  kingdoms,  and  Mr. 
Pitt  thought  the  information  so  much  to  the  purpose 
that  he  desired  Mr.  Eose  to  write  to  me  requesting  my 
attendance  in  town.  I  accordingly  went,  and  gave 
Mr.  Pitt  the  information  he  wished,  at  the  same  time 
answering  an  abundance  of  collateral  enquiries,  for  which 
I  received  a  formal  letter  of  thanks.  My  correspond- 
ence with  Mr.  Eose  recurred  several  times  after  these 
interviews.  In  his  third  letter  he  requested  to  be 
informed  of  the  amount  of  a  labourer's  consumption  of 
taxed  commodities,  in  order  to  ascertain  what  excises 
and  other  taxes  such  consumption  supports.  '  I  con- 
ceive,' he  wrote,  '  that  the  articles  consumed  by  that 
description  of  people  are  leather,  candles,  soap,  beer, 
probably  some  spirits,  and  perhaps  a  small  quantity  of 
starch.  I  wish  also  very  much  to  know  what  their 
chief  diet  is,  and  the  price  of  the  articles  in  the  different 
parts  of  the  country.'  ^ 

'  This  seems  to  refer  to  Mr.  Pitt's  resolutions  upon  the  commercial 
intercourse  between  England  and  Ireland.  The  debate  thereon  began 
February  22,  1785.     See  Hansard. 

-  How  different  would  be  the  list  of  a  labouring  man's  'necessaries  ' 
in  these  days ! 


138  AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AKTHUR  YOUNQ 


CHAPTER  VII 

FIRST   FRENCH   JOURNEY,    1786-1787 

Death  of  my  brother — Anecdotes  of  his  character — Dr.  Burney  on 
farming  —  Greemvich  versus  Eton  —  Blenheim  —  Correspondence 
with  Dr.  Priestley — County  toasts — French  projects — First  French 
journey. 

This  year  my  brother  died.  He  was  in  the  habit  of 
hunting  with  the  King,  and  having  heard  of  a  very  fine 
hunter  to  be  sold  in  Herefordshire,  he  sent  his  servant 
to  purchase  him.  It  was  the  end  of  the  season,  but 
the  King  appointing  one  day  more  for  the  sport,  Dr. 
Young  determined  to  try  his  new  horse,  and  he  went 
in  company  with  another  gentleman  to  the  field.  His 
friend  observed  to  him  that  his  horse  tripped  in  an 
odd  manner,  to  which  Dr.  Y.  replied :  '  It  is  the 
last  day  of  hunting,  and  I  shall  see  how  he  performs.' 
'  Take  care,'  said  the  other,  '  that  it  is  not  the  last  day 
of  your  life.'  He  persisted  in  the  trial,  and  was  for  a 
time  much  pleased  with  his  horse  in  several  leaps ; 
in  taking  another  it  struck  its  own  legs  against  an 
obstruction,  threw  his  rider,  whose  neck  was  instantly 
broken.  He  was  taken  up  dead  and  carried  home. 
Thus  died  my  nearest  relative,  who  was  a  man  of 
very  peculiar  talents  and  of  most  singular  originality 


FIRST  FRENCH  JOURNEY  139 

of  character.  He  had  a  great  deal  of  eccentric  wit, 
and  was  extremely  beloved  by  many  intimate  friends, 
amongst  whom  were  several  of  the  Townshends,  Corn- 
wallises,  and  the  Duke  of  Grafton,  with  whom  he  was 
on  the  most  intimate  terms,  and  was  a  great  favourite 
of  the  Duchess.  Cornwallis,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
valued  him  so  much  for  his  rectitude  of  conduct  in  this 
that  he  determined  to  promote  him  to  the  best  prefer- 
ment that  should  fall  in  his  gift,  and  I  have  several  letters 
from  him  repeating  this  intention.  Thus  ended  a  life 
that  promised  so  many  advantages,  for  he  was  high  in 
favour  with  the  King,  who  was  pleased  not  only  fre- 
quently to  converse  with  him,  but  to  ask  his  opinion 
respecting  many  sermons  which  were  at  that  time 
published.  Thus  high  in  expectation  of  further  pro- 
motion, to  lose  his  life  in  so  unexpected  and  sudden  a 
manner  was  indeed  singularly  awful  and  unfortunate. 
It  was  a  dreadful  blow  also  to  all  my  son's  hopes,  for 
as  he  was  educating  at  Eton  for  the  Church,  my 
brother,  who  had  his  turn  as  Fellow  of  Eton  and  Pre- 
bendary of  Worcester  in  about  seventy  pieces  of  pre- 
ferment, and  had  passed  all  by  that  came  to  give  away, 
stood  high  in  the  lists  purposely  with  a  view  of 
promoting  Arthur.'  There  was  in  Dr.  Young  a  steady 
rectitude  of  principle,  an  absolute  abhorrence  of  every 
mean  and  unworthy  action,  great  natural  parts,  and  as 
he  had  been  Captain  (I  think),  or  very  near  it,  of  Eton 
School,  he  went  to  King's  at  Cambridge  a  capital 
scholar. 

The  following  anecdote  relative    to  my  brother  I 

'  Arthur  Young's  only  son,  born  1709. 


140      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

copy  from  a  letter  to  my  wife,  written  by  my  old  friend 
Professor  Symonds : — 

'  I  assure  you,  Madam,  that  I  was  really  at  a  loss  to 
conjecture  whether  you  were  in  earnest  or  not  when 
you  desired  an  answer  to  your  letter  ;  but  in  case  you 
were  in  earnest  (which  I  can  now  hardly  think,  since 
the  question  might  be  answered  better  in  conversation) , 
you  must  be  surprised  and  offended  by  my  neglect ;  but 
I  defy  you  to  have  been  more  surprised  than  you  will 
be  at  my  charging  your  husband  with  this  letter.  I 
concealed  from  him  the  purport  of  it,  but  judged  it 
necessary  to  inform  him  that  there  was  not  the  shadow 
of  an  intrigue  between  us. 

'  So  far  tHe  prologue ;  now  for  the  anecdote,  which 
is  just  as  interesting  as  thousands  are  which  are  daily 
propagated.  It  was  about  two  years  before  the  divorce 
of  the  Duchess  of  Grafton  that  her  Grace  and  Lord 
March  played  at  "  brag  "  for  two  or  three  hours  one 
evening  at  Euston  ;  the  others — viz.  the  Duke  and  Mr. 
Vary  and  Jack  Young — looked  over  without  playing  at 
all.  Lord  M.  had  been  very  forward  in  "  bragging," 
but  threw  up  his  cards  afterwards  when  he  had  three 
knaves,  whether  he  had  a  presentiment  that  the  Duchess 
had  three  aces  or  whether  he  had  artfully  seen  her 
hand.  This  cowardice  struck  Jack  Young  so  sensibly 
that  he  fixed  his  ej^es  very  sternly  on  Lord  M.,  and 
addressed  him  thus  :  "  Why  !  March,  thou  art  the 
most  dunghill  Scots'  peer  that  I  ever  met  with."  His 
Lordship  instantly  arose  from  his  chair,  filled  with 
indignation,  and  whilst  he  was  wavering  whether  he 
should  use  a  poker  or  some  other  instrument,  the  Duke 


FTEST  FRENCH  JOUENEY  141 

said  to  him :  "I  find,  Lord  March,  that  my  friend 
Jack  Young  treats  you  as  he  constantly  treats  my  wife 
and  me."  This  prudent  and  good-natm'ed  interference 
disarmed  Lord  M.,  and  they  all  passed  the  evening 
pleasantly.  You  may  depend  upon  the  truth  of  this 
story,  as  I  had  it  from  Mr.  Vary. 

'  I  remain,  dear  Madam 

'  Yours,  &c.  &c., 

'J.  Symonds.' 

The  next  anecdote  was  considered  at  the  time  by 
all  who  heard  it  to  redound  to  the  credit  of  my  brother. 
In  one  of  his  visits  to  Euston  he  arrived  unexpectedly 
and  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  immediately  went  to  the 
room  always  appropriated  to  him  to  dress  for  dinner, 
and  thence  proceeded  directly  into  the  dining-room, 
when,  to  his  astonishment,  he  perceived  sitting  at  the 
head  of  the  table  the  notorious  Nancy  Parsons  instead 
of  the  Duchess.  He  instantly  drew  back,  at  the  same 
moment  extending  his  arms  to  mark  his  astonishment. 
The  Duke  went  up  to  him  with  a  conciliatory  air,  took 
his  arm  and  said  :  '  Come,  come.  Jack,  these  things  are 
always  done  in  a  hurry  without  consideration.  I  had 
no  time  to  make  alterations  or  inform  you.  T  will 
explain  afterwards.'  But  he  only  answered  with  a 
shake  of  his  head,  and,  shrugging  up  his  huge  shoulders, 
retired,  mounted  his  horse,  and  reached  Bradfield  the 
same  night,  a  distance  of  nearly  fifteen  miles. 

It  should  be  remembered  at  this  time  the  Duke  was 
Prime  Minister  and  the  Doctor  looking  up  to  him  for 
further  preferment.     By  this  he  lost  a  bishopric. 


142      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

I  was  at  Bradfield,  and  received  an  express '  from 
Dr.  Eoberts,  Provost  of  Eton,  to  inform  me  of  the 
accident,  which  called  me  thither  at  once.  I  resided 
there  some  time  on  account  of  my  brother's  affairs, 
dining  every  day  with  the  Provost  and  Fellows.  On  the 
same  account  I  was  obliged  to  go  to  Worcester,  where 
he  was  a  Prebendary  and  Eector  of  St.  John's  in  that 
city.  Dr.  Y.  died  without  a  will,  as  he  had  often  told 
me  he  would  do.  When  all  his  affairs  were  settled 
I  returned  to  Bradfield.  So  sudden  and  dreadful  an 
accident  affected  me  deeply  ;  there  is  something  in  such 
deaths  that  strikes  every  feeling  of  the  soul.  In  the 
midst  of  the  rapid  movements  of  that  animated  amuse- 
ment, in  one  moment  to  be  hurried  into  another  world 
without  one  thought  of  preparation  has  something 
tremendously  formidable  in  it ;  yet  every  one  is  liable 
to  deaths  equally  sudden,  and  the  suggestion  ought  to 
be  universal  :  '  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God.'  The  misery 
is  that  thousands  sitting  in  their  chairs  and  with  ample 
time  for  preparation  are  apt  to  think  of  any  subject 
rather  than  this  most  important  of  all. 

Arthur  Young  to  his  Wife. 

[No  date,  but  evidently  written  at  this  period.] 
'  As  I  should  be  sorry  to  keep  from  you  anything  that 
must  give  you  pleasure  in  your  welfare  of  your  children, 
I  shall  report  a  conversation  with  Dr.  Langford,  the 
under-master,  who  my  brother  got  the  Prebendary  of 
Worcester  for  by  speaking  to  Lord  Sidney. 

'  Express,  n.,  a  messenger  sent  on  a  special  errand. — Webster. 


FIKST  FEENCH  JOURNEY  143 

*  On  his  calling  on  me  I  lamented  the  loss— in  which 
he  joined  warmly — spoke  highly  of  my  brother  as  his 
friend.  I  said  that  my  bosom  had  all  the  feelings 
of  affection  for  him,  but  that  the  loss  to  my  poor 
boy  was  nothing  short  of  ruin.  He  had  no  friend 
left.  "No,"  replied  he,  "don't  say  that,  for  give  me 
leave  to  say  that,  feeling  as  I  do  the  obligations  I  have 
been  under  to  Dr.  Young,  I  must  be  allowed  to  call 
myself  his  friend.  If  I  succeed  in  life  I  will  be  a  friend 
to  him,  and  I  hope  his  progress  in  his  learning  will 
permit  me  to  be  so."  He  said  more  to  the  same  pur- 
pose, and  as  he  is  a  rising  man  in  a  situation  that  gives 
him  power  to  act  according  to  his  feelings,  I  hope  he 
will  remember  it.  But  the  account  Mr.  Heath  gives 
me  is  by  no  means  satisfactory,  and  sorry  I  am  to  say 
that  Arthur  seems  determined  to  do  little  for  himself. 
He  is  now  at  a  crisis,  and  sinks  or  swims.  I  gave  Mr. 
Heath  three  guineas  that  he  might  encourage  him  with 
a  crown  now  and  then  (as  from  himself)  when  he  did 
well,  but  don't  write  of  that  to  him,  and  desired  him  to 
write  me  when  he  was  negligent.  My  brother's  affairs 
turn  out  very  badly  ;  bills  to  the  amount  of  S601.  now 
lie  unpaid  before  me  here,  besides  Worcester,  and  I 
can  see  no  more  than  260/.  to  pay  it.  I  hear  a  bad 
account  of  the  Rectory  at  Worcester,  but  suspend  all 
judgment  till  the  whole  is  before  me. 

'A.  Y.' 

Two  honours  were  this  year  added  to  my  name, 
by  being  elected  into  the  Patriotic  Society  of  Milan  and 
that  of  the  Geographical  Society  of  Florence.     I  had 


144      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

also  a  visit  from  a  Polish  nobleman,  Count  Kalaskowski, 
who  spent  some  time  with  me  at  Bradfield.  The 
letters  I  received  this  year  were  numerous,  and  many 
of  them  very  interesting.  From  the  number  I  have 
selected  the  following  : — 

From  Dr.  Burney,  on  reading  my  '  Annals  '  and  a 
character  of  Handel.  This  was  after  he  had  been  at 
Bradfield. 

'  August  1,  1786. 

'  What  have  I  without  an  inch  of  land  to  do  with 
farming  ?  Is  it  the  subject  or  manner  of  treating  it,  or 
both  that  fascinated  me,  when  you  first  were  so  kind,  my 
dear  friend,  as  to  send  me  some  of  your  "  Annals  of 
Agriculture  "  ?  I  was  in  the  midst  of  my  winter's 
hurricane  and  immersed  in  other  pursuits,  but  now, 
having  conversed  with  some  of  your  correspondents, 
seen  your  farm,  and  rubbed  up  my  old  rusticity,  all  my 
love  for  country  matters  returns,  and  I  sincerely  wish 
myself  a  villager.  You  seem  to  have  worked  yourself 
up  to  a  true  pitch  of  patriotism,  and  I  think,  besides 
the  instructions  the  essays  convey,  that  your  know- 
ledge on  the  subject,  and  animated  reasoning,  and 
admonitions,  must  have  a  national  effect.  Your  book 
fastened  on  me  so  much  on  the  road  that  I  hardly 
looked  on  anything  else.  Mr.  Symonds'  essays  on 
"Italian  Husbandry"'  are  extremely  curious,  and 
furnish  a  species  of  information  totally  different  from 
what  can  be  acquired  from  the  perusal  of  any  other 
author.  Many  of  the  communications  in  the  three 
first  volumes,  of  which  I  have  almost  read  every  word, 

'  Published  in  the  Annals. 


FIRST  FRENCH  JOURNEY  145 

seem  to  me  instructive,  amusing,  and  masterly.  My 
countryman,  Mr.  Harris,  of  Hanwood,  in  Shropshire 
(the  birthplace  of  my  father  and  grandfather),  seems  a 
notable  planter.  As  editor  and  chief  of  the  Agricola 
family,  I  think  you  merit  the  thanks  of  every  English- 
man, not  onlj^  who  loves  his  country,  but  who  loves  his 
helly,  for  if  your  discoveries,  improvements,  and  in- 
structions are  followed,  we  may  certainly  always  find 
upon  our  own  island  de  quoi  manger. 

'  Now  I  would  not  have  you,  my  dear  Arthur,  put 
contempt  upon  my  praises,  as  coming  from  a  Londoner, 
whom  you  may  regard  as  a  mere  Cock-neigh  immersed 
in  the  vanities,  follies,  and  dissipation  of  the  Capital, 
for  then  I'd  have  you  to  know  that  I  reckon  myself 
a  countryman  born  and  bred  as  much  as  yourself.  I 
never  was  within  the  smell  of  sweet  London  till  I  was 
eighteen,  and  then,  you  know,  I  lived  during  nine  of  the 
best  years  of  my  life  in  Norfolk  among  the  best  farmers 
in  Europe.  Indeed,  if  I  were  ten  or  a  dozen  years  younger 
than  I  am,  I  believe  I  should  take  your  white  house 
and  all  the  land  about  it  you  could  spare,  and  enter 
myself  for  your  scholar,  and  run  for  the  give  and  take 
plate  ;  you  know  that  I  have  been  giving  lessons  all 
my  life  ;  it  is  now  high  time  I  should  take  some.  As 
to  London,  if  it  were  not  for  a  few  friends  whom  I 
sincerely  love,  and  for  its  vicinity  to  several  branches 
of  my  family,  I  would  take  half  a  crown  never  to  see 
its  sights  or  hear  its  sounds  again. 

'  My  friend,  honest  Arthur,  who  is  a  very  ingenious, 
good-natured  lad,  will  deliver  to  you  a  copy  of  my 
account  of  the  "  Commemoration  of  Handel ;  "  it  is  not 

L 


146      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

SO  good  a  one  as  I  wish  to  send,  though  the  best  in  my 
possession.  I  beg  when  you  have  nothing  better  to  do 
that  you  will  read  it  without  too  strong  prejudices  against 
Old  Handel ;  for  though  he  is  called  a  Goth  by  fine 
travelled  gentlemen,  accustomed  to  more  modern  music 
and  to  posthumous  refinements,  yet  candour  and  true 
knowledge  must  allow  that  he  was  the  greatest  man  of 
his  time,  and  that  he  had  a  force  and  majesty  that 
suited  our  national  character,  and  when  you  look  at 
the  list  of  his  works  you  will  allow  that  his  resources 
were  wonderful.  His  own  performance  on  the  organ 
was  perhaps  more  superior  than  that  of  any  inhabitant 
of  this  country,  even  than  his  compositions.  Upon 
the  whole,  though  I  am  far  from  wishing  to  put  an 
extinguisher  upon  every  other  candidate  for  musical 
fame,  yet  it  would  be  the  height  of  injustice  not  to 
allow  that  this  country  was  much  obliged  to  his  genius 
and  talent,  and  that  the  late  performances  of  his  pro- 
ductions do  honour  to  the  cultivation  of  musick  in  this 
kingdom,  as  well  as  to  our  national  gratitude. 

'  I  beg  you  will  present  my  affectionate  compliments 
to  Mrs.  Young,  and  best  thanks  for  the  hospitality  and 
kindness  with  which  she  treated  us  at  Bradfield ;  and 
pray  give  our  hearty  love  to  the  gentle,  sweet,  and 
amiable  Miss  Bessy. 

*  And  believe  me  to  be,  with  very  sincere  regard, 
'  Your  affectionate 

'  Charles  Burney.' 

From  John  Symonds,  Esq.,  on  the  examination  of 
the   boys    at  Greenwich  School    for    speaking  Latin. 


FIRST  FRENCH  JOURNEY  147 

Gold  medal  &c.  given  to  master  and  boys.     [A  curious 
letter.] 

'  St.  Edmund's  Hill :  December  1786. 

'  My  dearest  Friend, — I  returned  hither  yesterday, 
and  shall  go  to  Euston  on  Thursday  to  pass  five  or  six 
days  there.  The  Bishop  of  Peterborough  will  return 
with  me,  but  whether  on  Wednesday  or  Thursday  se'n- 
night  I  know  not,  but  I  will  send  you  a  line  soon  after 
I  get  there,  and  I  hope  you  will  keep  yourself  free  from 
engagements  those  two  days.  You  may  possibly  have 
seen  or  heard  of  a  remarkable  circumstance  that  does 
equal  honour  to  the  Society  of  Arts  and  to  Greenwich 
School. 

'  The  Society  decreed  a  gold  medal  to  that  school- 
master who  should  teach  his  boys  to  speak  the  best 
Latin.  This  was  claimed  last  week  by  the  school- 
master of  Greenwich.^  Sir  William  Fordyce  and  my 
friend  Professor  Martin  were  appointed  Examiners. 
More,  the  Secretary,  requested  Bishop  Watson  to  at- 
tend, who  excused  himself,  as  he  was  obliged  shortly 
to  leave  London.  Five  boys  attended  with  their 
master.  The  Examiners  had  prepared  a  great  number 
of  questions  such  as  boys  maybe  supposed  to  understand. 
These  were  put  in  Latin  and  answered  in  Latin  without 
hesitation.  The  boys  were  then  ordered  to  withdraw 
into  a  private  room  together,  and  to  make  an  original 
composition  in  Latin  without  the  help  of  a  dictionary. 
This  they  all  performed  in  half  an  hour.  Then  the 
Examiners  asked  numberless  questions  in  English, 
which  were  answered  immediately  in  Latin.     The  gold 

'  Dr.  Egan,  Royal  Park  Academy. 


148      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNa 

medal  was  given  to  the  schoolmaster,  and  five  silver 
ones  of  equal  value  to  the  five  boys,  who  were  pretty 
much  upon  an  equality,  and  what  is  surprising  is  that 
not  one  of  the  five  had  learned  Latin  longer  than  two 
years  and  a  half,  and  the  eldest  of  them  was  not  above 
thirteen  years.  You  may  be  certain  that  this  is  true, 
as  I  saw  it  in  a  letter  from  Martin  to  his  brother-in- 
law,  the  Vice-Chancellor,  and  he  concludes  it  by  say- 
ing "  that  they  all  spoke  Latin  with  fluency,  propriety, 
and  elegance."  Were  I  possessed  but  of  a  small  portion 
of  the  fire  with  which  you  are  animated,  I  should  cry 
out  with  a  generous  indignation,  "  Blush,  ye  proud 
seminaries  of  Eton  and  Westminster,"  &c.  &c.  &c. 

'  My  compliments  aux  Folonais. 

'  I  am  now  set  down  in  earnest  to  renew  acquaint- 
ance with  my  Italian  agricoUori. 

'  Ever  affectionately, 

'  John  Symonds.' 

In  a  Westerly  Tour  I  made  this  year,  amongst 
numerous  other  places  I  visited  Blenheim,  and  made 
the  following  memorandum  : — 

*  Viewed  the  pleasure  ground  at  Blenheim,  the 
enclosed  part  of  which  consists  of  200  acres,  with  the 
water  near  300.  It  can  scarcely  be  too  much  admired  ; 
the  whole  environ  of  the  water  is  fine,  various  in  its 
feature,  with  the  character  of  magnificence  everywhere 
impressed.  The  cascade  scenery,  viewed  independently 
of  the  new  improvements,  is  extremely  pleasing,  and 
indeed  wants  nothing  but  a  deeper  and  more  um- 
brageous   shade   for   an    accompaniment.      The    new 


FIRST   FEENCH   JOURNEY  149 

walks,  caves,  fountains,  and  statues  do  not,  however, 
seem  entirely  calculated  to  add  to  the  beauty  of  the 
scenery.  The  most  splendid  view  is  from  the  walk 
leading  from  the  cascade  to  the  house.  There  are  two 
points  nearly  similar,  where  are  benches ;  the  water 
fills  the  bottom  of  the  vale  in  the  style  of  a  very  noble 
river ;  few,  indeed,  in  the  kingdom  exceed  it.  "We  may 
conjecture  that  if  Brown,  in  the  exultation  of  his 
heart,  really  said  that  the  Thames  would  never  pardon 
his  superb  imitation  for  exceeding  the  original,  it  was 
the  view  from  one  of  these  benches  that  inspired  the 
sentiment.  The  proud  waves  that  roll  at  your  feet ; 
the  declivity  steep  enough  to  make  the  water  and  every 
contiguous  scene  more  interesting  to  the  eye ;  the 
opposite  shore,  a  hill  spread  with  wood  that  hangs  with 
forest  boldness  to  the  water  ;  the  whole  is  formed  to 
make  an  impression  on  the  mind.  No  ill-judged 
decoration  weakens  by  dividing  the  effect  ;  no  intru- 
ding objects  hurt  the  simplicity  of  the  scene.  I  know 
not  any  artificial  scene  that  is  finer.  The  concluding 
one  where  the  water  expands  is  great,  but  I  think 
inferior  to  this.     But  to  return 

[Here  the  narrative  breaks  off.'] 

It  appears  this  year '  that  I  was  engaged  in  a 
pursuit  entirely  new  to  me,  that  of  making  many  new 
and  pneumatic  experiments  on  expelling  gas  from  soils, 
manures,    and   various   other  substances,  in    order  to 

'  The  writer's  memory  is  at  fault  here.  His  correspondence  with 
Dr.  Priestley  is  dated  1783.  The  letters,  however,  are  given  here,  as 
otherwise  they  would  not  be  intelligible. 


150  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

ascertain  whether  there  was  any  connection  between 
the  quantity  and  species  of  such  gas  (from  Geist,  German 
for  ghost,  spirit.  Authority,  B.  of  Llandaff,  see  Newman's 
'  Trans,  of  Boerhave's  Chemistry ')  and  the  fertihty  of  the 
soils  from  which  my  specimens  were  selected.  It  seems 
that  I  prosecuted  this  enquiry  with  diligence ;  and 
as  it  was  my  commencement  in  chemistry,  I  corre- 
sponded upon  the  subject  with  Dr.  Priestle}^,  and  went 
to  Cambridge  for  the  conversation  of  Mr.  Milner,  then 
Professor  of  Chemistry  in  that  University.  The  result 
of  my  experiments  was  very  remarkable,  for  I  decided, 
after  a  very  careful  deduction  from  the  result  of  all  my 
trials,  that  there  existed  a  very  intimate,  and  almost 
unbroken,  connection  between  the  fertility  of  land  and 
the  gas  to  be  expelled  from  it.  This  was  an  entirely 
new  discovery  belonging  to  me  only,  and  it  has  been 
quoted  by  many  celebrated  chemists  in  a  manner  which 
showed  that  they  considered  me  as  the  origin  of  it.  I 
sent  a  detail  of  my  trials  to  the  Eoyal  Society,  through 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Magellan,^  as  my  paper  contained 
some  eudiometrical  experiments  made  with  the  eudio- 
meter invented  by  that  philosopher.  Mentioning  to  a 
friend  what  I  had  done,  '  You  have  been  very  foolish,' 
observed  the  friend,  '  for  depend  upon  it  your  paper 
will  never  get  into  the  "  Philosophical  Transactions."  ' 
Expressing  my  surprise,  I  demanded  the  reason. 
/  Why,  know  you  not,'  he  replied,  'that  there  is  a  most 
inveterate  hostility  between  Sir  J.  Banks  and  Magellan, 

■  Mr.  Magellan.  This  gentleman,  often  mentioned  in  A.  Y.'s  corre- 
spondence as  descendant  of  the  great  Portuguese  discoverer,  seems  to 
have  attained  some  proficiency — even  eminence — in  science. 


FIRST   FRENCH  JOUENEY  151 

from  a  violent  quarrel,  and  Sir  J.  is  not  a  man  to 
permit  anything  to  be  printed  that  comes  through 
hands  offensive  to  him,  especially  as  the  paper  is  to  the 
credit  of  Magellan's  instrument  ?  '  The  event  proved 
the  truth  of  this  prediction,  but  this  did  not  prevent 
my  labours  being  duly  appreciated  by  those  who  were 
the  most  competent  judges.  In  the  pursuit  of  these 
trials  I  gradually  established  and  furnished  a  laboratory, 
sufficient  for  my  own  enquiries,  at  about  150Z.  expense. 


From  Dr.  Priestley 

'  Birmingham  :  Jan.  27,  1783. 

'  Dear  Sir, — There  is  no  person  I  should  serve  with 
more  pleasure  than  you,  because  there  is  no  person 
whose  pursuits  are  more  eminently  useful  to  the  w^orld. 
You  alone  have  certainly  done  more  to  promote 
agriculture,  and  especially  to  render  it  reputable,  in 
this  country  than  all  that  have  gone  before  you.  But 
the  little  I  might  do  to  aid  your  investigations  will  be 
reduced  to  a  small  matter  indeed  by  my  distance  from 
you. 

'  All  that  I  should  be  able  to  do  with  water  would 
be  to  expel  by  heat  all  the  air  it  contains,  and  then 
examine,  by  nitrous  air,  how  much  phlogiston  that  air 
contains,  but  it  is  very  possible  that  the  fitness  of 
water  for  irrigating  meadows  may  depend  upon  some- 
thing besides  the  phlogiston  it  contains.  Experiment 
alone  can  determine  these  things.  I  never  heard  before 
of  the  inference,  you  say,  has  been  drawn  from  my 
doctrine  with  respect  to  the  use  of  light  in  vegetation. 


152      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AKTHUR  YOUNG 

I  know  of  no  use  that  light  is  of  to  the  soil.  The  whole 
effect  is  on  the  living  plant,  enabling  it  to  convert  the 
impure  air  it  meets  with  in  water  or  in  the  atmosphere 
into  pure  air.  When  that  end  is  effected  that  water 
is  of  no  further  use  to  it.  Plants  will  not  thrive  unless 
both  their  leaves  and  roots  be  exposed  to  air  in  some 
degrees  impure.  This  I  have  fully  ascertained,  but  I 
am  afraid  that  the  doctrine  is  not  capable  of  much 
practical  application. 

'  I  know  of  no  method  of  conveying  phlogiston  to  the 
roots  of  plants  but  as  combined  with  water,  and  this 
seems  to  be  done  in  the  best  way  by  a  mixture  of  putrid 
matter.  Water  will  not  imbibe  much  inflammable  air. 
I  find  volatile  alkali  to  contain  much  phlogiston.  It  is 
indeed  almost  another  modification  of  the  same  thing. 

'  Since  my  last,  I  have  hit  upon  various  methods  of 
converting  water  into  permanent  air.  It  is  sufficient 
to  give  it  something  more  than  a  boiling  heat.  If  I  only 
put  an  ounce  of  water  into  a  porous  earthen  retort,  I 
get  a  hundred  ounce  measures  of  air  from  it,  and  when 
I  have,  in  this  manner,  got  near  an  ounce  weight  of  air 
from  the  same  retort,  it  has  not  weighed  one  grain  less 
than  it  did. 

'  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  the  result  of  your  experi- 
ments, and  am  truly  sorry  that  I  can  do  so  little  for  you. 

'  J.  Peiestley.' 

'  Birmingham  :  March  31,  1783. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  received  from  Mr.  More  '  two  bottles 
of  water,  one  marked  X,  which  Mr.  Boswell  informed 

'  Secretary  to  the  Society  of  Arts. 


FIEST   FEENCH   JOUENEY  153 

him  was  from  the  spring  mentioned  in  his  "  Treatise 
on  Watering  Meadows,"  and  another  without  any 
mark  from  a  spring  arising  in  a  bed  of  sand,  and  I 
examined  them  immediately.  I  fomid  the  former  to 
contain  air  much  purer  than  that  of  the  atmosphere ; 
but  the  latter  air  was  much  worse,  that  is,  phlogisti- 
cated  ;  a  candle  could  hardly  have  burned  in  it.  This 
last  I  should  think  to  be  the  better  spring  for  the 
watering  of  meadows,  or  perhaps  it  might  have  been 
better  corked  ;  for  on  the  19th,  though  I  put  the  corks 
in  again  immediately,  but  without  any  cement,  I 
found  the  air  in  both  very  pure,  more  so  than  the 
purest  before,  and  hardly  to  be  distinguished,  and  they 
were  so  this  day  when  I  examined  them  again.  They 
should  be  examined  on  the  spot.  The  air  in  the  spring 
from  the  sand  was  much  warmer  than  that  in  my  pump 
water,  or  than  that  of  water  in  general.  But  water  ex- 
posed to  the  open  air  soon  loses  the  phlogiston  it  contains. 

'  Perhaps  much  of  the  effect  of  water  on  meadows 
is  that,  at  this  time  of  the  year,  it  comes  out  of  the 
earth  considerably  warmer  than  the  roots  of  the  grass. 
What  think  you  of  this  '? 

'  I  expect  to  set  out  for  London  this  day  three 
weeks,  and  shall  stay  there  about  a  fortnight.  I 
should  be  glad  to  meet  you  there,  when  we  shall 
find  an  hour's  conversation  better  than  all  our  corre- 
spondence. Wishing  you  success  in  all  your  laudable 
pursuits. 

'  I  am,  dear  Sir, 

'  Yours  &c.  &c. 

'  J.  Priestley.' 


154      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUK  YOUNG 

At    Chadacre,   six  miles  from  Bury,  resided  John 
Plampin,  Esq.'  who  had  three  daughters,  all,  at  this 
time,    unmarried    and    at   home.       I    was    intimately 
acquainted  with  them.     Two  of  these  ladies  were  much 
distinguished  by  their   beauty,   and  reigned  as  toasts 
throughout  the  county  :  Sophia  married  afterwards  to 
the  Kev.  Mr.  Macklin,  and  Betsy  married  in  1794  to 
Orbell   Eay    Oakes,    Esq.  of  Bury.     I  introduced  my 
friend  Lazowski  to  these  ladies,  and  he  was  much  at 
Chadacre,  admiring  not  a  little  the  youngest  of  them. 
They  persuaded  their  father  to  give  a  ball,  at  which  the 
Duke  of  Liancourt,  his  two  sons,  Lazowski  and  myself 
were  present,  and  the  evening  passed  with  uncommon 
hilarity  till  the  rising  sun  sent  us  home.    Mr.  Symonds 
afterwards  gave  a  weekly  ball  when  the  Frenchmen  were 
with  him,  and  these  parties  were  uncommonly  agreeable. 
Early  in  the  spring  of  1787  I  received  a  lehter  from 
a  friend  at  Paris,  Mons.  Lazowski  (who  had  resided  two 
years  at  Bury,  much  to  my  amusement  and  satisfaction, 
with  the  two  sons  of  the  Duke  of  Liancourt) ,  to  inform 
me  that  he  was  going  with  the  Count  de  la  Eoche- 
foucault  to  the  Pyrenees,  and   proposed  my  being  of 
the  party ,^ 

'  Liancourt :  April  9,  1787. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  was  at  Liancourt  when  I  heard  from 
you  the  last  time,  so  that  I  was  very  uneasy  upon  the 
bill  which  you  had  drawn  upon  M.  de  Vergennes,  who 
could  not  be  informed  by  me  about  it,  but  very  happily 

'  An  old  Suffolk  family.    Captain  Plampin,  mentioned  in  the  French 
travels,  is  noticed  in  the  new  Dictionary  of  National  Biography. 
-  M.  Lazowski's  broken  English  is  given  as  we  find  it. 


FIEST  FEENCH  JOUKNEY  155 

my  letter  to  him  went  at  a  proper  time,  and  it  has 
been  paid.  Nothing  wants  now  but  to  have  turnips,  as 
your  Enghsh  wit  whispers  it.  But  we  have  another 
matter  to  settle  together,  if  you  are  not  now  incumbered. 
I  told  you  by  the  last  that  it  could  be,  but  I  would 
travel  this  summer.  The  case  is  that  the  Count  is,  for 
the  sake  of  his  health,  obliged  to  go  to  Bagneres-de- 
Luchon,  in  the  Pyrenees,  to  drink  those  waters ; 
he  asked  from  me  to  be  his  companion,  and  his  rela- 
tions seemed  to  be  glad  of  it.  I  did  therefore  comply 
with  his  demand,  and  we  are  going  about  the  middle  of 
May,  which  is  the  time  just  of  your  coming  over  to 
France.  Now  will  you  come  with  us  ?  Such  proposi- 
tion is  not  a  foolish  one.  We  will  pass  by  a  part  of 
France  in  going,  and  come  back  by  another  part,  so 
that  you  will  see  almost  the  two-thirds  of  this  kingdom. 
You  will  learn  the  French  ;  with  us  everything  will  be 
explained  to  you  ;  in  short,  I  will  be  with  you,  and 
that  is  enough,  I  hope.  That  part  by  which  you  will 
pass  through  is  not  an  uninteresting  one.  Look  upon  a 
map.  You  will  pass  through  the  Limousin  and  Toulouse 
in  going,  and  in  coming  back  by  Bordeaux,  &c. ;  the 
Pyrenees  are  very  worth  to  be  seen,  and,  besides,  if 
nothing  very  extraordinary  prevents  it,  we  intend  to 
go  to  Barcelona  in  Spain,  in  order  to  see  the  Catalogue,' 
the  finest  province  after  that  travel.  I  must  not  tell 
you  that  I  shall  be  another  Arthur  here  for  you,  not 
that  I  presume  to  say  that  you  will  find  in  me  an 
Encyclopaedia  living  as  I  did  in  you,  but  your  friend,  and 
therefore  to  your  commands  in  Paris  and  everywhere. 

'  Catalonia. 


156  AUTOBIOGKAPHi'   OF   AKTHUK   YOUNG 

Our  manner  of  travelling  is  very  convenient  to  you 
also ;  we  go  with  our  own  horses,  you  will  have  one, 
my  servants  will  be  yours,  nothing  therefore  shall 
be  too  much  expensive.  Have  you  your  horse  ?  Is 
it  possible  to  come  over  with  him  at  a  proper  time  '? 
If  not,  do  write  to  me  a  word,  and  the  Count  and  I 
will  do  our  utmost  to  get  one  cheap  enough,  between 
fifteen  and  twenty  pounds.  If  you  cannot  be  ready 
here  for  the  15th  of  May,  we  will  expect  five  or  six 
days,  but  you  see  that  it  is  impossible  to  expect  more, 
since  the  Count  must  drink  the  waters  ;  in  two  words, 
you  seemed  to  wish  to  see  this  kingdom,  never  you 
will  have  such  an  opportunity ;  if  I  am  obliged 
to  stay  at  Bagneres,  nothing  will  prevent  you  to 
make  some  excursions  in  the  environs,  and  you  will 
speak  French  very  well.  The  whole  depends  of  your 
family  business.  If  you  cannot  now,  then  you  will 
wait  till  September,  and  we  will  be  at  Paris  ;  but  you 
must  give  greatest  of  attention  to  it,  and  as  soon  as 
your  mind  will  be  fixed  upon  anything  pray  do  v^ite 
to  me.  "Wliat  devil  are  you  doing  about  the  notables  ? 
{sic)  1  suppose  you  know  my  mind  about  the  whole  by 
my  letter.'  M.  de  Calonne  is  exiled,  so  is  M.  Necker. 
What  w411  be  the  result  I  do  not  know,  but  the  notables 
have  missed  the  way,  and  they  know  nothing  of  the 
matter  ;  but  public  business  must  give  way  to  what  I 
make  a  proposal  to  you,  it  is  question  of  nothing  else 
but  to  travel  together  a  thousand  miles,  without  more 
expense  but  that  you  would  spend  anywhere,  &c.  &c. 

'  It  has  been  found  impossible   to   include  this  letter  from  want 
of  space. 


FIEST   FKENCH  JOURNEY  157 

SO  you  may  go  to  the  devil  if  you  don't  speak  well 
of  me  and  my  prospect.  My  best  compliments  to  M. 
Symonds  &c.  &c.  chiefly  Lady  Gage  and  Sir  Thomas. 

'  Yours  for  ever, 

'  Ly. 
'  Do  not  forget  to  write  and  to  speak  about  your 
horse,   whether  you  will  bring  yours,  or  if  we  must 
get  one  for  you.' 

This  was  touching  a  string  tremulous  to  vibrate.  I 
had  so  long  wished  for  an  opportunity  to  examine 
France.  In  the  survey  of  agricultm^e  which  I  had 
taken  in  England  and  Ireland,  of  about  7,000  miles,  I 
had  calculated,  from  facts,  the  rent  produce  and  resources 
of  those  Kingdoms,  and  I  had  often  reflected  on  the 
importance  of  knowing  the  real  situation  of  France  ; 
the  effect  of  Government ;  the  state  of  the  farmers,  of 
the  poor — the  state  and  extent  of  their  manufactures 
with  a  hundred  other  enquiries  certainly  of  political 
importance  ;  yet  strange  as  it  may  seem  not  to  be  found 
in  any  French  book  written  from  actual  observation, 
all  that  I  was  before  able  to  learn  having  been  composed 
in  some  great  city  without  travelling  beyond  the  walls. 
I  should  accept  a  very  unsatisfactory  work  upon  sheep, 
written  by  Mons.  Cartier,  employed  and  paid  by  Govern- 
ment. I  had  but  little  time  given  me  to  consider  of 
the  proposal,  but  I  wrote  to  learn  if  they  travelled  post, 
because  I  previously  determined  in  that  case  not  to  go. 
And,  further,  I  requested  to  know  if  I  were  to  travel  at 
any  other  expense  than  that  of  myself  and  horse.  The 
answer  was  that  they  travelled  with  their  own  horses. 


158      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

and  did  not  propose  making  more  than  twenty  or 
twenty-five  miles  a  day ;  that  my  expense  would  be 
merely  what  I  stated,  and  mostly  in  a  cheap  part  of 
the  kingdom.  This  most  agreeable  plan  I  instan- 
taneously acceded  to,  and  soon  set  out  for  France 
on  horseback.  At  Dover,  being  detained,  I  copy  the 
following  note  on  that  expedition  : — 

'  Tuesday,  May  15,  1787,  Dover. — Had  the  packet 
sailed  this  morn  as  I  expected  I  should  not  have 
scaled,  as  I  never  did  before,  Shakespeare's  Cliff.  By 
the  way  it  is  by  no  means  so  formidable  as  I  expected 
from  it.  I  think  the  look  down  from  its  perpendicular 
position  very  striking,  and  when  I  reflected  how  much 
more  it  must  be  from  the  summit,  the  reflection, 
perhaps,  injured  the  principal  effect  {sic).  This  is  a 
proof  that  we  ought  never,  when  a  pow^erful  impression 
is  wished,  to  advance  to  the  principal  point  gradually. 
It  should  come  upon  us  at  once ;  nor  should  I 
have  seen  Mr.  Harris's  drill  plough,'  which  I  liked 
much  better  from  seeing  it  than  from  the  print.  But 
I  principally  should  have  wanted  time  to  run  over  my 
accounts,  to  review  the  debts  and  credits  of  several 
loose  memoranda,  and  find  from  the  result  that  I  had 
not  acted  imprudently  or  unguardedly  in  omitting  the 
necessary  preparations  to  such  a  journey.  My  dear 
child,  my  lovely  Bobbin,  I  left  in  perfect  health,  the 
rest  of  my  family  well  and  provided  for  in  every  respect 
as  they  themselves  had  chalked  out,  the  '  Annals  '  lodged 
in  the  hands  of  a  man  on  whose  friendship  and  abilities 
I  could  entirely  confide.    Revolving  these  circumstances 

'  A  sort  of  plough  for  sowing  grain  in  drills. 


FIRST  FRENCH  JOURNEY  159 

in  my  mind  gave  me  pleasure,  so  that  I  could  hardly 
regret  in  the  evening  the  day  which  in  the  morning 
I  had  pronounced  lost.  At  night  I  went  into  a  bye 
boat  ^  and  had  a  villainous  passage  of  fourteen  hours. 
Nine  hours  rolling  at  anchor  had  so  fatigued  my  mare 
that  I  thought  it  necessary  for  her  to  rest  one  day,  but 
next  morning  I  left  Calais. 

'November  8. — Wait  at  Desseins  three  days  for  a 
wind,  Dover,  London,  Bradfield,  and  have  more  pleasure 
in  giving  my  little  girl  a  French  doll  than  in  viewang 
Versailles.'  ^ 

The  journey  to  France  cost  me  118/.  15s.  Id. 
Things  bought,  20Z.  17s. ;  books,  %l.  16s.  M. 

This  year  I  had  a  long  visit  at  Bradfield  from  M, 
Bukaty,  nephew  to  the  Polish  Ambassador,  a  heavy, 
dull  man  with  a  Tartar  countenance.  His  intention 
was  to  learn  agriculture,  but  he  made  a  poor  progress. 
My  correspondence  this  year  contained  much  variety, 
and  I  have  reperused  many  of  the  letters  with  much 
pleasure.     In  the  number  were  the  following  : — 

From  Sir  J.  Sinclair  ^  on  clothing  for  sheep,  w^hich  he 
sent  and  desired  me  to  buy.  I  did  so,  and  the  rest  of 
the  flock  took  them  I  suppose  for  beasts  of  prey,  and  fled 

'  A  chance  or  passing  boat. 

-  As  Arthur  Young's  letters,  with  trifling  excisions,  are  incorporated 
into  the  famous  travels,  I  do  not  give  them  here.  His  anxiety  about 
Bobbin  is  ever  apparent.  '  Give  Bobbin  a  kiss  for  me.  God  send  her 
well,'  he  writes  to  his  eldest  daughter  Mary  ;  and,  in  another  letter, 
'Remember  me  to  your  mother,  and  tell  Bobbin  I  never  forget  her.' 
'  The  Robin,'  or  Bobbin,  was  now  five  years  old. 

'  Statist,  political  and  agricultural  writer;  born  1754,  died  1835. 
Sat  in  Parliament  for  several  constituencies,  and  took  an  active  part  in 
political  and  scientific  movements  ;  was  also  a  voluminous  writer. 


160  AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

in  all  directions,  till  the  clothed  sheep  jumping  hedges 
and  ditches  soon  derobed  themselves. 

'Whitehall:  April  11,  1787. 

'  Sir, — I  went  yesterday  to  Knightsbridge,  and  have 
ordered  the  canvas  for  covering  the  sheep,  v^^hich  will 
be  ready  next  week,  and  I  shall  be  glad  to  know  how 
it  can  be  best  forwarded. 

'  My  idea  is  to  put  the  coverings  on  immediately 
after  the  sheep  are  shorn,  when  I  imagine  it  would  be 
comfortable  instead  of  distressing  to  the  animal.  That 
the  experiment  may  have  full  justice  done  I  send  you 
three  covers  of  oil  skin,  three  of  pretty  strong  unoiled 
canvas,  and  two  done  over  with  Lord  Dundonald's  tar. 
If  lambs  are  apt  to  die  of  cold,  would  it  not  be  of  use  to 
them  ? 

'  I  am.  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

'  John  Sinclair.' 

From  Mr.  Symonds,  an  account  of  his  tour  in  the 
West  &c.,  of  the  King  and  Queen's  visit  to  Whitbread's 
Brew  House ;  duties  to  the  Crown,  .52,000/.  per  annum 
for  the  brewery  alone. 

'  Sunning  Hill :  .July  12,  1787. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — I  wrote  to  you  from  Cornwall,  and 
hope  you  received  the  letter  which  was  directed  to  Creil. 
I  am  returning  from  a  tour  through  Devonshire,  where 
I  visited  Mount  Edgecombe,  Dartmouth,  Teignmouth, 
Torbay,  Dawlish  and  Exmouth.  At  Exeter  I  passed 
ten  days  with  my  old  friend  the  Bishop,  Dr.  Koss,  and 
however  I  may  have  lost  my  time  in  other  things  I 


FIEST   FRENCH   JOUENEY  161 

certainly  was  not  deficient  in  my  religious  duties,  for 
during  the  ten  days  I  attended  divine  service  nineteen 
times,  taking  in  his  Lordship's  private  chapel  and  the 
cathedral. 

'  After  visiting  most  of  the  fine  seats  in  Somerset- 
shire &c.  including  Lord  Eadnor's  famous  triangular 
house,  I  came  to  Salisbury,  where  I  met  several  old 
acquaintances,  and  among  the  rest  Mr.  Windham,  who 
published  Doddington's  Diary,  and  who  permitted  me 
to  look  over  the  vast  collection  of  Doddington's  private 
correspondence,  and  to  copy  what  I  pleased. 

'  From  Salisbury  I  came  hither,  having  made  nearly 
a  thousand  miles  in  my  gig,  without  suffering  the  least 
inconvenience,  either  from  weather  or  accident.  Could 
I  do  better  than  to  end,  as  it  were,  my  tour  with  a  visit 
to  the  "  Monarch's  and  the  Muses'  Seats  "  ? 

'  The  only  public  news  that  you  can  now  think  of 
abroad  is  whether  we  are  to  have  peace  or  war  ;  but  I 
have  heard  here  from  very  good  authority  that  Thurlow, 
Lord  Stafford,  and  Mr.  Pitt  are  for  peace,  and  that  'tis 
thought  the  latter  will  resign  if  things  take  a  different 
turn. 

'  Whitbread  expended  not  less  than  15,000?.  in 
entertaining  the  King  and  Queen  at  his  brewery.  They 
left  off  working  it  three  days  before — new  clothes — the 
floor  carpeted,  and  three  or  four  sets  of  china  made  on 
purpose  at  Worcester  after  the  most  beautiful  models 
of  Sevres,  that  the  Royal  Family  might  be  entertained 
separately,  though  in  the  same  rooms.  The  King  asked 
Whitbread  what  he  paid  for  duties  to  the  Crown,  and 
his  Majesty  was  not  a  little  surprised  to  hear  that  he 

M 


162      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

paid  52,000/.  for  the  Brewery  alone.  You  will  say  all 
that  is  kind  for  me  to  the  Count  and  Lazowski. 
Madame  de  Polignac  ^  &c.,  together  with  the  French 
Ambassador,  have  been  at  the  Terrace,  where  they 
were  received  by  the  King  and  Queen.  At  Bath  the 
French  ladies  broke  the  standing  rules  by  all  going  to 
the  ball  much  too  late,  and  on  foot,  which  is  not  common, 
and  one  danced  in  coloured  gloves. 

'  You  and  I  shall  agree  about  the  Liancourt  Plough 
as  well  as  most  other  things.  The  Duke's  ideas  of 
farming  resemble  those  of  Mons.  Baron,  whose  self- 
conceit  is  exceeded  only  by  his  ignorance,  and  who 
must  inevitably  starve,  if  he  had  to  gain  his  bread  by 
farming,  and  practised  for  himself. 

'  Adieu.     Ever  faithfully  yours, 

'J.  Symonds.' 


'  The  Prince  and  Princess  de  Polignac,  after  receiving  countless 
honours,  privileges,  and  substantial  favours  from  Louis  XVI.  and  the 
Queen,  were  among  the  first  to  desert  them.  The  present  head  of  this 
ancient  house  married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Singer,  inventor  of  the  sewing- 
machine. 


163 


CHAPTEE   VIII 

TRAVEL   AND   INTERNATIONAL   FRIENDSHIPS,    1788-89-90 

The  Wool  Bill — Sheridan's  speech — Count  Berchtolcl — Experiments — 
Second  French  journey — Potato-fed  sheep — Cost  of  housekeeping — 
Chicory — Burnt  in  effigy — Correspondence — Third  French  journey 
— With  Italian  agriculturists— Bishop  Watson  and  Mr.  Luther — 
Correspondence — Literary  work — Illness — The  state  of  France. 

Early  in  the  spring  I  was  deputed  by  the  wool  growers 
of  Suffolk  to  support  a  petition  against  the  Wool  Bill  - 
which  at  that  time  made  much  noise  in  the  agricultural 
world  ;  and  in  which  I  united  with  Sir  Joseph  Banks,^ 
who  was  deputed  by  the  county  of  Lincoln  for  the 
same  purpose.  I  was  most  strenuous  in  the  cause.  By 
this  Bill  the  growers  of  wool  were  laid  under  most 
insufferable  restraints  by  its  patrons  the  manufactm-ers, 
under  the  false  pretence  which  had  upon  so  many 
occasions  been  listened  to  by  the  Legislature,  that 
immense  quantities  of  wool  were  smuggled  to  France  ; 
on  the  gross  fallacy  of  which  they  made  good  use,  in 
taking  those  measures  which  answered  their  only  design, 
that  of  sinking  the  price. 

'  A  Bill  prohibiting  the  exportation  of  wool  passed  the  House  of 
Commons,  May  15,  1788. 

-  President  of  the  Royal  Society,  and  supporter  of  the  cause  of  agri- 
culture and  science  ;  died  1810. 


164  AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF   ARTHUR  YOUNG 

I  applied  to  many  of  the  leading  members  of  both 
Houses  of  Parliament,  but  to  very  little  effect.  Those 
who  deputed  me  were  very  desirous  that  I  should  see 
Mr.  Fox  on  the  subject ;  and  Sir  Peter  Burrell,  who 
was  also  greatly  hostile  to  the  Bill,  and  acted  at  that 
time  as  Lord  Great  Chamberlain  of  England  at  the 
trial  of  Mr.  Hastings,  recommended  me  to  take  an 
opportunity  of  the  managers  for  the  Commons,  waiting 
at  that  trial  to  desire  to  speak  with  Mr.  Fox  in  the 
manager's  box ;  and  with  this  view  gave  me  a  pass 
ticket  for  the  whole  trial,  by  means  of  which  I  could  be 
at  the  bar  ready  to  serve  such  an  opportunity  when  it 
offered.  These  tickets  were  sold  at  twenty  guineas 
each  ;  and  this  afforded  me  many  opportunities  of  much 
entertainment.  I  accordingly  saw  Mr.  Fox,  and  found 
him  by  no  means  inclined  to  patronise  any  opposition 
to  the  Bill.  All  that  could  be  done  was  to  make  him 
a  master  of  certain  important  facts  of  which  he  was 
ignorant,  and  which  did  seem  to  have  some  little  weight 
with  him.  It  may  here  be  observed  that  as  I  was  walking 
one  day  in  Fleet  Street  with  my  pass  ticket  and  a  20/. 
note  in  my  pocket  book,  I  was  hustled  unskilfully  by 
a  knot  of  rascals,  who  picked  the  book  out  of  my 
pocket,  but  I  missing  it  instantly,  luckily  observed  it 
on  the  pavement  near  my  foot,  and  seized  on  it 
immediately,  and  the  rascals  went  off  at  once.  By 
means  of  this  ticket  I  was  present  when  Mr.  Sheridan 
made  the  speech  that  rendered  his  eloquence  so  cele- 
brated.^    I  was  examined  at  the  Bar  of  the  Houses  of 

'  '  Then  came  the  Oude  case,  that  lasted  no  less  than  twenty-one 
days,  and  ended  by  a  speech  from  Sheridan  on  which  great  labour  and 


TEAYEL   AND   INTEKNATIONAL   FEIENDSHIPS         165 

Lords  and  Commons,  and  published  two  pamphlets  on 
the  subject  of  the  Wool  Bill. 

But  notwithstanding  all  the  opposition  that  was 
made  to  the  measure,  after  moderating  some  of  the 
most  hostile  clauses  the  Bill  passed  ;  but  the  manu- 
facturers experienced  so  determined  and  vigorous  an 
opposition  that  they  would  hardly  engage  again  in  any 
similar  attack  upon  the  landed  interest.  In  the  course 
of  this  business  I  experienced  a  strange  instance  of 
roguery  in  an  Ipswich  attorney  named  Kirby.  This 
man  was  appointed  secretary  and  receiver  of  the 
Suffolk  subscriptions  for  supporting  the  expense  of 
opposing  the  Bill.  He  paid  the  reckoning  twice  at  the 
'  Crown  and  Anchor  '  when  a  few  persons  dined  there  ; 
and  after  that,  under  various  pretences,  when  money 
was  to  be  paid ;  and  on  a  moderate  computation  put 
more  than  100/.  into  his  own  pocket.  I  was  unwilling 
to  believe  it,  but  upon  his  death  a  few  years  after  it 
was  found  that  he  was  one  of  the  greatest  knaves  the 
devil  ever  created. 

My  deputation  by  the  county  of  Suffolk  to  represent 
it,  in  opposing  the  Bill  at  the  bar  of  the  two  Houses  of 
Parliament,  in  the  same  manner  as  Sir  Joseph  Banks, 
a  highly  eminent  character  for  influence  and  affluence, 
was  deputed  by  the  county  of  Lincoln,  did  me  much 
honour,  and  shows  that  a  prophet  may  sometimes 
be  esteemed,  even  in  his  own  country.  The  reader 
who   is   desirous  of    becoming    acquainted   with    this 

pains  had  been  bestowed.  This  speech  had  been  looked  forward  to  as 
rivalling  the  great  Begum  speech  of  the  same  orator  '  (Knight).  Is  not 
A.  Y.  here  thinking  of  the  great  Begum  speech  of  an  earlier  session  ? 


166      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

portion  of  the  history  of  wool  in  England  may  consult 
my  Question  of  Wool — my  speech  that  might  have  been 
spoken — my  Reasons  against  the  Bill,  and  various  other 
papers  by  myself,  inserted  in  the  '  Annals.' 

The  opposition  certainly  would  have  been  successful 
if  Mr.  Pitt  had  not  found  what  so  many  ministers 
have  experienced  before — that  the  trading  interest  at 
large  is  a  hundred  times  more  active  than  the  landed 
interest ;  for  very  few  counties  exerted  themselves  on 
this  occasion.  Had  half  of  them  acted  like  Suffolk 
the  Bill  would  have  been  inevitably  lost,  and  had  I 
not  been  a  resident  in  Suffolk  that  county  would 
have  slept  with  the  rest.  It  may  not  be  amiss  to 
observe  that  a  pamphlet  was  published,  entitled  a 
'  Letter  to  Arthur  Young,  Esq.,  on  the  Wool  Bill,  by 
Thomas  Day,'  Esq.,'  from  which  the  following  is  an 
extract : — 

'  If  we  are  delivered  from  the  present  danger,  I  know 
no  one  who  has  so  great  a  claim  to  the  public  gratitude 
as  yourself.  As  soon  as  the  storm  began  to  gather,  your 
active  eye  remarked  the  curling  of  the  waters  and 
the  blackening  of  the  horizon,  while  all  our  other 
Palinuruses  were  quietly  slumbering  around.  Distin- 
guished, therefore,  as  you  long  have  been  for  literary 
talents,  you  have  now  added  a  nobler  wreath,  and  a 
sublimer  praise  to  all  you  merited  before.'  Mr.  Day 
in  this  letter  calls  my  opposition  to  the  Bill  '  A  noble 
stand  in  defence  of  the  common  liberties.' 


'  The  author  of  Sandford  and  Merton  died  1789  from  the  kick  of  a 
colt,  which  he  had  refused  to  have  broken  in  on  account  of  the  cruelty 
usually  involved  in  the  process. 


TEAVEL  AND   INTEKNATIONAL  FEIENDSHIPS         167 

'  April  22. — I  was  examined  on  the  Wool  Bill  in 
the  House  of  Commons.  It  was  a  most  hard-fought 
battle  between  the  manufacturers  and  the  landed 
interest ;  the  Bill  laid  heavy  shackles  on  every  move- 
ment of  wool  near  the  sea  coast,  and  was  opposed 
with  great  resolution,  both  by  Sir  Joseph  Banks  and 
myself. 

*  We  opposed  it  both  in  the  Commons  and  the 
Lords,  both  being  examined  at  the  Bar  of  the  two 
Houses  ;  the  manufacturers  on  this  occasion  were  so 
hotly  opposed  that  Sir  Joseph  thought  they  would  be 
quiet  in  future.  I  was  of  a  different  opinion,  being- 
convinced  that  they  never  would  omit  any  opportunity 
of  imposing  their  shackle  on  that  insensible,  torpid, 
and  stupid  body  "  the  landlords  of  Britain."  ' 

About  this  time  Count  Leopold  Berchtold  •  visited 
me  at  Bradfield.  But  part  of  the  time  which  he  spent 
in  Suffolk  (I  being  absent)  was  at  the  '  Angel '  at  Bury, 
where  he  lived  an  extraordinary  life  of  retirement  and 
economy.  He  daily  went  out,  and  employed  the  whole 
day  in  writing  and  reading.  Such  temperance  has 
scarcely  been  known.  He  drank  neither  wine  nor 
beer,  and  would  dine  upon  a  potato  or  an  egg. 

He  told  the  landlord  of  that  inn  that  he  could  not 
live  in  the  manner  of  other  travellers,  but  that  he 
might  charge  what  he  pleased  for  his  apartments.  He 
was  a  most  extraordinary  personage.  His  father  had 
a  considerable  estate  in  Bohemia,  and  one  reason  for 

'  Died  1809.  One  of  the  most  active  members  of  the  Royal  Humane 
Society ;  fell  a  victim  to  his  devotion  in  attending  the  sick  and  wounded 
Austrian  soldiers  on  the  Held  of  Wagram. 


168      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUK  YOUNG 

the  son's  travelling  over  a  great  part  of  the  world  was 
the  extreme  disgust  he  took  at  the  measures  of  the 
Emperor  Joseph  II.,  which  were  oppressive  and  ruinous 
to  the  nobility  &c.,  constantly  changing  his  ill-formed 
political  schemes.  He  had  lived  in  the  principal 
countries  of  Europe  long  enough  to  become  a  master 
of  their  languages,  in  every  one  of  which  he  printed  a 
work  which  he  conceived  might  be  useful  to  the  in- 
habitants. AVhen  at  Bradfield  he  was  working  hard 
to  learn  Arabic,  as  he  proposed  passing  from  England 
to  Morocco,  thence  to  Egypt  and  Arabia.  This  jour- 
ney afterwards  he  executed,  and  returned  home  to 
Bohemia  through  the  greatest  part  of  the  Turkish 
Empire  ;  and,  after  escaping  a  thousand  dangers,  as 
he  was  going  to  Vienna  was  murdered  by  banditti. 

He  was  very  tall  and  graceful  in  his  person,  of  a 
handsome,  expressive  countenance,  and  as  elegant  as  if 
he  had  passed  his  whole  life  in  a  Court.  Though  in- 
vested with  the  Order  of  St.  Stephano  by  the  Grand 
Duke  of  Tuscany,  Leopold,  he  never  wore  it  in  England, 
as  his  father  being  alive  made  it  necessary  for  him  to 
live  economically.  His  conversation  was  intelligent 
and  pleasing,  his  knowledge  almost  universal.  He 
travelled  much  on  foot ;  and  once  through  France  or 
Germany — I  forget  which — when  he  was  beset  by  three 
or  four  robbers  ;  but  he  assumed  so  much  firmness  in 
his  manner,  with  so  resolute  and  determined  an  air, 
and  with  so  threatening  an  attitude  of  defence,  that, 
after  a  pause,  the  robbers  retired,  thinking  it  best  to 
let  him  alone.  He  had  a  sabre  or  some  other  weapon, 
and  said  that  they  might  have  had  the  worst  of  it  if 


TEAYEL  AND   INTEKNATIONAL  FEIENDSHIPS         169 

they  had  made  the  attack,  as  he  had  before  been  set 
on  in  the  same  way  more  than  once. 

His  first  business  in  every  country  was  to  study 
unremittingly  till  he  had  perfectly  learnt  the  language, 
as  without  this  he  considered  men  and  women  but  as 
cows  and  sheep.  He  then  applied  himself  with  sin- 
gular assiduity  to  understand  those  branches  of  human 
industry  or  political  economy  for  which  the  country 
was  most  celebrated,  and  for  this  purpose  applied  to 
those  who  were  most  able  to  satisfy  his  inquiries.  He 
was  introduced  to  me  by  Anthony  Souga,  the  Imperial 
Consul  at  London,  who  gave  him  the  highest  possible 
character.  When  he  had  registered  these  inquiries 
and  printed  a  book  in  the  language,  he  left  the  country 
for  some  other. 

The  grand  object  of  Ct.  B.'s  investigations  and 
inquiries  seemed  to  be  not  so  much  the  good  of  the 
countries  he  visited,  as  to  possess  himself  of  a  great 
mass  of  that  sort  of  knowledge  which  might  be  most 
useful  in  adding  to  the  w^elfare  and  happiness  of  the 
inhabitants  of  that  estate  to  which  he  was  born,  and 
which  was  a  very  extensive  property.  He  spent  some 
time  with  me  in  Suffolk  gleaning  agricultural  in- 
formation, intending  to  apply  it  to  the  farmers  and 
peasants  of  his  paternal  estate  and  of  his  own  favourite 
Bohemia,  from  which  he  often  lamented  that  he  was 
driven  by  the  folly  and  tyranny  of  Joseph  II.  It  was  with 
great  concern  that  I  heard  of  his  very  unfortunate  and 
untimely  death  about  ten  years  after  leaving  England. 
He  was  about  thirty-six  years  of  age  when  in  Suffolk, 
was  possessed  of  various  and  uncommon  powers,  built 


170      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

mentally  and  bodily  on  a  great  scale,  talked  English 
like  a  native,  walked  like  a  giant,  and  was  of  all  the 
multitude  of  foreigners  who  frequented  my  house  the 
most  persevering  and  the  most  intelligent. 

This  year  I  made  some  experiments  on  the  dis- 
temper in  wheat  called  the  smut,  which  were  amongst 
the  most  satisfactory  and  decisive  that  I  ever  found, 
and  in  which  I  corrected  some  errors  of  Mr.  de  Tillet,' 
and  proved,  too  clearly  to  be  doubted,  the  proximate 
cause  and  prevention  of  that  disease. 

It  is  almost  intolerable,  after  experiments  so  de- 
cisive, that  so  many  men,  through  ignorance  of  what  I 
had  done,  should  for  a  long  time  have  been  bewildering 
themselves  upon  the  same  subject,  and  continuing  to 
do  so  to  the  present  day,  publishing,  too,  the  greatest 
errors.    These  experiments  are  inserted  in  the  '  Annals.' 

This  year  I  set  out  on  my  second  journey  to 
France  in  the  month  of  July.  I  made  this  alone,  my 
cloak-bag  behind  me  ;  and  I  did  not  travel  thus  an  ^ 
hundred  miles  before  my  mare  fell  blind.  I  have 
heard  and  read  much  of  the  pleasure  of  travelling; 
how  it  may  be  with  posting — avant-couriers  preparing 
apartments  and  repasts — I  know  not.  Let  those 
who  enjoy  such  comfort  pity  me,  who  made  3,700 
miles  on  a  blind  mare  !  and  brought  her  (humanity 
would  not  allow  me  to  sell  her)  safe  back  to  Bradfield. 
I  claim  but  one  merit — that  of  practising  in  the  midst 
of  all  this  folly  the  severest  economy  in  travelling. 

In  the  winter  Mr.  Macro  took  a  seat  in  my 
postchaise  on  a  farming  tour  across  Essex  and  into 
'  See  vol.  X.  of  the  Annals  of  Agriculture.  ^  Sic. 


TEAVEL  AND   INTEENATIONAL  FRIENDSHIPS         171 

Sussex,  where  we  spent  a  day  or  two  with  Lord 
Sheffield. 

In  this  tour  I  learned  that  General  Murray  had 
4,000  South  Down  sheep,  and  that  he  fed  them  with 
potatoes.  This  was  sufficient.  To  come  into  the 
country  on  the  search  for  sheep  and  potato  intelligence, 
and  not  to  see  such  a  man,  would  not  be  to  make  a  very 
wise  figure  when  we  returned  home.  But  I  had  not  the 
honour  to  be  known  to  the  General.  No  matter ; 
4,000  sheep  fed  on  potatoes  were  an  object  before 
which  form  must  give  way.  I  wrote  a  card,  stating 
our  pursuit,  and  wishes  to  have  it  gratified,  desiring 
leave  to  view  his  flock.  Those  who  know  the  General's 
liberality  and  passion  for  agriculture  will  not  want  to 
be  told  what  the  answer  was.  We  spent  five  days  in 
his  house,  and  found  it  the  residence  of  hospitality  and 
good  sense. 

Mrs.  Murray  had  resided  nine  years  in  the  island 
of  Majorca,  being  the  daughter  of  the  English  consul. 
She  gave  me  many  particulars  relating  to  that  island, 
and,  among  others,  that  the  climate  was  by  far  the 
finest  she  had  ever  experienced.  She  never  was  for  a 
single  hour  either  too  hot  or  too  cold,  nor  ever  saw  a 
fog ;  but  the  people  were  unpleasant,  ignorant  and 
bigoted. 

I  was  always  very  regular  in  keeping  accounts,  but 
do  not  often  mention  them  in  this  detail ;  I  may,  how- 
ever, just  observe  that  I  seemed  to  have  been  no  bad 
economist,  as  the  total  expense  of  house,  garden,  stable, 
servants,  and  keeping  a  postchaise  with  not  a  little 
company,  cost  in  four  months  911.  2s.  Sd.,  or  at  the 


172      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUK  YOUNG 

rate  of  291^.  6.s.  9d.  per  annum  ;  how  it  was  done 
I  forget.  If  such  an  expense  be  compared  with  the 
present  times  '  it  will  show  the  enormous  difference, 
arising  principally  from  the  desperate  increase  of  taxa- 
tion, which  has  crippled  so  many  classes  of  the  king- 
dom ;  but  I  had  a  large  farm  in  my  hands.  On  being 
at  London,  some  time  after,  I  went  to  Esher  and 
spent  a  day  with  Mr.  Ducket,  examining  his  farm  with 
great  attention ;  he  dined  with  me  at  the  '  Tun,'  and 
I  had  a  very  interesting  conversation  with  him  to  a  late 
hour,  upon  all  the  points  of  his  husbandr}-. 

In  this  year  I  first  introduced  the  cultivation  of 
Cichorium  Intybus  ^  at  Bradfield,  and  registered  it  in 
the  '  Annals  of  Agriculture  ;  '  it  was  at  first  upon  a 
small  scale,  but  sufficient  to  convince  me  of  the  vast 
importance  of  the  plant.  I  brought  the  seed  from 
Lyons  in  France,  and  gradually  extended  the  culture 
till  I  had  above  one  hundred  acres  of  it ;  the  utter 
stupidity  of  the  farming  world  was  never  more  apparent 
than  in  their  neglect  of  this  plant,  so  repeatedly  re- 
commended in  the  'Annals.'  The  Duke  of  Bedford 
kept  ten  large  sheep  per  acre  on  a  field  of  it. 

The  following  letters  were  among  others  received 
this  year : — 

From  B.  H.  Latrobe,  Esq.,  on  my  being  burnt  in 
effigy  at  Norwich  by  the  manufacturers  {in  re  Wool 
Bill),  a  very  lively  letter. 

'  Written  about  1816. 

-  Wild  chicory  or  succory,  used  by  the  French  as  a  winter  salad,  and 
in  the  adulteration  of  coffee. 


TEATEL   AND   INTEENATIONAL  FEIENDSHIPS         173 
'  Stamp  Office,  Somerset  Place :  May  22,  1788. 

'  Dear  Sir, — We  have  been  waiting  for  your  arrival 
in  town  patiently  for  the  week  past,  and  I  am  afraid 
we  must  now  make  up  our  minds  to  wait  patiently  a 
great  deal  longer,  as  the  passing  of  the  Wool  Bill  has 
not  been  able  to  bring  you  to  town.  By  the  word  We 
I  mean  my  brother,  our  friend  the  lord  of  slaves,' 
myself,  and  I  dare  say  it  includes  fifty  other  people 
whom  I  have  not  the  honour  of  knowing.  We  have 
been  three  days  past  laying  our  heads  together  to  find 
out  some  method  of  doing  you  honour  in  effigy  in  order 
to  make  up  to  you  in  some  measure  the  disgrace  you 
have  undergone  (as  is  creditably  reported  about  town) 
of  being  burnt  in  effigy  by  the  wool  manufacturers  at 
Bury.  My  brother  is  for  procuring  your  effigy,  and 
after  having  crowned  it  with  a  wreath  composed  of 
turnip  roots,  cabbage  leaves,  potato-apples,  wheat-ears, 
oats,  straws,  &c.,  and  tied  with  a  band  of  wool,  thinks 
it  ought  to  be  placed  upon  its  pedestal  (being  the 
volume  of  Virgil's  "  Georgics  ")  to  be  worshipped  by 
the  real  patriots ;  Mr.  Huthhausen  thinks  a  plain 
ribbon  a  sufficient  honour  for  a  man  whose  ideas  can 
admit  of  the  belief  of  slavery  in  Silesia  ;  and,  as  for 
myself,  I  am  of  opinion  that  a  man  whose  life  has  been 
devoted  without  fee  or  reward  to  the  service  of  the 
public  has  so  great  a  reward  arising  from  the  con- 
sciousness of  having  done  good,  and  so  just  a  claim  to 
honour,  that  I  shall  not  trouble  my  head  about  methods 
to  increase  it.     But  I  must  beg  your  pardon  for  this 

'  Kefers  (see  below)  to  a  work  by  Baron  Huthhausen  on  the  servi- 
tude of  the  Silesian  peasantry. 


174      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AKTHUE  YOUNG 

lady-like  chat,  though  your  having  been  burnt  in  effigy 
is  enough  to  make  any  pen  run  wild.  ...  I  could 
wish  that  a  favour  I  have  to  beg  of  you  were  not 
inconvenient.' 

[The  writer  requests  that  some  remarks  of  his 
own  on  the  book  named  above  may  be  inserted  in  the 

*  Annals.'] 

From  Edmund  Burke,  Esq.,  on  an  application  I 
made  to  him  relative  to  the  Wool  Bill.  [Unfortunately 
no  copy  can  he  found  of  this  letter^ 

Sir  Joseph  Banks  gives  me  joy  of  being  burned  in 
effigy  at  Norwich  (Bury  ?)  on  account  of  my  opposition 
to  the  Wool  Bill  :— 

'  Soho  Square  :  May  13,  1788. 

'Dear  Sir, — With  this  you  will  receive  the  "In- 
structions given  to  the  Council  against  the  Wool  Bill."  ^ 

'  I  have  corrected  the  whole,  but  I  fear  you  will  find 
it  miserably  deficient  in  point  of  composition,  but  as  I 
am  not  ambitious  on  that  head  I  mean  to  be  satisfied 
if  I  am  intelligible. 

'  I  give  you  joy  sincerely  at  having  arrived  at  the 
glory  of  being  burned  in  effigy  ;  nothing  is  so  conclusive 
a  proof  of  your  possessing  the  best  of  the  argument. 
No  one  was  ever  burned  if  he  was  wrong — the  business 
in  that  case  is  to  expose  his  blunders — but  when  argu- 
ment is  precluded  firebrands  are  ready  substitutes. 
'  Believe  me,  dear  Sir, 

'  Yours  faithfully, 

'J,  Banks.' 

'  For  this  article  see  Annals  of  Agriculture,  vol.  ix.  ]).  479. 


TEAVEL   AND   INTERNATIONAL  FEIENDSHIPS         175 

1789. — I  had  yet  work  to  do  in  France ;  the  survey 
of  that  kingdom  was  not  completed  in  the  journej's  of 
the  two  preceding  years.  I  did  not  hesitate  therefore, 
but  as  soon  as  business  at  home  would  permit  me  to 
be  absent  I  set  out  on  my  third  expedition,  June  2, 
and  went  to  Paris  in  the  diligence.  As  the  carrying 
specimens  of  remarkable  soils  and  of  manufactures, 
wool,  &c.  was  so  inconvenient,  I  made  this  journey  in  a 
chaise.  Through  the  kindness  of  the  Duchess  d'Estissac 
(de  Rochefoucauld)  I  was  most  agreeably  received  at  the 
Hotel  de  la  Rochefoucauld,  and  as  the  States  General 
were  assembling  I  went  thither  to  the  Duke's  apartment, 
where  I  met  many  persons  of  note,  such  as  the  Duke 
of  Orleans,  the  Abbe  Sieyes,  Rabaut  St.  !^tienne,'  &c. 
and  was  present  at  an  interesting  debate  in  the  National 
Assembly.  I  spent  some  time  at  Paris,  which  I  quitted 
on  my  third  journey  on  June  28.  I  felt  much  regret  on 
taking  leave  of  my  excellent  friend  Monsieur  Lazowski, 
whose  anxiety  for  the  fate  of  his  country  -  made  me 
respect  his  character  as  much  as  I  had  reason  to  love 
it  for  the  thousand  attentions  I  was  in  the  daily  habit 
of  receiving  from  him.  Mj^  kind  protectress  the 
Duchess  d'Estissac  had  the  goodness  to  make  me 
promise  that  I  would  again  return  to  her  hospitable 
hotel  when  I  had  finished  the  journey. 

At  Toulon  I  sold  my  horse  and  chaise,  as  I  had  been 
informed  that  I  could  not  thus  travel  with  safety  in 
Italy.     I  embarked  at  Toulon  to  save  one  or  two  stages, 

'  Son  of  a  Protestant  pastor  of  Nimes,  member  of  the  Constituent 
Assembly;  guillotined  1784.     See  Letters  of  Helen  Maria  Williams. 
*  His  country  by  adoption  ;  Lazowski  was  a  Pole. 


176      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

which  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  viewing  the  fine 
harbours  of  that  port.  On  leaving  Nice  I  went  by  a 
vetturino  to  Turin,  and  was  fortunate  in  making  the 
acquaintance  of  some  of  the  gentlemen  that  accom- 
panied me.  At  that  capital  I  was  introduced  to 
various  lovers  of  the  plough,  and  received  much  valu- 
able information.  From  this  place  I  went  to  Milan, 
where  through  the  kind  attentions  of  the  Abate 
Amorette,  a  true  lover  of  agriculture  and  a  friend  of  its 
professors,  I  was  introduced  to  a  variety  of  persons 
who  afforded  me  much  intelligence  and  accompanied  me 
to  the  seat  of  the  Count  di  Castiglioni,  sixteen  miles 
north  of  the  city,  with  whom  I  passed  sufficient  time 
to  give  me  an  opportunity  of  remarking  the  country 
life  of  an  Italian  nobleman  of  high  consideration. 

From  Milan  I  went  to  Lodi  through  one  of  the 
finest  scenes  of  irrigation  in  the  world.  At  the  latter 
place  I  assisted  in  the  whole  operation  of  making  a 
Lodesan,  called  Parmesan  cheese  in  England,  and 
thereby  learnt  a  few  circumstances  in  that  manufacture, 
which  I  afterwards  applied  with  success  in  making 
cheese  in  Suffolk.  At  Lodi  I  attended  the  opera,  where 
the  Archduke  and  Archduchess  with  the  most  splendid 
company  were  present,  and  it  gave  me  particular 
pleasure  to  find  such  a  house  so  filled  in  a  little  town 
quite  dependent  on  cows,  butter  and  cheese. 

At  Bergamo  I  was  electrified  by  the  fine  eyes  of 
an  Italian  fair,  and  just  as  I  was  making  a  nearer 
approach,  impeded  in  it  by  the  sudden  appearance  of 
her  husband. 

At  Verona   I   viewed  its   celebrated  amphitheatre 

'  Abbot. 


TKAVEL   AND   INTEENATIONAL  FELENDSHIPS         177 

and  gained  some  agricultural  intelligence,  then  on  to 
Vicenza  and  Padua,  where  I  stayed  some  days,  having 
introductions  to  several  professors,  then  by  the  canal 
to  Venice,  where  I  employed  several  days  in  viewing 
that  singular  place  and  numberless  curiosities  to  be 
found  in  it.     It  fully  answered  my  expectations. 

At  Bologna  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  Mr. 
Taylor,  of  Bifrons,  in  Kent,  with  his  very  agreeable 
family.  By  him  I  was  introduced  to  such  of  the  nobility 
of  the  place  as  had  a  taste  for  farming,  which,  with 
some  excursions  in  the  vicinity,  enabled  me  to  under- 
stand the  agriculture  of  the  district. 

Thence  I  travelled  to  Florence,  where  my  time  was 
divided  between  agriculture  and  the  Tribuna,  that  is, 
between  Farmers  and  Venuses. 

I  was  here  introduced  to  many  celebrated  characters 
and  to  others  able  to  give  me  valuable  agricultural 
information.  At  home  we  had  a  very  pleasant  party, 
and  abroad  our  ej^es  were  feasted  with  all  that  Art  or 
Science  could  produce. 

Quitting  Turin  [on  the  return  journey]  I  joined 
company  with  Mr.  Grundy,  a  considerable  merchant, 
from  Birmingham.  We  crossed  over  Mont  Cenis  on 
our  route  to  Lyons.' 

During  the  winter  of  this  year  I  met  Dr.  Watson 
several  times  at  my  friend  Symonds',  and  shall  here 
copy  a  private  note  I  made  on  that  celebrated  character. 

I  was  well  acquainted  with  him  for  some  years 
before  he  was   made  a  Bishop  as  well  as  long  after. 

'  '  January  30,  1790.     To  Bradfield,  and  here  terminate,  I  hope,  my 
travels.'  —  Travels  in  France,  Bohn's  Library. 

N 


178  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   AETHUR  YOUNG 

Nor  is  it  strange  that  I  should  be  assiduous  in  culti- 
vating a  connection  with  a  man  of  such  extraordinary 
powers,  who  had  a  most  peculiar  felicity  in  bringing 
all  the  stores  of  a  richly  furnished  mind  to  bear  as 
occasion  required  in  conversation.  His  memory  was 
wonderfully  retentive,  and  he  had  the  art  of  speaking 
upon  subjects  with  which  he  was  not  well  acquainted 
without  betraying  any  ignorance.  He  had  a  clear, 
logical  head,  great  promptness  of  application,  and  the 
utmost  fluency  of  expression,  but  sometimes  with  an 
affectation  of  enunciation  in  a  delicate  manner  which 
did  not  at  all  become  the  native  sturdiness  of  his  dis- 
position. He  had  a  mathematical  calculating  head, 
which  enabled  him  readily  to  apply  scientific  researches 
to  the  ordinary  purposes  of  life.  His  style  was  always 
uncommonly  perspicuous.  The  King  once  said  to  him, 
'  I  know  not  how  it  is,  my  Lord,  but  when  I  read  any 
of  your  publications  I  am  never  for  one  moment  at  a 
loss  for  your  meaning,  whereas  in  reading  the  works  of 
other  very  able  men  their  want  of  clearness  often  makes 
me  doubtful.'  '  Sir,'  replied  the  Bishop,  '  we  are  very 
assiduous  at  Cambridge  to  study  Euclid  and  Locke.' 
Almost  from  being  made  a  Bishop  he  became  a  dis- 
gusted man,  because  he  never  could  procure  a  trans- 
lation, and  it  was  supposed  that  the  Queen  was 
influenced  against  him  by  Bishop  Porteus,  who  had  not 
so  high  an  opinion  of  him  as  many  others.  He  was 
once  speaking  to  Porteus  in  praise  of  Locke's  '  Eeason- 
ableness  of  Christianity,'  and  said  in  the  course  of  con- 
versation, '  I  presume,  my  Lord,  you  are  of  the  same 
opinion.'     But  Porteus,  who  had  not  been  able  to  get 


TEAVEL   AND   INTEENATIONAL  FKIENDSHIPS         179 

in  a  word  for  some  time,  with  a  firmness  not  perhaps 
common  with  him  when  conversing  with  such  a  man 
as  Watson,  said,  '  Indeed,  my  Lord,  I  am  quite  of  a 
different  opinion  ' — then  left  the  room  abruptly. 

Watson  disapproved  of  his  daughter  learning  Latin, 
but  was  very  assiduous  to  procure  her  translations  of 
the  Classics.  Upon  coming  to  the  University,  or  not 
long  after,  he  found  himself  very  deficient  in  Classical 
learning,  and  applied  to  recover  lost  time  with  inde- 
fatigable attention.  He  was  tutor  to  Mr.  Luther,  of 
Essex,  at  Cambridge,  and  was  useful  to  him  in  the 
great  contested  election  for  that  county.  Soon  after, 
Luther,  as  was  supposed  from  motives  of  economy, 
went  to  France,  and,  in  his  absence,  some  malignant 
reports  were  spread  to  his  disadvantage.  Watson  saw 
the  great  importance  of  trampling  upon  them  imme- 
diately ;  not  trusting  to  any  correspondence,  he  went  to 
Paris,  and  represented  to  him  the  necessity  of  instantly 
returning  and  showing  himself  in  every  company  that 
was  possible.  Luther  felt  the  propriety  of  the  advice, 
and  directly  returned  vdth  the  Doctor,  whose  conduct 
upon  this  and  many  other  occasions  made  such  an 
impression  on  his  mind  that  he  left  him  a  good  estate 
in  the  very  heart  of  the  Earl  of  Egremont's  at 
Petworth,  so  that  part  of  it  joined  not  only  the  park, 
but  the  garden.  To  purchase  this  estate  was  a  very 
great  object  to  Lord  E.,  and  the  Bishop,  not  liking  to 
ask  too  high  a  price  in  the  years'  purchase  for  the  land, 
made  a  valuation  of  a  great  quantity  of  young  timber 
on  what  would  be  the  future  value  of  the  trees,  and  by 
this  means  contrived  to  have  a  very  great  price  for  the 

N    2 


180      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

estate.  It  was  too  great  an  object  to  Lord  E.  to  be 
refused ;  but  the  Bishop  did  not  escape  without  censure. 

Count  Leopold  Berchtold  published  this  year  his 
'  Hints  to  Patriotic  Travellers,'  which  in  a  very  hand- 
some manner  he  dedicated  to  me.  My  correspondence 
was  somewhat  numerous.  I  could  give  a  long  list,  but 
shall  only  mention  the  following  : — 

From  Count  Bukaty,  Polish  Ambassador,  invitation 
from  the  King  of  Poland.^ 

'  Holies  Street :  May  27,  1789. 
'  Sir, — I  acquit  myself  of  my  old  debt  of  gratitude 
which  I  owe  you  in  returning  my  sincere  thanks  for 
all  the  kindness  which  my  nephew  has  experienced  from 
you  and  your  family  during  his  residence  at  Bradfield 
Hall.  I  left  him  in  Poland  to  spread  your  name 
and  superior  merit,  which  is  already  so  well  known 
and  justly  admired  all  over  Europe.  Your  well- 
deserved  fame  reaching  his  Majesty  the  King  of 
Poland,  and  his  brother,  the  Prince  Primate,  makes 
them  wish  to  see  you  once  in  that  country,  whose 
natural  riches  consisting  in  agriculture  might  be 
essentially  improved  by  your  transcendent  knowledge 
therein.  It  was  already  their  intention  to  establish 
there  a  Society  of  Agriculture,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
present  political  circumstances,  which  necessarily  take 
up  all  their  time  and  attention.     I  would  be  exceed- 

'  This  letter  is  interesting  as  written  by  the  last  representative  of 
that  unhappy  country  in  England.  We  read  in  Knight's  History  of 
England,  vol.  v.,  that,  on  the  reassembling  of  Parliament  after  the 
partition  of  Poland  no  allusion  whatever  was  made  in  the  House  of 
Commons  to  that  event.  The  final  partition  treaty  was  signed  in  1795 
by  Russia,  Prussia,  and  Austria. 


traat:l  and  inteknatioxal  friendships       181 

ingly  happy,  Sir,  when  you  will  be  present  in  Town  in 

order   to    have  some   conversation   with   you   on   the 

subject.     In  the  meantime,  I  take  the  liberty  to  ask 

your  favour  in  informing  me  where  I  could  get  the 

machine  for  separating  corn  from  chaff,  whereof  the 

drawing  was  brought  to  Poland  by  my  nephew  ? 

'  I   have    the   honour    to    be,    with    the   greatest 

respect, 

'  Sir,  your  most  obedient,  &c., 

'  F.  BUKATY, 
'  Envoy  Extraordinary  of  Poland.' 

From  Dr.  Burney 

'  Chelsea  College  :  Oct.  20,  1789. 

'  My  dear  Friend, — I  have  begged  a  corner  of  this 
sheet  from  your  daughter  Bessy  to  congratulate  you  on 
your  safe  arrival  on  Classic  ground  after  the  perils  and 
dangers  of  Gothic  ground.  How  insipid  will  the 
history  of  the  present  times  in  this  last  country  render 
all  other  history !  And  what  weight  will  it  not  give  to 
what  has  been  long  called  the  history  of  Fabulous 
times !  The  Poissardes  are  but  the  Amazons  of  the 
present  day,  and  the  leaders  at  the  attack  of  the 
Bastille  the  Hercules  and  Theseus.  The  fetching 
the  King,  Queen,  and  Eoyal  Family  from  Versailles, 
and  the  total  demolition  of  the  ancient  government  of 
the  Kingdom,  have  no  type  in  history  or  fable,  ancient 
or  modern.  The  nobles  and  clergy  indiscriminately 
stripped  of  their  honours  and  property,  not  to  give  it  to 
others  of  the  same  rank  and  class,  but  to  the  mob,  who 
are   helping   themselves   to   whatever   they  like,    and 


182  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   AETHUR   YOUNG 

destroying  whom  and  what  is  not  honoured  with  their 
approbation  in  a  more  successful  and  effectual  way  than 
our  AVat  Tyler  or  Jack  Straw  ever  intended,  and  which 
would  have  astonished  even  J.  J.  Rousseau  had  he 
been  living,  in  spite  of  his  ideas  of  an  egaliU  de  con- 
dition. But  whether  a  totally  levelling  scheme  can  be 
rendered  permanent  in  a  great  Empire  or  no,  time,  not 
experience,  can  show.  I  used  to  think  la  hi  des  ijliis 
forts  only  existed  among  savages,  and  that  in  Society 
there  were  tall  minds  as  well  as  tall  bodies,  but  none 
such  have  as  j^et  appeared  in  France.  But  let  us  talk 
of  Italy,  where  I  found  no  want  of  tall  minds,  even  in 
these  degenerate  days.  I  am  glad  you  seem  to  like  the 
farming  of  the  Milanese.  I  was  particularly  struck 
with  it  all  through  Lombardy,  and  think  j^ou  will  find 
even  among  the  peasantry  shrewdness,  industry,  and 
ingenuitj^  In  all  the  great  cities  I  found  philosophers, 
mathematicians,  and  scholars,  as  well  as  musicians  ; 
these  last,  indeed,  make  more  noise  in  the  world,  and, 
being  travellers,  spread  their  own  fame  into  remote 
countries,  while  the  drone  and  scientific  part  of  a  nation 
are  seldom  heard  of  out  of  the  w^alls  of  their  colleges 
or  towns  till  after  their  decease.  Indeed,  almost  all 
those  I  knew  personally  nineteen  years  ago  in  Italy 
are  now  no  more  !  Padre  Boccaria  at  Turin,  Padre 
Boscovich  at  Milan,  and  Padre  Sacchi.  This  last,  I 
believe,  is  still  living.  But  Count  Firmian  is  dead,  to 
whom  I  and  every  English  traveller  was  much  obliged 
by  his  hospitality  and  kindness.  You  probably  owe  the 
same  obligation  to  his  successor,  with  whose  name  even 
I    am   unacquainted.     If   you   go   to  Padua  you  will 


TEAVEL   AND   INTERNATIONAL  FRIENDSHIPS         183 

probably  stop  at  Verona,  where  there  are  always  men 
of  learning  and  science.  But  you  must  not  judge  of 
the  present  state  of  musick  in  any  part  of  Italy  unless 
you  remain  there  during  the  Carnival.  At  other  times 
(except  at  the  great  fairs)  the  principal  theatres  are 
shut,  and  the  others  supphed  with  such  rifif-raff  as  our 
Sadler's  Wells  during  summer.  If  Guadagni  had  been 
living,  you  would  have  him  at  Padaa,  and  if  I  had  not 
engaged  him  to  the  Pantheon,  Pachierotti,  whom  we 
expect  here  in  a  few  days.  Pray  go  to  the  church  of 
Sant'  Antonio  on  a  festival ;  there  Tartini  used  to  lead 
and  Guadagni  sing.  If  Padre  Valetti  is  living,  the 
Maestro  di  Capella,  pray  present  my  compliments  to 
him  and  enquire  after  the  sequel  of  his  Treatise.  I 
have  as  yet  only  seen  the  first  part.  I  likewise  beg  to 
be  remembered  to  Signor  Marsili,  the  Professor  of 
Botany,  and  Padre  Columbo,  the  Professor  of  Mathe- 
matics :  the  first  was  some  time  in  England  and  speaks 
our  language ;  the  second  was  the  great  friend  of  Tartini, 
and  left  in  possession  of  all  his  manuscript  papers. 
Enquire  what  is  become  of  them,  and  try  to  get  intelli- 
gence of  the  disposal  of  Padre  Martini's  papers,  books, 
and  sequel  of  his  '  History  of  Musick  '  at  Bologna. 
Enquire  likewise  when  you  meet  with  intelligent 
musical  people  what  are  the  defects  of  the  newest  and 
best  of  the  great  Italian  theatres.  No  plan  is,  I  beheve, 
as  yet  adopted  for  rebuilding  ours.  Le  Texier  has  a 
model  made  with  many  conveniences  and  more  magni- 
ficence than  our  former  theatre  could  boast,  but 
whether  it  will  be  adopted,  or  whether  it  is  to  be 
washed  that  a  Frenchman  should  ever  have  the  manage- 


184      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

ment  of  an  Italian  opera,  I  know  not.  However 
partial  he  or  his  countrymen  may  seem  to  German  and 
Italian  musick,  I  know  by  long  observation  that  they 
are  totally  ignorant  of,  and  enemies  to,  good  singing, 
without  which  what  are  the  two  or  three  acts  of  an 
opera  but  intermezzi  or  act  tunes  to  the  ballets  ?  I 
perceive,  however,  that,  amidst  all  the  horrors  of  Paris, 
they  suffer  Italian  operas  to  be  performed  in  Italian 
and  by  Italians,  which  were  never  allowed  before, 
except  at  Versailles  ;  but  these  are  only  burlettas ; 
serious  operas  so  performed  might  have  some  effect 
on  the  national  taste  in  singing.  But  les  Dames  des 
Halles,  their  excellencies  Mesdames  les  Poissardes, 
furnish  them  with  "  other  fish  to  fry  "  at  present ;  so  I 
shall  say  no  more  of  France,  but  that  I  pity  most 
sincerely  every  honest  man  who  has  the  misfortune  to 
be  resident  in  that  distracted  kingdom. 

'  God  bless  you,  my  dear  Sir,  and  give  you  health 
and  spirits  to  enjoy  your  rational  and  useful  enquiries. 

'  Charles  Burney.' 

[The  follovnng  extracts  from  Arthur  Young's  letters 
home,  and  letter  to  his  darling  Bobbin,  then  aged  five, 
are  worth  giving.  With  very  slight  excisions  all  letters 
to  his  daughter  Mary  are  incorporated  in  the  '  French 
Travels.'] 

'  Lyons,  Dec.  28,  1789. — Symonds  says  Arthur 
has  set  off  very  well  at  Cambridge,  which  I  am  very 
glad  to  hear.  God  send  him  understanding  enough  to 
know  the  value  of  these  four  years  there,  which  are 
either  lost  absolutely  or  applied  to  the  amelioration  of 


TEAVEL  AND   INTEENATIONAL  FRIENDSHIPS         185 

all  his   life  after.     French  and  Italian  or  German  after 
four  years  at  Cambridge  may  qualify  it  for  anything.' 

From  another  letter  to  the  same  : — 

'  I  found  here  your  Mother's  two  letters,  of  which  I 
can  hardly  make  head  or  tail ;  according  to  custom  they 
are  so  cross  written  and  so  crammed  and  topsy-turvy, 
that,  like  the  oracles  of  old,  they  may  he  made  to  speak 
whatever  is  in  the  reader's  head,  alley  croaker  (sic)  or 
"  Paradise  Lost  "  are  all  one.' 

From  a  third  letter,  dated  Florence,  November  18, 
1789  :— 

*  I  received  here  a  letter  from  you,  and  two  from  your 
Mother ;  yours  is  dated  October  17,  one  of  hers  the  30th, 
the  other  no  date,  and  not  a  word  of  Bobbin  in  it. 
^Vhat  a  way  of  writing,  and  this  to  a  man  1,400  miles 
from  home.  I  am  greatly  concerned  for  Mr.  Arbuthnot, 
though  his  silence  made  him  dead  to  us  from  the  time 
he  went  to  Ireland.  I  never  knew  a  family  which  was 
the  centre  of  every  mild  and  agreeable  virtue  so 
shattered  into  nothing  by  a  man's  failure.  I  have  long 
and  often  regretted  that  period.  ...  I  took  100/.  with 
me,  and  it  lasts  exactly  six  months,  buying  books 
included.  .  .  .  Good  night.  Thank  God,  Bobbin  is 
well ;  give  her  a  kiss.' 

To  his  youngest  Daughter,  Martha  (Bobbin) 

'  Moulins  :  August  7,  1789. 

'  My  dear  Bobbin, — I  fully  expected  to  have  heard 
from  Mary  here,  and  to  have  known  how  my  dear  little 
girl  does,  but  I  was  much  disappointed  and  found  no 
letter  from  England. 


186      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNQ 

'  I  think  it  high  time  to  enquire  of  you  how  you  pass 
your  time — what  you  do — how  Mr.  Mag  (the  pony) 
does,  and  the  four  kittens  ;  I  hope  you  have  taken  care 
of  them  and  remembered  your  Papa  wants  cats.  Do 
the  flowers  grow  well  in  your  garden?  Are  you  a 
better  gardener  than  you  used  to  be  ?  The  Marq.  de 
Guerchy's  little  girls  have  a  little  house  on  a  little  hill, 
and  on  one  side  a  httle  flower  garden,  and  on  the  other 
side  a  little  kitchen  garden,  which  they  manage  them- 
selves and  keep  very  clean  from  weeds — Bobbin  would 
hke  much  to  see  it. 

'  I  have  passed  through  perils  and  dangers,  for  a 
part  of  the  countrj^  is  infested  by  800  plunderers  in 
arms,  yet  have  burnt  in  only  one  district  near  Macon 
twelve  chateaus  ;  but  I  am  now  passed  the  worst  and 
hope  to  escape  at  last  with  whole  bones.  I  have  a 
passport,  and  am  carried  to  the  Bom'geois  guard  at  all 
the  towns. 

'  Pray,  my  little  girl,  take  care,  and  keep  clear  from 
weeds  the  row  of  grass  I  sowed  in  the  round  garden, 
on  right  hand  about  ten  yards  long,  but  don't  take  up 
anything  like  grass.  And  if  the  two  willows  which  I 
brought  last  year  1,000  miles  from  France  are  alive  yet, 
give  them  some  water ;  one  is  by  the  hole,  and  the 
other  by  Arthur's  garden — I  made  little  mounds  around 
them.  You  do  not  know,  my  little  Bobbin,  how  much 
I  long  to  have  a  walk  with  you  at  Bradfield.  It  is  a 
sad  thing  I  have  no  letter  here  ;  I  shall  have  none  till 
Clermont.  I  desire  a  particular  account  of  my  farm 
to  be  sent  here. 

*  I  have  been  ill  from  heat  and  fatigue,  and  had  a 


TRAVEL   AND   INTERNATIONAL   FRIENDSHIPS         187 

sore  throat,  but  by  care  and  an  antiseptic  diet  I  am  now, 
thank  God,  quite  well. 

'  What  do  you  think  of  the  French  at  such  a 
moment  as  this  with  a  free  press '?  yet  in  this  capital  of 
a  great  province  there  is  not  (publickly)  one  newspaper 
to  be  seen ;  at  a  coffee  house,  where  twenty  tables 
for  company,  not  one.     What  blessed  ignorance.     The 

Paris  m have  done  the  whole,  and  are  the  only 

enlightened  part  of  the  K . 

'  Adieu,  my  dear  B. 

'  I  am,  yours  affectionately, 

'  A.  Y.' 

[In  a  note  A.  Y.  writes :] 

'  I  found  Madame  la  Comtesse  de  Guerchy  a  very 
pleasant,  agreeable  woman,  and  among  other  trifles 
which  occurred  at  their  house  was  an  expedition  into 
the  kitchen  to  teach  me  to  make  an  omelette,  the 
operation  attending  which  occasioned  no  little  merri- 
ment both  in  the  kitchen  and  parlour.  I  succeeded 
pretty  well.'  ' 

1790. — All  this  summer  I  was  employed  in  pre- 
paring my  [French]  Travels  for  the  press.  In  October 
I  had  a  violent  fever,  which  brought  me  to  the  brink  of 
the  grave.  I  made  a  minute  of  that  illness  in  the 
following  words  :  '  From  almost  the  bed  of  death,  it 
pleased  the  Divine  Goodness  to  raise  me  up,  and  I 
remember  it  was  in  perfect  hardness  of  heart  and  free 
from  all  true  or  grateful  feelings.     I  was  in  a  state  of 

'  The  passage  occurs  in  the  small  raemorandurn-book  from  which  I 
have  occasionally  quoted  particulars  o  yearly  expenses,  <fec. 


188  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   AETHUE   YOUNG 

blindness  and  insensibility,  on  which  I  reflect  with 
horror  and  amazement.' ' 

I  cannot  speak  of  the  ingratitude  of  my  heart  to  God 
at  this  period  but  in  the  strongest  terms,  as  it  amounted 
to  a  degree  of  insensibility  quite  unaccountable.  I  fear 
that  not  one  thought  of  God  ever  occurred  to  me  at  that 
time,  and  I  doubt  whether  [it  was  so],  while  one  evening 
I  had  resumed  the  habit  of  prayer,  that  is,  of  those 
formal  prayers  which  an  unconverted  person  may  repeat 
without  any  real  devotion  ;  and  yet  during  my  delirium 
the  physician  afterwards  told  me  that  I  one  day  broke 
forth  into  one  of  the  most  eloquent  and  sublime  prayers 
he  ever  heard,  to  his  utter  astonishment. 

During  my  recovery  I  wrote  that  melancholy  review 
of  my  past  life,  which  is  printed  in  the  '  Annals.' 

'  Vol.  XV.  1791,  My  Own  Memoirs. 


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tk'-yl>^C'HJt//^7f..^C0t^^  7</^fi^  t^o^tttif  T'^-cy^p^  c^^^^i^ 


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189 


CHAPTER   IX 

PATRIOTIC    PROPOSALS — 1791-92 

Illness — Correspondence  with  Washington — The  King's  gift  of  a  ram — 
Anecdotes — Revising  MSS. — Patriotic  proposals — Death  of  the  Earl 
of  Orford — Agricultural  schemes— Correspondence. 

The  year  opened  with  a  continuation  of  that  severe 
illness  which  had  confined  me  for  some  months.  The 
following  notes  are  from  a  journal  I  kept  at  that  time  : — 

This  year  my  daughter  Elizabeth  married  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Hoole,  son  of  the  celebrated  John  Hoole, 
translator  of  Tasso  and  Ariosto.  He  is  a  very  sensible, 
moral  man  of  strict  integrity,  and  always  behaved  to  my 
daughter  with  much  tenderness. 

This  same  year  my  correspondence  '  opened  with 
General  Washington.  Having  been  applied  to  to  pro- 
cure some  implements  for  his  husbandry,  I  wrote 
to  him  offering  to  procure  any  article  in  that  line  which 
he  might  have  occasion  for,  and  accordingly  afterwards 
sent  him  many,  amongst  others  the  plan  of  a  barn, 
which  he  executed,  and  is  represented  by  a  plate  in  the 
'  Annals  of  Agriculture.' 

'  These  letters  were  sold  by   Sotheby,  Wilkinson  &  Co.,  London, 
December  189G. 


190      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

This  year  his  Majesty  had  the  goodness  to  make 
me  a  present  of  a  Spanish  Merino  ram,  a  portrait  of 
which  I  inserted  in  the  '  Annals.' 

How  many  millions  of  men  are  there  that  would 
smile  if  I  were  to  mention  the  Sovereign  of  a  great 
Empire  giving  a  ram  to  a  farmer  as  an  event  that 
merited  the  attention  of  mankind  !  The  world  is  full 
of  those  who  consider  military  glory  as  the  proper 
object  of  the  ambition  of  monarchs ;  who  measure  regal 
merit  by  the  millions  that  are  slaughtered ;  by  the 
public  robbery  and  plunder  that  are  dignified  by  the 
titles  of  dignity  and  conquest,  and  who  look  down  on 
every  exertion  of  peace  and  tranquillity  as  unbecoming 
those  who  aim  at  the  epithet  great,  and  unworthy  the 
aim  of  men  that  are  born  the  masters  of  the  globe. 

My  ideas  are  cast  in  a  very  different  mould,  and  I 
believe  the  period  is  advancing  with  accelerated  pace 
that  shall  exhibit  characters  in  a  light  totally  new, 
and  shall  rather  brand  than  exalt  the  virtues  hitherto 
admired  ;  that  shall  place  in  full  blaze  of  meridian 
lustre  actions  lost  on  the  mass  of  mankind ;  that  shall 
pay  more  homage  to  the  memory  of  a  Prince  that  gave 
a  ram  to  a  farmer  than  for  wielding  the  sceptre  obeyed 
alike  on  the  Ganges  and  on  the  Thames. 

I  shall  presume  to  offer  but  one  other  general  obser- 
vation. When  we  see  his  Majesty  practising  husbandry 
with  that  warmth  that  marks  a  favourite  pursuit,  and 
taking  such  steps  to  diffuse  a  foreign  breed  of  sheep 
well  calculated  to  improve  those  of  his  kingdoms ; 
when  we  see  the  Eoyal  pursuits  take  such  a  direction, 
we  may  safely  conclude  that  the  public  measures  which, 


PATRIOTIC   PROPOSALS  191 

in  certain  instances,  have  been  so  hostile  to  the  agri- 
culture of  this  country,  have  nothing  in  common  with 
the  opinions  of  our  gracious  Sovereign  ;  such  measures 
are  the  v^/'ork  of  men,  who  never  felt  for  husbandry ; 
who  never  practised  it ;  who  never  loved  it ;  it  is  not 
such  men  that  give  rams  to  farmers. 

October  21. — A  letter  to-day  from  General  Washing- 
ton— Gracious  !  from  the  representative  of  the  Majesty 
of  America,  all  written  Vvith  his  own  hand.  Also  one 
from  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  desiring  my  assistance 
to  get  him  a  bailiff  that  understands  English  ornamental 
gardening  ;  for  both  he  gives  fifty  louis  ^  a  year — this 
is  a  French  idea  to  unite  what  never  was  united,  and, 
when  gained,  reward  it  with  wages  little  better  than 
a  common  labourer. 

October  24. — Dined  yesterday  at  Sir  Thomas  Gage's 
to  meet  the  Miss  Fergus's  and  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Onslow. 
This  Dr.  was  the  youngest  son  of  the  late  General 
Onslow,  brother  of  my  godfather,  the  Speaker,  in 
whose  family  my  dear  mother  was  for  many  years  upon 
the  most  intimate  footing  of  private  friendship. 

When  a  boy  I  was  frequently  at  his  house,  and  well 
remember  having  this  Arthur,  a  child,  on  my  knee. 
Mrs.  Onslow  mentioned  how  much  she  had  heard  Mr. 
Boswell  talk  of  my  works.  I  fancy  Boswell,  from  some 
things  I  heard  of  him,  and  it  seems  confirmed  by 
various  passages  in  his  '  Life  of  Johnson,'  has  a  sort  of 
rage  for  knowing  all  sorts  of  public  men,  good,  bad,  and 
indifferent,  all  one  if  a  man  renders  himself  known  he 
likes  to  be  acquainted  with  him.    Mrs.  Onslow  reported 

'  Louis  cVor  at  this  time  worth  24  francs. — Littri. 


192      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

to  me  the  following  conversation  which  took  place  at 
the  Prince's  table  : — 

The  Prince  of  Wales,  with  a  large  company  dining 
with  him,  said,  '  The  three  greatest  coxcombs  in 
England  are  in  this  room.  Here  is  my  friend  Hanger,' 
the  Duke  of  Queensberry  must  come  in  for  the  second ; ' 
he  made  a  pause,  enough  for  the  company  to  stare  for 
the  third,  and  added,  '  for  the  third,  it  is  certainly 
myself.' 

When  Sir  W.  Courtenay  asked  Lord  Bute  for  a 
peerage,  he  carried  his  pedigree  with  him.  Lord  Bute 
examined  and  pretended  to  be  a  good  judge  of  those 
things.  He  told  Mr.  Symonds  that  nothing  could  be 
clearer  or  more  unquestionable  than  his  descent  lineally 
from  Louis  le  Gros  of  France,  the  relationship  with 
the  House  of  Bourbon  which  occasions  the  mourning 
of  a  day  in  the  Court  of  France  for  the  death  of  a 
Courtena5^■-  Lord  Bute  told  him  his  demand  of  a  barony 
was  too  modest,  and  that  he  should  be  a  Viscount,  which 
he  was  accordingly-. 

October  26. — In  preparing  my  Travels  [in  France] 
for  the  press,  I  experience  strongly  the  importance  of 
an  author's  having  composed  so  much  more  than  he 
means  to  print  as  to  be  able  to  strike  out  largely. 

My  agreement  with  Richardson  was  to  have  six 
shillings  a  volume  for  all  sold  of  one  guinea  quarto 
volumes,  but  when  Backham's  compositor  came  to  cast 

'  The  well-known  Colonel  George  Hanger,  afterwards  fourth  Lord 
Coleraine.  '  He  served  in  the  Army  during  the  American  War,  and  was 
afterwards  a  distinguished  character  in  high  society.  Wrote  his  Life, 
Adventures,  and  Opinions.^ — Annual  Register,  1824. 

-  See  on  this  subject  Gibbon's  Rome,  vol.  xi.  ch.  Ixi. 


PATEIOTIC  PEOPOSALS  193 

off  the  MS.  he  found  enough  for  two  large  quarto 
volumes,  since  which  discovery  I  had  to  strike  out  just 
half  of  what  I  had  written ;  and  the  advantage  will  be 
very  great  to  the  work.  I  read  the  books  as  they  are 
wanted  for  the  press  again  and  again,  reducing  the 
quantity  every  time  till  I  get  it  tolerably  to  my  mind, 
but  yet  not  to  the  amount  of  half.  The  work  is  certainly 
improved  by  this  means,  and  I  am  strongly  of  opinion 
if  nine-tenths  of  other  writers  were  to  do  the  same 
thing  their  performances  would  be  so  much  the  better  ; 
for  one  reads  very  few  quartos  that  would  not  be 
improved  by  reducing  to  octavo  volumes. 

November  23. — I  was  five  days  last  week  at  the 
Duke  of  Grafton's,  Admiral,  Mrs.,  and  two  Miss  Pigots 
were  there — she  [Mrs.  P.]  is  sister  to  the  Duchess, 
the  Admiral  is  a  very  worthy  man — Mr.  Stonehewer 
there  also,  and  old  Vary.  I  spent  two  days  in  taking 
the  level  of  the  Duke's  river  for  four  miles,  in  order  to 
see  how  much  land  he  might  water,  and  the  improve- 
ment his  estate  is  capable  of  is  very  great  indeed. 
The  character  of  this  Duke  is  original ;  he  is  uncom- 
monly sensible,  there  is  no  stuff  in  him  ;  he  is  cold, 
silent,  reserved,  and  even  at  times  sullen,  and  he  is 
removed  from  all  that  ease  and  suavity  which  render 
people  agreeable ;  yet  there  is  such  a  solid  under- 
standing, and  so  much  learning  and  knowledge  on 
certain  topics,  that  one  must  value  him  in  spite  of 
our  feehngs. 

Very  little  of  the  conversation  interesting  enough  to 
be  worth  recording.     I  was  also  at  a  new  club  which 

o 


194  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF   AETHUE   YOUNG 

Kuggles '  has  instituted  at  Melford,  which  might  have 
been  an  agreeable  thing  had  there  been  half  a  dozen  only. 

The  following  are  [among]  the  letters  preserved  this 
year : — 

From  Dr.  Burney,  congratulations,  pleasant  anec- 
dotes, and  an  account  of  a  large  auction  of  books,  &c. : — 

'  Chelsea  College  :  Jan.  7,  1791. 

'  My  dear  Arthur, — The  precipice  on  which  you 
have  so  long  been  scrambling  for  life  seems  to  be  more 
dangerous  than  any  one  of  those  which  I  had  to 
encounter  from  Sarzana  to  Genoa  or  Genoa  to  Final. 
In  the  first  of  these  scrambles  during  three  days  and 
three  nights  on  a  mule  without  bridle  (except  that  of 
Jack  Ketch)  or  saddle,  I  had  a  torrent  called  the  Magra 
roaring  in  my  ears  at  a  perpendicular  distance  of  eight 
hundred  or  a  thousand  feet,  and,  in  the  second,  the 
Mediterranean,  during  a  storm  which  no  vessel  could 
weather.  In  the  darkest  night  I  ever  saiv,  with  the 
artificial  lights  of  our  lanterns  extinguished  by  the 
violence  of  the  wind,  at  every  twenty  or  thirty  yards 
the  pedino  (a  man  on  foot  to  guide  the  mule)  cried  out, 
"Alia  montagna !  alia  montagna,  Signore ! "  which 
was  an  admonition  to  alight  and  crawl  on  all  fours 
over  broken  roads  on  the  ridge  of  a  precipice. 

'  Now  let  77ie  play  the  pedino' s  part  to  your  worship, 
and  admonish  you  to  be  very  careful  how  you  travel 
in  the  perilous  way  to  health  which  you  have  still  to 
pass,  after  your  escape  from  the  great  precipice ;  for 

'  Th.  Ruggles,  author  of  a  History  of  the  Poor,  reprinted  afterwards 
from  the  Annals  of  Agriculture.  Many  passages  were  omitted,  in 
accordance  with  the  wishes  of  Pitt. — Lowndes. 


PATEIOTIC   PROPOSALS  195 

which  escape,  as  an  Italian  would  say,  "  to  me  ne  con- 
gratulo  non  meno  con  me  medesimo  die  con  voi." 

'Bat  besides  congratulating  you  on  your  amend- 
ment, I  have  for  some  time  wished  to  tell  you  that  in 
the  Paitoni  catalogue  of  Italian  books  now  selling 
by  auction  at  Eobson's  room,  there  are  many  on 
Natural  History  and  Agriculture.  Now  as  you  have 
dipped  into  Italian  literature  and  farming,  it  struck  me 
on  seeing  the  catalogue  that  there  may  be  several 
works  that  you  would  wish  to  purchase,  particularly 
as  the  Italian  books  of  Science  have  hitherto  sold  at 
this  auction  for  almost  nothing.  I  purchased  nearly 
fifty  volumes  of  poetry  and  miscellanies,  and  my  bill 
did  not  amount  to  five  pounds.  The  books  are  in  ex- 
ceeding good  condition,  and  most  of  them  such  as  have 
never  appeared  before  in  the  Osburn,  Payne,  or  Eobson 
catalogues.  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  this  sale  will 
enrich  future  catalogues  in  our  country  for  many  years 
to  come.  Indeed  I  was  so  tired  of  eternally  meeting 
with  the  same  book  over  and  over  again  that  I  had  no 
longer  patience  to  read  them. 

'  If  you  see  any  you  wish  I  will  get  them  purchased, 
but  as  neither  your  Bibliomania  nor  mine  has  ever 
raged  to  such  a  degree  as  to  wish  to  buy  in  at  any 
price,  it  will  be  necessary  to  say  that  v/e  mean  not  to 
vie  with  those  who  being  more  curious  in  books  than 
authors  procure  them  at  any  price  to  look  at  and  not 
to  read.  A  rich  acquaintance  of  mine,  and  a  customer 
of  old  Tom  Payne,  has  often  bought  books  in  languages 
of  which  he  knew  not  a  single  word,  merely  because 
they  were  beautifully  bound  or  very  scarce.' 


196      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

From  another  letter  :  — 

'  I  have  not  time  nor  space  to  lengthen  my  letter,  or 
I  should  tell  you  of  a  long  conversation  I  had  last 
Sunday  at  Lady  Lucan's  blue-stocking  conversazione 
with  Lord  Macartney  about  you.  He  has  just  come 
from  Ireland  and  wanted  to  know  whether  you  were 
recovered — whether  you  come  to  London  this  winter, 
as  he  wished  to  communicate  some  memorandums  he 
made  in  perusing  your  "Irish  Tour"  while  he  was  in 
Ireland.     He  is  a  charming  man,  to  my  mind. 

'  Poor  Fanny  ^  has  -feeen  very  ill  indeed,  and  we 
have  been  in  expectation  of  her  coming  to  nurse,  but 
she  will  risk  the  dying  at  her  Majesty's  feet  to  show 
her  zeal  before  she  can  be  spared,  I  suppose. 

'  I  have  had  the  great  Haydn  here,  and  think  him 
as  good  a  creature  as  great  Musician.  As  to  operas, 
the  Pantheon  advertises  to  open  as  a  theatre  ;  it  is  the 
most  elegant  in  Europe,  Pacchierotti  says,  but  it  has 
great  enemies.  The  Haymarket  folks  have  not  yet 
obtained  a  licence,  at  which  they  affect  surprise,  though 
they  were  told  so  before  their  building  was  a  foot  high. 
Old  Mingotti  is  come  over  with  her  scholar  Madame 
Lobo,  the  intended  first  woman  of  the  Haymarket.  It 
will  be  a  busy  and  memorable  season  in  the  history  of 
tweedle-dum  and  tweedle-dee  quarrels. 
'  Adieu ! 

'  Believe  me, 

'  Yours  very  affectionately, 

'  Charles  Burney.' 

'  Dr.  Burney's  daughter,  Madame  d'Arblay. 


PATEIOTIC   PEOPOSALS  197 

'  Chelsea  College  :  Sept.  21,  1791. 
'  My  dear  Friend, — I  am  quite  ashamed  of  not 
answering  yom*  kind  and  hearty  letter  of  invitation 
sooner.  But  a  listless  and  irresolute  disposition  has 
made  my  mind  for  some  time  past  as  flimsy  as  a  dish- 
clout,  and  I  must  confess  that  I  have  invariably  "  left 
undone  those  things  which  I  ought  to  have  done  " — 
"for  there  was  no  health  in  me,"  indeed,  not  enough 
to  enable  me  "  to  do  many  things  which  I  ought  not  to 
have  done."  Original  sin  and  depravity  just  enabled 
me  to  read  when  I  should  have  ivritten,  and  to  lie 
in  bed  when  I  should  have  got  up,  &c.  I  wished  to 
commit  other  guess  crimes  than  those,  to  have  rambled 
over  a  great  part  of  the  kingdom  and  revelled  with 
distant  friends.  But  prudence,  in  the  shape  of  rheuma- 
tism, and  in  many  other  hideous  shapes,  prevented  me. 
Yet,  in  spite  of  all  these  admonitions,  I  had  a  month's 
mind  to  accept  of  your  hospitable  offer.  But  we 
have  guests  at  our  apartments  now,  my  two  aged 
sisters,  and,  when  they  depart,  winter  will  begin  to 
show  his  sour  face  and  chain  me  to  my  chimney 
corner  till  after  Christmas,  when  I  shall  be  unfettered, 
merely  to  be  dragged  into  the  hurry  and  din  of  London, 
which  are  every  year  more  and  more  insupportable.  I 
have  long  ceased  to  like  the  country,  except  in  long 
days  and  fine  weather,  and,  in  winter,  prefer  London 
with  all  its  horrors  and  fatigues  to  rural  amusements. 
Indeed,  autumn  with  all  its  golden  glow  and  variegated 
charms  for  landscape  painters  is  to  me  a  constant 
memento  mori,  with  its  withered  leaves  tumbling  about 
my  ears  ;  and  all   my  most  severe  attacks  of  rheuma- 


198  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   ARTHUR   YOUNG 

tism  have  been  during  the  equinoctial  winds  and 
rains  ;  so  that  I  am  afraid  of  trusting  myself  far  from 
home  at  this  season  of  the  year,  as  one  can  be  sick 
and  cross  nowhere  so  comfortably  as  at  home. 

'  Having  scribbled  my  apology,  I  must  now  hasten 
to  congratulate  you  and  Mrs.  Young  on  the  marriage 
of  our  dear  and  worthy  girl  Bessy.'  The  match,  indeed, 
is  not  splendid  for  either  in  point  of  circmnstances ; 
but  they  are  quite  as  likely  to  scramble  happily  through 
life,  with  good  hearts  and  wishes  limited  to  their  means, 
as  the  richest  peers  and  peeresses  in  the  land,  who 
generally  outlive  their  income,  be  it  what  it  will,  and 
have  mortifications  incident  to  pride  and  disappointed 
ambition  which  little  folk  know  nothing  about.  They 
(I  mean  our  young  couple)  have  my  hearty  benediction 
and  good  wishes.  A  man  without  famil}^  attachments 
is  an  awkward  and  insulated  being,  but  a  woman 
without  a  mate  is  still  more  insignificant  and  helpless ; 
and,  having  become  adventurers  in  the  matrimonial 
lottery,  I  sincerely  hope  they  will  gain  a  prize  in  the 
fortuitous  distribution  of  such  happiness  as  reasonable 
mortals  have  a  right  to  expect. 

'  I  dare  not  venture  on  French  politics.  What  a 
marvellous  period  in  the  history  of  that  nation  !  I 
think  the  clergy  and  many  worthy  people  of  the  lower 
class  of  nobility  have  been  cruelly  used,  and  that  the 
mob  is  at  present  too  powerful  and  insolent.  Too 
much  has  been  promised  them,  and  nothing  short  of  an 
agrarian  law  will  satisfy  them.     The  word  tax,  taille, 

'  Arthur  Young's  daughter  Elizabeth,  the  first  wife  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Hoole. 


PATRIOTIC  PROPOSALS  199 

impost,  are  carefully  avoided  in  the  National  Chart. 
But  they  must  be  levied  under  some  denomination  or 
other,  and,  I  fancy,  "  contribution  "  will  be  as  detestable 
a  term  in  France,  ere  long,  as  "  free-gift "  was  in  England 
during  the  last  century.  I  wish  the  worthy  people  of 
France  may  enjoy  the  rational  liberty  which  seems 
now  in  their  power,  but  I  question  whether  the  in- 
habitants of  that  kingdom  in  general  will  deserve  the 
ample  liberty  which  is  offered  them,  or  know  how  to 
use  it.  I  think  them  so  fickle  and  frivolous  that  I  should 
not  be  surprised  if  in  a  few  years  they  were  as  tired 
of  their  new  Government  as  the  English  at  the  death  of 
Oliver  Cromwell.  In  the  meantime  what  has  happened 
in  America  and  France  will  shake  every  sovereignty  upon 
earth.  The  French  Guards  laying  down  their  arms  when 
ordered  to  fire  on  the  mob  will  make  mobs  formidable 
things  in  every  country,  for  whenever  a  similar  defection 
happens  a  revolution  must  be  the  consequence. 

'  I  am  sorry  not  to  be  able  to  give  your  friend,  Mr. 
Capel  Lofft,  an  account  of  any  Lyre  in  modern  times 
having  been  in  use  that  has  been  constructed,  strung, 
and  tuned  on  the  principles  of  the  antients.  In- 
numerable volumes  have  been  written  on  their  division 
of  the  scale  and  genera.  Kircher,  indeed,  calls  a  Vielle 
a  hurdy-gurdy,  Lyra  mendicorum.  And  a  Viol  da 
Gamba,  with  additional  strings  and  new  tuning,  was 
in  the  last  century  called  a  Lyra-Viol.  Mace,' 
Playford,^  Simpson,^  I  believe,  and  others  describe  this 

'  Th.  I\Iace,  author  of  Music^s  Monument. 

2  T.  Playforcl,  author  of  Music's  Delight,  dc,  1668,  1676. 

'  C.  Simpson,  author  of  The  Division  Viol,  1687. 


200      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

instrument.  But  though  many  modern  instruments 
have  had  the  honour  of  being  called  Lyres,  yet  none 
of  them  resemble  the  antient  in  their  form  or  in  the 
manner  of  playing  them.  The  Mandoline  is  the  only 
modern  instrument  played  with  anything  like  a  plectrum. 
Vicenzio  Galileo,  the  father  of  Galileo,  in  his  tract, 
"  Delia  Musica  antica  e  moderna,"  published  at  Florence 
1602,  speaks  much  of  the  similarity  of  the  antient 
Lyre  and  Cythara,  but  gives  more  proof  from  antient 
authors  of  their  difference  than  identity.  He  tells  us, 
however,  that  "  the  modern  Harp,  which  is  nothing  but 
the  antient  Cythara  with  many  strings,  was  brought 
into  Italy  from  Ireland."  Now  the  Irish  harp  is  a 
single  instrument  of  few  strings,  partly  brass  and 
partly  steel,  and  of  such  small  compass  as  to  admit  no 
bass,  being  confined  to  mere  melody.  Carolan,  the 
celebrated  modern  Irish  Bard,  played  only  the  treble 
part  of  tunes.  And  it  seems  to  me  as  if  this  simple 
instrument  resembled  the  antient  Lyre  and  Cythara 
more  than  any  other  modern  instrument  with  which  I 
am  acquainted.  Pray  tell  Mr.  Lofft  that  I  have  exa- 
mined Bonanni's  description  of  all  the  musical  instru- 
ments that  are  known,  with  engravings  of  them  all, 
but  found  nothing  satisfactory  about  a  modern  Lyre. 
This  book  was  published  at  Eome  1722.  I  have 
likewise  looked  into  Ceruti's  new  edition  with  correc- 
tions, 1776,  without  success. 

'  I  am,  my  dear  friend, 

'  Yours  affectionately, 

'  Charles  Burney.' 


PATEIOTIC  PROPOSALS  201 

From  Dr.  John  Symonds  on  the  political  state 
of  the  country — an  account  of  a  conference  between 
Mr.  Pitt  and  the  Duke  of  Grafton  :— 

'  Bates'  Hotel,  Adelphi :  April  19,  1791. 

'  My  dear  Young, — Hope  you  will  not  expect  to  hear 
me  talking  on  Agriculture  ;  of  that  you  will  have  a 
sufficient  taste  from  seeing  the  wonderful  knowledge 
exhibited  by  all  the  House  of  Commons  in  the  Corn 
Bill.  You  will  look  for  something  on  politics,  though 
the  newspapers  themselves  sufficiently  show  the  straits 
to  which  Mr.  Pitt  is  driven  ;  for  his  majority  is  such 
as  will  ruin  any  Minister  if  a  war  be  unpopular ; 
and  had  the  American  war  been  so  at  first,  it  is  not 
probable  that  Lord  North  would  have  dared  to  pursue 
it,  though  he  was  so  strongly  supported  in  Parliament. 

'The  truth  is,  some  of  Mr,  Pitt's  bosom  friends 
absolutely  refuse  to  vote  with  him  on  this  occasion. 
Among  these  are  Wilberforce  and  Banks.  The  Duke 
of  Grafton  desired  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Smith,  to  tell 
Mr.  Pitt  he  wished  to  have  some  conversation  with 
him  ;  Mr.  Pitt  very  politely  came  and  staid  half-an- 
hour,  and  the  Duke  used  every  argument  he  could 
think  of  to  convince  him,  both  of  the  impolicy  and 
injustice  of  the  war,  "  that  the  augmentation  of  taxes 
coming  upon  the  neck  of  the  cessed  ones,  and  malt  tax. 
which  made  a  great  noise,  would  occasion  universal 
discontent,  if  not  worse  effects  ;  that  we  ought  to  lay 
no  stress  upon  the  promises  of  a  Turkish  Ministry  and 
advantages  in  the  Turkey  trade,  which  must  chiefly 
accrue  to  France  from  her  situation,  and  other  causes  ; 


202  AUTOBIOGKAPHY   OF   ARTHUE  YOUNG 

that  what  we  could  do  in  the  Baltic  was  merely  to  burn 
a  few  villages  and  distress  individuals,  as  the  Russian 
fleet  would  lie  securely  among  rocks,  that  Russia 
appeared  to  act  with  moderation  in  desiring  to  retain 
Ockzakow  only  ;  and  that  to  plunge  this  nation  into  a 
vast  expense,  merely  to  serve  the  Ejng  of  Prussia's 
views,  when  we  could  obtain  no  benefit  from  it,  would 
expose  the  Ministry  to  very  great  censure,  more 
especially  as  we  entered  into  it  as  volunteers,  not  being 
obliged  to  it  by  the  terms  of  the  Treaty."  Other  things 
which  his  Grace  said  I  omit,  as  every  argument  has 
been  used  in  the  House  of  Commons.  The  conference 
ended  as  conferences  of  this  sort  generally  do — each  of 
them  kept  to  his  opinion. 

'  You  observe  probably  in  the  papers,  that  on  Baker's 
motion,  Pole  Carew  moved  the  previous  question  and 
contended  "  that  the  interests  of  all  are  closely  connected 
even  in  respect  to  things  not  stipulated  by  treaty." 
This  judicious  doctrine  was  first  advanced  by  the 
Chancellor,  and  Mr.  Pitt  defended  in  his  speech  on 
Baker's  motion.  According  to  this  doctrine,  there  is 
no  difference  between  defensive  and  offensive  treaties  ; 
all  the  writer's  de  jure  gentium  should  be  burnt,  and, 
indeed,  most  of  the  European  treaties  also ;  and  it  is 
certain  that  under  such  circumstances  England  ought 
never  to  make  an  alliance  on  the  Continent  unless  a 
Continental  war  were  actuallj^  broken  out ;  otherwise 
she  could  not  foresee  the  consequences  to  which  she 
would  be  exposed. 

*  Charles  Fox  said  in  his  speech  on  Baker's  motion 
"  that  Mr.  Pitt  dared  not  to  enter  into  the  war,  and  that 


PATRIOTIC   PROPOSALS  203 

he  kept  a  majority  together  at  present  by  his  assurance 
that  there  would  not  be  one." 

'  This  is,  perhaps,  the  case  ;  but  however  it  may  be, 
it  is  certain  that  Faukner,  Clerk  of  the  Council,  is  sent 
to  Berlin,  and  most  persons  think  with  a  view  of 
showing  the  King  of  Prussia  the  impossibiHty  of 
persuading  this  country  to  enter  into  a  Eussian  war. 
Had  Mr.  Pitt  felt  the  pulse  of  the  Parliament  and 
people  before  he  delivered  the  King's  message,  he 
would  have  saved  his  credit,  though  he  might  have 
been  blamed  ;  but  he  has  now  run  into  the  horns  of  a 
dilemma,  as  the  logicians  call  it.  If  he  prosecute  the 
war,  he  will  infallibly  be  ex-Minister,  and  bad  conse- 
quences are  to  be  apprehended  in  a  country  oppressed 
by  taxes  and  heated  by  political  pamphlets  ;  if  he  give 
it  up,  he  will  lose  all  his  influence  in  the  eyes  of  Europe, 
and  teach  foreign  Courts  that  no  confidence  is  to  be 
placed  in  an  English  Minister.  His  friends  lament  very 
much  this  last  circumstance. 

'  Adieu ! 

'  John  Symonds.' 

A  circumstance  in  the  exploits  of  my  public  career 
which  made,  perhaps,  a  more  general  impression  than 
any  other  event  of  my  life,  was  the  proposal  in  1792 
for  arming  the  property  of  the  Kingdom  in  a  sort  of 
horse  militia.  My  first  suggestion  of  this  idea  was  in 
May  (of  that  year).  Should  any  have  claimed  it,  or 
should  any  hereafter  form  such  a  claim,  it  ought  in 
truth  and  strict  candour  to  be  absolutely  rejected.  The 
proposal  was  more  formally  made  in   August   of   the 


204      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

same  year  in  the  '  Annals,'  vol.  xviii.  p.  495,  under  the 
title  of  French  events.'  In  the  end  of  1792  and  the 
beginning  of  1793  these  papers  were  collected  and 
much  enlarged  in  a  pamphlet  entitled,  '  The  Example 
of  France,'  &c.  which  ran  speedily  through  four 
numerous  editions,  and  excited  a  very  general  attention. 
The  author  was  publicly  thanked  in  resolutions  of 
associated  assemblies,  and  my  great  plea  of  a  horse 
militia  produced  almost  immediately  three  volunteer 
corps  of  cavalry,  which  multiplied  rapidly  through  the 
Kingdom.  It  is  not  known  that  any  persons  or  any 
bodies  of  men  ever  laid  claim  to  a  priority  in  this  idea  ; 
accordingly  my  health  was  the  first  toast  given  for  being 
the  origin  of  those  corps,  which,  when  assembled,  had 
this  opportunity  of  publicly  declaring  their  opinion. 
The  scheme  took  with  astonishing  celerity,  and  became 
the  parent  of  a  measure  of  a  very  different  complexion, 
which  was  putting  arms  into  the  hands  of  thou- 
sands without  property,  and  upon  whose  allegiance  and 
constitutional  principle  but  little  reliance  could  be 
placed.  Government  received  demands  for  arms  to  the 
amount  of  above  700,000  men.  The  Ministers  were 
alarmed,  and  saw  too  late  the  consequence  of  their 
own  blindness  and  incapacity.  They  refused  their  con- 
sent, in  many  cases  without  properly  discriminating 
between  men  with  and  without  property,  and  felt 
themselves  in  so  awkward  a  position  that  it  is  no 
wonder  their  conduct  continued  void  of  any  steady 
adherence  to  the  principle  of  the  original  proposition. 

'  See  the  Travels  in  France,  Bohn's  Library,  p.  335  et  seq.,  for  the 
views  therein  set  forth. 


PATRIOTIC   PEOPOSALS  205 

Had  my  plan  not  only  been  adopted  but  carried  into 
execution,  strictly  upon  the  principles  I  had  explained, 
we  might  from  that  moment  to  the  present  have  had  a 
horse  militia,  absolutely  mider  the  command  of  Govern- 
ment, numbering  from  100,000  to  200,000  men,  which 
might,  by  progressive  improvements,  have  been  matured 
into  a  force  efficient  for  every  purpose.  It  is  very  seldom 
that  so  private  an  individual  can  by  a  happy  thought 
become  the  origin  of  a  system  which,  had  my  principles 
been  steadily  adhered  to,  would  have  been  attended 
with  inconceivable  benefit,  and  none  of  those  evils,  real 
or  imaginary,  afterwards  attributed  to  volunteers  in 
general. 

The  pamphlet  rendered  the  author  exceedingly 
popular  among  all  the  friends  of  government  and 
order,  and  as  unpopular  among  the  whole  race  of 
reformers  and  Jacobins.  I  was  not  content  with  the 
mere  theoretical  idea,  but  in  my  own  person  put  it 
into  practice,  and  enrolled  myself  in  the  ranks  of  a 
corps  raised  at  my  recommendation,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Bury  [St.  Edmunds],  and  commanded  by  the  present 
Marquis  of  Cornwallis,  then  Lord  Broome,  having 
with  this  intention  learnt  the  sword  exercise  at  London 
of  a  sergeant,  who  was  eminently  skilled  in  it.  My 
example  was  followed  by  gentlemen  of  fortune,  several 
of  whom  were  also  in  the  ranks  and  refused  to  be 
officers.  This  was  a  part  of  the  plan  of  particular 
importance,  for  had  gentlemen  accepted  only  the 
situation  of  officers,  the  spirit  of  entering  the  corps 
among  yeomen,  farmers  &c.  would  have  been  much 
cooler  ;  but  when  they  saw  their  landlords,  and  men  of 


206  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF   ARTHUR  YOUNG 

high  consideration  in  the  neighbourhood,  in  the  same 
situation,  their  vanity  was  flattered,  and  they  enrolled 
themselves  with  great  readiness,  and  the  great  object 
of  property  of  such  importance  in  case  of  revolutionary 
disturbance  was  thus  secured. 

Some  years  afterwards,  being  at  the  Duke  of 
Bedford's  at  Woburn,  I  sat  at  dinner  by  a  gentleman 
of  great  property,  captain  of  a  troop  of  yeomanry,  who 
told  me  that  whenever  his  troop  met  he  always  drank 
my  health  after  the  King's,  for  being  the  undisputed 
origin  of  all  the  yeomanry  corps  in  the  kingdom, 
possibly  arising  from  extracts  from  my  writings  on  the 
subject  having  been  much  circulated  in  the  newspapers. 

This  year  my  valuable  and  very  sincere  friend,  the 
Earl  of  Orford,  died.  The  public  papers  that  have 
announced  the  death  of  this  noble  lord  have  recorded 
the  ancestry  from  which  he  was  descended,  tbe  heirs 
of  his  honours,  and  the  inheritors  of  his  wealth,  and 
have  dwelt  upon  the  titles  that  are  extinct  or  devolved, 
together  with  all  the  posts  and  employments  that  are 
vacant.  To  me  be  the  melancholy  duty  of  noting  what 
is  of  much  more  moment  than  the  descent  of  a  peerage 
or  the  transfer  of  an  estate — the  loss  of  an  animated 
improver  ;  of  one  who  gave  importance  to  cultivation 
by  a  thorough  knowledge  of  political  economy,  and 
bent  all  his  endeavours  towards  making  mankind 
happy  by  seconding  the  pursuits  of  the  farmer  and 
the  enquiries  of  the  experimentalist.  I  leave  the 
lieutenancy  of  a  county,  the  rangership  of  a  park, 
and  the  honours  of  the  bedchamber  to  those  in  whose 
eyes    such   baubles   are   respectable.     I   would   rather 


PATEIOTIC  PEOPOSALS  207 

dwell  on  the  merit  of  the  first  importer  of  Southdown 
sheep  into  Norfolk ;  on  the  merit  of  sending  to  the 
most  distant  regions  for  breeds  of  animals,  represented 
as  useful,  not  indeed  always  with  success,  but  never 
without  liberality  in  the  motive ;  on  the  patron  and 
friend  of  the  common  farmer,  not  the  lord  of  a  little 
circle  of  tenants,  but  the  general  and  diffusive 
encourager  of  every  species  of  agricultural  improve- 
ment. Nor  did  he  associate  with  the  useful  men 
because  he  was  not  qualified  for  the  company  of  higher 
classes,  for  his  mind  was  fraught  with  a  great  extent 
of  knowledge ;  it  was  decorated  by  no  trivial  stores 
of  classical  learning,  which  exercised  and  set  off  the 
powers  of  a  brilliant  imagination,  and  thus  qualified, 
alike  for  a  Court  or  an  Academy  of  Science,  he  felt  no 
degradation  in  attending  to  the  plough.  By  the  death 
of  this  noble  personage  the  '  Annals '  have  lost  a 
valuable  correspondent,  and  their  editor  a  warm  friend. 
Not-^'ithstanding  the  immense  list  of  Peers,  seven  or 
eight  only  have  become  correspondents  in  this  work. 
The  insects  of  a  drawing-room,  the  patrons  of  faro,  the 
luminaries  of  Newmarket,  are  spared  ;  while  the  hand 
of  death  deprives  the  farmer  of  a  friend,  Norfolk  of  a 
protector,  and  England  of  a  real  patriot. 

Lord  Loughborough  was  the  Judge  at  the  Summer 
Assizes  this  year  at  Bury,  and  I  being  on  the  Grand 
Jury,  he  sent  a  note  to  inform  me  that  he  was  alone  at 
his  lodgings,  and  desired  me  to  come  and  chat  with  him. 
This  I  did,  of  course,  and  in  our  conversation  he  men- 
tioned that  there  was  an  estate  of  4,400  acres  of  land 
in  Yorkshire  on  the  moors,  in  the  vicinity  of  Paitley 


208      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

Bridge,  to  be  sold  for  4,000/.,  that  it  was  chiefly  freehold, 
and  enclosed  with  a  ring  fence,  also  that  there  was  a 
neat  shooting-box  on  it  built  by  the  Duke  of  Devon- 
shire, who  hired  the  grouse.  I  assured  his  Lordship 
that  he  must  be  mistaken,  for  it  was  impossible  that 
such  a  tract  of  land  under  several  circumstances  which 
he  named  could  be  on  sale  for  half  an  hour  without  being 
purchased.  He  answered  that  nobody  would  buy  it,  as 
the  land  was  all  moor  or  peat,  and  covered  with  ling,  but 
that  some  neighbouring  farmers  gave,  he  believed,  100/. 
per  annum  for  the  whole  as  a  walk  for  mountain  sheep. 
I  told  him  that  it  seemed  so  extraordinary  to  me  that 
I  would  go  immediately  to  view  it.  He  said  the  proper 
persons  to  apply  to  to  view  it  were  Sir  Cecil  Wray,  Dr. 
Kilvington,  and  another  gentleman.  I  accordingly  went 
immediately  to  Yorkshire,  and,  taking  up  my  quarters 
at  Paitley  Bridge,  enquired  till  I  found  a  person  who 
knew  the  whole  estate  perfectly  well,  and  engaged 
him  early  the  next  morning  in  order  to  make  the 
tour  of  the  w^hole  property.  It  appeared  to  me  to  be 
wonderfully  improvable,  and  that  very  considerable 
tracts  to  the  amount  of  some  hundred  acres  w^ere 
palpably  capable  of  irrigation  and  improvement,  evi- 
dently applicable  from  the  case  of  a  small  water- 
course for  conducting  the  water  to  an  old  smelting 
mill,  but  long  neglected.  This  course  had  overflowed 
and  converted  the  ling,  over  about  fifteen  acres,  to 
grass.  I  asked  my  conductor  what  this  grass  would 
let  for  with  a  small  cottage  and  stable  for  cows  ;  he 
said,  '  Certainly  fifteen  shillings  an  acre.'  It  was 
sufficiently    evident     that     improvements     might     be 


PATRIOTIC   PROPOSALS  209 

wrought  at  a  very  small  expense,  and  that  building 
was  remarkabl}'^  cheap,  from  every  material  except 
timber  being  found  on  the  spot,  and  lime  at  a  small 
distance.  There  was  a  small  farm  in  cultivation  to 
produce  oats,  and  the  appearance  not  unfavourable. 
As  I  knew  that  a  land  surveyor  well  acquainted  with 
all  this  country  resided  at  Leeds,  I  determined  to  go 
thither  to  bring  him  over  to  view,  and  give  his  opinion 
as  to  the  value  of  the  property.  This  I  did,  brought 
him  over  in  a  postchaise,  and  rode  with  him  over  the 
principal  part  of  the  estate.  His  opinion  confirmed 
my  own,  nor  must  I  forget  to  mention  that  this  estate 
was  to  be  purchased  without  money  as  it  was  offered 
on  its  own  security  in  mortgage. 

In  the  enclosure  of  this  immense  waste,  called 
forest,  there  were  two  allotments  purchased  by  the 
proprietors,  one  of  1,638  acres,  and  another  of  1,113,  in 
all  2,751  acres,  which  were  a  copyhold  tenure,  at  a  small 
fine  certain.  In  addition  to  which  they  hired,  at  the 
same  time,  on  a  long  lease,  1,614  acres  more,  being  an 
allotment  to  the  King,  at  a  rent  of  50Z.  in  money,  and 
501.  to  be  laid  out  on  improvements.  The  whole, 
situated  half-way  between  Knaresboro'  and  Skipton, 
I  found  walled  in  ;  three  farm-houses  built,  with  barns 
and  offices  of  various  sorts,  and  lands  annexed,  and 
partly  subdivided,  to  the  amount  of  about  400  acres  ; 
the  remaining  4,000  in  one  vast  waste.  These  farms 
produced  the  rent  of  44/.  5s.  The  game  was  let  at  301. 
with  the  use  of  a  handsome  shooting-box,  sufficient  for 
the  residence  of  a  small  family.  Peat  dug  from  the 
bogs  produced  from  6/.  to  8/.  a  year  ;    and  the  great 

p 


210      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

waste  was  let  at  100/.  a  year,  which,  for  4,000  acres,  is 
at  the  rate  of  sixpence  per  acre.  The  annual  rental 
was  therefore  about  1811.  per  annum.  From  these 
circumstances  it  appeared  clear  to  me  that  the  pur- 
chase could  not  well  be  an  unfavourable  speculation. 
2,750  acres  (throwing  the  leasehold  entirely  out  of  the 
question)  for  4,400/.  is  exactly  32Z.  an  acre  fee  simple 
for  land  that  paid  a  mere  trifle  in  poor  rates  and  land 
tax,^  and  tithe  free  ;  it  did  not  seem  therefore  to  be 
necessary  that  the  produce  should  amount  to  three 
shillings,  for  if  the  rent  was  reckoned  only  at  one 
shilling  it  was  but  thirty-two  years'  purchase.  I 
determined,  therefore,  to  make  it,  and  concluded  the 
transaction  as  soon  as  possible. 

My  plan  was,  to  let  my  farm  in  Suffolk,  of  about  300 
acres,  and  transfer  the  capital,  with  some  additions, 
to  the  gradual  improvement  of  this  large  tract ;  and, 
in  doing  this,  I  should  have  begun  with  one  fa.rm  on 
the  Southern  extremity,  near  the  turnpike  road,  of 
three  or  four  hundred  acres,  let  separately  for  20/.  a 
year,  but  all  a  waste,  and,  in  addition  to  this,  have  run 
a  watering  canal  from  one  of  the  streams,  till  from 
100  to  200  acres  were  below  the  level,  walling  such 
tract  in.  Thus  prepared,  I  found  myself  at  last  in  a 
situation  to  realise  the  speculations  I  had  so  long  been 
busy  in — when  a  new  scene  of  a  very  different  kind 
opened  upon  me — but  of  that  hereafter. 

The  following  are  the  letters  of  this  year  reserved. 
From  J.  Symonds,  Esq.,  an  account  of  the  Duke  of 
Grafton's  illness : — 

'  All  the  public  charges  on  4,000  acres  amounted  only  to  lil. 


PATEIOTIC  PROPOSALS  211 

'  Euston  :  Jan.  30,  1792. 

'  So  you  tell  me  that  I  know  not  how  to  stay  at 
home  !  but  this  is  a  visit  of  pure  friendship,  for  the 
duke  likes  very  well  to  chat  with  me,  though  he  is  so 
nervous  as  hardly  to  bear  with  strangers.  Yesterday 
Lord  Clermont,  who  is  very  intimate  with  him,  came 
hither,  but  he  was  too  much  for  the  duke,  and  had  he 
not  gone  away  this  morning,  the  duchess  would  have 
hinted  it  gently  to  him.  What  would  you  do  with 
such  nerves  ? 

'Last  night,  intead  of  reading  a  sermon  or  charge, 
I  read  to  the  whole  company  (by  the  duke's  desire) 
your  essays  on  the  police  of  corn  and  capital  em- 
ployed in  the  French  husbandry,  with  which  he  had 
been  so  pleased.  Lord  Clermont,  who  has  lived  much 
in  France,  and  though  a  man  of  pleasure,  had  inquired 
much  into  the  state  of  that  country,  was  not  more 
dehghted  than  surprised  with  them.  "Well,  then," 
said  the  duke,  "  as  you  like  them  so  much  and  intend 
to  buy  the  book,  recommend  it  as  much  as  possible 
to  your  friends  in  the  great  world."  This  he  engaged 
to  do.  His  Lordship  gave  a  pressing  invitation  for 
you  and  I  to  pass  two  or  three  days  with  him ;  he 
fixed  upon  the  month  of  May,  which  will  suit  me,  and, 
I  hope,  you. 

'  As  an  inducement  I  was  to  tell  you  that  he  has 
marled  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres  with  a  hundred  and 
twenty  loads  an  acre — this  is  an  object. 

'J  Symonds.' 


212      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

J.  AV.  Coke,  Esq.,  M.P.,  proposing  some  laws  for  the 
benefit  of  the  poor  in  their  present  distress  : — 

'  Holkham  :  Oct.  23,  1792. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  have  no  better  motive  to  urge  for 
addressing  myself  to  you  upon  the  subject  of  this  letter 
than  that  I  knov;^  of  no  man  so  v^ell  qualified  as  your- 
self to  give  me  the  information  I  stand  in  need  of, 
should  my  plan  be  thought  practicable  and  useful  by 
you,  otherwise  I  should  take  shame  to  myself  to  intrude 
for  a  moment  on  your  time,  which  I  esteem  so  precious, 
as  it  is  always  most  usefully  employed  in  the  most 
laudable  pursuits. 

'  Having  turned  my  thoughts  much  of  late  to  the 
most  probable  causes  of  the  discontent  among  the 
lower  classes  of  people  in  this  country,  I  find  that  the 
high  price  of  provisions,  especially  of  bread,  has  been 
invariably  the  motive  assigned  by  them  whenever  they 
have  assembled  in  a  tumultuous  manner.  And  this  is 
not  surprising,  as  the  existence  of  a  poor  man's  family 
must  depend  upon  that  last-mentioned  necessary  article, 
most  truly  his  staff  of  life.  It  is  surely,  then,  the 
interest,  as  well  as  the  duty,  of  the  landed  proprietors 
to  endeavour  by  every  means  that  can  be  devised  that 
the  poor  may  never  suffer  in  this  respect.  Now,  it 
has  occurred  to  me  that  perhaps  a  Bill  might  be  framed 
to  fix  an  assize  on  flour  according  to  the  average  price 
of  wheat. 

'  That  millers  should  be  obliged  to  grind  for  all 
persons  at  a  certain  sum  per  bushel  instead  of  toll ; 
persons  being  at  liberty  to  inspect  their  corn  whilst 


PATKIOTIC    PROPOSALS  213 

grinding,  and  that  allowance  should  be  made  to  millers 
for  any  alleged  deficiency  in  grinding".  All  complaints 
10  be  heard  in  a  smnmary  way  before  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  the  complaint  to  be  made  within  six  days. 
The  average  price  of  wheat  to  be  taken  from  the  nearest 
market  at  the  discretion  of  the  Justice.  Penal  clauses 
should  also  be  enacted  against  millers  adulterating 
wheat  and  mixing  water  with  the  meal  to  increase  its 
weight. 

'  These  loose  hints  I  submit  to  your  superior 
judgment  and  better  information ;  but,  from  my  own 
observation,  I  do  suspect  the  poor  suffer  greatly  from 
the  shameful  practices  and  combinations  of  the  millers, 
which  I  should  be  proud  to  check  by  bringing  a  Bill 
into  Parliament  as  one  of  the  representatives  of  the 
great  arable  county,  should  you  approve  the  idea  and 
would  have  the  goodness  to  lend  me  your  assistance  in 
framing  the  Bill. 

'  I  must  also  mention  another  cruel  grievance  to 
the  poor,  that  there  is  no  legal  restraint  on  shopkeepers 
in  villages  respecting  their  weights  and  measures. 

'  Could  no  means  be  devised  to  protect  the  buyer 
from  the  artifices  of  the  seller  without  injury  to  the 
latter  in  their  honest  gains  ?  Why  might  not  magis- 
trates have  the  power  of  punishing  for  short  weights 
and  measures,  complaint  to  be  made  within  six 
days? 

*  I  remain,  dear  Sir. 

'  Yours  very  sincerely, 

'J.  W.  Coke.* 


214      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

From  Dr.  Burney  on  my  '  Travels '  and  his  own 
engagements  : — 

'  Chelsea  College  :  July  17,  1792. 

'  My  dear  Friend, — Your  very  kind  and  hearty 
invitation  to  Bradfield  came  at  a  time  when  I  was 
utterly  unable  to  answer  it.  I  was  just  emerged  from 
the  sick  room  into  daily  hurry  and  business,  for  which 
I  was  but  little  fit,  and  am  still  detained  here  by  an 
unusual  number  of  engagements  for  this  time  of  year, 
the  end  of  which  I  am  not  able  to  see.  If  my  patiejits 
had  walked  off  as  early  as  I  wished  them,  or  if,  like 
other  doctors,  I  could  have  them  put  to  their  long 
home  by  a  dash  of  my  pen,  I  really  believe  I  should 
not  have  been  able  to  resist  the  lure  you  threw  out ; 
but  now,  if  I  am  able  to  travel,  or  fit  for  any  house 
but  my  own,  I  have  two  positive  engagements  on  mj^ 
hands  of  long  standing  :  the  first  to  Mickleham,  to 
my  daughter,  Phillips,  where  I  promised,  as  soon  as 
I  could  pronounce  myself  a  convalescent,  to  go  and 
complete  my  cure ;  the  other  is  to  Crewe  Hall,  in 
Cheshire,  whither  I  have  been  going  more  than  twice 
seven  years ;  and  at  which  place  I  was  so  sure  of 
arriving  last  Aug\ist,  that  my  correspondents,  at  my 
request,  addressed  their  letters  to  me  there.  This 
year  the  claims  upon  me  and  Fanny  have  been  so 
powerfully  renewed  by  Mrs.  Crewe  that  nothing  but 
increased  indisposition  can  resist  them.  She  has 
promised  to  carry  us  down  by  slow  journeys,  and,  if  it 
should  be  necessary  for  me  to  go  to  Buxton  for  my 
confounded  rheumatism  (which,  though  less  painful, 
atill  deprives  me  of  all  use  of  my  left  paw),  she  will 


PATEIOTIC   PROPOSALS  215 

even  accompany  me  thither.  My  poor  wife  is  also  in  sad 
health,  and  we  are  neither  of  us  fit  for  anything  but  to 
con  ailments  with  those  who  are  as  old  and  infirm  as 
ourselves.  But  we  send  you  a  splinter  ^  from  us,  before 
we  were  quite  broke  up  and  unfit  for  service.  It  is 
not  sufficient  to  improve  your  fire  of  a  wet  day,  but 
may  perhaps  be  of  some  little  use  in  the  way  of 
kindling. 

'  I  thank  you  heartily  for  your  very  interesting  book 
of  "  Travels."  It  is  in  public  perusal  of  an  evening,  and 
has  fastened  on  us.  The  parts  of  France  which  you 
have  traversed  were  to  me  almost  unknown.  I  never 
saw  the  Loire  or  the  Garonne.  No  one  can  accuse  you 
of  drowsiness,  like  old  Homer  and  such  folks  ;  you  are 
always  awake,  and  keep  your  readers  so.  We  are  now 
in  the  midst  of  that  most  astonishing  of  all  events,  the 
French  Revolution,  and  like  your  narrative  extremely. 
Though  an  enemy  to  the  old  tyranny,  you  neither 
reason  about  the  rights  of  man  like  Wat  Tyler  or 
even  Tom  Payne.  You  saw  coming  on  all  the  evils 
which  anarchy  has  occasioned.  You  have  long  seen 
the  futility  of  theory  without  practice  among  French 
agriculturists,  and  the  political  philosophers  who  think 
themselves  wiser  than  the  experiences  of  all  antiquity, 
and  not  content  with  anything  already  done,  must 
needs  set  about  inventing  an  entire  new  government, 
and  you  see  what  a  fine  mess  they  have  made  of  it. 

'  Yours  ever, 

'  Charles  Burney.' 

'  His  daughter  Sarah,  the  writer  of  several  ingenious  and  interesting 
works. — A.  Y. 


216      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

From    Miss   Burnej',  afterwards    Mdme.  d'Arblaj^, 
writing  on  some  traits  of  my  character,  &c. : — 

'  Chelsea  College  :  July  17,  1792. 

'  Nay,  if  you  talk  of  your  difficulties  in  fabricating 
an  epistle  to  me,  please  to  consider  how  much  greater 
are  mine  in  attempting  to  answer  it.  You  !  a  country 
farmer,  the  acknowledged  head  of  "  the  ooily  art  loortli 
cultivating ,''  as  you  tell  us, — the  contemner  of  every 
other  pursuit,  the  scorner  of  all  old  customs,  the  defier 
of  all  musty  authorities,  the  derider  of  all  fogrum 
superiors, — in  one  word  a  Jacobin.  You  afraid  ?  and 
of  whom?  a  Chelsea  pensioner?  One  who,  maimed 
in  the  royal  service,  ignobly  forbears,  spurning  royal 
reparation  ?  One  who,  though  flying  a  court,  degene- 
rately refrains  from  hating  or  even  reviling  kings, 
queens,  and  princesses  ?  One  who  presumes  to  wish 
as  well  to  manufactures  for  her  outside,  as  to  agriculture 
for  her  inside  ?  One  who  has  the  ignorance  to  reverence 
commerce,  and  who  cannot  think  of  a  single  objection 
to  the  Wool  Bill  ?  One,  in  short,  and  to  say  all  that  is 
abominable  at  once,  one  who  in  theory  is  an  aristocrat, 
and  in  practice  a  ci-devant  courtier  ? 

'  And  shall  a  creature  of  this  description,  the  willing 
advocate  of  every  opinion,  every  feeling  you  excommu- 
nicate from  "your  business  and  bosom,"  dare  to  write 
to  you"?     Impossible  ! 

'  Whether  I  shall  come  and  see  you  all  or  not  is 
another  matter.     If  I  can  I  will. 

'  P.S.   Will  Honeycomb  says  if  you  would  know  any- 


PATEIOTIC  PEOPOSALS  217 

thing  of  a  lady's  meaning  (always  providing  she  has  any) 
when  she  writes  to  you,  look  at  her  postscript.  Now 
pray,  dear  sir,  how  came  you  ever  to  imagine  what  you 
are  pleased  to  blazon  to  the  world  with  all  the  confidence 
of  self-belief,  that  you  think  farming  the  only  thing 
worth  manly  attention  ?  You,  who,  if  taste  rather  than 
circumstance  had  been  your  guide,  might  have  found 
wreaths  and  flowers  almost  any  way  you  had  turned,  as 
fragrant  as  those  of  Ceres.' 

My  reply : — 

'  You,  "  the  willing  advocate  of  every  feeling  I 
excommunicate  from  my  bosom,"  knew  you  had  thrown 
so  bitter  a  potion  into  your  letter  that  you  could  not 
(kind  creature  !)  help  a  little  sweetening  in  the  post- 
script ;  but  must  there  in  your  sweets  be  some  alloy  ? 
Could  you  not  conclude  without  falling  foul  of  poor 
Ceres '? 

*  Your  letter,  or  rather  your  profession  of  faith,  is 
one  of  the  worst  political  creeds  I  remember  to  have 
read ;  you  see  no  merit  but  beneath  a  diadem.  In 
government  a  professed  aristocrat,  in  political  economy 
a  monopolist,  who  commends  manufactures,  not  as  a 
market  for  the  farmer,  but  for  the  much  nobler  purpose 
of  contributing  to  adorn  your  outside ;  and  who  can 
attain  not  one  better  idea  of  the  immortal  plough  than 
that  of  giving  some  sustenance  to  your  inside.  But,  by 
the  way,  is  not  that  inside  of  yours  an  equivoque  ?  Do 
you  mean  your  real  or  your  metaphorical  inside,  your 
ribs  or  your  feelings  ?  If  you  allude  to  your  brains,  they 
are  by  your   own  account  a  z^ooZ-gathering.     Do  you 


218      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

mean  your  heart,  and  that  the  philosophical  contempla- 
tion of  so  pure  an  engine  as  the  plough  is  the  sustenance 
of  your  best  emotions  ?  How  will  that  agree  with  the 
panegyrist  of  a  court  and  the  satirist  of  a  farm  ?  Or  is 
it  that  this  inside  of  yours  is  a  mere  bread  and  cheese 
cupboard,  which,  certes,  the  plough  can  furnish  ?  Or  is 
it  a  magic  lanthorn  full  of  gay  delusions,  lighted  by 
tallow  from  the  belly  of  a  sheep  ?  Till  you  have  settled 
these  doubts,  I  know  not  which  you  prefer,  manufac- 
tures for  improving  your  complection,  or  agriculture 
for  farming  your  heart.  Nor  must  you  wonder  at  such 
questions  arising  while  you  use  terms  that  leave  one 
in  doubt  whether  you  mean  your  head  or  your  tail.  I 
know  something  of  the  one ;  the  other  is  a  metaphor. 
Though  there  is  high  treason  against  the  plough  in 
almost  every  line  of  your  letter,  yet  the  words  If  I  can 
I  will  are  not  in  the  spirit  that  contains  the  Eleusinian 
mysteries  ;  they  bring  balm  to  my  wounded  feelings.' 


219 


CHAPTEE  X 

THE    BOARD    OF   AGEICULTURE,    1793 

The  Board  of  Agriculture  —  Secretaryship — Residence  in  London  — 
Twenty-five  dinners  a  month — The  King's  bull— The  Marquis  de 
Castries — '  The  Example  of  France  ' — Encomiums  thereof — Corre- 
spondence. 

The  most  remarkable  event  of  this  year  was  the 
ostabHshment  of  the  Board  of  Agricultm:e.^  I  found 
that  Mr.  Pitt  had  determined  that  I  should  be  secretary, 
and  Mr.  Le  Blanc,  of  Caversham,  informed  me  that 
this  new  board  was  established  with  a  view  of  rewarding 
me  for  my  '  Example  of  France.'  In  a  conversation 
with  Lord  Loughborough  on  the  attendance  required, 
he  remarked,  *  You  may  do  what  suits  yourself  best,  I 
conceive,  for  we  all  consider  ourselves  so  much  obliged 
to  you  that  you  cannot  be  rewarded  in  a  manner  too 
agreeably.'  If  the  appointment  of  secretary  be  con- 
sidered, as  it  has  been  by  many,  a  reward  for  what  I  had 
effected,  it  was  not  a  magnificent  one ;  the  salary,  4001. 
per  annum,  would  have  been  desirable  had  it  left  me 
more  time  in  Suffolk,  but  when  I  found  a  very  strict 
attendance  attached  to  it,  with  no  house  to  assemble  in 

'  By  Act  of  Parliament,  1793. 


220      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUK  YOUNG 

except  Sir  John  Sinclair's,  and  in  a  room  common  to 
the  clerks  and  all  comers,  I  was  much  disposed  to 
throw  it  up  and  go  back  in  disgust  to  my  farm  ;  but 
the  advice  of  others  and  the  apprehension  of  family 
reproaches  kept  me  to  the  annoyance  of  a  situation 
not  ameliorated  till  Sir  John  was  turned  out  of  the 
Presidentship  by  Mr.  Pitt,  and  the  Board  procured  a 
house  for  itself. 

My  letter  to  Mr.  Pitt,  asking  for  the  secretaryship 
of  the  new  Board  of  Agriculture  : — 

'  Bradfield  Hall :  May  20,  1793. 

'  Sir, — I  am  informed  by  Lord  Sheffield  and  Sir 
John  Sinclair  that  the  establishment  of  a  Board  of 
Agriculture  is  determined. 

'  It  has  been  the  employment  of  the  last  thirty  years 
of  my  life  to  make  myself  as  much  a  master  of  the 
practice  and  the  political  encouragement  of  agriculture 
as  my  talents  would  allow.  I  have  examined  every 
part  of  the  kingdom,  and  have  farming  correspondents 
in  all  the  counties. 

'  It  is  impossible  I  should  know  what  is  your  in- 
tention in  relation  to  the  office  of  the  secretary  ;  but 
the  same  wisdom  that  established  the  Board  will, 
without  doubt,  give  such  an  appointment  to  that 
office  as  may  fill  it  in  a  manner  the  best  adapted  to 
the  business. 

'  Should  I  be  happy  enough  to  appear  in  your  eyes 
qualified  for  such  a  post,  and  you  would  have  the 
goodness  to  name  me  to  it,  it  might  lessen  the  anxieties 
of  a  life  that  has  been  passed  in  the  service  of  the 


THE   BOAED   OF  AGRICULTUEE  221 

national  agriculture  ;  and  I  should  feel  with  unvarying 
gratitude  the  obligation  of  the  favour. 

'  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  with  the  greatest 
respect, 

'  Your  most  humble  and  obedient  servant, 

'Akthur  Young.' 

My  reply  to  George  Rose,  Esq.,  on  his  communica- 
ting to  me  Mr.  Pitt's  approbation  of  my  appointment : — 

'  Bradfield  Hall :  May  30,  1793. 

'  Sir, — It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  your  letter,  as  it  shows  that,  whatever  may 
be  the  result  of  the  present  business,  my  exertions 
have  met  vdth  the  approbation  of  Government,  whose 
public-spirited  and  laudable  views  I  have  long  been 
solicitous  to  second. 

*  The  salary  you  mention  is,  I  confess,  less  than  I 
imagined  would  be  assigned  to  the  office,  but  its  being 
adequate  or  not  depends  entirely  on  the  circumstances 
of  attendance,  duty,  residence,  &c.  If  these  be 
arranged  on  a  footing  any  way  liberal,  the  sum  is 
equal  to  my  desires ;  and  I  shall  in  that  case  accept  the 
office  with  pleasure.  If,  on  the  contrary,  these  points 
be  so  fixed  as  to  overturn  my  present  pursuits  in  life, 
they  would  render  a  larger  salary  less  valuable  to  me 
than  the  sum  you  mention. 

*  From  the  nature  of  the  Board,  intended  to  consist, 
as  I  understand,  of  members  of  the  two  Houses,  with 
the  objects  in  view,  I  take  it  for  granted  that  the  points 
above  mentioned  may,  without  the  least  impediment  to 
the  business,  be  easily  arranged. 


222      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AKTHUR  YOUNG 

'  Trusting  in  this  entirely  to  Mr.  Pitt  and  yourself, 
I  beg  your  good  offices  that,  if  I  should  have  improperly 
expressed  my  meaning,  you  will  do  me  the  justice  to 
rely  on  the  integrity  of  my  views,  and  not  imagine  me 
eager  in  making  a  bargain  for  profit  with  a  great  and 
liberal  benefactor. 

'  I  have  the  honour  to  remain  &c. 

'Aethur  Young,' 

What  a  change  in  the  destination  of  a  man's  life  ! 
Instead  of  becoming  the  solitary  lord  of  four  thousand 
acres,  in  the  keen  atmosphere  of  lofty  rocks,  and 
mountain  torrents,  with  a  little  creation  rising  gra- 
dually around  me,  making  the  black  desert  smile  with 
cultivation,  and  grouse  give  way  to  industrious  popula- 
tion, active  and  energetic,  though  remote  and  tranquil, 
and,  every  instant  of  my  existence,  making  two  blades 
of  grass  to  groiv  where  not  one  was  found  before — 
behold  me  at  a  desk  in  the  smoke,  the  fog,  the  din  of 
Whitehall.  '  Society  has  charms  ' — true ;  and  so  has 
solitude  to  a  mind  employed.  But  the  die  is  cast,  and 
my  steps  may  still  be  said,  metaphorically,  to  be  in  the 
furrow.  My  pleasures  are  of  another  sort ;  I  see  daily 
a  noble  activity  of  zeal  in  the  service  of  the  national 
husbandry  in  the  President — of  that  happy  effort  of 
royal  patriotism,  commendable  and  exemplary ;  and  I 
see  in  so  many  great  and  distinguished  characters 
such  a  disinterested  attention  to  the  public  good,  and 
such  liberality  of  spirit  in  promoting  it,  that  the  view 
is  cheering,  whether  in  a  capital  or  a  desert. 

The  two  situations  were  incompatible  with  each 


THE   BOAED   OF  AGRICULTURE  223 

other.  I  therefore  advertised  the  estate  for  sale  ;  and 
nothing  proves  to  me  how  very  ill  understood  waste 
lands  are  in  this  kingdom  than  the  advertisement 
being  repeated  near  a  twelvemonth  before  I  could  sell 
it  with  much  less  profit  than  I  had  reason  to  expect. 
So  large  a  contiguous  tract,  in  many  respects  so 
eligible  for  improvement,  I  thought  would  have  been 
a  favourite  object  with  numbers  ;  as  to  the  ignorance 
of  those  who  vietved  and  rejected  it,  I  can  only  pity 
them. 

The  attention  I  received  from  individuals  was, 
however,  very  flattering,  for  I  find,  by  an  old  memo- 
randum book,  that  I  dined  out  from  twenty- five  to 
thirty  days  in  the  month,  and  had,  in  that  time,  forty 
invitations  from  people  of  the  highest  rank  and  con- 
sequence. Here  I  copy  a  memorandum  made  at  the 
time  :  August  21,  'I  feel  an  advancement  of  a  certain 
kind  since  the  publication  of  my  Travels,  well  calculated 
to  add  agreeably  to  a  new  sphere  in  life  by  means  of 
this  new  Board ;  but  how  it  will  turn  out  is  not  easy  to 
conjecture,  and  my  "  Example  of  France  :  a  Warning 
to  Great  Britain"  ^  is  applauded  in  a  manner  of  which 
I  had  not  the  slightest  conception.  The  Ministry 
commend  it  most  highly,  and  express  themselves  in  [a 
way]  truly  gratifying  to  my  feelings.  The  last  time  I 
was  in  town,  the  Chancellor  dwelt  on  the  idea  of  how 
much  they  were  all  obliged  to  me,  and  treated  me  as 
a  man  that  77iust  be  gratified  when  I  was  explaining 
my  wish  to  reside  but  little  in  London.     And  Kose's 

'  This  recantation  of  Arthur  Young's  former  democratic  utterances 
was  published  in  June  1793. 


224      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

report  from  Mr.  Pitt  was  equal ;  his  own  expression 
was  that  I  had  beat  all  rivalship  and  produced  the 
most  useful  work  printed  on  the  occasion,  &c.  Thus 
I  come  with  all  the  advantages  I  could  wish — and  I 
could  see  in  every  eye  and  hear  from  every  tongue  of 
numbers  to  whom  Sir  John  Banks  introduced  me  on 
the  Terrace  at  Windsor  that  I  was  considered  as  one 
to  whom  the  nation  was  obliged.  The  King  spoke  to 
me,  but  not  so  graciously  as  some  years  before ;  and  this 
brought  to  my  mind  a  visit  which  Mr.  Majendie  and 
his  brother,  the  Canon  of  Windsor,  paid  me  at  Bradfield, 
when  the  latter  asked  me  in  a  very  significant  manner 
whether  I  had  not  said  something  against  the  King's 
bull,  as  it  was  commonly  reported  that  I  had  fallen 
foul  of  his  Majesty's  dairy ;  so  I  suppose  the  man  who 
showed  me  the  cattle  reported  to  the  King  every  word 
I  had  said  of  them,  and  possibly  vdth  additions.  Who 
is  it  that  says  one  should  be  careful  in  a  court  not  to 
offend  even  a  dog?  However,  Sir  J.  Sinclair  reported 
to  me  some  days  afterwards  that  his  Majesty  had  ex- 
pressed to  him  great  satisfaction  at  my  appointment  to 
the  secretaryship  of  the  Board. 

About  this  time  I  met  Sir  John  Macpherson,  from 
Bengal,  but  now  from  Italy.  He  came  by  the  Ehine ;  bad 
a  conversation  with  the  King  of  Prussia  on  my  '  Tra- 
vels,' which  his  Majesty  was  reading,  and  commended 
greatly.  He  saw  also  the  Marshal  de  Castries,'  who 
was  hkewise  reading  them,  and  praised  me  in  the 
highest  terms.     Sir  John  Macpherson  told  him  that  he 

'  Marquis  de  Castries  and  Marechal  of  France.     Joined  the  Emigres 
on  the  Revolution,  and  served  in  Conde's  army. 


THE   BO.^D   OF  AGRICULTUKE  225 

had  found  my  accounts  of  Lombardy  so  uncommonly 
just  and  accurate  that  he  intended  seeing  the  author 
as  soon  as  he  arrived  in  England.  '  Tell  him,  then,' 
said  the  marshal,  '  that  I  did  not  know  France  till 
I  read  his  admirable  work,  which  astonishes  me  for  its 
truth,  and  extent  and  justness  of  observation ;  '  and  the 
next  day  he  wrote  to  him  pointing  out  an  error  of 
mine  in  the  passage  relating  to  his  opening  the  French 
West  Indies  to  foreign  navigation.  No  man  can  speak 
in  higher  terms  of  a  book  than  Sir  John  does  of  this. 
He  says  it  is  the  best  that  ever  was  published.  It  is 
something  whimsical  that  the  ladies  should  tell  me  it 
is  as  entertaining  as  a  romance,  and  that  statesmen 
should  praise  it  for  its  information.  Faith  !  I  had 
need  be  flattered  to  be  kept  in  good  humour — losing 
my  time  doing  nothing  in  London  in  August. 

September  9. — Dined  at  Pinherring's,  the  American 
ambassador ;  he  is  a  gentleman-like  man  ;  but  for  his 
company,  though  this  was  a  great  entertainment,  there 
was  such  a  motley  group  as  would  be  difficult  to  find  ; 
they  were  so  indelicate  as  to  call  for  a  war  vdth 
England. 

I  preserved  the  following  among  letters  of  this 
year : — 

From  the  Countess  of  Bristol 

'  January  4,  1793. 

'  Dear  Sir, — In  spite  of  a  bad  cold,  which  makes 
me  very  heavy  and  ill  qualified  to  write  to  un  homme 
d'espi-it,  I  must  say  a  word  or  two  in  answer  to  your 
letter,  and  also  assure  you  that  the  one  you  enclosed 

Q 


226      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

for  Lord  Bristol  was  forwarded  by  the  same  post  to  his 
agent  in  town. 

'Do  I  recollect  reading  your  "Travels"?  Yes, 
certainly,  and  the  great  pleasure  and  instruction  I 
received  from  them ;  but  the  approbation,  I  assure  you, 
came  from  a  better  quarter,  or  I  should  not  have 
presumed  on  its  being  worth  your  acceptance.  How- 
ever that  may  be,  I  am  much  pleased  with  the  effect, 
and  fairly  confess  that  I  did  wish  to  set  yom-  pen 
a-going,  because  you  had  experience  and  facts  to  write 
upon,  and  that  I  knew  your  warm  colouring  would 
suit  the  picture — in  short,  I  saw  you  were  a  convert. 
I  wished  you  to  make  others,  and  if  I  have  been  the 
least  instrumental  by  awakening  the  spark  in  you,  I 
shall  feel  that  I  am  not  wholly  useless  to  the  commu- 
nity where  providence  has  placed  me.  I  think  everybody 
with  talents  is  called  upon,  particularly  at  this  time,  to 
use  them  for  the  good  of  their  once  happy  country,  and 
I  know  of  no  one  better  qualified  than  yourself  to 
employ  your  eloquence  usefully. 

'  The  pamphlet  you  mention,  of  an  earnest  address 
to  farmers,  was  brought  to  me  amongst  others,  and  I 
immediately  said  it  was  yours — but  pray  rescue  it  from 
its  mangled  state  and  print  it  again  as  it  was  written. 
I  flatter  myself  that  you  intend  to  send  me  the  "  Exam- 
ple of  France :  A  "Warning  to  Britain,"  for  which,  I 
assure  you,  I  am  very  impatient. 

'  I  write  from  Lord  Abercorn's,  and  wish  I  could 
hear  anything,  but  upon  every  subject  there  is  at  this 
moment  an  awful  pause.  It  is  hoped  that  the  Alien 
Bill  may  be  passed  to-morrow,  it  is  so  much  wanted, 


THE   BOAED   OF  AGEICULTURE  227 

and  that  the  wretched  state  of  the  French  armies  and 
their  dissentions  at  home  may  make  it  unnecessary  for 
us  to  declare  war.  Three  Prussian  officers  of  rank 
have  been  arrested  for  treasonable  correspondence  with 
Dumouriez,  which,  they  say,  is  to  explain  the  Duke 
of  Brunswick's  retreat ;  and  now  it  is  supposed  that 
Custine's  army  cannot  escape  him. 

'  I  saw  two  gentlemen  who  were  in  Paris  a  fortnight 
ago,  and  who  told  me  that  the  treasury  would  hold  out 
very  little  longer,  that  bread  was  scarce,  commerce 
destroyed,  and  the  people  either  in  fury  or  despair,  the 
whole  town  affording  a  melancholy  scene  of  poverty, 
distrust  and  disorder — houses  shut  up,  public  buildings 
destroyed,  churches  turned  into  warehouses,  &c.  &c. 

'  For  want  of  better  materials  I  send  you  a  print 
which  I  think  is  not  a  bad  one,  considering  the  double 
part  Mr.  Fox  has  acted.  I  thank  jou  for  enquiring 
after  my  daughters.  Lady  Erne  is  not  yet  returned  from 
Hampshire,  Lady  Elizabeth  is  with  the  Duchess  of 
Devonshire  at  Florence,  and  Lady  Louisa  is  here,  and 
desires  her  compliments. 

'  I  am,  sincerely  yours, 

'  E.  Bristol.' 

From  the  same 

'  Bruton  Street :  March  20,  1793. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  have  just  seen  in  the  True  Briton  of 
this  morning  that  the  thanks  of  the  association  at  the 
"Crown  and  Anchor"  were  voted  to  you  for  your  last 
publication,  which,  I  assure  you,  gives  me  great  plea- 
sure ;   at   the  same  time  it  reminds  me  that  I  have 

Q  2 


228      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

too  long  deferred  mine,  but  which  I  now  beg  you  will 
accept.  I  like  it  very  much,  and  think  it  is  admirably 
well  WT-'itten,  and  calculated  to  inform  the  ignorant  and 
deluded  of  their  real  danger.  I  should  have  told  you 
so  long  ago,  but  waited  ta  hear  the  opinions  of  those 
from  which  I  thought  you  would  receive  more  satisfac- 
tion ;  and  I  can  now  assure  you  that  your  pamphlet  is 
much  liked  by  Lord  Orford  and  several  others  of  good 
judgment.  And  I  think  you  may,  without  flattery, 
consider  yourself  as  one  of  the  means  which  has 
rescued  this  glorious  country  from  the  destruction 
which  was  preparing  for  it. 

'  There  are  great  events  impending  just  now.    I  pray 
God  to  direct  them  for  our  good. 
'  I  am,  dear  sir, 

'  Your  sincere  humble  servant, 

*  E.  Bristol.' 

From  Lord  Bristol  (Bishop  of  Derry),  objections  to 
my  proposal  for  selling  all  lambs  at  Harrington  Fair. 

'  Ratisbon  :  .Jan.  17,  1793. 

'  My  dear  Arthur, — Why  will  you  make  me  a 
request  with  which  I  cannot  in  prudence  comply  ? 
And  why  must  I  say  No  to  a  man  whom  I  wish  only  to 
answer  with  Yes  ?  You  are  as  great  a  quack  in  farming 
as  I  once  was  in  politics,  and  therefore,  knowing  the  force 
of  the  term,  I  must  be  on  my  guard  against  you. 

'  No  reform,  dear  Arthur,  at  this  time  of  day. 
Ipswich  has  an  old  prescriptive  right  to  our  lambs — we 
have  sold  them  well  at  that  market ;  buyers  are  accus- 


THE   BOAED   OF   AGRICULTUEE  229 

tomed  to  it ;  have  their  connections  there  of  every 
kind  ;  may  very  possibly  not  come  to  Horningheath  for 
many  years.  Let  the  buyers  advertise  that  they  v^^ish 
to  change  the  market,  and  I,  though  a  great  heretic 
against  most  establishments,  will  be  none  against  them. 
Adieu !  magnanimous  Arthur.  Reserve  your  prowess 
for  a  greater  object  than  distressing  poor  Ipswich  by 
bereaving  it  of  its  ancient  patrimony. 

'  We  have  a  sheep  fair  here,  too,  at  Eatisbon,  but 
of  old  horned  rams,  and  not  of  young  Suffolk  lambs. 

'  Yom's  cordially, 

'Bristol.' 

From  Thomas  Law,  Esq.,  who  resided  long  in 
Bengal,  on  the  application  of  the  Corn  Laws. 

'  Weymouth  Street :  Jan.  5,  1793. 

'  Sir, — I  have  fortunately  obtained  the  perusal  of 
your  "  Travels,"  and  the  sentiments  conveyed  therein  so 
totally  coincide  with  my  observations  of  eighteen  years 
upon  the  extensive  continent  of  Asia,  that,  upon  your 
arrival  in  town,  I  shall  be  happy  to  convey  to  you  any 
information  in  my  power  respecting  the  agriculture  of 
Bengal,  Behar,  and  Benares. 

'  When  a  member  of  a  grain  committee  during  a 
drought,  I  pursued  your  system,  which  coincides  with 
that  of  Adam  Smith,  viz.  :  All  our  object  was  to 
prevent  impediments  to  the  free  transport  of  corn, 
being  convinced  that  it  would  be  removed  from  an 
abundant  province  to  one  which  was  less  productive, 
and,  like  water,  find  its  level,  and  that  the  interest  of 


230  AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AKTHUE  YOUNG 

merchants  would  convey  it  from  cheap  places  to  dear 
ones,  and  thus  promote  the  general  good.  I  could 
impart  to  you  many  fatal  instances  of  the  intervention  of 
powers  by  fixing  the  price  and  by  forcing  corn  to  market. 
'  I  can  show  you  the  thanks  of  a  resident  who 
presided  in  the  capital  of  an  extensive  district 
threatened  with  a  famine,  and  who  wrote  to  me  asking 
my  opinion  upon  the  following  propositions :  First, 
"  Shall  I  raise  subscriptions  to  supply  the  poor  with  rice 
at  this  crisis?"  Answer,  "You  will  thereby  not  only 
encourage  a  concourse  to  your  city  of  persons  whose 
expectations  will  be  deceived,  as  their  numbers  will 
exceed  the  amount  of  your  gratuities,  and  you  will 
thereby  destroy  many  ;  but  you  will  enhance  the  price 
in  the  city."  Secondly,  "  Shall  I  compel  the  granaries  to 
be  opened,  and  fix  a  moderate  price  ?  "  Ansiver,  "  By  no 
means.  You  will  thereby  deter  the  merchants  from 
bringing  grain  to  market,  and  will  thereby  starve  your 
inhabitants.  Your  power  can  only  extend  to  a  certain 
limit,  and  within  that  the  merchant  will  not  enter.  If 
supplies  are  coming  to  you,  those  who  have  grain  for 
sale  will  have  advice  of  it,  and  hurry  their  grain  to 
market ;  but  if  you  compel  them,  you  will  stop  all 
imports  by  such  forcible  interference.  Have  you 
calculated  at  what  price  the  merchant  buys  at  a 
distance,  at  what  expense  he  brings  it,  &c.  ?  In  short, 
you  have  the  choice  of  the  alternative — whether  for  a 
day  or  two  you  will  submit  to  want,  and  then  be 
relieved  by  the  exertions  of  those  who  always  hasten 
to  a  good  market  ;  or  whether  you  will  gain  popularity 
for  a  day  or  two  by  a  compulsory  expenditm-e  of  the 


THE   BOARD   OF  AGEICULTUEE  231 

quantity  within  your  grasp,  and  then  fall  a  martyr  to  an 
exasperated  starving  people."  He  adopted  the  first,  and 
thanked  me  in  the  strongest  terms. 

'  About  that  time,  when  Government  intended  to 
purchase  grain  to  supply  certain  places,  I  protested 
against  it,  because  those  places  would  entirely  rely 
upon  Government  management ;  for  no  merchant 
would  convey  to  places  where  Government  by  a  sudden 
import  might  overflow  the  market — if  London  were  to 
be  supplied  with  every  want  by  a  contract  or  monopoly, 
the  effect  is  easily  foreseen. 

*  In  respect  to  a  fixed  land  tax,  I  can  show  you 
some  very  satisfactory  papers  upon  the  subject ;  as  I 
had  to  contend  against  some  very  able  advocates  for 
periodical  equalisation,  and  at  length  have  obtained  a 
fixed  land  tax  for  ever.  In  Asia  we  have  metayers,  as 
in  France ;  we  have  surveyors  of  the  crop.  In  short, 
to  a  gentleman  of  your  philosophic  and  agricultural 
turn  I  may  prove  a  welcome  referee.  To  the  manj" 
pertinent  questions  you  will  put,  you  will,  no  doubt, 
find  many  deficient  replies,  for  I  am  conscious  of 
having  omitted  much.  Unluckily  I  had  never  seen 
your  able  productions,  and  had  too  often  to  find  the 
truth  by  the  experience  of  error. 

'  Many  serious  evils  may  be  prevented  if  a  person 
of  your  influence  could  have  conveyed  to  Asia  your 
sentiments  upon  taxation,  the  corn,  trade,  &c.,  for  the 
perusal  of  the  several  servants  entrusted  with  the 
charge  of  vast  districts  with  numerous  industrious 
subjects.  If  Necker  committed  such  palpable  mistakes 
after  so  much  experience,  must  not  young  men  in  the 


232      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

company's  service  be  subject  to  fatal  errors  where  the 
instruction   of  books  is  not  always  to  be  attained,  or 
the  advice  of  the  well-informed,  as  in  Europe  ? 
*  I  remain,  with  respect,  sir, 

'  Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

'  Thomas  Law.' 

From  the  Eight  Hon.  Edmund  Burke,  highly 
praising  the  '  Example  of  France  '  : — 

'  Mr.  Burke  thanks  Mr.  Young  for  his  most  able, 
useful  and  reasonable  pamphlet.  He  has  not  seen 
anything  written  in  this  controversy  which  stands 
better  bottomed  upon  practical  principle,  or  is  more 
likely  to  produce  an  effect  on  the  popular  mind.  It  is, 
indeed,  incomparably  well  done.  We  are  all  very  much 
obliged  to  Mr.  Young,  and  think  the  Committee  ought 
to  circulate  his  book. 

'  Duke  Street,  St.  James's  :  March  5,  1793.' 

From  Dr.  Burney,  on  my  '  Example  of  France,'  &c. : — 

'  Chelsea  College  :  May  12,  1793. 

'  My  dear  Friend, — I  cannot  let  Mrs.  Young  return 
without  sending  you  my  best  thanks  for  the  second 
edition  of  your  excellent  pamphlet.  Indeed,  if  I  were 
singular  in  approbation  of  it,  you  might  think  me  a 
cleverer  fellow  than  I  shall  seem  among  the  crowd  of 
your  admirers.  What  is  a  single  name  in  a  list  fifty 
yards  long  '?  And  if  I  were  to  tell  you  what  numbers 
of  first-rate  judges  have  spoke  well  of  your  performance, 
I  should  want  more  room  than  Mr.  Sheridan's  friends 


THE   BOARD   OF  AGEICULTURE  233 

at  Glasgow.  I  shall  only  just  specify  those  who  would 
be  at  the  head  of  a  complete  list,  if  I  had  time  to 
make  one :  Mr.  Burke,  Lord  Orford,  who,  on  my 
asking  him  if  he  had  seen  your  pamphlet,  pointed  to 
it,  "  There  it  is ;  I  read  nothing  else  ;  "  Mrs.  Montagu 
the  same ;  a  large  party  of  bluestockings  at  Lad}^ 
Hesketh's  all  agreed  that  your  book  and  Hannah 
More's  "  Chip  "  '  were  the  best  on  the  subject.  AVhen 
I  made  Mrs.  Crewe  read  the  first  edition,  she  wrote  me 
word  that  she  had  perused  it  with  great  attention,  and 
that  she  found  it  contained  stubborn  facts,  to  each  of 
which  she  should  say  with  the  grave-digger,  "  Answer 
me  that  and  unyoke."  Last  week,  in  a  note  she  sent 
me  from  Hampstead,  she  says  :  "  Mr.  Arthur  Young's 
pamphlet  makes  a  great  noise,  and,  I  think,  I  never 
knew  any  book  take  more ;  it  is  reprinted,  you  know, 
with  additions."  In  the  communication  of  the  latter 
information  she  got  the  start  of  me ;  the  second 
edition  could  not  have  been  out  three  days  but  you 
are  meditating  a  third.  I  like  your  additions  to  the 
second  much,  particularly  what  concerns  the  reform 
of  Parliament. 

'  I  wish  you  could  overhaul  Grey's  speech  as  well 
as  Charles  Fox's  on  that  subject,  and  in  an  appendix 
expose  the  weakness  and  inconsistence  of  both.  Only 
observe  how  both  confess  that  there  was  danger  to  our 
constitution  "  from  opinions  favourable  to  the  principles 
and  measures  of  France,"  after  so  stubbornly  and 
pertinaciously  denying  in  Parliament  the  existence  of 
any  such  danger  ;  challenging  Government  to  prove  it, 

'   Village  Politics,  by  Will  Chip,  1793  ;  price  2d. 


234      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

and  saying  that  "  the  Proclamation,  call  of  Parliament, 
Alien  and  Traitorous  Correspondence  Bills,  were  mere 
Ministerial  juggles"  to  increase  influence,  diminish 
liberty,  and  encourage  excess  of  loyalty.  "  But,"  says 
Mr.  G.  "  that  danger  must  now  be  much  lessened,  as 
all  approbation  of  those  principles,  or  imitation  of  that 
example,  is  now  improbable,  totally  discredited,  and  re- 
moved from  all  political  speculation  and  practice. ' '  What, 
then,  is  all  the  defence  of  France  and  Frenchmen  by 
the  Opposition  ?  And  why  is  every  measure  condemned 
in  Parliament  that  tends  to  put  an  end  to  their  anarchy 
and  ambition  ?  Why  is  war  against  them  so  censured  ? 
Why  is  it  always  called  the  war  of  kings  and  despots  ? 
Why  is  the  Minister  so  importuned  to  make  peace 
with  regicides  and  assassins,  determined  to  force,  if 
possible,  every  nation  upon  earth  to  adopt  their 
measmres?  Mr.  Grey  repeats  in  his  speech,  "All  dread 
of  the  example  is  completely  removed,  and  that  none 
could  suppose  him,  or  any  other  party  in  this  country, 
favourable  to  that  example."  WTiat  is  this  but  open 
falsehood  ?  Mr.  Fox  allows  that  "  there  was  a  party 
whose  wild  theories  certainly  aimed  at  an  impracti- 
cable perfection,  that  could  only  have  been  pursued  by 
means  subversive  of  every  part  of  our  constitution." 
Yet  there  never  was  any  danger !  Mr.  G.  says,  in 
express  terms,  "  that  his  motion  extended  to  an  altera- 
tion in  the  present  government  of  the  country."  But 
he  had  no  specific  plan  ready  of  his  own,  or  that  he 
chose  to  father.  But  as  all  the  petitions  he  and  Mr. 
Sheridan  brought  in  for  a  reform  demanded  nothing 
less  than  universal  suffrage,  and  as  these  gentlemen 


THE   BOARD   OF   AGRICULTURE  235 

either  drew  up  or  approved  the  contents  of  these 
petitions,  we  may  easily  judge  what  was  the  general 
plan  of  our  Jacobins,  if  they  could  have  had  the 
tinkering  of  the  constitution. 

'  Grey  seems  to  me  a  silly  fellow,  with  a  greater 
wish  than  abilities  to  do  mischief.  Charles  Fox's 
speech  is  more  a  panegyric  on  the  constitution  than  on 
his  friend's  motion.  When  every  man  is  left  to  him- 
self to  reform  an  old  constitution  or  make  a  new  one, 
no  two  will  be  found  of  a  mind  on  the  subject.  Sherry's 
speech  was  nothing  to  the  purpose.  There  was  no 
attempt  of  the  phalanx  which  I  so  much  dreaded,  as 
the  doubling  our  tiers  etat.  Thank  God,  their  great 
gun  ha,s  flashed  in  the  pan  !  The  mountain  has  laboured 
in  vain.  You  know  I  hope  that  the  gang  in  Parliament, 
like  Egalite's  creatures  in  the  "  Convention,"  is  called 
the  Mountain.  And  it  has  been  called  by  a  punster  of 
the  party  Mount  Sigh-on.  I  fear  the  war  will  be  long  and 
bloody  ;  and  how  it  will  end  who  can  tell  ?  Nothing 
but  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  can  save  the 
whole  civilised  globe  from  destruction.  After  dis- 
daining in  the  House  the  principles  which  they  had 
suggested  and  encouraged  out  of  it,  I  should  not 
wonder  if  the  Scotch  and  English  petitioners  for 
reform  on  the  basis  of  universal  suffrage  should  mob 
and  September  their  friends  the  demagogues  whenever 
they  can  catch  them.  I  don't  love  mischief,  but  I  do 
cordially  wish  something  of  that  kind  were  to  happen. 
'  Adieu. 

'  Ever  yours  sincerely, 

'  Chaeles  Burney.' 


236      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

From  Dr.  Symonds,  high  encommms  of  my  '  Ex- 
ample,' &c. 

'  Prince  of  Wales  Coffee  House  :  A.pril  8,  1793. 

'  Traveller  Coxe  ^  desired  me  to  tell  you  how 
charmed  he  was  with  your  pamphlet  ;  nay,  he  had 
begun  to  write  five  or  six  lines  to  you,  but  thought 
afterwards  it  was  taking  too  great  a  liberty.  One 
thing,  however,  he  wishes  you  to  expunge  in  your 
next  edition,  viz.  :  a  reflection  on  Sunday  schools  as  not 
being  founded  on  truth.  You  must  not  be  surprised 
at  this,  for  he  is  a  zealous  patron  of  them,  and  has 
explained  the  Catechism  in  print  for  that  purpose. 
Wherever  I  go  I  hear  j^our  "Example  of  France" 
spoken  of  in  the  highest  terms  as  to  the  matter. 

'  Everyone  agrees  that  no  political  writer  whatever 
has  set  the  representation  of  property  in  so  clear  and 
just  a  light.  Bishop  Douglas,  who  has  written  many 
good  pamphlets,  and  is  therefore  the  best  judge,  makes 
no  scruple  to  declare  frequently  that  you  deserve 
from  Government  a  most  ample  reward  ;  but  we  both 
wish,  as  well  as  others,  for  your  sake,  that  the  second 
edition  may  be  printed  more  correctly. 

'  You  should  come  to  town  and  be  presented,  or,  at 
least,  take  an  opportunity  to  walk  on  the  Terrace  at 
Windsor,  where  you  would  not  fail  of  being  marked 
out.  Bishop  Watson's  appendix  has  rendered  him 
rectus  m  curia.  A  few  days  ago  he  was  at  Court, 
talking  with  Lord  Dartmouth,  who  mentioned  the 
word  philosophy,   which  the  King  overhearing,  came 

'  William  Coxe,  1747-1828,  author  of  Travels  into  Poland,  Russia, 
Sweden,  and  Denmark,  &c.  &c. 


THE   BOARD   OF   AORICULTUEE  237 

to  the  bishop,  and  said,  '  I  have  read  the  best  sort  of 
philosophy,  my  lord,  in  your  sermon  and  appendix, 
which  has  wonderfully  pleased  me."  The  bishop,  of 
course,  made  his  bow,  and  then  the  King  went  on, 
"  You  write  so  concisely  and  so  forcibly,  that  everyone 
must  be  convinced  bj^  your  argmuents  ;  "  on  which  the 
bishop  replied,  "  I  like.  Sir,  to  step  forward  in  a 
moment  of  danger."  The  King  rejoined,  "  You  have 
shown  a  good  spirit,  and  it  could  not  be  done  in  a  better 
manner."  Should  the  last  volume  of  "  Clarendon's 
Letters  "  come  in  your  way,  I  would  advise  you  to 
read  the  famous  one  from  Sir  John  Colepeper  to 
Secretary  Nicholas  ;  which  is  always  esteemed  as  a 
wonderful  instance  of  political  sagacity,  as  it  foretold 
that  the  Restoration  would  be  accomplished  by  Monk  ! 
But  I  think  there  is  another  part  of  this  letter  which 
shows  equal  sagacity,  viz.  :  his  desiring  that  Charles 
would  not  send  over  any  foreign  troops  into  England, 
as  this  measure  would  not  fail  of  uniting  the  English 
against  him  ;  whereas,  if  they  were  left  to  themselves, 
he  would  always  have  a  strong  party,  and  must  sooner 
or  later  be  restored.  I  am  fully  convinced  of  the  truth 
of  this  reasoning  ;  and  of  what  use  is  history  unless  it 
be  considered  as  a  school  for  modern  politicians  ? 

'  Why  did  you  not  let  me  know  whether  your 
second  edition  had  gone  to  the  press  or  not  ?  Before 
I  left  Cambridge  I  saw  a  gentleman  who  told  me  that 
Sir  William  Scott  had  mentioned  in  a  letter  to  one  of 
his  friends  there  that  it  was  by  far  the  most  convincing 
and  best  pamphlet  that  had  been  published. 

'  All  I  could  wish  is  that  you  had  not  stigmatised 


^38      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

all  reformers  with  the  name  of  enemies  to  the  state  ; 
or,  at  least,  you  intimated  it.  I  was  always  myself  an 
enemy  to  reform  in  Parliament,  and  continue  to  be  so  ; 
yet  I  know  some  warm  advocates  for  it,  who  mean  as 
well  to  the  benefit  of  this  country  as  you  can  possibly  do. 

'  Dr.  Hardy  and  Sir  Henry  Moncrief  (a  Scotch 
■clergyman)  are  come  to  solicit  a  Bill  for  the  enlarging 
of  the  stipends  of  the  Scotch  clergy.  They  do  not 
apprehend  much  difficulty  in  carrying  it  through  the 
Houses,  though  the  addition  must  be  supplied  out  of 
the  tithes  in  the  hands  of  lay  proprietors.  Hardy  is 
Professor  of  Ecclesiastical  History  at  Edinburgh — a 
most  sensible  man,  with  great  liberality  of  mind.  Sir 
Henry  is  a  polished  man,  and  likewise  a  man  of  business. 
I  hope  to  see  them  both  at  St.  Edmund's  Hill,  and  you 
must  meet  them.  You  should  get  Hardy's  pamphlet, 
the  "Patriot,"  published  in  Scotland  on  the  present 
emergency  ;  there  are  in  it  many  excellent  things. 

'  You  seem  in  your  letter  to  be  still  apprehensive  of 
■some  plots  and  insurrections. 

'  Plot !  Plots  !  was  the  catch-word  in  King 
Charles  II. 's  time.  Sir  H.  Moncrief  and  Dr.  Hardy 
laughed  at  Dundas's  account  of  the  political  riots  in 
Scotland.  They  absolutely  denied  the  existence  of  them 
— considered  them  as  political  ;  and  when  you  read 
Hardy's  pamphlet,  you  will  see  that  he  would  not  have 
failed  setting  them  forth  if  they  had  deserved  any  con- 
sideration. 

'  Adieu  !  I  should  not  have  come  to  London  had  it 
not  been  on  account  of  my  ecclesiastical  foundling. 

'  John  Symonds.' 


THE   BOAED   OF  AGEICULTUKE  239 

From  Dr.  Sijmonds 

'  September  1,  1793. 

*  My  dear  Sir,—  I  do  not  wonder  that  you  smiled  at 
the  affected  secrecy  of  Macpherson  concerning  the 
Censomento.  The  book  to  which  he  alludes  cannot  be 
the  "  Bilancio  dello  stato,"  &c.,  which  was  written  to 
please  Count  Firmian.  I  knew  well  the  gentleman 
who  wrote  it  and  gave  it  to  me,  as  I  often  met  him  at 
dinner  at  the  count's. 

*  Sometimes  he  was  too  decisive.  One  day  he  said 
at  the  count's  table  that  the  Bresciano  contained  800,000 
inhabitants  now.  As  Count  F.  knew  that  I  had  just 
come  from  Brescia,  and  had  not  lost  my  time  there,  he 
asked  me  what  number  there  was  ;  on  which  I  told  him 
that  there  were  376,000  according  to  a  census  taken  a 
few  years  before.  The  count  smiled,  and  looked  very 
attentively  on  Carpani  (for  that  was  the  author's  name), 
who  never  liked  me  so  well  after  that  day,  nor  had 
Count  Firmian  so  high  an  opinion  of  him.  You  possibly 
may  not  know  the  history  of  Sir  John  Macpherson. 
He  offered  the  Duke  of  Grafton,  when  he  was  at  the 
head  of  the  Treasury,  a  vast  collection  of  jewels,  by 
order  of  tlie  Nabob  of  Arcot,  which  the  duke  absolutely 
refused,  and  Bradshaw,  his  secretary,  also.  Sir  John, 
thinking  that  the  nabob  would  not  believe  that  he  had 
offered  the  present,  published  for  his  own  vindication 
the  answers  of  the  duke  and  Bradshaw,  for  which  he 
was  turned  out  of  the  company's  service,  as  he  was 
pursuing  an  interest  then  opposite  to  its  interests. 

'  Scotch  influence  not  long  after  restored  him.    You 


240  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   ARTHUR   YOUNG 

will  find  the  letters  in  Lind's  appendix  to  the  defence 
of  Lord  Pigot.  You  are  now,  of  course,  so  much  of  a 
politician  as  not  to  be  surprised  (shall  I  say  disgusted  ? ) 
at  Macpherson's  conduct.  The  opinion  of  the  King  of 
Prussia  as  to  your  book  I  value  not  a  straw ;  but  that 
of  the  Marshal  de  Castries  certainly  carries  with  it 
great  weight. 

'  He  is  one  of  the  few  who  adhered  to  Necker  from 
gratitude,  when  the  latter  was  turned  out  of  his  post 
about  ten  years  ago  ;  and  I  heard  a  very  good  character 
of  the  marechal  when  I  was  last  in  France.  St.  Paul, 
as  you  and  the  duke  are  pleased  to  call  him,  is  finished, 
and  the  preface  is  on  the  stocks.' 

'  AVhy  do  you  wish  Clarke  had  commented  on  the 
Epistle  to  the  Romans  ?  Locke  and  Taylor  have  done 
it  admirably  ;  and  easy  as  you  may  think  the  Gospels 
are,  they  have  been  rendered  much  more  so  by  Clarke. 

'  What  do  you  mean  by  saying  that  the  Gospels 
want  no  explanation  ?  St.  John  is  extremely  difficult 
in  some  parts,  notwithstanding  Clarke's  paraphrase ; 
and  I  think,  with  Markland,  that  he  is  as  yet  very  far 
from  being  perfectly  understood.  Adieu  ! 
'  I  remain, 

'  Ever  your  sincere  friend, 

'John  Symonds.' 

'  Evidently  an  allusion  to  some  work  of  the  writer. 


241 


CHAPTEK   XI 

THE    SECKETAEYSHIP,  1794-95-96 

The  Secretaryship  and  its  drawbacks — Social  compensations — Illness  and 
death  of  Elizabeth  Hoole — Letters  of  Jeremy  Bentham  and  others — 
A  visit  to  Burke — Home  travels — Enclosures. 

The  Board  of  Agriculture,  meeting  in  February, 
arranged  the  President's  plan  for  the  attendance  of 
their  officers.  By  these  laws  all  the  officers  of  the 
Board  were  bound  to  attend,  with  no  other  exception 
than  the  months  of  August,  September  and  October, 
with  one  month  at  Christmas  and  three  weeks  at 
Easter.  These  laws,  ready  cut  and  dried  when  the 
Board  met,  were  adopted  with  no  other  alterations 
than  such  as  the  President  himself  had  made  in  them, 
previously  to  their  being  presented  at  the  meeting. 
Lord  Hawke  had  examined  the  rules  and  orders  of 
many  societies,  and  found  that  in  all  letters  communi- 
cations were  addressed  to  the  Secretaries,  and  answers 
given  by  them.  Sir  John  Sinclair  struck  this  out,  and 
directed  all  such  communications  to  be  to  the  President 
(himself),  and  for  him  also  to  sign  all  letters.  This  at 
once  converted  the  Secretary  into  nothing  more  than 
a  first  clerk.  I  saw  not  at  first  the  tendency  of  the 
alterations ;    but  I  soon  felt   their  effect.     All   letters 

R 


242      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

were  dictated  by  the  Secretary  and  written  in  a  book ; 
this  book  was  altered  and  corrected  at  the  will  of  the 
President,  and  such  alterations  made  as  in  respect  of 
agriculture  were  absurd  enough  ;  the  whole  done  in  such 
a  manner  as  not  to  be  very  pleasing. 

In  addition  to  this,  Sir  John  Sinclair  gave  the 
Board  the  use  of  his  house,  which  ensured  another 
circumstance  hostile  to  my  feelings.  There  was  only 
one  room  for  transacting  the  business,  by  the  Secretary, 
Under-Secretary,  two  clerks,  to  which  Sir  J.  after  added 
the  constant  attendance  of  an  attorney,  for  assisting  in 
the  business  of  a  general  Enclosing  Act,  about  which 
the  President  busied  himself  some  years  in  vain.  As 
I  was  determined  to  pass  all  the  vacations  at  my  farm 
in  Suffolk,  six  journeys  of  myself  and  servants  became 
necessary,  and  caused  a  considerable  expense.  I  also 
was  compelled  to  hire  lodgings  at  the  expense  of  two 
or  two  guineas  and  a  half  per  week,  and  when  I 
experienced  the  full  career  '  of  all  these  circumstances, 
I  deliberated  repeatedly  and  carefully  with  myself, 
whether  it  would  not  be  cheaper  to  me  to  throw  up 
the  employment.  Long  after,  upon  review  of  the 
whole,  I  was  amazed  that  I  had  not  done  it,  more 
especially  as  my  plan  for  settling  on  the  moors  in 
Yorkshire  was  offered  to  my  choice.  I  was  infinitely 
disgusted  with  the  inconsiderate  manner  in  which  Sir 
John  Sinclair  appointed  the  persons  who  drew  up  the 
original  reports,  men  being  employed  who  scarcely 
knew  the  right  end  of  a  plough ;  and  the  President 
one    day  desired   I  would   accompany  him  wdth  one 

'  Career,  general  course  of  action  or  j)roeedure.^Webster. 


THE  SECEETARYSHIP  243 

of  these  men,  a  half-pay  officer  out  of  employment, 
to  call  on  Lord  Moira  to  request  his  assistance  in 
the  Leicestershire  Report,  when  this  person  told  his 
Lordship  that  he  was  out  of  employment  and  should 
like  a  summer's  excursion.  To  do  him  justice,  he  did 
not  know  anything  of  the  matter.  Still,  however,  he 
was  appointed,  and  amused  himself  with  his  excursion 
to  Leicester.  But  the  most  curious  circumstance  of 
effrontery  was,  that  the  greater  number  of  the  reporters 
were  appointed,  and  actually  travelled  upon  the  business 
before  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  took  place,  under 
the  most  preposterous  of  all  ideas — that  of  surveying  the 
whole  Kingdom  and  printing  the  Reports  in  a  single 
year  ;  by  which  manoeuvre  Sir  John  thought  he  should 
establish  a  great  reputation  for  himself.  Consequently 
by  his  sole  authority,  who  could  not  possibly  know 
whether  the  members  of  the  Board  would  approve  or 
not  such  a  plan.  I  was  a  capital  idiot  not  to  absent 
myself  sufficiently  to  bring  the  matter  to  a  question, 
and  leave  them  to  turn  me  out  if  they  pleased.  Mr. 
Pitt  would  probably  have  interfered  and  effected  the 
object  I  wanted,  and,  if  not,  would  have  provided  for 
me  in  a  better  way.  However,  I  made  use  of  the 
opportunities  that  offered  to  frequent  the  company  of 
those  that  were  agreeable  to  me  ;  for  a  part  of  the 
time  was  pretty  regularly  passed  at  the  conversaziones 
of  Mrs.  Matthew  Montagu  and  the  Countess  of  Bristol, 
where  I  met  an  assemblage  of  persons  remarkable  for 
every  characteristic  of  the  bas-bleu  mixed  with  great 
numbers  of  the  highest  rank.  [I  was]  also  at  many  simi- 
lar parties  upon  a  smaller  scale  at  Mr.  Charles  Coles',  the 

B   2 


244      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

intimate  friend  of  Soaine  Jenyns,  and  to  whom  he  left 
the  property  of  his  works.  The  petits  soupers  at  Mrs. 
Matthew  Montagu's,  and  to  which  she  asked  a  selection 
of  eight  or  nine  persons,  were  very  pleasant,  the  conver- 
sations interesting,  and  this  select  number  more  agree- 
able than  I  ever  found  full  rooms.  On  my  first  coming 
to  town  in  the  spring  of  1794,  I  enquired  of  several 
members  of  the  Board  whether  there  was  not  a  farmers' 
club  in  London,  and  was  surprised  that  there  never 
had  been  any  institution  of  the  kind.  I  determined  to 
endeavour  at  establishing  one,  and  spoke  to  the  Duke 
of  Bedford  and  the  Earls  of  Egremont  and  Winchilsea, 
who  much  approved  the  idea,  and  applying  also  to  a 
few  more,  I  directed  cards  to  be  sent  them  from  the 
Thatched  House  Tavern,^  in  order  to  establish  a  club. 
This  meeting  was  fully  attended,  and  a  book  being 
called  for,  the  club  was  instituted,  and  several  rules 
entered,  and  the  meetings  appointed  once  a  fortnight 
during  the  sittings  of  Parliament.  This  club  became 
very  fashionable,  and  applications  to  be  elected  w^ere 
very  numerous,  from  the  members  of  both  Houses  of 
Parliament ;  and  it  subsists  to  this  day,  but  has  for 
some  time  been  very  ill  attended.  This  was  occasioned 
by  too  free  an  election  of  all  who  offered.  While  the 
club  was  limited  to  fifty  members  it  was  well  attended, 
but  afterwards  such  numbers  were  received,  and  with 
so  much  facility,  as  greatly  to  injure  the  establishment. 
I  have  one  remark  to  make  upon  clubs  ;  the  life  and 
soul   of   them  is  limitation  to  a  selected  few,  and   to 

'  This  appears  to  have  been  the  place  lately  known  as  the  Thatched 
House  Club,  St.  James's  Street,  Piccadilly. 


THE   SECRETAEYSHIP  245 

blackball  the  great  mass  of  applicants,  selecting  merely 
such  as  will  form  a  very  valuable  addition  to  the  society, 
which  probably  may  not  amount  to  more  than  one  in 
twenty.  The  annual  subscription  was  two  guineas  : 
one  to  the  house,  one  to  form  a  fund  at  the  disposition 
of  the  club.  The  latter  gradually  accumulated  till  it 
amounted  to  700Z.  or  800Z.  Both  Sir  John  Sinclair  and 
I  were  strenuous  that  this  might  be  applied  to  some 
useful  purpose,  and  with  difficulty  we  got  an  appro- 
priation of  fifty  guineas  as  a  reward  for  the  best  plough 
that  could  be  produced  ;  but  the  money  assigned  to 
advertisements  being  much  too  small,  the  offer  was 
unknown,  and  no  plough  produced. 

A  member  once  proposed  that  the  800/.  might  be 
given  to  charitable  institutions ;  but  this  was  nega- 
tived in  an  instant,  and  the  sum  is  still  left  (1812) 
unemployed  in  the  funds. 

While  the  club  flourished  the  members  who  most 
generally  attended  were  the  Dukes  of  Bedford,  Buc- 
cleugh,  Montrose,  the  Earls  of  Egremont,  Win- 
chester and  Darnley,  the  Lords  of  Wentworth, 
Somerville,  de  Dunstanville,  Sheffield,  &c.  &c. 

I  often  dined  at  Charles  Coles',  where  I  met 
repeatedly  Jacob  Bryant,'  Mrs.  Montagu,  Mrs.  York, 
Mrs.  Garrick,  Hannah  More,  Mrs.  Orde  and  Soame 
Jenyns.  The  conversation  at  these  parties  on  the 
publications  of  the  day,  anecdotes  of  the  time,  with  the 
conduct  of  many  of  the  great  men  of  the  age,  was  usually 
very  interesting.    Alas  !  alas  !  how  few  of  these  persons 

'  171o  -1804.     Author  of  numerous  works  on  speculative  history,  in 
one  of  which  he  den  ied  the  existence  of  Troy. 


246      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNa 

are  now  left.  I  was  very  eager  in  listening  to  every 
word  that  fell  from  Hannah  More,  though  not  nearly 
so  much  so  as  I  should  have  been  many  years  after. 

I  had  an  incessant  round  of  dinners  and  many 
evening  parties,  and  generally  with  people  of  the 
highest  rank  and  consequence,  but  I  was  not  pleased, 
being  discontented  with  my  employment,  and  disgusted 
with  the  frivolous  business  of  the  Board,  which  seemed 
to  me  engaged  in  nothing  that  could  possibly  produce 
the  least  credit  with  the  public.  After  five  months' 
residence  at  London,  I  went  to  the  Duke  of  Bedford's 
at  Woburn  on  my  way  to  Bradfield,  spending  some 
days  very  agreeably  in  company  that  could  not  fail  of 
being  interesting. 

This  year  my  second  daughter  Elizabeth,  who, 
as  I  have  mentioned  before,  was  married  to  the  Rev. 
John  Hoole,'died  of  consumption.  She  was  of  a  most 
amiable,  gentle  temper,  and  in  a  resigned  frame  of  mind, 
which  gave  me  much  satisfaction.  The  last  visit  I  paid 
her  at  Abinger,  in  Surrey,  she  was  very  weak,  yet  not 
suspected  to  be  so  near  her  end.  But  at  the  last 
parting  with  me,  she  did  it  in  so  feeling  and  affection- 
ate a  manner  as  seemed  to  imply  that  she  thought  she 
should  see  me  no  more.  It  made  me,  for  a  time,  ex- 
tremely melancholy,  which  was  shaken  off  with  great 
difficulty.  I  took  a  tour  into  Hampshire,  where  I  passed 
several  days  with  Mr.  Poulett  at  Sombourne,  taking 
an  account  of  the  agriculture  of  that  district,  the 
result  of  which  examination  was  printed  as  an  appendix 
to  the  original  Hampshire  Report. 

On   the  meeting  of   the  Board  in  1793,  Sir  John 


THE   SECKETAKYSHIP  247 

Sinclair  had  particularly  requested  me  to  draw  up  a 
Eeport  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  to  effect  which  I  took 
several  journeys  into  different  parts  of  the  county  at 
some  expense,  and  formed  the  Eeport  which  was  printed 
in  1794.  I  never  executed  any  work  more  commended 
in  Suffolk  than  this.     I  had  no  remuneration. 

Letters  received  this  year  : — 

From  Jeremy  Bentham,  Esq.,  enquiries  into  the 
landed  property  of  Great  Britain  and  into  the  rental 
and  value  of  houses  : — 

'  Hendon,  Middlesex  :  Sept.  1794. 

'  Dear  Sir,  —Permit  my  ignorance  to  draw  upon 
your  science  on  an  occasion  that  happens  just  now  to 
be  a  very  material  one  to  me.  I  have  a  sort  of  floating 
recollection  of  a  calculation,  so  circumstanced,  either 
in  point  of  authority  or  argument,  as  to  carry  weight 
with  it,  in  which  the  total  value  of  the  landed  pro- 
perty in  this  country  (Scotland,  I  believe,  included) 
was  reckoned  at  a  thousand  millions,  and  that  of  the 
movable  property  at  either  a  thousand  millions  or 
twelve  hundred  millions.  Public  debt  did  not  come,  I 
think,  at  least,  it  ought  not  to  come,  into  the  account : 
it  being  only  so  much  owned  by  one  part  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  two  thousand  or  the  two  thousand  two 
hundred  millions  to  another. 

'  Upon  searching  your  book  on  France,  which  was 
the  source  from  whence  I  thought  I  had  taken  the 
idea,  I  can  find  no  calculation  of  the  value  of  the 
movable  property,  nor  even  of  the  immovable  in  an 
explicit  form  ;  on  the  contrary,  in  the  instance  of  the 
immovable,  I  find  suppositions  with  which  any  such 


248      AUTOBIOGRAPHl'  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

estimate  appears  to  be  incompatible.  The  land  tax  at 
fom:  shillings,  I  find,  you  suppose,  were  it  to  be  equal 
all  over  the  country,  would  be  equivalent  to  as  much  as 
three  shillings,  on  which  supposition  the  rental  (the  tax 
of  four  shillings  producing  no  more  than  two  thousand 
millions)  w^ould  amount  to  no  more  than  13,000,000Z., 
nor  consequently  the  value,  at  so  many  years'  purchase, 
say  twenty-eight,  to  more  than  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
four  millions  ;  or  at  thirty,  to  three  hundred  and  ninety 
millions ;  to  which,  in  order  to  complete  the  calcula- 
tion of  the  landed  property  of  Great  Britain,  that  of 
Scotland  would  have  to  be  added. 

'  The  population  of  the  three  kingdoms  you  reckon 
in  two  places  at  eleven  millions  ;  but  in  another  place 
at  fifteen.  Is  the  latter  a  slip  of  the  pen "?  or,  in  the  two 
former  places,  was  only  two  kingdoms  (England  and 
Scotland)  in  your  view,  though  three  are  mentioned  ? 
A  circumstance  that  seems  to  favour  the  latter  sup- 
position is,  that  the  population  of  Ireland  is  well  known 
(if  I  do  not  much  misrecollect)  from  recent  and  au- 
thentic sources  to  be  a  little  more  than  four  miUions; 
and  as  Scotland  turns  out  to  contain  a  million  and  a  half, 
this  would  leave  nine  and  a  half  millions  for  England, 
which,  I  should  suppose,  would  quadrate  in  round 
numbers  with  Mr.  Howlett's  calculations,  to  which  we 
refer  ;  a  book  which,  from  forgetfulness,  I  have  never 
made  myself  master  of,  and  to  which,  being  in  the 
country,  I  have  no  speedy  means  of  recurring. 

'  Now  what  I  wish  for  is  as  follows  :  (1)  a  calcula- 
tion (or,  I  should  rather  say,  the  result)  of  the  value 
of  the  landed  property  of  Great  Britain  reckoned  at  [so 


THE   SECEETARYSHIP  249 

many]  years'  purchase,  two  prices — a  peace  price  and 
a  war  price — could  they  be  respectively  of  sufficient 
permanence  to  be  ascertained,  would  be  of  use. 

'  (2)  A  calculation  of  the  value  of  the  personal,  i.e. 
immovable  property  of  Great  Britain. 

'  (3)  The  amount  of  the  population  of  Great  Britain. 

'  What  I  am  a  petitioner  for  is  the  benefit  of  your 
judgment  and  authority  upon  the  three  several  subjects; 
by  reference,  if  there  be  any  other  person's  calculation 
that  you  are  satisfied  with ;  otherwise  from  your  own 
notes ;  and,  in  either  case,  a  word  or  two  just  to 
indicate  the  sources  from  which  they  are  taken  would 
be  an  additional  help  and  satisfaction. 

*  The  occasion  of  the  trouble  I  am  attempting  to 
give  you  I  expressly  forbear  mentioning ;  not  only  for 
want  of  space  and  time,  but  more  particularly  that  it 
may  be  impossible,  and  might,  upon  occasion,  be  known 
to  be  impossible,  that  the  response  of  the  Oracle  should 
have  received  any  bias  from  the  consideration  of  the 
purpose  for  which  it  was  consulted. 

'  I  am,  dear  sir,  with  never  failing  esteem  and 
regard, 

'  Yours  ever, 

'Jeremy  Bentham.' 

'  Q.I.P. :  Sept.  30,  1794. 

'  Dear  Sir, — A  thousand  thanks  for  your  kind  letter 
— sorry  you  should  fancy  you  have  been  bathing  '  for 
health — ^hope  it  was  not  true — only  idleness — we  can't 
afford  to  have  you  otherwise  than  well. 

'  Probably  an  allusion  to  A.  Y.'s  habit  of  air  baths. 


250  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   AETHUR   YOUNG 

'  Must  prefer  ^  you  once  more,  "  Eental  of  England 
twenty-four  millions."  Good!  but  houses,  such  as  those 
in  town,  and  others  that  have  a  separate  rent,  are 
included  ?  I  suppose  not ;  since  for  them  you  would 
have  given  a  separate  and  different  price  in  number 
of  years'  purchase. 

'  In  one  of  your  tours  you  guess  this  article  at 
five  millions.  Do  you  abide  by  that  guess  ?  I  think 
the  number  must  have  increased  since  then  con- 
siderably ;  that  was,  I  believe,  about  twenty  years  ago. 
London  and  the  environs  must  since  then  have  in- 
creased, I  should  think,  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  million. 
How  many  years'  purchase  would  you  reckon  houses 
at,  upon  an  average,  old  and  yoimg  together '?  Shall 
we  say  sixteen  ?  I  should  think,  at  the  outside. 
'  I  am,  dear  Sir, 

*  Your  much  obliged, 

'Jeremy  Bentham. 

•  A.  Young,  Esq.' 

The  two  following  letters  are  from  Mrs.  Hoole, 
Dr.  Burney's  favourite.  Miss  Bessy,  to  her  father  : — 

To  Arthur  Yoimg,  Esq. 

'  Sidmouth  :  Feb.  22,  1794. 
'  Dear  Sir, — AVe  came  hither  from  Lynn  near  three 
weeks  since,  as  Mr.  Hoole  informed  you.  We  are  in 
very  warm  and  comfortable  lodgings,  and  the  woman 
of  the  house  is  very  attentive  and  obliging.  The  air 
of  this  place  is  very  mild  and  very  moist,  but  they  tell 

'  Prefer,  to  set  forth,  propose. —  Webster. 


THE   SECRETAKYSHIP  251 

US  the  healthiest  of  any  upon  the  coast.  Mr.  Hoole 
has  been  on  to  Exmouth,  which,  upon  the  whole,  he 
does  not  like  so  well.  We  do  not  find  that  Devonshire 
is  cheaper  the  further  you  go,  but  the  contrary,  at  least 
on  the  coast. 

*  With  regard  to  myself,  I  do  not  find  I  am  any 
better  for  this  journey,  indeed  I  have  had  more  fever 
and  cough  since  I  came  here  than  ever  I  had.  I  am  at 
present  better,  but  I  know  that  is  owing  to  a  very  strict 
regimen  which  I  have  lately  taken  to.  The  weather 
has  been  very  unfavourable,  for  though  it  has  not  been 
cold  we  have  had  almost  constantly  either  rain  or  wind. 
We  have  been  absent  from  home  near  nine  weeks,  and 
Mr.  H.  must  very  soon  return  to  his  curacy ;  he  will 
either  take  me  with  him  or  leave  me  here,  and  we  wish 
very  much  to  know  what  you  advise,  considering  all 
circumstances. 

'  This  place  is  certainly  warmer  than  Surrey,  but  we 
have  heard  here,  as  at  Lynn,  that  it  sometimes  proves 
unfavourable  in  consumptive  cases.  I  do  not  think 
Abinger  at  all  in  fault ;  I  have  been  well  or  better  there 
than  anywhere.  But  I  am  not  unwilling  to  be  left  here, 
if  it  should  still  be  thought  advisable.  Will  you  have 
the  goodness  to  write  as  soon  as  you  can,  as  we  shall 
not  determine  till  we  hear?  Mr.  Hoole  has  had  but 
one  letter  from  you  about  a  month  ago.  This  I  mention 
lest  you  should  have  sent  any  which  may  have  mis- 
carried. 

'  Believe  me,  dear  Sir, 

'  Your  affectionate  Daughter, 

'  Elizabeth  Hoole, 


252  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   ARTHUR   YOUNG 

'  Perhaps  you  may  like  to  know  something  of  the 
price  of  provisions  :  Meat  ^d.  per  lb.  ;  poultry  is 
reasonable  ;  chickens  from  2s.  to  2s.  Gd.  a  couple  ;  milk 
2d.  a  quart ;  butter  lOd.  per  lb.' 

Postscript  from  Mr.  Hoole 

'  I  fear  this  jom-ney  will  be  of  no  avail.     I  do  not 

think  our  dear  Bessy  is  in  any  immediate  danger,  but 

I  much  fear  this  cruel  disease  is  gradually  preying  on 

her  strength. 

'  S.  H.' 

'  Sidmouth  :  March  18,  1794. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — I  was  very  sorry  to  find  from  your 
letter  that  what  I  had  written  had  made  you  uneasy ; 
1  am  certain  you  think  me  worse  than  I  am  ;  indeed  it 
is  very  foolish  to  write  my  symptoms  to  my  friends,  as 
they  give  way  perhaps,  or  some  of  them,  in  a  short  time, 
as  is  my  case.  I  am  now  quite  free  from  pain,  and  can 
sleep  on  one  side  as  well  as  the  other  ;  I  think  the  last 
blister  was  of  use.  I  have  been  twice  in  the  warm  bath 
since  Mr.  Hoole  went.    My  cough  must  have  its  course. 

'  I  had  a  very  kind  letter  from  Agnes  yesterday  ; 
she  offers,  if  she  can  get  permission,  to  come  and  stay 
with  me  until  Mr.  Hoole  returns,  and  adds,  if  she 
cannot,  Mrs.  Forbes  says  she  is  at  liberty,  and  would 
willingly  come  ;  but  I  would  not  bring  them  down  upon 
any  account,  as  I  am  more  comfortably  settled  than 
anybody  would  suppose,  and  I  am  sure  Mr.  Hoole  will 
be  back  in  a  short  time. 

'  Sidmouth  is  certainly  very  mild  ;  we  have  had  no 


THE   SECEETAEYSHIP  253 

cold  winds,  but  this  clear  weather  suits  me  better  than 
that  warm  moist  weather  we  had  in  February.  But 
I  cannot  walk  by  the  seaside  ;  there  is  always  wind, 
and  it  seems  colder  than  anywhere  else. 

'  I  would  not  blame  Mrs.  F.  in  the  least ;  I  might 
have  been  the  same  or  worse  anywhere  ;  if  anything  in 
the  air  disagreed  with  me,  it  was  the  moisture.  We 
have  no  post  from  hence,  either  Monday  or  Tuesday. 
I  wrote  to  Mr.  Hoole  last  Sunday,  or  would  have 
answered  yours  sooner.  The  quickness,  or  rather 
rapidity,  with  which  our  letters  arrive  from  town, 
seems  surprising — a  letter  put  in  one  night  we  have  the 
next.  It  is  not  the  custom  indeed  to  deliver  them  at 
night,  as  the  post  comes  in  so  late  as  nine,  but  if  you 
send  they  will  give  you  them.  At  Lynn,  which  is  about 
the  same  distance  from  town,  they  deliver  them  at  six 
in  the  evening,  but  we  have  here  a  cross-post  to  send 
for  them  nine  miles. 

*  I  beg  you  will  not  think  me  worse  than  I  am,  and 

believe  me, 

'  Your  affectionate  Daughter, 

'  Elizabeth  Hoole.' 
From  J.  Symonds,  Esq. 

'  Cambridge  :  March  27,  1795. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — I  am  to  thank  you  for  two  letters, 
which  should  not  have  lain  unanswered  if  a  retirement 
like  mine  would  have  furnished  me  with  any  materials. 
However,  I  must  take  notice  of  your  way  of  arguing. 
You  say  "  the  people  in  France  are  starved,  and 
assignats  are  destroyed,"  with  significant  dashes.    You 


254  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

told  me  just  the  same  in  1793  and  1794,  and  venture  it 
once  more.  Assuredly  you  seem  to  reason  like  the  old 
wizard  Tiresias  in  Horace,  "  Quicquid  dicam  aut  erit 
aut  non."  Whether  your  predictions  be  verified  or  not, 
you  assume,  like  Tiresias,  to  speak  the  truth. 

'  I  always  thought  with  you,  that  Mr.  Pitt  would 
receive  no  real  benefit  from  his  new  friends  ;  but  I  have 
heard  the  Duke  of  Grafton  say  that  he  would  not  have 
entered  on  the  war  if  he  had  not  been  able  to  detach 
some  from  the  Opposition.  If  this  be  so,  there  is  great 
reason  to  lament  that  he  could  detach  them. 

'  We  have  received  here  the  Bishop  of  Llandaff's 
speech  on  the  Duke  of  Bedford's  motion,  published  by 
Debrett.  It  amazed  me  to  find  that  the  Bishop  of  Durham 
ventured  to  speak  after  him.  A  gentleman  who  heard 
them  both  says  that  Watson's  was  rich,  clouted  cream, 
and  Barrington's  thin,  meagre,  blue  skim  milk,  frothed 
up  with  an  egg,  but  with  so  weak  a  froth  that  it  rose 
only  to  fall  instantly.  We  are  told  that  after  ^schines 
was  banished,  in  consequence  of  Demosthenes'  speech  de 
corona,  one  of  ^schines'  friends  carried  to  him  in  his 
banishment  a  copy  of  Demosthenes'  speech  ;  on  wiiich 
the  former  said,  "  But  what  if  you  had  heard  it  ?  " 

'  Two  fellows  of  this  college,  who  heard  Watson, 
bear  the  same  ample  testimony  to  the  excellent  manner 
in  which  he  delivered  it. 

'  You  tell  me  "  that  our  situation  is  prosperous 
beyond  all  example  ;  "  I  should  think  so  too  if  it  were 
unnecessary  to  multiply  loans.  The  complaints  of  the 
dearness  of  the  necessaries  of  life  seem  to  pervade  the 
whole  island,  and  I  fear  they  must  still  be  dearer.     If 


THE   SECEETAKYSHIP  255 

we  be  forced  to  persist  in  this  war  (and  how  are  we  to 
get  out  of  it,  it  is  difficult  to  see)  the  middle  class  of  the 
people,  of  which  you  and  I  form  a  part,  must  be  driven 
down  to  the  lower.  They  hold  it  is  a  principle  not  to  tax 
the  lower,  but  to  tax  luxuries,  so  that  the  middle  class 
will  be  forced  to  abandon  everything  but  necessaries, 
and  then  the  upper  class  must  pay  all.  This,  to  use 
your  words,  "  must  render  us  prosperous  beyond  all 
example."  I  rather  accede  to  Charles  Coles'  declaration 
in  his  last  letter  to  me  :  "  Alas  !  our  glory  is  gone  to 
decay."  A  day  or  two  ago  I  was  looking  into  the 
famous  pamphlet  of  my  old  friend,  Israel  Mauduit,'  on 
the  German  war,  in  which  I  stumbled  on  the  following 
sentence,  very  applicable  to  our  entering  into  this  just 
war  to  save  the  Dutch  :  "  Is  Britain  to  make  itself  the 
general  knight  errant  of  Europe,  to  rescue  oppressed 
States,  and  exhaust  itself  in  order  to  save  men  in  spite 
of  themselves,  who  will  not  do  anything  towards  their 
own  deliverance  ?  "     Adieu  ! 

'  Yours  sincerely, 

'  J.  Symonds.' 

1796. — In  the  spring  of  this  year  I  waited  on 
Mr.  Pitt,  by  his  appointment,  in  order  to  answer  some 
enquiries  of  his  relative  to  the  propriety  of  any  regula- 
tions by  Parliament  of  the  price  of  labour. 

I  answered  all  his  enquiries,  and  could  not  but 
admire  the  wonderful  quickness  of  his  apprehension  of 

'  Israel  Mauduit,  son  of  a  Dissenting  minister ;  at  first  the  same, 
afterwards  merchant ;  published  Considei'ations  on  the  German  War, 
17C0,  Ac.  &c.     See  Chalmers'  Biog.  Diet. 


256  AUTOBIOGKAPHY   OF  AETHUR   YOUNG 

all  those  collateral  difficulties  which  I  started,  and  of 
which  he  seemed  in  a  moment  to  comprehend  the  full 
extent.     I  found  him  hostile  to  the  idea. 

March. — Among  various  dinners  [was]  at  Mr. 
Burke's  and  at  Mrs.  Barrington's '  parties.  In  May 
dinners  at  Duke  of  Bedford's,  Duke  of  Buccleugh's, 
and  Mr.  Jenkinson  and  Lady  Louisa's  ;  her  manner  is 
not  the  most  agreeable,  [but]  she  has  ease  and  elegance. 
I  have  long  known  her  at  Ickworth. 

May  1. — For  some  time  past  the  following  ad- 
vertisement has  appeared  in  many  of  the  London 
papers  :  '  Speedily  will  be  published  a  letter  from  the 
Eight  Hon.  Edmund  Burke  to  Arthur  Young,  Esq., 
Secretary  to  the  Board  of  Agriculture,  on  some  projects 
talked  of  in  Parliament,  for  regulating  the  price  of 
labour.'  The  appearance  of  this  advertisement  induced 
Sir  John  Sinclair  to  write  to  Mr.  Burke  to  propose 
to  him  that  he  should  undertake  to  draw  up  for 
the  Board  the  chapter  of  a  general  Report  which 
was  intended  to  treat  on  the  subject  of  labour  and 
provisions. 

The  question  in  the  House  of  Commons  was 
decided  before  the  publication  could  appear,  and  it 
was  supposed  that  Mr.  Burke  had,  in  consequence, 
abandoned  the  intention  of  publishing  his  ideas.  But 
Sir  John,  not  having  received  any  answer,  or,  at  least, 
any  that  was  satisfactory  to  him,  requested  me  to 
take  his  chariot  and  go  to  Gregory's,  in  order  that  I 
might  discover  whether  that  celebrated  character  con- 
tinued his  intention  of  throwing  his  thoughts  upon 
paper. 


THE   SECRETAKYSHIP  257 

I  reached  Mr.  Burke's  before  breakfast,  and  had 
every  reason  to  be  pleased  with  my  reception. 

'  Why,  Mr.  Young,  it  is  many  years  since  I  saw 
you,  and,  to  the  best  of  my  recollection,  you  have  not 
suffered  the  smallest  change ;  you  look  as  young  as 
you  did  sixteen  years  ago.  You  must  be  very  strong  ; 
you  have  no  belly ;  your  form  shows  lightness  ;  you 
have  an  elastic  mind.' 

I  wished  to  myself  that  I  could  have  returned 
anything  like  the  compliment,  but  I  was  shocked  to 
see  him  so  broken,  so  low,  and  with  such  expressions 
of  melancholy.  I  almost  thought  that  I  was  come  to 
see  the  greatest  genius  of  the  age  in  ruin. 

And  I  had  every  reason  to  think,  from  all  that  passed 
on  this  visit,  that  the  powers  of  his  mind  had  suffered 
considerably. 

He  introduced  me  to  his  brother,  Mr.  W.  Burke, 
to  Mrs.  B.,  and  to  the  Count  de  la  Tour  du  Pin,  an 
emigrant  philosopher  and  naturalist. 

After  breakfast  he  took  me  a  sauntering  walk  for 
five  hours  over  his  farm,  and  to  a  cottage  where  a  scrap 
of  land  had  been  stolen  from  the  waste.  I  was  glad 
to  find  his  farm  in  good  order,  and  doubly  so  to  hear 
him  remark  that  it  was  his  only  amusement,  except 
the  attention  which  he  paid  to  a  school  in  the  vicinity 
for  sixty  children  of  noble  emigrants.  His  conversa- 
tion was  remarkably  desultory,  a  broken  mixture  of 
agricultural  observations,  French  madness,  price  of 
provisions,  the  death  of  his  son,  the  absurdity  of 
regulating  labour,  the  mischief  of  our  Poor-laws,  and 
the   difficulty  of   cottagers   keeping  cows.     An   argu- 

s 


258  AUTOBIOGKAPHY   OF   ARTHUE   YOUNG 

mentative  discussion  of  any  opinion  seemed  to  distress 
him,  and  I,  therefore,  avoided  it.  And  his  discourse 
was  so  scattered  and  interrupted  by  varying  ideas,  that 
I  could  bring  away  but  few  of  his  remarks  that  were 
clearly  defined. 

Speaking  on  public  affairs  he  said  that  he  never 
looked  at  a  newspaper ;  '  but  if  anything  happens  to 
occur  which  they  think  will  please  me,  I  am  told  of  it.' 
I  observed  there  was  strength  of  mind  in  this  resolution. 
'  Oh,  no  ! '  he  replied,  '  it  is  mere  weakness  of  mind.' 
It  appeared  evident  that  he  would  not  publish  upon  the 
subject  which  brought  me  to  Gregory's ;  but  he  declared 
himself  to  be  absolutely  inimical  to  any  regulation  what- 
ever by  law  ;  that  all  such  interference  was  not  only 
unnecessary  but  would  be  mischievous.  He  observed 
that  the  supposed  scarcity  was  extremely  ill  understood, 
and  that  the  consumption  of  the  people  was  a  clear 
proof  of  it ;  this,  in  his  neighbourhood,  was  not  lessened 
in  the  material  articles  of  bread,  meat,  and  beer,  which 
he  learnt  by  a  very  careful  examination  of  many  bakers, 
butchers,  and  excisemen ;  nor  had  the  poor  been  dis- 
tressed further  than  what  resulted  immediately  from 
that  improvidence  which  was  occasioned  by  the  Poor- 
laws. 

Mr.  Burke  had  not  read  Lord  Sheffield's  Memoirs 
of  Gibbon.  On  my  observing  that  Mr.  Gibbon  de- 
clares himself  of  the  same  opinion  with  him  on  the 
French  Kevolution,  he  said  that  Gibbon  was  an  old 
friend  of  his,  and  he  knew  well  that  before  he  (Mr.  G.) 
died,  that  he  heartily  repented  of  the  anti-religious 
part  of  his  work  for  contributing  to  free  mankind  from 


THE   SECRETAKYSHIP  259 

all  restraint  on  their  vices  and  profligacy,  and  thereby 
aiding  so  much  the  spirit  which  produced  the  horrors 
that  blackened  the  most  detestable  of  all  revolutions. 

Upon  my  mentioning  Monsieur  de  Mounier  and 
Lally  Tollendal,  he  exclaimed,  '  I  wish  tlieij  were  both 
hanged  ! ' 

He  seemed  to  bear  hard  upon  the  Duke  de 
Liancourt,  and  to  allude  indistinctly  to  some  report 
of  my  having  opened  an  hospitable  door  to  that  noble- 
man, and  having  received  a  bad  return.  I  defended  the 
duke,  and  had  not  the  conversation  been  interrupted  I 
should  have  discovered  what  he  meant  by  the  remark. 
The  same  observation  has  met  my  ear  on  other  occa- 
sions, but  was  never  explained. 

Mrs.  Crewe  arrived  just  before  dinner,  and  though 
she  exerted  herself  with  that  brilliancy  of  imagination 
which  renders  her  conversation  so  interesting,  it  was 
not  sufficient  to  raise  the  drooping  spirits  of  Mr. 
Burke ;  it  hurt  me  to  see  the  languid  manner  in  which 
he  lounged  rather  than  sat  at  table,  his  dress  entirely 
neglected,  and  his  manner  quite  dejected ;  yet  he 
tried  once  or  twice  to  rally,  and  once  even  to  pun. 
Mrs.  Crewe,  observing  that  Thelwel  was  to  stand  for 
Norwich,  said  it  would  be  horrid  for  Mr.  Wyndham 
to  be  turned  out  by  such  a  man.  '  Aye,'  he  replied, 
*  that  would  not  tell  ivell.' 

She  laughed  at  him  in  the  style  of  condemning  a 
bad  pun.  Somebody  said  it  was  a  fair  one,  he  said 
it  was  neither  very  had  nor  good. 

He  gave  more  attention  to  her  account  of  Charles 
Fox  than  to  any  other  part  of  her  conversation.     She 

s  2 


260      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

spoke  slightingly  of  him,  and  gave  us  some  account  of 
his  life  at  Mrs.  Armstead's.  She  says  he  lives  very  little 
in  the  world,  or  in  any  general  society,  for  years  past ; 
that  his  pleasure  is  to  be  at  the  head  of  a  little  society 
of  ten  or  twelve  toad  eaters,  and  seems  to  contract  his 
mind  to  such  a  situation. 

The  conversation  would  have  become  more  interest- 
ing had  not  Mrs.  Crewe  been  so  full  of  a  plan  for 
Ladies'  Subscriptions  for  the  Emigrants,  and  consulting 
him  so  much  on  the  means  of  securing  the  money  from 
the  fangs  of  the  Bishop  of  St.  Pol  de  Leon,  whose 
part,  however,  Mr.  Burke  took  steadily.  This  business 
was  so  discussed  as  to  preclude  much  other  conversa- 
tion. Mr.  Burke  has  been  at  Gregory's  twenty-nine 
years  ;  and  I  was  pleased  to  remark  that  he  lived  on 
the  same  moderate  plan  of  life  which  I  witnessed  here 
five-and-twenty  years  ago. 

Me7n.  '  To  search  for  that  visit.'  ' 

M}^  visit  on  the  whole  was  interesting.  I  am  glad 
once  more  to  have  seen  and  conversed  with  the  man 
who  I  hold  to  possess  the  greatest  and  most  brilliant 
parts  of  any  person  of  the  age  in  which  he  lived.  Whose 
conversation  has  often  fascinated  me ;  whose  eloquence 
has  charmed ;  whose  writings  have  delighted  and  in- 
structed the  world ;  and  whose  name  will  without 
question  descend  to  the  latest  posterity.  But  to  behold 
so  great  a  genius  so  depressed  with  melancholy,  stooping 
with  infirmity  of  body,  feeling  the  anguish  of  a  lacerated 
mind,  and  sinking  to  the  grave  under  accumulated 
misery ;  to  see  all  this  in  a  character  I  venerate,  and 

'  No  note  is  to  be  found  among  papers  concerning  this  visit. 


THE   SECEETAEYSHIP  263 

apparently  without  resource  or  comfort,  wounded  every 
feeling  of  my  soul,  and  I  left  him  the  next  day  almost 
as  low-spirited  as  himself. 

In  May  the  Duke  of  Buccleugh  carried  me  to  see 
Mr.  Secretary  Dundas's  farm  at  Wimbledon,  where  I 
was  to  give  my  opinion  of  the  mode  of  draining  it.  I 
found  his  people  throwing  money  away  like  fools.  They 
know  nothing  of  the  matter.  This  duke  is  another 
determined  farmer,  and  seems  to  like  conversing  on  no 
other  subject. 

This  year  I  midertook  a  journey  through  the  western 
counties,  through  Devon  into  Cornwall,  returning  by 
Somersetshire,  and  published  the  register  of  it  in  the 
'  Annals  of  Agriculture.'  I  happened  to  be  at  Exeter 
at  the  time  of  the  quarter  sessions,  and  dined  with 
thirty  magistrates,  Mr.  Leigh,  clerk  of  the  House  of 
Commons,  being  chairman.  I  did  not  know  him  per- 
sonally, and  joined  more  warmly  in  a  conversation 
on  the  Enclosure  Bill,'  than  I  should  have  done  had 
I  known  that  I  was  speaking  to  a  person  so  much 
interested  against  it.  Mr.  Leigh  was  very  decided  in 
his  opposition  to  the  measure,  asserting  that  there  was 
no  protection  for  property  in  any  other  mode  of  pro- 
ceeding, which  had  been  so  long  the  established  custom. 
I    very    eagerly    refuted    this    observation    till    some 

'  Enclosure  Bill.  '  At  the  Revolution  of  1688  more  than  half  the 
kingdom  was  believed  to  consist  of  moorland,  forest,  and  fen,  and  vast 
commons  and  wastes  covered  the  greater  part  of  England  north  of  the 
Humber.  But  the  numerous  Enclosure  Bills  which  began  with  the 
reign  of  George  II.,  and  especially  marked  that  of  his  successor, 
changed  the  whole  face  of  the  country.  Ten  thousand  square  miles 
of  untilled  land  have  been  [?  had  been]  added,  under  their  operation,  to 
the  area  of  cultivation.' — Green's  History  of  the  English  People. 


262      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUK  YOUXG 

gentleman  present  spoke  to  Mr.  Leigh,  alluding  to  his 
official  character.  This  was  one  proof  of  what  I  had 
often  heard,  that  the  officers  of  the  two  Houses  of 
Parliament  were  of  all  others  the  most  determined 
opposers  of  that  measure.  The  reason  is  obvious ; 
they  have  very  considerable  fees  on  the  passing  of 
every  private  Act/  and  the  clerks  of  the  House  have  a 
further  benefit  which  might  not  be  compensated  in  any 
equivalent  that  might  be  given  them ;  because  they 
solicit  many  of  the  bills.  Still,  as  there  is  so  plain  a 
precedent  which  has  existed  for  many  years  in  the  case 
of  the  Speaker  of  the  House,  who  has  6,000/.  per  annum 
instead  of  all  fees,  it  seems  no  difficult  matter  to  give 
an  equal  equivalent  to  the  clerks  for  all  their  profits, 
including  what  they  might  make  as  solicitors. 

'  Abolished  (saving  the  rights  of  the  then  holders  of  office)  in  1812. 
52  Geo.  III.  c.  xi. 


263 


CHAPTEK   XII 

ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF   BOBBIN,    1797 

Illness  of  Bobbin — Letters  of  Bobbin  and  her  father's  replies — Dress 
minutes  at  the  opera — Hoping  against  hope — Bobbin's  death — 
Seeking  for  consolation — Retrospection — Beginning  of  diary — Corre- 
spondence. 

This  year,  so  fatal  to  every  worldly  hope,  which  over- 
turned every  prospect  I  had  in  life,  and  changed 
me  almost  as  much  as  a  new  creation,  opened  in  the 
common  manner  by  my  going  to  London  to  attend  the 
meeting  of  the  Board  [of  Agriculture].  I  brought  my 
dear  angelic  child  ^  with  me,  who  went  to  school  in 
January,  in  good  health  but  never  in  good  spirits,  for 
she  abhorred  school.  Oh !  what  infatuation  ever  to 
send  her  to  one.  In  the  country  she  had  health,  spirits, 
and  strength,  as  if  there  were  not  enough  with  what 
she  might  have  learned  at  home,  instead  of  going  to 
that  region  of  constraint  and  death,  Camden  House. 

The  rules  for  health  are  detestable,  no  air  but  in  a 
measured,  formal  walk,  and  all  running  and  quick 
motion  prohibited.  Preposterous  !  She  slept  with  a 
girl  who  could  hear  only  with  one  ear,  and  so  ever  laid 
on  one  side  ;  and  my  dear  child  could  do  no  otherwise 

'  Now  fourteen  years  old. 


264  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF   .IHTHUR   YOUNG 

afterwards  without  pain  ;  because  the  vile  beds  are  so 
small  that  they  must  both  lie  the  same  way.  The  school 
discipline  of  all  sorts,  the  food,  &c.  &c.,  all  contributed. 
She  never  had  a  bellyful  at  breakfast.  Detestable  this 
at  the  expense  of  80/.  a  year.  Oh  !  how  I  regret  ever 
putting  her  there,  or  to  any  other,  for  they  are  all 
theatres  of  knavery,  ilHberahty,  and  infamy.  ^  Upon  her 
being  ill  in  March  I  took  her  to  my  lodgings  in  Jermyn 
Street,  where  Dr.  Turton  attended  her  till  April  12, 
when  I  carried  her  to  Bradfield.  He  certainly  mis- 
took her  case  entirely,  not  believing  in  a  consumption, 
and  by  physic  brought  her  so  low  that  she  declined 
hourly ;  he  stuffed  her  with  medicine  at  a  time  when 
sending  her  at  once  to  Bristol  or  even  to  Bradfield 
she  went  little  more  than  skin  and  bone,  with  pre- 
scriptions for  more  physicking  under  a  stupid  fellow 
at  Bury,  who  purged  her  till  she  was  a  spectre.  On 
June  13  she  went  to  Smiths'  (Bradfield  neighbours),  and 
there  complained  '  that  such  a  young  girl  as  I  who 
came  for  air  and  exercise  should  be  thus  crammed 
with  physic'  Poor  thing !  her  instinct  told  her  it  was 
wrong,  but  she  submitted. 

From  Bobbin  to  her  Father 

'  My  dear  Papa, — I  received  your  letter  this  morning. 
Thank  you  for  it.     My  strength  is  much  the  same  as 

•  This  passage  has  been  crossed  out  with  a  pencil,  but  is  given  as 
showing  the  regime  of  young  ladies'  schools  a  hundred  years  ago.  In 
another  note  occurs  the  sentence,  '  Brought  my  dear  little  girl  from 
Camden  House  to  London.'  Presumably  Camden  Town  is  meant,  at 
that  time  being  less  than  suburban. 


^ 


BOBBIN  '      (MARTHA     YOUNG). 
From  a  vilulaturc  hy  Plynier. 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF  BOBBIN  265 

when  I  saw  you  ;  my  appetite  is  getting  better  a  good 
deal.  Mr.  Smith  saw  me  yesterday,  and  said  it  was  a 
rmining  pulse,  but  that  he  thought  me  better.  I  think 
if  anything  I  am  better  than  when  I  saw  you.  Thank 
you  for  the  wine,  which  I  have  not  yet  received,  but 
suppose  it  is  at  Bury.  As  for  the  bad  news,  I  am  tired 
of  it.  I  want,  and  should  very  much  like,  a  nice 
writing-box  to  hold  pens,  ink,  paper,  all  my  letters,  &c., 
in  short  everything  exact ;  this  is  just  the  thing  for  a 
birthday  present.  As  for  sweet  things,  I  do  not  wish 
for  them  particularly ;  any  little  thing  that  you  think 
wholesome  I  should  be  glad  of.  The  weather  [is]  as 
yet  so  bad  that  I  cannot  stir  out.  Eemember  me  to 
the  party,  and  thank  Mr.  Kedington  for  waking  me  at 
six  o'clock  on  the  Monday  morning. 

'  Believe  me,  dear  Papa, 

'  Your  dutiful  Daughter, 

'M.  Young.' 

His  Reply 

'  My  dear  Bobbin, — I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for 
the  description  you  gave  me  of  your  health,  but  I  beg 
you  will  repeat  it  directly,  and  do  not  forget  appetite, 
pulse,  sleep,  pains,  swelled  legs,  fever,  exercise  on  change 
of  weather,  thirst,  &c.,  for  I  am  extremely  anxious  to 
know  how  you  go  on.  I  have  looked  at  a  great  many 
writing-boxes,  but  find  none  yet  under  11.  5s.  and 
11.  lis.  6d.,  but  I  hear  there  are  good  ones  to  be  had 
at  15s.  The  moment  I  can  find  one  I  will  buy  and 
send  it  packed  full  of  seals,  or  something  else. 

'  Politics  are  melancholy,  for  the  fleet  is  satisfied. 


266      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

the  army  is  not,  and  the  same  spirit  [there]  would  be 
dreadful.  To-day,  it  is  said,  the  Duke  of  York  has 
declared  the  intention  of  raising  the  pay  of  Infantry, 
which  is  wise,  but  it  may  not  be  done  to  satisfy  them, 
and  in  a  moment  they  might  be  masters  of  the  Tower, 
Bank,  Parliament,  &c. ;  however,  let  us  hope  that 
measures  will  be  taken  to  prepare  for  the  worst.  The 
French  will  make  no  peace  with  us,  but  bring  all  their 
force  to  the  coast  and  ruin  us,  if  they  can,  by  invasion 
expense. 

'  I  cannot  read  half  your  mother's  letter ;  but  enough 
to  see  that  she  is  very  angry,  for  I  know  not  what.     I 
am  not  paid,  and  have  nothing  to  send. 
'  Dear  Bobbin, 

'  Yours  affectionately, 

'A.  Y.' 

Bobbin  to  her  Father 

'  My  dear  Papa, — I  received  your  letter  this  morning, 
for  which  I  thank  you.  My  appetite  is  a  great  deal 
better,  pulse  rather  too  quick,  sleep  very  well,  no  pains, 
no  swelled  legs,  no  fever.  We  have  had  Sunday,  Mon- 
day, and  yesterday  fine,  and  only  those  since  you  went. 
I  walked  in  the  Stone  Walk.  Pray  send  my  writing- 
box  as  soon  as  you  can,  and,  as  you  see  by  this,  I 
want  writing  paper  to  write  to  you  and  Griffiths ;  I 
hope  you  will  put  some  into  it.  I  think  one  under  a 
guinea  will  not  be  of  any  use  to  me.  I  saw  Mr.  and 
Mrs.   0.   Oakes  '  in  Bury  yesterday,  they  have  made 

'  The  county  belle,  Betsey  Plampin,  married  some  years  before  to 
Mr.  Orbell  Oakes. 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF   BOBBIN  267 

but  a  short  stay  in  town.  I  am  much  obHged  to  you 
for  the  wine  and  porter,  which  I  have  received  safe. 
Remember  me  to  the  party,  write  soon,  and  beheve 
me,  dear  papa, 

'  Your  dutiful  Daughter, 

'M.  Young. 

'  N.B. — By  the  time  Mr.  Kedington  comes  his 
strawberries  will  be  ripe ;  ask  him  if  he  would  give  me 
a  few  if  I  send  for  them.  Pray  remember  a  patent 
lock,  so  it  will  be  a  guinea  besides  that.' 

Beply 

'  I  was  very  glad  to  receive  my  dear  Bobbin's  letter, 
for  it  gives  the  best  account  I  have  yet  received  of 
your  health.  As  you  wish  a  guinea  box  you  shall 
have  one,  though  I  can  very  ill  afford  it  at  present.  As 
to  your  mother's  ideas  of  my  being  paid,  nothing  can 
be  said  to  it,  if  she  knows  better  than  I  do.  Her 
intelligence  that  I  have  sold  the  Exchequer  annuity 
is  like  all  the  rest ;  if  it  is  of  longer  duration  than  I 
supposed,  so  much  the  better  for  those  who  have  bought 
it  of  me,  and  the  worse  for  me. 

'  Lady  Hawkesbury,  Lady  Hervey  and  Lady  Erne  ' 
have  given  the  Macklins  and  me  some  opera  tickets 
several  times — last  night  for  the  benefit  of  the  sailors' 
widows  and  orphans,  under  Lord  Jarvis ;  but  sailors 
are  not  in  fashion ;  the  pit  was  not  more  than  two- 

'  Lady  Mary  Hervey,  the  beautiful  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Bristol, 
Bishop  of  Derry.  Her  portrait,  by  Gainsborough,  was  on  show  at 
Agnew'8  in  1896. 


268      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNQ 

thirds  full.  They  go  out  of  town  on  Sunday  or  Monday. 
The  weather  has  been  very  hot.  Yesterday  I  could 
scarcely  get  from  the  Board  home,  for  coaches  and 
crowds  along  all  the  streets  near  St.  James's,  &c. 
The  King  is  low-spirited  at  the  thought  of  parting 
from  his  daughter.  The  Duchy  of  Wurtemburg 
is  in  the  very  jaws  of  France,  and  the  prospect  not 
favourable.  Every  person  that  comes  from  France 
asserts  the  same,  that  their  whole  force  will  be  brought 
against  this  country.  I  have  been  sent  for,  and  had 
an  interview  with  a  cabinet  minister  on  arming  the 
landed  interest ;  but  I  fear  nothing  will  be  done 
effectually,  though  they  seemed  determined  that  some- 
thing shall.  Don't  mention  this  out  of  the  family. 
I  will  put  paper  in  your  box,  changing  the  lock  will 
take  some  time,  but  you  shall  have  it,  I  hope,  on 
Monday.  Continue  to  write  me.  Tell  your  M.  [mother] 
I  have  no  money ;  therefore,  why  worry  me  ?  She 
might  as  well  ask  blood  from  a  post. 
'  Dear  Bobbin, 

'  Yours  affectionately, 
'A.  Y.' 

From  Bobbin  to  her  Father 

'  My  dear  Papa, — I  received  your  letter  this  morn- 
ing and  am  extremely  obliged  to  you  for  your  attention 
about  the  writing-box,  but  if  it  be  not  purchased,  I 
have  seen  one  at  Backham's  which  suits  me  exactly  in 
every  respect,  therefore,  if  you  will  send  a  patent  lock, 
I  can  have  it  put  on.  The  price  of  Backham's  is  a 
guinea,  but  if  you  have  bought  it  I  shall  like  it  as  well. 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF   BOBBIN  269 

My  chief  complaints  are  weakness,  and  a  very  bad 
cough,  nothing  else  that  I  mind.  I  dare  say  you 
were  entertained  at  the  opera. 

'  I  have  just  got  six  of  the  most  beautiful  little 
rabbits  you  ever  saw,  they  skip  about  so  prettily, 
you  can't  think,  and  I  shall  have  some  more  in  a  few 
weeks.  Having  had  so  much  physic  I  am  right  down 
tired  of  it.  I  take  it  still  twice  a  day  ;  my  appetite  is 
better.  What  can  you  mind  politics  so  for?  I  don't 
think  about  them.  Well,  good  bye,  and  believe  me, 
dear  papa, 

'  Your  dutiful  Daughter, 

'  M.  Young. 

'  Saturday.' 

His  Reply 

'  Monday. 

'  My  dear  Bobbin, — I  received  your  letter  this 
morning,  and  am  sorry  it  did  not  come  in  time  to  stop 
my  buying  this  box,  which  is  twenty-five  shillings 
besides  carriage  ;  but  I  hope  you  will  like  it ;  the  lock 
is  good  and  not  common.  I  cannot  afford  a  patent  one, 
which  is  fifteen  shillings  alone. 

'  I  am  sorry  to  hear  you  have  a  bad  cough  and  are 
weak.  God  send  this  fine  weather  may  make  you  well 
soon.  Continue  to  let  me  know  how  you  do,  particularly 
your  cough.  You  do  not  say  if  you  are  upon  the  whole 
better,  nor  whether  you  have  got  on  horseback  yet, 
which  I  must  have  you  do,  at  all  events,  or  you  will 
not  get  well  at  all.  Be  more  particular — what  physic 
do  you  take  ? 

*  You    are    right   not    to    trouble    yourself    about 


270      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

politics.     Mr.    and   Mrs.    M.  went   out  of   town   this 
morning. 

'  The  Directory  of  France  has  ordered  all  my  works 
on  Agriculture  to  be  translated  in  twenty  volumes,  and 
their  friends  here  would  guillotine  the  author.  The 
"  Travels  "  sell  greatly  there  in  French,  the  third  edition 

coming. 

'  Adieu. 

'  Yours  affectionately. 

'  I  have  just  time  to  send  this  [writing-box].  I 
intended  it  by  coach,  but  as  I  am  sure  the  seals  would 
be  ground  all  to  powder,  I  think  it  best  by  waggon, 
which  will  explain  the  reason  of  j^our  not  having  it  so 
soon  as  I  hoped  and  promised,  and  I  think  you  would 
be  vexed  to  have  your  collection  spoiled.  It  goes  by 
Bury  waggon.    Your  pincushion  box  won't  come  in  it.' 

Note  from  A.  Y.  to  Bonnet  {Farm  Bailiff) 

'  Miss  Patty  is  to  ride  out  in  the  chaise  or  whisky, 
or  on  double  horse,  whenever  Bonnet  is  not  obliged  to 
be  absent  from  the  farm.  If  he  is  at  market  when  the 
days  are  long  and  Miss  Patty  rises  early,  she  can  have 
a  ride  before  breakfast. 

'  Bonnet  to  pay  Miss  Patty  a  shilling  a  week.' 

To  Bobbin  from  her  Father 

'  My  dear  Bobbin, — I  know  your  understanding,  and 
therefore  shall  not  write  to  you,  young  as  you  are,  as  a 
child.     Mrs.  Oakes  writes  me  from  Smith  that  Dr.  T. 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF   BOBBIN  271 

ordered  you  physic  which  you  have  not  taken,  at  the 
same  time  that  he  does  not  at  all  like  your  case.  Now 
this  is  a  very  serious  business  for  your  health,  and 
consequently  it  makes  me  very  uneasy.  You  are 
extremely  weak  by  your  own  account,  and  steel  is  to 
strengthen.  I  gave  it  with  my  own  hand  to  my  father 
for  a  year,  and  with  great  effect ;  why  you  should 
doubt  the  efficacy  of  anything  prescribed  by  so  great 
a  physician  is  more  than  I  can  understand ;  as  to  ill 
tastes,  it  is  beneath  common  sense  to  listen  to  any- 
thing of  the  sort. 

'  But,  my  dear  Bobbin,  you  ought  to  bring  some 
circumstances  to  your  recollection  ;  the  expense  I  have 
been  at  is  more  than  I  can  afford,  and  I  am  now 
paying  your  school  the  same  as  if  present.  It  is  surely 
incumbent  on  you  to  consider,  that  when  a  father  is 
doing  everything  upon  earth  for  your  good,  yet  you 
ought  from  feelings  of  gratitude  and  generosity  to  do 
all  you  can  for  yourself.  I  ask  nothing  but  what 
another  w^ould  positively  insist  on,  and  would  order 
violent  means  of  securing  obedience  ;  I,  on  the  contrarj^ 
rely  on  your  own  feelings  and  your  good  sense,  and  so 
relying,  I  do  beg  that  j'ou  will  take  everything  ordered 
wdthout  murmur  or  hesitation,  for  I  assure  you  it  is 
with  astonishment  I  hear  that  you  have  omitted  this 
some  time.  Call  your  understanding  to  your  aid,  and 
ask  yourself  what  you  can  think  must  be  my  surprise 
at  hearing  that  while  all  aromid  you  are  anxious  for 
your  health,  that  you  alone  will  be  careless  of  it.  It  is 
a  much  worse  thing  than  ill  health,  for  I  had  rather 
hear  you   were   worse  in  body   than    that  you  had  a 


272      AUTOBIOaHAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

malady  in  your  heart  or  head.  Think  seriously  of  such 
conduct,  and  I  am  confident  it  will  cease,  for  I  know 
your  disposition,  and  that  makes  me  the  more  surprised, 
for  knowing  your  good  temper  so  well  as  I  do  it  is 
perfectly  astonishing.  I  am  sure  I  shall  hear,  and  it 
will  be  with  great  pleasure,  that  you  are  acting  worthy 
of  yourself ;  and  having  so  much  patience  in  your 
illness,  you  will  show  it  in  this,  as  in  so  many  other 
things.  (The  first  cheap  lobsters  I  shall  send  you  three 
by  mail,  the  weather  being  hot.)  I  think  you  are  not 
strong  enough  to  ride  a  dicky  alone.  Surely  double- 
horse  would  be  better,  but  if  you  have  tried  you  must 
be  able  to  judge.  Pray  continue  to  write  me  constantly, 
for  you  must  know  how  anxious  I  am  to  hear  exactly 
your  case. 

'  God  bless  you,  my  dear  girl.  I  talk  of  your  physician 
and  yom^  physic,  but  God  forbid  you  trusted  to  either 
without  asking  His  blessing  regularly.  You  tell  me  that 
you  always  say  your  prayers  ;  you  cannot  deceive  God, 
and  I  hope  you  have  a  reliance  on  His  blessing,  which 
you  cannot  have  if  you  do  not  ask  it,  and  gain  the  habit 
of  asking  it.' 

From  Bohhm  to  her  Father 

'  My  dear  Papa, — I  received  your  letter  yesterday. 
Thank  you  for  your  advice ;  I  had  taken  the  steel  and 
draughts  long  before  I  received  it,  besides  which  I  take 
some  more  stuff  ^  .  .  .  .  and  ask  him  [the  doctor]  like- 

'  Some   medical   questions   the   child   wishes   put   to   her  London 
doctor  are  here  omitted. 


ILLNESS  AND  DEATH  OF  BOBBIN  273 

wise  how  long  the  steel,  &c.,  must  be  taken  before  you 
feel  any  effect  from  it,  for  one  might  take  physic  for 
ever  without  receiving  any  benefit.  Let  not  my  giving 
you  my  opinion  make  you  think  that  I  do  not  take 
mine  regularly ;  I  assure  you  I  do.  My  dear  papa, 
how  can  you  imagine  that  I  should  ever  neglect  my 
prayers  ?  No  !  believe  me,  I  know  my  duty  too  well  for 
that.  I  believe  once,  the  last  time  I  was  at  the  cottage, 
when  I  was  too  weak  to  say  them  out  of  bed,  I  then 
said  them  when  Betty  brought  the  asses'  milk.  One 
morning  I  fell  asleep  and  forgot  them ;  I  thought  of  it 
at  night,  and  told  her  to  remind  me  of  them,  which  she 
did — this  she  can  tell  you.  I  thank  you  for  some  fine 
cod  and  lobsters,  which  came  very  fresh  and  good. 

'  I  am  much  the  same  as  when  I  wrote  last, 
my  cough  very  troublesome  still.  I  called  on  Mrs. 
Belgrave,  she  was  gone  to  town.  Adieu,  my  dear  papa. 
Believe  me 

'  Your  dutiful  and  affectionate  Daughter, 

'M.  Young.' 

His  Reply 

'  Saturday. 
'  My  dearest  Bobbin, — The  moment  your  letter  came 
I  went  to  Dr.  Turton,  but  he  was,  as  I  feared  he  would 
be,  out.  However,  I  shall  call  on  him  this  evening 
and  send  you  his  answer  by  to-morrow  night's  mail, 
if  he  is  not  gone  to  Kent,  which  I  hope  he  will  not  be. 
If  so,  I  cannot  see  him  till  Tuesday,  as  I  shall  be 
Sunday  and  Monday  at  the  Duke  of  Bedford's.  ...  I 
am  of  opinion  you  should  leave  off  steel  till  you  have 

T 


274  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

my  answer.  .  .  .  It  is  to  give  you  strength.  .  .  .  You 
are  a  very  good  girl  for  having  taken  it,  and  equally 
for  saying  your  prayers.  Always  preserve  the  habit  of 
doing  so.     God  protect  and  bless  you  ! 

'  Two  64's  and  fifteen  merchantmen  have  left  the 
mutineers  under  a  heavy  fine,  and  it  is  expected  the 
rest  will  do  the  same  very  soon,  and  then  Admiral 
Parker  and  Co.  will  swing.  Great  expectations  of  a 
peace.  Tell  Mary,  St.  Paul's  would  come  to  B.  as 
soon  as  Dr.  T.,  but  her  thought  was  a  good  one. 

'  Write  me  again  soon. 

'  Yours  very  affectionately, 

'A.  Y.' 

To  Bobbin  from  her  Father 

'  Jermyn  Street :  Friday. 
'  My  dear  Bobbin, — As  I  desired  you  to  write  to  me 
twice  a  week  I  expected  a  letter  yesterday,  but  hope 
when  I  go  by  and  by  to  the  [Board]  that  I  shall  find 
one  from  you,  for  I  am  very  anxious  to  hear  how  you 
do,  and  what  Dr.  Turton  has  ordered  Smith  to  do  for 
you.  I  had  a  very  disagreeable  journey  to  town,  and 
did  not  sleep  a  minute,  but,  thank  God,  did  not  take 
cold;  went  to  bed  next  night  at  nine  o'clock  and 
recovered  the  fatigue.  The  Macklins  and  Kedington 
were  in  a  good  deal  of  rain.  They  have  been  at  two 
plays ;  I  go  to  none.  K.  lives  with  us,  and  I  am  to 
charge  him  what  he  costs.  They  will  go  somewhere 
every  night.  I  order  everything  just  as  usual  before  I 
go  to  the  Board,  and  though  I  am  to  pay  no  more  than 
my  common  expenses  when  alone,  yet,  as  I  necessarily 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF   BOBBIN  275 

live  much  better,  I  think  it  but  fair  to  be  quite 
economical,  and  we  have  a  great  deal  of  pleasant  laugh 
at  my  pinching  them,  and  not  permitting  their  being 
extravagant.  I  allow  no  scrap  of  a  supper  which  they 
make  a  rout  about,  for  they  come  hungry  as  hounds 
from  the  play,  and  drink  porter  when  they  can  get  it ; 
the  wine  I  lock  up,  and  have  been  twice  in  bed  when 
they  return.  If  you  saw  them  devour  at  breakfast  you 
would  laugh ;  K.,  who  is  to  be  with  the  Oakes'  when 
they  come  (we  have  hired  Merlin's  for  them),  threatens 
that  he  will  give  us  nothing  but  potatoes. 

'  The  news  you  see.  It  is  said  that  there  will  be 
mutinies  in  the  army  as  soon  as  the  camps  are  formed  ; 
if  so,  and  no  immense  army  of  property  to  awe  them, 
the  very  worst  of  consequences  may  be  expected. 
Ireland  is  in  a  dreadful  state  of  alarm  and  apprehension 
— in  a  word,  everything  wears  a  threatening  appearance, 
and  nothing  but  the  greatest  wisdom  and  prudence 
can  save  us. 

'  I  hope  you  have  got  rid  of  your  lameness,  and  use 
your  legs  much  more  than  you  did  when  I  was  with 
you.  Pray,  my  dear  Bobbin,  exert  yom'self,  and  take 
much  air  and  exercise  on  the  Stone  Walk,  which  will 
do  in  all  weathers  except  rain.  I  have  not  seen  any- 
body yet  except  Lord  Egremont. 

'  Tell  Arthur  to  write  to  the  Lewes  bookseller  that 
the  Board  buys  two  hundred  copies  and  finds  the  plates, 
that  is  the  copper,  so  that  it  must  be  to  him  not  a 
hazardous  speculation.     Adieu,  my  dear  girl. 

'  Yours  affectionately, 

'  A.  Y.' 

T   2 


276      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

Bobbin's  Beplij 

'  My  dear  Papa, — I  received  your  letter  this  morning. 
I  am  sorry  you  had  not  a  pleasant  journey.  Every 
day  since  you  went  vfe  have  had  nothing  but  rain  all 
day  (most  part  of  the  night)  long,  so  I  have  not  been 
able  to  stir  out,  only  in  the  chaise.  I  am  much  the 
same  as  when  I  saw  you,  but  hope  that  when  we  have 
fine  weather  I  shall  get  better.  My  leg  is  a  great 
deal  better.  Mr.  Smith  advises  porter,  the  beer  is  so 
new.  ...  If  you  like  to  send  a  quarter  cask  my  mother 
will  pay  the  carriage ;  she  has  no  opinion  of  Bury 
porter.  If  you  send  it  by  the  Diss  waggon  let  me  know 
when  it  comes ;  if  you  don't  like  this,  order  Bonnet  to 
get  me  some  at  Bury.  What  terrible  news  you  write 
me  in  your  letter.  I  really  have  nothing  more  to  tell 
you ;  write  soon,  and  believe  me 

'  Your  dutiful  Daughter, 

'  M.  Young. 

'  N.B. — Papa,  you  said  you  would  send  me  some  red 
wine,  as  there  is  none  drank  here ;  he  speaks  very 
much  against  my  drinking  so  much  water  without  red 
wine  in  it,  because  my  ankles  swell  so  much.' 

The  following  were  memoranda  noted  at  the  time  :— 

The  11th  of  June  I  went  to  the  Duke  of  Bedford's 
sheep-shearing,  and  got  back  (to  London)  on  the  16th. 
The  next  day  I  had  a  letter  that  terrified  me  so  much 
that  on  the  19th  I  set  off  for  Suffolk,  and  went  directly 
to  Troston  Hall  (the  seat  of  Capel  Lofft,  Esq.),  where 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF  BOBBIN  277 

the  dear  dear  child  had  been  carried  some  days  before 
for  change  of  air.  Good  God !  what  a  situation  I 
found  her  in,  worse  than  I  had  conceived  possible  in 
so  short  a  time,  so  helpless  and  immovable  as  to  be 
carried  from  a  chair  to  her  bed,  evidently  in  one  of 
those  cruel  consumptive  cases  which  flatter  by  some 
favourable  symptoms,  yet  with  fatal  ones  that  almost 
deprive  hope. 

Good  Heaven  !  what  have  I  to  look  forward  to  if  I 
lose  my  child '?  For  her  own  sake  I  know  not  what  to 
hope  ;  the  world  is  so  full  of  wickedness  and  misery, 
and  she  must  be  so  innocent  and  free  from  crimes,  that 
her  lot  hereafter,  I  hope  and  have  confidence  in  the 
mercies  of  God,  will  be  blessed.  Ought  I  then,  but 
from  selfishness,  to  wish  her  here  ?  Yet  a  fond  father's 
feehngs  will  be  predominant.  Oh,  save  her,  save  her, 
is  my  prayer  to  God  Almighty  ! 

Dr.  Wollaston,  the  eminent  physician  at  Bury,  has 
been  consulted  ;  he  gives  little  hopes,  but  advises  a 
milk  and  vegetable  diet,  and  said  that  sea  air  and  a 
humid  mild  climate  would  be  good.  I  next  wrote  to 
Dr.  Thornton,  who  recommended  an  egg  and  meat 
diet ;  and  Mr,  Martyn,  in  a  letter,  desired  me  to  try 
the  inhaling  of  ether ;  in  fact,  all  has  been  done  that 
the  urgency  of  the  case  required,  but,  alas !  she  is 
past  the  assistance  of  all  human  power.  After  remain- 
ing a  week  at  Troston  I  wrote  into  Lincolnshire  for  a 
house  at  Boston,  with  a  view  to  be  near  the  sea,  in 
case  she  should  be  able  to  support  a  short  voyage ; 
and  the  air  of  that  low  place  is  reckoned  preferable  to 
the  keen  air  of  Bradfield.     We  travelled  with  slow  and 


278      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

short  journej^s  on  July  5  to  Bradon — still  more  ex- 
hausted ;  on  the  6th  to  Wisbeach — no  alteration  yet 
from  the  change  of  air;  on  the  7th  only  to  Long 
Sutton — worse,  greatly  fatigued,  and  a  very  bad  night. 
Oh  !  the  lacerated  feelings  of  my  wounded  heart !  To 
see  the  child  of  my  tenderest  affection  in  such  a  state  ! 
growing  hourly  weaker  and  more  emaciated,  during  the 
last  week  being  even  unable  to  stand.  It  is  beyond 
my  power  to  describe  what  is  struggling  within  me  ! 
My  sorrow  has  softened  me  and  wrings  my  very 
heart  strings  !  How  hard  does  it  appear  submissively 
to  bow  to  that  text — '  He  that  loveth  son  or  daughter 
more  than  Me  is  not  worthy  of  Me.'  I  have  but  one 
consolation,  which  prevents  my  utter  depression  and 
despair.  I  trust  in  the  goodness  of  her  Almighty 
Creator  and  in  the  merits  of  her  blessed  Eedeemer, 
that  They  will,  in  the  mercy  of  omnipotence,  pardon 
what  slight  offences  she  may  have  been  guilty  of,  and 
receive  her  into  that  heavenly  mansion  which  I  humbly 
hope  her  innocence  may  expect.  I  pray  fervently  for 
Their  mercy,  and  only  wish  that  I  was  worthy  of  being 
heard.  May  my  future  life  be  such  as  to  make  an 
hereafter  the  great  view,  aim,  and  end  of  my  remaining 
life  !  The  8th  we  reached  Spalding,  too  much  fatigued 
to  go  on,  thinking  that  an  air  so  different  from  what 
she  had  left  might  have  given  some  ease.  Vain  hope  ! 
No  effort  of  the  kind  appears.  The  11th  we  arrived  at 
Boston,  and  she  bore  the  journey  well.  Alas  !  it  was 
her  final  stage  in  this  world  ! 

The  next  day  she  was  still  worse,  but   even  now 
gave  one  of  those  traits  which  displayed  her  delicacy, 


ILLNESS  AND  DEATH   OF  BOBBIN  279 

for  upon  finding   that  her  mother  was  detaining  Dr. 
Wilson  with    questions,    she   reminded   her   of   it   by 
saying,  '  Mamma,  you   forget   there    are   other   ladies 
wanting   the  doctor.'     On  the  13th  the  crisis  of   her 
sufferings  was  approaching ;  she  whispered  to  me  as  I 
sat  by  her  bedside,  '  I  hope  you  pray  for  me.'     At  about 
eleven  o'clock  she   asked   her   sister   Mary  to  read  a 
prayer  as  usual,  and  attended  with  apparent  fervour, 
putting  her  hands  together  in  the  attitude  of  devotion. 
My  poor  dear  child  breathed   her   last    at    twelve 
minutes   past    one   o'clock    on    Friday   morning,    the 
14th.     I  was   on   my  knees    at   her   bedside  in  great 
agony  of  mind.     She  looked   at   me  and  said,  '  Pray 
for  me.'     I    assured   her    that    I    did.     She   replied, 
'  Do  it  now,  papa,'    on   which   I   poured   forth   aloud 
ejaculations   to   the   Almighty,  that   He    would   have 
compassion  and  heal  the  affliction  of  my  child.     She 
clasped  her  hands  together  in  the  attitude  of  praying, 
and  when  I  had  done  said,  '  Amen ' — her  last  words. 

Thank  God  of  His  infinite  mercy  she  expired 
without  a  groan,  or  her  face  being  the  least  agitated ; 
her  inspirations  were  gradually  changed  from  being 
very  distressing,  till  they  became  lost  in  gentleness, 
and  at  the  last  she  went  off  like  a  bird. 

Thus  fled  one  of  the  sweetest  tempers  and,  for  her 
years,  one  of  the  best  understandings  that  I  ever  met 
with.  She  was  a  companion  for  mature  years,  for 
there  was  in  her  none  of  the  childish  stuff  of  most  girls. 
And  there  fied  the  first  hope  of  my  Hfe,  the  child  on 
whom  I  wished  to  rest  in  the  affliction  of  my  age, 
should  I  reach  such  a  period.    But  the  Almighty's  will 


280  AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

be  done,  and  may  I  turn  the  event  to  the  benefit  of 
my  soul,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  to  trust  through  the 
mediation  of  my  Eedeemer  to  become  worthy  to  join  her 
in  a  better  world.  Her  disposition  was  most  affectionate, 
gentle,  and  humane  ;  to  her  inferiors,  full  of  humility, 
and  always  ready  to  perform  acts  of  beneficence,  thus 
attaching  the  poor  by  her  charity,  whilst  she  was 
equally  courted  by  those  above  her  for  that  fascination 
of  manners  possessing  the  attraction  of  the  loadstone. 
Her  countenance  in  health  beamed  with  animation,  and 
her  dimpled  cheeks  smiled  with  the  beauty  of  a  Hebe. 
Dear  interesting  creature !  Endowed,  too,  with  a 
sensibility  that  shrunk  from  the  gaze,  her  appearance 
in  society  produced  [here  the  sentence  breaks  off^. 

What  a  scene  have  I  described  for  a  fond  father  to 
witness ! 

On  the  15th  the  Eev.  S.  Partridge  and  his  wife  came 
to  give  us  what  comfort  they  could,  and  took  us  in  a  most 
kind  and  friendly  manner  to  their  house.  I  determined 
that  her  remains  should  be  carried  to  Bradfield,  having 
a  warm  hope  of  being  animated  to  a  more  fervent 
devotion  by  the  idea  of  her  ashes  being  deposited  in  our 
own  village  church.  To  the  departed  spirit  it  is  less 
than  nothing — to  me  it  may  do  good,  and  I  have  need 
of  working  out  my  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling. 
I  feel  that  a  wretched  and  depressed  state  of  mind 
leads  me  to  more  Christian  thoughts  and  more  favom.-- 
able  to  religious  impressions  than  prosperity,  or  ease, 
or  happiness,  as  it  is  called,  and  therefore  hope  I  am 
justified  in  doing  it ;  and  if  my  family  think  the  same, 
they  also  will  derive  benefit. 


ILLNESS  A2^D  DEATH   OF  BOBBIN  281 

After  a  day  passed  in  deep  sorrow,  Mr.  Partridge 
read  one  of  his  sermons  on  the  intermediate  state  of 
departed  souls,  and  which  I  afterwards  fomid  was  one 
of  Jortin's.^  From  many  passages  of  Scriptmre  it  was 
made  clear  that  they  are  conscious,  and  if  good  in  this 
life,  happy. 

On  Monday,  the  17th,  I  arrived  at  Bradfield,  where 
every  object  is  full  of  the  dear  deceased. 

On  going  into  the  library  the  window  looks  into  the 
little  garden  in  which  I  have  so  many  times  seen  her 
happy.  0  gracious  and  merciful  God  !  pardon  me  for 
allowing  any  earthly  object  thus  to  engross  my  feelings 
and  overpower  my  whole  soul !  But  what  were  they  not 
on  seeing  and  weeping  over  the  roses,  variegated  sage, 
and  other  plants  she  had  set  there  and  cultivated  with 
her  dear  hands.  But  every  room,  every  spot  is  full  of 
her,  and  it  sinks  my  very  heart  to  see  them.  Tuesday 
evening,  the  18th,  her  remains  arrived,  and  at  mid- 
night her  brother  read  the  service  over  her  in  a 
most  impressive  manner.  I  buried  her  in  my  pew, 
fixing  the  coffin  so  that  when  I  kneel  it  will  be  between 
her  head  and  her  dear  heart.  This  I  did  as  a  means  of 
preserving  the  grief  I  feel,  and  hope  to  feel  while  breath 
is  in  my  body.  It  turns  all  my  views  to  an  hereafter, 
and  fills  my  mind  with  earnest  wishes,  that  when  the 
great  Author  of  my  existence  may  please  to  take  me  I 
may  join  my  child  in  a  better  world. 

0  merciful  Saviour,  that  took  on  Thee  our  nature 
and  feelings,  grant  me  Thy  Holy  Spirit  to  confirm  and 

'  John  Jortin,  D.D.,  born  1G96,  died  1770.      His   numerous   theo- 
logical and  historical  works  have  been  frequently  reprinted. 


282      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUK  YOUNG 

strengthen  these  sentiments  ;  to  repent  of  all  my  sins 
and  errors,  and  enable  me  for  the  rest  of  my  days  to 
look  steadily  towards  that  better  world  where,  I  trust, 
the  innocence  of  my  child,  united  with  her  jDiety,  have 
given  her  a  place.  Sure,  sure,  I  shall  pray  with  a  more 
fervent  and  sincere  devotion  over  the  remains  of  her 
whom  I  so  much  wish,  when  it  pleases  Heaven,  that  I 
may  join.     This  was  my  motive. 

The  19th  I  went  into  a  little  chamber  which  I 
had  neatly  fitted  up  about  three  years  ago.  My  dear 
child  had  decorated  it  with  some  drawings  and  placed 
her  books  on  the  shelves,  and  left  it  in  that  order  and 
regularity  which  followed  all  her  actions.  I  burst  into 
tears  while  viewing  it,  and  felt  such  a  depression  at  my 
heart  that  I  thought  I  should  have  sunk  on  the  floor. 
It  shall  never  be  altered,  but  everything  continued  as 
she  left  it. 

IQth. — Again  looked  at  her  garden,  and  a  new 
one  she  had  marked  out  and  planted  under  a  weep- 
ing willow.  No  day  arrives  but  some  new  object  is 
presented  to  move  all  the  springs  of  affection  and 
regret ;  and  what  day  can  pass  in  which  these  melan- 
choly feelings  will  not  predominate  ?  In  the  meantime 
I  read  the  Scriptures,  and  Jortin  and  other  sermons, 
with  an  attention  I  never  paid  before  ;  and  may  God 
of  His  mercy  confirm  this  disposition,  and  enable  me 
thus  to  turn  this  heavy  misfortune  to  the  benefit  of  my 
soul.  Dispositions  which  company,  travelling,  and 
other  pursuits  would  have  tended  to  banish,  I  wish  to 
cherish ;  a  melancholy  has  produced  in  me  a  more 
earnest  desire  to  be  reconciled  to  God  than  anv  other 


ILLNESS  AND   DEATH   OF   BOBBIN  283 

event  of  my  life,  and  proves  that  of  all  the  medicines 
of  the  soul,  sorrow  is  perhaps  the  most  powerful. 

Business,  pleasure,  and  the  world,  tend  only  to 
stifle  this  seriousness  of  thought,  and  to  prevent  the 
mind  from  looking  into  itself  and  examining  the 
foundation  of  all  its  future  hopes.  For  these  three 
days  I  have  continued  perusing  no  books  but  the  New 
Testament  and  sermons,  of  which  I  have  read  many. 

21st. — Hoed  part  of  my  dear  child's  garden  under 
the  window,  and  carried  her  bonnet  and  cap  to  her 
chamber.  They  produced  many  tears,  for  I  yet  con- 
tinue weak  as  a  babe.  Read  the  whole  Gospel  of  St. 
John,  two  sermons  of  Tillotson  on  the  state  of  the 
blessed,  and  two  of  Dr.  Home's  on  the  purification  of  the 
mind  by  troubles  and  the  government  of  the  thoughts. 
I  had  before  in  this  week  read  all  the  Epistles,  the 
Hebrews,  and  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  and  also 
Bryant's  '  Authenticity  of  the  Scriptures.'  Such  studies 
are  my  only  consolation.  I  give  full  attention,  and 
hope  for  the  blessing  of  God's  Holy  Spirit,  that  I  may 
not  let  it  be  vain,  or  ever  suffer  the  world  to  wipe  out 
this  taste  for  the  things  that  concern  another  world. 
I  attempt  the  regulation  of  my  thoughts,  and  to 
contemplate  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  the  Deity  ; 
but  my  misery  for  the  irreparable  loss  I  have  suffered 
yet  weighs  me  down. 

22nd. — Hoed  the  rest  of  her  garden.  Symonds  and 
Carter  spent  the  day  at  the  Hall.  I  wish  they  had 
not  come  together,  I  wanted  conversation  with  them 
separately  on  the  question  I  had  read  a  good  deal  of, 
the  sleep  of  the  soul  after  death  till  the  resurrection. 


284      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

Symonds  will  not  admit  that  we  can  draw  any 
satisfactory  conclusion  for  or  against  it,  but  Carter 
allows  Dr.  Jortin's  reasoning  in  his  sermon  on  that 
subject.  In  the  evening  I  read  what  Dr.  H.  More  ' 
says  upon  the  subject,  who  is  strenuously  against  it. 
A  state  of  insensibility  is  a  dreadful  idea,  and  I  find 
consolation  in  the  conviction  that  my  dear  girl  is  now 
happy. 

23rcZ. — Sunday ;  passed  it,  I  hope,  Hke  a  Christian. 
At  church  sitting  over  the  remains  of  my  child  !  Oh  ! 
what  a  train  of  feelings  absorbed  my  soul.  In  the 
evening  read  St.  Luke's  Gospel  and  took  a  most  heart- 
sinking  melancholy  walk.  I  cannot  yet  bring  my 
mind  to  sufficient  tranquillity  to  throw  into  one  little 
memoir  these  and  other  particulars. 

Examined  the  willows  she  planted  on  the  island. 
Oh  !  that  they  were  thriving  oaks  that  promised  a 
longer  duration,  but  they  may  last  as  long  as  anybody 
that  will  care  for  the  planter.  Continue  to  read 
Scripture,  and  some  of  Seeker's  ^  and  Ogden's^  sermons, 
and  again  began  '  Bryant  on  Christianity.'  I  pray  to 
God  with  all  the  fervency  I  feel  to  give  me  the  grace 
of  His  Holy  Spirit,  that  I  may  turn  this  loss  to  the 
benefit  of  my  soul.  Dr.  Jortin,  in  his  seventeenth 
sermon,  most  truly  says,  '  It  is  adversity  which  seizes 
upon  the  future  as  prosperity  dwells  upon  the  present. 

'  Henry  More,  D.D.,  bom  1614,  died  1687.  In  1640  published 
Psycho-Zoia ;  or,  the  Life  of  the  Soul.  His  philosoiihical  and  theo- 
logical works  have  been  reprinted. 

-  Th.  Seeker,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  born  1693,  died  1768. 

3  Samuel  Ogden,  D.D.,  born  1716,  died  1778. 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF   BOBBIN  285 

On  the  25th  I  read  Littleton's  •  '  Conversion  and 
Apostleship  of  St.  Paul.'  I  had  brought  down  from 
London  a  new  political  pamphlet  of  Howlett's  on  a 
subject  that  was  once  interesting,  but  I  can  attend  to 
nothing  except  inquiries  which  in  some  degree  connect 
with  that  habit  of  mind  which  flows  from  my  recent 
loss. 

Mrs. called  to  persuade  me  into  company  for 

regaining  cheerfulness.  Alas !  it  will  come,  I  fear, 
much  too  soon,  and  what  is  it  good  for '?  Sorrow  is 
the  best  physician  to  heal  a  soul  that  has  been  too 
careless  in  its  duty  to  God. 

Will  the  world,  and  pleasure,  and  society  contribute 
like  grief  to  secure  me  a  probability  of  joining  in  another 
world  the  spirit  of  her  I  mourn  ? 

26^/i. — I  read  part  of  Dr.  Clarke's  ^  '  Demonstration 
of  the  Being  and  Attributes  of  God,'  as  much  as  I 
could  understand  without  too  intense  an  application, 
and  then  part  of  '  Butler's  Analogy.'  Prayed  to  the 
Almighty  in  the  middle  of  the  day.  The  morning  is 
the  proper  time,  but  when  we  are  tired  and  sleepy,  the 
evening  I  think  an  improper  period  to  offer  either 
thanksgiving  or  petitions  to  the  Divine  goodness. 

Why,  oh !  why  must  we  have  misfortune  and 
sorrow  to  make  us  sensible  of  our  duty  to  our  heavenly 
Father  and  our  Saviour  and  Eedeemer '?  How  difficult 
to  instil  a  right  attention  into  young  people. 

'  Adam  Littleton,  D.D.,  born  1627,  died  1674. 

■^  Samuel  Clarke,  D.D.,  born  1675,  died  1729.  The  piece  alluded  to  was 
the  firsti Boyle  Lecture.  Of  his  works  Dr.  Johnson  remarked,  '  I  should 
recommend  Dr.  Clarke's  works  were  he  orthodox.' 


286  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF   AKTHUR   YOUNQ 

I  am,  however,  thankful  that  my  dear  child  was 
naturally  serious  and,  I  believe,  well  disposed  in  this 
respect ;  with  what  joy  I  now  read  the  following  passage 
in  a  letter  I  received  from  her  while  she  was  ill  at 
Bradfield  before  I  came  down  :  '  My  dear  papa,  how 
can  you  imagine  that  I  should  ever  neglect  my  prayers '? 
No  !  believe  me,  I  know  my  duty  too  well  for  that.' 

What  now  would  be  the  idea  of  any  improvement 
or  accomplishment  compared  with  the  least  trait  like 
this  •? 

Iltli. — Called  for  a  few  minutes  on  some  neighbours. 
They  all  want  me  to  dine  with  them,  but  such  society 
to  a  mind  diseased  yields  no  food  for  reflection,  and 
is,  therefore,  not  fit  for  me.  I  could  associate  with 
nobody  with  comfort,  but  those  whose  religious  acquire- 
ments could  tend  to  strengthen  my  present  habits. 

I  continue  to  read  Butler,  also  two  sermons  by 
Conybeare  ^  on  angels  ;  looked  at  the  miniature  which 
my  wife  has  of  the  dear  girl,  a  most  striking  likeness 
by  Plymer  ;  ^  wept  over  it  with  feelings  easier  imagined 
than  described.  I  will  have  a  copy  of  it ;  'twill  serve, 
at  least,  as  a  melancholy  remembrance,  and,  I  hope, 
recall  my  mind  should  it  ever  wander  from  the  lamented 
original. 

28^/i. — Finished  Butler's  'Analogy.'  It  does  not 
quite  answer  the  idea  I  had  formed  of  him,  though  a 

'  John  Conybeare,  D.D.,  born  1691,  died  1755.  '  A  great  champion 
of  revelation.' 

-  Plymer ;  in  Redgrave's  Dictionary  of  Artists  written  '  Plimer.' 
Two  brothers  therein  mentioned,  Andrew  and  Nathaniel,  both  miniature 
painters  and  exhibitors  at  the  E.A. ;  born  1763,  died  1837  ;  born  1767, 
died  1822. 


ILLNESS  AND  DEATH   OF  BOBBIN  287 

powerful  work  ;  but  he  demands  a  second  perusal,  but 
does  not  even  then  promise  to  be  perfectly  clear.  Read 
also  Mr.  Locke's  'Reasonableness  of  Christianity,' 
which  is  a  luminous  convincing  work,  and  must  have 
done  great  good.  Watered  dear  Bobbin's  garden  and 
read  over  her  letters.  She  had,  for  her  early  years,  a 
most  uncommon  understanding  and  a  penetration  into 
character  wonderful  for  the  age  of  fourteen.  On 
reviewing  her  last  illness  I  am  filled  with  nothing  but 
the  most  poignant  regret  and  self-condemnation  for 
putting  so  much  rehance  in  the  medical  tribe,  for  she 
had  the  personal  attendance  or  correspondence  of  five 
physicians  and  none  agreed.  I  did  for  the  best  and 
spared  nothing,  but  had  she  been  a  pauper  in  a  village 
she  would,  I  verily  think,  have  been  alive  and  hearty. 
Such  are  the  blessings  of  money ;  it  has  cost  me  lOOZ. 
to  destroy  my  child,  for  I  do  not  think  one  shilling 
was  bestowed  which  did  not  in  one  way  or  other  do 
mischief. 

Whilst  I  was  in  much  anxiety  about  my  child's 
health  I  bought  Mr.  Wilberforce  on  Christianity.' 
I  read  it  coldly  at  first,  but  advanced  with  more  atten- 
tion. It  brought  me  to  a  better  sense  of  my  dangerous 
state ;  but  I  was  much  involved  in  hesitation  and 
doubt,  and  was  very  far  from  understanding  the 
doctrinal  part  of  the  book.  This  was  well,  for  it  in- 
duced me  to  read  it  again  and  again,  and  it  made  so 
much  impression  upon  me  that  I  scarcely  knew  how 

'  Practical  View  of  the  Prevailing  System  of  Professed  Christians 
in  the  Higher  and  Middle  Ranks  in  this  Country,  Contrasted  with  Real 
Christianity.     Published  1797,  and  freiiuently  reprinted. 


288      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUK  YOUNa 

to  lay  it  aside.  It  excited  a  very  insufficient  degree  of 
repentance,  and  a  still  more  insufficient  view  of  my 
interest  in  the  Great  Physician  of  souls. 

It  is  rather  singular  that  a  trifling  circumstance 
at  this  time  first  brought  me  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Wilberforce,  whose  book  I  had  been  again  perusing 
for  the  fourth  time  with  increased  pleasure,  and  to 
whom  I  had  more  than  once  thought  of  writing  for 
his  opinion  on  the  intermediate  state  and  original  sin. 
On  arriving  at  Boston,  what  was  my  surprise  on 
receiving  a  letter  from  him  relative  to  Parkinson's 
subscription  to  some  book  on  agriculture,  and  apolo- 
gising for  the  application  to  a  stranger.  I  seized 
the  pen  with  eagerness  to  reply,  writing  largely 
about  his  own  book,  praising  it  greatly,  and  tell- 
ing him  of  my  wish  to  apply  to  him.  Should  this 
(I  thought)  be  productive  of  a  connection  that  might 
confirm  my  pious  resolution,  I  might,  perhaps, 
be  justified  in  attributing  it  to  the  interposition  of 
God. 

I  hope  that  the  thought  is  not  presumptuous.  Is 
it  the  spirit  of  my  sweet  girl  that  is  thus  friendly  to 
me  ?     How  pleasing  an  idea  ! 

July  29. — Having  excused  myself  from  dining  out 
with  the  Balgraves,  a  note  from  her  this  morning.  But 
it  will  not  do.  Company  and  the  world  will  only  draw 
off  my  mind  from  those  religious  contemplations  and 
that  course  of  reading  which  is  favourable  to  prayer, 
repentance,  and  reformation.  I  wish  not  to  lessen  my 
grief  or  banish  my  feelings  of  that  sorrow  which  turns 
my  heart  at  present  to  seek  God.     I  dread  it  will  come 


ILLNESS  AND   DEATH   OF   BOBBIN  289 

but  too  soon ;  and  were  it  not  for  this  apprehension  I 
should  go  on  my  journey  to  Lincolnshire  for  the  Board 
directly,  but  I  wish  to  confirm  these  feelings  and 
earnestly  pray  for  the  Divine  grace  to  preserve  them  to 
the  extirpation  from  my  heart  of  love  for  the  world  or 
any  of  its  follies. 

[Note  added  by  A.  Y.  in  1817.] 

Throughout  many  of  the  succeeding  notes,  several 
expressions  occur  not  all  consistent  with  true  evan- 
gelical religion  ;  but  I  would  not  afterwards  alter  them, 
because  I  wished  to  ascertain,  on  the  re-perusal  of  these 
papers,  what  was  at  the  moment  of  my  affliction  the 
state  of  my  mind  and  of  my  faith ;  and  when  I  con- 
sider what  were  the  books  which  I  read  and  admired, 
I  cannot  be  surprised  at  any  such  remarks  falling  from 
my  pen. 

I  have  often  reflected  on  the  great  mercy  and  good- 
ness of  God  in  not  permitting  my  religious  opinions  to 
be  permanently  injured  by  some  of  the  works  which  it 
will  be  found  I  so  eagerly  perused  at  a  period  when  I 
could  not  have  one  moment's  conversation  with  any 
truly  pious  character.  Two  circumstances  probably 
contributed  to  this  effect  :  first,  the  incessant  atten- 
tion which  I  gave  to  reading  the  New  Testament ; 
and  secondly,  my  ardent  study  of  Mr.  Wilberforce's 
'  Practical  Christianity,'  though  without  thoroughly 
understanding  it. 

The  solitary  life  I  condemned  myself  to,  or,  to  speak 
with  more  propriety,  which  alone  I  relished,  while 
reading  sixteen  or  seventeen  hours  a  day,  and  in  which 
I  consequently  rather  devoured  books  than  read  them, 

u 


290      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AKTHUR  YOUNG 

was,  I  think,  very  advantageous,  and  possibly  more  so  in 
the  final  result  than  if  my  authors  had  been  more  truly 
sound. 

I  have  since  perused  many  works  which,  had  they 
fallen  into  my  hands  at  that  time,  would  probably  have 
made  me  quit  my  retirement  and  rush  into  the  society  of 
men  who  would  have  conducted  me,  in  my  then  state 
of  mind,  to  the  utmost  lengths  of  enthusiasm. 

The  writers  I  consulted  were  well  calculated  to  lay 
a  certain  solidity  of  foundation  in  the  great  leading 
truths  of  Christianity,  which  formed  a  basis  whereon  it 
was  easy  afterwards  to  raise  a  more  evangelical  edifice. 

In  all  this  business  I  cannot  but  admire  the  good- 
ness of  the  Almighty  in  protecting  me  from  many  evils 
to  which  I  might  easily  have  been  led  by  my  troubled 
feelings. 

[Diary  continued?^ 

Read  Dr.  Isaac  Barrow's  sermon  on  submission  to 
the  Divine  will.  He  seems  a  powerful  writer,  but  his 
language  is  debased  by  expressions  void  of  all  dignity. 
Read  a  good  deal  in  Barrow  on  the  pre-existence  of 
human  souls.  Very  singular ;  the  texts  on  which  he 
builds  support  him  very  faintly,  yet  there  is  a  degree 
of  probability  in  the  system  consonant  to  reason. 

30^7^. — Prayed  to  God  over  the  remains  of  my  dear 
child,  and  the  circumstance  fills  my  mind  with  that 
melancholy  that  is  not  unsuitable  to  religious  feelings. 
I  do  not  wonder  at  the  custom  of  the  primitive  Christians 
praying  at  the  tombs  of  the  departed,  it  is  an  obvious 
and  natural  prejudice. 

Finished  Barrow,  and  wrote  to  my  friend  Mr.  Cole 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF  BOBBIN  291 

to  desire  he  would  apply  to  his  neighbour,  the  learned 
Bryant,  to  know  his  opinion  of  that  question.  Began 
Dr.  More  on  the  '  Immortality  of  the  Soul.'  Capel  Lofft 
spent  the  day  with  us  ;  his  conversation  is  ready  on  any 
subject,  and  mine  led  to  serious  ones,  which  he  seems 
to  like.  We  had  much  that  was  metaphysical  on  the 
soul  (pre-existence) ,  a  future  state,  &c.  He  is  of  opinion 
that  heaven  is  not  so  very  different  from  our  ideas  of 
what  this  world  might  be,  as  are  commonly  entertained  ; 
and  rightly  observes,  that  if  death,  evil,  anxiety,  and 
disease,  with  corporeal  passions,  w^ere  banished,  this 
earth  would  be  a  heaven ;  and  that  the  knowledge  of 
one  another  hereafter  is  not  at  all  inconsistent  with 
our  Saviour's  expression,  '  in  My  Father's  house  are 
many  mansions.' 

'^Ist. — Kead  Littleton's  sermon  on  the  necessity  of 
well  husbanding  our  time.  It  is  excellent,  he  has 
thoughts  and  modes  of  expanding  his  observations  that 
are  beyond  the  common  run.  Laid  aside  Dr.  More 
on  the  '  Immortality  of  the  Soul ; '  he  gets  so  high 
in  the  region  of  fancy,  and  is  so  full  of  jargon  and 
supposition,  under  the  formula  of  demonstrations, 
that  I  am  disgusted  with  his  farrago ;  and  [there  is] 
so  much  on  witches,  apparitions,  &c.,  as  to  be  mere 
rubbish. 

Read  Sherlock's  sixth  sermon  on  the  '  Immortality  of 
the  Soul,'  which  is  an  admirable  one.  I  see  plainly  from 
what  I  feel  upon  occasion  of  the  severe,  dreadfully 
severe  misfortune  that  I  have  met  with,  that  under 
great  afflictions  there  can  be  no  real  consolation  but  in 
religion.     I  have  mused  and  meditated  much  on  what 

c  2 


292      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

philosophy,  as  it  is  called,  could  afford  in  such  an 
exigency,  but  the  amount  would  be  no  more  than  the 
employment  of  the  mind,  and  preventing  its  dwelling 
without  interruption  on  the  loss  sustained,  the  comfort 
to  be  drawn  from  it  would  be  weak  and  vain  ;  but  the 
Gospel  offers  considerations  which  bear  immediately  on 
the  source  of  the  evil ;  affords  matter  of  consolation  in 
the  certainty  of  another  life,  and  in  those  promises 
which  meet  the  yearnings  of  the  distempered  soul ; 
diffuses  a  calm  and  quiet  resignation  to  the  Divine  will, 
under  the  pleasing  hope  of  seeing  those  again  in  the 
next  world  whom  we  have  loved  tenderly  in  this.  To 
me  it  seems  that  when  this  wish  is  founded  on  a 
virtuous  object  here  as  that  of  a  parent  and  a  child,  the 
very  hope  is  an  argument  in  its  favour,  because  it  is 
perfectly  consistent  with  infinite  benevolence  to  grant 
it — and  the  desire  must  be  universal  in  every  human 
mind. 

August  1. — Read  about  half  of  Sherlock  on  '  Im- 
mortality,' but  my  patience  was  then  quite  exhausted  ; 
the  verbiage  is  such  that  it  sickens  one,  though 
I  approve  the  doctrine  entirely  and  agree  with  him 
in  everything.  What  a  loss  !  that  excellent  books  for 
matter  should  be  so  written,  or  rather  spun  into  such 
endless  circumlocutions  that  time  is  wasted  for  want  of 
compression.  Bead  three  or  four  sermons  of  Littleton 
— clear,  lucid,  and  impressive. 

At  night  a  Dane  came,  recommended  by  Sir  J. 
Sinclair.  Unfortunate  to  all  my  feelings.  I  refuse 
dining  with  all  my  friends,  and  to  be  tormented  with  a 
trifler  who  can  speak  neither  French  nor  English. 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF   BOBBIN  293 

My  mind  is  in  a  state  that  cannot  bear  interruption. 
I  love  to  mope  alone,  and  reflect  on  my  misery. 

August  2. — Began  Scott's  '  '  Christian  Life,'  but 
Smythies  having  sent  me  the  sixth  volmne  of  Bishop 
Newton's  -  works,  containing  a  dissertation  on  the 
'  Intermediate  State,'  I  read  it  with  equal  eagerness 
and  satisfaction.  It  exceeds  on  that  subject  all  I  have 
yet  met  with.  He  is  of  opinion,  in  which  all  agree,  that 
good  spirits  will  know  each  other  ;  and  probably,  from 
the  parable  of  Lazarus,  have  some  knowledge  of  what 
passes  on  earth.  But  that  is  of  little  consequence  in 
comparison  with  the  most  consoling  and  comfortable 
idea  contained  in  the  first  opinion.  And  what  a  call  is 
it  to  strive  with  earnestness  and  ardour  to  arrive  at  a 
situation  that  will  recompense  us  in  so  great  a  degree 
for  every  evil  and  sorrow  we  can  meet  with  in  this 
world.  Can  I  then  hope,  by  dedicating  the  rest  of  my 
life  here  to  God,  to  join  my  dear  child  hereafter,  my 
mother,  my  other  daughter,  and  my  sister  ;  and  should 
it  so  please  the  Almighty  in  His  mercy,  my  father  and 
brother?  Of  the  females  I  can  have  little  doubt,  or 
rather  none.  I  know  too  little  of  the  lives  of  the  others 
to  venture  to  pronounce.  Read  also  Bishop  Newton's 
dissertation  on  the  Resurrection,  general  judgment,  and 
final  state  of  man.  They  are  all  excellent,  and  I  rather 
devoured  than  read  them.  These  books  I  must  buy  to 
read  again  with  more  attention. 

^rd. — The  Dane  is  gone,  and  therefore  I  am  left  to 

'  Th.  Scott— the  friend  of  Cowper— born  1747,  died  1821,  chaplain 
to  the  Lock  Hospital. 

-  Th.  Newton,  born  1704,  died  1782  ;  edited  Paradise  Lost. 


294      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUK  YOUNG 

my  favourite  contemplations.  Newton's  dissertations 
are  consoling,  for  they  leave  me  no  doubts  about  that 
hideous  doctrine,  the  sleep  of  the  soul,  which,  however 
it  might  have  been  suited  for  the  dead,  is  dreadful  to 
those  they  leave  behind.  For  the  rest  of  my  life  to  know 
that  m}^  dear  child  is  in  a  state  of  conscious  existence, 
and  consequently  happy,  is  the  first  of  comforts  ;  but 
to  feel  the  enlivening  warmth  and  light  of  the  sun, 
thinking  that  she  felt  nothing,  but  slept  in  the  cold 
grave,  would  have  almost  sunk  me  into  it.  No  !  she 
lives,  and  as  there  is  reason  to  beheve,  the  departed 
spirits  have  some  knowledge  of  what  passes  here.  What 
a  call  is  it  to  conduct  myself  so  as  to  give  no  pain  to 
her !  Let  me  imagine  myself  for  ever  seen  by  the 
spirits  of  my  mother  and  my  child.  Let  me  have  a 
keen  feeling  of  the  pain  any  unworthy  action  or  impure 
thought  would  give  to  them,  and  of  the  pleasure  they 
would  reap  from  seeing  the  reverse ;  that  I  was  so 
living  as  gave  them  a  hope  of  my  joining  them  here- 
after. Let  me,  if  possible,  entertain  this  persuasion  till 
I  am  convinced  of  it,  I  cannot  have  the  thought 
without  being  the  better  man.  Oh  !  guard  me  against 
relapsing  into  evil  negligence,  the  two  certain  fruits  of 
pleasure  and  prosperity. 

What  are  the  friendships  of  the  world  !  What 
consolation,  what  comfort ! 

A-VTien  most  wanted  it  is  sure  to  fail.  One  has 
business,  another  pleasure ;  one,  a  family,  another  a 
husband,  all  have  something  to  render  them  broken 
reeds  to  such  as  are  in  want ;  and  whether  the  boon 
be   comfort    or  money,  they  prove   the    same   to   the 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF  BOBBIN  295 

touchstone.  Who  have  been  my  friends  ?  Sjnnonds  and 
Carter  are  good  men,  but  I  have  seen  them  [of  late]  only 
once.  Who  must  I  name  but  Ogden,  Sherlock,  Jortin, 
Bishop  Newton,  Butler,  Locke,  and  Clarke  ?  These  have 
told  me  how  to  make  a  friend  not  like  to  fail  in  the 
time  of  need,  my  God  and  my  Saviour.  May  I 
strengthen  and  confirm  that  friendship  and  turn  it  to 
be  a  habit  of  my  life  !  And  thou,  most  gentle  spirit  of 
my  departed  child,  if  it  is  allowed  thee  to  look  down  on 
earth,  be  my  guardian  angel  and  lead  me  to  everlasting 
life,  to  join  thee  to  part  no  more  ! 

4th. — Kead  three  of  Bishop  Sherlock's  sermons  and 
one  of  Dr.  Clarke's,  also  some  passages  in  his  '  Demon- 
stration of  the  Truth  of  Revealed  Religion.' 

5th. — Read  a  very  good  sermon  of  Bishop  Sherlock 
on  Redemption,  the  third  in  fourth  volume.  Bishop 
Butler  on  human  ignorance,  excellent.  This  subject, 
in  the  books  I  have  yet  read,  has  not  been  sufficiently 
treated,  it  might  be  made  to  refute  all  the  infidels,  and 
draw  mankind  to  a  more  religious  life. 

My  dear  girl's  books  are  come,  her  unfinished  work, 
her  letters,  &c.  Melancholy  employment  to  unpack 
and  arrange  them  in  her  room.  If  any  difference  I 
think  of  her  with  more,  rather  than  with  less  regret ; 
yet  I  hope  and  trust,  not  without  resignation  to  the 
Almighty  will  of  the  great  and  good  Being  whose 
providence  has  deprived  me  of  her.  I  think  I  feel  that 
this  deep  regret,  this  calm  sorrow  will  last  my  life,  and 
that  no  events  can  happen  that  will  ever  banish  her 
from  my  mind.  Ranby  called  and  I  conversed  with 
him  about  her  till  tears   would,  had   I   continued    it, 


296      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

stopped  my  speaking.  I  hate  and  pity  those  who 
avoid  talking  to  the  afflicted  upon  the  subject  which 
causes  their  affliction,  it  argues  a  Httle  trifling  mind  in 
one  party  or  the  other. 

Eead  Bishop  Sherlock's  '  Dissertation  respecting  the 
Sense  of  the  Ancients  on  the  Fall  of  Man,'  which  seems 
to  me  (who  am,  however,  no  judge)  a  very  clear  and 
satisfactory  work.  He  appears  to  have  a  singular 
talent  in  reconciling  seeming  difficulties  in  knotty 
texts  of  Scripture,  and  opens  every  subject  with  great 
clearness  and  an  acute  spirit  of  discrimination. 

I  suppose  there  must  be  some  commonplace  book 
of  di\dnity,  but  I  know  not  whose ;  a  collection  of 
luminous  passages  from  such  an  immensity  of  writings 
as  there  are  on  this  most  important  of  all  subjects 
would  be  very  useful ;  yet  every  man  should  make  his 
own,  selecting  such  topics  and  observations  as  come 
home  to  his  own  case  and  bosom. 

Were  I  not  going  now  a  most  uninteresting  journey, 
I  would  do  this  for  myself.  This  tour  hangs  on  my 
mind  ;  nothing  would  suit  my  feelings  so  well  as  to  stay 
here  in  my  present  melancholy  gloom,  reading  divinity, 
and  endeavouring  so  steadily  to  fix  my  mind  on  eternity 
and  the  hope  of  joining  my  dear  child,  as  to  work  a 
change  in  my  habits,  my  Hfe,  my  conversation,  and 
pursuits  ;  and  to  do  all  that  human  frailty  will  permit 
to  reconcile  myself  to  the  Almighty.  These  thoughts, 
however,  I  shall  try  to  preserve  in  spite  of  a  journey. 
I  will  take  the  New  Testament  and  Wilberforce  with 
me,  and  read  a  portion  every  day,  and  spend  the 
Sundays  in  a  manner  I  have  never  done  yet  in  travelling. 


ILLNESS  AND  DEATH  OF  BOBBIN        297 

August  7. — To  Ely.  Called  for  a  moment  on  Carter, 
who  thinks  so  highly  of  Bishop  Newton  that  he  intends 
to  buy  his  works. 

At  Ely  quite  alone,  and  no  resource  but  in  my 
own  melancholy  ideas.  My  first  thought  was  to  send 
to  a  Mr.  Hall,  who  has  hired  Tattersall's  farm,  or 
Mr.  Metcalfe,  a  minor  canon,  who  has  written  in  the 
'  Annals  of  Agriculture ' — but  I  rejected  the  scheme 
and  kept  to  solitude.  As  soon  as  I  finished  dinner 
I  began  Mr.  Wilberforce  for  the  fourth  time,  reading 
with  renewed  attention.  I  hear  many  objections  to 
him,  of  his  being  a  Presbyterian  engrafted  on  a 
Methodist,  but  it  is  arrant  nonsense.  My  mind  goes 
with  him  in  every  word.  View  the  Minster  and  Trinity 
chapel,  and  venerate  the  piety  of  former  ages  that  raised 
such  noble  edifices  in  honour  of  God  the  Almighty  giver 
and  governor  of  all  things.  I  once  thought  such  build- 
ings the  efforts  of  superstition,  perhaps  folly  !  How 
different  are  my  present  sentiments  !  for  what  can  be 
more  rational  than  to  raise  temples  of  a  character  that 
shall  impress  some  idea,  however  weak,  of  the  sub- 
limity of  that  infinite  Being  who  made  and  pervades 
all  that  exists,  except  His  own  great  creative  self ! 

^th. — Rise  at  five,  write  to  my  friends  Dr.  Valpy 
and  C.  Cole.  To  Peterborough.  Much  time  for  reflec- 
tion, and  it  is  singular  that  even  while  I  am  depressed 
with  deep  melancholy  at  the  loss  I  have  sustained,  yet 
unholy  ideas  and  imaginations  will  intrude.  Is  this 
the  devil  and  his  powers  of  darkness  w^hich  buffet  and 
beset  us  ?  Is  not  depravity  and  sin  so  inherent  in  our 
natures  that  we  are  ever  liable   to  these  wanderings 


298      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

which  so  disgrace  our  nature  at  better  moments  ?  But 
the  conclusion,  whatever  it  be  owing  to,  is  clear,  that 
the  government  of  the  thoughts  is  an  essential  part  of 
our  duty,  as  Johnson  has  well  explained  in  an  admir- 
able 'Kambler.'  Such  thoughts,  unresisted,  seize  and 
take  possession  of  the  mind,  and  they  cannot  do  that 
without  leading  to  action  and  all  the  guilt  that  may 
follow.  Eepel  the  first  germinating  principle  of  the 
idea,  and  the  difficulty  is  not  great ;  but  indulge  the 
pleasing  dream  and  the  heart  is  vitiated,  for  the 
imagination  is  impure. 

[The  remainder  of  the  diary,  in  the  same  strain,  is 
much  too  long  for  insertion.  Here  are  a  feio  closing 
se7itences.~\ 

September  2  [in  Yorkshire]. — To  what  is  it  that  I 
shall  return  ?  My  child  no  more  !  To  what  at  London  ? 
Solitary  in  my  lodgings,  where  am  I  to  send  for  her 
whose  cheerfulness  gilded  every  scene,  and  little  pleasing 
ways  lent  such  a  charm  to  render  her  presence  such  a 
comfort  to  me?  All  gone — gone  for  ever!  Of  that 
description  of  feelings  what  remains  ?  A  blank  ! — a 
desert !  .  .  .  Cried  over  the  hair  of  my  sweet  departed 
Bobbin  !     Never  more  in  this  world  to  see  thee  again  ! 

October  15. — I  have  torn  my  heart  to  pieces  with 
looking  at  my  dear  child's  hair  !  Melancholy  remains, 
but  how  precious  when  their  owner  is  no  more  !  T  am 
to  see  her  no  more  in  this  world.     Gone  for  ever  ! 

Londo7i,  November  13. — This  day  se'nnight  I  came 
to  town  with  Mrs.  Y.  and  Mary.  I  knew  it  would  be 
a  very  uncomfortable  plan  ;  but  to  do  as  I  would  be 
done  by  made  it  proper. 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF  BOBBIN  299 

November  26. — I  have  been  a  week  at  Pet  worth,  an 
interesting,  splendid,  gay  and  cheerful  week,  and,  as  too 
often  the  case,  a  vain,  frivolous,  and  impious  one.  Sir 
John  Sinclair  would  have  me  on  the  Sunday  go  to 
Goodwood.  Never  a  serious  word,  never  a  soul  to 
church  from  that  house  to  thank  God  for  the  numerous 
blessings  showered  down  upon  it,  and  the  means 
of  good  which  60,000^.  a  year  confers.  Yet  Lord 
Egremont  does  all  that  could  be  wished  as  far  as 
humanity,  charity,  and  doing  moral  benefits  can — but 
no  religion.  In  the  chapel,  no  worship,  no  hats  off 
but  my  own — dreadful  example  to  a  great  family 
and  to  his  children  and  to  2,500  people  in  the 
town.  I  talked  to  Arthur,  and  strongly  recommended 
to  him  to  attend  constantly  and  to  keep  himself 
clear  from  such  a  want  of  piety.  He  disapproves  of 
it  much ;  and  I  pray  to  God  that  yet  he  may  not  be 
corrupted  by  such  evil  examples,  but  imbibe  a  dislike 
to  such  want  of  gratitude.  I  watched  for  opportunities 
of  serious  remark,  but  none  of  effect  offered  except  one 
observation  on  Lady  Webster's  infidelity  in  religion, 
when  I  threw  in  a  word  or  two.  The  very  virtues  of 
such  people  do  mischief  by  recommending  their  irre- 
ligious example. 

The  following  letters  are  selected  from  those  received 
this  year  : — 

From  Dr.  Barney 

'  Chelsea  College  :  March  16,  1797. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — You  have  applied  to  a  very  incom- 
petent  person  for   political  consolation  in    addressing 


300      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

me,  an  old  notorious  alarmist  who  has  long  seen  evils 
approaching  even  worse  than  those  which  have  already 
arrived.  I  wish  anything  had  happened  to  convince 
me  that  my  mental  eyes  had  been  as  short-sighted  as 
those  in  my  head.  But,  alas !  things  are  going  on 
everywhere  from  bad  to  worse.  My  foolish  country- 
men, nay,  worse,  the  wicked  and  incurable  democrats 
who  inhabit  the  same  island,  so  far  from  being  cured 
by  the  savage  cruelties  and  universal  misery  brought 
about  in  France  by  the  Eevolution  and  the  treatment  of 
other  countries  which  she  has  conquered  and  even 
fraternised  with,  still  long  for  a  revolution  here,  without 
even  wishing  to  avert  any  of  the  evils  which  have 
happened  elsewhere,  from  the  diabolical  character  and 
principles  of  her  inhabitants  !  I  have  seen  that  a  wish 
to  break  the  Bank  has  long  been  formed,  and  I  even 
have  been  advised  to  get  all  the  cash  I  could  for  my 
notes  if  I  had  any ;  and  the  person  who  advised  this 
measure,  who  had  never  been  at  the  Bank  before  in  his 
life,  and  was  forced  to  inquire  his  way  thither,  had  been 
bullying  the  harassed  clerks  to  give  him  cash  for  a 
forty-pound  note,  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  lock  it 
up.  Seven  millions  of  guineas  were  issued  for  notes  in 
one  week  !  Of  this  sum  300,000/.,  it  is  said,  were  for 
notes  presented  by  the  English  Santerre.  A  banker 
from  Norwich  had  collected  notes  to  the  amount  of 
400,000Z.,  with  which  he  came  post  to  London  in 
the  same  seraphic  hope  of  breaking  the  Bank ;  but 
unluckily  for  his  benevolent  plan,  the  further  issuing 
of  cash  had  been  stopped  the  night  before  his  arrival. 
The  favourite  Jacobin  plan  at  present  is  to  make  this 


ILLNESS  AND   DEATH   OF  BOBBIN  301 

nation  and  all  Europe  believe  that  we  are  really  in  a 
state  of  bankruptcy,  and  that  the  notes  now  in  cir- 
culation will  be  soon  of  as  little  value  as  French 
assignats,  reporting  every  day  that  they  are  at  a  very 
considerable  discount,  which  God  forbid  should  ever 
happen.  For  my  own  part,  I  would  starve  myself  to 
death  sooner  than  buy,  even  food,  by  the  parting  with 
a  bank  note  for  a  farthing  less  value  than  it  has  hitherto 
had.  But  the  poor  Duke  of  Bedford,  Mr.  Cooke,  the 
dissenting  manufacturers,  &c.,  are  so  distressed  for 
want  of  cash  to  pay  their  workmen,  that  they  are 
obliged  to  dismiss  them.  And  this,  to  be  sure,  is  not 
done  with  an  intention  of  throwing  all  the  blame  upon 
Government  and  making  furious  rebels  of  all  the 
persons  discharged.  Everything  is  seen  and  repre- 
sented in  the  blackest  colours — the  French  always 
right  and  the  Administration  wrong.  For  if  opposition 
should  ever  be  obliged  to  allow  the  present  ministry  to 
be  right,  why  change  it  ?  And  down  they  must  pull 
every  person  and  thing  above  them,  even  if,  like  Samson, 
they  are  crushed  in  the  ruins,  which  I  have  not  the 
least  doubt  will  be  the  case  if  ever  the  revolution  they 
seem  so  determined  to  bring  about  should  happen. 

'  The  ballot  has  fallen  upon  me  to  furnish  a  man  and  a 
horse  to  the  Provisional  Cavalry,'  which  has  occasioned 
me  much  trouble  and  vexation.  The  expense,  had  it 
been  double,  I  would  have  paid  with  alacrity,  for  the 
defence  of  everything  dear  to  honest  men,  during  such 

'  Alluding  to  the  movement  suggested  by  A.  Y.,  and  ultimately 
carried  out,  of  forming  regiments  of  volunteer  cavalry,  in  view  of  the 
menacing  attitude  of  France. 


302  AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AKTHUR  YOUNG 

a  war  and  with  such  enemies ;  but  the  business  of 
recruiting,  clothing,  accoutring,  &c.,  is  so  new  to  men 
of  peace,  that  they  know  not  how  to  go  to  work.  Three 
substitutes  that  I  had  engaged  have  disappointed  me, 
and  the  horse  I  have  purchased  I  am  not  sure  will  pass 
muster.  Had  Government  levied  a  tax  of  five  or  ten 
guineas  upon  each  horse  that  was  kept  for  pleasure, 
either  in  or  out  of  harness,  and  done  the  business  of 
raising  a  certain  number  of  cavalry  themselves,  it 
would  have  been  better  done,  and  ladies  and  super- 
annuated gentlemen  (like  my  worship)  would  have 
escaped  infinite  plague  and  vexation. 

'  I  am  exceedingly  sorry  that  your  dear  and  charming 
little  daughter  is  not  well. 

'  I  am,  with  sincere  regard, 

'  My  dear  Sir, 
'  Your  affectionate  Friend, 

'  Charles  Burney.' 

From  Edmund  Burke,  Esq.,  alluding  to  the  projects 
in  Parliament  before  named  for  regulating  the  price  of 
labour. 

'  Bath  :   May  23,  1797. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  am  on  the  point  of  leaving  Bath, 
having  no  further  hope  of  benefit  from  these  waters  ; 
and  as  soon  as  I  get  home  (if  I  should  live  to  get 
home)  should  I  find  the  papers  transmitted  me  by 
your  Board  I  shall  send  them  faithfully  to  you ; 
though,  to  say  the  truth,  I  do  not  think  them  of 
very  great  importance. 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF   BOBBIN  303 

'  My  constant  opinion  was,  and  is,  that  all  matters 
relative  to  labour  ought  to  be  left  to  the  conversations 
of  the  parties.  That  the  great  danger  is  in  Government 
intermeddling  too  much.  What  I  should  have  taken 
the  liberty  of  addressing  to  you,  had  I  possessed 
strength  to  go  through  it,  would  be  to  illustrate  or 
enforce  that  principle. 

'  I  am  extremely  sorry  that  any  one  in  the  House 
of  Commons  should  be  found  so  ignorant  and  un- 
advised as  to  wish  to  revive  the  senseless,  barbarous, 
and,  in  fact,  wicked  regulations  made  against  free 
trade  in  matters  of  provision  which  the  good  sense  of 
late  Parliaments  had  removed.  I  am  the  more  con- 
cerned at  the  measure,  as  I  was  myself  the  person 
who  moved  the  repeal  of  the  absurd  code  of  statutes 
against  the  most  useful  of  all  trades,  under  the  invidious 
names  of  forestalling  and  regrating.  But,  however,  I 
console  myself  on  this  point  by  considering  that  it  is  not 
the  only  breach  by  which  barbarism  is  entering  upon 
us.  It  is,  indeed,  but  a  poor  consolation,  and  one 
taken  merely  from  the  balance  of  misfortunes. 

'  You  have  titles  enough  of  your  own  to  pass  your 

name  to  posterity,  and  I  am  pleased  that  you  have  got 

spirit  enough  to  hope  that  there  will  be  such  a  thing 

as  a  civilised  posterity  to  attend  to  things  of  this  kind. 

'  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 

'  With  very  high  respect  and  esteem, 

'  Your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 
'Edmund  Bubke.' 

Mr.  Burke  died  July  7  [note  hy  A.  7.]. 


304  AUTOBIOGKAPHY   OF  ARTHUK   YOUNG 

From  John  Symonds,  Esq.,  on  public  affairs,  very 
gloomy,  with  much  condemnation  of  Mr.  Pitt. 

'  St.  Edmund's  Hill :  .June  8,  1797. 

'  At  the  time,  my  dear  sir,  that  I  received  your 
letter  I  was  travelling  over  Italy,  in  order  to  figure  in 
your  "  Annals  of  Agriculture  ;  "  but  the  state  of  that 
country  has  been  so  much  bouleverse,  that  my  head 
has  been  turned  in  reflecting  upon  it,  as  is  most 
probably  the  case  with  the  greater  part  of  its  in- 
habitants. 

'  You  ask  me  what  plan  I  could  propose  to  save  the 
country.  Arm,  undoubtedly,  as  you  say ;  but  how  to 
do  it  most  effectually  I  pretend  not  to  determine.  You 
justly  reprobate  volunteering  infantry. 

'  Charles  Cole  tells  me  you  have  something  in  the 
press  upon  this  subject.  To  fill  the  army  or  navy 
with  defenders  or  volunteers,  is  the  way  to  pave  the 
way  to  our  ruin.  But  I  should  begin  with  proposing 
a  scheme  which  would  probably  be  heard  with  disdain, 
and  which  has  been  rejected  by  the  King  :  recall  Lord 
Camden ;  appoint  Lord  Moira,  Lord  Lieutenant,  with 
full  powers  to  emancipate  the  Roman  Catholics.  He 
is  much  respected  in  Ireland  as  well  as  in  England,  for 
the  opinion  formed  of  him  from  his  civil  and  military 
knowledge  and  moral  character.  I  have  heard  Lord 
Bishop  Douglas,  who  is  no  mean  estimator  of  mankind, 
often  say,  that  he  wished  he  could  see  Lord  Moira  one 
of  the  Secretaries  of  State. 

'  Were  the  Catholics  satisfied,  Ireland  might  bid 
defiance  to  the   French,  and,  perhaps,  some  regular 


ILLNESS  AND  DEATH  OF  BOBBIN        305 

infantry  might  thence  be  sent  to  England,  which, 
the  Duke  of  Grafton  said  lately  in  the  House  of  Lords, 
was  much  wanted  here.  But  it  is  in  vain  to  speak  or 
write  about  Ireland. 

'  We  govern  there  by  a  faction — the  Beresfords, 
Fitzgibbons,  and  Fosters — whose  emoluments,  inclu- 
ding their  relations  and  dependents,  fall  not  short  of 
100,000^.  per  annum  ;  some  think  much  more.  Now 
the  Polignacs  under  the  old  government  had  not  more 
than  50,000Z.  per  annum,  including  a  bishopric.  This 
the  Duchess  of  Liancourt  one  day  made  out  to  me 
upon  paper,  yet  she  was  willing  enough  to  exaggerate 
the  profits  of  that  family ;  especially  as  the  old  duchess 
just  before  had  been  cast  in  a  lawsuit  with  one  of 
them. 

'Yom'  idea  of  applying  to  Bonaparte  pleases  me 
much.  He  would  probably  do  more  towards  effecting 
a  peace  than  a  hundred  Malmesburys  and  St.  Helens. 
It  will  be  curious  to  see  what  terms  Pitt  will  propose. 
There  seems  to  be  no  doubt  but  that  the  French  will 
insist  on  having  all  the  places  taken  from  them  ;  and 
probably  a  restitution  of  twelve  or  fourteen  ships  of 
the  line,  and  perhaps  a  sum  of  money  by  way  of 
indemnification,  for  this  word  was  always  in  the 
mouth  of  our  Premier.  After  this,  an  ample  recom- 
pense to  the  Dutch  and  Spaniards,  whose  interests  the 
French  will  consider  as  their  own.  A  fine  peace 
indeed,  after  so  many  absurd  and  haughty  declarations 
of  our  ministry  !  A  peace  there  must  be  or  an  in- 
surrection, if   considerable  taxes  be  proposed  to  con- 

X 


306  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF  ARTHUR  YOU^'G 

tinue  the  war.  Not  that  these  would  be  of  anj^  avail ; 
for  were  the  French  merely  to  line  their  coasts  from 
Ostend  to  Calais  with  troops,  and  do  nothing  else, 
their  point  would  be  carried.  At  the  very  time  that  a 
separate  peace  was  made  by  the  Emperor  with  the 
French,  Mr.  Pitt,  in  the  House  of  Commons,  called 
him  "  our  great  and  good  ally."  It  was  but  two  days 
after  that  the  news  came  of  his  defection,  which  every 
thinking  man  naturally  expected. 

'  Mr.  P.  seems  determined  to  do  dirty  jobs  to  the 
last ;  whilst  our  enemies  are  almost  at  our  gates,  the 
subscribers  to  the  loyalty  loan  must  forsooth  be 
rewarded  because  many  of  them  are  his  Parliamentary 
friends.  Should  you  hear  your  knight  open  himself 
on  this  subject,  remind  him  that  a  million  or  a  million 
and  a  half  are  wanted  to  pay  the  arrears  of  the  Civil 
List ;  that  professors,  whose  stipends  are  fixed  by 
Acts  of  Parliament,  are  in  danger  of  losing  the  profits  of 
a  couple  of  years  from  an  abominable  clause  in  Burke's 
Bill.  Remind  him  of  a  remarkable  circumstance  in 
Sully's  memoirs.  When  Henry  IV.  was  in  great  dis- 
tress for  money  it  was  proposed  to  him  to  decline 
paying  any  stipends  to  the  professors  in  the  University 
of  Paris.  "No,"  said  he,  with  an  honest  indignation, 
"  I  vdll  never  consent  to  that ;  retrench  the  expense 
of  my  table  instead  of  touching  their  emoluments." 
Such  an  answer,  and  such  conduct  in  conformity 
to  it,  reflected  peculiar  honour  on  a  prince  who 
had  never  been  trained  up  in  the  study  of  polite 
letters 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF   BOBBIN  307 

'  Carnot  ^  cannot  be  too  much  commended  for 
ordering  yom:  agricultural  works  to  be  translated  and 
published.  It  was  giving  his  countrymen  a  mass  of 
knowledge,  founded  on  experiment  not  to  be  procured 
in  their  own  writers.  He  showed  very  good  sense  in 
sacrificing  party  prejudices.  Would  Pitt  have  acted 
thus  in  his  situation '? 

'  I  have  not  read  Wilberforce's  "  Practical  View  of 
Christianity,"  nor  am  I  indeed  much  solicitous  about  it, 
for  my  faith  is  not  built  upon  establishments  but  on 
the  New  Testament,  which  I  have  considered  with  as 
much  attention  as  most  of  our  divines.  W.  is  a  strict 
Calvinist,  and  is  therefore  orthodox,  for  he  is  supported 
by  our  Articles  of  Keligion.  I  who  think  that  the 
Articles  on  this  head  are  not  founded  on  Scripture,  am 
a  heretic,  as  I  take  you  to  be  also.  It  is  very  observable 
that  the  young  theologians  of  Geneva  are  at  this  day 
instructed  much  more  in  Ostervald's  -  Catechism  than 
in  Calvin's  books.  The  death  of  that  worthy  man  and 
excellent  master  of  Italian,  Isola,  is  an  exceedingly 
great  loss  to  me,  for  he  has  managed  all  my  little 
concerns  at  Cambridge  for  twenty  years.  He  can  have 
left  nothing  for  his  family  but  his  good  example.  So 
respected  was  he  by  every  one,  that  when  a  long  illness 
and  his  wife's  death  prevented  him  from  making  his 
usual  earnings,  and  he  was  unavoidably  loaded  with 
heavy  debts,  they  not  only  raised  for  him  180^.  by  private 

'  Carnot,  the  '  organiser  of  victory,'  grandfather  of  the  late  lamented 
President  of  the  French  Republic.  Almost  alone  of  the  Senate,  Carnot 
refused  to  sanction  the  coiqy  cVftat  of  Napoleon,  1799. 

-  J.  F.  Ostervald,  Swiss  Protestant  divine,  born  1683,  died  1747.  All 
his  works  have  been  translated  into  English. 

X  2 


308      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

subscriptions  in  the  Colleges,  but  in  the  following  year 
the  University  gave  him  100/.  out  of  the  public  chest. 
I  shall  be  very  careful  in  recommending  his  successor, 
for  Isola  always  told  me  that  most  of  the  Italians  in 
England  were  rascals,  and  he  therefore  had  no  commu- 
nication with  them  when  they  came  to  Cambridge.  I 
allowed  him  twenty  guineas  a  year,  as  few  learn  Italian. 
The  profits  from  teaching  it  are  hardly  sufficient  to 
maintain  one  who  has  a  family ;  for  parents  in  general 
are  so  foolish  as  not  to  require  of  their  sons  the 
learning  of  that  language,  though  their  intention  is  to 
send  them  into  Italy. 

*  Adieu  !     You  will  repent  provoking  me  to  write. 

*  J.  Symonds.' 


From  Jeremy  Bentham,  Esq.,  on  the  poor,  &c. 

'  Queen  Square,  Westminster  :  Sept.  8,  1797. 

'  Dear  Sir, — It  was  but  the  other  day  that  I  became 
master  of  a  complete  series  of  your  "  Annals  of  Agricul- 
ture ;  "  accept  my  confession  and  record  my  penitence. 
Having  on  my  return  from  my  long  peregrination  on  the 
Continent  lent  to  a  friend — who  had  lent  to  another  friend, 
whom  we  neither  of  us  could  recollect — the  twenty-five 
or  thirty  numbers  which  I  had  taken  in  before  that 
period,  I  postponed  from  time  to  time  the  completion 
of  the  series  in  hopes  of  recovering  the  commencement 
of  it.  When  at  last  shame  and  necessity  got  the  better 
of  procrastination,  what  a  treasure  of  information  burst 
upon  me.  No — so  long  as  power  without and  with- 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF   BOBBIN  309 

out shall  have  left  an  annual  guinea  in  my  pocket 

(blanks  are  better  here  than  words)  not  a  number  of  the 
"  Annals  "  shall  ever  be  wanting  to  my  shelves.  Hold 
— don't  take  me  for  a  Jacobin  now,  nor  even  for  a 
croaker.  What  I  allude  to  is  not  any  co7nmon  burden, 
such  as  you  land-owners  and  land-holders  grunt  under, 
but  my  own  ten  thousand  pound  tax — my  privilegium 
— a  thing  as  new  to  English  language  as  it  is  to  English 
practice — sole  and  peculiar  fruit  of  the  very  particular 
notice  with  which  I  have  been  honoured  by . 

*  This  waits  upon  you  with  a  proof  of  a  blank  pauper 
population  table,  framed  for  the  purpose  of  collecting 
an  account  of  them  in  as  many  parishes  as  I  can. 
Knowing  so  well  your  zeal  for  all  zeal-worthy  objects, 
and  mindful  of  your  often  experienced  kindness,  I 
cannot  on  this  occasion  harbour  a  doubt  of  your 
assistance.  Is  it  worth  while  to  give  the  table  the 
indiscriminate  circulation  of  your  "Annals  "  ?  At  any 
rate  your  editorial  Majesty  will,  I  hope,  be  pleased 
graciously  to  grant  unto  me  your  royal  letters,  ^a^ew^ 
or  close,  or  both,  addressed  to  all,  and  if  need  be, 
singular,  your  loving  subjects  my  fellow  correspon- 
dents ;  charging  and  exhorting  them,  each  in  his 
parish— and  as  many  other  parishes  as  may  be — to  fill 
my  tables  and  send  in  their  contributions. 

'Along  with  the  table  you  will  find  a  MS.  paper, 
exhibiting  the  importance  of  the  information  I  am  thus 
labouring  to  collect ;  you  will  print  it  or  suppress  it  as 
you  think  best.  I  also  send  in  MS.  a  table  of  cases 
calling  for  relief ;  a  general  map  of  pauper  land  with 
all  the  roads  to  it.     Few,  if  any,  of  the  projects  I  have 


310      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

seen  but  what  have  appeared  (the  arch-project  not 
excepted)  to  bear  an  exclusive — at  least  a  predilective — 
reference  to  some  of  these  cases,  overlooking  or  slighting 
the  rest.  I  send  it  in  the  state  in  which  I  propose 
printing  it  for  my  own  book  ;  but,  in  the  meantime,  if 
it  be  worthy  the  honour  of  a  place  in  the  "  Annals,"  it 
is  altogether  at  your  service.  This  preparatory  insertion 
will  turn  to  the  advantage  of  the  work  itself,  if  any  of 
3^our  correspondents  (not  forgetting  their  editor)  would 
have  the  goodness  to  contribute  their  remarks  to  the 
emendation  of  it.  You  will  not  easily  conceive — few 
heads,  at  least,  but  yours  are  qualified  to  conceive — 
the  labour  it  has  cost  me  to  bring  the  two  tables  to 
this  state.  As  to  the  work  at  large,  it  will  occupy 
two  independent,  though  connected  volumes.  Pauper 
systems  compared ;  pauper  management  improved — 
the  last  the  romance,  the  Utopia,  to  which  I  had  once 
occasion  to  allude.  Komance  ?  How  could  it  be 
anything  less  ?  I  mean  to  an  author's  partial  eye.  In 
proportion  as  a  thing  is  excellent,  when  established,  is 
it  anything  but  romance,  and  theory,  and  speculation, 
till  the  touch  of  the  seal  or  the  sceptre  has  converted  it 
into  practice.  Distress,  at  least,  distress,  the  very  life 
and  soul  of  romance,  cannot  be  denied  to  mine  ;  for 
in  this  short  and  close-packed  specimen  already  you 
behold  it  in  all  its  shapes.  Magnanimous  president ! 
accomplished  secretary !  ye,  too,  have  your  romance. 
Heaven  send  you  a  happy  catastrophe  and  a  fettered 
land  "a  happy  deliverance."  Patience!  patience! 
ye  too,  before  you  are  comforted,  must  bear  to  be 
tormented. 


ILLNESS   AND   DEATH   OF  BOBBIN  811 

'  Apropos  of  presidents.  The  high  priest  of  Ceres, 
having  divined  or  not  divined  my  recent  occupations, 
has  been  pleased  to  send  me  a  mandate  in  form, 
smnmoning  me  to  devote  myself  to  this  branch  of  his 
goddess's  service,  that  the  fruit  of  my  labours  may 
be  consecrated  in  her  temple  at  Whitehall ;  so  that 
whatever  other  requisites  may  fail  me,  I  shall  be  in  no 
want  of  auspices. 

'  I  fear  you  will  say  to  yourself  that  the  Observations ' 
I  have  sent  you  are  a  sad  farrago,  but  your  miscellany, 
how  superior  soever  to  others  in  subject-matter  and 
contents,  has  this  in  common  with  them,  that  half- 
formed  ideas,  so  they  have  but  matter  in  them,  are  not 
prohibited  from  presenting  themselves.  It  is  part  of 
the  character  of  your  correspondents  to  have  more  of 
substance  about  them  than  of  for?n  ;  and  of  the  many 
recommendations  which  join  in  drawing  so  much  good 
company  to  your  conversazione,  one,  nor  that  the  least, 
is  the  convenience  of  being  admitted  to  it  in  boots. 
Mine  (you  will  say)  have  hobnails  in  them  ;  for,  some- 
how or  other,  the  very  idea  of  the  person  to  whom  I  am 
addressing  myself  has  insensibly  betrayed  me  into  that 
sort  of  playful  confidence — that  epanchemenf,  as  I  think 
the  French  call  it — which  I  have  always  felt  in  his 
company. 

'  Believe  me,  with  the  most  serious  respect, 
'  Ever  yours, 

'  Jeremy  Bentham.' 


'  These  '  Observations,'  above  referred  to,  arc  inserted  in  vol.  xxix 
Annals  of  Agriculture. 


812      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHI'E  YOUNG 


CHAPTEE   XIII 

DIAHY   AND   CORRESPONDENCE,  1798,  1799,  1800 

Assessed  taxes — Society — Mr.  Pitt  and  the  Board  of  Agriculture — A 
foolish  joke — Dinners  to  poor  children — Interview  with  the  King — 
Royal  farming — Correspondence  —  Bradfield  —  Incidents  of  home 
travel — Portrait  of  a  great  lady — Correspondence. 

January  9,  1798. — At  Petworth.  This  is  the  way  in 
which  I  keep  a  journal ;  had  I  the  abihties  of  Johnson 
it  might  be  an  excuse,  but  I  am  as  idle  as  he  without 
the  talents  that  enabled  him  to  think  to  good  purpose. 

London  has  passed  away  till  the  vacation  with- 
out much  to  note,  yet  always  something  ;  for  I  met 
many  at  Mrs.  M.  Montagu's  parties  twice  a  week, 
whose  conversation  was  interesting.  Very  few  dinners, 
for  the  town  was  empty.  Attended  divine  service  at 
Mr.  Cecil's  chapel,  and  ought  to  have  made  memoranda. 

The  breakfast  at  Wilberforce's  wdth  Mr.  Serjeant, 
Hawkins,  Brown,  Thornton,  &c.,  all  members  in  com- 
mittee on  the  assessed  taxes.'  Miss  Griffiths,  the  friend 
and  mother  of  my  ever  dear  Bobbin  at  school,  coming  to 

'  Assessed  taxes.  On  December  4,  1797,  Mr.  Pitt  introduced  a  Bill 
for  trebling  the  amount  of  assessed  taxes.  This  was  again  debated  in 
the  House  of  Commons  in  January  1798,  and  finally  passed.  See 
Hansard's  Parliamentary  Historij. 


DIAEY   AND   COREESPONDENCE  313 

board  with  Mrs.  Y. ;  these  and  many  more  articles 
all  passed  over,  and,  above  all,  the  reflections  which 
thronged  in  my  mind  on  the  conclusion  of  that  year 
which  deprived  me  of  my  child  and  tmrned  my  heart  so 
imperfectly  to  God  Almighty.  Without  that  event  how 
should  I  have  been  able  to  bear  the  stroke  of  the  taxes, 
my  share  of  which  will  I  fear  be  lOOZ. 

Had  I  been  out  of  debt  it  would  have  been  com- 
paratively light,  but  I  am  seized  about  some  bills  which 
yet  remain,  and  which,  if  I  pay,'  I  shall  not  be  able  to 
pay  those  taxes.  I  have  advertised  my  cottage  and 
eighty  acres  of  land  to  let,  but  no  chance  of  getting 
such  a  rent  as  I  know  I  ought  to  have  to  make  letting 
answer. 

I  have  been  here  with  Lord  Egremont  above  a 
fortnight.  A  good  deal  of  rabble,  but  some  better.  Lord 
Spencer,  Lord  Althorp,  Lord  Dungarvan,  Lord  Milton, 
Lord  Stair,  Sir  John  Shelley,  Mr.  James  Feiryman,  &c. 
I  shall  stay  the  whole  vacation. 

Fehriiary  14. — Another  great  gap,  in  which  time 
I  was  four  days  with  the  Duke  of  Bedford  at  Woburn, 
with  a  strange  party,  for  all  in  all  I  think  the  most 
strange  I  have  been  in  for  many  years.  Trevis,  the 
pseudo- Venetian  Jew,  who  came  long  ago  to  Eng- 
land, has  run  through  a  great  fortune,  reduced  from 
200,000/.  to  1,200/.  a  year,  having  shined  with  most 
Satanic  light  in  the  annals  of  gallantry ;  Lady  Stan- 
hope, Lady  Cadogan,  and  a  hundred  more.     Strong 

'  In  a  memoranduni-book  of  the  preceding  year  occur  the  following 
entries:  'Receipts,  90n. ;  debts,  Dec.  31,  986Z.'  Debts  seem  to  have 
been  a  burden  throughout  A.  Y.'s  long  life. 


314      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

parts,  wits,  originality  (name  evidently  omitted  here)  and 
at  seventy-one  sings  wonderfully ;  Lord  Lauderdale,  who 
is  a  very  pleasant,  easy,  cheerful  companion  with  know- 
ledge, and  so  more  capable  of  doing  mischief ;  Lord 
Maynard,  Johns  the  parson.  Bob  Lee,  Bligh,  &c.  The 
duke  has  much  good  sense  and  clearness  of  head. 

On  my  return  to  town.  Lord  Carrington  applied  to 
me  to  get  a  drainer  for  Mr.  Pitt  at  Holwood.  I  told 
him  none  to  be  had  but  from  a  distance,  and  at  a 
considerable  expense  ;  that  perhaps  it  was  an  easy  job, 
and  if  so  his  own  people  could  do  it  if  the  drains  were 
marked  out  for  them,  and  I  would  go  and  look  when 
nobody  there.  Next  day  he  came  again  from  Pitt  with 
thanks,  and  desiring  me  to  go  when  he  was  there. 

I  went,  and  examined  the  land.  A  hill  wet  from 
springs,  the  cure  obvious.  So  I  am  to  do  it  for  him. 
He  and  Lord  Auckland  and  Lord  Carrington  walked 
round  the  place  with  me,  and  then  returned  to  a  cold 
dinner,  where  we  debated  the  Board  of  Agriculture, 
and  Pitt  seemed  pleased  with  my  idea  of  Government 
hiring  the  Bishop  of  Llandaff's  house  for  the  Board, 
and  so  getting  rid  of  the  difficulty  of  not  being  able  to 
quit  Sir  J.  Sinclair's  without  sixteen  members  agreeing 
in  the  affirmative,  a  stupid  statute  they  made. 

By  the  first  reports  of  the  Board,  and  a  multitude 
of  other  expenses  equally  useless.  Sir  John  ran  the 
Board  so  much  in  debt  that  it  became  a  question  of 
great  difficulty  how  they  should  be  enabled  to  carry  on 
any  business  at  all.  Through  a  spirit  of  liberality  in 
many  individuals,  a  subscription  was  set  on  foot,  and 
ten  guineas  apiece  by  members  and  honorary  members. 


DIAEY   AND   COKRESPONDENCE  315 

which  kept  them  for  some  time  on  their  legs.  The 
revenue  of  the  Board  went  entirel}^  to  printers,  above 
eighty  reports  in  quarto,  with  broad  margins,  having  been 
given  away  to  any  who  would  accept  them  ;  and  they 
were  in  general  so  miserably  executed,  that  they  brought 
the  institution  into  contempt. 

While  Sir  John  Sinclair  was  engaged  in  this  pursuit 
he  thought  of  nothing  but  the  establishment  of  his  own 
character,  and  imagined  that  his  indefatigable  exertions, 
misplaced  as  they  were,  gave  him  a  claim  to  the  atten- 
tion of  Government,  and,  it  is  said,  induced  him  to  ask 
a  peerage.  But  Mr.  Pitt  not  acceding  to  the  proposition, 
he  next  desired  to  be  a  Privy  Councillor.  When  this 
second  gentle  request  failed,  he  set  hard  to  work  to  form 
a  party  of  his  gvsti  in  the  House  of  Commons  in  oppo- 
sition to  Government,  which  by  degrees  completely 
estranged  Mr.  Pitt  from  him  ;  and  he  was,  by  the  votes 
of  the  official  members,  turned  out  of  the  chair.  Lord 
Carrington  taking  me  to  Holwood,  we  walked  about  the 
place  for  some  time  before  Mr.  Pitt  came  down,  ^^^len 
he  arrived,  ordering  a  luncheon,  he  said  he  had  desired 
Lord  C.  to  bring  me,  that  he  might  understand  what 
members  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture  were  proper  to  fill 
the  chair. 

I  named  Lord  Egremont.  '  He  has  been  applied 
to,'  rejoined  Mr.  Pitt,  '  and  declined  it.'  I  then 
mentioned  Lord  Winchilsea  ;  the  same  answer  was 
eturned.  I  named  one  or  two  more,  but  the  minister 
seemed  not  to  relish  their  appointment.  I  next  said 
Lord  Somerville,  who  was  famous  for  the  attention  he 
had  paid  to  some  branches  of  husbandry.     Mr.  Pitt's 


316      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

reply  was,  '  He  is  not  quite  the  thing,  but  I  doubt  we 
must  have  him,'  and  the  conversation  concluded  with 
an  apparent  determination  that  Lord  S.  should  be  the 
man.  He  was  accordingly  elected  ;  and  I,  the  same 
day,  received  the  orders  of  the  Board  instantly  to  look 
out  for  a  house  (because  Sir  John  S.  being  turned  out 
would  no  longer  volunteer  his),  which  I  accordingly  did, 
and  fixed  upon  one  in  Sackville  Street,  into  which  the 
Board  immediately  moved  their  property,  and  appointed 
the  secretary  to  reside  in  the  house,  with  an  allowance 
of  one  hundred  guineas  a  year  for  paying  the  porter, 
keeping  a  maid  in  the  house  in  summer,  and  finding 
coals  and  candles. 

April  8. — A  long  gap,  in  which  much  has  happened. 
The  election,  and  Sir  J.  Sinclair  deposed.  The  world 
gives  its  all  to  politics,  but  it  was  not  caused  solely  by 
that  motive  ;  his  management  of  the  3,000/.  a  year  was 
next  to  throwing  it  away,  and  gradually  created  much 
disgust ;  had  his  industry  been  under  the  direction  of  a 
better  judgment  he  would  have  been  an  admirable 
president.  I  have  hired  a  house  for  him  and  myself  in 
Sackville  Street.  Crag,  the  clerk,  wants  an  apartment, 
and  I  have  befriended  him  with  Lord  Somerville,  the 
new  president,  much  against  my  own  convenience,  for 
the  house  is  not  large  enough ;  but,  do  as  we  would  be 
done  by,  must  be  a  rule  far  more  obeyed  by  me  in  future 
than  formerly,  and  it  is  more  a  convenience  to  him  than 
an  evil  to  me.  It  would  be  easy  for  me  to  prevent  it, 
and  time  has  been  that  I  should  have  taken  that  part ; 
but  God  send  me  the  power  to  follow  better  dictates. 
I  have  been  twice  more  at  Holwood.     I  have  written  a 


DIAEY   AND    COREESPONDENCE  317 

new  pamphlet,  a  '  Letter  to  Wilberforce.'  I  have  worked 
hard  at  my  Lincoln  report,  and  the  election,  with  the 
business  public  and  private  concerning  it,  has  been  on 
the  whole  such  a  worry,  that  I  long  for  a  week  or  two 
of  privacy  and  quiet,  to  render  my  mind  more  tranquil ; 
it  seems  as  if  my  whole  life  is  to  be  lost  in  a  bustle.  I 
am  now  going  to  Petworth,  and  within  the  week  to 
Bradfield  ;  there  I  hope  to  make  a  momentary  retreat, 
and  have  time  for  recollection.  I  do  not  suffer  anything 
to  distract  me  on  a  Sunday,  or  I  should  be  lost  in  this 
hurry,  and  everything  serious  driven  from  my  mind. 
I  have  anxiety  also  about  my  new  habitation  on  another 
account,  which  is  the  doubt  whether  they  will  furnish 
it  for  me  ;  if  they  should  not,  it  will  be  a  most  heavy 
burthen  of  at  least  200/.,  and  an  unjust  one,  elected  as 
I  am  annually. 

Last  Sunday  se'nnight  a  new  scene  of  sorrow  and 
vexation.  Arthur  sent  me  a  foolish  letter^of  his  written 
to  Lloyd  from  Dover,  by  way  of  a  stupid  joke,  describing 
an  ideal  conversation  with  some  of  O'Connor's  jurymen,' 
to  frighten  Lloyd,  who  sent  it  to  Lofft,  and  he  to 
Walker,  to  Erskine,  &c.  It  was  read  in  court  at 
Maidstone,  and  Lord  Egremont  told  me  it  had  an 
immense  effect,  exciting  universal  indignation. 

The  Attorney-General  pledged  himself  to  punish 
it.  The  Jacobin  papers  kindly  assigned  it  to  Arthur 
Young,  so  all  believed  it  to  be  me.  I  had  a  letter 
contradicting   sent  to  four  papers,  and   have  been  in 

'  A.  O'Connor,  concerned  with  others  in  an  address  to  the  Directory 
France  ;  tried  for  treason  at  Maidstone,  1798  ;  found  not  guilty.     See 
Annual  Register,  1798. 


318      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUK  YOUNG 

incessant  worry  ever  since,  writing  for  explanation, 
employing  Gotobed  and  Garrow,  and  seeing  Lord 
Egremont  often  on  it.  I  sent  an  express  to  the 
Attorney-General,  with  a  letter  to  him,  and  another 
to  O'Connor's  counsel.  All  agree  Lofft  to  be  a  base 
villain,  pretending  so  much  friendship  for  all  the  family, 
and  keeping  the  letter  ten  days  in  spite  of  Lloyd 
demanding  it,  and  never  asking  any  explanation  or 
naming  it  to  Mrs.  Y.,  Mary,  or  A.  I  have  fretted  about 
this  affair  and  worried  myself  terribly,  and  with  reasons, 
for  it  will  be  the  utter  ruin  of  my  son.  Possibly  a  fine 
of  500/.  and  two  years'  imprisonment  if  he  is  not  able 
to  prove  it  to  be  a  jest.  To  avoid  being  punished 
as  a  rascal,  he  must  prove  himself  the  greatest  fool  in 
Christendom,  which  he  certainly  is,  for  the  letter  was 
unquestionably  a  humbug. 

June  23rd. — I  have  had  a  roasting  three  weeks 
languishing  for  the  country  ;  but,  however,  not  discon- 
tented, and  bringing  my  mind  with  some  success  to 
submit  cheerfully  to  everything  I  meet  with.  Arthur 
has  been  in  Kent  and  procured  nine  or  ten  affidavits  of 
the  jurymen  ;  those  who  refuse  he  never  set  eyes  on 
till  he  made  the  application,  so  he  has  cleared  himself 
to  me,  but  whether  it  will  do  for  the  Attorney-General 
is  another  question.  It  is  a  sad  business,  and  will  be 
very  expensive,  when  I  can  ill  afford  it. 

I  have  been  four  days  at  Woburn  with  Lord 
Somerville — a  very  great  meeting.  The  duke  desired 
me  to  preside  at  the  lower  end  of  the  table  ;  he  told 
me  to  keep  Stone  from  it. 

I  have  been  thrice  at  Holwood  and  conversed  with 


DIAKY   AND   COKRESPONDENCE  319 

Mr.  Pitt  every  time,  but  it  is  only  on  farming.  No 
wonder.  Eeading  Baxter's  '  Serious  Call  to  a  Holy 
Life,'  which  I  have  done  with  great  pleasure,  and 
have  begun  it  a  second  time.  I  think  it  an  admirable 
performance.  Charity  and  a  universal  intention  to 
please  God  in  everything  are  recommended  with  great 
ability. 

I  have  forgotten  to  add  a  word  about  my  new 
habitation.  It  is  an  admirable  house,  and  Mrs.  Young's 
only  apprehension  was  the  plan  of  Cragg,  the  first 
clerk,  having  apartments  in  it;  but  when  it  came  to  be 
debated,  Lord  Carrington  procured  it  entirely  to  me, 
with  an  allowance  of  901.  a  year  for  a  porter,  maid, 
coals,  &c.  Upon  the  whole  it  is  an  arrangement 
which  is  equal  in  all  to  lOOZ.  a  year  to  me,  and  in 
comfort,  saving  me  the  trouble  of  thrice  a  year  seeking 
lodgings,  as  good  as  a  hundred  more. 

I  am  thankful  to  God  for  it,  and  may  He  give  me 
His  grace  not  to  apply  to  ill  uses  the  favour  of  His 
providence. 

July  14th  ! ! ! — This  day  twelvemonth  it  pleased 
God  to  take  to  Himself  my  ever  dear  and  beloved  child. 
In  the  evening  at  the  Hall,  my  wife  and  self,  children, 
and  Miss  Griffith  joined  in  prayer. 

[The  remainder  of  the  diary,  chiefly  detailing  morbid 

religious  introspection,  is  not  of  sufficient  interest  to 

include.] 

Notes  from  Memorandum-hook 

March. — A  dinner  for  fifteen  poor  children,  lis.  lOfZ.' 
Another  dinner  for  thirty-seven  children,  IG.s.  Q>d. 

'  These  dinners  to  poor  children  were  given  in  memory  of  Bobbin. 


320  AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

Another  dinner  for  forty-seven  children,  1^.  6.<?.  6d. 

April. — This  month  seven  dinners  to  about  forty- 
eight  children  each  time. 

May. — Fom:  dinners  to  about  forty-eight  children 
each  time. 

This  year  I  sold  the  copjTight  of  my  '  Travels  '  for 
250  guineas. 

April  1799. — In  London.  I  am  alone,  therefore  at 
peace.  I  rise  at  four  or  five  o'clock  and  go  to  bed  at 
nine  to  ten  p.m. 

I  have  no  pleasures,  and  wish  for  none,  saving  that 
comfort  which  religion  gives  me  ;  and  the  sooner  I 
make  it  my  only  pleasure  the  wiser  I  shall  be.  I  go 
to  no  amusements,  and  read  some  Scripture  every 
day  ;  never  lay  aside  my  good  books  but  for  business. 
I  have  dined  out  but  little,  and  wish  for  no  more  than 
I  have.  I  get  into  habits  of  reading  and  writing,  and 
don't  like  to  quit  them ;  privacy,  and  silence,  and 
retirement  suit  me,  and  I  am  content.  New  servants, 
all ;  and  the  cook,  a  two-handed  Yahoo,  and  cannot 
boil  a  potato.  No  matter,  I  am  passed  being  troubled 
at  such  things,  but  I  like  old  servants,  and  can't  bear 
this  change. 

May  4  of  this  year  I  went  to  the  opera  with  Mrs. 
Oakes  ;  ^  and  that  amusement  which  had  for  so  many 
years  been  my  delight,  I  met  so  coldly  as  to  be  almost 
asleep  through  much  of  the  performance.  What  a 
change  had  taken  place  in  my  mind  !  This  was  the 
last  public  diversion  at  which  I  have  been  present. 
I   thank   the   Father  of   mercies   that  I  have  yet 

'  Nee  Betsy  Plampin. 


DIARY   AND    COREESPONDENCE  321 

retained  my  attention  to  religion,  that  I  have  read  few 
books  but  those  of  devotion,  that  I  Hve  very  retired 
without  any  regret,  that  I  rise  at  four  or  five  o'clock, 
and  never  omit  my  private  devotions,  morn  and  eve, 
and  but  rarely  family  prayer.  Thank  the  Almighty 
goodness  I  have  almost  weaned  myself  from  the 
world. 

June  4. — The  King's  birthday.  I  have  been  in 
Kensington  Gardens  to  see  the  King  review  8,000 
volunteers  of  London  and  Westminster.  These  corps 
owe  their  origin  I  may,  without  presumption,  say  to 
me,  and  I  should  in  a  former  part  of  my  life  have  been 
full  of  mortification  and  envy  at  the  gay  and  brilliant 
situation  of  others,  whilst  I  was  a  humble  spectator 
lost  in  the  crowd,  '  the  mob '  as  I  should  once  have 
called  them ;  but,  thank  God,  I  had  no  such  ideas,  and 
am  more  free  from  sin  of  such  thoughts  than  I  am  from 
that  of  entering  this  note  of  it.  My  mind  was  much 
occupied  in  thinking  of  such  multitudes  of  people  of  all 
ranks,  all  ages,  from  infancy  to  decrepitude,  gay,  lively, 
and  running  at  the  tilt  of  pleasure,  followed  by  more 
splendid  scenes  of  courts,  balls,  dinners  and  all,  all  to 
be  in  a  few  years  in  their  graves,  their  souls  in  their 
eternal  doom,  thoughtless  as  they  may  now  be. 

I  work  myself  as  often  as  I  can,  and  as  much  as  I 
can,  into  meditations  on  the  utter  vanity  of  all  such 
scenes  and  thence  to  the  inanity. 

July  1. — Wrote  Mrs.  Oakes  an  account  of  my  visits 
to  the  King's  farm.  I  got  Sir  J.  Banks  to  ask  his 
leave  to  see  his  farm.  He  gave  it  readily,  and  said  he 
would  order  Frost,  his  bailiff,  to  show  me  everything 

Y 


322      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

completely.     I  wrote,  but  m}^  letter  came,  by  mistake 
of   the  post,  after  I  was  there  myself  ;  and  as  Frost 
knew  the  King  would  like  to  see  me,  he  went  when  likely 
to  meet  him  on  his  return  from  a  review.     The  Queen, 
Prince    of   Wales,    the   Princesses,  &c.,    were   in    two 
sociables,  and  the  King  on  horseback,  with  his  train 
of  lords,  aides-de-camp,  &c.     He  inquired  who  I  was, 
and  called  me  to  him ;  rode  up  to  the  Queen,  &c.,  and 
introduced  me.     The  Queen  said  it  was  long  since  I 
was  at  Windsor,  &c.,  not  recollecting  me  at  first ;  they 
passed  on,  and  then  the  King  rode  with  me  over  his 
farm  for  two  and  a  half  hours,  talking  farming,  asking 
questions  without  number,  and  waiting   for   answers, 
and  reasoning  upon  points  he  differed  in.    Explained  his 
system  of  crops,  his  reasons,  with  many  observations  ; 
enquired  about  the  Board,  the  publications  of  it,  the 
'  Annals,'  and  asked   if   I   continued   to    work  on  my 
*  Elements,'    which    I   have   been  many  years  about ; 
recommended  me  to  compress  the  sense  of  quotations 
in  short  paragraphs,  '  as  there  are  many,  Mr.   Young, 
who  catch  the  sense  of  a  short  paragraph,  that  lose  the 
meaning  of  a  long  one  ; '  said  the  work  would  be  highly 
useful.     Those  who  read  the  two  letters  of  R.  R.  in  the 
last '  Annals,'  written  by  his  Majesty,  will  see  how  clearly 
he  expresses   himself.     He  enquired  about  my  farm, 
grasses,  sheep,  &c. ;  he  has  himself  only  160  lambs  from 
800  ewes.     His  strong  land  farm  is  in  admirable  order, 
and  the  crops  all  clean  and  fine.    He  was  very  desirous 
that  I  should  see  all,  and  ordered  Frost  to  carry  me  to 
two  or  three  other  things  next  morning.     I  found  fault 
with  his  hogs.     He  said  I  must  not  find  fault  with  a 


DIAKY   AND   COERESPONDENCE  323 

present  to  him ;  the  Queen  was  so  kind  as  to  give  them 
from  Germany,  and  while  the  intention  was  pleasing, 
we  must  not  examine  the  object  too  critically.  '  The 
value  of  the  intention,  Mr.  Young,  is  greater  than  a 
better  breed.'  He  told  me  he  learned  the  principles  of 
his  farming  from  my  books,  and  found  them  very  just. 
Quoted  particularly  the  '  Kural  Economy  : '  Cattle  give 
manure,  and  manure  corn.  •  Well  understood  noio,  sir, 
hut  not  so  well  before  you  lorote.'  When  I  said  anything 
that  struck  him  he  turned  about  to  tell  it  to  the  nobles 
that  followed.  He  is  the  politest  of  men,  keeps  his  hat 
off  till  every  one  is  covered.  An  officer  with  a  lady  in  a 
whisky  drew  in  his  horse  as  he  saw  the  King  crossing 
the  road,  taking  his  hat  off.  The  King  rode  up  to  him, 
uncovered,  and  conversed  a  little,  and  afterwards  said,  '  I 
think  it  is  Captain  Thorp,  of  such  a  regiment.'     What 


a  memory 


Enquired  much  about  the  Duke  of  Bedford's  party 
at  Woburn,  &c.  &c.  I  forgot  three-fourths.  He  was 
in  high  spirits,  and  looks  remarkably  well. 

My  son  this  year  married  Miss  Jane  Berry,  daughter 
of  Edward  Berry,  Esq.  The  connection  arose  from 
her  being  at  school  with  my  dear  Bobbin  at  Campden 
House,  and  afterwards  visiting  us  at  Bradfield. 

Selected  letters  from  those  received  this  year  : — 
From  Count  Rumford  on  lime-kilns  and  cement  for 
fire-places,  &c. 

'  Brompton  Row  :  Jan.  8,  1799. 

'  Dear  Sir, — On  my  return  to  town  last  evening 
from  Broadlands  I  found  your  letter.     I  beg  you  will 

Y    2 


324  AUTOBIOGKAPHY   OF   ARTHUR   YOUNa 

present  my  best  compliments  to  Lord  Egremont  and 
assm:e  his  lordship  that  it  would  give  me  very  great 
pleasure  to  visit  Petworth  and  see  the  various  improve- 
ments he  has,  and  is,  introducing  into  the  neighbour- 
hood ;  but  my  stay  in  England  will  be  but  short,  and, 
as  I  have  more  to  do  in  the  meantime  than  it  will  be 
possible  for  me  to  execute  without  being  very  in- 
dustrious, I  must  devote  all  my  time  to  those  occu- 
pations in  which  I  am  engaged. 

*  I  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  give  you  any 
satisfactory  information  respecting  lime-kilns,  but  I 
have  not  yet  had  leisure  to  complete  the  experiments 
I  had  projected,  and  which  are  necessary  in  order  to 
enable  me  to  form  decided  opinions  on  that  subject. 
The  kiln  I  had  constructed  at  Munich  not  being  well 
built,  and  being  forced  with  too  intense  a  fire  before 
the  masonry  was  properly  dried,  cracked,  and  burst 
open  from  top  to  bottom,  so  that  no  just  conclusions 
can  be  drawn  from  the  imperfect  experiments  that 
were  made  with  it. 

*  With  regard  to  the  best  materials  for  withstanding 
the  action  of  intense  fire,  I  believe  common  fire-bricks, 
as  they  are  called,  to  be  one  of  the  best.  I  am  just 
now  employing  them  in  the  construction  of  open 
chimney  fire-places,  and  they  seem  to  answer  perfectly 
well.  In  laying  them  I  have  a  cement  of  clay  and 
brick  dust  instead  of  common  mortar. 

'  One  of  the  best  kinds  of  cement  for  resisting  the 
action  of  fire  I  ever  met  with  was  composed  of 
equal  parts  of  brick  dust,  quick  lime,  and  iron  filings, 
mixed  up  with  blood.     It  unites  itself  firmly  to  metals 


DIAEY   AJs'D    lOEEESPONDENCE  325 

as  to  bricks  and  stones  of  all  kinds,  and  even  the  most 
intense  fire  seems  to  have  very  little  effect  on  it.  It 
may  even  be  made  to  join  metals  to  stones,  or  even 
wood  to  metals.  Our  soap  boilers  in  Bavaria  use  it  to 
join  the  v^ooden  tops  of  their  boilers  to  their  copper 
bottoms,  w^hich  it  does  in  so  effectual  a  manner  that 
they  are  very  seldom  found  to  leak.  It  was  from  them 
I  learnt  the  secret  of  the  composition  of  this  most 
useful  cement.  I  have  no  doubt  but  it  would  be  found 
to  answer  very  well  for  plastering  the  backs  and 
covings  of  open  chimney  fire-places.  I  wish  you 
would  make  a  trial.  If  it  should  be  found  to  answer 
it  would  be  a  most  important  discovery,  for  in  that 
case  bricks  would  certainly  be  as  good,  or  even  better, 
than  fire-stones  for  constructing  fire-places. 

'  I  am,  dear  Sir,  with  unfeigned  regard  and  esteem, 
'  Yours  most  faithfully, 

'  KUMFORD.' 

From  the  Duke  of  Grafton 

'Piccadilly:  1799. 

'  Dear  Sir, — I  had  but  just  time  to  cast  an  eye  on 
Mr.  Wilberforce's  letter  last  night,  and  seeing  that  the 
references  are  so  many  to  texts  of  Scripture,  I  must 
desire  you  to  leave  it  with  me  till  I  can  have  a  good 
hour's  leisure  to  give  it  that  consideration  which  every- 
thing from  him  must  deserve. 

'  I  wish  Mr.  Wilberforce '  and  myself  were  agreed 
upon  all  points  as  we  are   on    the  (I    fear)    hopeless 

'  Referring  to  a  long  letter  from  the  great  Wilberforce  on  '  Original 
Sin.' 


326      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

attempts  to  abolish  totallj^  the  slave  trade.  Depend 
upon  it  that  no  one  who  knows  that  gentleman  so  little 
honours  him  more  than  myself  ;  nor  do  I  impute  any 
opinions  or  dogmas  to  him  which  I  have  not  learnt 
from  his  writings.  I  believe  him  to  be  an  upright, 
sincerely  pious  and  beneficent  character,  treading  a  road 
that  leads  to  future  happiness,  even  should  he  be  under 
great  but  involuntary  errors.  Will  he  say  the  same  of 
any  one  of  those  whom  he  improperly  calls  Socinians'? 
For,  though  they  honour  the  memory  of  Socinus,  they 
do  not  follow  his  faith  ;  far  from  it,  for  they  acknow- 
ledge no  masters  on  matters  of  religion  but  Christ  and 
His  Apostles. 

*  Yours  very  faithfully, 

'  Grafton.' 

From  Dr.  Bu7'ney ' 

'  Dover  :  Sept.  11,  1799. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — Your  letter  [arrived]  at  Quarley  after 
I  had  left  my  friend  Mr.  Cox,  and  was  returned  to 
Chelsea  preparing  for  a  journey  into  Kent.  I  have 
been  here  and  hereabouts  near  three  weeks  in  the 
thick  of  all  the  military  bustle  of  this  county.  My 
headquarters  are  at  my  friend  Mr.  Crewe's  house  in 
this  town,  the  best  it  affords,  and  is  taken  for  three 
months.  Mr.  Crewe,  being  colonel  of  the  Second 
Royal  Cheshire  Militia,  is  quartered  at  Hythe,  but 
comes  over  frequently,  Mrs.  and  Miss  Crewe  being 
stationed  here.     The  Duke  of  Portland  and  Lady  Mary 

'  The  Letters  of  Maria  Josepha  Holroyd  give  an  amusing  account 
of  the  events  here  described. 


DIAEY   AND   CORRESPONDENCE  327 

Bentinck  came  hither  on  a  visit  last  Thursday,  and 
remained  inmates  with  us  till  yesterday  morning. 
Being  within  eight  or  nine  miles  of  the  camp  on 
Barham  Downs  and  seven  of  Walmer  Castle,  we  have 
been  there  several  times,  have  dined  twice  at  Sir 
Charles  Grey's,  the  commander-in-chief  at  the  camp, 
and  tvdce  at  Walmer  Castle  with  Mr.  Pitt,  Mr.  Dundas, 
and  Lady  Jane  Dundas,  who  does  the  honours,  and  is  a 
most  amiable,  sweet,  and  charming  woman.  Mr.  Kyder 
and  Lady  Susan  have  a  small  house  just  by  the  castle, 
and  Mr.  Canning  is  lodged  within  its  walls.  The  Duke 
of  York  was  there  for  several  days  before  he  embarked 
for  Holland.  We,  that  is  Mrs.  and  Miss  Crewe,  with 
Lady  Mary  Bentinck,  went  in  one  coach,  and  the  Duke 
of  Portland,  with  your  humble  servant,  in  another, 
at  five  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning  to  see  the  third 
embarkation  launched.  The  wind  was  furiously  adverse, 
but  it  was  done  with  wonderful  dexterity,  quickness,  and 
cheerfulness,  without  accident.  The  Duke  of  York  and 
Mr.  Dundas  were  on  the  beach,  the  ladies  were  all  in 
tears  ;  the  soldiers  in  high  spirits,  and  all  fun  and  jollity. 
We  afterwards  went  to  Walmer  Castle  to  breakfast,  and 
as  the  Duke  of  York  was  not  to  embark  till  the  evening, 
Mr.  Pitt  invited  Mrs.  Crewe  and  her  party  to  stay  and 
take  an  early  scrambling  dinner.  This  was  accepted, 
and  we  remained  in  the  castle  while  the  cannon  on  its 
ramparts  were  fired  on  his  Royal  Highness  entering  the 
launch  in  sight  of  a  fleet  of  at  least  two  hundred  sail  of 
ships,  by  which  he  was  saluted  ;  and  we  saw  the  flash 
of  every  gun,  and  heard  the  report  which  was  brought 
to  us  by  the  raging  east  wind,  forte,  fortissimo.    It  was 


328  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF  -ARTHUE   YOUNG 

a  glorious  sight !  God  prosper  the  expedition,  and  grant 
that  those  brave  men  who  are  gone  so  cheerfully  to 
fight  our  battles  and  those  of  all  Europe,  may  come 
home  with  honour  and  whole  bones.  The  Duke  of 
Portland's  youngest  son,  Lord  Charles  Bentinck,  sailed 
with  the  Duke  of  York,  and  young  Crewe  sails  to-day 
with  the  last  embarkation,  being  lieut. -colonel  com- 
mandant of  the  Ninth  Regiment  of  Infantry.  The 
hymn  to  the  Emperor  and  Souvarow's  '  march  have 
been  sung  and  played  to  all  these  great  folks  with  good 
effect  and  applause.  Lady  Susan  Eyder  and  Miss  Crewe 
sing  it  admirably,  and  I  join  in  the  chorus.  I  have 
obliged  all  the  ladies  mentioned  above,  including  Lady 
Grey,  with  copies  of  these  compositions  ;  they  are  all 
musicians,  and  are  the  personages  in  the  world  most 
deserving  of  such  a  favour,  and  where  the  granting  of  it 
will  be  of  most  use. 

'  I  congratulate  you  on  the  great  events  of  this 
wonderful  campaign,  not  forgetting  the  acquisition  of 
the  Dutch  fleet,  which,  I  am  glad  to  find,  is  ordered 
to  England.  The  Duke  of  Portland  received  a  letter 
yesterday  before  he  left  Dover  from  his  son,  who  is  with 
Marshal  Souvarow  (pronounced  Souvarofi:),  of  the  battle 
of  Novi,  confirming  all  that  the  French  have  told  us 
of  the  death  of  their  General  Joubert,  of  Moreau's 
being  unhorsed,  and  all  his  staff  killed,  wounded,  or 
prisoners.     It  has  cost  the  Allies  5,000  men.     However, 


'  On  November  4,  1794,  Souvarow  took  Warsaw,  when  8,000  soldiers 
and  12,000  men,  women,  and  children  were  massacred  in  cold  blood. 
See  L'histoire  ginirale  de  Lavisse  et  Ramband,  vol.  viii.  p.  358.  It  is 
to  be  hoped  that  Dr.  Burney  was  in  ignorance  of  this. 


DIARY   AND   CORRESPONDENCE  329 

it  seems  to  put  an  end  to  all  other  fighting  and  resist- 
ance by  Jacobin  armies  of  Italy. 

'  I  intend  returning  in   about  ten  days,  but    have 
a  visit  of  a  few  days  to  make  on  the  road  to  Sir  William 
and  Lady  Fawcett,  at  Eltham. 
'  God  bless  you. 

'  My  dear  Sir, 

'  Charles  Burney.' 

1800.  Bradfield. — I  never  come  to  this  place 
without  reaping  all  the  pleasure  which  any  place 
can  give  me  now.  It  is  beautiful  and  healthy,  and  is 
endeared  to  me  by  so  many  recollections,  melancholy 
ones  now,  alas  !  that  I  feel  more  here  than  anywhere 
else.  Here  have  I  lived  from  my  infancy,  here  my  dear 
mother  breathed  her  last,  here  was  all  I  knew  of  a 
sister,  and  the  church  contains  the  remains  of  my 
father,  mother,  and  ever  beloved  child  !  Here,  under  my 
window,  her  little  garden — the  shrubs  and  flowers  she 
planted — the  willow  on  the  island,  her  room,  her  books, 
her  papers.  There  have  I  prayed  to  the  Almighty  that  I 
might  join  her  in  the  next  world.  All  that  locality  can 
give  an  interest  to  in  this  world  is  here — sweet  Bradfield, 
to  use  an  epithet  of  my  dear  mother  fifty  years  ago  at 
Bath  ! — the  scene  also  of  many  and  great  sins ;  and  of 
none  perhaps  greater  than  the  black  ingratitude  of 
never  thanking  God  with  fervency  for  the  blessing  of 
such  a  spot  till  misery  turned  my  heart  to  Him,  and 
oh  !  how  cold  my  thanksgivings  compared  with  what 
I  ought  to  feel  ! 

To  me  it  has,  however,  often  been  a  source  of  foolish 


330  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF   ARTHUE  YOUNa 

■uneasiness.  I  have  reflected  on  the  increasing  taxes 
and  burthens  on  land  and  houses  in  this  kingdom  as 
the  inevitable  cause  of  ruin  to  all  little  estates ;  they 
are  gone  or  fast  going  in  this  country,  and  what  hope 
can  I  have  that  this  should  remain  in  the  posterity 
of  so  poor  a  person  as  I  am  ? 

I  have  preserved  it  by  a  life  of  industry  and  singular 
success,  or  it  had  gone  long  ago.  But  such  thoughts 
are  wicked.  All  is  in  the  hands  of  the  great  Pre- 
server and  Disposer  of  all  earthly  as  well  as  all  other 
existence. 

How  few  years  are  passed  since  I  should  have 
pushed  on  eagerly  to  Woburn  !  This  time  twelve- 
month I  dined  with  the  duke  on  the  Sunday.  The  party 
not  very  numerous,  but  chiefly  of  rank ;  the  entertain- 
ment more  splendid  than  usual  there.  He  expects  me 
to-day,  but  I  have  more  pleasure  in  resting,  going 
twice  to  church  and  eating  a  morsel  of  cold  lamb  at  a 
very  humble  inn,  than  partaking  of  gaiety  and  dissipa- 
tion at  a  great  table  which  might  as  well  be  spread  for 
a  company  of  heathens  as  English  lords  and  men  of 
fashion. 

In  my  way  from  Eoyston  to  Baldock,  passing  a 
village  I  saw  a  couple  of  cottages  which  seemed  very 
miserable.  Alighted  therefore  and  entered  one.  The 
woman  said  she  was  very  unhappy.  I  enquired  why  ? 
Her  daughter  was  now  dead  in  the  house.  How  old  ? 
Thirty-eight.  Married  to  a  glazier  in  London.  She  had 
been  down  with  her  mother  some  time  for  health  in  a 
decline,  and  died  two  days  ago.  '  I  hope  she  died  a 
good  Christian.'     '  I  hope  so,'  replied  the  woman,  who 


DIAEY   AND   COREESPONDENCE  331 

seemed  to  feel  very  little.  And  it  is  the  blessing  of  God 
that  they  do  not— they  cannot  afford  to  grieve  like 
their  betters.  It  was  odd  that  I  should  happen  to 
stop  and  enter  a  cottage  with  a  corpse  in  it,  but 
nothing  interesting  followed.  God  forbid  it  should  be 
for  want  of  my  sifting  and  enquiring  more — but  nothing 
led  to  it.  The  husband  was  expected  soon,  and  the 
woman  has  a  son,  a  miller,  who  keeps  her,  a  cow,  and 
she  had  a  good  pig  feeding  at  the  door.  She  was, 
however,  thankful  for  the  trifle  I  gave  her. 

My  adventures  increase  and  have  a  strange  simili- 
tude. Passing  through  Millbrook,  near  Lord  Ossory's, 
some  cottages,  with  corn  in  their  gardens,  on  the  slopes 
of  a  narrow  sandy  vale,  caught  my  eye,  but  speedily 
passing  it  was  a  second  thought  to  stop  the  horse 
and  walk  down  to  them.  There  are  thirteen  of  them, 
and  all  inhabited  by  owners.  A  hemp  weaver,  who 
lives  in  the  first  I  entered,  gave  me  an  account  of  them 
all,  and  amongst  the  rest  he  named  Underwood's,  who 
had  a  large  family,  and  was  sadly  poor.  I  went  to  it. 
Poor  indeed  !  the  cottage  almost  tumbling  down,  the 
wind  blowing  through  it  on  every  side.  On  a  bed,  which 
was  hardly  good  enough  for  a  hog,  was  the  woman  very 
ill  and  moaning ;  she  had  been  lately  brought  to  bed, 
and  her  infant  was  dead  in  a  cradle  by  the  bedside. 
What  a  spectacle  !  She  had  four  children  living  ;  one, 
a  little  girl,  was  at  home,  and  putting  together  a  few 
embers  on  the  hearth.  My  heart  sank  within  me  at 
the  sight  of  so  much  misery,  and  so  dark,  cold,  tattered 
and  wretched  a  room.  Merciful  God,  to  take  the  little 
child  to  Himself,  rather  than  leave  it  existing  in  such  a 


332      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AKTHUR  YOUNG 

place.  What  a  sight  !  I  entered  another  cottage, 
which  was  lately  built,  neat  and  cheerful,  the  Widow 
Scarboro's ;  she  earns  something  by  washing,  but  her 
smoky  chimney  most  uncomfortable.  No  wonder,  with 
the  old  broad  high  fire-place.  In  the  depth  of  winter 
the  door  must  be  open.  I  told  her  how  to  cure  it,  but 
I  wished  to  give  her  a  Kumford  grate  and  see  it  fixed. 
Impossible  !  and  her  evils  are  nothing  to  poor  Under- 
wood's. 

But  how  strange  yesterday  to  find  a  dead  woman  in 
a  house,  and  to-day  a  dead  child,  and  in  such  an  acci- 
dental manner,  as  it  seems,  to  enter  just  these  houses. 
No  chance  ;  the  more  I  see,  the  more  I  reflect,  the  more 
I  am  convinced  that  the  providence  of  the  Almighty 
directs  everything,  but  in  a  manner  utterly  incompre- 
hensible to  us  ;  and  it  is  the  more  incomprehensible 
from  our  paying  so  very  little  attention  to  it.  If  every 
one  was  to  be  careful  to  observe  all  such  apparently 
accidental  events,  they  would  have  reason  to  acknow- 
ledge the  hand  of  Omnipotence.  In  three  days  how 
has  what  the  world  calls  chance  conducted  my  steps ! 

These  poor  people  know  not  by  what  tenure  they 
hold  their  land  ;  they  say  they  once  belonged  to  the 
duke,  but  that  the  duke  has  swopped  them  away  to  my 
lord  (Lord  Ossory).  How  little  do  the  great  know 
what  they  swop  and  what  they  receive  !  What  would 
be  a  blessing  poured  into  their  hands  if  they  knew 
how  to  use  it.  What  a  field  is  here  !  How  very 
trifling  the  repairs  to  render  these  poor  families  warm 
and  comfortable !  Above  their  gardens  on  one  side 
there  is  a  waste  fern  tract  now  enclosed,  from  which 


DIARY  AND   CORRESPONDENCE  333 

small  additions  might  be  given  them,  yet  would  en- 
able them  to  live  from  their  ground  at  least  much 
better  than  at  present.  What  have  not  great  and  rich 
people  to  answer,  for  not  examining  into  the  situation 
of  their  poor  neighbours  ? 

To  Woburn  Abbey.  Here  is  wealth  and  grandeur 
and  worldly  greatness ;  but  I  am  sick  of  it  as  soon  as  I 
enter  these  splendid  walls.  I  had  rather  be  amongst 
the  cottagers  at  Millbrook  had  I  but  the  means  of  aid- 
ing them.  I  wall  see  Lord  Ossory,  and  try  to  do  some- 
thing for  them. 

In  these  farming  tours  '  of  mine,  vain  ideas  will  too 
often  rise  in  my  mind  on  the  importance  of  my  labour 
to  the  public  good ;  and  were  the  improvement  of 
agriculture  alone  to  be  considered,  I  believe  little  doubt 
could  be  entertained.  But  what  is  the  tendency  of  all 
these  improvements  except  to  add  to  the  wealth  and 
prosperity  of  a  country  that  is  already  under  a  most 
heavy  responsibility  to  the  Almighty  for  innumerable 
temporal  blessings  ;  repaid  with  the  black  ingratitude 
of  irreligion,  and  a  general  contempt  of  everything 
serious  or  sacred.  Carriers'  waggons  and  stage  coaches 
are  passing  here  every  hour  in  open  defiance  of  the  laws 


'  Note  by  A.  Y.  at  close  of  year's  diary  :  '  In  the  summer,'  in  con- 
sequence of  much  conversation  with  Lord  Carrington  on  the  importance 
of  enclosures,  I  proposed  to  him  that  I  should  take  a  tour  expressly  for 
the  purpose  of  ascertaining  what  the  effect  had  really  been  in  practice. 
He  approved  of  the  idea,  and  desired  me  to  execute  it ;  and,  in  regard 
to  the  expense,  I  told  him  that  if  he  would  allow  100/.,  I  would  expend 
it  in  travelling,  and  report  to  him  the  country  travelled  and  the  enclo- 
sures examined,  and  then  he  might  extend  or  not  the  undertaking  at  his 
pleasure.  He  approved  the  plan,  and  I  accordingly  employed  twenty 
weeks  on  the  journey.' 


334      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

of  God  and  man ;  and  the  Sabbath  is  the  sure  day  of 
labour  for  all  travelling  gentlemen.  What  horses  are 
they  that  rest,  that  can  by  any  means  be  made  to  work  ? 
Our  fields  are  made  to  smile  with  cultivation  for  the 
profits  of  men  thankless  to  Heaven.  Can  such  a  country 
continue  to  be  thus  blessed '?  I  fear  and  dread  some 
terrible  reverse,  and  have  the  only  hope  that  the  prayers 
of  religious  men,  Methodists  as  they  are  called,  may  be 
heard,  and  avert  the  misfortunes  we  deserve.  It  damps 
all  vanity  of  public  good  attending  such  attempts  as 
mine,  to  think  of  the  use  that  is  made  of  great  wealth. 
Affiiction  and  poverty  may  do  something  in  bringing 
nations,  like  individuals,  to  their  senses  ;  but  to  increase 
the  wealth  that  adds  to  our  irreligion  and  ingratitude, 
is  of  a  very  poor  importance  indeed,  and  too  question- 
able to  permit  one  vain  thought  to  be  fairly  founded. 

July  7. — Breakfasting  at  Huntingdon  from  Kim- 
bolton,  after  spending  just  a  week  with  the  duke  and 
duchess.  It  has  been  so  pleasant  and  agreeable  that  I 
am  unhinged  on  quitting  them.  The  duchess  pleases 
me  as  much  or  more  than  any  woman  I  have  met  these 
many  years.  Her  character  in  every  worldly  respect  is 
most  amiable.  There  is  a  native  ease,  simplicity,  and 
naivete  of  character  in  her  which  delights  me  ;  and  when 
I  consider  the  life  of  the  Duchess  of  Gordon,  her  mother, 
the  great  patroness  of  every  dissipation,  I  am  amazed 
at  this  secluded  young  duchess,  who  never  goes  to 
London,  loves  a  retired  hfe,  and  is  quite  contented  on 
a  fortune  very  moderate  for  the  rank  of  her  husband. 
She  gave  me  her  whole  history,  from  going  one  summer 
for  some  weeks  to  drink  goat's  whe}^  on  the  mountains 


BIXRY  AND    CORRESPONDENCE  335 

many  miles  beyond  Gordon  Castle,  and  running  up  and 
down  the  hills  bare-footed,  driving  down  the  goats  and 
milking  them  ;  and  being  delighted  AAath  the  place  and 
the  life,  though  no  human  being  within  many  miles 
except  the  family  and  an  old  woman  of  the  solitary 
house.  This  was  the  case  of  all  the  girls  ;  she  never 
went  to  school,  and  laid  in  a  fine  stock  of  health,  and 
with  it  a  sweetness  of  temper  and  simplicity  of  character 
which,  joined  with  an  excellent  understanding,  con- 
tributed so  much  to  form  her  as  she  is  at  present, 
calculated  to  be  a  blessing  to  her  husband.  She  loves 
him,  and  behaves  with  a  most  exemplary  and  un- 
exampled patience  and  mildness  under  his  connection 

with  Mrs.  .     I  like  her  greatly,'  and  wish  I  could 

add  that  she  was  religious.  She  goes  to  church  often, 
she  says,  and  brings  her  four  lovely  children  up  to 
attend  it ;  but  I  see  she  has  no  sense  or  feeling  of  real 
religion,  which  I  spoke  of  repeatedly,  and  earnestly 
recommended.  The  next  time  they  come  to  Culford 
they  both  promised  to  come  and  see  me,  and  will  do  it 
I  have  no  doubt.  The  spectacle  in  this  age  of  seeing 
a  very  plain  table,  a  plain  unaffected  way  of  living,  and 
everything  about  them  modest  and  moderate  in  scale, 
very  little  company,  and  never  at  London,  yet  all  cheer- 
fulness and  content,  even  under  the  above  circumstance, 
speaks  a  good  heart  and  an  amiable  temper,  as  much 

'  In  the  Annals  of  Agrictilture,  vol.  xxxv.  p.  432,  occurs  the  follow- 
ing :  '  If  a  farming  traveller  comes  to  Kimbolton,  and  forgets  its 
mistress,  may  his  sheep  rot  and  crops  blight  1  A  youog  duchess,  ever 
in  the  country,  loving  it,  and  free  from  a  wish  for  London  a  character 
that,  if  I  was  to  give  my  pen  scope,  it  would  run  wild  on  such  a  sub- 
ject.' 


336      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

as  such  can  be  good  with  the  Almighty  coming  in  for 
so  poor  a  share  of  its  attentions.  I  do  and  will  pray 
to  God  that  He  will  give  her  His  grace  to  change  in  this 
respect,  and  then  she  will  be  a  pattern  for  her  sex. 

July  7. — To  Huntingdon,  St.  Ives,  and  Holywell, 
at  the  Eeverend  Mr.  Hutchinson's,  who  was  long  at 
Kimbolton,  and  had  livings  given  to  him  by  the 
late  duke  ;  [has]  four  stout,  well-looking,  unmarried 
daughters,  that  have  been  marriageable  some  years. 
A  common  spectacle,  and  everywhere  from  the  same 
cause  :  the  fornication  of  men  with  the  abandoned 
of  the  sex  robs  thousands  of  such  virtuous  and  good 
girls  of  husbands.  The  more  I  reflect,  the  more  I  see 
the  reason  of  God's  wrath  and  denunciations  against 
this  vice  in  Scripture,  however  natural  it  is,  and  how- 
ever powerful  the  temptation.  The  more  the  temptation 
the  more  the  wickedness  to  throw  so  many  into  it,  by 
depriving  those  of  husbands  to  whom  God  has  given 
the  right,  but  of  which  the  vice  of  man  deprives  them. 
Every  man  would  have  his  wife,  and  every  woman  her 
husband,  were  it  not  for  whores  and  whoremongers. 
Christianity  is  in  everything  consistent  with  reason, 
morals,  and  the  religion  of  nature. 

At  St.  Ives  [met]  a  drunken  beast,  a  doctor  of  divi- 
nity, is  intoxicated  every  day  ;  drunk  about  the  streets  ; 
introduced  himself  to  me,  and  breathed  like  a  puncheon 
of  rum  in  my  face. 

Sunday,  lOth  :  Downham. — I  have  had  a  busy  week 
and  gained  a  great  variety  of  good  intelligence  ;  but  what 
is  it  all  but  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit  if  examined 
with  view  of  a  superior  nature  !     However,  it  is  my 


DIAEY   AND   CORRESPONDENCE  337 

undoubted  duty  to  do  my  best,  and  I  must  approve  upon 
the  whole  of  exerting  as  much  industry  for  the  Board 
as  ever  I  did  upon  my  own  account.  My  employment 
is  not  only  lawful,  but  useful ;  God  grant  me  to  render 
it  as  much  so  to  the  poor  as  circumstances  will  permit. 
In  this  week  I  have  been  at  Wing's  at  Thorney  Abbey. 
A  party  of  ladies  [here],  Mrs.  Ansel  of  Ormsby  in 
Lincolnshire  and  two  daughters.  They  attacked  me, 
but  with  politeness,  on  my  rabbit  article  in  the  Lincoln 
report.  I  found  from  their  conversation  on  Wilberforce 
and  H.  More  that  they  are  good  Christians,  so  they 
might  say  anything ;  but  we  parted  very  good  friends. 
At  March  :  Reverend  Mr.  Jobson  and  a  vulgar 
steward,  a  prating  but  a  useful  fellow,  Wandby,  dined 
with  me. 

At  Downham  :  Lemon,  Dashwood,  and  a  poor  fen 
man  Talbot.  I  have  gone  on  well  for  the  object  of 
my  journey  ;  would  that  I  went  on  as  well  in  the  great 
journey  to  the  next  world !  At  church  twice  ;  Mr. 
Dashwood  in  his  sermon  spoke  very  properly  on  a  topic 
which  I  have  often  thought  should  be  inveighed  upon 
vigorously  :  the  great  indecency  of  people  sitting  when 
they  should  kneel,  which  is  now  everywhere  so  com- 
mon ;  but  in  the  afternoon  a  better  congregation  and 
no  sermon  !  For  a  clergyman  to  have  an  audience 
collected  ready  to  hear  him  and  yet  quit  the  church 
without  preaching,  how  very  lukewarm  he  must  be 
in  care  of  souls  who  can  bring  himself  without 
violence  to  such  a  conduct !  Is  this  the  way  with 
Methodists  as  they  are  called  ?     God  forbid  !     With  a 

z 


338      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUK  YOUNG 

church  thus  filled  as  that  of  England  is,  who  can 
wonder  at  Sectaries  increasing  ?  All  is  poor  work  when 
men  are  not  in  earnest — when  they  are  not  as  animated 
and  eager  in  their  sacred  calling  as  others  are  in  their 
business  and  shops.  A  parson  should  always  think  : 
what  would  St.  Paul  do  on  this  occasion  ? 

Su7iday,  August  3. — Dined  last  Tuesday  with  the 
Grand  Jury  at  Cambridge,  and  in  the  afternoon  Lord 
Hardwicke  took  me  with  him  to  Wimpole.  On  the 
Thursday,  a  great  public  day,  seventy-three  at  dinner, 
turtle,  venison,  and  everything  that  could  be.  A  Lord 
Lieutenant's  gala  which  has  not  been  these  four  years. 
Lady  Cotton,  Sir  Wm.  Eowley's  sister,  there  all  the 
week,  and  a  Miss  Coburn.  Lady  Margaret  Fordyce 
has  uncommon  talents,  and  reading  and  languages, 
French,  Italian  and  German,  but  I  mistake  if  she  is  not 
a  bit  of  a  fury  when  she  has  a  mind.  I  don't  like  her 
countenance.  Lady  H.  pleases  me  better.  Lord  H. 
is  very  clever,  has  very  good  parts  and  a  clear  head,  a 
man  of  business.  I  was  pleased  to  find  that  he  went 
twice  to  church,  and  read  a  long  prayer  at  night  to  all 
the  family,  taken  from  the  Liturgy.  I  shall  be  here  a 
week,  and  have  idled  none  of  it  away,  but  beat  the 
country  well  for  enclosures.  I  have  not,  however, 
broken  my  resolution  of  passing  Sunday  alone  without 
being  [misled],  for  even  in  such  a  family  I  had  a  farming 
expedition  to  the  next  parish,  and  conversation  is  never 
religious — I  hope  I  shall  do  it  no  more. 

Night. — Lord  Hardwicke  had  all  the  family  together, 
and  read  a  long  prayer  taken  from  the  Liturgy,  from 
almost  every  part  of  it.     I  am  glad  to  find  a  great  Lord 


DIAEY  AND   COEEESPONDENCE  339 

who  is  not  ashamed  of  praying  to  God.  May  there  be 
many  such  ! 

4:th. — I  left  Wimpole,  and  the  9th  came  to  Brad- 
field  after  a  journey  of  eight  weeks,  thanks  to  the 
Almighty,  in  health  and  safety.  There  passed  a  week, 
staying  two  Sundays.  Mrs.  Y.  in  great  health,  and 
when  that  is  the  case  in  too  much  irritation — God  for- 
give her — life  is  a  scene  of  worrying,  time  trifled  with, 
a  book  never  looked  in,  quarrels  and  irritation  never 
subsiding.  My  daughter  and  daughter-in-law  reading 
cart  loads  of  novels.  AVhile  at  Bradfield  I  received  from 
Sir  J.  Banks,  confidentially,  many  enquiries  about  the 
means  of  encouraging  the  culture  of  hemp ;  they  are 
therefore  apprehensive  of  a  war  with  Eussia.  At  the 
time  of  the  Russian  armament  I  was  consulted  on  the 
same  subject  by  Lord  Liverpool,  but  they  do  nothing 
except  on  the  spur  of  the  moment,  and  then  never  effec- 
tually. Heaven  avert  more  wars,  those  scourges  of 
humanity  !  This  first  week  of  my  second  journey  '  I  have 
laboured  very  hard  in  my  enquiries,  and  travelled  many 
miles  on  bad  roads,  not  finishing  the  day  till  six  in  the 
evening,  and  then  dining  and  having  much  writing. 
Such  a  life  I  should  earnestly  wish  to  avoid  if  I  had  a 
home  tolerably  comfortable,  but  mine  is  so  far  from 
that  description  in  almost  every  respect  that  I  submit 
the  better  to  being  ever  in  harness.  It  is  the  will  of 
God,  and  my  duty  is  to  submit  with  cheerfulness. 

October  6th  :  Hounsloio. — Found  near  twenty  letters 
at  the  post-office,  and,  among  the  rest,  two  from  Parker 
of  Ripon,  attorney  to   Sir  Cecil  Wray,  Kilvington,  and 

'  Full  accounts  of  these  tours  are  given  in  the  Annals  of  Agriculture. 

z  2 


340      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

Allanson,  to  inform  he  had  orders  to  hold  me  to  bail  on 
my  bond  to  them  on  buying  Knaresboro'  Forest,  as 
Abbey  of  Northampton  has  not  paid  one  shilling  rent 
or  interest.  This  is  a  fine  affair ;  it  is  true  there  is  land 
security  for  the  4,000^.  of  double  the  value,  but  who 
am  I  to  get  to  bail  me  ?  I  fear  this  is  the  hand  of  God 
working  against  me,  and  that  He  means  me  chastisement. 
The  Lord's  will  be  done  !  I  shall  pray  earnestly  to  be 
spared,  but  if  it  is  His  will,  be  it  done,  and  may  He 
grant  me  resignation,  patience,  and  submission  to  His 
correction.  It  comes  heavy  at  the  moment,  for  I  was 
much  injured  at  Enfield  by  coffee  out  of  copper,  as  I 
suppose,  with  a  violent  purging  colic  and  vomiting, 
and  left  by  it  in  a  state  of  great  debility  of  body  ;  this 
stroke  of  fresh  anxiety  cuts  therefore.  May  God  be 
appeased  and  spare  me  the  affliction. 

Last  Sunday  I  read  much  in  Hale's  '  Contempla- 
tions :  Moral  and  Divine,'  in  which  the  Providence  of 
God  is  treated  more  to  my  mind  than  in  any  other  book 
I  have  read.  I  have  derived  on  various  occasions,  as 
well  as  the  present,  much  consolation  from  that  most 
excellent  work,  which  I  now  earnestlj^  recommend  to 
my  children,  and  hope  if  they  should  ever  read  these 
words,  they  will  think  of  their  father  and  follow  his 
advice  to  make  that  great  lawyer's  book  their  constant 
companion. 

On  the  close  of  this  century  it  may  not  be  improper 
to  look  back  through  the  period  of  my  own  recollections 
in  order  to  reflect  on  some  eminent  names  that  may 
be  mentioned  as  forming  the  principal  constellation  of 
talents  which  have  distinguished  the  period  ;  and  the 


DIAEY   AND    COREESPONDENCE  341 

more  readily  because  I  have  had  the  honour  of  con- 
versing with  most  of  them,  and  being  well  known  to 
several.  In  minuting  such  a  list  I  may  name  the 
following,  viz.:  Burke,  Pitt,  Fox,  Johnson,  Keynolds, 
Barry,  Burney,  Miss  Burney,  H.  More,  Wilberforce, 
Soame. 

The  following  are  the  selection  of  this  year's 
letters  : — 

From  Jeremy  Bentham,  Esq.,  queries  sent  from  the 
Treasury  to  the  Board  of  Agriculture 

'  Queen's  Square  Place,  Westminster  ;   June  14,  1800. 

'  Dear  Sir, — -Underneath  is  a  question,  which  I  have 
just  been  calling  in  Sackville  Street  to  beg  the  favour 
of  your  answer  to,  for  my  oicn  information.  It  is  in 
contemplation  to  make  the  purport  of  it  the  subject  of 
a  reference  to  the  Board  of  Agriculture  from  the 
Treasury.  The  occasion  seemed  to  be  of  a  nature 
particularly  favourable  to  the  enabling  the  public  to 
avail  itself  of  the  services  of  the  Board,  and  may 
perhaps  have  the  effect  of  placing  the  utility  of  that 
Institution  in  a  new  and  additional  point  of  view ; 
while  the  dignity  of  its  members,  and  the  manner  in 
which  it  is  composed,  will  give  such  a  title  to  public 
confidence,  in  respect  of  the  grand  point  of  superiority 
to  all  personal  considerations,  as  would  in  vain  be  looked 
for  in  any  other  quarter  capable  of  being  applied  to  for 
such  a  purpose.  In  this  light  I  have  just  been  men- 
tioning the  matter  to  Mr.  Nepean,  who  entered  so 
thoroughly  into  it  as  to  say  he  would  himself  propose  it 
to  the  Treasury  to  make  such  reference. 


342      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ART  HUE  YOUNG 

'  On  enquiring  I  had  the  mortification  of  learning 
that  the  Board  had  adjourned  to  some  day  in  November  : 
but  would  there  be  no  such  thing  as  the  calling  an 
extra  meeting,  if  not  to  the  Board  at  large,  of  a  Com- 
mittee for  the  purpose  of   receiving  a  reference  from 
such  a  quarter,  and  making  a  Eeport  ?     If  not,  possibly 
the  opinion  of  the  Secretary  might  be  accepted  of  as 
the  only  obtainable  succedaneum  to  the  opinion  of  the 
Board  ;  for  where  else  could  any  other  equally  compe- 
tent opinion  be  obtained  ?     But  howsoever  the  matter 
may  stand  with  regard  to  the  Board  and  Mr.  Secretary, 
I  hope  Mr.  Young  will  not  refuse  an  old  correspondent 
the  favour  of  an  answer  for  his  own  guidance,  and  that 
as  speedy  as  possible ;  for  it  is  for  this  answer  that  I 
wait  to  enable  me  to  fill  up  a  blank  with  figures,  the 
propriety  of  which  is  what  is  proposed  as  above  to  be 
made  the  subject  of  reference  to  the  Board.     If  you  are 
unable  to  guess  my  reason  for  interfering  in  the  business, 
so  much  the  better,  but  if  you  have  your  conjectures,  all 
I  can  do  is  to  beg  (which  I  do  with  the  utmost  sincerity) 
that  you  would  forbear  letting  them  find   their  way, 
directly  or  indirectly,  to  any  person  to  whose  lot  it  may 
fall  to  concur  in  making  the  Beport.     It  was  at  Mr. 
Nepean's    express    recommendation   that   I   called   in 
Sackville  Street  for  the  purpose  of  conversing  with  you 
in   person  :  but,    if   your  absence  be  not  fatal  to  the 
business,  I   shall   be   much   better   pleased   with   the 
opportunity  of  transacting  it  in  this  manner  without 
any  other  communication  than  what  will  show  itself  in 
black  and  white.     I  am  not  swre  but  the  Eeport  from 
the  Board  might  be  waited  for  without  much  incon- 


DIARY  AND   CORRESPONDENCE  343 

venience  till  their  regular  time  of  reassembling  :  but 
till  Mr.  Young's  answer  is  obtained,  or  is  known  to  be 
unobtainable,  everything  is  at  a  stand.  And  a  business 
in  which  the  public  has  an  interest  of  no  inconsiderable 
magnitude,  and  for  the  conclusion  of  which  all  parties 
are  impatient,  sleeps,  and,  in  short,  if  it  does  not  come 
at  farthest  before  this  week  is  at  an  end,  the  hopes 
entertained  of  an  answer  from  a  quarter  thus  respect- 
able must  be  deserted.  But  these  matters  are  so 
perfectly  A.B.C.  to  Mr.  Young  that  I  am  sanguine 
enough  to  hope,  if  not  for  a  definitive  solution,  at  least 
for  an  answer  with  an  approximation,  and  announcing 
a  definitive  solution  in  a  few  days,  by  return  of  post. 

'  I  am,  dear  Sir,  with  all  respect, 

'  Your  faithful  humble  servant, 

'  Jekemy  Bentham. 

'  Now  for  my  question — A  sum  having  been  allot- 
ted in  March,  1793,  for  the  maintenance  of  a  certain 
number  of  persons,  of  the  lowest  rank  of  life,  in  pro- 
visions, clothing,  bedding,  washing,  firing,  and  light- 
ing, how  much,  if  anything,  per  cent,  ought  to  be 
the  additional  allowance  made  at  present  in  considera- 
tion of  the  intervening  rise  of  prices  ?  The  calculation 
to  be  grounded  not  on  the  prices  of  a  particularly  bad 
year  (such  as  the  present),  but  on  the  probable  average 
of  a  future  term — say  of  twelve  years. 

*  P.S. — Kelative  to  the  "  Annals  " — I  have  got  a  tit- 
bit for  your  "  Dragon  "  (the  name  Dr.  Hawksworth 
used  to  give  his  magazine) ,  some  facts  which  to  me  are 
as  new  as  they  are  interesting,  relative  to  the  effect  of 


344  AUTOBIOGKAPHY   OF  ARTHUR   YOUNG 

the  rise  of  prices  on  the  wages  of  the  self-maintaining 
labourers  in  agriculture,  and  the  mode  of  provision  for 
the  burthensome.  The  author,  a  very  intelligent  and 
respectable  clergyman,  Mr,  North,  Eector  of  Ashdon  in 
Essex.  They  are  contained  in  two  or  three  letters  :  ^ 
the  moral  of  them  appears  to  lean  to  two  practical 
results,  both  of  them  I  believe  as  alien  to  your  notions 
as  to  mine,  viz.  rating  wages  and  restricting  the  size 
of  farms.  At  the  same  time  what  they  indicate  is 
certainly  a  disease,  the  mischief  of  which,  however, 
would,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  be  much  exceeded  by 
that  of  the  least  mischievous  of  the  above  two  remedies. 
But  if  capable  of  an  answer,  they  are,  at  the  same  time, 
highly  deser\dng  of  one  ;  and  this  not  only  on  account 
of  the  facts  themselves,  but  on  account  of  the  good 
sense  as  well  as  candour  with  which  they  are  delivered. 

'J.  B.' 

From  J.  Syrtionds,  Esq.,  to  the  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Commons,  dec. 

'  Euston  :  November  30,  1800. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — I  came  hither  on  Friday  and  shall 
go  home  next  Saturday.  I  hear  there  are  three  pam- 
phlets lately  published  that  command  much  attention — 
Lord  Sheffield's,-  Sir  Thomas  Sturton's,  and  "  Candid 
Enquiries,"  etc.  When  does  your  Board  intend  to 
enter   the  lists?     The  Duke  says  it  has  shown  him 

'  These  letters  are  inserted  in  the  Annals  of  Agriculture,  vol.  xxxv. 
p.  459. 

^  Lord  Sheffield  published  Remarks  on  the  Deficiency  of  Grain 
1799-1800,  and  Observations  on  tlie  Exportation  of  Wool  from  Great 
Britain  to  Ireland,  1800. 


DIAEY  AND   COEEESPONDENCE  345 

great  politeness  by  the  attention  it  has  paid  to  a 
proposal  of  his.  If  you  have  not  got  "  Islington  on 
ForestalHng,"  &c.  you  should  buy  it,  for  several  sta- 
tutes, absurd  as  they  are,  you  vnll  find  set  forth 
clearly  and  methodically — I  should  not  properly  say 
clearly  (but  this  is  no  fault  of  the  editor) ,  for  we  do  not 
know  what  statutes  may  be  said  to  be  declaratory  of 
the  common  law,  or  not.  Did  you  not  rejoice  w4th 
me  that  Sheridan  animadverted  on  those  judges  who 
had  thundered  their  anathemas  against  forestallers,  &c.  ? 
I  am  persuaded  that  some  of  the  riots  owed  their  origin 
to  the  intemperate  language  so  extra-judicially  used.  I 
was  sorry  to  see  the  turn  which  affairs  took  upon  the 
Keport  of  the  Committee.  Had  Pitt  been  silent  about 
the  Jacobins,  and  had  your  friend  Wilberforce  abstained 
from  abusing  Grey's  connections  and  Sir  Francis 
Burdett's  speech,  there  would  probably  have  been  a 
great  unanimity.  The  more  Wilberforce  endeavoured 
to  exculpate  himself,  the  deeper  he  seemed  to  plunge. 
He  was  well  advised  by  Sir  F.  B.,  who  seldom 
harangues  with  any  propriety,  "  to  think  more,  and 
speak  less." 

'  When  I  mentioned  agricultural  books  I  ought  not 
to  have  appeared  insensible  to  the  pleasure  I  received 
from  perusing  the  greater  part  of  Burke's  pamphlet, 
very  lately  published  by  Dr.  Lawrence.  You,  I  find, 
make  there  a  distinguished  figure  in  the  foreground. 
Do  you  approve  of  what  Burke  says  about  the  dis- 
tilleries ? 

'  A  few  minutes  before  I  came  hither  on  Friday  a 
very   melancholy   event  took  place.      Winterton,  the 


346      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

Groom  of  the  Chambers,  had  been  seen  walking  by  the 
side  of  the  river  near  the  mill,  not  far  from  the  house,  and 
was  never  heard  of  afterwards  till  his  body  was  found 
in  the  river.  The  Coroner  is  expected  to-day,  and  he 
will  probably  instruct  the  jury  to  bring  in  their  verdict, 
"  lunacy,"  as  some  of  the  servants  had  observed  in  him 
marks  of  insanity  a  few  days  preceding. 

'  If  you  can  spare  five  minutes  from  the  service  you 
pay  to  the  Board  and  to  the  public,  favour  me  with  a 
few  lines.  You  live  now  more  with  poHticians  than 
vdth  farmers. 

'  "What  will  be  the  result  of  our  breaking  with  the 
Emperor  of  Eussia,  whose  conduct  Mr.  Pitt  truly  calls 
"  strange  versatility  and  caprice  "  ? 

'  Tell  me  a  good  deal,  for  the  Duke  has  no  regular 
correspondent  in  Town  now  that  Stonehewer  is  here. 

'  I  was  with  you  at  Bradfield  when  Buonaparte's 
first  offers  for  a  peace  were  published. 

'You  said  you   thought   the   Ministry  would   pay 
attention  to  them,  and  do  you  think  that,  upon  the 
whole,  we   can   make   as  good  a  peace  as  them,  the 
French  having  been  almost  driven  out  of  Italy  ? 
'  Adieu. 

'  Yours  sincerely, 

'J.  Symonds.' 


347 


CHAPTEK   XIV 

DIAEY   CONTINUED,    1801-1803 

Public  affairs  and  prophecy — The  divining  rod— The  appropriation  of 
waste  lauds — The  word  '  meanness  '  defined — South's  sermons — 
Projected  theological  compendia — Correspondence — JournaUsing  to 
'  my  friend ' — Anecdote  of  Dean  Milner  and  Pitt— Death  of  the  Duke 
of  Bedford — Napoleon  and  Protestantism. 

March  20. — It  is  in  vain  to  complain  of  gaps ;  if  I 
had  but  attention  enough  to  write  only  two  lines  every 
day  I  should  have  hope  of  going  on.  I  have  been 
thinking  more  seriously  of  the  Journal,  and  of  convert- 
ing it  to  use  as  a  memento  of  the  progress  I  make  in 
the  only  business  worth  real  attention — m}^  salvation 
through  the  merits  of  the  Blessed  Saviour.  For  this 
purpose  I  must  fix  on  some  hour  of  the  day  to  be 
regular  at  it,  and,  if  I  hold  my  resolution,  it  shall  be 
immediately  after  my  prayers  in  the  morning,  being 
always  up  at  4  a.m.  and  sometimes  at  3  a.m.  I  am 
then  sure  to  be  uninterrupted ;  positively  I  will  begin 
to-morrow  morning. 

21st. — Dined  yesterday  with  Lord  Somerville.  I 
did  not  like  the  day.  Duke  of  Montrose,  Duke  of  Athol, 
and  Lord  Rossraore  sent  excuses,  but  the  INIarquis  of 
Abercorn,  Lord  Dalkeith,  Lord  Villiers,  Lord  Bar- 
rington,  Mr.    McDougal,  Mr.  Baird,    and  two  Scotch 


348      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AUTHUE  YOUNG 

members  were  there,  the  last  but  one  a  hard-headed, 
sensible  man. 

Much  conversation,  particularly  farming.  This 
morning  Sir  A.  St.  John  Mildmay  called  to  have  my 
opinion  of  a  Bill  he  is  now  bringing  into  Parliament  to 
enable  the  clergy  to  give  leases  of  their  tithes  beyond 
the  term  of  their  lives.  The  Archbishop  has  not  nega- 
tived it,  but  such  a  Bill  can  no  more  pass  than  the 
abolition  of  tithes ;  it  is  open  to  such  frauds  that 
perhaps  it  ought  not  to  pass. 

My  chief  misfortune  in  having  little  society  with 
well-disposed  minds :  I  know  few  except  Wilberforce 
and  Cecil ;  the  latter  I  rarely  see,  and  W.  is  so  full  of 
business  that  I  might  nearly  as  well  be  unknown  to 
him.  I  will  urge  him  to  form  a  Society  to  meet  once  a 
week  for  conversation  merely  on  religion. 

2%id,  Sunday. — To  be  eager  and  alert  in  rising  at 
4  A.M.  for  all  my  secular  employments  and  sluggish  on 
the  Lord's  Day,  when,  if  I  rise,  it  must  be  to  His 
worship,  seemed  long  ago  a  snare  of  Satan,  which, 
blessed  be  God,  I  have  resisted.  I  was  yesterday  at  the 
Society  for  Bettering  the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  the 
Bishop  of  Durham  in  the  chair  ;  it  is  an  excellent 
institution,  and  may  call  down  the  blessing  of  God — 
may  that  Being  grant  them  his  grace  to  do  good  from 
right  motives !  With  the  Duke  of  Bedford  on  the 
Smithfield  Society,  and  the  whole  day  full  of  business, 
which,  on  the  Sabbath,  I  banish  as  much  as  I  can  from 
my  mind.  In  the  evening  my  son  and  daughter  only 
at  home,  and  therefore  I  got  an  hour's  religious  con- 
versation with  them  on  the  times  and  the  Prophecies. 


DIAEY  CONTINUED  349 

I  have  been  too  negligent  of  improving  such  oppor- 
tunities, but  the  tremendous  moment  in  which  we  Hve, 
so  lately  having  seen  the  country  without  King,  with- 
out minister,  with  a  famine,  and  seven  wars  !  If  it  be 
not  a  moment  to  call  people  to  a  serious  recollection, 
nothing  can  ever  do  it. 

So  near  the  expiration  of  the  1,260  years  of  Daniel 
and  St.  John  ;  the  Turkish  Empire  on  the  point  of 
destruction  ;  a  strange  and  unthought-of  establishment 
in  Egypt,  a  country  that  is  to  have  much  to  do  in  the 
return  of  the  Jews — ourselves  in  India,  they  may  have 
some  unknown  relation  to  that  phial  to  be  poured  out 
on  the  Euphrates  to  make  way  for  the  Kings  of  the 
East — altogether  combine  strangely  to  give  suspicion 
that  we  are  on  the  eve  of  some  great  events  which  are 
to  usher  in  the  final  consummation  of  all  things,  and 
consequently  the  fall  of  the  ten  Kings  of  Europe.  The 
times  are  truly  awful,  and  demand  such  piety  and  re- 
signation as  no  other  period  of  modern  history  even 
approached  to. 

23rd. — At  the  Lock  yesterday.  Scott  is  now  my 
favourite  preacher,  and  I  have  heard  him  ever  since  I 
came  to  Town  with  great  pleasure  and  attention  in  spite 
of  a  very  bad  manner.  His  matter  is  most  excellent. 
Received  the  Sacrament. 

24^7i.— Called  yesterday  on  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Montagu 
in  their  great  house.  It  is  said  he  has  just  lost  a  coal  pit 
that  was  worth  6,000^.  or  1,0001.  a  year ;  I  had  a  card  for 
her  Monday  parties,  and  not  having  been,  I  apologised. 
I  must  now  and  then  go  after  Easter.  But  all  company 
of  the  sort  is  flat  to  me.     I  have  just  made   up   the 


350      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

annual  account  for  1800,  and  the  loss  upon  the  year  is 
22Z. ;  this  meeting  a  tax  on  paper  which  will  cost  48Z.  a 
year  is  alarming.  I  had  entertained  many  vain  hopes 
that  the  work  after  so  many  years'  continuance  would 
have  stood  its  ground,  but  I  know  not  what  to  think. 
Now  I  must  print  only  six  instead  of  seven  sheets,  and 
try  so  for  another  year.  If  I  lose  then,  I  must  give  up 
the  work,  much  as  it  will  hurt  me.  The  '  Agricultural  and 
Conomercial  Magazine  '  and  the  '  Farmers'  Magazine,' 
which  approach  more  to  the  nature  of  newspapers, 
and  which  have  contained  hardly  one  paper  of  real 
importance,  have  been  selling  well ;  such  is  the  world, 
its  judgment  and  discernment ! 

IQtli. — Yesterday  the  Board  proceeded  to  Hyde  Park 
in  a  body  to  see  the  experiments  of  Captain  Hoar  on 
the  Virgula  divina.  He,  many  years  ago,  saw  Lady 
Milbank's  surprising  faculty  of  discovering  springs,  and 
trying,  found  that  he  had  it  himself.  He  is  recommended 
to  the  Board  by  Mr.  Lascelles,  member  for  Yorkshire. 

I  found  from  the  conductor  of  the  waterworks  at 
the  reservoir  then  at  w^ork,  that  the  twig  in  Mr. 
Hoar's  hand  when  he  crossed  them  turned  up  in  a 
surprising  manner.  He  seemed,  in  the  opinion  of  Sir 
Joseph  Banks,  to  fail  once,  but  in  the  four  trials  I 
watched,  and  in  which  I  know  he  could  not  be  ac- 
quainted with  the  direction  of  the  pipes,  he  succeeded 
completely.     Next  Tuesday  another  trial. 

To-morrow  will  be  published  in  the '  Annals  '  the  first 
parts  of  my  essay  on  applying  waste  lands  to  the  better 
support  of  the  poor.  I  prepared  it  some  time  ago  for 
the  Board,  as  it  was  collected  in  my  last  smnmer's 


DIAKY  CONTINUED  351 

journey ;  I  read  it  to  a  cormnittee — Lord  Carrington, 
Sir  C.  Willoughbj'  and  Mr.  Millington — who  condemned 
it,  and,  after  waiting  a  month,  Lord  C.  told  me  I  might 
do  what  I  pleased  with  it  for  myself,  but  not  print  it  as 
a  work  for  the  Board;  so  I  altered  the  expressions 
which  referred  to  the  body,  and  sent  it  to  the  'Annals.' 
I  prayed  earnestly  to  God  on  and  since  the  journey  for 
His  blessing  on  my  endeavours  to  serve  the  poor,  and  to 
influence  the  minds  of  people  to  accept  it ;  but  for  the 
wisest  reasons  certainly  He  has  thought  proper  not  to 
do  this,  and  for  the  same  reasons  probably  it  will  be 
printed  without  effect.  I  think  it,  however,  my  duty 
to  Him  to  do  all  I  possibly  can.  Such  events  and  cir- 
cumstances I  am  well  persuaded  are  entirely  in  His 
Divine  management,  and  that  we  are  mere  instrmnents 
in  His  hands.  Whether  I  print  or  not  is  a  matter  wholly 
unimportant,  but  the  use  made  of  it  is  in  the  hands  of 
the  Almighty  alone.  I  am  well  persuaded  that  this  is 
the  only  possible  means  of  saving  the  nation  from  the 
ruin  fast  coming  on  by  the  misery  of  the  poor  and  the 
alarming  ruin  of  rates.     God's  will  be  done  ! 

29^/i. — Yesterday  at  the  Farmers'  Club.  I  have  little 
relish  of  these  meetings,  unless  given  to  farming  con- 
versation, and  this  was  nothing  but  wrangling  about 
the  disposition  of  money.  Sunday  before  Easter. — 
Company  and  talk,  eating  and  wine  ;  sitting  up  late  are 
ill  preparations  for  the  Sabbath. 

31s^. — The  Duke  of  Bedford  and  Lord  Winchilsea 
at  the  Club ;  filled  up  vacancies  and  settled  the 
premiums.  The  Board  greatly  attended  yesterday, 
and  adjourned  for  the  holidays. 


352      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUK  YOUNG 

Captain  Hoar  is  turned  over  to  Lord  Egremont,  of 
whom  the  Bishop  of  Durham  said  that  he  possessed  of 
all  the  men  almost  that  he  ever  knew  the  clearest  head 
and  most  penetrating  understanding.  I  asked  Lord 
Carrington  to  employ  Arthur  while  I  am  absent ;  he 
said  it  was  mean  to  make  him  a  clerk — but  everything 
is  wrong  that  is  proposed  to  this  man,  even  the  things 
which,  let  alone,  he  would  propose  himself. 

Honest  industry  in  a  lawful  employment  cannot 
be  mean,  especially  in  an  employment  that  he  likes. 
This  is  one  of  the  world's  prejudices,  and  rotten  like  all 
the  rest. 

April  4. — At  Bradfield.  The  pleasure  of  coming 
into  the  country  from  such  a  place  as  London  is  great 
and  pure.  The  freshness  and  sweetness  of  the  air,  the 
quiet  and  stillness,  the  sunshine  unclouded  by  smoke, 
the  singing  of  the  birds,  the  verdure  of  the  fields, 
the  budding  out  of  vegetation,  altogether  is  charming. 

I  have  only  an  old  woman  who  keeps  the  house  in 
our  absence,  and  never  was  so  attended  before  ;  but  no 
matter — I  am  quiet,  peaceful,  and  living  economically, 
and  shall,  I  hope,  be  very  well  contented.  Divine  service 
was  worse  done  than  anything ;  Sharpe,  who  is  past 
everything,  preaches  and  reads  worse  than  any  human 
being ;  this  is  lamentable.  That  point  is  the  glory  of 
London ;  one  can  find  churches  where  our  attention 
is  commanded  by  instruction. 

I  never  saw  the  wheat  look  better,  thanks  to  God  ! 
My  farm  is  the  source  of  disquiet  as  well  as  pleasure — 
such  bailiffs  as  I  must  keep  execute  everything  badly, 
except  just  what  they  have  always  been  used  to ;  and 


DIAEY   CONTINUED  353 

with  great  expenses  there  are  always  many  things  sadly 
neglected.  With  such  absences  as  I  am  forced  to,  this 
must  be  the  case. 

I  have  read  Barrow's  sermons  chiefly  since  I  came 
down.  That  on  Good  Friday  excellent,  on  Whit 
Sunday  capital,  and  on  the  prophecies  of  the  Messiah 
such  as  would  convince  an  infidel,  were  not  infidelity 
true  hardness  of  heart. 

bth. — At  the  Sacrament,  none  but  Green  and  his 
wife,  and  the  clerk  and  his  wife.  How  much  have  the 
clergy  to  answer  for  !  Beading  Barrow  and  South's 
sermons,  '  The  Image  of  God  in  the  Creation,'  which 
is  full  of  wit.  Barrow  is  a  most  powerful  writer,  he 
pours  out  a  torrent  of  matter,  a  stream  of  mind,  as 
Johnson  said  of  Burke  ;  an  amazing  flow  of  conception 
and  of  expression,  forcible  and  varied  ;  a  rich  command 
of  language,  and  such  fertility  that  one  of  his  sermons 
would  make  ten  modem  ones. 

The  life  I  am  getting  into  here  of  walking  and 
reading  is  such  a  contrast  to  that  at  London  as  to  be  a 
most  pleasant  change  and  recreation  to  my  soul  and 
body. 

From  January  20th  I  had  been  so  loaded  with  busi- 
ness of  the  requisitions  from  the  Committees  of  Lords 
and  Commons,  and  reading  360  essays,  that  I  was 
employed  every  day  from  morn  to  dinner.  I  rose  at 
4  A.M.  regularly,  sometimes  sooner,  even  at  3  a.m.,  and 
neglected  my  '  Elements ' '  entirely  on  this  account.  All 
was  for  the  Board,  and  not  free  from  anxiety.  Here  I 
shall    have   a  fortnight's  refreshment  and   relaxation, 

•  The  Elements  of  Agriculture. 

A  A 


354      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

thanks  to  the  Almighty  for  it,  and  that  He  blesses  me 
with  health  to  enjoy  it. 

1th. — Yesterday  at  2  o'clock  I  walked  to  Bury,  for 
I  have  neither  horse  nor  chaise  to  go  in  or  on.  Dined 
with  my  friend  ^  alone.  I  had  much  talk,  and  tried 
hard  to  impress  her  with  good  religious  notions,  but  I 
fear  in  vain  ;  she  will  not  be  converted  but  by  mis- 
fortune and  misery,  her  easy  prosperous  situation  will 
prevent  it.     I  can  only  pray  for  her. 

I  have  made  an  experiment  in  living  here  not 
unimportant.  I  drink  no  wine  or  beer,  only  a  pint  or 
one-third  of  a  bottle  of  cider  at  dinner.  I  care  not 
what  I  eat,  I  have  only  one  maid  and  no  helps,  and 
could  thus  live  for  a  trifle  in  a  cottage.  In  such  times 
such  trials  may  have  their  use  beyond  the  Christian 
propriety  of  self-denial ;  but  my  collection  of  good 
books  are  a  great  comfort,  which,  if  deprived  of,  I 
should  miss  terribly.  I  rise  at  4  a.m.,  walk  up  to  my 
neck  in  the  garden  pond,  pray,  and  then  read  till  break- 
fast ;  read,  walk,  and  farm  till  dinner,  and  so  on  till  it 
is  dark,  and  no  moment  hangs  heavily  on  my  hands. 
I  reproach  myself  with  indolence  for  not  going  among 
the  cottagers,  but  they  come  to  me  numerously,  and 
having  descriptive  lists  I  know  enough  to  do  more  than 
I  am  able,  but  I  ought  to  go  to  their  houses  and 
examine  their  state  well. 

I  have  been  reading  Watson's  Collection,^  and  am 
forming  a  table  of  striking  passages,  and  think  to  have 

'  Mrs.  Oakes,  nie  Betsy  Plampin. 

-  A  Collection  of  Theological   Tracts,   by  the  Bishop  of  Llandaff, 
6  vols. 


DIAEY   CONTmUED  355 

them  copied  for  arranging  with  the  many  I  have 
ahready  written,  and  may  print  it  some  time  or  other 
under  some  such  title  as  this  :  A  course  of  reading  on 
the  origin,  truth,  and  doctrijies  of  the  Christian  Religion. 
I  know  of  no  book  of  evidences  that  includes  all ;  by 
taking  the  most  impressive  passages  on  each  subject 
from  many  books,  and  disposing  them  in  a  lucid  form, 
I  think  I  could  produce  a  very  useful  work  without 
presuming  to  compose  any  part  of  it  myself.  May  the 
Lord  afford  me  His  Spirit  should  I  go  on  with  the 
design,  but  with  my  employment  it  would  be  a  business 
requiring  much  time  ! 

9th. — Dined  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Balgrave.  Balgrave 
is  a  good-tempered  Suffolk  parson,  neglects  the  duty 
of  his  church,  idle,  indolent,  drinks  his  bottle  of 
port  and  reads  his  newspaper,  but  what  is  called  a 
respectable  character,  no  vices,  nor  any  imprudent 
follies. 

IQth. — Symonds  dined  with  me  and  took  a  bed. 
The  Duke  of  Brunswick  marching  into  Hanover  will, 
he  says,  be  a  keen  revenge. 

When  he  married  our  King's  sister,  Lord  Bute 
(who  told  the  whole  to  S.  while  travelling  with  him  in 
Italy)  promised  him  the  government  of  Hanover  as 
soon  as  it  should  be  vacant,  with  the  King's  knowledge. 
The  Marquis  of  Granby  conveyed  the  assurance.  When 
the  vacancy  happened  the  Prince  of  Mecklenburg  was 
talked  of.  Lord  Granby  wrote  to  Lord  Bute  to  remon- 
strate, who  went  to  the  King  and  Queen,  and  urged 
the  real  necessity  of  adhering  to  the  promise.  All  in 
vain,  the  Queen  prevailed,  and  her  brother,  not  two 

A    A    2 


356      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

degrees  better  than  ,  was  appointed.     The  Duke 

of  Brunswick  never  forgave  it,  and  when  invited  to 
England  rejected  the  idea  with  anger.  Symonds  saw 
him  at  Venice  and  noted  the  asperity  of  some  of  his 
expressions. 

11th. — Reading  Sherlock's  sermons.  In  those  on 
the  truth  of  Christianity,  and  a  defence  of  the  mysteries 
of  it,  I  know  none  equal ;  excellent  indeed  and  clear, 
persuasive,  and  convincing  ;  but  I  have  some  doubts  on 
the  vitality  of  his  faith.  In  the  third  discourse  of  the 
second  volume  he  says :  '  Here  is  a  plain  proof  of 
what  the  work  of  the  Spirit  is.  It  brings  proofs  to  the 
reason  of  man,  but  does  not  bring  the  reason  of  man  to 
the  proofs.'  I  conceive  just  the  contrary,  the  proofs 
themselves  are  clear,  full,  and  abounding  with  what 
ought  to  produce  universal  conviction,  but  men,  for 
want  of  the  Spirit,  turn  their  back,  neglect,  or  despise 
them. 

It  is  the  business  of  the  Spirit  to  take  away  the 
heart  of  stone,  and  then  the  proofs  are  manifest :  the 
heart  and  reason  of  man  are  really  brought  to  the 
proofs. 

IQith,  Sundaij. — The  ground  white  with  snow,  and 
the  wind  cutting.  I  am  up  every  morn  at  4  a.m.,  and 
walk  to  the  garden  pond  ;  habits  will  do  anything.  I 
do  not  mind  it  at  all,  and  sometimes  stand  in  the 
wind  till  dry  ;  it  is,  however,  sharp  work. 

A  nonsensical  letter  from  Lord  Carrington  requiring 
me  to  go  to  the  Treasury  for  the  800Z.  for  the  Essays, 
which  is  entirely  the  treasurer's  business.  He  is  as 
unfeeling  as  a  log  ;  this  is  a  return  for  my  being  at 


DIAEY   CONTINUED  357 

work  from  4  a.m.  in  the  morning  for  ten  weeks.  I  should 
once  have  been  full  of  indignation  and  abhorrence ; 
thank  God,  I  am  more  calm.  I  shall  go  on  Friday  in- 
stead of  the  Monday  following.  But  I  wish  he  had  let 
me  alone.  I  am  vexed,  but  the  world  is  full  of  nothing 
but  great  miseries  or  teasing  vexations,  the  more  the 
better ;  they  wean  us  from  it  effectually. 

I  have  been  here  ten  days  and  have  not  visited  one 
poor  family.  My  heart  reproaches  me.  I  have  given  as 
much  as  I  apprehended  I  could  afford,  but  that  is  lazi- 
ness. The  cold  winds  and  sleet  have  kept  me  too  much 
in  the  house.  It  is  easier  to  give  than  to  be  active  in 
doing  good.  I  have  four  days  more.  Oh,  let  me  be 
stirring  in  doing  good  !  Indolence  is  inexcusable.  If  I 
thought  I  had  but  a  little  time  to  live,  with  what 
energy  would  all  this  be  done  !  And  how  soon  may  I 
be  trembling  on  a  death  bed  !  Have  mercy  on  me,  0 
God,  and  give  me  grace  to  serve  Thee  with  activity  and 
vigour.  Read  the  whole  book  of  Job.  I  can  read, 
think,  speculate,  write,  and  meditate,  but  in  doing  good 
am  negligent  and  slothful.  I  have  had  a  passing  fit  of 
melancholy  from  looking  at  my  ever  dear  daughter's 
picture,  which  I  carry  with  me  everywhere,  and  never 
think  of  her  but  to  bless  God  for  having  in  some 
measure  (how  imperfectly !)  brought  me  to  Himself, 
Age  coming  on  apace ;  the  world  fading  faster  still ; 
horrible  threatenings  in  the  aspect  of  public  affairs  ; 
small  hope  of  any  comfort  underived  from  religion. 
How  black  and  dreary  would  all  my  prospects  be  were  it 
not  for  the  consolation  I  draw  from  a  most  hvely  and 
never  varying  faith  in  the  truth  of  Christianity,  in  the 


358  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   AETHUR  YOUNO 

full  assurance  of  immortality  !  What  would  be  my 
situation  without  this  only  balm  of  my  existence? 
Domestic  comfort  a  blank ;  my  friends  dropping 
into  the  grave,  and  the  infirmities  of  age  in  near 
prospect. 

Gratitude  and  thanksgiving  to  my  blessed  Saviour 
for  affording  me  grace  to  believe  ;  and  with  it  all  the 
comfort  that  remains  for  me  in  this  world.  My  child ! 
My  child  !     Oh,  may  we  meet  in  heaven  ! 

\^th. — The  poor  people  of  the  neighbouring  villages 
crowd  here  to  my  great  distress.  I  give  all  something, 
and  wish  I  could  give  more ;  but  I  dread  falling  into 
the  dark  impropriety  of  giving  too  much,  of  making  what 
would  seem  and  be  a  parade  of  charity  or  generosity 
with  other  people's  money,  which  is  somewhat  the 
case  with  a  man  who  gives  while  he  has  debts  unpro- 
vided for.  I  truly  know  not  what  rightly  to  do  in  this 
case.  The  evil  just  described  is  great,  and  ought  to 
be  avoided,  but  at  the  same  time  what  ought  I  to  think 
of  myself  who  have  been  always  ready  to  spend  and 
run  in  debt  for  forty  years  together  ;  and  then  should 
take  up  so  strictly  as  to  do  nothing  for  miserably  poor 
people  in  such  times  as  these?  Surely  on  such  an 
occasion  we  should  be  exerting  every  power  to  relieve 
them  ! 

20^7«'.— Friday  to  London.  Saturday,  Farmers'  Club. 
An  argument  with  Lord  Egremont,  &c.,  on  land  for  the 
poor  ;  everybody  is  against  it.     What  infatuation  ! 

list. — Last  night  at  Mrs.  Montagu's  conversazione. 
I  had  some  [talk]  with  the  Bishop  of  Durham,  who 
agrees  with  me  on  the  poor ;  with  Lady  Harcourt,  who 


DIABY   CONTINUED  359 

wants  restrictions  on  farmers  ;  with  Lord  Somers,  who 
told  stories  of  supernatural  movements  of  furniture  in 
Norfolk.'  I  left  it  very  early  though  invited  for  all 
March  and  April.     This  is  the  first  of  my  going. 

London  very  disagreeable  to  me,  and  has  made  me 
compare  in  my  mind  my  present  situation  with  a  large 
income,  and  that  of  living  in  a  cottage  in  the  country 
upon  100^.  a  year,  without  trouble  or  anxiety  or  business, 
except  to  make  my  peace  with  God.  I  Uked  my  time 
alone  with  my  old  woman  [servant]  at  Bradfield  much 
better  than  here.  I  had  nobody  to  wrangle  and  quarrel 
with  me. 

May  4. — Yesterday  I  was  at  church  in  the  morning 
with  Mrs.  O.  Oakes  at  the  Lock,  and  heard  Scott,  and 
in  the  evening  at  the  Surrey  Chapel  to  hear  Rowland 
Hill.  Neither  of  them  pleased,  though  she  admits 
Scott's  matter  was  excellent.  She  was  most  struck 
with  the  extreme  fervency  of  Mr.  Wilberforce's  devo- 
tion, who,  sitting  in  the  reading  desk  for  the  conve- 
nience of  hearing  better,  she  saw  him  clearly.  Bought 
Rowland  Hill's  sermon  on  the  Sunday  Schools  against 
the  attack  of  Bishop  Horsley,^  who  is,  from  all  I  hear 
of  him,  such  a  bishop  as  Suffolk  parsons  are  clergy- 
men. Scott  thinks  that  evil  spirits  do  work  on  our  souls, 
and  to  me  it  is  remarkable  that  he  says  the  imagination 
is  their  great  field.  I  have  reason  enough  to  believe 
him  in  the  right.  These  are  enquiries  in  which  we 
have  no  other  clue  to  guide  us  but  Scripture,  and  surely 

'  This  seems  to  have  been  an  anticipation  of  table-turning. 
-  Samuel  Horsley,  born  1733,  died  180G,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph's,  St. 
David's,  and  Kochester ;  celebrated  for  his  controversy  with  Dr.  Priestley. 


360      AUTOBIOGRAPH'v'  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

there  we  find  proofs  without  end  of  the  agency  of  evil 
spirits ;  for  my  own  part  I  have  no  doubt  of  it. 

Bradfield.—  As  there  was  no  church  this  morning, 
I  had  eleven  poor  women  from  the  village  to  talk 
to  upon  their  neglect  of  church.  I  read  many  pas- 
sages on  public  worship  and  prayer  out  of  Dodd's 
Commentary  on  the  Bible,  and  explained,  preached, 
and  reasoned  with  them.  One  made  a  defence,  and 
was  inclined  to  prate.  I  took  it  coolly,  and  presently 
brought  her  to  better  reason.  I  doubt  they  liked  a 
sixpence  apiece  better  than  my  sermon,  yet  three  of 
them  cried.  How  much  more  docile  and  teachable  are 
the  poor  than  the  rich  !  One  might  gradually  do  much 
with  the  poor,  but  very  little  indeed  with  their  betters. 
God  opens  the  hearts  of  the  one,  and  hardens  those 
of  the  others  as  a  punishment  for  their  pride  and 
ingratitude. 

The  Duke  of  Bedford  has  asked  Lord  Carrington  to 
the  sheep  shearing.  Lord  Egremont  called,  he  remarks 
that  the  Chancellor,  Lord  Eosslyn,  and  Lord  Grenville, 
&c.  &c.,  all  have  in  the  late  debates  gone  out  of  the 
way  to  abuse  the  Board  of  Agriculture,  and  remarks 
that  keeping  a  Board  only  to  treat  it  in  this  manner  is 
preposterous. 

1th. — My  publications  are  very  well  adapted  to 
take  off  the  edge  of  all  worldly  infatuated  admiration 
or  dependence  on  the  things  of  time  in  comparison 
of  those  of  eternity.  Washington's  Letters  have  been 
advertised  to  the  expense  of  bl.  or  6Z.,  and  I  do  not 
believe  that  100  are  sold,  and  my  enquiry  into  the 
cottage  system  for  poor  people  will  have  no  more  effect 


DIAKY   CONTINUED  361 

on  Government  or  the  Legislature  than  if  I  had 
whistled  '  Alley  Croker.'  So  much  the  better  perhaps 
for  the  good  of  my  soul. 

25^/j. — Mr.  Hoole  called  and  was  let  in.  He  has 
heard  at  a  great  table  (he  did  not  say  where)  a  very 
so-so  account  of  Lord  Carrington — fidgeting,  restless, 
dissatisfied,  ambitious,  avaricious,  with  a  mere  show  of 
parts  and  knowledge.  He  has  made  immensely  by  the 
loan  ;  and  the  richer  he  grows,  so  much  the  worse. 
The  eldest  girl  said  to  Mr.  H.  when  he  called  :  '  My 
papa  used  to  have  prayers  in  his  family  ;  but  none 
since  he  has  been  a  peer.'  What  a  motive  for  neglect- 
ing God  !  Also  he  is  a  dissenter  and  a  democrat.  A 
Unitarian  he  may  be,  but  certainly  no  democrat. 
The  Lord  show  mercy  to  him,  and  by  interrupting 
his  prosperity  or  lowering  his  health,  bring  him  to 
repentance  ! 

26^7^. — Yesterday  I  dined  with  the  Duke  of  Grafton, 
and  he  asked  me  when  the  election  of  president  and 
secretary  of  the  Board  was,  for  he  heard  there  was  an 
intention  of  turning  Lord  Carrington  and  me  out.  He 
said  his  answer  was,  as  to  Lord  C,  there  were  reasons 
which  might  account  for  that,  but  what  can  Mr.  Y. 
have  done  ?  '  Oh,  he  is  careless,  and  does  nothing,'  and 
so  I  dare  say  there  are  people  to  report  and  perhaps  so 
think.  Lord  Somerville  in  revenge,  I  doubt  not,  hates 
everything  belonging  to  the  Board,  and  wishes  to  come 
in  and  sweep  everyone  clear  away,  in  order  to  introduce 
creatures  of  his  own,  and  this,  uniting  with  Gifford's 
scandals  and  slander  about  the  Board  intending  to  pull 
down  the  club  in  the  *  Porcupine  '  and   '  Anti-Jacobin 


362      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

Eeview,' '  gains  the  attention  of  fools,  and  mingled  by 
the  depravity  of  the  world,  is  circulated  and  believed. 
But  of  all  farces,  that  of  my  doing  nothing  is  the  most 
precious.  What  I  have  done  through  the  whole  session 
of  the  Board  surpasses  credibility,  almost  to  myself, 
and  nothing  but  rising  at  4  a.m.  in  the  morning  could 
have  enabled  me  to  go  through  it.  The  first  spare  half 
day  I  have  I  will  make  a  list  of  all  I  have  done,  and 
see  if  they  will  not  acquit  me  to  my  own  heart.  Oh, 
did  I  serve  my  God  as  well  as  I  have  served  the  Board  ! 
Could  I  review  my  services  to  my  Redeemer  as  satis- 
factorily, happy  should  I  be  ! 

11th. — Symonds  and  Hoole  dined  with  us,  and,  as  the 
former  will  see  the  Duke  of  Grafton  to-day,  I  gave  him 
a  message  card,  on  one  side  of  which  is  '  Some  use  in 
rising  at  4  a.m.,'  and  on  the  other  as  follows  :  'From 
January  20  to  May  23  are  90  days,  Sundays  and  vaca- 
tion excluded,  50  Boards  and  Committees ;  340  essays 
read,  and  every  one  commented  on.  Report  to  the 
House  of  Commons  on  Potatoes.  Report  to  the  Lords 
on  Grass  Lands.  Enquiry  into  cottagers'  land  pub- 
lished, but  drawn  up  for  the  Board.  Memoir  on  Salt, 
from  more  than  fifty  authors.  Ten  new  premises 
framed.  Memoir  on  wastes,  paring,  burning,  and 
arable  land.' 

If  for  such  employment  I  am  stigmatised  for  doing 
nothing,  it  shows  that  in  order  to  please,  it  matters 
not  what  we  do,  caprice  will  be    the  only  judgment. 

'  The  Anti-Jacobin,  or  Weekly  Examiner,  was  started  by  Canning, 
J.  H.  Frere,  and  others ;  the  editor  was  W.  Gifford.  It  ran  from 
November  20,  1797,  to  July  9,  1798. 


DIAKY   CONTINUED  363 

What  conclusion  is  to  be  drawn  from  such  cases  ? 
Serve  God  truly,  and  as  to  man  trouble  not  thyself 
about  him  ;  let  this  be  the  golden  rule,  and  it  will  bring 
peace  at  the  last. 

28^/i. — Lord  Carrington  fretting  and  worrying,  and 
upon  the  full  fidget  about  the  newspapers'  abuse,  and 
the  criticisms  in  the  House  of  Lords  upon  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Board ;  swearing  that  he  will  allow  no  non- 
sense to  be  published,  and  this  will  be  more  absurd  and 
pragmatical  than  ever.  Oh  !  Mr.  Pitt,  Mr.  Pitt,  that 
thou  shouldest  have  formed  such  a  Board  as  this,  and 
then  permit  it  to  frame  such  a  constitution  as  should 
render  it  absolutely  dependent  on  the  folly  and  caprice 
of  a  president  !  What  might  it  not  have  done  had  its 
laws  been  what  they  ought  to  have  been  ! 

Dalton,  of  Yorkshire,  gave  me  a  long  account  of  his 
taking  Hyder  Ali  when  only  the  colonel  of  500  horse — 
a  soldier  of  fortune.'  Lord  Egremont  came  up  from 
Petworth,  where,  he  tells  me,  not  a  loaf  for  three  days 
and  a  half,  and  a  mutiny  among  the  volunteers. 

^^th. — Dined  yesterday  at  Lord  Winchilsea's. 
There  were  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  Lord  Egremont,  Lord 
Eomney,  Lord  Somerville,  Mr.  Calhoun,  Mr.  Northey, 
Mr.  Conyers,  and  myself  :  much  farming.  Lord  Komney 
gave  Lord  Egremont  a  guinea,  to  receive  fifty  when  he 
produced  a  tench  that  weighed  seven  pounds. 

Yesterday  the  Committee  voted  50Z.  to  my  son  for 
his  labour  in  arranging  &:c.,  during  thirteen  weeks,  the 
Reports  from  inclosed  parishes  to  the  House  of  Com- 

'  I  print  this  as  written,  but  can  find  no  allusion  in  works  of  reference 
to  the  circumstanee  mentioned. 


364      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AKTHUK  YOUNG 

mons.  I  thanked  them  very  awkwardly,  and  talked  of 
gratitude,  for  it  came  on  unexpectedly  ;  that  readiness 
which  is  never  at  a  loss  I  have  not  an  atom  of.  My 
heart  always  speaks  at  a  sudden  ;  whereas  in  many 
cases  the  head  is  most  wanted.  But  the  fault  was  on 
the  right  side,  it  was  more  than  I  expected. 

June  6. — Charming  weather  for  the  country,  now 
in  its  full  beauty,  and  I  am  stoved  up  in  this  horrid 
place.  Lord  C.  talked  of  adjourning  the  Board  on 
Tuesday,  which  I  hope  much  he  will  do.  The  15th  is 
the  Sheep  Show  at  Woburn  ;  it  will  be  the  20th  before 
it  is  possible  for  me  to  see  Bradfield,  and  hardly  then ; 
the  longest  day  before  a  man  gets  into  the  country  !  !  ! 
Let  them  turn  me  out  of  my  secretaryship  and  I  shall 
not  regret  it,  but  down  all  discontent ;  it  is  God's  will, 
and  my  duty  is  to  be  thankful  for  all. 

It  is  a  comfort  which  exceeds  all  others,  that  as  age 
advances  the  end  of  life  is  viewed  as  a  mere  change  of 
residence,  and  the  mental  eye  fixed  on  heaven,  with  full 
confidence  in  the  promises  of  God.  I  would  not  give 
this  conviction  for  the  wealth  of  the  Indies,  for  the 
empire  of  the  world.  And  what  does  one  lose  by  reli- 
gion ?  I  enjoy  all  such  pleasures  of  life  as  are  un- 
attended by  remorse,  just  as  much,  or  more  indeed,  far 
more,  than  I  did  while  I  was  a  dissipated  character. 
Beading,  composition,  serious  conversation  on  any  topic 
worth  discussing,  the  rural  beauties  of  Nature,  and  the 
pleasures  of  agriculture,  friendship,  affection,  not  love, 
as  it  is  called,  the  whole  of  which  I  fear  is  founded  in 
lust,  and  proves  nineteen  times  in  twenty  the  tyrant  of 
the  breast,  and  the  fertile  source  of  ten  thousand  mise- 


DIARY   CONTINUED  365 

ries  !  Happy  those  in  whom  it  terminates  in  a  settled, 
quiet,  tranquil  friendship,  sufficient  to  satisfy  without  the 
wanderings  of  the  heart  that  lead  to  so  much  misery. 

I  was  here  (at  Bradfield)  three  weeks  at  Easter  after 
a  severe  confinement  to  incessant  business  ;  I  am  now 
again  in  the  same  deep  retirement,  the  life  of  a  hermit, 
after  eight  weeks  of  business  and  bustle.  I  feel  how 
vast  the  benefit  is  to  have  these  periodical  retirements 
from  the  world  in  silence  and  solitude.  Had  I  gone 
directly  from  London  on  my  tour,  plunging  from  one 
busy  scene  to  another,  my  mind  would  have  had  no  time 
to  cool,  none  to  settle  into  any  calm  and  tranquil  state 
for  reflection,  which  is  unfavourable  to  the  growth  of 
religion,  of  morals,  nay,  of  talents  to  perform  anything 
of  consequence.  A  round  of  business  or  dissipation  thus 
unbroken  is  mischievous  to  the  heart,  ties  it  to  the 
world,  and  unfits  it  for  every  effort  of  regeneration  and 
repentance,  or  of  meditation  and  philosophy. 

Lord  Euston  is  going  the  tour  of  Suffolk,  ordering 
returns  to  be  made  of  all  carts,  waggons,  horses,  mills, 
and  ovens ;  a  step  preparatory  in  the  expectation  of  an 
invasion.  But  it  is  in  everyone's  mouth  that  with  such 
a  price  of  corn  half  the  country  would  join  an  enemy. 
I  must  freely  confess  I  dread  the  result.  We  have  no 
hope  but  in  the  protection  of  the  Almighty,  who  has 
hitherto  so  wonderfully  protected  us ;  and  what  has 
been  the  gratitude  shown  to  Him  ? 

Most  melancholy  is  the  reflection.  Our  rulers  are 
truly  infatuated,  to  have  done  nothing  for  the  assistance 
of  the  poor,  but  leave  them  to  such  trying  times  without 
even  showing  a  disposition  to  take  any  steps  that  could 


366      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

be  effective.  To  do  nothing  to  give  relief,  when  land 
for  the  poor  does  relieve  them  so  beneficially  wherever 
they  have  it,  is  a  cruel  infatuation.  To  see  poor  rates 
at  their  present  enormous  height  and  the  poor  in 
misery — yet  where  they  have  land,  to  find  rates  Sd.  or 
M.  or  9cZ.  in  the  £,  and  the  poor  in  a  state  of  ease 
and  comfort — one  would  think  should  speak  feelingly 
and  powerfully— but  no  such  thing.  Men  are  governed 
by  their  stupid  prejudices,  and  have  too  much  pride  to 
permit  their  eyes  to  be  opened.  Had  an  Act  passed 
last  session  that  had  the  effect  of  thus  assisting  the 
poor,  instead  of  the  pernicious  system  by  rates,  and 
some  progress  were  now  making  in  every  county  to  carry 
it  into  execution,  we  should  not  hear  such  opinions 
advanced,  because  they  would  be  groundless  ;  the  poor 
labourers,  seeing  such  steps  taken  for  their  comfort  and 
to  free  them  from  the  ineffective  thraldom  of  parish 
rates,  would  be  patient  and  quiet.  At  present  they  see 
nothing  done  or  doing  for  them,  and  have  their  hearts 
almost  broken  by  penury — without  resource — without 
hope. 

In  such  a  situation  who  would  wonder  to  see  men 
join  an  enemy  in  crowds?  Heaven  forbid  that  this 
infatuation  of  Government  be  not  providential,  and  the 
means  by  which  the  Deity  may  mean  to  punish  the 
nation  for  and  by  its  sins ! 

The  trumpeter  of  the  Corps  of  Yeomanry  came  to 
me  with  a  written  engagement  to  forfeit  5s.  the  first 
absence  and  10s.  6d.  every  successive  one  if  we  do  not 
meet  the  first  Friday  of  every  month.  I  was  always 
exempted  on  account  of  my  necessary  absence  ;  how- 


DIAEY  CONTINUED  367 

ever,  as  they  expect  to  be  called  into  actual  service,  I 
would  not  now  retire  when  an  invasion  is  expected,  so 
I  signed  ;  but  when  the  alarm  is  quite  blown  over — 
should  that  please  the  Almighty — I  shall  withdraw,  for 
I  am  too  old  and  too  weak,  and  my  pursuits  too  far  off 
and  too  numerous  to  permit  attendance. 

September  7  [on  tour,  at  Dunstable]. — Breakfasted 
with  Mr.  Parkyn,  and  then  went  to  meet  a  person  who 
instructs  people  in  plaiting  straw,  and  I  bargained  with 
him  at  30s.  a  week  for  a  girl  to  be  instructed — a  month 
will  do ;  that  is  61.,  and  the  journey  there  and  back, 
about  4/.,  so  for  101.  I  shall  be  able  to  introduce  this 
most  excellent  fabric  among  our  poor.  The  children 
begin  at  four  years  old,  and  by  six  earn  2s.  or  3s.  a 
week ;  by  seven  Is.  a  day  ;  and  at  eight  and  nine,  &c., 
10s.  or  12s.  a  week.  This  will  be  of  immense  use  to 
them. 

Got  to  Woburn  by  2  p.m.,  sat  down  and  wrote  for 
two  hours  and  a  half,  then  dressed,  but  did  not  dine 
till  nearly  8  p.m.  The  Duke  of  Manchester  there  VTith 
Lord  Preston,  Mr.  Cartwright,  and  Edwards,  the  book- 
seller, who  is  putting  the  library  to  rights  and  showing 
how  to  make  the  catalogue.  I  was  surprised  to  learn 
from  him  that  a  man  could  not  lay  out  in  one  year 
more  than  5,000Z.  judiciously  in  books ;  that  Lord 
Spencer  has  been  fourteen  years  expending  25,000Z., 
and  has  the  best  library  in  England,  perhaps  better 
than  the  King's.  He  tells  me  the  nation  [France] 
bought  L'Heritier's '  library,  and  gave  it  to  the  Botanical 

'  C.  de  rH6ritier,  bom  1746,  died  1800;  botanist,  and  member  of  the 
Academie  des  Sciences. 


368      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

Garden.  Miss  Knight,'  authoress  of  the  continua- 
tion of  '  Easselas,'  whom  I  met  at  Kedington's,  lent 
Dolmien's  ^  '  Life  at  Naples,'  through  Lady  Hamilton's 
interest  with  the  Queen.    He  wrote  to  her  from  prison. 

Did  not  get  to  bed  till  past  11  p.m.  Such  hours 
and  fasting  from  9  a.m.  in  morn  to  8  p.m.  at  night  did 
not  agree  with  me.  I  waked  at  4  a.m.,  and  having  a 
lamp,  rose,  washed,  prayed,  and  sat  down  by  candle- 
light to  my  notes  and  finished  them. 

Lord  Preston  swears  ;  it  hurts  me  to  hear  him.  I 
certainly  ought  to  convert  such  people  and  reproach 
myself,  and  confess  the  sin  every  day  in  my  catalogue  to 
God  ;  but  I  go  on  and  do  it  not.  If  I  had  wit  I  could 
laugh  at  it,  but  I  have  no  more  wit  than  a  pig. 

The  following  are  selected  from  this  year's  corre- 
spondence : 

From  T.  Symonds,  Esq.,  describing  Trinity  College 
Establishment,  Revenue,  dec. 

'  Cambridge  :  March  20,  1801. 
*  You  desire  me,  good  friend,  to  send  you  a  long  letter 
from  this  place,  but  I  could  more  easily  find  materials 
to  write  one  to  om^  friend  Charles  Cole,  from  his  being 
perfectly  conversant  with  every  one  here,  and  with 
almost  everything.  You  observe  very  right,  that  land- 
lords cannot  come  into  a  share  of  the  wealth  of  their 
tenants   but  by  a  corn  rent.       This  I  have  insisted 

'  Cornelia  Knight,  author  of  Dinarbas,  a  continuation  of  Rasselas, 
1790,  and  other  works. 

2  Celebrated  French  geologist.  Accompanied  Napoleon  to  Egypt ; 
on  his  return  was  taken  prisoner  and  confined  at  Messina  by  the  King 
of  Sicily ;  on  peace  being  made  with  Naples  was  liberated. 


DIARY   CONTINUED  369 

upon  of  late  frequently  at  Bury.  The  present  state 
of  the  University  is  an  indisputable  proof  of  it.  The 
pressure  of  the  times  is  hardly  felt  by  its  members. 
Will  you  not  think  so,  when  you  hear  that  the  revenue 
of  this  College  amounted  to  nearly  16,000^.  last  year, 
and  that  the  eight  senior  fellows  received  more  than 
300^.  each,  and  the  junior  half  of  that  sum  ?  They 
have  been  obliged  to  raise,  however,  the  price  of  the 
commons  (as  they  are  called)  from  fifteen  to  eighteen 
pence.  But  I  sit  down  here  every  day  for  this  sum  to 
a  dinner,  which  gentlemen  of  a  thousand  a  year  cannot 
give  often  with  prudence. 

'  The  papers,  I  presume,  have  informed  you  of  the 
trial  of  our  plate  stealers  last  week. 

'  The  whole  business  was  ill  conducted.  The  man 
who  sold  to  the  Jew  the  medals  of  Ejng's  College  for 
70^.,  the  plate  of  this  for  300/.,  and  the  plate  of  Caius  for 
500/.,  pleaded  guilty,  and  in  consequence  of  a  free  par- 
don to  appear  against  the  Jew,  who,  though  acquitted 
at  these  Assizes,  "will  probably  be  hanged  at  the  next. 
Grimshaw,  the  chimney  sweeper,  is  the  only  victim  at 
present.  Your  friend  Simeon  was  not  wanting  in  his 
visits  to  him.  He  told  an  acquaintance  of  mine  "  that 
he  found  Grimshaw's  conversation  delightful ;  that  he 
had  grace  to  die  ;  and  that  the  sooner  he  was  exe- 
cuted the  better,  for  fear  this  grace  should  evaporate." 
Should  it  ever  be  my  lot  to  be  condemned  for  execu- 
tion, I  will  immediately  apply  to  you  for  consolation. 
Simeon  could  work  no  conviction  in  the  Jew  ;  this  will 
not  surprise  you. 

'  I  saw  in  the  papers  a  list  of  the  dancers  at  Lady 

B  B 


370      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNa 

Carrington's  ball ;  but,  to  my  astonishment,  did  not 
discover  your  name.  The  papers  have  raised  Lord  C. 
to  the  degree  of  Viscount ;  ^  it  would  be  too  insulting 
for  a  man  recently  in  business  to  step  above  the  heads 
of  our  ancient  Barons.  I  should  have  told  you  that 
we  have  here  a  young  nobleman  of  unblemished 
character.  I  mean  Lord  Henry  Petty,  whose  know- 
ledge and  abilities  are  such,  both  in  writing  and  speak- 
ing in  public,  as  to  lead  me  to  imagine  that  he  cannot 
fail  to  make  a  distinguished  figure  in  Parliament.  By 
the  bye,  there  seem  to  be  some  members  of  the  House 
of  Commons  who  are  jealous  of  your  Board. 

'  Yours  sincerely, 

'  J.  Symonds.' 

January  24,  1802. — A  great  gap  ;  but  from  coming 
to  London  in  November  to  quitting  it  the  following 
month  I  wrote  journal  letters  paged  to  my  friend.^ 
Through  the  Christmas  holidays  a  blank.  I  have 
subscribed  to  the  Lock  Hospital  51.  5s.,  and  go  every 
Sunday.  Wilberforce  always  there  taking  notes  of 
Scott's  sermons. 

In  the  great  business  of  my  salvation  I  go  on 
slowly,  struggling  hard,  however,  to  advance,  by  freeing 
my  imagination  from  sensuality  and  my  heart  from 
coldness.  God  give  me  grace  to  persist.  I  lay  great 
stress  on  trying  by  every  means  to  impress  in  my 
mind  a  constant  sense  of  God's  presence. 

'  Robert  Smith,  son  of  a  banker  at  Nottingham  ;  M.P.  for  that  town 
from  1770  to  1796  ;  supporter  and  friend  of  Pitt ;  raised  to  the  Irish 
peerage  in  1796,  to  the  English  peerage  in  1797. 

-  Mrs.  Orbell  Oakes,  the  beautiful  Betty  Plampin  of  former  flirta- 
tions, is  '  the  friend  '  henceforth  constantly  alluded  to. 


DIAKY   CONTINUED  371 

March  8. — At  Wilberforce's  last  night  till  10  o'clock, 
and  was  not  in  bed  till  quarter  past  11  p.m.  Though  I 
was  up  before  4  a.m.,  and  had  no  sleep  in  the  day,  or 
very  little,  the  consequence  was  that  in  the  night  just 
past  I  slept  very  soundly  indeed,  and  till  6  a.m.  Dean 
Milner  '  there,  and  I  had  much  conversation  with  him 
about  W.  while  he  and  Mr.  W.  were  out  of  the  room. 
He  first  made  an  impression  on  Wilberforce's  mind  at 
Scarborough  ;  he  hinted  on  some  person  named  being 
an  enthusiast,  but  Milner  (though  not  religious  then 
himself)  checked  it  with  a  firmness  that  made  W. 
think.  They  afterwards  travelled  to  Nice,  and  were 
there  three  months  about  the  year  1783  or  1784.  The 
Duke  of  Gloucester  was  then  an  infidel ;  the  conversa- 
tion M.  had  with  him  upon  the  journey  had  no  other 
effect  (indeed  that  was  the  capital  one)  but  of  making 
him  serious  in  reading  and  considering  the  Bible,  which 
he  did  with  great  industry  and  deep  attention,  bringing 
to  it  a  heart  open  to  conviction  ;  his  health  was  in- 
jured by  application,  but  his  eternal  soul  was  saved. 
He  afterwards  broke  off  his  intimacies  with  a  social 
fashionable  set,  and  particularly  from  dinners  which 
hurt  his  progress  in  Divine  impersonation.  He  fairly 
and  openly  told  his  friends  the  reason.  Pitt  never 
joked  or  laughed  at  him — some  did,  but  he  never ;  all 
were  sorry  to  lose  him.  But  he  was  in  earnest,  and  carried 
his  determination  into  effect  to  give  himself  wholly  to 
the   care   of   his  soul  in  the    first  place,  and  next  to 

'  Isaac  Milner,  1751-1820,  son  of  a  poor  weaver  (brother  of  the 
no  less  remarkable  Joseph  Milner),  Dean  of  Carlisle,  and  Professor  of 
Mathematics  at  Cambridge. 


372      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

perform  his  temporal  duties  by  assiduity  in  business. 
The  Dean  remarked  the  great  good  his  book  is  Hkely 
to  do  from  this  time  to  the  end  of  the  world.  Many, 
many  may  be  saved  by  it.  He  dictated  an  answer  to 
some  quotations  from  David  which  the  Duke  of  Grafton 
gave  me  the  other  day  in  argument  against  original 
sin,  the  righteousness  named  1,000  years  before  Christ. 
He  replied  as  I  had  done  on  the  spot  to  the  Duke,  that 
these  men  had  the  spirit,  and  then  were  righteous  be- 
fore God  in  Jesus  Christ  who  saved  from  the  creation. 
The  Duke  of  Bedford's  death  !  How  much  I  could 
write  on  that  topic.  I  met  Halifax  at  the  Duke  of 
Grafton's.  He  died  with  what  is  called  perfect  courage, 
coUectedness,  and  resolution  that  is  perfectly  hardened 
in  insensibility.  A  most  tremendous,  awful,  horrible 
case  !  But  very  difficult  to  separate  affection  for  the 
amiable  temper  and  useful  life  from  a  just  condemna- 
tion of  his  utter  want  of  religion  and  piety. 

From  the  Duke  of  Bedford  ' 
in  carrying  out  the  plans  of  his  late  Brother 

'  Woburn  Abbey  :  March  28,  1802. 

*  Sir, — The  sudden  and  fatal  event  which  deprived 
me  of  one  of  the  kindest  of  friends  and  most  affec- 
tionate of  brothers.  Agriculture  of  one  of  its  firmest 
props,  and  Society  of  one  of  its  best  and  most  useful 
members,  coming  upon  me  too  so  soon  after  a  former 
severe  domestic  calamity,  left  my  mind  in  such  a  state 
of  sad  dejection  as  to  render  me   wholly  incapable  of 

'  John  Russell,  sixth  Duke,  '  the  great  Duke  of  Bedford,'  who  did  so 
much  for  agriculture,  and  in  1830  rebuilt  Covent  Garden  Market  at  a 
cost  of  40,O00Z.     Died  1839. 


DIARY   CONTINUED  373 

writing  to  you  on  a  subject  deeply  interesting  to  me, 
because  it  occupied  the  last  thoughts  of  my  much 
lamented  brother.  His  zeal  for  that  first  and  most 
interesting  of  pursuits,  Agriculture,  did  not  forsake 
him  even  in  the  last  moments  of  his  life,  and  on  his 
death-bed,  with  an  earnestness  of  mind  expressive  of 
his  character,  and  with  that  anxious  consideration  for 
the  interests  of  his  country  which  occupied  so  many 
years  of  his  well-spent  life,  he  strongly  urged  me  to 
follow  up  those  plans  of  national  improvement  which 
he  had  begun,  and  from  which  he  had  formed  the 
most  sanguine  hopes  of  success.  He  referred  me  to 
Mr.  Cartwright  and  to  you  for  explanations  and  details  ; 
with  Mr.  C.  I  have  already  had  some  conversation,  and 
hope  soon  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you.  I  shall 
be  in  London  in  a  day  or  two,  and  if  you  will  favour 
me  with  a  line  in  Arlington  Street,  to  name  the  day 
and  hour  most  convenient  to  you  to  call  upon  me,  you 
will  much  oblige  me.  Should  you  be  absent  from  Town 
I  trust  it  will  not  be  long  before  I  have  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  you  at  Woburn. 

'  Desirous  as  I  am  in  every  point  of  view  to  fulfil 
the  last  wishes  of  my  departed  brother,  I  feel  that  my 
humble  efforts  must  be  at  such  a  vast  distance  from  the 
exertions  of  his  well-regulated  and  superior  mind,  that 
without  the  aid  and  advice  of  those  most  capable  of 
assisting  me,  I  should  utterly  despair  of  attaining  the 
objects  now  so  near  to  my  heart. 
'  I  am,  Sir, 

'  Your  faithful  and  obedient  servant, 

'  Bedford.' 


374  AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

My  Reply 

'  32  Sackville  Street :  March  1802. 

'  My  Lord, — The  melancholy  event  which  has 
deprived  your  Grace  of  a  brother  so  beloved  was  a 
stroke  that  affected  every  feeling  of  my  heart ;  others 
more  habituated  to  his  merit  on  great  occasions  better 
knew  than  it  was  possible  for  me  to  do  the  powers  of  a 
mind  that  could  fathom  the  most  important  subjects  ; 
but  to  me,  sinking  his  great  consequence  in  the  country, 
he  was  a  kind,  most  amiable,  and  indulgent  friend,  nor 
shall  I  ever  cease  to  lament  the  loss  of  the  best  temper 
I  ever  met  with  ;  good  humour  seemed  to  spring  from 
a  perennial  source  in  his  bosom.  Pleasing  and  happy 
it  is  for  his  lamented  memory  that  all  ranks  and 
classes  of  the  people  have  vied  in  the  expressions  of 
grief  for  the  loss  of  so  able,  sincere,  and  unquestionable 
a  patriot.  It  pleased  him  on  several  late  occasions  to 
converse  with  me  on  his  plans  of  those  establishments 
he  meditated  to  connect  with  the  employment  of  Mr. 
Cartwright.  Probably  that  gentleman  has  explained  all 
or  most  of  them  to  your  Grace.  I  shall  be  most  happy 
to  repeat  them,  and  I  am  sure  I  need  not  add  that 
veneration  for  the  memory  of  one  who  commanded 
the  regrets  of  a  great  nation,  as  well  as  the  respect 
I  owe  to  your  Grace's  character,  will  induce  me  most 
willingly  to  give  you  the  little  assistance  that  is  in  my 
power  to  lessen  the  loss  we  have  all  suffered. 

'  I  rejoice  in  hearing  of  your  Grace's  determination 
to  tread  in  those  steps  which  proved  so  direct  a  path  to 
a  well-earned  and  most  useful  fame. 


DIAKY   CONTINUED  375 

'  From  eleven  o'clock  to-day  till  four,  and  from 
twelve  till  three  on  Thursday,  i  am  engaged  with  the 
Bo&rd,  but  will  wait  on  your  Grace  at  any  other  time 
you  are  pleased  to  appoint. 

'I  am,  my  Lord, 
'  Most  respectfully  your  Grace's 
'  Much  obliged  and  most  humble  servant, 

•  Aethur  Young.' 

The  Board  has  been  busy  in  voting  testimonies 
to  the  memory  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  a  race  who 
should  express  most  strongly  their  veneration.  The 
Bishop  of  Llandaff  brought  a  dedication  for  the  volume 
now  ready — a  medal  ordered  and  a  bust.  These 
people  are  carnal  and  worldly,  except,  however,  Mr. 
Wilberforce,  who  much  promoted  it,  and  spoke  often  in 
favour  of  it.  His  example  is  authority,  or  I  should 
have  considered  the  whole  as  a  worldly-minded 
business,  and  bad.  This  Duke,  with  vast  powers  and 
immense  influence,  set  an  example  to  a  town  and  popu- 
lous neighbourhood  in  the  country,  and  to  a  great 
circle  of  friends  and  dependents,  of  an  utter  neglect,  if 
not  contempt,  of  religion  :  all  was  worldly  in  his  vieW' s ; 
all  his  motives  tending  that  way,  and  his  example  mis- 
chievous to  religion  and  the  souls  of  men.  All  this 
praise  and  veneration  is  therefore  very  questionable, 
and,  I  think,  unlawful ;  it  is  looking  at  objects  and 
judging  of  things  with  the  herd,  and  therefore  wrong ; 
we  cannot  go  with  them  but  to  do  mischief.  Of  what 
consequence  is  religion  to  the  world  if  farming  and 
beneficence  and  good  temper,  and  a  life  highly  useful 


376  AUTOBIOG-KAPHY   OF   ARTHUR   YOUNG 

in  a  worldly  view,  is  to  outweigh  the  evils  of  irreligion, 
and  so  very  bad  an  example  in  morals  and  want  of 
piety  ?  I  cannot  approve  of  it,  much  as  I  liked  the 
man  in  all  worldly  respects. 

Dr.  Pearson  talking  of  experiments  observed  that 
contrary  experiments  to  good  ones  are  nothing.  '  I 
can  get  evidence  for  or  against  anything  :  for  the  exist- 
ence of  angels  and  devils,'  &c.  He  is  a  great  infidel,  one 
of  the  gang  of  philosophers  of  the  Royal  Society,  whose 
head,  Sir  J.  B.,  is  of  the  same  mould,  and  whose  influence 
is  all  on  the  same  side,  and  does  much  mischief.  The 
great,  the  wise,  and  the  learned  in  this  town,  I  fear, 
are  nineteen  in  twenty  infidels.  Shocking  !  dreadful  to 
think  of ! ! 

Dined  at  the  Duke  of  Grafton's,  Menil  the  Nimrod 
and  Dr.  Halifax  there.  I  never  fail  to  combat  his  Uni- 
tarianism,  but  do  no  good  ;  yet  his  argmnents  are  weak 
as  water. 

lOth. — At  the  Farmers'  Club.  Carried  with  some 
difficulty  a  premium  of  fifty  guineas  for  the  best  plough  ; 
several  voted  against  it,  because  impossible  to  decide 
which  of  several  should  be  the  best !  These  folks  can 
hardly  know  the  right  end  of  a  plough. 

25^7i. — Dined  at  the  Bishop  of  Durham's  ;  Price, 
the  Vice-Chamberlain,  there,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bernard. 
I  would  have  some  serious  talk,  and  therefore  asked  the 
Bishop  if  he  had  read  Overton's  ^  book  ?  He  had,  and 
highly  approved  it.     He  met  with  it  at  York,  and  asked 

'  J.  Overton,  officer  in  the  Excise  ;  made  telescopes,  and  had  a 
private  press,  where  he  printed  books,  mostly  theological.  Died  1838. 
See  Annual  Register  for  that  year. 


DIARY   CONTINUED  377 

the  Archbishop  if  he  knew  anything  of  the  author, 
and,  to  his  surprise,  found  that  he  did  not  even  know 
there  was  such  a  man,  and  knew  nothing  of  him. 
The  Bishop  promised  to  send  me  his  two  charges  and 
letters  to  the  Deists.  He  was  lately  in  company  with 
Otto,^  and  made  enquiries  what  that  minister  conceived 
would  be  the  result  of  the  present  order  of  things 
in  France  relative  to  religion.  Otto  thought  that  it 
would  end  in  the   establishment   of   Protestantism  ;  - 

'  L.  W.  Otto,  Count  of  Morlay,  was  a  German  diplomatist  in 
the  French  service,  and  lived  1752-1817.  See  Didot,  Biographic 
Universclle. 

■  This  was  not,  perhaps,  impossible.  See  the  following  note  from 
the  Daily  News  Paris  correspondent  three  or  four  years  ago  : 

'An  account  of  Napoleon  I.'s  visit  to  Breda  in  1810  is  now  appearing, 
for  the  first  time,  in  the  Dt'bats,  and  is  deeply  interesting.  It  will  be 
seen  that  Napoleon  I.  at  the  zenith  of  his  power  was  on  the  point 
of  becoming  a  Protestant. 

'  The  Emperor,  after  receiving  several  Deputies,  went  up  to  the 
Catholic  Vicar,  who  had  written  a  speech,  and  proceeded  to  read  it.  The 
Emperor,  without  replying,  asked  where  were  the  Protestant  ministers. 
Then  M.  Ten  Oever,  in  his  robes,  followed  by  the  entire  Protestant 
clergy,  was  presented  by  the  Prince  de  Wagram,  and  read  an  address. 
The  Emperor  remarked  with  satisfaction  that  the  Protestant  ministers 
wore  their  robes.  Then,  turning  to  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy,  he 
asked,  "How  is  it  that  you  are  not  wearing  your  frocks?  What !  I  come 
to  a  Department  [Holland  had  been  annexed  to  France]  where  the 
majority  are  Catholics,  who  were  formerly  oppressed,  and  who  have 
received  more  liberty  from  the  King,  my  brother,  and  myself,  and  your 
first  act  is  to  show  me  disrespect !  I  have  always  found  my  Protestants 
faithful  subjects.  I  have  six  thousand  at  Paris  and  eight  hundred 
thousand  in  my  empire,  and  I  have  no  cause  for  complaint  against  a 
single  one.  Fools  that  you  are  !  If  the  Concordat  had  not  been  accepted 
by  the  I'ope,  I  should  have  turiied  Protestant,  and  tliirty  million  French- 
men would  have  followed  my  example.  [The  italics  are  my  own.]  You 
have  calumniated  Protestants,  representing  them  as  men  teaching 
principles  contrary  to  the  rights  of  sovereigns.  I  have  no  better  sub- 
jects. They  serve  in  my  palace  in  Paris.  It  was  not  Luther,  nor 
Calvin,  but  the  German  princes  who  declined  to  submit  to  your  fanatical 


378      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

this  is  remarkable  and  not  improbable.  The  Concordat 
will  not  be  executed.  I  questioned  the  Bishop  about 
Paley  :  '  Mr.  Y.,  I  gave  Dr.  P.  a  living  of  I.IOOZ.  a  year 
for  two  great  works,  the  "  Horae  Paulinse  "  and  "The 
Evidences,"  and  so  I  told  him  :  "  But,  Dr.  P.,  as  to  your 
Moral  Philosophy  I  disapprove  of  it,  and  therefore  do 
not  mistake  my  motive  "  '  !  !  He  is  engaged  in  a  work 
now  at  press  on  natural  religion  by  the  Bishop's  recom- 
mendation. 

11th. — Our  third  volume  Part  I.  of  the  '  Communica- 
tions '  is  out,  but  I  have  yet  heard  nothing  of  the  public 
opinion.  The  mere  printing  this  thin  quarto  has  been  the 
whole  business  of  the  Board,  that  is,  of  the  President, 
from  last  November  ;  nothing  else  done  of  any  sort  or 
kind.  This  is  pitiable.  He  corrected  the  proofs  and 
made  them  dance  up  and  down  to  Wycombe,  and  wait 
as  if  time  was  of  no  consequence,  and  a  whole  Session 
will  pass  with  this  for  its  only  emplojmient.  My  '  Hert- 
ford '  is  ready  for  printing,  Pitt's  '  Leicester,"  Howlett's 
'  Essex,'  and  Plymley's  '  Salop,'  and  all  at  a  stand  ;  not 
one  proof  of  the  second  part  of  the '  Essays  '  at  press  in  a 
fortnight,  and  nothing  else  thought  of.  He  is  as  fit  to 
be  President  of  the  Board  as  Grand  Llama  of  Thibet ; 
such  is  the  way  that  all  public  business  is  conducted. 
If  I  saw  as  much  of  the  Treasury,  have  no  doubt  but 
similar  though  not  equal  neglect  would  appear.  But 
what  a  table  of  cyphers  to  meet  week  after  week  and 
urge  nothing  to  satisfy  the  public.     The  whole  of  this 

yoke.  The  English  were  quite  right  to  part  company  with  you.  You 
would  like  to  set  up  scaffolds  and  stakes,  but  I  will  prevent  you.  All 
authority  comes  from  God."  ' 


DIAEY   CONTINUED  379 

flows  from  the  most  fastidious  coxcombical  pretension 
to  purity  of  language :  the  time  is  spent  in  making 
phrases,  as  the  French  express  it,  which  ought  to  be 
employed  in  devising  and  executing  plans  of  improve- 
ment and  pushing  on  the  county  surveys.  Lament- 
able !  A  fine  folly,  however,  has  taken  place  ;  the 
President  and  two  other  members  went  to  see  Salis- 
bury's botanical  garden — there  he  agreed  to  hire  six 
acres  at  rent  and  taxes  14Z.  an  acre  for  Board  experi- 
ments 1^  miles  from  Hyde  Park  Corner.  I  was  not 
consulted,  and  60^.  paid  for  a  lease  before  I  knew  a 
word  of  the  matter ;  then  I  was  ordered  to  view 
it,  which  I  did,  but  no  opinion  asked.  Next  I  was 
directed  to  draw  up  a  plan  of  experiments,  which  I  did, 
without  corn,  for  myriads  of  sparrows  from  nurseries 
would  eat  all  up.  These  were  partly  accepted  and 
partly  rejected,  and  potatoes  scouted  hecsbuse  people  are 
sick  of  the  name  of  potatoes.  '  Suppose  another  famine, 
my  Lord,  what  will  those  persons  then  think  who  are 
now  sick  of  potatoes  ?  ' 

It  stands  over  for  the  Board.  The  whole  idea  is 
stark,  staring  folly ;  it  will  cost  250^.  a  year,  and  the 
harvest  well  deserved  ridicule. 

April  11. — Last  Wednesday,  Lord  Carrington  took 
me  into  his  room  and  told  me  that  his  brother  having 
the  loan,  he  had  spoken  to  him  to  write  me  down  for 
500/.,  and  that  the  rise  having  been  4  per  cent,  he  had 
directed  it  to  be  sold,  and  it  would  produce  me  200Z.  clear 
of  charges.  I  thanked  him  much.  Such  a  thing  never 
entered  my  thoughts,  and  consequently  surprised  me 
much.     It  was  very  kind  and  considerate,  and  I  am 


380      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

certainly  much  obliged  to  him  for  it.  Next  evening  he 
sent  for  me,  and  gave  me  a  draft  on  Smith  and  Payne, 
2211.  17s.  6d.,  for  the  rise  was  4^  per  cent.  I  was 
thankful  to  God  for  this,  and  meditated  much  on  it. 
If  God  had  not  been  willing  it  would  not  have  entered 
his  head,  and  I  find  it  comfortable  to  attribute  every- 
thing to  God,  as,  indeed,  everything  ought  certainly  to 
be  attributed,  and  the  more  we  trust  entirely  to  Him 
the  better  I  am  persuaded  it  is  for  us.  This  is  the  first 
lottery  for  many  years  that  I  have  been  out  of,  but 
meeting  with  a  passage  in  some  of  Scott's  things 
against  lotteries  I  would  not  put  in,  or  have  anything 
to  do  with  it.  If  God  pleases  to  give  me  money  He  has 
a  thousand  ways  of  doing  it,  and  in  these  reflections 
I  have  had  hard  work  to  guard  my  mind  against  the 
temptation  to  consider  it  in  the  light  of  a  reward  which 
would  be  vile  where  there  is  no  merit,  no  desert.  I 
offend  too  daily  and  hourly  to  deserve  anything  but 
wrath  at  His  hands,  and  this  I  cannot  dwell  on  too 
much  or  too  deeply.  But  for  two  years  past  of  His 
infinite  goodness  He  has  made  all  money  matters  very 
favourable  to  me,  and  I  thank  Him  for  an  uninter- 
rupted stream  of  His  bounty  without  let  or  hindrance, 
and  this  notwithstanding  my  sensual  mind  and  many 
offences.  I  cannot  be  too  grateful  for  so  much  good- 
ness, and  I  pray  Him  to  give  me  grace  to  be  kind  and 
charitable  to  others  while  He  is  so  good  to  me.  I 
think  of  these  things  with  fear  and  trembling,  lest  they 
should  throw  my  mind  and  conduct  into  an  improper 
train. 

Of  late  I  have  been  ruminating  on  a  short  publica- 


DIARY   CONTINUED  381 

tion  against  the  Deists,  to  consist  merely  of  an  attack 
on  them  to  show  the  difficulties  and  absurdities  of  their 
system  ;  it  will  consist  chiefly  of  extracts.  I  have  read 
Bogue,'  and  Fuller  and  Berkeley's^'  MinutePhilosopher,' 
and  Leslie,^  but  none  of  them  come  up  to  my  idea.  It 
should  be  unmixed  with  a  defence  of  Christianity,  which 
should  come  in  by  way  of  appendix.  I  cannot  get  it 
out  of  my  head,  and  shall  certainly  attempt  it ;  the  worst 
is  I  must  read  their  works  {i.e.  of  the  Deists,  &c.),  which 
is  bad,  but  I  shall  not  do  it  without  prayer  to  God  to 
fortify  me  against  their  sophistries  and  delusions. 

Yesterday  morning  I  hoped  and  expected  to  leave 
London,  but  Lord  Pelham,  Secretary  of  State,  has  sent 
us  the  returns  of  acres  cropped  last  year  from  the  clergy 
of  the  Kingdom,  and  so  a  Committee  to-day,  and  to- 
morrow Good  Friday  ;  for  Saturday  I  have  taken  places 
Thus,  after  twelve  weeks  in  London,  I  lose  four  days. 
Very  unlucky,  and  very  disagreeable,  and  for  such 
nonsense  as  disgraces  common  sense.  He  wrote  a 
circular  letter  to  all  the  clergy  of  the  Kingdom  last 
June  for  this  purpose,  and  from  10,000  parishes  received 
accounts  from  about  a  half.  Precious  ones,  to  be  sure  ! 
A  very  probable  matter  that  the  farmers  would  give 
the  number  of  acres  sown  with  every  sort  of  grain  to 
the  parsons  ;  such  attempts  degrade  Government  in  the 
eyes  of  the  people.  What  opinion  can  they  have  of 
men's  abilities  who  expect  thus  to  gain  such  facts  ? 

'  D.  Bogue,  D.D.,  On  the  Divvie  Authority  of  the  Neic  Testament, 
1801. 

-  Bishop  of  Cloyne,  Alciphron ;  or,  the  Minute  Philosopher,  1732. 

•■'  C.  Leslie,  died  1722,  author  of  The  Rehearsals :  Tracts  against  the 
Deists  and  Socinians,  4  vols. 


382  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

I  was  in  danger  of  returning  to  London  without  one 
entry  in  this  Journal,  but  going  up  to  wipe  my  dear 
Bobbin's  book  has  thrown  my  mind  into  a  fit  of 
melancholy  that  I  know  not  how  easily  to  get  rid  of  ; 
yet  will  it  go  too  soon  ?  I  have  been  whitewashing 
the  house,  cleaning  about  it,  and  keeping  all  things  in 
pretty  good  order  to  do  justice  to  the  place  as  well  as  I 
am  able  ;  but  my  dear  child's  recollection  brings  forcibly 
to  my  heart  the  impression  that  it  is  the  will  of  God  I 
should  have  hardly  any  chance  of  this  prosperity  being 
kept  in  my  famil5^  My  son  has  no  children,  nor  likely 
to  have  any.  Mary,  no  chance  of  marrying,  so  that 
my  posterity  ends  with  the  next  generation.  The  will 
of  God  be  done,  but  human  vanity  and  feelings  will  rise 
in  the  bosom,  and  they  cannot  rise  without  these  un- 
pleasant ideas  forcing  themselves  into  my  mind.  Brad- 
field  has  been  ours  200  years,  and  I  should  have  liked 
that  my  name  and  family  might  here  have  continued. 
But  God  has  punished  me  for  my  sins  ;  I  can  have 
nothing  at  His  hands  that  I  do  not  deserve.  Blessed 
be  His  holy  Name,  be  it  my  endeavour  to  submit  to  His 
will  with  resignation  and  cheerfulness. 

Betsy  and  O.  dined  with  me  on  Tuesday,  but  the  day 
so  bad  I  could  not  show  her  the  round  garden,  which 
was  got  in  very  neat  order.  I  have  had  a  letter  from 
the  Duke  of  Liancourt  in  which  he  speaks  of  coming  to 
England.  I  wrote  to  advise  him  against  it,  for  he 
would,  I  fear,  be  very  ill  received.  The  Duke  of  Grafton 
read  me  a  letter  expressed  in  most  indignant  terms  on 
the  passage  relative  to  him  and  his  family  in  Mons.  de 


DIAKY  CONTINUED  383 

Liancourt's  travels.'  The  new  Diike  of  Bedford  writes 
to  desire  me,  in  very  kind  terms,  to  go  to  the  Wobm*n 
sheep-shearing  ;  asks  it  as  a  sort  of  favour.  I  had  some 
very  fine  days  on  coming  down,  but  of  late  the  weather 
has  been  cold,  damp,  and  melancholy,  but  I  never  come 
without  wishing  to  live  here  constantly.  I  cannot  help 
wishing  it,  but  I  hope  without  discontent — that  would  be 
black  ingratitude  to  God.  He  fixes  me  where  I  am  ;  all, 
all  things  I  am  well  persuaded  come  from  His  Almighty 
hand,  and  therefore  a  cheerful  submission  is  one  great 
article  of  a  religious  life.  I  brought  down  linen  for  the 
poor,  but  the  number  that  want,  and  I  cannot  relieve, 
is  melancholy  :  I  think  I  have  fixed  straw  work  here, 
for  above  twenty-five  have  learned,  and  my  splitting 
machines  are  all  distributed.  Some  days  since  I  sent 
off  to  Dunstable  the  first  product  of  their  work,  and 
hope  I  shall  have  a  good  sale  for  the  poor  children. 

June  1 :  London. — I  keep  this  Journal  as  I  do  every- 
thing else,  lest  good  purposes  be  turned  aside  by  trifles 
and  want  of  resolution.  This  is  the  thanksgiving-day  ; 
and  last  night  was  the  Union  masquerade,  and  the 
coaches  are  now  (5  a.m.  in  the  morning)  rattling,  and 
one  fool  in  some  monkey  dress  has  walked  by  my 
windows. 

A  letter  from  the  Duke  of  Bedford  asking  me  to  go 
to  Woburn,  which  I  shall  do,  and  then  I  hope  to 
Holkham,  where  Mr.  Coke  will  take  me  in  his  coach — 

'  Voyage  en  Amirique,  2  vols.  1800.  It  seems  that  the  Fi-ench 
imigris,  after  being  most  hospitably  treated  in  England,  showed  little 
return  in  the  way  of  graciousness.  See  Letters  of  Maria  Josepha 
Holroijd ;  also  the  Jcmingham  Letters. 


384      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

and  there  I  am  on  my  ground  for  the  survey  of  Norfolk  ; 
but  it  is  not  yet  decided  whether  I  am  to  do  it.  It  is 
a  duty  I  owe  to  God  to  use  the  vacation  in  the  best 
manner  I  can,  but  I  can  ill  afford  to  travel  at  my  own 
expense,  determined  as  I  am,  if  possible,  to  pay  TOOL 
of  debts. 

I  should  like  to  make  a  long  journey  in  enquiries 
concerning  the  poor  ;  I  know  not  what  would  be  best, 
and  have  prayed  to  God  to  guide  me,  but  I  am  utterly 
displeased  with  myself  in  my  religious  pursuits.  My 
mind  is  sensual,  and  my  progress  slow ;  may  the 
mercy  of  the  Almighty  be  shed  on  me  in  grace  to  mend. 
I  have  planned  a  new  work,  '  Deism  Delineated,'  and 
made  some  progress,  but  do  not  please  myself.  It 
must  be  done  gradually  as  I  read,  and  my  time  is  fully 
occupied  with  many  pursuits. 

Post  to  Chesterford,  and  having  received  a  letter 
from  the  present  Duke  of  Bedford  requesting  me  to 
meet  Lord  Somerville  and  Mr.  Coke  at  Woburn  in 
order  to  consult  upon  the  best  means  of  carrying  the 
late  Duke's  intentions  into  execution,  especially  in 
relation  to  the  sheep-shearing,  I  set  off  accordingly, 
and  got  to  Woburn  at  night,  where  I  found  Lord 
Somerville  and  Mr.  Coke,  and  we  considered  the  matter 
as  well  as  the  late  Duke's  proposals  to  breeders.  At 
the  meeting  the  Duke's  attention  was  very  pleasing, 
for  he  had  great  solicitude  to  arrange  everything  down 
to  the  minutest  trifles  in  exactly  the  same  manner  as 
his  brother  had  done  on  former  occasions. 

Before  dinner,  the  first  day,  he  came  up  to  me  and 
said,   '  Mr.  Y.,  I  beg  you  will  take  your  old  seat,  and 


DIAEY   CONTINUED  385 

preside  at  one  end  of  the  table,  for  which  purpose  I 
have  ordered  a  servant  to  keep  your  chair.'  Everyone 
remarked  the  extreme  attention  of  the  duke  that  all 
the  business  of  the  meeting  should  be  well  conducted. 

IQith. — Heartily  tired  of  London,  and  the  scenes  I 
have  endured  at  home.  I  left  town,  and  took  Betsy's 
new  chaise,  which  I  had  bought  for  her  (170  guineas) 
for  Chesterfield,  where  her  whole  family  were.  It  was 
a  hurrying  day. 

Next  morning,  Sunday,  to  church,  and  in  the  after- 
noon, contrary  to  many  feelings,  to  Baldock.  No  post- 
chaise  to  be  had,  so  went  on  in  my  whisky  to  Shefford, 
then  post  to  Woburn  by  particular  desire  of  the  Duke  of 
Bedford,  to  concert  matters  with  Lord  Somerville  and 
Mr.  Coke  for  the  shearing  business.  It  was  11  p.m.  at 
night  before  I  arrived ;  nobody  there  except  they  and 
Cartwright. 

On  the  Thursday,  with  Mr.  Coke  and  Mr.  Talbot,  in 
Coke's  chaise  to  Brandon,  and  on  Friday  morning  to 
Holkham. 

Farmed  on  Saturday  and  too  much  on  Sunday,  so 
here  have  been  two  Lord's  days  profaned.  How 
difficult  it  is  to  be  in  the  world  and  preserve  oneself 
uncontaminated  by  common  practices  !  At  church, 
however,  in  the  morning. 

The  sheep-shearing  the  four  following  days,  at 
which  I  had  never  been  before.  He  does  it  hand- 
somely ;  200  dined  on  plate. 

The  dinner  better  than  at  Woburn,  I  think  from 
vicinity  to  the  sea,  which  gives  plenty  of  fish. 

At   the   Holkham  meeting,  had  I  entertained  my 

c  c 


386      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

former  feelings  of  pride  and  discontent,  I  should  not 
have  been  too  well  pleased,  for  Mr.  C.  was  personally 
civil  and  attentive ;  and  yet  he  took  not  the  smallest 
public  opportunity  of  mentioning  me,  the  Board,  my 
report,  or  anything  about  it,  though  the  occasion  certainly 
called  in  reason  for  it.  Once  this  would  have  mortified 
me,  but  now  I  value  such  matters  not  a  straw.  May 
God  permit  me  to  do  my  duty  to  Him,  and  as  to  what 
men  think  of  me,  I  regard  it  less  than  the  idle  wind. 
I  went  to  bed  every  night  directly  after  coffee,  between 
9  and  10  p.m.,  and  was  up  between  3  and  4  a.m. 

[In  London]  at  Mrs.  Montagu's. — Sir  Sidney  not 
there ;  Ryder,  the  Privy  Councillor,  and  his  brother 
and  Montagu,  had  been  at  Paris,  and  we  had  little 
conversation  except  on  Bonaparte,  &c.  They  contended 
that  every  scrap  of  land  is  cultivated  and  much  that 
was  waste.  Sir  F.  combated  the  idea,  and  urged 
reports  of  prefects,  speeches,  &c.,  as  proving  rents 
sunk,  price  of  land  fallen,  produce  as  four  to  six, 
population  lessened,  and  the  price  of  labour  risen,  &c. 
&c.     The  last  no  proof  of  decline. 

Ryder,  on  com,  observed  that  the  same  fact  of  wheat 
being  dearer  in  peace  than  in  war  is  found  in  the 
French  prices  annexed  to  Arnold.' 

They  would  not  be  introduced  to  Bonaparte.  Fox 
had  much  conversation  with  him,  and  he  plainl}' 
urged  the  fact  that  Wyndham  was  concerned  in  the 
infernal  machine,  asserting  that  he  had  the  proof. 
Sir  F.  says  that  this  proof  was  one  George,  being  much 

'  Ambrose    Marie     Arnault,    French    economist,    1750-1812.     See 
Vapereau. 


DIAEY   CONTINUED  387 

with  W.,  and  afterwards  going  on  the  expedition  to 
Quiberon.  A  party  was  taken  amongst  whose  papers  (on 
the  arrests  for  the  infernal  machine)  were  letters  on  that 
conspiracy  to  or  from  George,  which  combination  was 
Bonaparte's  proof.  The  Government,  [he  says,  is]  the 
completest  military  despotism  that  ever  was  in  the 
world. 

At  the  theatre  some  Frenchmen  finding  Montagu 
was  English,  spoke  much  of  me  ;  and  said  they  wanted 
of  all  things  that  I  should  come  and  examine  France  a 
second  time  under  the  new  regime. 

Dined  with  Swirenove,  the  Kussian  chaplain  of  the 
embassy,  greatly  employed  by  the  nobility  of  that 
Empire  in  agricultural  commissions.  Patterson,  bailiff 
to  Lord  Hardwicke,  is  going  to  Kussia,  and  left  me  to 
make  a  bargain  for  him,  which  I  did.  He  is  to  have  100 
guineas  first  year,  and  increasing  20  yearly  till  200 
guineas  ;  60  for  his  son-in-law,  and  20  for  his  daughter, 
and  25  for  a  ploughman.  Count  Kostopchin,  at 
Woronowo,  near  Moscow,  who  has  an  immense  estate, 
is  the  man.  A  Russian  count  there,  Benwakin,  I  think, 
[he  named]  whose  peasants  pay  him  30  roubles  a  year ; 
but  paper  money  so  multiplied  and  at  50  per  cent,  dis- 
count, that  all  prices  are  greatly  risen  nominally.  The 
Emperor's  going  to  farm  so  largely  has  already  had  a 
great  effect  in  turning  the  attention  of  the  nobility  to 
it.  My  annuity  yesterday  remitted  from  Ireland,  72Z.' 
Thank  God  for  that  uninterrupted  stream  of  His  bounty 
which  I  have  enjoyed   of   late   years    without   let   or 

'  See  Chap.  IV.  '  Ireland,'  for  this  curious  bargain,  by  which  A.  Y., 
instead  of  a  sum  total  of  700/.,  in  1776  was  to  receive  72/.  per  annum  ! 

c  c  2 


388      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

hindrance,  and  which  my  vile  ingratitude  returns  so 
badly. 

Lord  Winchilsea  called  yesterday,  and  sat  an  hour 
with  me.  He  is,  I  believe,  one  of  the  very  best  of  the 
nobility,  and  a  really  respectable  moral  character,  and 
benevolent  to  the  poor. 

August  22  :  Bradfield. — Here  is  a  blank  of  many 
weeks,  which  shows  once  more  how  difficult  it  is  to 
keep  journal  resolutions.  After  a  long  tour  in  Norfolk, 
which  would  have  afforded  much  pleasure  had  not 
business  occupied  all  my  time,  I  met  Betsy  and  0.  at 
Harleston,  on  the  9th. 

War  much  talked  of.  The  militia  calling  out. 
These  things,  whatever  the  event,  are  certainly  God's 
providences.  His  will  be  done.  But  when  I  consider 
the  almost  universal  vice  and  iniquity  of  the  kingdom, 
the  amazing  protection  and  blessings  which  have  been 
showered  down  on  us,  and  the  vile  ingratitude  to  God 
which  pervades  all  ranks  in  an  utter  forgetfulness  of 
Him,  or  contempt  of  His  judgments,  I  must  own  I 
tremble  at  the  thought. 

I  have  lived  some  time  without  making  a  will, 
which  has  been  very  wrong.  I  am  under  such  complex 
settlements  that  I  do  not  understand  what  power  I 
have ;  and  Gotobed's  draft  was  so  full  of  law  jargon, 
that  I  understand  nothing  of  it.  I  wait  no  longer,  but 
have  made  one  plain  and  simple,  and  such  as  I  hope, 
with  the  blessing  of  God,  will  not  nor  can  be  misunder- 
stood. I  have  disposed  of  what  I  have  to  the  best  of 
my  conscience,  that  is,  if   I  was  to  die  at  Christmas. 


DI.VEY   CONTINUED  389 

Here  is  only  300Z.  to  be  made  up  by  sale  of  timber, 
'Annals,'  &c.  &c.,  but  a  farm  auction  would  produce 
more  than  900Z.,  and  rents  are  always  behind,  some 
over  due.  I  pray  to  God  for  better  economy,  and 
much  hope,  by  a  fresh  and  careful  attention  to  my 
farm  and  '  Annals,'  to  bring  things  speedily  to  a  better 
account. 

I  forgot  1001.  due  to  me  from  the  Board  for  Nor- 
folk Report,  so  that  I  evidently  leave  enough  for  all 
demands,  probably  without  cutting  any  timber. 

I  have  never  lived  so  well  with  Mrs.  Young  as  for 
five  weeks  past. 

War  !  To  look  into  futurity  is  idle.  The  event  is 
in  the  Lord's  hand,  and  will  depend  on  the  number 
and  piety  of  true  Christians  amongst  us,  and  not 
be  governed  by  fleets  and  armies.  France  is  so 
unprepared  at  sea,  that  no  war  ever  opened  in  that 
respect  with  better  prospects.  But  this  is  the  arm  of 
flesh,  and  may  mark  the  vanity  of  all  trust  in  such 
circumstances. 

The  following  letter  to  A.  Y.  may  fitly  close  the 
chronicle  of  this  year  : 

'  Drinkstone  :  Dec.  8,  1803. 

'  Sir,— A  letter  from  Lord  Euston  to  Sir  Charles 
Davers  recommends  that  in  case  of  invasion  all  horses 
and  draft  cattle  that  cannot  be  driven  out  of  the  reach 
of  the  enemy  be  shot ;  and  that  all  the  axle-trees  or 
wheels  of  all  carriages  likely  to  fall  into  the  enemy's 
hands  be  broken,  the  fullest  assurance  being  given 
of  complete  indemnification,  provided  no  horses,  draft 
cattle,  or  carriages  of  any  description  fall  into  their 


390      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

hands  through  negligence  or  want  of  proper  exertion 
on  the  part  of  the  owners. 

'  All  other  stock  is  to  be  left  for  the  use  of  the  troops, 
unless    there  be  evident  danger  it  may   fall  into  the 
invader's  hands,  in  which  case  the  measures  formerly 
determined  upon  must  be  resorted  to. 
'  I  am,  Sir, 

'  Your  obedient  humble  servant, 

'  Joshua  Grigby.' 


391 


CHAPTEK   XV 

APPKOACHING  BLINDNESS 

1804-1807 

A  great  preacher— Arthur  Young  the  younger  goes  to  Russia — Cowper's 
Letters — Mrs.  Young's  illness — Dr.  Symonds  —  Novel  reading  — 
Skinner's  'State  of  Peru'  —  Death  of  Pitt — Burke's  publishing 
accounts — Literary  projects — Approaching  blindness. 

Fehruarij  24.— The  sins  of  a  journal  are  like  those  of  life, 
much  offence  and  a  little  repentance,  minutes  applied 
and  months  neglected.  Last  night,  for  the  first  time 
in  my  life,  I  was  at  a  religious  conversazione.  Mr.  Fry 
has  it  once  a  fortnight. 

Mrs.  Wilberforce  and  thirty  more,  I  suppose,  began 
with  singing  a  hymn,  and  then  a  prayer,  and  ended  in 
the  same  manner  ;  the  subject  discussed  was  Providence. 
Scott,  Macaulay,  and  Fry  were  the  only  speakers  ex- 
cept myself,  who  threw  in  a  word  or  two  in  a  bad 
manner  and  not  in  unison  ;  but  I  went  without  pre- 
paring the  temper  of  my  mind,  and  it  proved  to  me  a 
mere  temptation  to  sin,  as  everything  is  sure  to  do 
when  we  trust  in  our  own  strength  and  do  not  pray  for 
divine  assistance.  I  like  the  thing  itself  much,  and  the 
recollection  since  it  passed  has  produced  in  my  mind  a 
degree  of  humiliation  which  might  not  have  been  in  it 
had  I  not  gone  there.  I  wished  to  touch  on  the  state 
of  the  King's  health,  where  the  hand   of   God  is  so 


392      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

evident;  but  they  would  attend  onlj'  to  little  and 
private  things,  and  probably  were  right.  They  made 
every  possible  event,  the  most  trivial,  providential. 
Scott  is  a  predestinarian,  but  impresses  the  necessity 
of  attending  to  the  means  by  which  God  acts  as  much 
as  if  the  divine  decrees  were  not  universal.  The  next 
subject  is  Temptation. 

May  22. — My  dear  friend  '  at  Bradfield  writes  me 
in  a  most  melancholy  strain,  on  the  ill  success  of  her 
husband's  farming,  I  doubt  I  shall  lose  largely  by  a 
scheme  which  was  executed  merely  to  keep  him  out  of 
greater  mischief. 

The  new  Bishop  of  Bristol  is  in  dress  and  manners 
much  like  what  we  call  in  Suffolk  a  leather  breeches 
parson. 

Somebody  called  on  Mrs.  Pelham,  and  found  her 
lying  on  a  sofa  reading  a  novel,  rouged  as  much  as  any 
Madame  la  Marquise.  They  thought  she  seemed  to  be 
too  high  flown  to  be  asked  to  a  sober  party  of  whist. 
What  a  gradation  of  evil  amongst  the  worldly  even  in 
the  respectable  {soi-disant)  class. 

An  application  from  Phillips  for  another  edition  of 
the  '  Farmer's  Calendar.'  He  printed  2,000  of  the  fifth, 
and  1,200  sold  in  a  month ;  they  will  all  be  gone  before 
it  can  be  reprinted.  I  had  lOOZ.  for  that  edition,  401. 
more  for  this  six  months  after  publication,  and  in 
future  25Z.  each  succeeding  one. 

How  grateful  I  ought  to  be,  but  am  not,  to  God  for 
a  success  which  has  smoothed  many  difficulties,  and 
enabled  me  much  to  lessen,  in  assistance  to  other  cir- 

'  Mrs.  Oakes. 


APPEOACHING  BLINDNESS  393 

cmnstances,  my  debts.     The  sale  is  an  extraordinary 
one. 

What  would  be  with  me  the  result  of  moral  re- 
flections and  trust  in  human  means,  in  the  power  of 
a  vile  heart  to  cure  its  own  iniquities  ?  I  have  a  con- 
viction amounting  to  sensation  in  its  truth,  that  every- 
thing but  looking  unto  Jesus  is  weaker  than  water — 
vain  and  frivolous.  This  is  the  grand  consideration, 
result,  and  object  of  religion  in  the  soul,  all  beside  is 
wide  of  the  mark  and  without  power  and  efficacy.  Oh, 
my  God,  my  God !  write  these  truths  in  my  soul, 
impress  them  in  my  heart,  that  by  communion  with 
Thee  I  may  b}'  Thy  grace  be  purified,  washed,  and 
cleansed  from  every  evil  thought.  Blessed  be  Thy  Holy 
Name  for  keeping  me  from  acts  of  sin.  Oh  !  have 
mercy  on  my  mind  and  take  away  every  thought  of  it. 

I  shall  have  to  experience  another  temptation,  and 
should  be  preparing  for  it.  I  have  little  doubt  but  Lord 
Carrington  will  be  again  President  of  the  Board.  He 
likes  not  me,  and  I  shall  be  much  more  uncomfortable 
than  I  have  been  with  Lord  Sheffield ;  but  such  changes, 
if  they  happen,  will  be  from  the  Lord,  for  nothing  is  so 
idle  as  for  a  Christian  to  suppose  that  anything  takes 
place  by  chance. 

I  do  not  mean  to  leave  town  till  the  Woburn  meet- 
ing, but  I  am  restless,  and  want  to  get  away.  This  is 
a  common  folly,  and  ought  carefully  to  be  checked.  It 
is  the  spirit  that  wastes  half  a  life,  ever  looking  to  a 
future  moment  and  never  enjoying  the  present,  which 
is  that  alone  that  is  truly  our  own.' 

'  This  recalls  Goethe's  line,  '  Der  Augenblick  ist  Ewigkeit. 


894  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF  AETHrR   YOUNG 

There  is  not  a  more  valuable  lesson  than  to  learn 
how  to  apply  every  portion  of  time  to  use,  and  not  to 
suffer  the  expectation  of,  or  waiting  for,  any  future 
moment  to  make  the  intermediate  ones  tiresome  or 
unpleasant.  It  is  wasting  life  and  time  that  is  never  to 
return. 

Yesterday,  at  7  p.m.,  I  dined  with  Mr.  Anson — a 
fanning  party  :  Duke  of  Bedford,  Earl  of  Galloway,  Earl 
of  Albemarle,  Lord  Somerville,  Sir  Eobert  Lowley,  Sir 
John  Wrottesley,  Mr.  Coke,  Mr.  Motteaux,  Mr.  Child, 
Sir  G.  Pigot,  Mr.  Western,  Mr.  Wilbraham,  all  M.P.'s 
or  in  high  life. 

Nothing  but  a  farming  conversation  makes  the 
company  of  these  people  proper  for  me  to  have  any- 
thing to  do  with ;  and  that  it  is  not  to  be  conceived 
how  little  they  know  on  the  subject,  considering  it's 
a  favourite  pursuit.  Such  great  fortunes  and  a  life  of 
luxury  and  bustle  and  motion  are  hostile  to  every  kind 
of  knowledge ;  and  the  conversation  abounds  with  in- 
formation for  those  who  watch  for  and  have  a  memory 
to  retain  it,  yet  it  demands  a  good  deal  of  knowledge 
previously  digested  and  arranged  to  make  a  due  use  of 
it.  A  splendid  house,  one  of  the  best  in  London ; 
magnificent  furniture,  plate,  servants,  wines,  and  every- 
thing, equal  to  30,000Z.  or  40,000^.  a  year,  but  he  has  no 
such  income, 

I  have — I  think  I  have — no  envy  of  these  doings. 
Such  situations  are  so  hostile  to  the  religious  principle 
that  ought  to  animate  the  soul,  that  I  should  think  of 
them  with  fear  and  trembling.  I  hate  parties,  and  my 
heart  condemns  me  whenever  I  go  to  them,  in  which 


APPROACHING  BLINDNESS  395 

not  a  word  ever  occurs  to  give  God  the  glory  due  to 
His  Holy  Name,  which  is  sometimes  profaned  but 
never  honoured,  where  Grace  before  and  after  meat  is 
discarded.  And  this  is  a  sort  of  denial  of  Christ  which 
gives  me  no  slight  disquiet  and  remorse,  and  ought 
entirely  to  banish  me  from  all  such  company  ;  it  works 
in  me,  and  I  cordially  hope  it  will  soon  produce  that 
effect,  for  the  pleasure  I  receive  is  little  and  the  offence 
to  God  I  fear  is  much.  '  Come  out  from  among  them 
and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing,'  is  applicable  to  more 
cases  than  I  have  applied  it  to.  I  am  determined  to  go 
only  to  Woburn  this  year  and  not  to  Holkham  ;  four 
days  of  noise  and  bustle  are  too  much,  I  will  get  away 
in  three  ;  but  a  whole  fortnight  is  horrible.  I  will  get 
to  Cambridge  by  Saturday,  and  I  hope  Jane  will  meet 
me  there  to  spend  Sunday,  and  perhaps  Monday,  with 
Simeon,  and  make  him  promise  to  meet  Fry  at  Brad- 
field.  Yesterday  and  this  day  hurry,  bustle,  packing  up, 
paying  bills,  and  recollection  on  the  stretch  lest  anything 
should  be  forgotten.  Wrote  to  Cordell,  the  bookseller, 
to  settle  with  me  for  the  Irish  Tom*.  It  has  been  years 
out  of  print,  and  the  last  settlement  in  1795.  I  have 
half  the  sale ;  154  were  then  left,  my  half,  30Z.  at  least, 
and  it  never  came  into  my  head  before.  Very  careless 
indeed,  and  in  money  to  receive  !  Such  busy  days  are 
unpleasant  because  both  mind  and  body  are  fatigued. 

18th  at  Woburn.  Came  with  Lord  Sheffield  yester- 
day. I  detest  this  profanation  of  the  Sabbath,  but  he 
urged  me  so  to  accompany  him  that  I  yielded  like  a 
fool.  A  great  dinner,  Lords  Albemarle,  Ossory,  Ludlow, 
Duke  of  Manchester,  Sir  H.  Fetherstone,  Sir  R.  Pigot, 


396      AUTOBIOaRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

the  Wilbrahams,  &c.,  twenty  in  all.  Several  apartments 
newly  furnished,  and  many  very  expensive  articles, 
clocks,  &c.,  from  Paris  to  the  amount  of  2,000Z.  Much 
done  to  the  greenhouse,  and  everywhere  a  profusion 
of  expense.  The  late  rains  have  given  a  fine  verdure, 
and  the  place  in  full  beauty.  Such  a  flow  of  worldly 
blessings  as  are  seen  in  one  of  these  very  great  residences 
makes  me  melancholy  when  I  reflect  on  the  immense 
temptation  and  dreadful  responsibility  that  attaches. 
AVhat  have  not  these  people  to  answer  for  if  they  forget 
the  Giver  in  the  profusion  of  His  gifts  ?  and  where  am 
I  to  go  to  find  a  great  house  and  establishment  with  a 
society  and  conversation  that  shows  the  Gospel  of  our 
Lord  to  be  held  in  reverence  and  affection  ? 

This  poor  Duke  of  Bedford,  whose  nominal  income 
is  so  enormous,  will,  I  fear,  involve  himself  with  the  same 
imprudence.  Cartwright  has  built  him  a  steam  engine 
(700/.)  for  threshing  and  grinding  :  12  per  cent,  interest 
in  the  least  to  be  calculated,  or  84/.,  and  yet  a  one-horse 
mill,  price  50/.,  would  thresh  all  the  corn  that  will  ever 
be  brought  to  this  yard. 

An  extravagant  duchess,  Paris  toys,  a  great  farm, 
little  economy,  and  immense  debts,  will  prove  a  canker 
in  all  the  rosebuds  of  his  garden  of  life.  The  providence 
of  the  Almighty  governs  all,  and  will  not  permit  an 
utter  forgetfulness  of  Him  to  produce  even  the  temporal 
happiness  which  is  alone  sought  for. 

I  am  tired  of  the  whole,  and  long  for  the  retirement 
and  quiet  of  Bradfield  after  so  many  weeks  of  London, 
and  this  finishing  of  hurry  and  bustle.  I  would  not 
have  another  week  of  it  for  a  hundred  pounds.     What 


APPROACHING  BLINDNESS  397 

has  a  Christian  to  do  with  such  scenes  ?  How  a  person 
of  fortune  and  the  world  can  be  one  I  know  not.  They 
are  never  cool,  and  have  no  time  for  reading  or  thought. 
It  is  madness  to  continue  in  such  a  state,  but  to  travel 
120  miles  in  order  to  enter  a  fresh  scene  of  it,  and 
perhaps  within  earshot  of  such  a  profane  beast  and  fool 
as  that  Captain  G.  I  sat  near  last  year — this  would 
be  insanity.  What  a  spectacle  at  Woburn  was  that 
miserably  swearing  profligate,  Major  B.,  of  Sussex,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one,  sticking  to  the  last  moment  to  worldly 
dissipation,  and  utterly  regardless  of  what  is  to  become 
of  him  hereafter.  Like  Lord  Lauderdale,  who  declared 
that  he  feared  nothing  in  this  world  nor  in  the  next 
either  !  These  people  call  themselves  Deists  ;  I  think 
they  must  be  atheists,  or  they  are  utterly  in  contradic- 
tion to  themselves.  It  is  a  sin,  and  ought  to  be  repented 
of,  to  go  into  such  company.  I  feel  myself  here,  looking 
on  the  tranquil  bosom  of  the  Ouse,  as  having  escaped 
from  a  multiplicity  of  temptations,  and  that  this  is 
the  first  moment  of  my  summer  holidays,  quiet  and 
alone.  This  morning  I  had  a  letter  from  Jane,  by  which 
I  find  it  is  quite  uncertain  whether  I  shall  meet  her 
at  Cambridge.  She  asks  my  directions,  but  had  she 
thought,  must  have  known  that  she  could  not  receive 
an  answer  in  time.  I  hope  to  hear  Simeon '  twice  on 
Sunday,  and  much  wish  that  she  may  be  there,  as  I 
wrote  before  to  request  it  ;  and  she  says  she  should 
like  it  of  all  things. 

'  Ch.  Simeon,  1759-1836,  an  eminent  divine  of  the  Evangelical 
school.  His  works,  consisting  of  2,536  sermons,  &c.,  were  published  in 
twenty-one  volumes  in  1832. 


398      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

24:th  :  Cambridge. — I  dined  here  yesterday.  Inquired 
for  that  great  and  good  man,  Simeon,  but  he  was  not 
to  be  in  town  till  the  evening.  I  walked  behind 
Trinity  and  John's,  &c.,  twice — a  delightful  day.  Wrote 
and  left  a  letter  for  him  ;  at  nine  he  came,  and  will 
certainly  meet  Fry  at  Bradfield.  Thank  God  !  I  shall 
hear  him  twice  to-day  and  Mr.  Thomason  once,  for  I 
shall  go  thrice  to  Trinity  Church.  I  mentioned  Fry's 
calculation  of  three  millions  of  Christians ;  but  he 
very  properly  thought  it  very  erroneous.  He  thinks 
Cambridge  a  fair  average,  and  in  10,000  people  knows 
but  of  110  certainly  vital  Christians — more  than  150 
can  scarcely  be  from  a  seventy-fifth  to  a  hundredth 
part  therefore !  There  are,  I  am  rejoiced  to  hear  it, 
many  very  pious  young  men  in  the  colleges. 

Night. — I  have  been  at  Trinity  Church  thrice  to-day. 
In  the  morning  a  very  good  sermon  by  Simeon,  a 
decent  one  by  Thomason,  and  in  the  evening  to  a 
crowded  congregation  a  superlative  discourse  by  Simeon 
on  the  twelfth  verse  of  chapter  iv.  of  the  Acts  :  '  There 
is  no  other  name  under  heaven,'  &c.  Vital,  evangelical, 
powerful,  and  impressive  in  his  animated  manner. 

Sunday,  July  8  :  Bradfield. — This  day  se'nnight  took 
the  Sacrament  with  Jane  at  Bury,  suddenly,  and  there- 
fore without  any  preparation,  and  got  there  in  the  Lessons. 
The  week  has  been  vile  and  miserable.  Fry  cannot 
come,  but  had  a  letter  from  Simeon,  he  will  be  here 
to-morrow  !  0  Lord,  of  Thy  mercy  give  a  blessing  to 
his  presence,  that  conversation  and  prayer  with  him 
may  give  a  turn  to  my  mind  !  Were  it  not  for  what  I 
think  a  firm  faith  in  the  Cross  of  my  Redeemer,  I  should 


APPKOACHING   BLINDNESS  399 

think  that  I  was  almost  in  the  jaws  of  hell.  But  if  I 
perish  it  shall  be  looking  at  the  brazen  serpent.  Fiery 
serpents  innumerable  bite  ;  let  me  turn  instantly  to  the 
Cross,  and  there  see  and  trust  to  the  blood  of  sprinkling. 
What  should  I  have  thought  of  this  before  my  con- 
version ?  Is  it  true  and  saving  faith  now  to  think  and 
feel  it— or  rather  to  know  it  in  my  understanding  than 
feel  it  in  my  heart  ?  I  am  full  of  apprehensions,  and 
the  only  sign  of  spiritual  life  in  me  is  some  sense  and 
feeling  of  my  own  iniquity  and  the  plague  of  my  carnal 
thoughts  ;  but  if  they  were  truly  a  load  to  me,  would 
not  the  Lord  ease  me  of  the  burden  ? 

10th. — Yesterday,  Simeon  came.  His  character 
singular.  His  piety — his  strong  expressions — his  fer- 
vency in  prayer — a  powerful  mind  ! 

ISth. — Simeon  went  this  morning.  I  have  been 
horribly  negligent  in  not  waiting  down  many  of  his 
conversations.  What  he  thinks  of  me  I  know  not, 
but  he  spoke  to  Jane  with  great  freedom  and  candour, 
and  as  became  a  good  Christian. 

His  abilities  are  considerable,  his  parts  strong, 
his  ardour  and  animation  uncommonly  great.  His 
eloquence  great,  and  his  manner  impressive.  His 
prayers  admirably  adapted  to  the  cases  of  all  who  heard 
him.  He  came  with  a  servant  and  two  very  fine 
horses,  on  which  he  places  a  high  value.  From  his  life 
and  expenses  must  have  a  considerable  income  ;  for 
his  preferment  is  only  expense,  and  costs  him  more 
than  he  receives  from  it.  His  fellowship  is  as  good  as 
400  guineas  a  year  to  him.  He  must  have  a  very  good 
private  fortune,  from  some   circumstances,  as  I  judge. 


400      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

which  he  dropped  in  conversation.  He  went  to 
Cambridge  from  Eton  and  became  a  Christian  on  the 
third  day,  now  about  twenty-five  or  twenty-six  years 
ago.  Dm:ing  all  which  time  he  has  never  doubted  of 
his  future  salvation.  He  is  remarkably  cheerful  and  has 
much  wit,  or  something  nearly  allied  to  it. 

I  wrote  to  N.  H.,  requesting  his  pulpit  for  Sunday, 
but  he  refused  it ;  and  after  church  apologised,  saying 
it  was  not  from  himself,  but  he  was  talked  to. 

Oh  !  for  the  dumb  dogs  of  our  clergy  who  will 
neither  preach  the  Gospel  themselves  nor  let  others  do 
it.  I  told  him  that  my  request  was  to  him  a  safe  one, 
for  I  asked,  of  course,  only  for  a  regularly  bred  clergy- 
man, and  who  possessed  preferment  in  the  national 
church.  Very  unlucky  !  Symonds  dined  here,  and  his 
conversation  never  does  any  good.  He  explained  his 
chance  for  salvation  in  the  merits  alone  of  Jesus  Christ, 
but  denies  original  sin.  This  seems  a  contradiction  ;  I 
would  not  think  so  for  a  thousand  worlds  !  How  can  he 
be  sensible  of  what  he  wants  in  the  blood  of  the  Saviour 
without  knowing  the  utter  depravity  of  his  heart  ? 

Tuesday  morning,  C.  Coke,  of  Holkham,  Allen, 
and  Moore  called  on  me  to  see  the  farm,  and  would 
have  me  dine  with  them  at  Moore's.  Haunch  of 
venison,  &c.  Mrs.  M.  young,  and  in  the  worldly 
sphere  very  agreeable ;  her  dress  horrid.  She  con- 
trives to  force  out  her  prominent  bust  in  a  manner 
that  must  take  no  small  attention  in  dressing,  is  very 
big  with  child,  and  thinly  clad  ;  such  a  figure  is  common 
in  these  times,  but  the  fashion  is  contrived  purposely. 

Mr.    Smirenove   came    last   night    to    dinner,    and 


APPKOACHING   BLINDNESS  401 

brought  Count  Rostopchin's  snuff-box.  It  is  turned  in 
his  own  oak,  hned  with  gold,  and  has  a  tablet  contain- 
ing the  representation  of  a  building  dedicated  to  me. 
The  inscription  in  Eussian,  A  Pupil  to  his  Master,  set 
round  with  sixty-six  diamonds.  Query — Should  not  all 
such  toys  be  turned  into  money  and  given  to  the  poor  ? 
He  was  Prime  Minister  under  Paul,  and  has  50,000Z. 
English  per  annum. 

On  Monday  I  breakfasted,  dined,  and  slept  at  Lord 
Bristol's  ;  Lady  B.  and  her  sister,  Miss  Upton,  sung 
Italian  airs  till  twelve  o'clock  at  night.  They  were  many 
years  ago  a  horrible  temptation,  now  [they  are]  a  frivolous 
waste  of  time,  but  ever  a  bad  tendency  on  the  heart. 
Pressed  me  greatly  to  stay  ;  but  I  was  engaged  next 
day  to  dinner  at  Gooch's,  and  yesterday  I  dined  at 
Betsy's.     All  this  visiting  is  very  bad  for  my  soul. 

Friday  I  dined  again  at  Lord  Bristol's,  by  desire 
of  the  Oakes,  as  they  expected  meeting  none  they  knew, 
but  there  were  several.  Music  in  the  evening,  slept 
there ;  in  the  morning,  at  Bury,  met  Benjafield  on  justice 
business.  He  wanted  to  commit  a  woman  for  being  a 
lewd  woman,  on  the  statute  of  King  James,  by  which  it 
can  only  be  for  a  year ;  if  this  was  executed,  all  the 
prisons  in  the  county  would  not  hold  them,  and  the 
time  is  far  too  severe ;  nor  do  I  conceive  that  the  case 
comes  within  it.  I  declined,  and  desired  they  might 
be  heard  on  Wednesday,  as  appeared  the  week  before, 
I  go  on  in  repentance  miserably,  my  heart  is  cold,  and 
I  am  languid  in  devotion.  Oh,  could  I  sufficiently  hate 
and  abhor  myself  !  ! 

Nooemher  2. — If  I  go  ten  yards  from  home  it  can 

D  D 


402  AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

be  only  into  the  world,  and  therefore  I  never  move  but 
for  mischief.  I  have  every  post  a  packet  of  letters 
from  Lord  Sheffield,  filling  the  tables  and  for  many 
hours  employment  every  day.  There  seems  to  be  no 
great  reason  for  apprehending  any  famine,  or  even  such 
a  scarcity  as  before,  but  the  price  must  be  too  high 
for  the  poor,  without  being  half  high  enough  for  the 
farmer :  I  mean  of  wheat,  the  crop  of  which  is  full  as 
bad  as  it  has  been  for  ten  years  past,  but  there  is  a 
stock  in  hand  which  will  keep  it  down. 

December  30, — I  went  to  London  on  account  of  the 
Smithfield  Club  and  there  received  the  first  Bedford 
medal  of  the  Bath  Society  for  an  essay  on  the  Nature 
and  Properties  of  Manm-es,  there  being  four  other  can- 
didates. At  London  also  I  dined  wdth  M.  de  Novosili- 
koff,  a  particular  friend  of  the  Emperor  Alexander, 
who  is  here  on  a  political  mission  of  great  importance. 

Davidson,  who  manages  the  Emperor's  farm,  and 
Smirenove  were  present ;  their  plan  at  present  is  to 
have  reports  of  their  Governments  made  upon  the  same 
system  as  ours,  of  counties,  and  Mr.  de  N.  talked  much 
of  the  great  advantage  of  my  going.  I  would  not  offer 
myself,  but  said  that  the  whole  would  depend  on  the 
sort  of  men  employed.  Since  I  came  down  I  wTote 
to  Smhenove,  offering  Arthur  (by  his  own  desire),  pro- 
vided the  sum  granted  for  the  purpose  w^as  adequate. 

De  N.  was  out  of  town,  so  no  answer  yet. 

The  attention  I  give  to  all  these  worldly  matters, 
though  they  do  not  sit  at  all  close  to  vsiy  heart,  yet 
occupy  too  much  of  my  time. 

I  do  not   give  enough  to  the  far  greater  interests 


APPEOACHI^^G  BLINDNESS  403 

of  the  eternal  world  ;  and  I  have  been  for  months 
past,  and  am  at  present,  in  a  dead,  sinful  state,  remote 
from  the  only  God  of  hope  and  consolation. 

His  mercy  to  me  is  great,  fori  have  life  and  health. 
I  am  not  in  hell ;  but  I  find  a  horrible  difficulty  in 
coming  to  God,  and  a  deadness  of  heart  which  hurts 
my  prayers  and  plunges  me  more  and  more  in  sin 
and  offence. 

0  Lord,  of  Thy  mercy  listen  unto  me.  Oh  !  look 
with  compassion  on  my  wretchedness. 

1805.  Jan.  30.— The  19th  I  came  to  London  ;  the 
23rd  breakfasted  with  Mr.  Novosilikoff,  and  made  my 
proposals  of  terms  on  which  Arthur  would  go  to  Russia, 
having  before  received  a  letter  from  Smirenove  an- 
nouncing an  entire  approbation  in  Mr.  N.  of  my  son 
for  the  expedition.  The  terms  were  that  he  and  his 
wife  should  go  by  land,  getting  out  hence  the  beginning 
of  March,  in  order  to  be  at  Moscow  the  beginning  of 
May ;  that  is,  if  out  a  year  he  should  have  a  thousand 
pounds,  and  proportionably  for  a  longer  time,  and  all 
his  expenses  paid  to,  at,  and  from  Russia.  He  came 
into  it  readily,  and  when  the  conversation  was  over, 
Mr.  Davidson,  who  was  present,  said,  '  Well,  now  it 
seems  all  settled,  and  it  only  remains  to  know  where 
Mr.  Y.  is  to  be  supplied  with  money  for  his  journey.' 
Mr.  de  N.  said  Mr.  Smirenove  would  be  directed  to 
advance  it. 

Reflecting  afterwards  on  this  conversation,  I  thought 
that  some  admission  of  the  terms  in  writing  should  be 
obtained,  as  in  case  of  deaths  or  revolutions  they  might 
be  questioned  ;  I  therefore  wrote  to  Mr.  de  N.,  recapitu- 

D  D   2 


404  AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUK  YOUNG 

lating  the  terms  on  both  sides  and  begging  to  know  if 
I  was  correct. 

No  answer  was  returned ;  but  Lord  Somerville, 
calHng  on  me  two  days  after,  mentioned  in  conversation 
that  he  had  recommended  a  Mr,  Green,  who  had  farmed 
in  Normandy,  and  been  seven  years  in  a  French  prison, 
of  which  he  had  pubHshed  an  account,  to  Mr.  de  N.  to 
go  to  Russia  to  survey  a  government,  hinting  at  the 
same  time  his  knowledge  that  my  son  was  in  contem- 
plation also.  He  said  that  G.  had  breakfasted  with 
de  N.,  who  was  much  pleased  with  him. 

All  this  awakens  suspicions  in  my  mind  that,  com- 
bined with  the  silence  of  Mr.  de  N.,  make  it  appa- 
rently necessary  to  know  how  we  really  stand,  and  I 
determined  to  write  to  Smirenove  requesting  that  he 
would  speak  to  Mr.  de  N.,  as  any  uncertainty  was 
unpleasant,  while  my  son  was  actually  arranging  his 
farm,  &c.,  for  his  departure.  This  I  have  now  done, 
and  shall  send  it  before  breakfast,  for  no  answer  is  yet 
come. 

I  do  not  like  the  complexion  of  the  business,  but 
think  it  likely  that  Green  speaking  French,  which  will 
save  the  necessity  of  Jane  going  as  an  interpreter,  and 
perhaps  his  taking  one  or  two  hundreds  instead  of 
IjOOOZ.,  may  have  induced  de  N.  to  think  again  of  the 
matter. 

I  have  prayed  earnestly  to  the  Lord  that  He  would 
prevent  the  journey  taking  place  if  it  would  turn  out  in 
any  way  injurious  to  the  state  of  their  souls,  putting 
the  matter  entirely  in  His  Almighty  hands,  and  deter- 
mining to  rest  assured  that  if  it  does  not  take  place,  it 


APPKOACHING  BLINDNESS  405 

will  be  the  Lord's  will,  and  that  I  should  be  thankful 
for  His  interference  to  prevent  it. 

The  government  of  Moscow  which  A.  was  to  have 
done  is  thirteen  times  as  big  as  Norfolk.  It  would  take 
two  years  to  do  it  well  without  any  doubt.  A.  is  much 
disappointed,  for  he  liked  the  thoughts  of  the  scheme 
much. 

I  threw  out  in  conversation  with  N.  that  if  the 
business  of  the  Board  would  permit,  and  they  approved 
it,  I  would  go  over  in  June,  and  stay  till  November  to 
assist  in  the  work  ;  that  I  should  ask  onh'  my  expenses. 
He  seemed  much  to  approve  of  this,  but  it  was  men- 
tioned only  as  a  contingency.  Here  the  matter  rests. 
I  shall  know  soon  what  the  event  will  be. 

Many  things  have  had  a  very  lowering  aspect  of 
late,  the  '  Annals  '  with  Phillips  are  certainly  at  an  end. 
They  do  not  answer  with  him,  and  he  has  demurred  at 
settling  the  account,  with  100/.  or  more  due  to  me. 
This  will  be  a  loss  of  180Z.  a  year.  My  plan  is  to  print 
four  numbers  a  year  on  my  own  account,  for  the  sake 
of  selling  old  stock  ;  by  this  I  shall  lose  40/.  more.  In 
Ar.'s  (Arthur's)  farm  the  rent  will  be  sunk  from  last 
Michaelmas  20/.  a  year,  and  I  am  engaged  to  pay 
Noxford  20/.  a  year  more  tithe.  This  year  the  Ex- 
chequer annuity  of  150/.  a  year  ceases. 

On  the  whole  here  is  full  400/.  a  year  loss  of  income, 
which  will  be  very  distressing  if  every  expenditure  be 
not  pared  down  in  a  most  economical  manner.  May 
the  Lord's  mercy  give  me  grace  to  be  steady  and  deter- 
mined in  this  matter,  for  it  is  a  most  important  one. 
I  have  very  little  to  suffer  personally  in  the  reduction. 


406      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

for-  the  expenses  do  not  run  that  way,  but  comforts 
must  be  cheerfully  lessened. 

Feb.  3. — No  answer  came  from  Novosilikoff;  I  wrote 
therefore  to  Smirenove,  who  replied  last  Friday  that  N. 
was  gone  to  St.  Petersburg,  that  he  had  replied  to  my 
letter,  and  was  surprised  that  I  had  not  received  it ;  that 
he  approved  of  all  the  contents  of  mine,  and  had  left 
orders  with  him  to  supply  money. 

This  I  despatched  to  A.,  who  was  become  very 
uneasy  and  impatient.  So  now  the  business  seems 
concluded  and  the  die  cast,  but  may  the  Lord  prevent 
it  taking  place  if  it  is  to  be  productive  of  evil  to  the 
eternal  interests  of  either  !  I  pray  for  this,  may  He 
hear  my  prayers.  I  have  little  notion  of  comfort  in 
anything  that  is  undertaken  without  consulting  God, 
opening  the  business  to  Him,  and  begging  His  direction 
how  to  proceed.  I  have  had  a  letter  from  Orbell's  ^ 
friend,  who  agrees  to  my  terms  of  letting  Ar.'s  farm, 
so,  thank  God,  that  is  settled. 

nth. — Many  difficulties  have  occurred  relative  to  a 
post-chaise  for  them.  Brown  has  examined  my  old 
one  and  sent  an  estimate  of  the  repairs,  561.  Smirenove 
approved  of  it,  but  his  second  advice  is  that  it  would  not 
do.  He  proposed  one  of  his,  and  letters  backwards 
and  forwards.  But  yesterday  I  found  one  at  Holmes's 
in  Long  Acre,  built  for  a  Mr.  Lock  to  go  to  Malta, 
which  will  do  exactly,  and  in  which  they  may  have 
bedding  and  sleep  at  full  length  ;  a  journeyman  said  the 
price  was  50  guineas.  H.  not  at  home,  in  the  evening 
a  letter,  and  70  guineas  named. 

'  Orbell  Oakes,  husband  of  '  my  friend,'  the  beautiful  Betsy. 


APPEOACHING   BLINDNESS  407 

I  got  lip  as  always  at  4  a.m.,  and  have  been  reading 
and  praying.  Fry  last  Sunday  alluded  to  an  apostate 
from  the  truth,  and  Wilberforce  asked  him  who  it  was, 
saying  that  of  course  he  would  not  answer  if  the 
question  was  improper. 

It  was  Townsend,^  of  Wiltshire,  the  traveller  in 
Spain,  who  began  his  career  quite  in  the  style  of  Whit- 
field's energy  and  openness  of  declaring  his  principles  in 
the  fields  or  in  barns,  &c.  The  Lansdown  folks  told 
him  they  could  never  make  him  a  bishop  with  such 
conduct  or  such  principles  ;  upon  which  he  dropped 
the  whole,  giving  out  to  his  friends  that  he  only  sus- 
pended his  conduct  and  meant  to  resume  it  at  a  better 
season.  That  never  came,  and  he  has  continued  an 
apostate  from  all  religion,  and  from  having  200  com- 
municants at  his  church,  has  now  only  two  or  three 
besides  himself  and  his  clerk. 

This  miserably  constituted  Board  of  Agriculture  is 
ever  in  a  dilemma  when  a  new  president  is  to  be  elected 
Lord  S.  will  keep  it  no  longer,  and  he  is  in  a  difficulty 
to  propose  another.  He  has  written  to  the  Duke  of 
Bedford,  and  I  fear  in  a  way  that  may  make  the 
duke  suppose  that  Government  approves  of  it.  Lord 
Carrington  I  suspected  intended  to  come  in  again,  but 
he  assures  me  that  he  would  not. 

March  3. — I  borrowed  of  Mr,  Wilberforce,  Owen  ^ 
on  '  Indwelling  Sin,'  to  which  are  annexed  two  other 

'  J.  Townsend,  1740-1816,  English  divine,  and  author  of  A  Jcmmcy 
through  Spain,  2nd  edit.  1792. 

-'  John  Owen,  D.D.,  lGlC-1683,  the  great  Nonconformist  divine  who 
accompanied  Cromwell  to  Scotland.  In  1817  A.  Y.  published  Oiveniana 
(or  selections  from  his  works). 


408      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

essays  on  Temptation  and  the  Mortification  of  Sin  in 
Believers.  The  last  work  is  incomparable,  chapter  ix. 
of  it  perhaps  the  most  useful  paper  ever  written.  I 
have  made  many  extracts  from  all  three.  The  essay 
on  Mortification  I  meditate  printing  a  new  edition  of, 
being  out  of  print,  to  which  I  could  add  notes  that 
might  be  useful.  The  reading  these  treatises  has  had 
an  effect  on  my  mind  which  I  hope,  with  the  blessing  of 
the  grace  of  God,  will  produce  a  more  serious  attention 
to  the  state  of  my  heart  with  God  than  reading  any 
book  has  done  since  Wilberforce's. 

April  20. — At  Bradfield.  Yesterday  returned  from 
Harwich.  Arthur  and  Jane  went  on  board  the  '  Diana  ' 
packet,  Capt.  Stewart,  Thursday,  the  18th,  at  3  o'clock, 
and  I  have  taken  a  long  and  melancholy  farewell  of 
them  !  Oh  !  may  Almighty  God  give  His  blessing  to  the 
undertaking,  and  that  we  may  all  meet  again  in  health 
and  happiness.  But  when  the  fearful  uncertainty  of  all 
earthly  events  is  considered,  such  partings  ought  to  be 
more  melancholy  than  they  are.  She  felt  much,  and 
has  a  cordial  affection  for  me. 

The  undertaking,  thus  employed  by  a  foreign 
sovereign  to  make  a  report  of  one  of  his  provinces,  is 
the  first  thing  of  the  kind  that  has  occurred,  and  will 
either  give  Arthur  a  great  reputation,  or  sink  that 
which  he  has  gained.  It  is  a  very  difficult  work,  how- 
ever, to  produce  a  good  book  from  a  very  ill-cultivated 
province,  and  in  the  large  experience  of  all  our  own 
reports  we  see  that  very  few  are  well  executed ;  the 
object  has  either  been  ill  understood  or  poorly  done, 
the  surveyors  deal  in  reflections  instead  of  giving  the 


APPROACHING   BLINDNESS  40^^ 

experience  of  individuals,  yet  the  husbandry  of  a 
county  is  made  up  of  nothing  else  but  private  exertions. 
They  do  not  half  travel  [over]  the  districts,  and  do  not 
take  notes  of  the  practice  of  one  hundredth  part  of 
those  persons  that  might  be  applied  to.  Arthur  goes 
with  every  possible  advantage  except  languages,  I  hope 
he  will  exert  them. 

Bradfield  is  very  melancholy  without  them.  Jane 
was  always  cheerful,  always  affectionate  and  kind  to 
me,  ever  pleased  with  my  presence,  and  never  parted 
from  me  but  with  regret.  The  loss  of  such  a  friend  with 
much  conversation  and  an  excellent  understanding  no- 
thing human  can  make  amends  for.  It  is  a  loss  that 
ought  to  turn  all  my  attention  and  all  my  heart  to  that 
better  world  where  parting,  sorrow,  and  death  will  find 
no  place. 

24^7i. — Last  night  I  slept  at  Bury,  at  the  Oakes', 
having  walked  there  in  the  morning  and  dined  with 
them.  It  raised  my  low  spirits  a  little — but  badly — for 
such  company  is  mere  dissipation. 

On  Monday  morning,  hankering  after  some  sort  of 
dissipation  to  divert  my  melancholy,  I  fortunately  recol- 
lected that  Jane  had  left  Cowper's  Letters,  and  that  I 
had  not  read  the  third  volume.  I  got  it,  and  beginning 
knew  not  how  to  lay  the  book  out  of  my  hand,  and 
before  night  read  the  volume  through.  There  is  an 
uncommon  charm  in  his  sentiments  and  his  style ; 
something  that  interests  the  heart  wonderfully.  The 
religious  passages  are  peculiarly  valuable,  and  a  few 
struck  me  very  much. 

On  the  Sabbath  he  is  extremely  just.     On  turning 


410  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF  AETHUR   YOUNG 

the  mind  from  creation's  beauties  to  creation's  Author, 
the  observation  is  fine  ;  his  remarks  on  the  life  of 
dissipation  at  Brighton,  beautiful ;  on  religion,  page 
106,  on  local  attachments,  on  familiar  commmiion  with 
God,  on  natural  music,  terminated  by  a  most  sublime 
passage — '  There  is  somewhere  in  infinite  space  a 
world  that  does  not  roll  within  the  precincts  of  mercy  ; 
and  as  it  is  reasonable  and  even  scriptural  to  suppose 
that  there  is  music  in  heaven,  in  those  dismal  regions 
perhaps  the  reverse  of  it  is  found.  Tones  so  dismal  as 
to  make  woe  itself  more  insupportable,  and  to  acmni- 
nate  even  despair !  '  "What  a  striking  thought !  But 
how  many  are  there  that  will  believe  in  neither  hell  nor 
devil,  and  what  must  their  belief  and  feelings  be  who, 
closing  their  ears  here,  open  them  to  the  sounds  of  such 
a  world  as  that !  How  many  passages  do  we  meet  with 
in  great  authors  which  seem  sufficient  to  strike  a 
reader's  mind  to  conviction  and  conversion  ;  yet  read 
by  thousands,  perhaps  admired,  without  the  smallest 
effect  on  the  heart. 

15th. — A  Mr.  Cole  called  here  to  ask  about  pass- 
ports for  Kussia.  He  has  hired  30,000  acres  in  the 
province  of  Minsk,  which  he  is  to  have  with  300  boors, 
paying  half  the  profits  as  rent.  He  was  advised  not  to 
take  a  grant  of  land,  as  it  would  cause  a  difficulty  after 
it  to  quit  Russia.  I  must  caution  Arthur  about  this, 
for  he  may  entangle  himself  without  being  aware  of  it. 
In  the  melancholy,  solitary  moments  I  pass  here,  I 
have  been  thinking  of  the  manj'  blessings  the  Almighty 
has  been  graciously  pleased  to  shower  down  upon  me. 
First,  He  gives  me  great  health,  at  sixty-four,  as  good 


APPROACHING  BLINDNESS  411 

as  at  any  time  for  twenty  years  past,  and  much  better 
than  forty  years  ago.  Secondly,  He  has  been  pleased 
to  leave  me  two  children.  Oh,  that  He  would  call 
them  to  feel  truly  His  faith,  fear,  and  love  !  Thirdly,  He 
has  granted  me  an  ample  income  very  far  beyond  what 
I  had,  upon  entering  the  world,  the  smallest  reason  to 
expect.  I  have  many  doubts  of  money  ever  being  a 
blessing,  but  that  is  owing  to  the  receiver  and  not  to  the 
giver,  it  certainly  is  that  which  might  be  made  by  grace 
a  very  considerable  one.  Fourthly,  He  has  given  me  the 
power  of  being  greatly  useful  to  my  country  ;  it  would 
be  foolish  not  to  reckon  that  which  I  know  beyond  the 
possibility  of  vanity  deceiving  me.  Fifthly,  He  has 
given  me  a  paternal  estate  and  residence  which  I 
greatly  love  and  never  w^ish  to  change.  I  could  go  on 
and  reckon  many  other  things,  but  these  are  sufhcient 
to  call  for  a  heartfelt  and  deeply  abiding  gratitude.  I 
ought  to  be  able  to  add,  that  I  am  miserable  for  want 
of  feeling  this  as  I  should  do  ;  in  truth  I  am  in  this 
respect  a  brute  beast  devoid  of  everything  that  marks 
the  Christian  and  the  penitent.  0  Lord,  of  Thy  mercy 
soften  this  obdurate  heart  by  the  grace  of  Jesus  Christ ! 
Fill  it  with  contrition  for  offences.  Purify  and  renew 
it,  bring  it  in  holy  faith  to  the  foot  of  the  Cross,  and 
make  it  feel  its  iniquities,  till  it  be  changed  and  im- 
pressed with  Thy  holy  image. 

26^A. — I  read  the  concluding  entry  of  yesterday, 
and  it  struck  me  that  I  had  not  thanked  God  for  the 
friends  He  had  given  me,  and  this  made  me  muse  for  a 
while.  Had  I  wrote  before  I  became  serious,  how 
warmly  should    I   have   thanked  Him  on  this  score  ! 


412      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

How  it  is  with  others  I  know  not,  but  with  me  rehgion 
has  cooled,  checked,  or  annihilated  those  feelings ;  real 
friendship  cannot  be  felt  by  a  Christian  but  to  a 
Christian. 

"What  surprises  me  much  more  is  that  I  do  not  feel 
any  very  striking  advantage  from  the  society  of  Chris- 
tians. This  I  attribute  as  a  fault  in  myself,  and  dare  say 
it  is  for  want  of  more  grace  and  prayer.  I  love  their 
company,  and,  some  hankerings  apart,  desire  no  other. 
I  hope  with  God's  blessing  to  improve  in  this  respect — 
hitherto  solitude  has  been  my  best  friend.  Here  there 
are  none  to  be  acquainted  with  but  a  very  few  poor 
people  who  are  never  at  their  ease  with  me  ;  and  at 
London  those  I  know  are  too  much  engaged  to  see 
many  more  than  for  a  moment.  Going  to  bed  at  nine 
o'clock  prevents  the  society  I  might  otherwise  have  there 
if  it  were  followed  up. 

28^A. — Symonds  slept  here  the  night  before  last 
and  dined  twice,  which  obliged  me  to  postpone  more 
business  than  I  otherwise  should  have  done.  He  told 
me  one  anecdote  I  had  not  heard  before.  In  Lord 
Bute's  administration,  as  his  lordship  told  him  himself, 
the  King  settled  with  him  to  give  the  Koyal  Society 
500/.  a  year  for  ever,  which  was  accordingly  communi- 
cated, and  to  Lord  Bute's  amazement  refused.  On 
enquiry  he  found  that  the  motive  was  an  apprehension 
that  he  should  become  too  popular  if  it  was  accepted  ! 
Was  ever  such  folly  heard  of  ? 

Another  anecdote  of  Symonds.  He  dined  last  year 
at  Sir  C.  Bunbury's,  where  he  met  the  rich  Mr.  Mills, 
the  brandy  merchant,  who  bought  Mure's  estate,  and 


APPROACHINa  BLINDNESS  413 

who  said  he  found  my  *  Annals  '  there,  which  were  good 
for  nothing.  '  What,  nothing  good  in  them '?  '  said  S. 
'  No,  nothing  at  all.'  '  That  is  unfortmiate  with  so 
many  correspondents.  But  if  the  "  Annals  "  are  bad,  have 
you  read  Mr.  Y.'s  travels  ?  '  '  Yes,  and  very  poor  stuff 
they  are.'  '  That  is  still  more  unfortunate,  for  I  know 
that  the  Marshal  de  Castries  and  the  late  King  of 
Prussia  spoke  in  the  highest  possible  terms  of  them, 
and  books  in  French  by  respectable  writers  have  been 
dedicated  to  Mr.  Y.  in  consequence  of  that  publication.' 
'  I  can  see  nothing  in  them,' 

The  next  day  he  wrote  Symonds  a  letter  with  many 
apologies,  as  he  understood  that  he  had  been  talking  to 
a  gentleman  who  had  contributed  much  to  the  '  Annals.' 

So  much  for  my  rich  neighbour. 

Letters  from  London,  and  I  am  very  sorry  to  find 
that  my  poor  wife  is  much  worse.  Nothing  but  bad 
news.  Sir  J.  Banks  writes  me  that  Sir  J.  Sinclair  is  to 
resume  the  chair  of  the  Board  under  promises  of  good 
behaviour.  My  wife's  miserable  state  is  a  much  worse 
business. 

May  22. — I  am  entirely  alone  and  not  without 
melancholy.  "Worldly  people  have  a  thousand  resources, 
as  I  had  once,  but  every  atom  of  them  leads  to  mischief, 
and  I  am  a  thousand  times  better  without  them.  Lord 
Carrington  the  other  day,  speaking  to  Sir  C.  Willoughby 
about  his  son  going  to  school,  said,  '  Oh,  send  him  to  a 
great  one,  which  will  give  him  a  manly  character  fit  for 
the  world,  make  him  a  man  of  the  world.'  So  it  is 
with  these  people ;  Jesus  Christ  tells  us  to  hate  the 
world,  and  that  what  is  in  high  estimation   amongst 


414      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

men  is  abomination  in  the  eyes  of  God ;  but  worldly 
men  declare,  and  think,  and  feel,  and  act,  directly  hos- 
tile to  Scriptm'e  ;  they  urge  one  another  and  impress 
as  respectable  everything  that  Qod  abhors.  Words 
cannot  express  a  character  more  in  contradiction  to  the 
Christian  than  that  which  is  meant  by  a  man  of  the 
world. 

23rd. — I  was  awake  at  2  a.m.  and  laid  without 
sleep  till  3  a.m.  My  thoughts  were  not  edifying,  so  I 
jumped  out  of  bed,  and  having  prayed  to  the  Father  of 
mercies,  I  began  with  business.  But  the  train  of  thought 
I  had  been  in  came  again  and  interrupted  me  ;  it  was 
upon  the  event  of  what  would  befall  me  as  secretary  to 
the  Board.  I  have  many  reasons  for  thinking  that 
several  of  the  members  do  not  like  me,  and  should  any- 
thing happen  that  gave  them  any  handle,  would  be  glad 
to  get  rid  of  me.  This  was  not  the  case  when  I  was  one 
of  themselves,  but  they  know  that  I  associate  with 
religious  people,  go  to  the  Lock  (a  very  black  mark), 
and  read  the  Bible,  and  now  and  then  words  drop  which 
I  understand.  Should  Sir  J.  Sinclair  become  president 
or  Lord  Carrington,  they  might  make  it  very  unpleasant 
to  me.  Sir  John  is  as  poor  as  a  church  mouse,  and 
would  like  well  to  have  his  lodging  here.  Should  my 
family  lessen,  it  would  be  quite  unbearable,  and  if  the 
idea  was  started,  I  must  resist  it,  the  question  would  pro- 
bably be  lost,  and  then  I  should  resign ;  this  would  fix 
me  in  repose  at  Bradfield,  and  I  should  be  to  the  full 
as  happy  as  at  present,  but  my  family  would  not,  and 
then— all  this  is  very  wild.  I  will  have  done  with  it 
for  so  much  as  I  am  persuaded  that  everything  is  in 


APPROACHING  BLINDNESS  415 

the  hands  of  God ;  nothing  can  be  greater  folly  than 
pretending  thus  to  look  forward,  it  is  equally  useless 
and  uncomfortable. 

June  3. — Since  the  last  entry  I  have  had  letters 
from  Jane  and  Arthur  at  Berlin,  where  they  seemed  to 
have  stayed  a  week.  They  had  been  received  with 
great  politeness  and  attention  by  the  Princess  of  Hol- 
stein,  Prince  Baratinsky's  mother ;  had  dined  with  her, 
and  she  carried  them  to  her  villa  ;  they  had  dined  also 
with  the  English  and  Russian  Ambassadors,  and  been 
at  Charlottenburg  with  Sir  G.  Rumbold. 

I  begin  to  be  a  little  restless  to  get  into  the 
country. 

Ihth. — Bradfield.  I  got  here  the  6th,  earlier  than 
ever  before  or  since  the  institution  of  the  Board,  which 
is  a  great  blessing.  I  have  managed  to  escape  both 
Woburn  and  Holkham. 

I  have  missed  Jane  terribly,  but  I  have  endeavoured 
to  turn  it  to  a  religious  account.  Poorly  and  weakly, 
but  still  better  than  not  at  all.  The  weather  has  been 
bad,  which  has  caused  my  taking  less  exercise  than 
is  good  for  me,  but  blessed  be  God,  my  health  is 
excellent. 

I  have  stuck  close  to  my  great  work  the  *  Elements,' 
and  have  gone  through  my  own  Norfolk  report  and  the 
fourth  volume  of  the  Board  '  Communications.'  What 
an  immense  labour  has  it  been,  and  for  how  many 
years  to  collect  and  arrange  materials.  I  could  not 
have  conceived  how  much  it  is  necessary  to  do  before 
I  can  fairly  say,  Now  all  is  before  me  and  in  order, 
ready  to  compare  and  draw  conclusions. 


416      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

I  mean  it  to  contain  everything  good  that  has  ever 
been  printed.  Till  all  that  is  collected  and  before  me, 
how  can  I  know^  what  is  already  done,  and  what  wants 
to  be  added  ? 

But  the  labour,  when  continued  year  after  j^ear,  is 
what  I  never  dreamt  of  when  I  began.  I  have  worked 
hard  at  the  first  division — Soils,  and  brought  it  into 
some  form  ;  and  it  is  a  specimen  of  how  much  attention 
every  division  will  demand.  I  have  also  began  the 
second,  on  Vegetation.  I  fear  making  the  work  too 
voluminous,  and  that  by-and-by  I  must  curtail  greatly. 
Success  is  pleasant,  and  I  should  fear  that  if  it  exceeded 
two  large  quartos. 

Since  I  have  been  here  I  have  read  a  little  work 
of  Flavel's,^  'A  Saint  indeed,'  which  is  truly  admirable; 
^ome  [passages]  in  Marshall  ^  on  '  Sanctification,'  and 
very  many  of  Cowper's  letters,  all  the  religious  ones. 

IStk. — Cowper  is  invaluable  to  a  country  gentleman 
that  would  enjoy  his  residence  without  the  world's 
assistance.  Reading  his  letters  has  made  me  more 
attentive  to  every  beauty  of  this  place,  of  which  I  was 
always  so  fond ;  there  is  something  very  amiable  in  the 
manner  in  which  he  converts  every  flower,  tree,  and  twig 
to  enjoyment,  and  I  walk  out  better  prepared  for  this 
pleasure  from  the  perusal  of  that  most  agreeable  writer. 
There  is  but  one  danger  from  which,  poor  man,  his 
poverty  secured  him,  and  that  is  the  mind  insensibly 
running   into    speculation    of    improvement.      I    have 

'  John  Flavel,  Nonconformist  divine,  1627-1662,  author  of  numerous 
works. 

-  By  Walter  Marshall,  1692  ;  frequently  repiinted. 


APPROACHING   BLINDNESS  417 

made  many  here,  and  the  taste  is  very  insatiable  ;  this 
miay  without  a  guard  lead  to  too  much  expense.  But 
I  endeavour  to  correct  the  wanderings  of  imagination, 
and  to  dwell  on  the  beauties  of  every  single  tree,  shrub, 
and  spot,  and  to  be  content  with  them  all  as  they  are. 
The  laburnum  in  the  back  lawn  is  more  beautiful  than 
I  ever  saw  it,  so  entirely  covered  with  rich  clusters  of 
its  golden  flowers,  that  I  can  admire  it  for  an  hour 
together.  This  enjoyment,  however,  is  very  poor  and 
fading  if  we  do  not,  with  Cowper,  turn  our  minds 
habitually  to  the  great  and  beneficent  Author  of  all 
these  beauties.  This  sentiment  is  impressive  and 
durable,  and  leads  the  mind  to  the  richest  contempla- 
tions. If  for  such  a  race  the  earth  is  thus  clothed, 
what  must  heaven  be  ? 

A  reading  habit  is  a  great  blessing.  I  am  sure 
I  find  it  so,  for  though  I  have  risen  at  3  a.m.  since  I 
have  been  here,  and  not  once  been  in  bed  at  four,  still 
I  am  not  tired  ai  night.  A  walk  is  a  refreshment  to  be 
had  in  the  country  in  a  moment,  but  at  London  half 
a  mile  of  street  thronged  and  noisy,  and  then  only  a 
crowded  park,  with  sights  to  wound  or  to  tempt.  I 
do  not  like  snow,  but  a  deep  one  and  blustering  wind 
here  is  preferable  to  calm  sunshine  in  the  streets  of 
London. 

But  much  as  I  like  Bradfield  even  alone.  I  must 
leave  it  and  get  quickly  into  Essex.  I  could  write  the 
Report  from  materials  before  me,  and  from  a  long 
knowledge  of  the  county,  and  produce  a  valuable  work, 
but  that  would  not  be  honest.  I  shall  take  their  money, 
and  will  therefore  travel  as  much  in  it,  and  give  as  much 

E  E 


418      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

attention  to  it,  as  if  I  had  no  materials  at  all  to  work 
upon. 

August  12. — Letters  from  Jane  and  Arthur  at  St. 
Petersburg.  They  give  sad  accounts  of  the  treatment 
the  English  have  received  there  if  most  specific  agree- 
ments be  not  made  beforehand  for  everything.  I  wish 
cordially  they  were  well  home  again,  and  so  do  they, 
I  believe. 

October  20. — At  Eayleigh.  To  keep  a  journal  in  this 
manner  is  nonsense,  and  worse  than  nonsense  ;  besides, 
I  have  time  to  do  better,  and  therefore  ought  to  do  it. 

Three  nights  past  I  slept  at  the  Earl  of  St.  Vincent's, 
who,  being  a  great  character,  forces  a  note.  I  had  much 
inclination  to  have  called  on  him,  as  I  heard  of  Sir  T. 
Leonard  that  he  farmed,  but  I  thought  it  would  be  a 
forward  step,  and  so  passed  on  to  the  Squire  of  the 
parish.  Towers.  He  was  in  with  the  gout,  but  his  sons 
told  me  that  they  had  lately  dined  in  company  of  Lord 
St.  v.,  who  mentioned  my  being  in  the  country,  and  that 
he  expected  to  see  me.  Whence  this  expectation  came 
I  have  no  conception.  He  received  me  politely,  plea- 
santly, and  cordially  ;  kept  me  all  day  to  dinner  and  to 
sleep,  and  desired  me  if  ever  I  came  near  him  again 
to  be  sure  to  make  his  house  my  headquarters.  He 
showed  me  every  acre,  cow,  ox,  and  pig,  and  talked 
sensibly  enough  on  farming,  as  far  as  he  knew  of  it. 
"When  he  returned  he  told  me  he  did  not  dine  till  6  p.m., 
and  as  he  should  be  out  again,  I  should  have  a  fire 
in  Lady  St.  V.'s  dressing  room,  and  a  pen  and  ink,  and 
that  I  was  my  own  master.  Montague  Burgoyne 
coming,  he  sent  him  up  to  me.     At   and  after  dinner 


APPEOACHING  BLINDNESS  419 

mucli  political  conversation,  for  Burgoyne  is  a  desperate 
politician.  It  was  plain  that  Lord  St.  Vincent  thought 
himself  very  ill  used  by  opposition  as  well  as  by  Mr.  Pitt ; 
he  seemed  to  think  that  they  made  a  great  cry  about 
him  while  it  served  their  own  purpose,  but  that  when 
this  would  not  answer,  they  cared  little  for  him  and 
forgot  him,  but  he  praised  Lord  Sidmouth  greatly. 
Burgoyne,  who  wanted  Fox  in  when  Lord  Sidmouth 
accepted,  told  Lord  St.  V.  the  only  sin  he  ever  com- 
mitted was  joining  that  lord,  as  he  could  not  have  made 
an  administration  without  him.  He  said  it  was  impos- 
sible to  resist,  the  state  of  the  country  was  such  that  his 
conscience  would  have  condemned  him  ;  it  was  greatly 
to  his  personal  injury,  for  he  was,  as  commander  of  the 
Channel  fleet,  in  the  receipt  of  a  good  25,000Z.  a  year, 
which  he  gave  up  for  a  miserably  paid  Cabinet  place 
then  of  only  3,000/.  That  the  King  urged  him  to  keep 
the  command  with  the  Admiralty,  and  Lord  Sidmouth 
agreed  to  it,  but  he  would  not  do  it,  it  would  have  been 
wrong.  The  King  urged  the  precedent  of  Lord  Howe, 
who  kept  both,  and  why  should  not  he  ?  But  he  was 
firm.  He  hates  all  religions,  called  Lord  Barham  an 
old  canting  hypocrite — all  of  them — and  '  little  Wilber- 
force  too  !  '  I  said  something  against  that,  but  not  half 
enough.  He  remarked  that  the  old  hypocrite  would 
soon,  very  soon,  be  removed.  I  hope  in  this  he  will 
find  himself  mistaken.  He  swears  pretty  much,  not 
quite  as  sailors  do,  but  he  says  grace  before  and  after 
dinner  ;  is  not  this  hypocrisy  ?  He  has  great  spirits,  a 
good  understanding,  and  is  very  pleasant. 

December  9. — My  old  friend  Symonds  being  danger- 

E   E    2 


420      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

ously  and  in  all  probability  fatally  ill,  I  went  yesterday 
to  see  him.  I  was  there  four  hours.  He  dozed  much, 
but  when  awake  had  the  perfect  use  of  his  faculties, 
though  not  quite  speech  enough  or  recollection  to 
explain  himself  as  when  well  ;  my  dear  Jane  took 
him  to  be  a  real  Christian,  though  not  without  thinking 
he  had  bad  notions  on  certain  points.  I  ever  doubted 
it,  and  thought  I  saw  much  in  him  of  sound,  good 
doctrine,  but  great  deficiencies. 

He  utterly  disbelieved  original  sin,  which  appeared 
always  to  me  a  fatal  sign. 

He  talked  to  me  of  Naples,  Bonaparte,  &c.,  said  he 
had  something  particular  to  say  to  me,  upon  which 
B.  left  the  room.  It  was  to  tell  me  that  Cocksedge 
would  not  give  4QI.  for  a  very  well  done  map  and  survey 
of  the  Eldo  estate,  and  that  therefore  he  should  take 
care  that  he  should  have  nothing  done  to  accommodate 
him,  no  part  of  the  furniture  should  be  his,  &c.  This 
will  he  talked  of,  and  therefore  mention  the  motive. 
What  stuff  to  occupy  the  attention  of  a  dying  man  !  I 
took  four  or  five  opportunities,  or  rather  made  them,  to 
turn  his  mind  to  Christ,  but  they  passed,  and  he  was 
silent,  not  one  religious  or  serious  word  came  out  of 
his  mouth,  nothing  of  the  kind  seemed  to  be  in  his 
mind.  He  was  in  general  quite  easy  and  composed,  and 
slept  perfectly  free  from  any  apparent  disturbance. 
Awful  is  such  insensibility. 

10th. — I  was  with  him  again  yesterday,  and  through 
such  a  day  of  rain  that  I  hope  I  shall  not  take  cold.  He 
was  just  the  same,  mentioned  Casburn's  account  of  the 
Blue  Coat  Hospital,  and  being  washed  four  times  a  day  ; 


APPEOACHING  BLINDNESS  421 

talked  of  the  water  gods,  smiled,  and  joked.  I  could  not 
endure  the  moment  passing  without  another  attempt 
to  turn  his  mind  to  more  serious  impressions.  I  asked 
C.  if  he  had  had  any  prayers  said  to  and  for  him.  No, 
he  had  not  mentioned  it,  but  two  nights  before  he  had 
prayed  shortly  for  himself.  I  told  him  that  there  ought 
to  be  prayers  in  the  room,  and  that  C.  could  read  them. 
He  said,  '  Yes,  he  could,'  and  for  the  family  also  !  It  made 
no  impression,  and  soon  after  closing  his  eyes  as  if  for 
sleep,  said,  '  Your  servant,  I  only  keep  you,'  so  I  left 
him.  I  have  fears  that  it  is  a  sort  of  judicial  blindness 
and  insensibility  of  his  state  to  have  his  senses  and 
make  no  better  use  of  them,  I  am  much  shocked. 

11th. — Yesterday  there  again,  but  he  was  getting  up 
to  have  his  bed  made,  and  White,  the  physician,  thought 
I  had  better  not  go  up. 

January  10,  1806. — Peggy  Metcalfe  lent  me  '  Marie 
Menzikoff '  as  a  true  history,  and  I,  like  a  fool,  read 
much  of  it,  after  finding  it  a  mere  romance.  I  have 
not  looked  at  anything  of  the  novel  kind  for  many 
years,  but  this  French  thing  seized  my  attention  and 
hurried  me  on.  I  wish  she  had  been  further  before 
putting  it  in  my  hands.  It  has  unhinged  me,  and 
broken  my  attention  to  better  things,  which  shows 
strongly  how  pernicious  this  sort  of  reading  is,  and 
what  a  powerful  temptation  to  vice  such  productions 
are  sure  to  prove. 

Oh  !  the  number  of  miserables  that  novels  have 
sent  to  perdition  ! 

IQth. — I  have  been  looking  over  Dr.  Johnson's 
'  Pravers  and  Meditations,'  and,  upon  the  whole,  the 


422  AUTOBIOGRAPHY   OF   ARTHUE  YOUNG 

feeling  they  have  impressed  is  that  of  pity ;  he  seemed 
by  one  passage  to  think  his  complaints  nearly  allied  to 
madness,  and  often  speaks  of  his  morbid  melancholy  ; 
his  sloth  seems  to  have  been  dreadful.  What  a  con- 
trast to  the  life  of  John  Wesley  ! 

His  religion  seems  to  have  been  against  the  very 
grain  of  his  soul,  and  all  the  tendencies  of  his  mind  to 
have  arisen  from  his  understanding  only,  and  never  to 
have  been  truly  in  his  heart.  Company,  and  engage- 
ments, and  indolence  keep  him  from  church  from 
January  to  March  ;  he  scarcely  ever  got  to  it  in  time 
for  the  service,  and  he  aimed  in  resolutions  only  at 
taking  the  Sacrament  thrice  in  the  year ;  he  does  not 
name  a  book  (the  Scriptures  excepted)  that  was  likely 
to  give  a  right  turn  to  his  devotion.  To  study  religion 
and  to  read  the  Scriptures  was  a  matter  for  resolution, 
like  rising  early,  but  he  does  not  seem  to  have  been 
carried  to  the  employment  by  the  comfort,  hope,  joy, 
and  consolation  to  be  derived  from  them,  they  were 
never  his  pleasure.  'Tis  well  his  mind  was  morbid,  for 
he  seems  to  me  (from  this  work)  never  to  have  been 
really  converted.  Fasting,  penance,  and  a  gloomy 
superstition  banished  from  his  soul  the  felicities  of 
piety  founded  in  faith.  But  I  must  look  it  over  again 
with  more  care.  Yesterday  morning  I  went  to  Flemp- 
ton  and  called  on  Carter ;  with  him  I  had  some  very 
proper  conversation.  He  is  far  from  the  truly  evangelical 
state,  and  his  mind  fully  occupied  with  being  satisfied 
with  the  opinions  and  conduct  of  the  regular  clergy  in 
general ;  he  has  no  affection,  no  regard  for  truly  evan- 
gelical ones,  a  readiness  to  sneer  at  them,  and  with  all 


APPEOACHING   BLINDNESS  423 

a  laxity  in  doctrines,  a  comprehensive  candour,  which 
gives  me  but  an  ill  opinion  of  his  doctrines.  He  is  a 
very  worthy  respectable  man  in  all  worldly  points. 

My  neighbour  Gooch  called  yesterday.  He  has 
taken  the  curacy  of  Wattisfield  of  Plampin,  who  has 
evaded  the  curate's  law.  Gooch  gave  me  twenty  cases 
at  least  of  rectors  who  decidedly  cheat  and  impose 
on  their  curates  by  most  unworthy  evasions  ;  but  if  a 
farmer  cheats  them  of  a  turnip  in  tithe,  they  pro- 
nounce them  all  the  rogues  to  be  imagined.  Most 
lamentable  is  this  for  those  who  should  be  the 
ministers  of  Christ's  gospel. 

But  in  no  country  that  I  have  heard  of  is  there  such 
a  set  of  clergy  as  in  this  neighbourhood.     Dreadful  ! 

I  have  been  sketching  out  an  essay  on  the  defence 
of  the  kingdom  in  case  of  invasion,  and  yesterday 
added  to  it.  The  regularity  with  which  I  have  made 
entries  in  my  journal  since  I  determined  to  write  one 
line  in  it,  shows  the  infinite  importance  of  method  and 
regularity  in  every  pursuit  and  business  of  life.  What 
is  regularly  undertaken  will  be  regularly  executed,  but 
desultory  endeavours  at  fits  and  starts  perform  nothing. 

21nd. — Yesterday  I  went  up  into  my  dear  Bobbin's 
room,  in  which  I  had  not  been  for  a  year  or  more.  I 
wiped  the  mould  off  her  books,  &c.,  with  a  heav}^  heart, 
and  prayed  to  God  that  I  might  join  her  spirit  in 
heaven.  It  made  me  very  melancholy  !  She  has 
been  dead  nine  years,  would  therefore  have  been  two- 
and- twenty  had  it  pleased  God  to  spare  her.  But  what 
a  world  is  this  for  a  girl  of  that  age  ! 

23rd. — To-day  I  pack  up  and  prepare,  and  to-morrow. 


424      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

with  God's  permission,  to  London.  May  He  protect 
me  from  all  dangers  !  Mr.  Pitt  dead  !  This  has 
struck  a  damp  into  my  soul  that  I  cannot  shake  off. 

I^th. — Arrived  safelj^  thanks  to  the  Lord.  Yester- 
day I  unpacked  and  set  all  my  things  in  order.  Mrs. 
Y.  better  than  I  expected,  but  I  cannot  perceive  that 
warmth  of  gratitude  to  God  which  I  hoped  to  find.  I 
know  not  what  to  make  of  her  state  of  soul !  Pitt's 
death  made  a  considerable  sensation,  and  I  wonder  not 
at  it.  The  providence  of  the  Almighty  has  taken  the 
two  men  perhaps  the  most  necessary  to  our  worldly 
prosperity  in  order  to  show  us  that  it  is  on  Him  only 
we  should  depend,  and  to  convince  us  that  vain  is  the 
arm  of  flesh.  May  He  protect  us  !  Providence  is 
better  to  depend  on  than  a  hundred  Kelsons  and 
Pitts  if  we  consider  them  in  any  light  except  that 
of  means  in  the  hand  of  Him  who  governs  the  fate  of 
nations. 

Ministry  not  arranged.  It  is  said  that  Fox  is  as 
much  plagued  with  the  apprehensions  of  some  of  his 
own  people  as  with  those  of  the  Grenvilles.  Grey  First 
Lord  of  Admiralty  !     Is  it  possible  ?     "What  a  scheme  ! 

Could  not  sleep  longer  for  three  nights  past  than 
half-past  two  or  three ;  evil  imaginations  were  genera- 
ting. Plunged  out  of  bed,  but  as  I  cannot  get  to  bed 
before  ten  (at  Lady  Egremont's  last  night  but  one,  and 
De  Kees'  last  night)  it  makes  me  heavy.  De  Eees  says 
that  all  foreigners  agree  as  to  the  folly  of  our  expedi- 
tions ;  that  to  the  Mediterranean  should  have  been  in 
greater  force  to  Venice,  which  w^ould  have  preserved  that 
city,  and  enabled  the  Archduke  Charles  to  have  stood 


APPKOACHING   BLINDNESS  425 

his  ground.  It  is  obvious,  if  driven  from  the  Continent, 
Venice  at  least  would  have  been  saved. 

FebrucD'y  2. — I  have  seen  Smirenove,  he  thinks  his 
Emperor  will  have  a  great  army  on  the  Danube  early 
in  the  spring,  for  preparations  are  active  ;  they  think,  or 
have  intelligence,  that  Bonaparte  has  ceded  to  Austria 
much  more  than  Servia,  probably  large  provinces,  to  cut 
Russia  off  from  contact  with  the  Tm'ks.  He  has  Trieste, 
and  now  his  dominions  embrace  both  shores  of  the 
Adriatic  and  join  the  Turkish  Empire.  This  must  be 
productive  of  great  events,  and  I  cannot  but  look  for- 
ward to  the  destruction  of  that  Empire  which  seems 
clearly  advancing,  and  we  all  know  how  very  important 
an  epoch  that  will  be  towards  the  winding  up  of  all 
things. 

8th. — Mary  dined  with  Lord  Coventry,  and  met 
Mrs.  Lyggon  and  Mrs.  Nesbit,  and  heard  that  D.  Moira 
will  take  nothing.  He  wanted  to  be  Prime  Minister,  and 
the  King  would  rather  have  had  him.  The  Queen  of 
Wurtemburg  has  written  a  letter  to  our  Queen  and  to 
Lady  Harrington  in  praise  of  the  politeness  and  good- 
ness of  Bonaparte.  De  Eees  in  the  evening ;  Fox  was 
in  powder,  which  made  everyone  stare. 

14^/i. — Read  much  in  Skinner's  '  State  of  Peru,' ' 
which  has  some  curious  things  in  it.  I  work  every 
morning  on  my  '  Elements,'  but  though  I  have  been 
near  thirty  years  reading  and  making  extracts  for  this 
work  (but  with  long  intermissions),  yet  now  I  am 
arranging  the  chapters  and  sections  I  find  numberless 
gaps  to  supply  as  I  advance. 

'  Joseph  Skinner,  Present  State  of  Peril,  1805. 


426      AUTOBIOGKAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

15^^. — Dined  with  the  Duke  of  Grafton  against  my 
will,  for  I  think  it  wrong  to  go  to  the  house  of  a  Uni- 
tarian, or  have  anything  to  do  with  them ;  the  only 
defence  of  its  lawfulness  even  that  I  know  of  is  St. 
Paul's  supposition  of  his  converts  being  invited  to  a 
feast,  and  if  you  are  disposed  to  go,  &c.,  then  do  so.  In 
the  evening  Walker,  an  engraver,  who  has  been  twenty 
years  at  St.  Petersburg,  and  who  brought  letters  from 
Jane  some  time  ago,  called.  He  gives  but  a  bad 
account  of  Russia,  and  it  is  from  every  authority  a 
very  bad  country  to  live  in,  in  every  respect  that  should 
make  a  country  desirable,  except  the  people  being  good 
tempered  and  very  ingenious.  England  !  England  ! 
thou  art  the  first  of  countries !  Oh !  that  thou 
wert  grateful  to  Heaven  for  the  multitude  of  thy 
blessings. 

20tli. — Lord  Carrington  half  an  hour,  then  Van- 
couver,' who  has  seen  Vansittart  ^  on  his  tour  scheme, 
and  who  did  not  seem  to  approve  of  it  at  all,  but  desired 
him  to  have  an  interview  at  Tyrrwhitt's  with  Dr.  Beke 
to  hear  his  opinion,  whom  he  esteems  much,  the 
greatest  political  arithmetician  of  the  time.  This  is 
accordingly  to  take  place.  Vansittart  told  him  the  whole 
income  of  the  public  is  200,000,000  sterling.  V.  replied 
that  it  was  three  times  as  much.  At  night  I  went  to 
the  Lock  and  heard  a  most  excellent  sermon  by  Fry  on 
Luke  xi.  21,  22. 

'  '  There  is  now  with  us  a  Mr.  Van  Couver,  of  Vancouver's  Island, 
who  would  entertain  you  very  much.  He  is  making  an  agricultural  tour 
in  Sussex.' — Letters  of  Maria  Josepha  Holroyd,  p.  326. 

-'  Nicholas  Vansittart,  Lord  Bexley,  sometime  Governor  of  Bengal 
of  great  financial  reputation. 


APPEOACHING  BLINDNESS  427 

227icZ. — It  was  so  fine  a  day  that  I  took  a  walk  to 
Kensington  Gardens  Gate.  The  Marquis  of  Hertford 
chatted  with  me  for  some  time  as  he  walked  his  horse, 
and  wants  a  drainer  for  his  estate  in  Ireland.  I  saw 
Marshall  '  also,  and  I  never  see  and  converse  with  him, 
but  I  think  I  see  the  haughty,  proud,  ill-tempered, 
snarling,  disgusted  character  which  he  manifested  in  his 
connection  with  Sir  John  Sinclair.  A  thousand  pities 
that  so  extremely  able  a  man,  for  of  his  talents  there 
can  be  no  question,  should  not  have  more  amenity  and 
mildness.  Government,  however,  should  have  promoted 
him  without  any  doubt ;  and  it  is  a  blot  in  their 
scutcheon  that  they  have  not  done  it. 

The  funeral  of  Mr.  Pitt.  I  think  him  a  very  great 
national  loss,  and  did  not  go  near  any  part  of  the  busi- 
ness. Pomp  and  pageantry  of  all  sorts  do  not  accord 
with  my  feelings.  A  pamphlet  published  to  prepare  us 
for  peace,  '  The  Relative  Situation  of  France  and  Eng- 
land,' said  to  be  by  Wraxall.-  I  dread  a  peace  politi- 
cally, but  as  a  Christian  all  is  directed  by  Him  who 
cannot  err. 

Ibth. — I  have  of  late  been  uneasy  lest  Dodsley,  the 
bookseller,  should  have  lost  much  money  by  my  '  Ex- 
perimental Agriculture,'  and  called  on  Becket  to  know 
what  became  of  him,  and  who  he  left.  There  I  found 
that  Nicoll  was  one  of  his  executors,  and  now  the  only 
one  left.     I  went  to  him  and  desired  some  information. 


'  W.  Marshall,  1778-1817,  a  voluminous  writer  on  agriculture, 
Minutes  of  Agriculture,  etc.  &c. 

''  Evidently  alluding  to  Sir  Nathaniel  Wraxall,  a  voluminous  writer 
in  France,  whose  works  are  now  forgotten. 


428      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

On  examining  the  list  of  his  books  he  found  there 
was  but  one  single  copy,  and  that  consequently  to  sup- 
pose he  lost  by  the  work  would  be  idle.  '  I  can  tell 
you  what  he  gave  you  for  the  copy,  for  here  is  one  of 
the  greatest  of  curiosities.'  This  was  Dodsley's  book 
for  authors'  receipts ;  in  that  he  showed  me  William 
Burke's  receipt  for  61.  6s.  on  account  of  Edmund  Burke, 
for  the  copy  of  the  '  Vindication  of  Natural  Society.' 
That  book,  said  Nicoll,  was  so  much  admired  in  France 
by  d'Alembert,  Diderot,  &c.  &c.,  that  it  made  them 
mad,  and  really  produced  the  Be  volution. 

'  And  now '  (he  added)  '  I  have  shown  you  what  Burke 
had  for  kindling  the  Bevolution,  let  me  also  show  you 
what  he  had  for  putting  it  out,'  and  then  he  pointed 
out  his  (Burke's)  own  receipt  for  1,000?.  for  the  profits 
of  his  famous  volume.  The  [other]  writings,  &c.,  one 
other  of  his  later  pamphlets,  were  sold  together  for  300Z. 
He  seems,  however,  to  have  left  it  to  Dodsley,  and 
when  the  things  were  sold,  to  have  taken  what  D.  said 
was  fair.  Melmoth  had  a  great  deal  of  money  of  him, 
for  his  translations,  &c. 

At  night  letters  to  us  all.  Three  came  from  Jane  and 
Arthur.  A  sad  account  of  the  interpreter  provided  for 
him,  who  is  an  ignorant  puppy  of  a  nobleman  who  is 
too  lazy  to  do  anything.  Of  all  the  Governments  I  have 
heard  of,  it  seems  to  be  the  most  stupid,  the  most 
ignorant,  and  the  most  profligate  :  the  fact,  I  dare  say, 
is  that  the  army  alone  is  attended  [to].  They  had  the 
news  of  the  battle  of  Austerlitz,  with  a  loss  as  they  sup- 
posed of  40,000  Eussians.  Not  a  family  at  Moscow  but 
must  have  lost  a  relation,  yet  a  grand  ball  that  night. 


APPROACHING  BLINDNESS  429 

and  nothing  but  gaiety  and  festivity.  They  have  no 
feeling.  The  governor  took  Jane  into  a  window  and 
told  her  that  he  was  informed  she  disapproved  of 
all  her  husband's  farming  ideas  as  much  as  anyone 
could  do,  and  ridiculed  all  his  schemes.  Upon  ex- 
planation it  came  from  Marshall  Komanzoff,  who 
had  it  from  a  German  baron  that  had  been  at 
Bradfield,  who,  admiring  the  number  of  experiments, 
Mrs.  Y.  told  him  that  she  detested  them  all,  and  that 
I  had  ruined  myself  by  them.  A  true  report  I  will 
answer  for,  for  this  was  her  conduct  through  life. 
Lamentable  it  was  that  no  enemy  ever  did  me  the 
mischief  that  I  received  from  the  wife  of  my  bosom  by 
the  grossest  falsehoods  and  the  blackest  malignity  ;  of 
just  such  anecdotes  of  her  conversation  I  have  had 
instances  from  every  part  of  the  world.  But  do  such 
things  rise  from  the  dust  ?  Oh !  no,  they  come  from 
God,  and  were  far  less  than  what  I  merited  at  His  hands. 
I  had  such  as  I  deserved,  or  much  better. 

'11th. — I  was  up  at  four  o'clock  and  kept  the  fast  till 
8.30  at  night ;  and  as  I  have  a  strong  stomach  that  will 
bear  it  pretty  well,  I  determined  to  take  no  snuff,  of 
which  I  every  day  take  much,  and  am  almost  uncom- 
fortable if  at  any  time  I  forget  my  box.  This  was  more 
a  fast  with  me  than  abstaining  from  food  ;  but  whether 
it  was  not  done  in  a  right  spirit,  or  that  I  had  thought 
about  it  too  much,  I  know  not,  but  I  was  dead,  and 
sleepy,  and  sluggish  in  body  and  soul  all  day  except  at 
the  evening  sermon.  Unluckily  the  night  before  the 
fast  long  letters  from  Russia,  and  an  account  that 
Ai-thur   had   been   warned   much   as   if   he  would    be 


430      AUTOBIOGEAPHl"  OF  AETHUK  YOUNG 

murdered,  so  determinately  hostile  to  the  object  are  all 
the  Russian  nobility. 

March  1. — Yesterday  was  a  most  worrying  mo- 
ment, full  of  labour  and  anxiety.  In  the  morning 
to  Smirenove,  to  read  him  my  letter  to  Novosilikoff. 
He  advised  me  to  call  on  Count  Strogonoff,  who  is  here 
on  a  political  mission,  and  who  treated  with  Arthur  at 
St.  Petersburg.  Accordingly,  as  soon  as  I  returned,  I 
wrote  to  request  he  would  name  a  time  for  my  waiting 
on  him,  which  he  did,  and  fixed  Sunday,  10.30.  Oh, 
how  the  world  values  that  day  ! 

Then  to  copy  fair  my  letter  to  Novosilikoff  and 
inclose  it  to  Arthur  in  his  ;  this,  with  two  hundred  other 
things,  kept  me  till  dinner  on  the  table  to  the  chin  in 
anxiety,  for  if  I  did  not  trust  in  the  goodness  and  mercy 
of  God's  providence,  I  should  be  fearfully  apprehensive 
of  my  son's  personal  safety,  the  hints  he  has  had  are 
alarming. 

Their  general  conviction  at  Moscow,  that  he  is 
come  with  full  powers  or  intentions  to  emancipate  the 
boors,  have  made  them  all  hostile  to  the  plan. 

March  17.—  Yesterday  morning,  at  4  a.m.,  I  came 
down  to  pray  according  to  custom,  and  it  pleased  God 
that  I  should  pray  with  more  than  usual  fervency.  I 
then  meditated  a  little  and  fell  asleep.  I  awaked  with  a 
certain  sweetness  of  frame  that  I  noticed  at  the  time, 
and  a  transitory  idea  crossed  my  mind  that  God  had 
heard  my  prayers,  and  that  what  I  felt  might  possibly 
be  His  grace,  or  an  effusion  in  some  small  degree  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  in  my  soul.  It  struck  me  also  that  I 
should  know  if  it  was  by  the  current  of  my  thoughts 


APPROACHING  BLINDNESS  431 

and  imaginations  ;  for  any  proof  of  the  Spirit  unattended 
by  good  effects  would  be  a  mere  fanatical  idea.  I  took 
the  blessed  Sacrament,  and  in  the  evening  Fry  preached 
on  the  means  of  ascertaining  whether  a  man  has  the 
Spirit  or  not — a  very  excellent  sermon,  and  one  well 
adapted  to  urge  and  assist  self-examination.  The  day 
closed,  and  I  was  not  sensible  of  giving  way  to  any  loose 
and  wild  imaginations. 

23rrf. — Thanks  to  the  ever  blessed  God,  I  think  that 
I  spent  last  week  in  a  more  satisfactory  frame  of  heart 
and  mind  than  any  for  an  age  past — more  upon  the 
watch  against  sin — more  in  contemplation  of  the  great- 
ness and  goodness  of  God  ;  vile  thoughts  have  intruded, 
but  I  dismissed  them  by  struggling,  and  my  prayers 
have  been  more  fervent. 

April  19. — I  have  only  to-day  and  to-morrow  in 
the  country.  Solitude  agrees  best  with  my  soul.  I 
read  all  daj^  and  only  divinity,  temptations  are  distant. 
Wesley  could  not  bear  the  country,  from  the  hurry  and 
bustle  of  his  perpetual  labours  having  given  him  habits 
quite  contrary  to  it. 

June  3. — I  was  up  again  this  morning  at  3  a.m., 
and  by  it  escaped  falling  into  evil  imaginations.  This  is 
an  evil  I  thus  fight  against  and  struggle  to  avoid.  I 
think  the  Lord  will  hear  my  prayers  and  free  me  from 
this  buffeting  of  Satan,  this  thorn  in  the  flesh,  which  is 
a  horrible  disquiet  to  me. 

4:th. — I  found  the  devil  at  work  with  me  this 
morning,  and  jumped  out  of  bed  at  twenty  minutes 
before  3  a.m.,  dressed,  and  came  down  to  prayers. 

Paying  debts  formerly  with  me  had  but  little  effect 


432      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNa 

from  the  necessary  contraction  of  new  ones  ;  but  at 
present  I  have  abstained  steadily  from  all,  so  that 
though  I  want  shirts,  &c.,  and  have  only  one  coat,  and 
that  much  worn,  yet  I  order  nothing,  that  I  may 
endeavour  effectively  to  get  quite  free  as  scon  as 
possible. 

11th. — A  letter  from  Arthur,  he  has  had  a  week's 
fever,  and  went  back  to  Moscow,  which  recovered  him. 
It  was  caused  by  want  of  sleep,  owing  to  bugs,  lice, 
fleas,  &c.,  fatigue  and  vile  food.  They  are  horrid  savages, 
and  five  centuries  behind  us  in  all  but  vice,  wickedness, 
and  extravagance.  The  interpreter  behaves  much 
better,  which  is  comfortable. 

I'^th. — The  last  Board  for  the  season  sat  yesterday 
and  adjourned  till  November.  Mr.  Coke  was  here, 
pressed  me  to  go  to  Holkham  ;  but  I  have  long  deter- 
mined against  it ;  there  is  not  one  feature  which  could 
carry  a  Christian  there  for  pleasure,  but  a  thousand  to 
repel  him,  and  this  is  so  much  the  case  with  all  public 
meetings  that  they  are  odious.  The  Norfolk  farmers 
are  rich  and  profligate  ;  of  course  oaths  and  profanations 
salute  the  .ear  at  every  turn ;  and  gentlemen  and  the 
great,  when  without  ladies,  are  too  apt  to  be  as  bad  as 
the  mob,  and  many  of  them  much  worse.  I  am  never 
in  such  company,  but  the  repugnance  of  my  soul  to  it 
is  so  great,  that  much  as  I  love  agriculture  I  can 
renounce  it  with  more  pleasure  than  I  can  partake  of  it 
thus  contaminated.  I  shall  get  to  Bradfield  as  soon  as 
possible,  I  hope  on  Saturday,  and  having  much  to  do 
there,  God  send  that  employment  may  keep  me  out  of 
all  temptation. 


APPEOACHIXG  BLINDNESS  433 

July  13. — Every  Sunday  I  hear  sixteen  or  eighteen 
children  read  the  Scripture  and  say  their  Catechism, 
and  I  pay  for  the  schooling  of  all  that  will  learn.  They 
are  sadly  careless  and  inattentive,  but  still  they  come 
on.  If  it  pleases  God  to  turn  it  to  account  by  their 
reading  the  Scriptures  it  will  be  well.  The  rest  of  the 
day  I  pass  in  reading ;  the  spirit  of  visiting  in  the 
country  among  servants  prevents  much  that  might  be 
done,  but  still  I  am  not  satisfied,  and  must  find  the 
means  of  doing  more  in  the  instruction  of  the  parish 
poor. 

1-itli. — I  have  been  reading  over  my  '  Inquiry  into 
the  Propriety  of  applying  Wastes  to  the  better  Mainten- 
ance of  the  Poor.'  I  had  almost  forgotten  it,  but  of  all 
the  essays  and  papers  I  have  produced,  none  I  think 
so  pardonable  as  this,  so  convincing  by  facts,  and  so 
satisfactory  to  any  candid  reader.  Thank  God  I  wrote 
it,  for  though  it  never  had  the  smallest  effect  except  in 
exciting  opposition  and  ridicule,  it  will,  I  trust,  remain 
a  proof  of  what  ought  to  have  been  done  ;  and  had 
it  been  executed,  would  have  diffused  more  comfort 
among  the  poor  than  any  proposition  that  ever  was 
made. 

February  21,  1807. — To  think  of  keeping  a  journal 
regularly  is  all  in  vain  ;  the  gaps  in  mine  are  terrible. 

March  9. — Mrs.  Wilberforce  lent  me  Crichton's 
'  Diary  of  Blackadder,' '  and  gave  me  Dr.  Owen  on  the 
180th  Psalm.  I  have  read  much  of  the  former  and 
find  it  a  reproach  to  my  whole  soul,  life,  and  conversa- 

'  J.  Blackadder,  lieut. -colonel,  afterwards  minister,  died  in  prison  1685. 

F  F 


434      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

tion.  What  a  Christian  was  there  !  and  what  a  wretch 
ami? 

10th. — I  am  very  much  struck  with  '  Blackadder's 
Diary '  and  letters  to  his  wife,  so  much  so  that  I  have 
prayed  earnestly  to  God  to  enable  me  by  His  grace 
to  have  the  same  constant  trust  and  reliance  in  His 
mercj^  and  goodness  that  this  excellent  Christian 
had. 

I2th. — The  Marquis  Saloo,  from  Sicily,  gave  me 
many  accounts  of  Bolsamo,  and  how  much  he  referred 
in  his  lectures  to  his  master,  Arthur  Young.  If  there 
be  glory  in  this  sort  of  fame,  oh  !  my  Father,  let  me 
have  done  with  glorying  save  in  the  Cross  of  the  Lord 
Jesus.  I  have  been  glorying  in  foreign  and  domestic 
fame  for  forty  years  in  true  fleshly  vanity. 

I  have  been  seven  weeks  in  London,  and,  blessed 
be  the  Lord,  I  have  had  only  four  or  five  invitations  to 
dinner  and  accepted  but  two.  There  has  been  a  great 
kick  up  in  the  Ministry.  Tyrrwhitt,  from  Carleton 
House,  called  here,  and  tells  me  that  Lord  Sidmouth  and 
his  friends  were  actually  out,  but  the  Foxites  made  it  up 
with  the  King,  pacified  him,  and  they  were  immediately 
restored  ;  but  Lord  Howick  and  the  rest  are  to  give 
their  opinion  in  the  House  of  Commons,  and  the 
obnoxious  clause  to  be  left  out.  The  King  is  ready  to 
turn  many  out  the  moment  there  is  strength  enough 
to  carry  on  business  without  them. 

Called  at  Lord  Egremont's  ;  that  detestable  atheis- 
tical profligate  kinsman -was  with  him.     Lord  E. 

loud  in  the  commendation  of  the  Dactylis  glomerata ;  ^ 

'  '  Cock's  foot  grass,  considered  valuable  as  a  pasture  grass  in  light 
soils.' — Loudon. 


APPEOACHIXa   BLINDNESS  435 

it  succeeds  so  greatly  with  him  on  cold,  strong,  wet 
lands  that  oxen  fatten  where  they  could  never  be  kept 
before,  and  it  grows  all  winter.  I  was  the  first  man  in 
England  that  had  five  acres  of  this  grass.  I  believe 
they  had  a  root  of  it  twenty  years  ago  ;  I  had  much,  and 
recommended  it  greatly. 

A  letter  from  Tyrrwhitt,  Carleton  House,  to  inform 
me  that  Vansittart  and  Lord  Grenville  approve  my 
plan,  which  I  proposed  to  T.  It  is  this  :  The  Baltic 
and  CO.  [country]  around  it  being  shut  up  or  eaten 
up,  and  400,000  men  in  our  grainery  [granary],  should 
we  this  year  have  a  short  crop  of  wheat  or  a  bad 
harvest,  or  a  mildew,  the  supply  being  cut  off,  the 
price  would  rise  beyond  all  experience ;  therefore  I 
propose  that  the  Government  should  supply  money  to 
enable  the  Board  to  give  great  premium  for  the  culture 
of  potatoes  for  the  use  of  cattle  and  horses ;  without 
this  object  an  alarm  might  spread  and  more  mischief 
than  good  accrue.  T.  writes  me  they  approve  the 
idea,  and  will  advance  the  Board  2,000Z.,  but  I  will 
have  this  explained  ;  it  must  not  be  to  lend  2,0001.  but 
to  give  it. 

March  26. — I  am  very  sure  that  I  do  not  give  to 
poor  Christians  so  much  as  I  ought  to  do,  but  I  am  in 
doubt  whether  I  do  not  give  more  than  I  ought  to  do 
to  others.  Here  is  a  German,  Behrens,  once  a  merchant 
in  good  circumstances,  whom  Sir  John  received  papers 
from  and  sent  to  me.  He  translated  a  paper  for  the 
Board,  and  made  known  such  poverty  that  I  promised 
him  a  pair  of  boots  ;  but  writing  to  him  on  the  trans- 
lation,   I   took  occasion  to  enquire  what   religion  he 

I-  K   2 


436      AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

was  of ;  he  was  educated  a  Lutheran,  but  I  see  plainly 
he  has  none.  He  shall  have  the  boots,  but  I  shall  give 
him  nothing  else.  I  can  do  nothing  for  Christians  if  I 
give  to  all  others  that  apply. 

April  6. — At  Bradfield,  There  is  a  poor  fellow  in 
the  gaol  condemned  to  die  next  Wednesday  for  forging 
or  uttering  bank  notes.  I  heard  some  bad  accounts  of 
him,  and  as  I  came  from  Bury  early  in  the  morning, 
yesterday  called  to  see  him.  I  found  that  he  had  been 
attended  by  the  minister,  Mr.  Hastead,  and  also  by  a 
Methodist,  recommended  by  a  brother  of  his.  I  had  a 
good  deal  of  conversation  with  him,  and  prayed  with 
him.  He  was  very  ignorant,  and  had  no  feeling  of  reli- 
gion till  he  was  condemned,  but  has  since  been  instructed 
and  spoke  properly  enough,  lamenting  his  want  of 
faith  at  times,  and  at  others  being  full  of  faith.  I  gave 
him  the  best  instruction  I  could,  and  urged  little  more 
than  (which  is  his  only  possible  hope)  faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus.  He  prayed  aloud  for  some  minutes,  and  more 
to  the  purpose  than  I  should  have  expected.  He 
thanked  me  much  for  coming,  and  as  he  begged  me  to 
come  again  I  promised,  and  accordingly  this  morning 
went  on  purpose.  It  comforted  him  much.  I  prayed 
earnestly  and  fervently  for  him,  and  his  amens  and 
ejaculations  seemed  to  come  quite  from  his  heart. 
I  left  him  tranquil,  and,  blessed  be  a  merciful  God,  I 
think  he  may  without  presumption  hope  strongly  for 
pardon  at  the  throne  of  mercy. 

I  am  planting  lands,  and  forming  an  experiment  on 
the  application  of  vegetable  substances  as  manure. 

Qidth. — London.     At  eight  o'clock  at  night  I  received 


APPEOACHING   BLINDNESS  437 

the  following  note  from  Sir  John  Sinclair.     I  hurried 
away  to  the  place  named  in  the  cover,  Great    Shire 
Lane,  where  I  found  Sir  John  ;  and  Dr.  Garthshore  on 
the  same  errand  as  myself. 
We  signed  a  bail  bond. 

'  My  dear  Sir, — A  most  extraordinary  circumstance 
has  happened  to  me.  A  rascally  saddler,  whom  I  em- 
ployed at  Edinburgh  to  furnish  accoutrements  to  my 
regiment  of  Invincibles,  brought  me  in  so  exorbitant  an 
amount,  that  I  refused  to  pay  it ;  and  instead  of  bringing 
an  action  against  me  at  Edinburgh,  he  has  arrested  me 
for  7oOZ.  So  many  of  my  friends  are  out  of  town,  that 
J  must  trouble  you  to  give  bail  for  my  appearance. 

'  Sincerely  yours, 

'John  Sinclair. 

'  Tuesday.' 

Sir  John's  regiment  has  been  disbanded  nine  or  ten 
years,  and  consequently  this  rascally  saddler  has  been 
at  least  so  long  kept  out  of  his  money.  What  can 
these  people  think  of  themselves  !  To  live  quietly 
while  thus  depriving  tradesmen  of  their  right  for  such 
a  number  of  years  ! 

May  16. — This  is  the  first  fine  day  that  has 
occurred  since  I  left  town  ;  the  lilacs  are  coming  fast 
into  blossom,  and  the  fresh  verdure  of  the  grass  and 
trees  is  highly  pleasing. 

August  29. — As  the  time  approaches  to  go  this 
Oxford  journey,  I  dislike  it  more  and  more,  and  wish  I 
had  firmly  rejected  it.  I  am  not  in  a  situation  at  all 
comfortable  here,  and  have  only  one  maid — no  man  or 


438      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUKG 

boy — and  only  the  carpenter  to  put  my  horse  in  the 
whisky  ;  but  with  a  httle  exertion  all  this  could  be 
arranged.  Mrs.  Y.  going  to  the  sea  for  seven  weeks, 
and  therefore  seven  weeks'  peace  here  if  I  stayed.  I  am 
in  a  regular  habitual  application  to  my  '  Elements,'  and 
have  made  a  good  progress  in  them,  so  that  if  I  kept 
here  I  should  have  gone  through  many  meetings  of  the 
Board  ;  and  then  if  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  take  me,  they 
would  at  least  be  in  a  state  to  be  serviceable  to  man- 
kind, and  the  great  collection  I  have  made  in  divinity 
would  gradually  be  brought  into  order. 

All  around  here  is  a  region  dead  in  iniquity  and  sins, 
as  far  as  ladies  and  gentlemen  are  concerned.  Amongst 
the  Sectaries  there  is  Christianity,  and  nowhere  else, 
which  is  a  horrible  thing  to  think  of.  The  clergy  are, 
if  possible,  more  dead  than  any  others  ;  many  of  them 
very  profligate,  many  thoroughly  worldly  minded,  but 
some  of  very  respectable  moral  characters,  but  without 
a  spark  of  vital  religion. 

I  associate  only  with  Mrs.  0.  Oakes.  Having  written 
till  I  am  tired,  I  go  once  or  twice  a  week  to  relax  with 
the  mild  green  {sic)  of  her  soul,  because  I  can  be  free 
and  do  as  I  like,  and  I  try  hard  to  make  her  a  Christian, 
but  hitherto  in  vain.  If  evil  ideas  at  any  time  plague 
me,  then  I  keep  away,  and,  thanks  to  God,  I  have  of 
late  had  an  miusual  command  over  my  imagination, 
which  for  years  plagued  me  terribly.  Prayer  is  my 
refuge. 

November  23.— The  17th,  18th,  and  19th  at  Euston, 
and  I  had  much  conversation  with  the  duke,  in  which 
I  earnestly  endeavoured  to  impress  on  his  mind  the 


APPEOACHING  BLINDNESS  439 

fact,  that  by  his  tenets  he  placed  himself  entirely 
under  the  covenant  of  works,  and  that  he  must  be 
tried  for  them,  and  that  I  would  not  be  in  such  a 
situation  for  ten  thousand  worlds.  He  was  mild  and 
more  patient  than  I  expected. 

He  lent  me,  and  I  read  it  there,  Priestley's  Life,  by 
himself.  He  asked  me  what  I  thought  of  it  ?  My  reply 
was  that  through  the  whole  it  was  the  recital  of  a  man 
perfectly  well  satisfied  with  himself,  not  the  confessions 
of  a  sinner  lamenting  what  has  been  wrong  in  him. 
He  seems  to  have  had  no  feeling  of  the  sort ;  as  if, 
when  tried  by  the  test  of  his  own  merit,  it  would  be  a 
great  injustice  in  God  not  to  be  satisfied  with  him,  and 
that  I  had  no  conception  of  any  man  having  it  in  his 
power  to  review  or  detail  his  life  with  any  religious 
aspect  without  much  self-condemnation,  and  beseeching 
God  to  try  him  in  any  way  rather  than  by  an  appeal  to 
his  life  or  his  own  merit,  but  (if  he  be  really  a 
Christian)  by  the  merits  only  of  the  blood  of  his 
Kedeemer.  He  said  it  was  my  view  of  things,  and  not 
that  of  the  doctor,  whom  he  believed  was  undoubtedly 
a  very  good  man.  The  conversation  continued,  but 
we  were  as  far  as  the  poles  asunder.  The  duke  has 
drawn  up  memoirs  of  his  life,  and  he  and  Lady 
Augusta  read  to  me  that  part  which  concerned  his  own 
administration,  which  is  very  satisfactory,  as  it  consists 
much  of  original  letters.  He  appears  to  much  more 
advantage  in  it  than  I  conceived  he  would  have  done, 
and  it  was  certainly  a  wise  step  to  leave  such  a 
memorial  in  justification  of  himself.  Lord  Templeton 
there  one  day.     They  seem  to  me  to  grow  more  and 


440      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUK  YOUNG 

more  economical,  and  to  descend  to  minute  attentions 
which  are  below  their  rank  and  fortune. 

I  do  not  feel  comfortable,  though  he  always  re- 
ceives me  well,  and  desires  me  to  come  again.  It  is 
long  since  I  was  there  before,  and  will  be  long  before 
I  go  again ;  such  visits,  however,  have  very  little  of 
dissipation  in  them,  and  so  much  the  better. 

The  less  we  like  them  the  safer  they  are. 

[Note,  probably  by  Mary,  Arthur  Young's  only  sur- 
viving daughter]  :  '1807.  It  was  upon  this  journey  [into 
Oxfordshire]  that  Mr.  Y.  first  perceived  the  approach 
of  that  dimness  of  sight  which  afterwards  terminated 
in  its  total  eclipse.  His  first  suspicion  arose  from 
looking  at  the  planet  Jupiter,  and  perceiving  what 
appeared  to  him  to  be  two  very  small  stars  near  him, 
at  which  he  was  much  surprised,  as  he  knew  that  the 
satellites  were  invisible  to  the  naked  eye,  and  nobody 
saw  these  stars  but  himself.  This  multiplication  of 
bright  objects  increased  the  following  year,  till  at  last 
one  lamp  appeared  to  him  to  be  five.  Objects  became 
by  degrees  more  and  more  confused,  and  at  last  totally 
disappeared.' 

(Total  blindness  appears  to  have  resulted  from  the 
failure  of  an  operation  for  cataract,  as  will  be  seen 
later  on.) 


441 


CHAPTEK   XVI 

LAST   YEARS,    1808-1820 

Gradual  loss  of  sight — Illness  and  death  of  Mrs.  Oakes — Daily  routine — 
A  disappointment — Eiots — Death  of  Mrs.  Young — Anecdotes  of 
Nai)oleon — A  story  of  the  Terror — National  distress — Close  of  diary 
—The  end. 

In  February  I  was  obliged  to  take  a  reader  as  my  sight 
was  failing  fast. 

Fehruarij  27. — For  some  months  past  I  have  had 
the  comfort  of  seeing  my  debts  drawing  to  such  a 
conclusion  that  I  might  consider  myself  as  free  ;  and 
I  have  certainly  thought  too  much  of  it,  and  rested 
too  much  satisfaction  in  it,  and  not  sufficiently  been 
thankful  to  God  for  so  great  a  blessing.  If  I  am  so 
ungrateful  as  not  to  thank  God  sufficiently  for  blessings, 
how  can  I  expect  to  avoid  misfortunes '?  My  eyes  ! 
My  eyes  !  Is  not  His  hand  upon  me  here,  too,  for  the 
same  reason '? 

What  has  been  my  gratitude  to  Him  for  their 
preservation  during  sixty-seven  years  ?  and  what  uses 
have  I  made  of  them  ? 

April  4. — How  employment  can  be  carried  further 
than  with  me  I  am  at  a  loss  to  conceive.  Notwith- 
standing the   state  of  my  eyes  I  am  generally  up    at 


442  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF   AETHUE   YOUNG 

4  A.M.,  though  I  do  not    call    St.  Croix  [his  reader] 
before  five. 

Last  Tuesday  I  read  the  first  lecture  that  was, 
I  believe,  ever  read  on  agriculture  in  England,  my 
subject  '  Tillage  at  the  Board.'  The  room  was  well 
filled,  and  several  of  much  ability  and  more  of  rank ; 
but  the  day  was  a  bad  one,  which  kept  others  away. 
I  found  that  they  were  well  satisfied. 

So  many  years  in  the  habit  of  incessant  employ- 
ment has  made  any  idleness  irksome  to  me.  But  my 
eyes  force  me  to  have  time  for  contemplation  ;  and 
I  pray  to  God  to  enable  me  to  fill  it  as  a  Christian 
ought  to  do  whose  conversation  is  in  heaven ;  but 
my  mind  will  run  out  too  much  on  worldly  objects, 
and  sometimes  on  sinful  ones. 

How  much  in  all  things  do  I  want  washing  in  the 
fountain  opened  for  sin  and  uncleanness  ! 

May  13. — Much  of  my  time  has  of  late  been  lost 
by  people  calling  on  the  malt  business.*  I  am  tired  of 
sugar  and  malt  before  the  question  comes  into  the 
House  of  Commons,  which  will  not  be  till  Monday.  I 
sent  another  letter  to  Cobbett  last  Monday,  but  he 
did  not  insert  it.  I  care  little  about  it,  and  I  wish  that 
I  cared  less,  for  these  questions  only  connect  one  more 
nearly  with  the  world  than  a  Christian  ought  to  be 
connected  with  it. 

However,  it  is  in  my  vocation,  and  my  conscience 
is  not  at  all  wounded  by  the  part  I  take,  for  I  am  well 
persuaded  that  the  consequences  of  this  measure  will 
be   mischievous   and    tend    to    scarcity,    which   is    so 

'   See  Hansard. 


LAST  YE.\ES  443 

greatly  to  be  guarded  against  for  a  thousand  reasons. 
Sir  John  Sinclair  spoke  once  against  it  in  the  House, 
and  he  tells  me  that  Percival  looked  as  black  and 
indignant  at  him  as  if  he  had  been  talking  treason. 

July  25  :  Bradfield. — I  am  tired  of  the  thoughts 
of  such  a  journal ;  had  I  kept  it  of  late  it  would  have 
been  employed  on  my  departing  sight.  I  can  see  to 
write  a  little,  but  can  read  scarcely  anything. 

Praised  be  the  mercy  of  God  that  enables  me  to 
pay  a  reader  ;  St.  Croix  is  with  me.  And  I  have  been 
hard  at  work  on  my  '  Elements  '  to  get  those  papers 
into  such  order  as  to  want  as  little  as  possible  my 
own  sight  in  the  future  progress  of  completing  them. 
Whenever  it  may  be  the  will  of  God  to  make  me  quite 
blind,  oh  !  may  I  receive  His  dispensation  with  the 
submission  of  a  Christian  ! 

1809.  May  16. — April  twelvemonth  I  read  my  own 
lectures  by  means  of  Baker's  great  hand  and  black 
ink ;  but  last  month  Mr.  Cragg  read  the  two,  and  one 
new  one  for  me,  for  I  am  unable  to  do  it ;  yet  I  can 
write  a  little,  but  cannot  read  when  written.  The 
Lord's  will  be  done,  and  may  He  sanctify  the  affliction 
and  turn  all  my  attention  to  Himself. 

Mrs.  Oakes  arrived  at  Bury  last  Sunday  fortnight ; 
and  on  Sunday  se'nnight  she  broke  a  blood-vessel  and 
brought  up  two  spoonfuls,  and  on  Saturday  evening 
last  had  another  smaller  attack.  My  own  fear  and 
opinion  is  that  it  will  end  fatally.  Her  fatigue  coming 
from  Bath  and  Bristol,  and  at  London,  contrary  to 
advice,  has  caused  it.  I  have  prayed  most  earnestly 
for  her.     Oh  !  may  the  Lord  of   all  mercy  hear  and 


444      AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUXa 

grant  my  petitions.  My  thoughts  are  all  employed  on 
the  state  of  her  soul.  The  long  intimacy  and  friend- 
ship I  have  had  for  her,  and  the  kindness  and  attention 
I  have  ever  received  from  her,  noM^  lacerate  the  heart 
with  wounds  that  sink  deep ;  and  my  conscience 
reproaches  me  that  I  have  not  done  all  that  T  might 
have  done  to  turn  her  heart  more  to  God. 

Maij  18. — I  am  very,  very  unhappy,  and  cannot 
think  of  her  without  wretchedness.  In  every  worldly 
respect  what  a  loss  will  she  be  to  me  !  A  placid,  sweet 
temper,  with  a  good  understanding ;  that  ever  rec**. 
[received]  me  with  kindness,  and  attention,  and  prefer- 
ence, with  whom  I  was  at  my  ease,  and  where  I  could  be 
at  any  time  ;  a  resource  in  blindness  fast  coming  on  that 
would  have  been  great.  The  hope  has  fled  and  a  sad 
and  dreary  vacancy,  which  freezes  me,  is  in  its  place. 

May  19. — Good  news  though  not  of  better  health. 
Hastead  has  been  with  her,  to  be  sure,  by  desire,  which 
shows  an  attention  to  her  soul. 

Poor  thing  !  she  has  been  bled  twice  more,  and  the 
blood  as  highly  inflamed  as  ever ;  bleeding  gives  relief 
to  her  lungs. 

The  Duke  of  Bedford  and  Mr.  Coke  [have  written] 
desiring  me  to  go  to  Woburn  and  Holkham ;  but  all 
great  meetings,  and  anything  like  festivity,  have  for 
some  years  become  so  insipid  and  disagreeable  that  I 
shall  have  done  with  them  wholly.  They,  like  so 
many  other  things,  are  links  of  that  worldly  harness 
which  it  is  high  time  for  me  to  throw  down  for  ever. 

June  1. — Eead  the  '  Edinburgh  Review  '  on  '  Coelebs 
in  Search  of  a  Wife,'  by   Sydney  Smith.     Wretched 


LAST   YEAES  445 

stuff;  false  and  frivolous,  reasoning  on  cards,  assemblies, 
plays,  ^  &c. 

June  3. — Yesterday,  as  the  '  Edinburgh  Eeview  ' 
was  read  to  me,  I  was  much  struck  with  a  reference  to 
Necker  on  the  finances,  saying  that  7,000  pedigrees 
of  the  nobility  in  the  archives  of  the  old  Government 
were  destroyed  in  the  Revolution.  It  occurred  at 
once  to  me  that  this  was  the  exact  number  of  names 
of  men  slain  in  Revelations.  It  is  in  the  eleventh 
chapter :  '  The  tenth  part  of  the  city  fell  in  a  great 
earthquake,  and  7,000,  &c.'  The  commentators  all  seem 
to  have  reckoned  France  as  the  tenth  part  of  the  city  ; 
but  of  the  names  of  men  they  knew  not  what  to  make, 
but  7,000  pedigrees  answer  to  a  wonderful  degree,  and 
the  coincidence  of  numbers  is  truly  amazing. 

June  6. — Yesterday's  letter  bad.  Poor  thing,  she 
has  been  bled  eight  ounces,  and  much  inflamed  ;  had 
been  out  twice,  and  I  suppose  took  cold.  She  wrote 
herself,  and  there  are  some  comfortable  expressions 
relative  to  the  state  of  her  mind  with  regard  to 
religion.     I  have  little  hope  of  her  recovery. 

July  4. — Betsy  continues  just  the  same,  whether 
better  or  worse,  the  cough  does  not  go,  and  therefore  I 
conclude  the  case  bad.  But,  thanks  to  God,  her  mind, 
T  hope,  goes  on ;  she  has  the  Testament  read  to  her  by 
all  the  four  children. 

Jiihj  6. — I  work  at  the  '  Elements  '  every  day,  and 

'  '  No  cards,  because  cards  are  employed  in  gaming  ;  no  assemblies, 
because  many  dissipated  persons  pass  their  lives  in  assemblies.  Carry 
this  but  a  little  further,  and  we  must  say — no  wine,  because  of  drunken- 
ness ;  no  meat,  because  of  gluttony ;  no  use,  that  there  may  be  no 
abuse.' — Sijdncij  Smith  on  Hannah  More. 


446  AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNa 

find  every  time  they  are  read  to  me  something  to  cancel, 
something  to  add,  and  much  to  reconsider  and  correct. 

July  8. — The  gradual  declension  of  my  sight  in 
viewing  the  scenery  of  this  place,  but  especially  in 
knowing  faces,  makes  me  surprised  that  I  can  manage 
to  write ;  I  cannot  read  in  the  least  degree,  or  know 
anything  of  the  views  in  Lord  Valentia's  Travels.^ 
It  is  a  very  great  deprivation,  but  much  better  than 
feeling  the  torture  of  very  painful  distempers,  so  that  I 
am  very  thankful  to  God  for  the  less  affliction.  It  was, 
I  doubt  not,  very  necessary  for  me  to  have  some  heavy 
one,  and  what  I  am  likely  to  suffer  is  comparatively  a 
mercy  to  what  might  have  been  the  dispensation  of  the 
Almighty. 

Mrs.  0.  the  same,  and  the  weather  as  unfavourable 
to  her  ;  I  drank  tea  there  on  Thursday. 

Juhj  19. — Drank  tea  with  her  last  night.  [She 
was]  bled  in  the  morning,  and  going  to  have  a  blister. 
All  her  symptoms  worse,  I  suppose  she  has  caught  cold. 

August  4. — I  have  been  so  provoked,  my  dear 
Jane,'^  with  so  many  of  my  letters  miscarrying  that  I 
am  determined  to  begin  a  book  to  use  some  safe  oppor- 
tunity of  conveying  it  to  you,  for  I  know  nothing  so 
provoking  as  to  write  twenty  letters  for  one  or  two  that 
arrive  safe.  In  your  last  you  made  many  enquiries  into 
what  I  was  doing  ?  How  I  passed  my  time,  &c.  &c. 
A  very  short  account  will  answer  this.  I  rise  from  four 
to  five  in  the  morning,  pray  to  God  for  half  an  hour, 

'   Voyages  and  Travels  in  India,  Ceylon,  dc,  1809. 

-  A  pathetic  interest  attaches  to  this  sentence.  Here  A.  Y.'s  fine 
bold  handwriting  (of  late  rather  painting  in  black  ink)  ceases.  A  few 
desperate  splashes,  and  we  seem  to  see  the  pen  despairingly  cast  aside 
and  the  journalising  handed  over  to  his  secretary. 


LAST    YEAES  447 

more  or  less,  according  as  He  affords  me  the  spirit  to 
do  it.    At  half-past  five  I  call  Mr.  St.  Croix,  who  comes 
to  me  at  six,  and  reads  a  chapter  in  Scott's  Bible  with 
notes.    I  then  dictate  such  letters  as  want  to  be  written, 
after  which  we  sit  down  to  my  '  Elements  of  Agricul- 
tm:e,'  which  have  been  more  than  thirty  years  in  hand, 
and  at  which  I  have  worked  for  two  years  past  with 
much  assiduity,  wishing  to  finish  it  before  my  sight  is 
quite  gone.     At  half-past  eight  the  servant  brings  me 
the  water  to  shave ;    from  nine  to  ten  we   breakfast, 
and  sit  down  again  to  work  for  two  or   three  hours, 
as  it  may  happen,  as  I  take  the  opportunity  of  sunshine 
for  a  brisk  walk  of  an  hour,  very  often  backwards  and 
forwards  on  the  gravel  between  yours  and  the  round 
garden.    I  wish  much  to  have  my  thoughts  during  that 
hour  employed  upon  death  and  the  other  world,  but 
my  weakness  and  want  of  resolution  are  lamentable, 
so  that  I  sometimes  think  on  every  subject  except  that 
which  I  intend  should  occupy  me.     "We  then  sit  down 
to  work  again,  till  the  boy  and  his  dicky  arrive  with 
the  letters  and  newspapers.     When  they  are  read  we 
work  again,  but  usually  catch  half  an  hour  for  another 
walk  before  dinner.     When  alone  we  dine  at  four,  and 
always  at  that  hour  in  the  height  of  summer,  but  if 
any  person  be  in  the  house,  as  it  prevents  an  evening 
work,  five  is  the  dinner  hour.    What  is  read  afterwards 
is  usually  some  book  not  immediately  connected  with 
work.     At  eight  we  drink  tea  and  go  to  bed  at  ten, 
but  the  Sunday  is  an  exception  ;    you  know  there   is 
service  but  once  a  day.     At  the  church  hour,  whether 
morning  or  afternoon  (when  no  service),  about  thirty 
children   from  Bradfield,  Stanningfield,  and   Cuckfield 


448  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF   .lETHUK   YOUNG 

come  to  read  in  the  Testament  and  repeat  their 
Catechism,  and  undergo  some  examination  from  Mrs. 
Trimmer's  '  Teacher's  Assistant.'  Whatever  is  well 
done  receives  a  mark  against  the  name ;  the  girl  or  boy 
that  has  fewest  marks  receives  nothing,  the  next  a 
halfpenny,  next  a  penny,  and  so  on,  all  which  does  not 
amount  to  more  than  two  or  three  shillings.  I  cannot 
boast  much  of  their  progress,  though  I  pay  for  most  of 
them  as  constant  scholars.  In  the  evening,  between  six 
and  seven  o'clock,  forms  are  set  in  the  hall  to  receive  all 
that  please  to  come  to  hear  a  sermon  read,  and  the 
numbers  w^ho  attend  amount  from  twenty  to  sixty  or 
seventy,  according  to  weather  and  other  circumstances. 
Such,  my  dear  Jane,  is  the  tenor  of  my  life  both  in 
summer  and  winter  while  I  am  in  the  country. 

December  1} — Here  is  a  pretty  breach  in  the 
continuance  of  this  book  letter,  but  you  are  not  to  fail 
to  remember  that  during  this  period  I  have  sent 
off  two  letters  to  j^ou,  not  short  ones,  which,  from 
Smirenove's  account  of  the  conveyance,  I  hope  may 
get  to  you  safe.  I  have  also  received  two  short  ones 
from  you,  and  another  from  Arthur  at  Odessa,  de- 
scribing the  severity  of  the  winter,  and  an  escape  he 
had  of  being  burnt  in  a  Tartar  combustion  of  old  grass, 
but,  most  provokinglyj  saying  not  one  word  of  his  own 
intentions,  or  a  syllable  of  what  he  is  about.  This  is 
very  mortifj-ing  to  me,  for  what  are  frost  and  fire  to 
me  compared  with  his  own  plans  and  views?  Nor 
does  he  say  a  word  about  coming  to  England ;  and  the 
idea  of   the  possibility  of   your  coming  in  autumn  is 

'  Still  addressed  to  Jane  Youns;. 


LAST  YEAES  449 

now  all  past  bj^  and  I  am  precluded  from  the  possibility 
of  seeing  you  till  next  summer,  by  which  time  I  shall 
have  no  eyes  to  see  you. 

April  9,  1810.^ — The  discovery  lately  made  by 
your  letter  of  the  enormous  expense  of  postage  must 
limit  my  correspondence  to  private  hands,  and  will  not 
permit  the  communication  of  anything  but  topics  the 
most  immediately  interesting  to  your  future  motions. 
My  notes  of  the  riots,  therefore,  are  preserved  for  your 
eye  by  copying  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Oakes  : — 

'  I  know  not  what  reports  may  have  reached  you 
relative  to  the  state  of  London,  nor  what  newspapers 
you  read,  bat  I  have  been  witness  to  such  a  scene  as 
I  hope,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  will  not  occur 
again.  On  Friday  night  the  mob  was  extremely 
agitated  in  Piccadilly,  especially  near  Sir  Francis 
Burdett's,  and  they  took  the  unaccountable  whim  of 
forcing  everyone  to  illuminate.  I  lighted  up  as  other 
people  did,  and  when  I  went  to  bed  left  orders  with 
the  servant  who  sat  up  to  be  sure  to  keep  the  candles 
burning  till  daylight,  instead  of  which,  when  others 
put  out  their  candles,  ours  were  extinguished  also.  At 
two  o'clock  the  mob  returned  and  broke  many  windows, 
and  ours  among  the  rest.  The  servant  ran  into  my 
room  and  waked  me  out  of  my  sleep  to  tell  me  the 
windows  were  smashing.  We  hurried  the  candles  out 
again,  and,  upon  examination,  found  the  alarm  exceeded 
the  damage,  for  only  three  panes  were  broken.  All 
Saturday  passed  in  a  very  quiet  manner,  and  in  the 
evening  the  illumination  was  more  general,  but  troops 

'  Written  from  London. 

G  G 


450     AUTOBIOGEA^PHY  OF  AETHUK  YOUNG 

pouring  into  London  from  all  quarters,  we  hoped  to  be 
secure  without  violence.  The  mob,  however,  were  so 
determined,  that  by  twelve  o'clock  we  heard  platoons 
firing  in  Piccadilly,  and  a  few  in  other  directions  more 
remote,  the  Eiot  Act  having  been  read.  A  person  who 
saw  much,  and  clearly,  told  me  that  orders  being 
received  by  the  commanding  officer  to  fire  with  ball, 
about  fifty  cavalry  fired  twice  over  the  heads  of  the 
people,  that  the  whizzing  of  the  balls  might  inform 
them  what  they  had  to  expect ;  still,  however,  they 
were  audacious,  insomuch  that  the  officer  was  forced 
to  fire  on  them.  In  five  minutes  all  Piccadilly  was 
cleared.  We  afterwards  heard  a  little  more  distant 
firing,  and  a  party  of  horse  scoured  up  Sackville  Street, 
firing  in  a  scattered  manner  at  the  flying  mob ;  but, 
from  the  reports  of  the  pieces,  I  believe  with  powder 
only.  The  reports  relative  to  the  mischief  done  are 
extremely  vague  and  not  to  be  depended  on.  Some 
say  that  one  trooper  was  killed,  others  three  or  four ; 
what  was  the  loss  suffered  by  the  mob  is,  I  believe, 
quite  unknown,  but  certainly  it  was  very  inconsiderable. 
During  Sunday  the  agitation  of  the  streets  threatened 
a  bad  night,  but  Government  had  brought  in  so  many 
troops,  that  had  we  known  it  we  need  not  have 
been  alarmed.  A  train  of  artillery  in  the  park,  horses 
attached  and  matches  lighted,  two  pieces  of  artillery 
in  Berkeley  Square,  two  others  in  Soho  Square,  and 
many  more  about  the  town,  and  doubtless  many  others 
of  which  I  knew  nothing,  all  ready  at  a  moment's 
warning,  with  parties  of  troops  scouring  the  streets, 
showed  such  a  state  of  preparation  as  effectually  awed 


LAST   YEARS  451 

the  mob,  notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  Sir  F.  Burdett 
to  inflame  them.  He  was  at  his  house  ready  to  resist 
the  Speaker's  warrant  for  commitment,  and  had  the 
audacity  to  write  to  the  sheriff  to  bring  the  posse 
comitatus  to  assist  him  in  so  doing,  printing  the  letter 
in  the  Sunday's  newspaper.  They  say  he  is  still  at 
his  house,  and  that  he  will  not  be  seized  before  the 
House  meets  this  day.  It  really  is  a  tremendous  m.oment, 
for  if  they  do  not  carry  it  with  a  high  hand,  as  a  means 
of  prevention,  we  shall  have  an  organised  mob  and 
great  mischief  will  follow.  It  is  expected  that  the 
gallery  of  the  House  will  to-day  be  cleared  by  acclama- 
tion and  a  Bill  brought  in  to  suspend  the  Habeas  Corpus 
Act,  and  the  rascally  authors,  printers,  and  publishers 
of  those  inflammatory  papers  which  have  done  so 
much  mischief  seized  and  imprisoned ;  but  whether 
the  Ministry,  with  such  a  violent  opposition,  will  have 
resolution  enough  for  this  will  depend  on  the  influence 
the  Marquis  of  Wellesley  has  among  his  colleagues  in 
the  Cabinet.  I  am  much  inclined  to  expect  that  good 
will  result  by  drawing  close  to  the  Ministry  all  the 
honest  men  in  both  Houses,  with  all  others  that  might 
be  wavering  ;  for  it  is  a  question  now  whether  we  are 
to  be  governed  by  Parliament  or  the  mob.  Many 
circumstances,  however,  are  unfortunate,  and  not  the 
least,  that  though  the  public  revenue  amounts  to 
62,000,000^.,  yet  the  expenses  of  the  year  will  rise  to 
above  80,000, OOOZ.,  and  must  be  made  good  by  means 
that  will  occasion  the  necessity  of  having  additional 
taxes.  This  will  cause  a  yell  for  peace — and  such 
a  peace  as  must  be  ruinous  if  made.     We  have  also 

G  o   2 


452  AUTOBIOGKAPHY   OF   ARTHUR   YOUNG 

one  adversary  armed  at  all  points,  and  whose  depth  of 
policy  is  such  as  ought  ever  to  create  alarm  and  the 
exertions  of  all  the  talents  the  country  possesses  to 
oppose  him.' 

May  3,  1811. — I  do  not  think  that  for  the  last 
twenty  years  of  my  life  my  general  health  has  been 
better  than  at  the  moment  when  discontent,  I  fear, 
with  the  will  of  God,  induced  me  to  oppose  that  will. 
In  the  most  mild  and  merciful  manner  He  had  nearly 
deprived  me  of  sight  without  \Jiy  feeling  the  smallest 
pain.  Heavy  as  this  dreadful  deprivation  is  and  must 
remain  to  me,  I  feel,  in  proportion  to  my  convalescence, 
that  even  blindness  itself  may  be  a  temptation  ;  as  a 
dispensation  from  God,  it  must  have  been  meant  as  a 
calamity,  and  a  calamity  to  be  deeply  felt.  Is  there  not 
danger  then  that  a  mind  which  has  been  accustomed 
to  look  upon  the  favourable  side  of  objects,  should 
gradually  so  accustom  itself  to  its  new  situation  as 
to  deprive  it  in  a  good  measure  of  the  misery  which 
might  be  the  direct  intention  of  the  Almighty  ?  The 
capacity  of  continuing  the  attention  formerly  given  to 
old  objects  by  means  of  the  eyes  of  others,  may  leave 
the  mind  almost  as  full  of  the  world  as  when  by  sight 
I  could  enjoy  its  visible  objects  ;  this  is  a  circumstance 
which  ought  undoubtedly  to  be  guarded  against,  that 
is,  praj^ed  against.  For  a  man  of  seventy  to  be  struck 
blind  and  to  continue  worldly-minded,  with  his  head 
and  heart  full  of  objects  which,  though  not  of  sight, 
command  attention,  is  to  tempt  God  to  send  some 
deeper  affliction  in  order  to  bring  his  heart  home  to  its 
trae   centre.     This   is    a    subject   which   merits   great 


LAST   YEAES  453 

attention,  and  may  the  Lord  of  His  mercy  enable  me  to 
consider  it  as  I  ought  to  do  ! 

May  8. — Twelve  o'clock  at  noon  my  dear  friend 
Mrs.  Oakes  breathed  her  last,  after  a  long  severe 
illness,  and  many  and  great  sufferings.  Thanks  to  God 
she  was  attentive  throughout  this  sad  period,  as  I  am 
well  informed,  to  the  state  of  her  soul  with  God.  Thus 
is  termmated  in  this  world  a  very  intimate  friendship 
of  twenty-six  years,  with  a  temper  so  mild  and  cheerful, 
with  manners  so  gentle  and  persuasive,  that  had  it 
pleased  the  Almighty  to  -have  spared  her,  she  would 
have  been  the  source  of  great  comfort  to  me  in  my 
melancholy  state. 

May  16, 1812. — At  this  time  a  new  oculist  appeared 
in  town,  a  desideratum  much  wanted.  The  highest 
accounts  were  universally  circulated  of  his  skill  and 
success,  and  the  most  unequivocal  good  effects  attended 
his  new  attempts  at  removing  cataract.  I  was  unwilling 
to  go  to  him,  cherished  no  hope  of  my  own  case,  and 
considered  this  calamity  as  the  appointment  of  Provi- 
dence, concerning  which  I  had  but  one  wish — that  of 
submitting  to  it  with  the  most  unaffected  resignation. 
But  the  persuasions  of  my  friends,  more  sanguine  than 
myself,  and  the  high  reputation  of  Mr.  Adams  at  length 
prevailed,  and  a  day  was  appointed  finally  to  decide  my 
state — to  give  some  expectation  of  recovery  or  to  destroy 
all  hope. 

The  feelings  of  the  mind  may  be  subdued,  but  they 
cannot  be  destroyed.  From  the  reluctance  I  showed 
to  name  the  day  even  after  resolving  to  go,  the  dread  of 
hearing   my  doom,  and  the  natural  desire  to  enjoy  a 


454     AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AUTHUE  YOUNG 

little  longer  the  precious  glimmering  of  hope,  may 
be  inferred.  At  length  the  long-wished-for  dreaded 
morning  came.  The  sun  shone  brightly  as  I  walked 
to  the  house ;  I  felt  its  warmth,  and  the  thought  that 
perhaps  his  light  may  still,  ere  long,  '  revisit  these  sad 
eyes,'  lent  new  interest  to  his  cheering  beams. 

The  man  who  has  never  had  his  mind  enlivened 
and  his  senses  cheered  by  contemplating  the  scenes  of 
nature  or  the  employment  of  his  fellow  creatures,  would 
feel  much  less  at  the  thought  of  learnmg  whether  this 
would  ever  be  his  fate  or  not,  than  he  who,  once  having 
felt  in  every  variety  the  extent  of  the  blessing,  loses  it, 
learns  by  experience  the  sadness  of  the  contrast,  and 
goes  with  a  throbbing  heart  to  enquire  if  any  hope 
exists  of  again  enjoying  that  power  he  would  gladly 
forfeit  all  his  possessions  to  recover. 

I  was  shown  into  a  room,  where  I  waited  a  few 
minutes  (they  were  painful  ones),  and  Mr.  Adams 
appeared.  '  I  wish,  sir,  to  be  informed  what  is  the 
state  of  my  eyes,'  looking  very  attentively  at  him. 
'  You  have  not,  sir,  undergone  an  extraction  for  cata- 
ract ?  '  '     '  That  you  must  decide.'     '  Why,  yes,  and  I 


'  This  is  explained  in  a  letter  from  Mary  Young  to  her  brother 
Arthur,  dated  March  27  ;  no  year  added,  but  evidently  written  in  1811. 
The  Duke  of  Grafton  died  March  14,  1811.  '  It  seems  that  the  poor 
patient  was  very  intractable,  and  that  the  operator  said,  "Indeed,  sir, 
if  you  are  not  more  patient  I  must  leave  you."  .  .  .  Mr.  Wilberforce, 
with  the  best  wishes  imaginable,  called  [after  the  couching],  and  was 
shown  up  to  his  bedroom  ;  and  the  very  first  words  he  said  were,  "  So 
we  have  lost  the  poor  Duke  of  Grafton!"  then  began  and  continued  in 
his  mild,  soft  manner  a  most  pathetic  dissertation  on  the  duke's  pious 
resignation,  &c.  &c.,  till  your  father  burst  into  tears,  which  was,  Phipps 
(the  ocuhst)  vowed,  the  worst  thing  possible,  and  which  anyone  knew  in 


LAST   YEAES  455 

fear  unsuccessfully.'  '  Is  there  any  hope  of  recovery  ?  ' 
Mr.  Adams  started,  and  looked  down  with  evident 
marks  of  bitter  disappointment  the  first  instant  he  saw 
me.  '  I  grieve,  sir,  to  say  that  the  eye  itself  is  destroyed, 
the  cornea  gone,  and  there  has  been  such  an  excessive 
discharge  of  the  vitreous  humour,  that  the  coats  are 
collapsed.'  '  No  chance,  then,  of  course  ?  '  'I  fear, 
sir,  none ;  '  then,  after  a  pause,  '  I  believe  I  am 
addressing  Mr.  A.  Young  ?  '  I  bowed.  '  I  have  heard 
your  case  differently  reported  ;  it  was  the  subject  of 
much  conversation,  and  excited  unenviable  interest 
last  spring  when  it  happened,  and  I  had  hoped  that 
it  would  have  been  possible  to  relieve  you,  but  I  now 
see  the  contrary.'  '  I  am  much  obliged  to  you,  sir, 
good  morning,'  I  replied,  and  came  away. 

Mr.  Adams  was  a  yomig  man,  his  aspect  was 
pleasing  and  intelligent,  and  there  was  a  sorrowful  look 
when  I  departed  that  well  became  the  sad  occasion. 
There  were  two  things  worth  repeating  on  that  morning, 
one  was  his  liberality  in  clearing  his  brother  professor 
from  the  character  of  carelesness,  which  he  endeavoured 
to  do.  I  complained  that  I  was  sure  I  could  not 
have  been  well  prepared.  But  Mr.  Adams  replied 
that  preparation  was  not  necessary  for  extraction,  that 
people  of  the  worst  habits  had  been  treated  in  that  way 
with  no  preparation  and  complete  success  ;  that  the 
fault  was  not  of  the  operator,  but  of  the  operation, 
which  must  always  be  liable  to  failure.     Mr.  Adams' 

his  lamentable  state  of  inflammation  was  destruction.  It  flung  him 
back,  being  only  a  week  after  the  operation.  Oh,  Ar.,  as  1  greatly 
believe  he  will  be  entirely  blind,  do  try  to  come  to  him.' 


456     AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 

own  method  of  removing  cataract  was  not  this  ill-fated 
scheme  of  extraction.  The  second  remark  is  this.  It 
had  become  much  the  custom  to  use  hot  water  for 
the  eyes  when  weak  or  inflamed.  The  author  of  this 
memoir  had  been  afflicted  with  a  transient  indisposition 
of  them,  and  on  application  to  Phipps,  hot  water  had 
been  recommended  and  used  for  a  twelvemonth  without 
effect. 

Mr.  Adams,  on  being  questioned  with  regard  to  the 
expedience  of  its  continuance,  decidedly  answered,  that 
by  increasing  the  relaxation,  hot  water  would  only 
augment  the  disease  ;  prescribed  the  frequent  use  of  the 
citrine  ointment  ^  (to  be  had  at  any  druggist's)  and  cold 
water  constantly.  On  the  way  home,  I  was  for  a  few 
mioments  depressed.  '  How  happy,'  I  cried,  '  are  those 
beings  who  can  see  ;  no  one  can  tell  the  misery  of 
blindness,  the  dark  gloom  over  that  mind  never  cheered 
by  the  light  of  the  sun,  especially  now  with  me,  who  am 
certain  never  to  see  again.  If  it  were  not  for  religion,  I 
should  wish  to  be  the  poor  man  who  is  to  be  hanged 
next  Monday ;  but,  thank  God,  I  can  consider  the  whole 
affair  as  His  appointment,  intended  not  for  a  curse  but 
a  blessing,  and  can  reconcile  my  mind  to  it  completely 
as  His  will.  You  will  see,'  I  added  after  a  pause 
[presumably  addressing  Mr.  Adams],  smiling,  '  I  shall  be 
as  cheerful  and  happy  as  ever,'  and  so  I  was. 

1814. — This  year  I  paid  much  attention  to  the 
'  Elements.' 

My  son  came  from  Russia. 

'  '  Citrine  ointment :  a  mercurial  ointment,  the  unguentum  hydrar- 
gyri  nitralis.' — Webster. 


LAST   YEAES  457 

1815. — Arthur,  Jane,  and  myself  went  post  to 
London  the  last  day  of  January,  Mary  remained  at 
Bradfield  with  Mrs.  Young,  who  was  unable  to  move. 

About  this  time  '  Baxteriana '  '  was  published. 
Through  the  following  spring  I  was,  at  various  times, 
too  apt  to  fall  into  reflections  which  tended,  more  than 
they  ought  to  have  done,  to  discontent ;  but  in  thirteen 
weeks  to  the  present  day  I  have  not  once  entered  the 
doors  of  any  other  person  than  those  of  Mr.  Wilber- 
force,  and  I  have  not  dined  once  with  him,  having 
been  only  at  breakfast  for  the  pleasure  of  hearing  his 
Exposition  and  Prayer ;  for  the  conversation  at  and 
after  breakfast  has  been  entirely  desultory,  and  not 
once  on  any  religious  question.  And  as  to  any  Chris- 
tian calling  on  me,  John  Babbington,  from  Peter- 
borough, once  breakfasted  here,  and  is,  I  believe,  never 
in  town  without  calling.  Mrs.  Strachey,  who  was  in 
town  a  month,  was  so  kind  as  to  call  three  or  four 
times  ;  Mrs.  John  Wayland  twice,  and  here,  I  think, 
except  Miss  Francis,-  dining  once  a  week,  is  the  whole 
amount  of  my  communication  with  those  whose  con- 
versation would  please  me. 

It  would  be  natural  to  suppose  that  a  poor  old 
blind  man  who,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  retains 
his  health  and  strength  might  have  received  something 
more  of  friendly  attention  than  this,  but  such  dis- 
content should  be  banished,  for  let  me  not  a  single 
moment  forget  the  great  mercies  of  God  to  me ;  and 
while   many   are   on    beds  of   torment  from  dreadful 

'  A  selection  from  the  writings  of  Baxter,  by  A.  Y. 

-  This  lady  afterwards  became  assistant  secretary  to  A.  Y. 


458  AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  .IKTHUR  YOUNG 

diseases,  I  am  free  from  bodily  pain.  These  are  points 
that  should  give  a  perpetual  spring  of  gratitude  in  my 
bosom,  and  if  the  neglect  which  I  have  been  apt  to 
think  of  too  much  turns  my  attention  more  to  the 
Lord  Jesus,  it  is  a  benefit  and  not  a  misfortune.  Let 
me  only  take  care  to  be  looking  unto  Jesus,  and  then 
I  shall  esteem,  in  the  manner  it  deserves,  all  that  the 
world  can  do  for  me. 

Monday,  March  6,  most  execrable  riots  began  in 

London,    on   account    of   the   Corn   Bill,  then  in  the 

House    of    Commons,    attended    with    circumstances 

proving  decisively  the  abominable  effects   (sufficiently 

proved  before)  of  printing  in  all  the  newspapers  those 

violent  and  mischievous  speeches  which  are  made  as 

much  to  the  Gallery  as  to  the  House,   and   can  be 

intended  for  nothing  else  but  to  inflame  the  people, 

which  they   have   done   to    a   degree  of   desperation. 

Petitions  from  a  multitude  of  cities  and  towns  pour  in 

to  the  Houses   every  day  they  meet,  and,  in  fact,  the 

prayer  of  them  all  is  to  beg  that  they,  the  petitioners, 

may  be  starved,  which  would  probably  be  the  result 

of  granting  their  desire.     600,000  qrs.  of  French  wheat 

of   an   excellent    quality   have   been  poured  into  our 

markets  to  meet  a  crop  generally  mildewed  ;  this  has 

reduced  the  price  on  an  average  of  the  kingdom  to  59s. 

per  quarter,  and  that  average  taken  in  so  preposterous 

a   way  that   the   real  price   fairly   ascertained   would 

not  amount  to  50s. ;  90s.  per  qr.  [quarter]  would  not 

pay  the  farmer  in  so  bad  a  year.     If  importation  was 

to  be  continued,  at  least  half  the  farmers  in  England 

would  be  ruined,  and  wheat  consequently  must  rise  in 


LAST  YE.IES  459 

a  year  or  two  to  scarcity,  and  if  iraportation  should 
be  prevented,  by  many  probable  events  to  famine. 
Country  labourers  throughout  the  kingdom  are  in  the 
greatest  distress,  as  I  know  from  many  correspondents. 
For  want  of  emplojinent  they  go  to  the  parish,  but 
these  poor  families  never  petition,  even  when  starving, 
and  a  Legislature  which  attended  not  to  their  interest 
would  deserve  the  abuse  now  vomited  forth  by  towns. 
From  thirty  to  forty  houses  at  London  have  had  their 
windows  broken,  many  their  doors  forced,  and  everj'- 
thing  in  them  destroyed ;  and  after  much  mischief,  with 
general  anxiety  and  appehension,  the  military  were 
called  forth ;  but  it  was  the  last  day  of  the  week  before 
their  numbers  were  sufficient  to  secure  any  tolerable 
tranquillity. 

Monday,  March  13. — I  breakfasted  with  Mr.  Wil- 
berforce  :  a  file  of  soldiers  in  his  house,  because  his 
servants  had  been  violently  threatened  that  it  should 
be  speedily  attacked. 

The  bawler  bearing '  last  week,  in  the  House,  read 
a  denunciation  in  a  petition  from  Carlisle  against  the 
Board  of  Agriculture,  which  made  it  necessary  for  me 
to  hire  a  bedchamber  elsewhere,  as  blindness  would 
not  permit  an  escape  by  the  roof  of  the  house. 

I  wrote  to  Mr.  Vansittart,  transcribing  a  resolution 
of  the  Committee  of  1774,  proposing  to  lay  the  millers 
under  an  assize.  The  Bill  for  that  purpose  passed  the 
Commons,  but  was  lost  in  the  Lords. 

In  Mr.   Vansittart's  answer  to  me,   he  mentioned 

'  This  must  be  a  mistake  of  the  French  secretary.  Surely  Baring  is 
intended. 


460     AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNQ 

the  difficulties  in  the  way,  but  observed  that  as  Mr. 
Frankhn  Lewis  had  taken  up  the  business  of  bread 
and  flour  in  the  House,  he  would  mention  to  him  what 
I  proposed.  From  Lord  Sidmouth's  speech  it  seems 
they  intend  to  remove  the  assize  of  bread,  which  will 
leave  in  case  of  scarcity  the  bakers  without  protection 
in  case  of  riots,  and  also  leave  the  millers  in  full  pos- 
session of  their  rascality. 

At  Mr.  Wilberforce's  I  met  Miss  Francis  and  Mr. 
Legh  Richmond,  who  read  to  us,  with  Lord  Calthorpe 
and  General  Macaulay,  a  most  interesting  letter  from 
a  Russian  Princess,  describing  her  conversion  to  vital 
Christianity  by  Mr.  Pinkerton  instructing  her  children, 
and  her  translating  into  Russian  the  '  Dairyman's 
Daughter,'  and  thanking  Mr.  Richmond  for  his  other 
tracts  sent  her  for  the  same  purpose.  Her  English 
extremely  good,  and  real  Christianity,  with  expressions 
of  the  deepest  humility,  breathing  in  every  line. 

This  was  an  eventful  year,  for  my  poor  wife 
breathed  her  last  after  a  long  illness,  and  it  gives  me 
great  comfort  to  be  informed  that  she  showed  great 
marks  of  resignation  and  piety.  My  daughter  was 
with  her  to  the  last. 

May  12. — A  few  days  ago,  writing  to  Miss  Francis, 
I  used  the  expression, '  If  a  Christian  was  to  call  on  me 
it  should  be  entered  in  a  pocket-book  with  a  mark  of 
exclamation.'  Mr.  Wilberforce  saw  this  note,  and 
yesterday  morning  Mr.  Pakenham  called  on  me,  and 
introduced  himself  by  saying  that  he  came  for  some 
conversation  with  me,  by  desire  of  Mr.  W.  He  was 
quite  unknown  to  me,  but  I  found  that  he  was  the 


LAST   YEAHS  461 

grandson  of  that  Lord  Longford  with  whom  I  was  in 
Ireland  in  1776,  forty  years  ago,  which  lord  was  in  the 
Navy ;  and  the  present  gentleman  is  also  in  that  em- 
ployment, about  twenty-six  or  twenty-seven  years  of 
age ;  his  father  living  and  an  admiral.  I  soon  fomid 
that  he  was  a  firmly  established  Christian,  ready  to 
converse  on  the  good  subject,  which  he  did  with  good 
sense  and  no  inconsiderable  energy. 

He  is  in  mourning  for  General  Pakenham,  and  the 
Duchess  of  Wellington  is  his  first  cousin.  Mentioning 
Miss  Francis,  he  said  he  met  her  twice  at  Mr.  Wilber- 
force's,  and  speaking  in  commendation  of  her,  I  told 
him  that  she  was  to  dine  with  me  at  five  o'clock, 
and  that  it  would  give  me  much  pleasure  if  he  would 
meet  her  ;  this  he  readily  complied  with,  and  came 
accordingly. 

I  have  not  had  so  much  religious  conversation  for 
an  age  past ;  and  had  not  Dr.  Halliday  from  Moscow 
called  between  seven  and  eight,  expecting  to  see  my 
son,  this  conversation  would  have  been  uninterrupted. 
I  wish  he  had  come  on  some  other  day.  Kemarking 
that  I  had  some  apprehension  of  the  ensuing  war, 
because  we  should  be,  in  fact,  fighting  for  the  restora- 
tion of  the  Pope,  the  Jesuits,  and  the  Inquisition, 
Mr.  P.  replied,  that  Lord  Liverpool  had  informed 
Mr.  Wilberforce  that  Bonaparte  was  reconciled  to  the 
Pope,  pretending  to  be  a  most  dutiful  son  of  the 
Church.  It  seems  agreed  by  all  that  the  first  victory 
gained  on  either  side  will  have  most  decisive  con- 
sequences.    I  hope  I  shall  hear  more  of  this  young 


462  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF  AKTHUK   YOUNG 

man,  whose  determined  avowal  of  his  religious  principles 
pleases  me  much. 

May  15.  —  Breakfasted  at  Mr.  Wilberforce's. 
General  Macaulay  there ;  he  told  me  that  in  his  late 
tour  in  France,  travelling  from  Lyons  to  Geneva,  he 
met  with  a  Monsieur  Michaud,  who,  speaking  much 
of  his  farm  and  offering  to  show  it,  the  general 
accompanied  him  to  view  it,  and  found  everything  in 
the  highest  state  of  management,  and  so  much  superior 
to  all  the  rest  of  the  country,  that  he  enquired  into  the 
origin  of  such  great  superiority.  The  answer  was,  '  My 
cultivation  is  entirely  that  of  Monsieur  Arthur  Young, 
whose  recommendations  I  have  carried  into  practice 
with  the  success  you  see.' 

Much  conversation  about  Bonaparte  ;  the  general 
is  well  persuaded  that  the  allies  will  be  entirely  suc- 
cessful, as  B.  is,  and  must  be,  very  badly  provided  to 
resist  them,  and  that  the  first  campaign  will  carry 
them  to  Paris. 

May  17. — Last  night,  being  at  West  Street  Chapel, 
Mr.  Gurney,  after  the  sermon,  came  into  the  pew, 
when  I  told  him  he  had  not  performed  his  promise, 
by  calling,  on  which  he  came  home  with  me,  and  gave 
us  a  long  account  of  his  life  and  conversion,  beginning 
at  four  years  old  with  a  magpie  which  his  father  found 
in  a  nest,  in  a  haunted  wood,  where  he  went  at  night 
in  search  of  a  reputed  ghost,  and  which  proved  to  be 
only  a  white  pony.  This  magpie  was,  by  a  strange 
series  of  little  events,  his  introduction  to  Drummond,  the 
banker,  and  to  procuring  himself  a  school  and  college 
education,  a  knowledge  of  several  of  the  nobility,  and 


LAST   YEAES  463 

eventually,  through  Lord  Exeter,  the  appointment  to 
the  Eectory  of  St.  Clement  Danes  ;  and  all  this  from 
having  been  no  more  than  a  poor  country  labourer's 
son,  and  one  of  tioenty-two  children.  The  detail  was 
very  interesting,  from  being  not  only  well  told,  but, 
from  the  providence  of  God,  clearly  marked  in  many 
little  circumstances,  and  attended  by  what  to  him 
were  great  events.  These  were  so  remarkable  as  to 
induce  him  to  make  many  memoranda,  and  to  think  at 
times  that  they  ought  to  be  published,  but  on  this 
point  he  does  not  seem  to  be  at  all  determined.  I 
urged  it  strongly  as  a  sort  of  duty.  He  is  uncommonly 
lively  and  animated  in  conversation,  and  contrived  to 
talk  with  little  interruption,  from  drinking  tea  and 
smoking  several  pipes,  till  twelve  o'clock  at  night.  1 
much  hope  that  we  shall  see  him  often. 

1816. — This  was  a  very  barren  year,  for  the  memo- 
randa made  are  uncommonly  few,  but  among  them  is 
the  preparation  for  the  publication  of  *  Oweniana.'  ' 
The  extraction  from  my  religious  papers  of  those 
published  under  the  titles  of  '  Baxteriana  '  and 
'  Oweniana '  has  greatly  diminished  the  mass,  but 
the  remainder  is  considerable,  and  increases  every 
year. 

February. — Last  Tuesday  se'nnight  Sir  John  Sea- 
bright,  coming  up  to  me,  said  :  '  Mr,  Young,  the 
.\rchdukes  of  Austria  desire  to  be  introduced  to  you,' 
and  the  Archduke  John,  who  Seabright  said  was  the 
farmer,  began  a  conversation  on  agriculture  which, 
as  many  persons  were  around,  was  very  short.     Some 

'  A  selection  from  the  works  of  J.  Owen,  D.D.,  by  A.  Y. 


464     AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUE  YOUNG 

days  afterwards  Mr.  Ackerman,  of  the  Strand,  called  to 
inform  me  that  his  Imperial  Highness  Archduke  John 
desired  to  have  more  conversation  with  me,  and  in  three 
or  fom*  days  he  called  and  made  many  enquiries  into 
those  points  upon  which,  I  suppose,  he  had  most 
doubts,  contrasting  many  circumstances  with  the 
system  of  Austrian  peasants,  who,  by  his  account,  are 
in  general  the  proprietors  of  their  little  farms  even  to 
the  amount  of  as  little  as  three  or  four  acres.  In  the 
conversation  I  took  occasion  to  mention  my  son  being 
in  the  Crimea,  and  intending  to  return  to  England  by 
Vienna.  In  a  most  obliging  manner  he  desired  me  to 
write  to  him  to  tell  him  to  be  sure  not  to  pass  Vienna 
without  making  himself  known  to  him  (the  Archduke), 
as  he  would  show  him  everything  worth  attending  to 
in  agriculture.  The  conversation  was  in  French,  for 
he  speaks  no  English.  It  is  a  pity  that  he  will  go 
away  without  seeing  anything  of  Norfolk  or  Suffolk. 

Sir  J.  Sinclair  just  come  from  Paris.  He  saw 
Sylvestre  '  there,  the  secretary  to  the  Koyal  Society  of 
Agriculture,  who  told  him  that  agriculture  saved  his 
life  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  in  prison  and  brought 
to  trial,  and  told  that  his  life  should  be  saved  if  he 
could  show  that  he  had  ever  done  anything  really 
useful  to  the  Republic.  He  replied  that  he  had  un- 
questionably done  good,  for  Ai'thur  Young's  '  Travels 
through  France '  contained  much  highly  important 
information,  and  in  order  to  spread  it  through  the 
Eepublic   in   a    cheap    form,    '  I    published   a    useful 

'  A.  F.  Baron  de,  17(52-1851,  celebrated  agriculturist  and  member 
of  the  Institut. 


LAST   YEAKS  465 

abridgement,'  he  said,  '  which  has  been  much  read, 
and  has  had  important  effects.  I  was  pardoned  and 
set  at  liberty,'  and  then,  tm:ning  to  Sir  John,  he  said, 
'  Tell  your  friend,  Mr.  Young,  that  he  was  thus  the 
means  of  saving  my  life.' 

Fehruanj  17. — The  Board  met  for  the  first  time 
last  Tuesday,  but  had  no  business  whatever  before 
them.  I  suggested  the  propriety  of  sending  a  circular 
letter  throughout  the  kingdom,  in  order  to  ascertain 
by  facts  the  real  state  of  the  farming  world.  They 
approved  the  proposal,  observing  that  not  a  moment 
should  be  lost,  and  I  retired  in  order  to  draw  out  a 
letter  with  Queries.  This  they  examined  and  altered 
to  their  mind ;  it  was  immediately  despatched  to  the 
printer,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  week  has  been  employed 
in  drawing  out  lists  of  persons  from  the  reports,  to 
whom  these  letters  have  been  addressed,  post  paid,  to 
the  amount  of  12?.,  and  many  yet  to  despatch  on 
Monday. 

The  replies  have  just  begun  to  come  in ;  by  two 
valuable  ones  from  Maxwell,  near  Peterborough,  and 
from  Page,  of  Cobham,  the  probability  is  that  much 
important  information  will  be  gained,  and  a  basis  laid 
for  a  very  interesting  publication,  but  I  greatly  ques- 
tion whether  they  will  permit  any  public  use  to  be 
made  of  the  information,  and  I  suspect  that  it  will 
disclose  so  lamentable  a  state  of  distress,  that  it  may 
prove  somewhat  dangerous,  or,  at  least,  questionable 
to  make  it  public.  What  are  we  to  think  of  the 
infatuation  of  Government  in  laying  on  a  property 
tax   at  such    a   moment,  rather   than    borrow   a   few 

H  H 


466  AUTOBIOGKAPHY   OF   .4JiTHUE   YOUNG 

millions  to  avoid  the  necessity,  one  of  the  great  evils 
resulting  from  our  Government  being  in  all  money 
matters  little  better  than  a  Committee  of  the  Bank  ? 

Answers  to  the  circular  letter  of  the  Board,  which 
was  despatched  throughout  the  kingdom  the  first  week 
in  February,  flowed  in  rapidly  till  about  April  10,  and 
they  describe  such  a  state  of  agricultural  misery  and 
ruin  as  to  be  almost  inconceivable  to  those  who  do  not 
connect  such  a  defect  with  the  utter  want  of  cir- 
culating medium ;  the  ruin  of  the  country  banks,  and 
the  great  want  of  confidence  in  those  that  remain,  with 
an  issue  of  Bank  of  England  notes  utterly  insufficient 
to  fill  up  the  vacuity  thus  occasioned,  has  made  the 
want  of  money  so  great  as  to  cripple  every  species  of 
demand. 

It  is  difficult  to  pronounce  what  the  consequence  of 
the  present  ruined  state  of  agriculture  will  prove,  but  I 
must  confess  that  I  dread  a  scarcity,  which  must  have 
dreadful  effects,  coming  at  a  period  when  such  multi- 
tudes are  almost  starving  for  want  of  employment, 
even  w^th  such  cheap  bread.  What  must  be  their 
situation  should  it  be  dear?  To  my  astonishment, 
Government  seems  utterly  insensible  of  the  danger,  and 
has  not  taken  one  single  step  to  prevent  it,  or  to  meet 
it  should  it  come. 

March. — Lord  Winchilsea,  who  I  have  not  seen 
for  some  time,  called  on  me  yesterday  and  mentioned 
his  having  been  long  absent  in  France,  Spain,  &c. 
He  was  at  Marseilles  when  Bonaparte  landed  from 
Elba,  in  Provence ;  every  circumstance  was  previously 
arranged.      Messina,    at    Marseilles,   kept    everything 


LAST   YEAES  467 

quiet  on  his  left,  and  the  [garrison  ?]  at  Grenoble  was 
prepared  to  receive  him ;  of  all  this  there  was  no 
doubt.  Uncertain  of  what  might  be  the  event  in 
France,  his  lordship  embarked  instantly  for  Barce- 
lona ;  from  thence  he  crossed  Spain  to  Lisbon,  and 
throughout  the  whole  of  his  Spanish  journey  he  did 
not  pass  through  a  town  that  was  not  in  a  state  of 
ruin  and  desolation.  He  everywhere  enquired  the 
cause,  and  was  always  told  '  that  the  French  had  done 
all  the  mischief,'  with  many  expressions  of  cordial 
detestation.  He  would  not  have  conceived  a  country 
to  be  in  a  more  wretched  and  deplorable  state. 

April  24. — Miss  Way  and  Miss  Neve,  daughter 
of  the  late  Sir  Eichard  Neve,  both  high  Calvinists  and 
constant  hearers  of  Mr.  Wilkinson,  called  on  me  the 
other  day  in  order  to  converse  on  religion.  They 
appear  to  me  to  be  perfectly  sincere,  but  seem  wedded 
to  the  high  Calvinistic  notions  of  that  preacher.  Miss 
Way  lent  me  two  manuscript  sermons  of  his  full  of 
predestination,  and  the  impossibility  of  falling  from 
grace;  her  sister  took  them  in  shorthand.  This  day 
Miss  Neve  called  on  me  again,  bringing  with  her  a 
Miss  Johnson,  another  Calvinistic  lady,  who,  being  in 
Italy  with  some  relations,  went  to  Elba  to  see  Bona- 
parte, and  had  much  conversation  with  him.  He  had 
told  somebody,  who  told  the  Johnsons,  that  he  wanted 
to  see  my  '  Travels  in  France,'  which  he  had  often 
thought  of  reading,  but  came  to  Elba  without  them. 
Mr.  Johnson  had  these  '  Travels,'  and  took  them  with 
him  to  Elba  and  presented  them  to  the  Emperor, 
who  expressed  much  pleasure  at  receiving  them,  and 

H   H    2 


468     AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  ARTHUR  YOUNG 

Mr.  Johnson  afterwards  heard  that  he  had  read  them 
eagerly  and  with  much  approbation.  His  countenance 
indicates  a  steadfast,  resolute,  determined  mind,  and  he 
is  known  to  abhor  all  doubtful  and  hesitating  answers 
that  do  not  come  immediately  to  the  point  in  question. 
In  the  very  short  interview  that  took  place  he  was 
standing  with  his  hands  in  his  breeches  pockets 
clinking  the  money  in  them ;  but  she  observed  that  his 
nails  as  well  as  his  teeth  were  dirty.  He  enquired, 
when  they  were  in  Provence,  and  especially  on  the 
coast,  whether  there  were  troops  at  Antibes  or  at  Nice. 
This  conversation  took  place  on  the  Thursday,  and  he 
left  the  island  on  the  Sunday  following.  He  asked 
her  name,  and  on  the  reply  of  Helen,  '  Oh  !  I  am  to  be 
sent  to  St.  Helena,'  this  is  ominous  of  my  voyage.' 
The  interview  was  very  short  with  him,  but  with  the 
Bertrands  the  conversation  was  rather  longer. 

I  have  finished  reading  the  first  volume  of  '  Gibbon's 
Miscellaneous  Works,'  published  by  Lord  Sheffield.  Of 
mere  worldly  production,  it  is  the  most  interesting  that 
I  have  read  for  many  years,  more  especially  Gibbon's 
own  memoirs  of  himself.  I  have  been  acquainted  with 
Lord  Sheffield  above  forty  years,  and  more  than  once 
met  Gibbon  at  his  house ;  and,  if  I  remember  rightly, 
the  first  time  I  was  at  Sheffield  Place,  which,  I  think, 
was  in  1770,  being  invited  by  him  on  my  advertising 
the  intentions  of  the  Eastern  tour.  Mr.  Foster  and 
Lady   Elizabeth   his   wife,    daughter   of    the   Earl   of 

'  Sir  Walter  Scott  and  other  historians  of  Napoleon  refer  to  a  vague 
rumour  that  in  1814  and  1815  the  Allied  Powers  had  a  secret  design  to 
remove  Napoleon  from  Elba  to  St.  Helena.  He  affected  to  believe  the 
rumour,  and  frequently  mentioned  it. 


LAST  YEAKS  469 

Bristol,  were  there.  I  thought  her  a  most  fascinating 
woman — an  opinion  many  times  afterwards  confirmed 
by  often  meeting  her  at  Ickworth.  I  was  not  therefore 
surprised  to  find  such  advantageous  mention  made  of 
her  by  Gibbon,  but,  alas  !  the  whole  volume  has  not 
one  word  of  Christianity  in  it,  though  many  which  mark 
the  infidelity  of  the  whole  gang.  Lord  Sheffield  never 
had  a  grain  of  religion,  and  his  intimate  connections 
with  Gibbon  would  alone  account  for  it.  Of  course 
he  took  no  pains  to  instil  it  into  his  family,  and  if 
Mrs.  Clinton  and  Lady  Stanley  have  any,  they  are  not 
indebted  for  it  to  their  father  or  to  his  friend.  A  great 
number  of  persons  of  high  rank,  extraordinary  talents, 
and  great  celebrity  thus  passing  in  review,  and  all  of 
them  (Burke  alone  excepted)  without  the  least  sus- 
picion of  religion  attaching  to  their  characters,  yield  a 
melancholy  impression  on  the  mind  of  a  Christian. 
Nineteen  in  twenty  of  the  persons  mentioned  are  gone 
to  their  eternal  state,  and  of  what  account  is  it  at 
present  whether  they  were  celebrated  authors,  splendid 
orators,  great  ministers,  or  successful  generals  or 
admirals?  Whatever  might  be  their  worldly  great- 
ness how  little  are  they  to  be  compared  at  present  to 
the  case  of  a  poor  Christian  whose  employment  was 
sweeping  the  streets !  Without  doubt  the  propriety  of 
such  observations  depends  entirely  on  Christianity  being 
true  ;  but  what  a  dreadful  situation  is  that  man  in 
whose  safety  is  attached  solely  to  the  falsehood  of  that 
religion.  The  reflection  makes  my  blood  almost  run 
cold,  and  old  and  blind  as  I  am,  and  scarcely  exchanging 
in  six  weeks  a  single  word  with  more  than  one  or  two 


470     AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNG 

persons  out  of  my  family,  I  feel  a  comfort  and  consola- 
tion, and  I  will  add  a  measure  of  happiness,  not  one 
atom  of  which  would  be  found  in  my  bosom  if  I  were 
not  most  perfectly  convinced  of  the  absolute  truth  and 
importance  of  that  blessed  religion  which  forms  the 
sole  enjoyment  of  my  life. 

June. — Lord  Winchilsea  called  here  and  chatted 
with  me  upon  cottagers'  land  for  cows,  which  he  is  well 
persuaded,  and  most  justly,  is  the  only  remedy  for  the 
evil  of  poor  rates. 

1817. — The  death  of  the  Princess  Charlotte  this 
year  created  the  greatest  sensation  ever  known. 

1818. — On  coming  to  London  in  February,  five-and- 
twenty  claims  for  the  premium  on  the  [summary  of] 
the  state  of  the  poor,  the  causes  of  their  distress,  and 
the  means  of  remedying  it,  were  received,  and  it  afforded 
me  continued  employment  for  many  weeks  in  reading 
and  giving  a  character  of  them.  Much  the  greater  part 
of  the  authors  who  drew  up  these  memoirs  were  of  the 
same  opinion  as  to  the  cause  of  the  national  distress, 
attributing  it  to  the  peace  having  thrown  a  vast  number 
of  men  out  of  employment  who  were  in  the  Army  or 
Navy,  or  working  in  the  manufactures  immediately 
supported  by  military  demands  ;  and  this  evil  concurring 
with  a  general  stagnation  from  the  failure  of  a  multitude 
of  country  banks,  had  materially  affected  the  industry 
of  the  whole  kingdom.  The  remedies  proposed  were 
various,  and  many  of  them  visionary ;  the  most  rational 
advised  the  issuing  of  Exchequer  Bills  in  payment  of 
various  sorts  of  public  works,  such  as  canals,  roads, 
harbours,  fisheries,  and  many  other  emplojrments.    Such 


LAST  YEAES  471 

suggestions  had  been  proposed  to  Government,  but 
unfortunately  the  ministers  in  England  have  very  rarely 
indeed  listened  to  any  such  propositions.  My  friend 
Mr.  Attwood,  of  Birmingham,  in  a  v^ork  publicly 
addressed  to  me,  v^rote  upon  the  subject  with  great 
ability,  and  most  justly  remarked  upon  dismissing  at 
once  both  the  Army  and  the  Navy,  and  turning  such 
numbers  loose  upon  the  public  when  it  was  perfectly 
well  known  that  they  could  not  find  employment  was 
highly  mischievous.  This  ought  to  have  been  done 
slowly  and  gradually,  as  the  expense  would  have  been  an 
evil  far  less  deplorable  than  that  which  was  insured  by 
a  contrary  conduct.  It  was  the  beginning  of  1818  before 
the  kingdom  was  decidedly  found  to  be  in  a  reviving 
state,  and  in  the  mean  time  the  infinite  number  of 
offences  against  the  peace  and  property  of  the  people 
arose  to  an  alarming  height  in  every  part  of  the 
kingdom.  The  first  week  in  January  I  received  half  a 
year's  rents,  and  it  was  a  great  comfort  to  me  to  find 
that  the  tenants  continued  their  regular  payments 
without  running  the  least  in  arrears,  and  this  at  a  time 
when  complaints  on  the  non-payment  of  rents  were 
very  general  over  the  greater  part  of  the  kingdom.  I 
attributed  this  effect,  which  was  very  general  around 
Bury  and  through  all  Suffolk,  to  the  stability  and 
flourishing  state  of  our  country  banks,  whose  paper 
passed  readily  current,  and  formed  a  perfect  contrast  to 
the  deficiencies  and  distress  so  generally  felt  in  various 
other  countries ;  nor  can  anything  be  more  lament- 
able than  for  gentlemen  of  small  estates  finding  their 
tenants  running  in  arrears  of  rent. 


472  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF   AETHUR   YOUNG 

This  was  much  experienced  in  the  counties  of 
Cambridge,  Huntingdon,  and  part  of  Bedford.  Sir 
George  Leeds  informed  me  that  he  had  farms  in  the 
former  counties  abandoned  and  lying  absolutely  waste. 

Here  ends  the  diary.     Arthur  Young  died  in  Sackville 
Street  on  April  20,  1820,  and  was  buried  at  Bradfield. 
The  following  letter  from  Mary  Young  to  her  brother 
in  Eussia  gives  some  details  about  his  last  years.     The 
letter  (undated)  apparently  belongs  to  1818  :  '  My  father 
talks  of  going  to  Bradfield  in  June  with  Miss  Francis 
and  Mr.  St.  Croix.     He  is  fearful  lest  Miss  Francis  (who 
is   a  granddaughter   of   Dr.  Burney,  and    a   daughter 
of  Mrs.  Broom   by   her   first   husband)  will   join   the 
Wilberforces   at   Brighton,  and  leave  him.     When  at 
Bradfield  she   sleeps   over   the   servants'    hall,  with  a 
packthread  tied   round  her  wrist,  and  placed  through 
the  keyhole,  which  he  pulls  at  four  or  five  times,  till 
he  awakens  her,  when  she  gets   up  and  accompanies 
him  in  a  two  hours'  walk  on  the  turnpike  road  to  some 
cottage  or  other,  and   they  take  milk    at  some   farm- 
house ;  and  she  distributes  tracts  (religious  ones) ,  and 
questions  the  people  about  their  principles,  and  reads 
to  them   and  catechises   them.     They  return  at  half- 
pa.st  six,  as  that  is  the  hour  Mr.  St.  Croix  gets  up  (his 
secretary),  who  finds  it  quite  enough  to  read  and  write 
two  hours  and  a  half  before  breakfast.     After  breakfast 
they  all   three   adjourn   to  the  library  till  one,  when 
Mr.  St.  Croix  takes  his  walk  for  an  hour ;  she  and  my 
father  read,  or  write,  or  walk  till  three.     Before   she 
went  to  Bradfield,  Mr.  St.  Croix  had  but  one  hour.    She 


LAST  YE.\ES  473 

has  a  table  and  great  chair  filled  with  books  in  all 
languages,  as  she  reads  in  every  language  every  day  to 
keep  them  up — Greek,  Latin,  Italian,  Hebrew,  Arabic, 
German,  Spanish,  French,  Dutch,  &c.  &c.  &c. 

'  My  father  puts  children  to  school  at  Cuckfield, 
Stanningfield,  and  Bradfield.  Every  morning,  summer 
or  winter,  she  inspects  and  teaches  at  these  schools. 
Every  Smiday  they  all  meet  in  the  hall  and  read,  and 
are  catechised ;  and  every  Sunday  night  a  hundred  meet, 
when  St.  Croix  reads  a  sermon  and  a  chapter,  and 
my  father  explains  for  an  hour,  after  which  a  prayer 
dismisses  them  !  Last  summer  they  went  to  church  at 
Acton  or  Ampton  every  Sunday,  each  church  ten  miles 
out  and  ten  home,  besides  teaching  the  schools  and  the 
meeting  at  night  in  the  hall. 

'  He  has  taken  out  a  licence  for  the  hall,  as  there  is 
an  assembly  of  people  which  would  have  been  otherwise 
liable  to  an  information. 

'  Adieu,  my  dear  Arthur.  Are  we  ever  to  meet  any 
more  ? 

'  Yours  affectionately, 

'M.  Y.' 

The  following  is  added  by  Mr.  St.  Croix : — 

'  Mr.  Young's  benevolent  exertions  for  the  poor  in 
his  own  and  the  adjoining  parishes,  and  constant  plan 
for  welfare  and  relief  of  their  necessities,  was  very 
beautiful,  and  I  believe  and  fear  very  uncommon.  To 
women  this  attention  is  natural. 

'  H.  More  truly  says,  "  Charity  is  the  employment 
of  a  female ;  the  care  of  the  poor  is  her  profession ;  " 


474  AUTOBIOGEAPHY   OF   AETHUR  YOUNG 

but  to  see  this  extend  to  the  other  sex,  to  witness  the 
same  soHcitude  for  the  distresses  of  the  ignorant,  un- 
extinguished by  business  or  by  ingratitude,  in  a  man 
of  such  activity  of  genius  as  Mr.  Y.,  was  indeed  an 
impressive  sight.  At  one  time  he  estabhshed  spinning 
matches ;  a  cap  was  the  prize,  and  several  young  girls 
contended  for  it,  the  best  spinner  being  victorious. 
This  occasioned  industry  and  emulation,  certainly  ;  but 
even  this  was  not  without  its  attendant  evil,  and  Mr.  Y. 
finally  abandoned  it,  from  the  dread  of  encouraging 
vanity,  and  appropriated  the  money  to  ivinter  feasts. 

'  In  this  cold,  unproductive  season,  there  were 
amongst  the  poor  constant  endeavours  and  constant 
failure  at  repletion.  Every  Sunday  after  church  a 
set  of  poor  people,  chiefly  children,  were  invited,  and 
a  plentiful  dinner  provided  for  them,  Mr.  Y.  waiting 
on  them  and  carving  himself. 

'  But  this  he  was  at  last  obliged  to  relinquish.  The 
Sunday  cooking  was  certainly  a  grand  objection ;  and 
some  neighbouring  ladies  who  had  (charity)  schools 
remonstrated  at  the  absence  of  the  children,  who  were 
crazy  if  they  were  not  allowed  to  forsake  everything 
in  order  to  attend  Mr.  Y.'s  dinners.  But  another 
scheme,  more  extensive  and  more  useful,  succeeded  this 
— namely,  the  introduction  of  straw-plaiting  among 
the  young  cottagers.' 


INDEX 


Abercoen,  Marquis  of,  347 
Aldworth,  Richard,  72 
Allen,  Alderman  (father-in-law  of 
Arthur  Young),  32 

—  —  (son  of  the  above),  60 

—  Mrs.,  36,  38 
Althorp,  Lord,  313 
Amorette,  Abate,  176 
Anson,  Mr.,  394 

Arblay,  Madame  d',  23  note  1,  32 

note  3,  61  note  2,  100  note  1, 135 

note  1,  196,  214,  216 
Arbuthnot,  Mr.    (son   of  Viscount 

Arbuthnot),  66,'  92,  97,  98,  124 
Annstead,  Mrs.,  260 
Ashby,  Rev.  George,  104  and  note 

2,  114,  129 
Aspin,  Miss,  15 
Attwood;  Mr.,  471 
Auckland,  Lord,  314 
Augusta  of  Saxe  Gotha  (Princess 

of  Wales),  16 

B.,  Countess  of,  29 

Baker,  Whyman,  88,  111 

BakeweU,  Robert,  135  and  note  3 

Balgi'ave,  Rev.  — ,  355 

Banks,  Sir  Joseph,  150,  151,  163, 
165,  167,  174,  201, 224,  321,  339, 
350 

Baroude,  A.  F.,  464  note 

Barrington,  Dr.  (Bishop  of  Dur- 
ham), 2.'34,  348,  352,  358,  376 

Barry,  James  (painter),  115-118 

Bayley,  Butterworth,  59 

Bedford,  fifth  Duke  of,  172,  206, 
244,  245,  246, 254,  256,  273, 276, 
.301,  313,  318,  330,351,  360,363, 
372,  374,  375 


Bedford,  sixth  Duke  of,  372, 373  7iote. 

374,  383,  384,  396, 444 
Bentham,   Jeremy,  247,  249,  308, 

341 
Bentinck,  Lady  Mary,  327 

—  Lord  Charles,  328 
Berchtold,  Count  Leopold,  167  and 

note,  168-170,  180 
Bernard,  Mr.,  376 
Berry,  Edward,  323 

—  Miss  Jane.  Sec  Young,  Mrs. 
Arthur,  daughter-in-law  of  Ar- 
thur Young 

Bolton,  M.P.,  Cornelius,  75,  80 

Boswell,  191 

Boulainvilliers,  Comte  de,  32  and 

note  4 
Boyd,  Hugh,  92-97 
Bristol  (Bishop  of  Derry),  Earl  of, 

101,  102,  103-105,  113,128-131, 

228 

—  Countess  of,  225,  227,  243 
Brudenell,  Mr.,  18 
Brunswick,  Duke  of,  355,  356 
Bryant,  Jacob,  245  and  note,  291 
Buccleugh,  Duke  of,  245,  256,  261 
Bukaty,  M.,  159,  180  and  note 
Bulkeley,  Lady  Frances,  52 
Bunbury,  Sir  C,  412 

Burdett,  Sir  Francis,  345,  449,  451 
Burgoyne,  Montague,  418,  419 
Burke,  Edmund,  67,  93,  174,  232, 
256-261.  302,  345,  428 

—  W.,  257,  428 

Burney,  Dr.  Charles,  23  and  note 
1,  51,  65,  92,  100,  101,  115,  144, 
181,  194,  196,  197,  214,232,250, 
299, 326 

—  Fanny.     See  Arblay,  Madame  d' 


476 


AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  AETHUR  YOUNa 


Burney,  Hester,  51,  100  note  1 
—  Sarah,  215  and  note 
Burrell,  Sir  Peter,  164 
Burton,  Colonel  (afterwards  Lord 

Cunningham),  67,  68 
Bute,  Lord,  192,  355,  412 


Cadell  (the  publisher),  395 

Cadogan,  Lady,  313 

Caldwell,  Sir  James,  69,  70,  75 

Camden,  Lord,  304 

Canham,  the  elder,  Bartholomew,  2 

Canning,  Mr.,  327,  362  7iote 

Carew,  Pole,  202 

Carnot,  M.,  307  and  7iote 

Carrington,    Lord,   314,    315,  319, 

333  note,  351,  356,  360,  361,  363, 

370,  379,  393,  407, 413 
Cartier,  M.,  157 

Cartwi-ight,  Dr.,  367,  373,  374,  396 
Castiglioni,  Count  di,  176 
Castries,  Marshal  de,  240 
Catherine,  Empress,  124 
Charlemont,  Earl  of,  75 
Chester,  Bishop  of,  97,  98 
Chesterfield,  Lord,  33,  34,  49 
Chevalier,  Eev.  M.,  14 
Cibber,  Mrs.,  15 
Clermont,  Lord,  211 
Clive,  Lord,  49 
Cobbett,  William,  442 
Cocks,  Sir  Charles  (afterwards  Lord 

Somers),  52 
Coke,  J.  W.,  212,   384,   385,   386, 

400,  432,  444 
Cole,  Charles,  243,  245,  255,  290, 

297,  304,  368 
Colhoun,  Mr.,  363 
Collier,  Joseph  and  Mary,  27  and 

iwte  2 
Cornwallis,  Archbishop,  189 

—  Marquis  of,  205 
Cotton,  Lady,  338 

Coulter,  Eev.  Mr.  (Master  of  Laven- 

ham  School),  7,  8,  23 
Courtenay,  Sir  W.,  192 
Cousmaker,  John,  103 

—  John  de,  3,  126 

—  Miss,  102,  103 

AnneLucretiade.    Sec  Young, 

Mrs.  (mother  of  Arthur  Young) 


Coventry,  Lady,  20 
Cowper's  '  Letters,'  quoted,  410 
Coxe,  Archdeacon,  236 
Crewe,   Mrs.,   214,  233,   259,  260, 
327 

—  Mr.,  326 
Crosse,  Lady,  17 

Cullum,  Sir  John,  104  and  note  1, 

114,  134 
Cumberland,    Duke    of,   4,    6,    16 

note  2 

Danby,  Mr.,  50,  55,  76 

Darnley,  Earl  of,  245 

Dartmouth,  Lord,  236 

Day,  Thomas  (author  of  '  Sandford 

and  Merton  '),  166  and  7iote 
Derry,  Bishop  of.    See  Bristol,  Earl 

of 
Doddington,  George  Bubb,  12,  161 
Dolmein  (geologist),  368  and  note2 
Douglas,  Bishop,  236,  304 
Dryden  (quoted),  35 
Ducket,  Mr.,  172 
Dundas,  Lady  Jane,  327 

—  Mr.,  261,  327 
Dundonald,  Lord,  160 
Dunstanville,  Lord  de,  245 
Durham,  Bishop  of.     See  Barring- 
ton,  Dr. 

Edward    Augustus,    Prince.     See 

York,  Duke  of 
Egremont,  Lord,  111,  179, 244,  245, 

275,  299,  313, 315, 317,  324,  352, 

358,  360,  363,  434 
Elizabeth,   Princess   (daughter   of 

George  II.),  16 
Ellerton,  Mr.,  50 
Erne,  Lady,  267 
Estissac,  Duchess  d',  175 
Euston,  Lord,  365 

Fawcett,  Sir  William,  329 
Fielding,  Sir  John,  69 
Fife,  Lord,  112 
Folkes,  Sir  Martin,  2,  11 
Folkestone,  Lord,  59  note  1 
Forbes,  Mrs.,  252,  253 
Fordyce,  Lady  Margaret,  338 

—  Sir  WiUiam,  147 


INDEX 


477 


Forster,  Lord  Chief  Baron,  75 
Foster,  Lady  Elizabeth,  468,  469 
Fox,  Charles  James,  202,  227,  233, 
234,  259,  424,  425 

—  Henry  (afterwards  Lord  Hol- 
land), 16,  134,  164 

Francis,  Miss,  457  and  note  2,  460, 

461,  472 
Freeman,  Miss,  20 
Frere,  J.  H.,  362  noti' 
Fry,  Mr.,  391,  395,  398,  407 

Gage,  Sir  Thomas,  191 
Garrick,  10,  15,  22,  31,  32 

—  Mrs.,  245 
George  II.,  16 

—  III.,  112, 132, 138, 160, 178, 190, 
224,  237,  268,  321,  322 

George,  Prince  (afterwards  George 
III.).  16 

— (afterwards  George  IV.),  192 

Gibbon,  Edward,  258,  259,  468 
Gifford,  W.,  362  note 
Gloucester,  Duke  of,  871 
Gordon,  Duchess  of,  334 
Gough,  Captain,  5 
Grafton,  Duchess  of,  139,  140 

—  Duke  of,  139, 140, 141, 193,  201, 
211,  239,  254,  305,  325,  361, 362, 
372,  382,  426,  438,  454  7iote 

Granby,  Marquis  of,  355 

Gray,  Thomas  (the  poet),  quoted, 

89,90 
Green,  Valentine,  59 
Grenville,  Lord,  360,  435 
Grey,  Sir  Charles  (afterwards  first 

Earl  Grey),  327 
— (afterwards  second  Earl 

Grey),  233,  234,  235,  424 
Grigby,  Joshua,  390 
Guerchy,  Comtesse  de,  186,  187 
Gurney,  Rev.  Mr.,  462 

Halifax,  Dr.,  372,  376 

Hanger,  Colonel  George  (afterwards 

Lord  Coleraine),  192  and  note  1 
Harcourt,  Countess  of,  50  note  1, 

358 

—  Earl  of,  67,  75 
Hardwicke,  Lord,  338 
Hardy,  Professor,  238 


Harte,  Rev.  Walter,  32  and  note  5 

33,  35-43,  49 
Harvey,  Fenton,  20 
Hastings,  Warren,  164 
Hawke,  Lord,  241 
Hawkesbury,  Lady,  267 
Hawksworth,  Dr.,  343 
Heritier,  C.  de  P,  367  and  note 
Hertford,  Marquis  of,  427 
Hervey,  General,  105,  106 

—  Lady  Mary,  267  and  note 
Hesketh,  Lady,  233 

Hill,  Rev.  Rowland,  359 
Hoar,  Captain,  350,  352 
Holdernesse,  Lord,  56 
Holroyd,  John   Baker  (afterwards 

Lord  Sheffield,  q.v.),  58 
Hoole,  Mrs.,  189, 198,  246,  250, 252 

—  John, 189 

—  Rev.  Samuel,  189,  246, 251,  252, 
361,  362 

Horsley,  Bishop,  359  and  Jiote  2 
Howard,  Sir  Charles,  28 

—  John,  59,  60,  248 
Howlett,  Rev.  — ,  97,  285 
Hunter,  Dr.  Alexander,  61  and  note 

3 
Hutchinson,  Rev.  Mr.,  336 
Huthhausen,  Baron,  173 

Ingoldsby,  Dr.,  19 

—  General,  4,  5,  6,  7 

—  Mrs.,  6,  10 

Jarre,  General,  123 

Jarvis,  Lord,  267 

Jefferys,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  73 

Jenkinson,  Mr.,  256 

Jenyns,  Soame,  244,  245 

Jermyn,  Sir  Thomas,  2 

Jobson,  Rev.  Mr.,  337 

John   of  Austria,   Archduke,  463, 

464 
Johnson,  Dr.,  26,  27,  32  note  5,  285 

note  2,  353,  421,  422 
Joy,  Mrs.,  19 

Kalaskowski,  Count,  144 
Kames,  Lord,  84  and  note  2 
Keene,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  3 
Kennon,  Mrs.    Sidney,  10,  11,  12 
13 


478 


AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 


Kenrick,  Dr.,  27  and  Twte  1 
Keppel,  Lord,  108 
Kingsborough,  Lord,  76,  77-80 
Kinsman,  Mr.  (master  of  Bury  St. 

Edmunds  School),  7 
Knight,  Cornelia,  368  and  -note  1 

Lafayette,  191 

Lamb,  Mr.  (King's  Messenger),  45 

Lambert,  Captain,  29 

Langford,  Dr.,  142 

Latrobe,  B.  H.,  172 

Lauderdale,  Lord,  314,  397 

Law,  Thomas,  229 

Lawrence,  Dr.,  345 

Lazowski,  M.  de,  119  and  note  2, 

120-124,  154,  175 
Leeds,  Duke  of,  51 
—  Sir  George,  472 
Leigh,  Mr.  (Clerk  of  the  House  of 

Commons),  261,  262 
Liancourt,  Duke  of,  119  anAiiote  1, 

120-123,  154,  2.59,  382 
Livei"pool,  Lord,  339 
Llandaff,  Bishop  of.     See  Watson, 

Eichard 
Lofft,  Capel,  101  and  note  1,  102, 

276,  291,  317, 318 
Longford,  Lord,  71 
Loughborough,  Lord,  86,  98,  207, 

208,  219 
Louisa.     Princess     (daughter     of 

George  II.),  16 
Luther,  Mr.,  179 

Macartney,  Lord,  196 
Macaulay,  General,  460,  462 
Macklin,  Rev.  Mr.,  154,  267,  274 
Macpherson,  Sir   John,    224,  225, 

239 
Macro,  Mr.,  170 
Magellan,  Mr.,  150 
Manchester,  Duke  of,  367,  395 
March,  Lord,  140,  141 
Marlborough,  Duke  of,  26 
Marshall,  W.,  427  and  note  1,  429 
Martin,  Professor,  147 
Massalski,  Prince  (Bishop  of  Wilna) , 

52 
Mauduit,  Israel,  255  and  note 
Medlicott,  Mr.,  71 
Milbank,  Ladv,  350 


Mildmay,  Sir  A.  St.  John,  348 
Milner,  Dean,  371  and  iwte.  372 

—  Professor,  150 

Miripoix,  M.  de  (French  Ambassa- 
dor), 17 

Moira,  Lord,  243,  304 

Moncrief,  Sir  Henry,  238 

Montagu,  Mrs.,  233,  243,  244,  245, 
312,  349,  358,  886 

Montrose,  Duke  of,  245,  347 

Mordaunt,  Lady  Mary,  52 

More,  Hannah,  233,  245,  246,  473 

Mouron,  M.,  124 

Murray,  General,  171 

Nepean,  Mr.,  341,  342 
Neve,  Miss,  467 
Neville,  Mr.,  134 
Newcastle,  Duke  of,  16 
North,  Lord,  60,  107,  201 
-   Eev.  Mr.,  344 
Northey,  Mr.,  363 

Oakes,  Orbell  Eay,  154,  266,  382, 
388,  406 

—  Mrs.  Orbell  Eay,  266  and  note, 
270,  320,  -321,  354,  3-59,  370  note 
1,  382,  385,  388,  392,  438,  443, 
444,  445,  446,  453 

O'Connor,  A.,  317  and  note 
Oliver,  Eight  Hon.  Silver,  74 
Onslow,  Dr.,  191 

—  Genera],  4,  15,  16,  191 

—  Lady,  20 

—  Mr.  Speaker,  4,  20,  28 
Orde,  Mrs.,  245 

Orford,  Earl  of,  60,  206,  207,  233 
Orwell,  Lord,  16  note  1 
Ossory,  Lord,  331,  332,  395 
Otto,  L.  W.,  Count  of  Morlay,  377 

and  twte  1 
Overton,  J.,  376  and  note 

Pakenham,  Mr.,  460,  461 
Paley,  Dr.,  378 
Parkvn,  Mr.,  367 
Partridge,  Eev.  S.,  280 
Patulle,  M.,  36,  40,  42 
Pearson,  Dr..  376 
Pelham,  Lord,  381 
Peterborough,  Bishop  of,  147 
Peterson,  Lady,  20 


INDEX 


479 


Petty,  Lord  Henry,  370 

Phillips,  Sir  John,  17 

Pigot,  Admiral,  193 

Pitt,  William,  134,  137,  161,  166, 
201,  203,  2iy,  221,  254,  255,306, 
314,  315,  327,  345,  846,  363, 371, 
424,  427 

Plampin,  Betsy.     See  Oakes,  Mrs. 

—  Captain  John,  154,  423 
Polignac,  Prince  and  Princess  de, 

162  and  note 
Pope,  Alexander  (quoted),  136  note 

1 
Popple,  Mr.  (Governor  of  Bermuda), 

13 
Porteus,  Bishop,  178,  179 
Portland,  Duke  of,  51,  326 
Potemkin,  Prince,  102,  125 
Poulett,  Mr.,  246 
Preston,  Lord,  367,  368 
Priestley,  Dr.,  99,  150-153,  439 

QcEENSBERRY,  Duke  of,  192 

Radnor,  Lord,  161 
Richardson,  Samuel,  192 
Richmond,  Legh,  460 
Roberts,  Dr.,  Provost  of  Eton,  142 

—  Lewis,  91  and  iwte  1 
Robertson,  Messrs.  (of  Lynn),  22, 

23 
Rochefoucault,  Counts  de  la,  119- 

121,  154 
Rochester,  Bishop  of,  4,  28 
Rockingham,  Marquis  of,  42,  50 
Uoper,  Dr.,  52 
Rose,   George    (President    of    the 

Board  of  Trade),  132  and  tiote  1, 

137,  221,  241,  242 
Ross,  Bishop,  100 
Rosslyn,  Lord,  360 
Rossmore,  Lord,  347 
Rostopchin,  Count,  387,  401 
Ruggles,  Th.,  194  and  note  1 
Rumford,  Count,  323 
Ryder,  Lady  Susan,  327,  328 

—  Mr.,  327,  386 

St.  Vincent,  Earl  of,  418,  419 
Sambosky,  Rev.  — ,  124,  125 
Saunderson,     Dr.      Nicholas,     14 
iiote  1 


Scott,  Rev.  Thomas,  349,  359,  391, 

392 
Seabright,  Sir  John,  463 
Sheffield,  Lord,  132,  220,  245,  258, 

344  and  7iote  2,  393,  395,  402, 

407,  468,  469 
Shelburne,    Earl     of     (afterwards 

Marquis  of  Lansdowne),  67,  69, 

102 
Shelley,  Mr.,  20 

Sheridan,  R.  B.,  164  and  mte,  234 
Shipley,  Mr.,  59  note  1 
Sidmouth,  Lord,  419,  434,  460 
Simeon,   Rev.   Charles,   369,   395, 

397,  398,  399,  400 
Sinclair,   Sir  J.,;  159   and   Twte  3, 

160,  219,  220,  224,  241,  242,  243, 

245,  247,  256,  299,  314,  315,  316, 

413,  414,  437,  443.  464 
Smirenove,  Mr.,  387,  400 
Smith,  Sydney  (quoted),  445  9w/«  1 
Somers,  Lord,  359 
Somerville,  Lord,   245.   315,   316, 

318,  347,  361,  363,  384,  385,  404 
Souga,  Anthony  (Austrian  Consul), 

169 
Spencer,  Lord,  313,  367 
Stafford,  Lord,  161 
Stanhope,  Lady,  313 

—  Philip,  33 
Stanislas,  King,  119 
Stonehewer,  Mr.,  193,  346 
Sturton,  Sir  Thomas,  344 
Sutton,  Dr.  Robert,  8  and  note  2 
Symonds,  Professor  .John,  103, 114 

and  7wte  1,  120-124,  129,  140, 
144,  146,  154.  160,  184, 192,  201, 
210,  236.  239,  253,  283,  295,  304, 
344,  355,  362,  368,  400,  412, 419- 
421 

THORNnii.T,,  Major,  78,  79 
Thurlow,  Lord,  161 
Tillet,  Mr.  de.  170 
Tomlinson,  Mr.,  22 

—  Mrs.  (sister  of  Arthur  Young), 
20,  22.  12G 

Tour  du  Pin,  Count  de  la,  257 
Townsend,  Rev.  J.,  407  and  note  1 
Townshend,  Lord,  130 
Trant,  Mr.  and  Mrs.,  73 
Tuam,  Archbishop  of,  75 


480 


AUTOBIOGEAPHY  OF  ARTHUE  YOUNG 


Turner,  Miss,  15 

Turton,  Dr.,  264,  273,  274 

Valpt,  Dr.  Richard,  106  and  iwie 

2,  133,  297 
Vancouver,  426  and  note  1 
Vansittart,    Nicholas    (afterwards 

Lord   Bexley),  426  and  iiote  2, 

435,  459 
Vary,  Mr.,  140,  141,  193 
Vassy,  Governor,  4 
Voltaire  (quoted),  39 

Wakefield,  Edward,  75  and  note  1 

Washington,  General,  189, 191,  360 

Watson,       Richard       (afterwards 

Bishop  of  Llandafi),  97, 123, 124, 

147,  150,  177-180,  236,  237,  254, 

375 

Way,  Miss,  467 

Wedderburn,  Alexander  (afterwards 

Earl  of  Rosslyn),  97  and  7iote  1 
—  Colonel,  16  note  1 
Wellesley,  Marquis  of,  451 
Wentworth,  Lord,  245 
Whitbread,  Samuel,  52,  59,  161 
Wight,  Alexander,  84  and  7zote  1 
Wilberforce,  WilUam,  201,  287  and 
note,  288,  289,  297,  307,  325  and 
Twte,  326,   345,    348,   359,   371, 
375,  407,  454  note,  457,  459 
Wilkes,  John,  10 
Willes,  Mr.  Justice,  52 
Willoughby,  Sir  C,  351,  413 
Winchester,  Earl  of,  245 
Winchilsea,  Earl  of,  244,  315,  351, 

363,  388,  466,  470 
Windham,  William,  161 
Wollaston,  Dr.,  277 
Wurtemburg,  Queen  of,  425 
Wyndham,  M.P.,  Mr.,  259 

Yeldham,  John,  47 

York,  Duke  of,  16,  266,  327 


York,  Mrs.,  245 

Young,  Rev.  Dr.  (father  of  Ai-thur 
Young,  writer  of  the  Autobio- 
graphy), 2-6,  8,  9,  10,  13,  14, 
24 

—  Mrs.  (mother  of  Arthur  Young). 
3,  22,  24,  28,  56,  57,  61,  77,  81, 
126 

—  Arthur  (son  of  Arthur  Young), 
51,  139,  143,  299,  317,  318,  323, 
352,  363,  382,  402,  403,  406,  408, 
415,  418,  428,  429,  432,448,  456, 
457,  464 

(last  descendant  of   Arthur 

Young),  127  note 

—  Mrs.  Arthur  (wife  of  Arthur 
Young),  32  and  note  3,  46,  81, 
142,  146,  319,  339,  389,  413,  424, 
429,  438,  457,  460 

—  —  —  (daughter-in-law  of 
Arthur  Young),  323,  397,  398, 
399,  404,  409,  415,  429,  446,  448, 
457 

—  Bartholomew  (grandfather  of 
Arthur  Young),  2 

—  Elizabeth  ('Bessy')  (second 
daughter  of  Arthur  Young),  51, 
146,  181,  189.  See  also  Hoole, 
Mrs. 

—  Elizabeth  Mary  ('  Elisa  Maria  ') 
(sister  of  Arthur  Young),  1,  15, 
19,  20.  See  also  Tomlinson, 
Mrs. 

—  Rev.  Dr.  John  (brother  of  Arthur 
Young),  2,  9,  57,  107,  127,  132, 
138-143 

—  Martha  Ann  ('  Bobbin  ')  (young- 
est daughter  of  Arthur  Young), 
110  and  note,  158,  159  note  2, 
184,  185,  263-284,  286, 287, 290, 
294,  295,  298,  323,  382,  423 

—  Mary  (eldest  daughter  of  Arthur 
Young),  43,  184,  382,  425,  440, 
454  note,  457,  472 


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