s'agit du mari de M" Delany
D'^ Young to M" Delany, at the Duke of Portland's, at Whitehall, London.
Madam,
Wliat very ill news you send me. ! I knew not that her Grace's misfortune spread s6 wide : I knew nofc that so many of those nearest her heart had been ill. God restore them to their perfect health, and so give double comfort to her Grâce in the possession of her endangered felicities !
If, Madam, I see London before you leave it, I shall think my journey very happily timed, but as at présent I hâve no curate and pçetty much duty, I fear 1 shall not be able to wait on you and the Dean (to whom my best wishes and respects) unless your stay is longer in town.
I beg my humble duty to my Lord Duke and her Grâce. Though, Madam, I share with you in a tender sensé of ail that pains her, yet I cannot but congratulate her at the same time on having the very best cordials undfer any distress — a (jood liead, a good heart and a good friend; and that friend of such a character that it is with pride as well as pleasure that I subscribe myself,
Madam, Her most obedient and humble servant May 2•^^ 1756. E. Young.
L. — Lettres d' Young au poète Klopstock. [Extraites de Auswahl aus Klopstock's Nachlass. — Leipzig, F. A. Brockhaus, 1821. Ister Theil, S. 237, etc.].
Wellwyn in Hertfordshire, Oct. 27, 1757.
Dear Sir,
What obligations do I lie under to you for your so kind repeated and undeserved regards to a stranger ? a stranger to your person, but
not to your famé and n:erit. Pooi- Hohorst made ïne acquainted with
If by your means he layd hold on the rock of âges, what overflowing thanks is he now paying to his friend on Earth, amidst the joys of Heaven^ — His enemies flew before him ; but their ally, the lever, would give no quarter. He seem'd possess'd of most amiable qualities ; and is he gone in the flower of youth? and am I still alive? - Humanity obliges me to say, that I pity the Dying ; and my âge and mfirmities obliges [sic] me to say, that I envy the Veacl Sir, I received no letter from you before this, and I shall esteem it as an honour to my name, and a cordial to my Decays, to receive any future Instance of
your favour.
God Almighty prosper your pious and celebrated endeavours tor promoting his glory, and then crown you with blessings that will make you look with contempt on ail the applauses of the world.
My letter had been longer, if my health had been better. Favour therefore with your pardon and your prayers
Worthy Sir,
Your much obliged obedient and affectionate humble Servant Ed. YouNG.
P S You are so kind as to désire my friendship ; Dear Sir, you hâve my heart, and it would be one of the greatest blessings of my âge, if I could embrace you before I die.
Not being willing to quit so kind a correspondent, I am obliged to borrow another's hand to go on, which makes it natural for me to date my letter from the verge of Eternity ; how long it may be before the great master of Eternity and Time shall bid me launch, ^^ u^^e^t^^^ ; but be it sooner or later, as in Heayen so in Earth, his blessed will be donc. I rejoice in being able to write to one (how rarely to be ■ found) who can relish thoughts unseasoned by the domineering interosts of the world, that is, who can relish things a true taste of which renders empire and even Genius, tho' equal to your own, insipid and of little worth. Adieu, worthy Sir, — Adieu. —
Bath in Sommcrsetshire, 30 Dec. 1757.
Dear, Dear Sir, I most cordially salute you, and your other amiable Self. Your most obliging Letter found me at the Bath ; with a multitude of
otïiers, seeking our better Health ; and, till ail gracious Heaven shall please to restore it to me, I am much incapable of answering your so affectionate Letters, as I wish, and as I ought to do. Till then, therefore, favour me with your pardon. And please to accept the most sincère wishes of my Heart, and my fervent prayers to Heaven for your fuU comfort on this side the Grave, and your perfect Happiness in a far better and Eternal Scène ; and measure not my Respect, but my Infirmity by the shortness of my Letter, and be most assured, that I am and ever shall be, my dearest, and as far as your Celebrated Name will permit, unknown Friend,
Your most aftectionately
Devoted Humble Servant
E. YOUNG
[Ensuite vient la traduction anonyme en anglais de l'ode de Klopstock adressée à Young : <( Stirb, prophetischer Geist, etc. »]
Feb. 7, 1759.
Pardon, dear Sir, so long a silence after your so very kind Letter ; Rheumatism robbed me of the use of my Pen, which I can but very ill hold now : therefore in answer to yours, I entreated a Friend to Write the Inclosed.
However, I can not lay my Pen aside, without from my heart condoling your very, very great Loss i. I am too well qualified so to do, having not long ago, undergone the same Calamity. — I say, not long ago ; for tho' it is many years since, yet was the wound so deep, that it seems even now récent, and often bleeds, as if it had been received but yesterday.
God Almighty in his great mercy comfort you with many, many other blessings. — Fata contraria fata [sic ; la citation est erronée] rependens. Virg. This, dear Sir, is the fervent prayer of your obliged, affectionate
humble Servant
E. Young.
1. Il s'agit de la mort de Margarethe (Meta) Moller, femme de Kiopstock, décédée en 1758.
M. — Lettre manuscrite d'Young au Duc de Newcastle. [Mus. Brit. — Newcastle Papers, vol. CXCYI, Additional 32.881, f. 293.]
May it please your Grâce.
I should not présume to trouble you with this Letter, if I was not confident that on reading it, your Grâce will forgive me.
I was Chaplain to his Majesty even at Leicester House. Ail his other Chaplains were preferred soon after his Majestys Accession. About ten years ago the Duke of Portland recommended me to your Grâce. Your Grâce was so good as to promise me your Favour after Two were prefer^ who stood before me.
Soon after your Grâce bid me not wait you, saying, you would send for me, when Proper. Ever since I hâve been hoping for that Honour. I lately presented a small Performance to his Majesty in hopes that it might bring to his mind my long service ; but I knew that without your Grâces favour I hâve no Hopes ; nor dare I présume to ask y* Favour, having been deny^ it so long. How I came to lose it I can not so much as conjecture. My Lord Duke ! as I hope for Divine Mercy, I am not conscious of the least misbehaviour : I am not conscious of any Word, or Deed, that could give y® least shadow [of] Offence ; and if I hâve given none, my Fate is as unaccountable as it is Singular.
And it is so very Singular, that on closest Enquiry, I can not learn that y® Like ever happened before ; and probably never may again. I therefore hope Pardon for this most humble Représentation of it to your Grâce, from One, who tho, by some means to him quite Inconceivable, he lias forfited his Title to your Grâces kind Promise, and so lost ail his Hopes, y et still retains entire his real Respect and Duty ; and begs leave to subscribe himself with ail Acquiescence, and submission to your good Pleasure, and his own bad Fortune,
May it please your Grâce Your Grâces Most Dutifull, and Most Humble Ser*
Edward Young.
Wellwyn in Hertfordshire July 12, 1758.
Can not, my Honoured Lord Duke ! a most gracious Promise of ten years old, and Royall Service of above Thirty, in some measure, stand my friends?
N.' — Lettres d'Young à J. A. Ebert [Extraites de J. A. Ebert's Episteln und vermischte Gedichte. — Hamburg, C. E. Bohn, 1789 et 2*er Theil, h.erausgegebe]i von Job. Joachim Escbenburg. — Hamburg, C. E. Bohn, 1795, S. 73, etc.].
June 7, 1761.
Dear Sir,
From âge I hâve long been very weak, and bave lately been, and am now, much indisposed. I am greatly oblig'd for Your very valuable and very learned présent i. I wish I understood the Notes better than I do at présent. If it shall please God to grant me more strength, and I so become a better Master of what you bave written, You will excuse those defects which Age makes me guilty of ; and that you may arrive at Age without ils infirmities, is the cordial prayer of
Dear Sir, Your most obliged and truly affectionate humble
Servant
E. YOUNG
M^ Richardson saintes You, and is much Yours I received the book but last month.
Wellwyn, June 29, 1761.
Dear Sir,
You fill my heart with gratitude, and cover my cheeks with blushes. How pleasing to our vanity are applauses undeserved, tho' Conscience whispers much better advice ! — But of that no more.
This hour I receiv'd the favour of Your letter ; and this hour, as in duty bound, and at heart inclined, I sit down (tho' much indisposed) to answer it. An immédiate answer its most obliging contents demand ; but my Age and Infirmities (tho' much against my will) confine me to a very short one, which is, as follows.
Please to let tbc Countess Stolberg know, that the surprizing and very high honour she is pleased to do me, shall be written on my
1. Il s'agit de la traduction allemande dont Ebert lui avait fait hommage.
tomb, which is not far off ; and when I rise from it, I hope, I shall meet my little Godson, and his excellent Mother, in a place where no lands and seas will divide me from the blessed pleasure of conversing with those, whose virtues I love, honour and admire.
If my health mends, You, very soon, will hear farther from me ; if it does not, You will pardon one, who wants not the heart, but the hand, to tell You, with how much gratitude and esteem he is
Dear Sir Your most obedient and obliged humble servant
Ed. YouNG.
P. S. For its compelled brevity, mea litera [sic] eruhescit. — If You see M^ Klop stock, please to let him know, that I love his heart and admire his head, and wish the person, who gives the world so much pleasure, the full, but late, enjoyment of a pleasure far beyond what the world can give. His friend and mine. M*" Richardson,
vivit adhue et vescitur aura aetherea ;
but thafc hand, which lias so written as to touch every heart, now so trembles, that it can write no more. His years are drawing to an end, like a taie that is told ; a taie which he can tell so very well. But he cannot wholly leave us ; his honest famé défies the dart of Death.
Pray, Sir, give me leave to présent my best respects to my Coaeval, Your aged Father ; and let him know, that I congratulate him on such a Son. A Son, who pays him for a short life received, by giving life immortal to his Name. For indeed. Sir, by Your stile I should take You for a native of Britain ; and for a^ Native of aucient Athens by the sensé, which that stile conveys.
Adieu, Dear Sir, Adieu.
Wellwyn, June P* 1763.
My dear Sir,
The late Earl of Granville, who was a perfect master of Your language, having heard, that You had translated the first part of the Night Thoughts, desired it of me, and highly approved of Your performance. The second part I hâve not yet received i. I am sorry, I did not furnish You with something more worthy such a Patronage.
1. Le début de cette lettre est reproduit dans le Gentleman's Magazine (vol. 76, p. 301), par un correspondant qui signe Cloricus Leicestriensis, mais il la cite avec des variantes, ajoutant notamment à cet endroit la phrase : « I thank you for having translated The Résignation, and lament that I hâve produccd nothing more worthy of your patronage. »
I beg my profound respect to the Countess of Stolberg, my very best wishes to Her, to Mylord, and my little Godson, who, I hope, will resemble them in the features of his mind, that thus the benefit of their excellent examples may be a blessing to more than the présent times. I will take care that Abbé Arnaud's Character of my dear friend, M'' Richardson, shall be prefixed to his Works. M'" Warton's second Part of Pope is in great readiness, and I believe, You may see it soon. My sight is so bad, that I can examine nothing ; and if it was not, so bad at présent is my health, that I can attend to nothing. I should take the greatest pleasure in complying with Your request, and any other of Your commands which will ever be most welcome to me, who am, with the most cordial good wishes, and highest esteem,
Dear Sir, Your most obliged and most humble Servant
E. YOUNG
lY
Wellwyn in Hertfordshire
December 29 1^, 1763.
Dear Sir,
Pray, give my very best respects to the Countess of Stolberg, and let Her know that with the greatest sincerity and joy of heart I congratulate Her on the happiness and virtues of those she holds most dear, and that I shall implore the Divine Mercy for the continuance of ail blessings on them and her. Further let her know, that I request in return her Prayers; hoping that, tho' our fortune has appointed us to be strangers in this world, yet that we may be intimate in that happy country, where there is no such thing as brittle friendships, and they that love, will both love and be loved for ever !
I hâve not yet received the 3 '^ volume of Your work. The late Earl of Granville, a Person of the very highest distinction, who understood Your language, desired me to lend Him Your two former Volumes, which he read with the highest approbation and applause.
I thank You, dear Sir, for Your kind wishes ; but my great âge and ill health disable me from being so large in my respects to You, as
I ought and wish to be. That God may increase Your happiness, and succeed Your learned and pious labours is the hearty prayer of,
Dear Sir, Your obliged and obedient Servant,
E. YOUNG
Lettre d^Young au Comte Stolberg.
Wellwyn, Hertfordshire.
April the 12*^, 1761.
My most honour'd Lord,
I am not more exalted by the great honour Your Lordship has done me, than I am surprized at it. And I am equally desirous and unable, to express my deep sensé of Your goodness to me. To be sollicitous in quest of what is Right, and to dart an eagle's eye into distant lands, that You may discover the least appearance of Good ; and then so nobly to countenance that which You fancy You hâve found, shows such an uncommon zeal for virtue, as the truly Virtuous only can possess, and from which the truly Vicious only can withhold their vénération and esteem.
But how, my most worthy Lord, shall I sufficiently pay my gratitude and dévotion to Your admirable Lady? I regret my âge on no account more, than that it robs me of the power of expressing myself with that warmth and energy which I wish to do. Who can enough value an honour so high, so peculiar and, I believe, so unprecedented an indulgence to me ? Présume I to stand Sponsor with such exalted names? Am I worthy to give my Blessing to the fortunate Infant already so bless'd 1 Blessed by such descent ! Blessed by such examples ! And if my most ardent prayers can ought avail, still f urther bless'd ! As we read of the little ones in the Gospel, may our most adored Kedeemer take up Your Magnus Ernest Chiistian in his everlasting arms, and bless him ! Bless him in Time ! Bless him in Eternity ! May he make this Wilderness an Edcn to him, and then make that Eden appear as a Wilderness, if compared with his Blessings in a far superior Scène !
If, my Lord, I was not divided from You by seas and lands, and, what is still worse, by an insurmountable mountain of near fourscnre years, I should be ambitions of kissing Your hands. But as things now
stand, my heart only can travel so far ; and that indeed, my good Lord, does its duty, which I hope You will condescend to accept from one who is with profound respect,
My most honoured Lord Your's and Your most estimable Lady's most obliged, and most dutiful, and thrice humble and obedient Servant
E. YOUNG
0, — Lettre d'Young à un ami. [Extraite de The Autobiography and Correspondence of Mary Granville (M'"^ Delany), op. cit., London, R. Bentley, 2nd Séries, 3 voL in-8^ 1862. Vol. I, p. 42, avec cette note : « In th.e liandwriting of M'"^ Delany. »]
My Dear, Dear Sir,
Your pain is your glory ; it is not from weakness, but virtue. What a monster is man without a tender and feeling heart ! how unlike his most dear and blessed Redeemer ! over his dead friend Jésus wept !
Nor is this stroke of heart more a misfortune than a mercy to you. From endowments of nature and fortune what strong temptations hâve you to be fond of this world, and how could divine paternal tenderness more powerfully caution you against it than by what has happened ?
As for the deceased, what Christian does not admire his behaviour in his last hour and piously envy his release ! In one word, God is love, and does nothing but to bring our hearts to him'self, and I am of opinion that there never was any human heart entirely his which has been unwounded by sortie distress ! this considered (and with the additional weight which your own excellent thoughts must naturally give it) will inspire résignation, and real résignation must for ever be accompanied with a degree of joy, considering what a friend it makes for us in lieu of the dearest we can possibly lose.
That this joy may fill you and your very worthy parents [sic] hearts i^ the warmest wish and earnest prayer of, dear sir, your and their
Truly affectionate and obedient Humble servant.
[La lettre n'est pas signée. Quant à la date, elle n'en porte pas, mais l'éditeur la place entre deux lettres du 21 janv. et du 12 mars 1765 respectivement, ce qui semble indiquer qu'il la croit de cette époque.]
P, — Lettres manuscrites d'Young à George Keate. [Mus Brit., Mss. Additional 30.992, dans les manuscrits légués par Jolin Henderson, Esq.].
I much thank you [for] y*" noble Présent you made me. I read it over and over to myself and others with great pleasure.
I am glad that you think y® report of Voltaires death is groundless. If you corne to any certainty in y* point, the knowledge of it, would oblige
S' Your obedient and Humble Ser* May 29, 1760. E. Young.
Dear Sir,
I close with your opinion, with Regard to what you was so good as to send me of M"" Voltaire's ; my opinion of some other of his Performances you will learn from some sheets which I hâve ordered to be sent you from my Dear Friend M*" Richardsons Press ; and w^^ I désire you to accept as a Mark of that Regard with w^ I am
Dear S'' Y^ Faithfull, Oblige and Obedient Humble Ser' Aug. IV^ E. YouNQ.
Sir,
I thank you for your congratulation on my succeeding the worthy D' Haies. If I cou^ follow him in ail his steps, I sho'^ deserve your congratulation indeed. As for my welfare, which you so kindly enquire after, I bless God, I am pretty wcll, but not quite as well as I was
forty years agoe. But I hope, thro' divine mercy, forty years hence, to be better still. While I continue hère, I shall number those amongst my happy hours, which you shall please to enliven by your agreeable conversation. This year's spring will be doubly welcome to me if you make good your promise to, Sir,
Your obedient humble Servant E. YOUNG.
lY
Sir,
In the earlier part of my Life, I often designed, And much desired 1 0 visit Geneva : And tho' fate denied me that favour, it has granted n^e a greater, for now, Geneva has made a visit to me, and, in so clean and décent a Dress, that I am scarce more in love with her Wisdom, than with her Beauty.
But as you say. Sir, in your Dedication to M'" Voltaire, this is not designed to be your panegyrick, but a grateful acknowlegement [sic] of your valuable présent to, Sir,
Your Obliged and obedient humble Servant E. YouNG.
Wellwyn, 15 March 1761.
Dear Sir,
I thank you for your kind, and valuable and luckily timed présent. I hâve long been ill of a Fever, and am but just creeping out; the pleasure your pièce gave me, was of the cordial kind, and I think I am the better for it ; the work you mention I hâve not yet seen, when I hâve, my opinion shall be no secret from you. I wish you better health than is at présent enjoyed by
Dear Sir Your obedient and faithful humble Servant E. YouNG.
28 Feby 1762.
YI
La sixième lettre manque dans le recueil conservé au Musée Britannique. Une note manuscrite dit : « given to M'"^ ï. Tyke [ ?]. »
YII
Wellwyn, Sept. 2»^^ 1762.
Dear Sir,
I must thank you for your kind enquiry after my health ; I wish I cou ^ return such an answer as I know wou ^ be most agreeable to you. but it is far otherwise ; I am and hâve long been much out of order, my sight is so far gone that I am obliged to borrow a hand to write to you. Rheumatic pains of thirty years standing are entirely ceased, and hâve been so for half a year. The fatal conséquence of which 's that the malignity is fallen on my head and eyes ; for which I hâve long undergone and still undergo severe discipline, and to very little purpose.
When I am capable of writing to you in a more agreeable manner you shall hear further from, dear Sir,
Your faithful and obedient Servant E. YOUNG. Much thanks for your kind Présent.
YIII
Dear Sir,
I receive your repeated favours with gratitude ; but also with concern : forbear to oppress me with them. I should see your face at Wellwyn with more joy, if you ran my inability to return them, legs in debt. Ail that is in my little power is at your service ; my power is always little, but now less. The misfortune I mentioned to you in my last letter hangs heavy on me ; Bo.oks, my wonted refuge are of no further use
And Wisdom at one entrance quite shut out i. 1. Citation de Mi! «on, Par. L., Bk. III, v. 50.
But this is a melancholy subject both to you and me : Pardon therefore this short letter, nor measure my regard by it, for I am truly
Dear Sir, Your affectionate and obedient Servant
E. YOUNG
M" Hallows gives her Compliment.
Dec. 2 ""^ 1762.
Dear Sir,
I hâve the very great pleasure to let you know that the very humble wish, which you make at the latter end of your letter, is not made in vain.
As for the task you assign me, the feebleness of my sight lias given me an utter aversion to a pen and ink, and probably it is very lucky that it has done so, for there is some reason to fear, that I hâve not so many spirits to spare on any undertaking as I had some years ago, but on this head, I shall speak further, when I hâve the pleasure of seeing you hère, which perhaps may give me those spirits which are now wanting to
Dear Sir, Your affectionate and obliged humble servant Wellwyn, Jan. 4"^ 1763. E. Young.
Dear Sir,
I thank you much for the pleasure you hâve given me, in reading your poem, and thank you still more for the pleasure you promise me in your good company : I am disengaged and am
Dear Sir, your affectionate and faithful, and obedient Servant E. Young.
Wellwyn, 24 March 1763.
P. S. I like the poem much in gênerai for the novelty of its subject and variety in its composition.
Wellwyn, April 14 '^1763.
Dear Sir,
What You sav concerning the term Fancy may, for aught I know, be very just : I therefore drop my opinion about it.
As for the iascription I am too vain to make any objection to it, but not so Tery rain. as not to thank you for it.
As to my health I bless Grod I am pretty well, but suspect myself to be a little older than I was ; I wish âge and wisdom were inséparable ; but, if they were, one ounce of wisdom in youth, in the balance of the sanctuary. outweighs a pound in grey hairs : I congratulate you, therefore. on having much the advantage of, Dear Sir,
Your Tery affectionate and Obliged humble Servant E. YouNG.
M*^ Hallows sends her compliments.
xn
Well\ryn. May 3* 1763.
Dear Sir,
I am glad you sent one of your poems to M" Montagu, I am glad of it for her sake and your own, for her sake because she knows how to relish your favour, and for your own because it will give a beginning to an acquaintance. which will give you no small pleasure. and perhaps some surprise at finding a bright power in another sex. but rarely to be found in your own.
As to my health it is not so good as I could wish, but better than I ought to expect. it is so good as to demand my utmost thanks to God that "tis no worse, but not so good, as not to want a cordial under it, and I know of none more powerful than that which refreshes us, from the face of a friend.
I am, Dear Sir.
Your faithful, affectionate and obliged humble servant
E. YOUNG
Dear Sir,
I truly rejoice on your recovery of your heaith for T i.
do ; but his blessed w,!! be donc, in who^ .11 X h Ï / Cf *°
Your faithfiil and affectionate humble Servant
Sept. 11 1^ 1763. ^- ^''^''^•
M" Hallows sends her compliments.
xiy
Bear Sir,
vexation. And anothertwT "'If^.' *"'^ "^ ''''' '^'^ '^ ^-^-^'y -°d
i. well? Bu aîl" wei?th2 N.r "° '"'" '''''' *° '^°"''* "'^^ther ali ana sball ..oioe'LÏ; r^hll-ree^-^.^e^^- " " "^ ^°
anL^eii^-ittr^^ortriïi:-- î° r'i -- '^ ^-^ ^y y»-
rats wiU ;ebera„d show f af T r "'' '"* Chancelier, otherwise the them. TheyareorwÏssPaL Tr^ -T^ '™"^^ "°°^^^'^y °^-^^ I submit to mv fate fl if ^ ?.*^ J7''^ '^^^ *"«■•« ^^ ^'^^ oS ; but
than George'f And whv T^ u ""l"* .^^"^''^'^ ^^'«^ '^'' 1^=^ ^^^t^^bed uiges And why should rats be more lovai than mpn î
of th ;:: To'rr: ''ï ''°^°^ ^-^^"-«^ ^^ mZT.iz^L sn.i,e
.it. an^d^Ll^;:4°7nSor ^^^*"- ^ ^^'" ^^ ^^ ^•>«^-
Of little life the most to make And manage wisely the last stake.
Heaven aid us to bc pleased with ail things, for on no other terms will heaven be pleased with us.
I am, Dear Sir, Your affectionate, obliged and faithful humble Servant.
M'"^ Hallows begs her Compliments.
Wellwyn Feb. 12*^1764.
Nandos was my Coffee house above three score years ago.
XY
Dear Sir,
Milton might possibly take his hint from the verses which you was so kind to send me, but there is a great différence between the beauty of the root, and the flower that springs from it.
You say this spring has produced nothing very considérable from the press. Every spring produces Daisy authors, which true taste treads underfoot, but it is well if genius, like tlie aloes, vouchsafes to blossom once in fifty years.
You say that your work has laid [sic] for some time dormant by you, that is not amiss, for by that means, the fondness of a parent hardens into the impartiality of a judge, which is more a friend to the maturity of composition ; after a sound nap your Netley Abbey may gather strength and vivacity, and tho' it went to sleep in perfect health, yet should I be glad to see what change is made in it, for its author shall be very welcome to, Dear Sir,
his affectionate and faithful
humble servant M" Hallows présents E. Young.
her compliments.
Wellwyn, March 18, 1764.
Dear Sir,
What you propose to prefix is proper, if not necessary. I think ail your altérations are for the better ; my pen has given a few hints possibly ail wron^ ; if so, pardon me. The melancholy cast, and tlic
moral tendency oi the whole, and your easy transition to the ladies hâve charms for me, and probably will procure me many rivais, rivais (which is no common case) in which I shall rejoice. I am
Dear Sir Your truly affectionate and Obedient Servant E. YOUNG.
Wellwyn, March 22^"^ 1764.
XYII
Dear Sir,
I wish I could send to you as much pleasure by the post as you sent me by the carrier. I take for granted that the hints I gave you were 'wrong, however I should be glad to dispute with you on that point or on any other, provided Wellwyn be the field of battle, the custom of which place is, that the vanquished shall divide the smile [ ? ?spoilJ with the conqueror, and by that means, tho' demolished in some measure, to [ ?] shine, like your Netley Abbey, in ruins.
I am, Dear Sir, Very affectionately yours E. YouNG.
Wellwyn, April 3'^'^
Dear Sir,
On opening your letter I was pleased to find that I had still one friend on this side the grave : of late I hâve lost so very many, that I began to doubt it. Poor Dodslcy ! But why poor ? Let us give him joy of his escape.
None would live past years again
Yet ail hope pleasure in what y et remain ;
And from the dregs of life, hope to receive
What the first sprightly runnings [ ?] could not give.
l'm tired with waiting for this chimie gold
Which fools us young, and beggars us w^hen old.
Dryden.
When M"* Gatcher told me that [nom effacé] liad his doubts as to Christianity, an argument for it occurred to me, which is not to be found, I think, in writers on that subject. As it is but short, and to me most convincing, I will iell you what it is ; first, such is the nature of Christianity that the plan of it could not possibly hâve entered into the mind of man, 2"^'^^^ if it had entered, it could not possibly hâve been received by mankind, without a supernatural interposition in its favour.
As for Voltaire, I hâve not seen what you mention, but as long as there is fear and pity in the heart of man, reading a page of Shakespeare will be a sufficient reply to what Voltaire can urge against him. I heartily wish you had an aff ecting taie under your hand ; it wou ^ give you great pleasure in the Composition, and your Friends in the Perusal. Thus you see, Self-Interest, as usual, lies at the bottom of our Civilities. Success attend you in ail your undertakings, and Fortitude man you, against ail the Deficiencies of human Life.
I am
Dear Sir, Your aftectionate and obed* Servant M''^ Hallows E. Young.
présents her Compliments Oct. 7*^
Lettre de M^^ Hallows à George Keate
Wellwyn, April 28*^1765.
Sir,
I am favour'd with yours by M""^ Brown ; and cant help regreting with you, and every one, the loss of our most valuable friend, the great and good Docter Young.
The particulars you désire will but add to your concern, as every recollection does to mine ; but I comply in saying that the blessed Gentleman passed a fortnight in some distressful circumstances, and expired on Good friday night 1/2 past nine, without a groan ; excuse me further, my tea^-s p revent me, for which I will hope your pardon.
The good p^ Sir, burnt most of his Manuscripts, long before his death and left orders that every thing of that nature sho- be destroyed woH I suppose you hâve by this time seeu in the publick papers, with some other (I believe) genuine accounts. I hope, Sir, you enjoy Hea th and every valuable blessing? and that they n^a'y be long conUnued to you, tor the best purposes, is the prayer of, Sir,
Your Obliged and most Obed* hum''i° Servant The good Dr ^^'^ Hallows.
retained his sensés to the last.
Q. - Copie du Testament d'Ed. Young conservé à Londres, à
Probate Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice. — In the prérogative Court of Canterbury.]
In the Name of God and my most blessed Redeemer, Amen I write this my last WiU with my own hand Feby the 6- HeTl in the manner followmg i I give to the Communion Table ail the gilt plate m the mahogany chest the folio Bible and Prayer Books the Stole!
Chaned I l!Tt T ''^^"^ °' '^' ^"^°°^8e House and the
Fellow of Winchester Collège I give to Ail Soûls Library in OxforI chÏrd'ZrH*" ' ^°'l' '"' '' ""^ ""^^ -P"^- The Retd âr r"
hundred nlund, T T'!^" \'' P'°"' assistance in my Parish two
for chats rt n,*'"" ^ ^"' ^"'^ ^""°"^ ^" '*>« -™"ght worfc appoint mvn.l^ '^y mahogany chest and eight hundred pounds I
ZTTa T ^ ^^""^ ^"<^ *•>« I5«^' Mr Jones to be niy Executors and (m a particular manner) désire of them that ail my manu"-
cript writings «hether in books or papers Imediately [sic] on my decease may be burnt my book of accounts alone excepted my nephew HarrfsTill find among his fathers books a large foho with a cham to Sbe onli to AU Soûls Library This book I désire him to send wx h he fifty pounds above given to that Library as soon as he conveniently can I give to my friend Mr Henry Stevens Hatter at the Temple Gâte twenty guineas 1 I give to my two cousin Youngs [sic] After the paymen" of the legaeies above I give ail the residue of my possession to my son In wftness and confirmation of this WiU I hereunto set my hand and seal this 25 [sic] of Apnl 1760. - Ed. Young.
Signed sealed and declared by the Testator above mentioned as his
last WiU and Testament in the présence of us whose names are at his
equest and in his présence and in the présence o each other hereun-
der written. - Robert Milward. - Thomas Pentlow. - Jno Deards.
This is a Codicil to the last WiU and Testament of «>« Edward
Young Rector of Wellwyn in the County of Hertford which ^lU I
made and pubUshed bearing date the 21 of ^-^^ "«° ^."^'^ J^^-^il thtt hereby ratify and confirm as I do also the contents of this Codicil that s to say if the assistance of an additional executor shall be found necessary towards the more safe and effectuai exécution of my said WiU and Codicil I do hereby request '^"mmate and inipower the Revd Dr Henry Yarborough Rector of Tewing in the -f^'-^^^^r'^f ^^^ act in the capacity of such an assistant executor relatmg both to mj sa d WiU and Codicil And I do hereby WiU and Order that aU the „ry charges and expences of proving and --t-g -y ^^^^^^^ WiU and Codicil or any way attending the same shall be chargeable upon and defray'd out of my estate real and P-sonal and be first and before aU other accounts deducted and reimbursed o"t «f t^e said estate to my respective executors nominated in my said WiU and Codicil Lastly I earnestly désire that, there may be no disputes or law Stuchin any of my testamentary concerns after -y decease and that none of my legatees may give any 7°«-^^^? ^T^'^ Q^^^^fi executors in référence to any part either of my said WiU or Cod cil Furth-more by this Codicil I give to Mrs Mary Hallows two hundred pounds besides the eight hundred given to her m my WiU so as to m^ke up the sum one thousand pounds And I give rings to the oU^lg persons (viz) my nephew Bi^ the D- of Portland and Miss Nancy Richardson Mr Boteler ^hallcross Yarborough N-th Gdiner and to my two cousin Youngs. — Edward young. oig seXd and^pubUshed by the Testator and by him ^ec ared to be a Codicil to his last WiU and Testament m the présence of us whose
1.' 11 manque une clause, sans doute « twenty guineas », encore une fois répétée, j
names are under written and who at his request in his présence and
To Mrs Hallows.
It is my dying request that you would see ail writings whatever whether m papers or books (except n,y book of aecoul) burnt *
- e7?ouT" " ' '" '"' "''"' "'" °'''^'' '' tad frTend This is my last Will - Ed. Young. - Septr 17, 1764.
26th April 1765.
On which day appeared personally Mary Hallows of the Parish of
2 Inew^a ; '^""*" "' '''''"'''' «Poster and made oath thÏ shf 7wf T r T^ '^«'ï^^'nted with the Révérend Edward Young Doctor of W late Rector of Wellwyn in the County of HertZrd deceased and she further saith that the said Doctor Young dfdabout SIX months before his death as she best remembcrs and beheves the time to be redehver to her this Déponent the original Will and Cod ciî hereunto annexed closely sealed up in the envelope or cover treunto al o annexed (which had been some time before in her possessionLnd
d SterToT' 'r'^ '"''"'' ^''^"* ^'^ "-^'^^ beforhrdeaÏÏ she further l ^''^J'!'^'^!' •» h-^r «"^tody tiU after his decease and
deith she denr"'.^ ^. ^'* '" " '"'' ""^^ ^'"'^ "^« -'^ deceased's the said deceased who then opened the said cover in the présence of this Déponent and she lastly saith that the said Will and Cod ci are now ,n the same plight state and condition in ail respects as wTen The
îng tlhat? h''"'' '': '''"T''' <^^™ *^^ '° *^« endorsements appeatU?the ^H ""ade at Doctors Gommons) and that she is certain
eceived ZsZlr .1 r'I '"" °P^°^'' ^^«^ *h« ^-'^ ^he last a?d lilT lut TT Tu '^^ ^^""^^ °^ '^' ^^'<1 Doctor Young as afore-
Maiy Hallows. - Same day the said Mary Hallows Spinster was duly sworn to the truth of the prémisses before me. - Geo Har s Surrogate Présent Hen: Major Not Pub.
Proved (with a Codicil)
30'" April 1765
Fos 15 H. J. T.
