"more like the production of untamed, unbridled youth, "than of jaded fourscore." This letter contains the pleasing account of the death of Addison, and his dying address to Lord Warwick.-" See how a Christian can die !"

In 1762, but little before his death, Young published his last, and one of his least esteemed poems, "Resignation," which was written on the following occasion:-Observing that Mrs. Boscawen, in the midst of her grief for the loss of the Admiral, derived consolation from a perusal of the Night Thoughts, her friend, Mrs. Montague, proposed a visit to the author, by whom they were favourably received; and were pleased to confess that his "unbounded genius appear"ed to greater advantage in the companion than even in the author; that the Christian was in him a character still more inspired, more enraptured, more sublime than the poet, and that, in his ordinary conversation,

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"Letting down the golden chain from high, "He drew his audience upward to the sky."

On this occasion, and at the request of these ladies, the author produced his Resignation, above mentioned, and which has been so unmercifully treated by the critics; but it has, in some measure, been rescued from their hands by Dr. Johnson, who says, "It was falsely represented as a "proof of decayed faculties. There is Young in every 66 stanza, such as he often was in his highest vigour."

We now approach the closing scene of our author's life, of which, unhappily, we have few particulars. For three or four years before his death, he appears to have been incapacitated, by the infirmities of age, for public duty; yet he perfectly enjoyed his intellects to the last, and even his vivacity; for in his last illness, a friend mentioning the recent decease of a person who had long been in a decline, and observing, that he was quite worn to a shell before he died;" Very like

ly," replied the doctor; "but what is become of the kernel?"---He is said to have regretted to another friend, that his Night Thoughts, of all his works most calculated to do good, were written so much above the understanding of common readers, as to contract their sphere of usefulness: This, however, ought not, perhaps, to be regretted, since there is a great sufficiency of good books for common readers, and the style of that work will always introduce it where plainer compositions would not be read.

He died at his Parsonage House, at Welwyn, April 12, 1765, and was buried, according to his desire, by the side of his lady, under the altar-piece of that church; which is said to be ornamented in a singular manner with an elegant piece of needle-work by Lady Young, and some appropriate inscriptions, painted by the direction of the doctor.

His best monument is to be found in his works; but a less durable one, in marble, was erected by his only son and heir, with a very modest and sensible inscription. This son, Mr. Frederick Young, had the first part of his education at Winchester school, and, becoming a scholar upon the foundation, was sent, in consequence thereof, to New College, in Oxford; but there being no vacancy (though the society waited for one no less than two years) he was admitted in the mean time in Baliol, where he behaved so imprudently as to be forbidden the college. This misconduct disobliged his father so much, that it is said he never would see him afterwards: however, by his will he bequeathed to him the bulk of his fortune, which was considerable,

* Mr. Croft denies this circumstance, and calls the poet's son his friend.--- . He does not, however, pretend to vindicate the conduct of the youth; but he relates his repentance and regret, which is far better. Perhaps it is not possible wholly to vindicate the father. Great genius, even accompanied with piety, is not always most ornamental to domestic life; and "the prose of ordinary occurrences," says Croft, "is beneath the dignity of poets."

reserving only a legacy to his friend Stevens, the hatter at Temple-gate, and 10001. to his house-keeper, with his dying charge to see all his manuscripts destroyed; which may have been some loss to posterity, though none, perhaps, to his own fame.

(Dr. Young, as a christian and divine, has been reckoned an example of primeval piety. He was an able orator, but it is not known whether he composed many sermons; and it is certain that he published very few. The following incident does honour to his feelings: when preaching in his turn one Sunday at St. James's, finding he could not gain the attention of his audience, his pity for their folly got the better of all decorum; he sat back in the pulpit, and burst into a flood of tears.

His turn of mind was naturally solemn; and he usually, when at home in the country, spent many hours walking among the tombs in his own church-yard. His conversation, as well as writings, had all a reference to a future life; and this turn of mind mixed itself even with his improvements in gardening: he had, for instance, an alcove, with a bench so well painted in it, that at a distance it seemed to be real; but upon a nearer approach the deception was perceived, and this motto appeared:

INVISIBILIA NON DECIPIUNT.

The things unseen do not deceive us.

In another part of his garden was also this inscription:

AMBULANTES IN HORTO AUDIERUNT VOCEM DEI.

They heard the voice of God walking in the garden.

This seriousness occasioned him to be charged with gloominess of temper; yet he was fond of rural sports and innocent amusements. He would sometimes visit the assem

bly and the bowling green; and we see in his satires that he knew how to laugh at folly. His wit was poignant, and always levelled at those who shewed any contempt for decency or religion; an instance of which we have remarked in his extemporary epigram on Voltaire.

Dr. Young rose betimes, and engaged with his domestics in the duties of Morning Prayer. He is said to have read but little; but he noted what he read, and many of his books were so swelled with folding down his favourite passages, that they would hardly shut. He was moderate in his meals, and rarely drank wine, except when he was ill; being (as he used to say) unwilling to waste the succours of sickness on the stability of health. After a slight refreshment, he retired to rest early in the evening, even though he might have company who wished to prolong his stay.

He lived at a moderate expence, rather inclined to parsimony than profusion; and seems to have possessed just conceptions of the vanity of the world; yet (such is the inconsistency of man!) he courted honours and preferments at the borders of the grave, even so late as 1758; but none were then conferred. It has, however, been asserted, that he had a pension of 2001. a year from government, conferred under the auspices of Walpole.

At last, when he was full fourscore, the author of the Night Thoughts,

"Who thought e'en gold itself might come a day too late,"

was made Clerk of the Closet to the Princess Dowager of Wales. What retarded his promotion so long it is not easy to determine. Some attribute it to his attachment to the Prince of Wales and his friends; and others assert, that the King thought him sufficiently provided for. Certain it is, that he knew no straits in pecuniary matters; and that, in the method he has recommended of estimating human life, honours are of little value.

His merits as an author have already been considered in a review of his works; and nothing seems necessary to be added, but the following general characters of his composition, from Blair and Johnson.

Dr. Blair says, in his celebrated lectures: "Among moral "and didactic poets, Dr. Young is of too great eminence to "be passed over without notice. In all his works, the marks "of strong genius appear. His Universal Passion possesses "the full merit of that animated conciseness of style, and lively description of character, which I mention as requi"site in satirical and didactic compositions. Though his "wit may often be thought too sparkling, and his sentences

too pointed, yet the vivacity of his fancy is so great, as to "entertain every reader. In his Night Thoughts there is "much energy of expression; in the three first, there are "several pathetic passages; and scattered through them all, happy images and illusions, as well as pious reflections, But the sentiments are frequently over-strained, " and turgid; and the style is too harsh and obscure to be pleasing."

"occur.

The same critic has said of our author in another place, that his "merit in figurative language is great, and deserves "to be remarked. No writer, ancient or modern, had a

stronger imagination than Dr. Young, or one more fertile "in figures of every kind; his metaphors are often new, "and often natural and beautiful. But his imagination was "strong and rich, rather than delicate and correct."

These strictures may be thought severe; but it should be remembered, that an author derives far more honour from such a discriminate character, from a judicious critic, than from the indiscriminate commendation of an admirer. The following is the conclusion of Dr. Johnson's critique, and shall conclude these memoirs.

"It must be allowed of Young's poetry, that it abounds "in thought, but without much accuracy or selection.

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