letters are also set in a different key, that "the
interests of religion were connected with the character of a man so
distinguished for piety as Dr. Young." At all events, a subsequent
quasi-official statement weighs nothing as evidence against contemporary,
spontaneous, and confidential hints.

To Mrs. Hallows, Young left a legacy of 1000 pounds, with the request
that she would destroy all his manuscripts. This final request, from
some unknown cause, was not complied with, and among the papers he left
behind him was the following letter from Archbishop Secker, which
probably marks the date of his latest effort after preferment:

"DEANERY OF ST. PAUL'S, July 8, 1758.

"Good DR. YOUNG: I have long wondered that more suitable notice of
your great merit hath not been taken by persons in power. But how to
remedy the omission I see not. No encouragement hath ever been given
me to mention things of this nature to his Majesty. And therefore,
in all likelihood, the only consequence of doing it would be
weakening the little influence which else I may possibly have on some
other occasions. _Your fortune and your reputation set you above the
need of advancement_; _and your sentiments above that concern for
it_, _on your own account_, which, on that of the public, is
sincerely felt by

"Your loving Brother,

"THO. CANT."

The loving brother's irony is severe!

Perhaps the least questionable testimony to the better side of Young's
character is that of Bishop Hildesley, who, as the vicar of a parish near
Welwyn, had been Young's neighbor for upward of twenty years. The
affection of the clergy for each other, we have observed, is, like that
of the fair sex, not at all of a blind and infatuated kind; and we may
therefore the rather believe them when they give each other any
extra-official praise. Bishop Hildesley, then writing of Young to
Richardson, says:

"The impertinence of my frequent visits to him was amply rewarded;
forasmuch as, I can truly say, he never received me but with
agreeable open complacency; and I never left him but with profitable
pleasure and improvement. He was one or other, the most modest, the
most patient of contradiction, and the most informing and
entertaining I ever conversed with--at least, of any man who had so
just pre