the first sober and discriminating estimate of that most artificial of
true poets, and with the opinions expressed in which Young is supposed to
have coincided; for, although he admired, and too often imitated, Pope's
brilliant point and antithesis, he was aware of far higher models, and
found Homer, Milton, and Job far more congenial companions in his
studious midnights. In 1758, he published a short and in nowise
remarkable sermon, preached before the King at Kensington.

Richardson, the novelist, was one of Young's greatest friends. Their
views on moral and religious subjects were identical; and in gravity of
tone, and severity of genius, they resembled each other--Richardson being
a duller Young, and Young a more elastic and brilliant Richardson.
Although both lived in a most depraved age, neither catered to its
tastes. To Richardson, Young addressed, in 1759, a letter on Original
Composition, which betrays no symptoms of senility, but is full of
vigorous and striking remark. In 1762, when upwards of eighty, he wrote
his last and worst poem. It is entitled "Resignation," and requires, on
the part of the reader, considerable exercise of that grace. It has very
little of Young's peculiar power, and is chiefly filled with weak and
toothless abuse of his old acquaintance Voltaire. It was written, it
appears, at the instance of Mrs Boscawen--the widow of the Admiral--who,
having found consolation from the "Night Thoughts," visited Young, and
was still more captivated by his conversation.

During the latter years of his life, he is said to have fallen too much
under the dominion of his housekeeper, Mrs Hallowes, the widow of a
clergyman, who is reported to have ruled him with a rod of iron. Ere his
death he revised his printed works, and gave charges in his will that all
his MSS. should be burned. He applied, when past eighty, to Archbishop
Secker for promotion, and was appointed Clerk of the Closet to the
Princess-Dowager of Wales. In April 1765, at the age of eighty-four, he
breathed his last. He had been previously unable to perform duty for
three or four years, but retained his faculties to the last. He left his
property principally to his son, who was found by Johnson and Boswell, in
1781, residing at Welwyn, and cherishing the memory of his father.

Young was unquestionably a neglected man. Out of all sight the greatest
genius then connected with the ministry of the Church of England, he
never mounted one step hi