Stratton Street, Nov. 30th, 1788.
MY DEAR LORD,
Since my last, all the intelligence to be given consists merely of
rumours and of opinions respecting the probable changes in the
Administration, on accession of the Prince to the executive
authority. The Prince, it is said, is wonderfully of late attached
to Thurlow. His Royal Highness hath not been equally gracious to
Mr. Pitt; and from the authority of a person who dined with him, I
am assured that his melancholy derived from the malady of his
father and King, is not of that deep and rooted sort for which "no
physic of the mind" can be found. Drinking and singing were
specifics on the day stated to me.
As to opinions alluded to above, they appear to me, who am not in
the secret, mere sermons to Shakspeare's text of "Harry, thy wish
was father to the thought." If aught is settled, your Lordship is
undoubtedly apprised of it; if things yet remain for arrangement,
your grounds for mere fabrics of speculation must ere this be
better laid than mine; and so, in either case, I'd better e'en
refrain from the subject, until Thursday begins the course of
authentic matter for my letters.
Meantime, a word in regard to myself. I write under the greatest
embarrassment of mind, between pressing necessity of not moving
from London and a justness of sentiment which would particularly at
this moment urge my repairing to you at the Castle. When your kind
friendship conferred what, at that moment, was a most essential aid
to my family subsistence, your goodness added that I need not visit
Ireland oftener than the convenience of my family allowed. Of this
goodness I by no means thought to avail myself, and proposed this
winter proceeding with my wife and son to the Castle, and returning
to accomplish the passing of my "Poor Laws," in February or March.
The loss of my father hath placed me in a situation wherein, from
the magnitude and delicacy of the concern, every hour may afford an
important crisis; and in which a single omission, a momentary
absence, may entail consequences irretrievable, in matters wherein
the result to me and mine is to be conjoined reputation and
affluence, or disgrace and penury. I cannot, under impression of
such alternatives, delegate an iota of conduct to a second person.
I have laid down a systematic plan of conduct for myself, which in
executing I am sure of honour and credit, have a certainty of
competence, and a prospect of considerable wealth. The more I
reflect, the more I am confirmed in the propriety of the grounds of
procedure which I have adopted, and I feel myself equal to the
accomplishment, as far as it depends on steady pursuit of a
well-weighed purpose. Obstacles, however, may arise, and
difficulties occur, such as I have _daily_ to obviate or to
surmount, in shape of impatient creditors, who, if they were not
led to just understanding of circumstances, would not wait two
years for a final liquidation of private claims, with an inventory
before them in the Commons of property to the amount of L200,000,
but would jump forward to their own and my loss. One of the two
years I have now securely in hand; the crop of 1789 being shipped
from Christmas to March, of produce all grown, and partly
manufactured. If Government leaves me the year 1790, at the close
of it there will not be a private debt, nor an article alienated of
security for public claims; and my gain of the income of 1788-9-90
is actually the amount of L45,000 clear gain, above the result of
immediate sale of the estates, which in ordinary course, or other
line than I have chalked out, would be the direct legal recurrence
for general liquidation of first public and then private claims.
_One year_ of this gain to _my residue_ I have already secured, the
second I have no doubt of, the third I have great hopes of, and at
the period thereof, the gross total of the Crown demand, without a
deduction or charge per centage, would scarcely necessitate any
sale, or but a partial one, should I wish quickly to clear all
away.
Having no reserve for you, my best friend, I have, in accounting
for my "fixing myself on the watch" in England this winter run into
these details; and further (which will explain them fully) enclose
a rough copy of my instructions to my attorneys in St. Vincent's,
which, when read, you will consign to the flames.
I have that grateful attachment to you, that I should yet scarcely
hesitate in hazarding a month's absence from home, did not I
anticipate that your friendship would rather chide than approve the
sacrifice. I am ever at your command, being, my dear Lord, in
truest affection,
Your devoted and obliged friend, &c.,
W. YOUNG.
The plans of Ministers are further developed in the next letter from Mr.
Grenville.