No intelligence having arrived from St. Vincent's since my last
letter, my mind is most restless, and so occupied with the
contingencies which another letter may clear up, and decide,
either that I am to see my father this summer, or to see him no
more, that I am unfit almost for any employment but that of
walking to the Royal Exchange and back again, on inquiry after a
ship. It is most necessary, however, to the health of mind, to
avert it occasionally from such a subject, so doubtful and so
covered with gloom; and I cannot better do it than by writing to
your Lordship, thus engaging at once my attention under the
impulses of sincerest friendship, and grateful sense of duty. Of
events in the political circle, to the intelligence of the
newspapers of this day, I will add the death of Ashley Cooper,
and the succession of Mr. Rose to the office of Clerk of the
Parliaments. I understand he will resume, notwithstanding his
seat in the Commons, and continue Secretary of the Treasury. It
is expected that on Monday will be moved the new writs for Sir
L. Kenyon, Chief Justice; Arden, Master of the Rolls; Macdonald
and Scott, Attorney and Solicitor-General; and Rose, Clerk of
the Parliaments. The marriage of Fox and Miss Pultency is
something more than common talk; at the Duke of York's ball he
sat three hours in a corner with her; attends her weekly to
Ranelagh, and is a perfect Philander. The Duke of York lives
almost with Lady Tyrconnel, and there has been some _fracas_ on
Mrs. Fitzherbert declining Lady Tyrconnel's visits, as a lady
whose character is contaminate! These, with the suicide of
George Hesse, form the leading topics of the _beau monde_. Of
our political career, I can only say that I made a good guess
when I stated the 20th of June as the close of our sessions; the
intermediate time has little business pending that will engage
debate, excepting the reform of the Scotch boroughs, on which
the alternative for or against is equally a Scotch job. Sheridan
takes the lead in it, and comes plumed with his laurels gathered
in Westminster Hall. His speech there contained some wonderful
stroke in the declamatory style, something fanciful, poetical,
and even sublime; sometimes, however, bombast, and the logic not
satisfactory, at least to my mind. The performance, however, was
a work of great industry, and great genius; and he has had
compliments enough on it to turn his head, if to those qualities
he does not add great _good sense_; a quality which, the longer
I live, the more I am persuaded is the true _rara avis_, and not
much oftener met with than a black swan:--the white swan of
Pindar cannot vie in rarity at any rate.
By this post I enclose two copies of the enlarged edition of my
pamphlet, with the Poor Bill annexed. It will be carried, if I
can depend on present assurances of support; not merely
assurances of individual members, but on the actual letters of
instruction which several have had from the justices of their
respective counties. Adverting to justices, it is agreed in
Bucks to respite all appeals and other matters, with exception
of gaol delivery, to the Michaelmas Sessions, on account of the
interference of the circuit. Poor Major Tomkins so informed me
yesterday. We walked together the best part of the morning, and
he seemed restored to a greater degree of tranquillity of mind
than might so early have been expected. He talks of quitting
Weston, and living wholly in London; and wishes to engage his
mind by attention to the law professionally. At his time of
life, this may answer (if he can now apply) in giving the relief
to a mind disquiet in idleness, but hardly can answer in views
of business, under technical acceptation of the term. He has,
however, such delusion, and it must be an enemy to his repose
who undeceives him. My wife desires to be remembered in the best
manner to the Marchioness and Mrs. Nugent, with,
My dear Lord,
Your affectionate, faithful, and obliged friend and servant,
W. Young.
Mr. Hastings' trial was at its height at this time; and Mr. Bernard,
Lord Buckingham's secretary, gives a brief account of Sheridan's third
day. The point, naturally enough, which made the deepest impression on
him was the exhibition in evidence of the private letters that passed
between Mr. Hastings and his secretary.