From The Spectator. PEACOCK'S LIFE OF DR. YOUNG.* works were compilations, able possibly, but not original or the result of actual observation. The cause of this seeming singularity is to THE name of Thomas Young is most gene- be sought in the nature of Young's mind, rally known as a discoverer of the art of read- which was speculative rather than practical. ing the ancient Egyptian writing. But he was He preferred to read and write, (his Greek a man of great acquirements in other branch- penmanship was of remarkable excellence,) es of learning. A distinguished Grecian, and to calculate, and what is called invent, rather a master more or less of many languages mod- than undergo the uncertain labor of observing ern as well as ancient, he was also versed in nature. In fact, he seemed to undervalue the mechanical and natural science; he had giv-task. He had an idea that more could be en the attention of a philosopher to the voca- done in physic by what must be called compition of an actuary as regards the "value" of lation-examining and combining the recordlife, or in other words its expected duration; ed observations of others-than by any origihis profession was that of physic, with which inal efforts of his own. He writes to a friend he combined an extensive knowledge of chem- "In many other departments of science I istry. It may be doubted whether he did not have been enabled to draw conclusions from a excel in most things rather than in his own comparison of the experiments of others, trade; though his cool temperament and cau- which I should have been much longer in distious habits made him a safe practitioner. His covering by investigations of my own; and inquiries into and writings upon the Egyptian why not in physic?" Within somewhat narrecords undoubtedly led the way to the present row limits this observation is true. No one state of the art of deciphering; his discover- should set up for a discoverer till he knows ies in optics, assailed by the Edinburgh Re- what has been discovered before. Discoverview and opposed or neglected by others, re-ies, however, according to their value and their ceived a more considerable attention on the age, are embodied in the grammar on general Continent than at home, and are now finally literature of the particular science. The writallowed to rank among the most remarkable ten letter gives us not nature, but somebody's discoveries in physical science. His article perception of nature, which is possibly erroneon Bridges in the Supplement to the Encyclo- ous, and at best, second-hand. In addition to pædia Britannica, independently of the expo- the freshness of living nature, there is in medisition itself, drew scientific attention to the cine the interest not to say the anxiety for great importance of the materials of which the patient's fate, to sharpen the practitioner's structures were to be erected, as regards co- perception. It is possible that Young had not hesion elasticity and strength. His publica- a great deal of this. He was a man of pure tions on classical literature or languages not morals, of excellent private and public charonly exhibited the learning of the scholar, but acter, but he wanted sympathy in life, as imthrew out hints or more than hints as to the agination in intellectual pursuits. With his proper modes of dealing with the ancient Her-nature, therefore, his method of procedure culaneum manuscripts, a source of informa- might be the best he could adopt, though not tion which has not realized the hopes enter- to be recommended as the best in itself. tained of it forty or fifty years ago. His various contributions to scientific journals or transactions, and his lectures at the Royal Institution, if not always correct, aided the progress of natural and mathematical science. With the exception of a few experiments on topics of subordinate importance, his medical *Life of Thomas Young, M. D., F. R. S., etc., and one of the eight Foreign Associates of the National Institute of France. By George Peacock, D. D., F. R. S., etc., Dean of Ely, Lowndean Professor of Astronomy in the University of Cambridge, and formerly Fellow and Tutor of Trinity College, Published by Murray. Miscellaneous Works of the late Thomas Young, M. D., F. R. S., etc. Volumes I. and II.; including his Scientific Memoirs, etc, Edited by George Peacock, D. D., F. R. S., etc., Dean of Ely, etc. Published by Murray. Miscellaneous Works of the late Thomas Young M. D., F. R. S., etc., Volume III., Hieroglyphical Essays and Correspondence, etc. Edited by John Leitch. Published by Murray. Dr. Young's friends and his biographer complain of the slowness with which his fame made its way in the world, and assign various causes for it. Having been self-educated, he was comparatively deficient in the highest branches of mathematics, and in the abstruse subjects of optical science he had recourse to common language instead of the received mathematical formula to express his ideas.He was also deficient in the clearness of diction requisite to convey complex and new ideas to the mind; he did not resort to any of the usual methods of obtaining publicity; and the attack of the Edinburgh Review already mentioned had the effect of prejudicing the English world against him. Something may be allowed to these reasons; but the fact is, that Young's discoveries were not of a broad cast; neither were they perfected by himself. Fresnel completed his optics; Champollion the Egyptian writing, so far as there is any completion. Besides, popular fame is not the meed of great learning or of scientific discovery, un- In the following year he went to Paris during less it be of a kind to effect a revolution in the peace of Amiens, and was introduced to popular belief, or lead to some tangible im- Bonaparte. Though his manners were not provement in the useful arts. Copernicus, well adapted to the medical profession, his Gallileo, Newton, Watt, Davy, and other men practice, with the property left him by his unof science popularly famous, fall under this cle, enabled him to live in a style proportioned category. They become known to the people to the society he mixed with; and in 1811 he by being in some way realized to the mind and was elected physician to St. George's Hospital business of the people. Except to scholars -a position for which he was certainly indebtBentley's name is not preserved for his learn-ed to something other than his medical standing; his strength of character, his pungent re- ing. He was applied to for contributions both tort, his perpetual quarrels, nay, even the sat- to the Quarterly Review and the Supplement ire of which he was the subject, have contrib- to the Encyclopædia Britannica. The Admiraluted to his fame. Porson might have been a ty referred to him the question of Sepping's greater Grecian than he was, but his name improvements in shipbuilding; and he prowould not have been familiarly known were it duced a memoir on the subject in 1814. In not for his racy English, his caustic wit, his 1818 he was appointed Secretary to the Board more than anti-humbug disregard of appear of Longitude and Superintendent of the Nauances and pretence, and last, not least, his cel- tical Almanack, at a salary of 400l a year. In ebrated conviviality. Parr had neither the 1824 he was nominated a sort of advising aclearning nor the character of these two great tuary to the Palladium Life Office, with a salmen; but he had what answers the purpose ary of 500l a year. In 1827 he received one equally well for a time, the genius of the char- of the highest honors awarded to science, belatan strong in his composition. That Dr. ing elected a Foreign Associate of the AcadYoung could ever have attained this popular emy of Sciences at Paris. All these various celebrity in his life, is a question; or whether and indeed opposite appointments were obhe has attained it now. tained before he had passed the prime of life, If the true cause of fame be steadily borne and that in spite of the distrust generally inin mind that no man is really famous except spired by a man who dabbles in many pursuits. among classes of men whose minds he touches Thomas Young was born in 1783, and died in in some way or other, Young may not only 1829, when only fifty-six. His immediate disbe considered famous but fortunate. He was ease was "ossification of the aorta, which must elected a member of the Royal Society in have been in progress for many years, and eveJune 1794, a few days after he was of age.- ry appearance indicated an advance of age, not The memoir he submitted the year before, and brought on probably by the natural course of which was considered meritorious enough to time nor even by constitutional formation, but lead to the membership, involved him in a by unwearied and incessent labor of the mind controversy with no less a man than John from the earliest days of infancy." Hunter, and (on his early death) with Sir Ev- This "incessant and unwearied labor" was erard Home; though the controversy really the obvious means by which he acquired so turned on a charge of plagiarism against many languages and mastered so many purYoung. He was early introduced into high suits. He had, however, great natural aptitude, society, through the influence of his maternal made visible at a much earlier period than uncle Dr. Brocklesby and the patronage of usual. His parents were Quakers, living at Burke. In 1794 he was offered the post of Milverton in Somersetshire. He says himself, private Secretary to the Duke of Richmond, that he was taught reading by a village schoolwith the prospect of further advantages; but mistress and his aunt; could read fluently at he was dissuaded from accepting it by Burke two years old; and by the time he was four, and Wyndham. When he went to Edinburgh under the instructions of his two teachers, he the autumn of the same year, he had access had twice read the Bible through, as also to the first society in the capital and in the Watts's Hymns, but the Bible must surely provinces. On his return in 1797 from Got-be taken with a limitation. He was placed at tingen, where he also studied, he entered him- several schools till he was fourteen, and his self as a Cambridge student, to qualify him- maternal grandfather, a man of some classical self to practise legally; and such were the learning, partially directed his studies; but in regulations in those days that it was five years reality, Young may be called self-educated, for before he could take a bachelor's degree. In he not only outstripped his teachers, but masspite of that want, Young was elected Profes-tered studies of which they knew nothing. sor of Natural Philosophy at the Royal Insti- Compendiums of arts and sciences made him tution in 1801, and became joint editor of the acquainted with natural philosophy; an ingeJournal with Davy. In 1802 he was appoint- nious person he occasionally fell in with introed Foreign Secretary to the Royal Society.-duced him to practical mechanics; languages he acquired for himself. The following were the extra school studies of thirteen, and the home studies of fourteen : Young continued the same course of severe application and varied study which seemed a part of his very nature. Up to this time it does not appear that his uncle Brocklesby took In mathematics I read Walkinghame's Tutor's much notice of him; but some Greek verses Assistant, Ewing's Mathematics, omitting Gun- and his beautiful Greek penmanship attracted nery, and Dilworth's Book-keeping, The usher of the attention of Burke, who expresed himself the school was a very ingenious young man of the name of Josiah Jeffrey, who was in the habit of very favorably of the young scholar. His unlending me books, and amongst them Benjamin cle consequently began to regard him as a Martin's Lectures on Natural Philosophy, and Ry-genius who would do credit to the family. On land's Introduction to the Newtonian Philosophy. I was particularly delighted with the optical part of Martin's book, which contains many detailed rules for the practical construction of optical instruments. I also learnt the elements of algebra from Vyse and Ward. Young's leaving Mr. Barclay, the Doctor received him into his house in London; and gave him every assistance in the pursuit of his medical studies, which indeed were undertaken at Brocklesby's suggestion. He had previously, on casual visits, been made acquainted with the "Mr. Jeffrey was a good mechanic, and it was men of learning, literature, and rank, who offrom him that I acquired my fondness for turn-ten assembled at the house. ing and for making telescopes. He had made also an electrical machine, which I very frequent- Dr. Young inspired his friends with a warm ly used. I was in the habit of grinding and pre- attachment; but it would seem to have arisen paring various kinds of colors for him, which he from his merits and sterling qualities, not from used to sell to the boys and to others; from him his manners, which were cold and unattractive likewise I learnt the first principles of drawing. if not repelling. He was not an effective or and copied under his directions several speci- pleasing lecturer; his classes at the hospital mens from the copperplates of a book entitled were scantily attended; and his manners tothe Principles of Design. He was also a book- wards his patients were not winning. A sketch binder, an occupation in which I assisted him of him at Cambridge, by the gentleman who After he left the school, I succeeded to some of his employments and perquisites; and I used to succeeded Young's nominal tutor at that Unisell paper, copperplates, and colors, to my school-versity, presents the most lifelike picture of fellows; by which means I contrived to collect him that we have met. He probably did not in 1786 as much as 5s., which added to 10s. 6d. show to the best advantage at Cambridge. A given me by my parents, enabled me to buy some young man who had discussed Greek with BurGreek and Latin books which were sold to me ney and Porson-had sustained public controby Mr. Thompson at extremely low prices, and versy with John Hunter, mixed with the emilikewise Montanus's Hebrew Bible, for which I nent in London and Edinburgh, visited the gave 5s.; for I was at that time enamored of Ori- Dukes of Athol and Gordon, danced with their ental literature, and I had already read through daughters, and was just fresh from Gottingen Buxtorf's Compendium, and Taylor's Tract at the end of his Concordance; and before I left and foreign travel a rarity at that time rior position, to which the Dons generally seem could hardly have been satisfied with an infeto have doomed him. There is however truth, Vince's opinion. It would be wonderful if, in we suspect, in the sketch; especially touching such varied pursuits, Young was always correct. Compton School, I had succeeded in getting through six chapters of the Hebrew Bible. * * * * Upon my return home, after finally leaving Compton school, I devoted myself almost entirely to the study of Hebrew, and to the practice of turning and telescope-making. I read through thirty chapters of the Book of Genesis without points. That most excellent man Mr. Toulmin, who had heard of the nature of my studies, though perfectly unknown to me, lent me Masclef's Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, and Samaritan Grammars, and also some works of Greg ory Sharp and Mr. Bayley, which I studied with great diligence. Mr. John Frye lent me Robertson on Reading Hebrew without Points. Mr. Toulmin also lent me the Lord's Prayer in more than a hundred languages; the examination of which gave me extraordinary pleasure... I had also read through the greatest part of Sir Wil duced Young to his tutors, he jocularly said, "I "He had a high character for classical learning before he came to Cambridge; but I believe ter part of his life-he seldom spoke of them; he did not pursue his classical studies in the latbut I remember his meeting Dr. Parr_in_the College Combination-room, and when the Doctor had made, as was not unusual with him, some dogmatical observation on a point of scholarFrom his fourteenth to his nineteenth year different opinion;" immediately quoting his au ship, Young said 'firmly, "Bentley, sir, was of a Young lived with Mr. Barclay of Youngsbury, thority, and showing his intimate knowledge of as a companion and assistant tutor to that gen- the subject. Parr said nothing; but when Dr. tleman's grandson Hudson Gurney. Here Young retired, asked who he was; and, though liam Jones's Persian Grammar, he did not seem to have heard his name before, [ture of derision and respect, 'Phenomenon Young;' he said, "A smart young man that." * * but he lived on familiar terms with the Fellows in the Common-room. He had few friends of his The views, objects, character and acquirements having been introduced to many of those who own age or pursuits in the University, and not of our mathematicians were very different then to what they are now; and Young, who was cer- talent, he did not seek their society, nor did they were distinguished either by their situation or tainly beforehand with the world, perceived their seek him: they did not like to admit the superidefects. Certain it is, that he looked down up-ority of any one in statu pupillari, and he would on the science, and would not cultivate the ac- not converse with any one but as an equal. quaintance of any of our philosophers. Wood's books I have heard him speak of with approbation, but Vince he treated with contempt, and he afterwards returned the compliment. I recollect once asking Vince his opinion of Young: he said he knew nothing correctly. "What can you think," says he, "of a man writing upon mechanics who does not know the principles of a coach-wheel." This alludes to a mistake of Dr. Young's on this subject in his Natural Philosophy. He did not seem to have heard the names of most of our poets or literary characters in the last century, and hardly ever spoke of English Literature. self: he read little, and though he had access to It was difficult to say how he employed himthe College and University libraries, he was seldom seen in them. There were no books piled on his floor, no papers scattered on his table, and his room had all the appearance of belonging to an idle man. I once found him blowing smoke through long tubes, and I afterwards saw a representation of the effect in the Transactions of the Royal Society to illustrate one of his papers uping experiments. He walked little, and rode less, on sound; but he was not in the habit of makbut having learnt to ride the great horse abroad, he used to pace round Parker's Piece on a hackney he once made an attempt to follow the hounds, but a severe fall prevented any future exhibition. engage his attention; but he never spoke of morals, of metaphysics, or of religion. Of the last I never heard him say a word, nothing in favor of any sect, or in opposition to any doctrine; at the same time, no sceptical doubt, no loose assertion, no idle scoff ever escaped him. He never obtruded his various learning in conversation; but if appealed to on the most difficult subject, he answered in a quick, flippant, de- teered one. He never laid down the law like He seldom gave an opinion, and never voluncisive way, as if he was speaking of the most other learned doctors, or uttered apothegms or easy; and in this mode of talking he differed sayings to be remembered. Indeed, like most mathfrom all the clever men that I ever saw. His re-ematicians, (though we hear of abstract matheply never seemed to cost him an effort, and hematics), he never seemed to think abstractedly. did not appear to think there was any credit in A philosophical fact, a difficult calculation, an inbeing able to make it. He did not assert any genious instrument, or a new invention, would superiority, or seem to suppose that he possessed it; but spoke as if he took it for granted that we all understood the matter as well as he did. He never spoke in praise of any of the writers of the day even in his own peculiar department, and could not be persuaded to discuss their merits. He was never personal: he would speak of knowledge in itself, of what was known or what Young aimed at the appearance of a man might be known, but never of himself or any of the world and of accomplishments. When other as having discovered anything, or as like- he abandoned the habit of the Friends, he ly to do so. His language was correct, his utterance rapid, learned dancing and music; which studies, as and his sentences, though without any affecta-well as drawing, he continued in Germany. tion, never left unfinished. But his words were The judgment of his masters upon his efforts not those in familiar use, and the arrangement of in the fine arts was "accurate, but stiff." his ideas seldom the same as those he conversed At another time, he writes in reference to a with. He was therefore worse calculated than thesis: "It seems a fatality that almost everyany man I ever knew for the communication of thing I do or produce should be termed stiff." knowledge. I remember our once asking him to His German musical friends told him that he answer an objection to Huygen's theory of light, had no ear; but he nevertheless stuck to muwhich he preferred to Newton's; and though sic. From correspondence of a much later date, there were very many competent persons pres- it would seem that he continued to amuse himent, he attempted in vain. self by joining in musical parties; what amuseYet he was indebted to Huygen for his own ment he afforded the company does not appear. andulatory theory. Dr. Peacock's Life of Young is the result of an undertaking "rashly" made more than twenty years ago; but of which ill health or tion till now. Extensive stores of correspondpressing avocations have suspended the execu In his manners he had something of the stiffness of the Quaker remaining; and though he never said or did a rude thing, he never made use of any of the forms of politeness. Not that he avoided them through affectation; his behavior ence and family papers have been placed in the was natural without timidity and easy without biographer's hands. He is well qualified for boldness. He rarely associated with the young giving an account of Young's scientific labors men of the College, who called him, with a mix-and fixing his position as a philosopher. Both An Essay on Cycloidal Curves. A Letter to Mr. Nicholson respecting Sound and Light. the career of the man and the discoveries of the number of papers from Transactions and sch scholar and natural philosopher are clearly told. entific periodicals. A glance at the table of Optics, Egypt, and the principal miscellaneous contents shows the variety of subjects handled memoirs, are separately introduced, with a re- by the author. For example: lation to the chronology of the life, though they are not broken off for a mere pedantic reference to dates. This causes a little confusion; but probably that could hardly have been avoided, except by the greater confusion of intermingling the scientific discoveries with the successive stages of the life. When the mass of Dr. Young's journals, correspondence, and so forth, is considered, Dr. Peacock is entitled to the credit of having exercised a rare discretion in their sparing use; but the memoirs, though clear, are somewhat deficient as a picture of the living man. The article" Chromatics." Remarks on the measurement of Minute Par ticles, especially those of the Blood and Pus. Theoretical Investigations intended to illus trate the Phenomena of Polarization. The article "Cohesion." Hydraulic Investigations. On the Functions of the Heart and Arteries. Remarks on the Employment of Oblique Riders and on other Alterations in the Construction of Ships. Simple Determination on the most Ancient Some Propositions on Waves and Sounds. An Algebraical Expression for the Value of Remarks on the Principle of Compound In terest. On Weights and Measures. Three volumes of the collected Works of Young accompany his Life: they may be said to consist of philosophical papers, the writings connected with the Egyptian controversies and discoveries, and fugitive pieces. With the exception of some papers on language, and four lives of critics and scholars—namely Horne Tooke, Bryant, Wakefield, and Porson (contributed to the Encyclopædia Britannica), - the third volume is wholly devoted to Egypt. It contains the various works written by Young, and his extensive correspondence on the subject, in chronological order; to which Mr. Leitch the editor has added frequent annota- The sixty-seven papers of which the above tions, bearing hard upon Champollion for his form a part constitute a monument to the indishonest plagiarisms, and equally hard upon dustry and various capacity of their author. the Chevalier Bunsen for his partiality and They are probably less attractive than the vol unfairness. The whole is a very complete ume on Egyptian antiquities. The original collection of materials for any one desirous discoveries they may contain, have long since of mastering the history of the subject; but mingled with the received truths of science; it is rather a memorial to the memory of the knowledge which at the time of its proYoung, than a volume likely to possess much mulgation was rare, has been popularized since attraction now, except to devoted Egyptolo- Young's death, still more since he wrote. Pergists. haps the collection as a whole is rather a The first and second volumes of the Works friendly and conjugal tribute to the writer's consist of lives of philosophers, likewise con- memory, than a necessary contribution to philo tributed to the Encyclopædia, and a great sophical literature. ANCESTRY OF WASHINGTON IRVING. back, and sank down into the condition of mere JOHN OF IRWYN had landed possessions in the parish of Holm, in Orkney, in 1438, when the County was still an appanage of the crown of Denmark and Norway. The Irvines of Sebay are very frequently mentioned in the times of Robert and Patrick Stewart, Earls of Orkney, and suffered very severely from the outrages of these rapacious nobles. They became extinct in the direct male line, tempore Charles I.; but one collateral branch had immediately before settled in the island of Sanday, and another, the Irvines of Gairstay, in the island of Shapinshay. They lost the estate of Gairstay several generations peasants, tenants of Quhome, where some of them reside at this day. I was there lately with Mr. Balfour, the proprietor of Shapinshay, who pointed out the old and modest house at Quhome where was born William Irvine, father of Washington Irving. Is it not somewhat singular that Sir Robert Strange and the author of Bracebridge Hall can be almost demonstrated of the same blood? I guess, if Irving knew his pedigree could be traced step by step up to John Erwyn of 1438, he would readily claim and vindicate his Orcadian descent. ·Dennistoun's Memoirs of Sir Robert Strange. |