Memoi) (jf Arihur Young, Esq. 279 



Art. VI. — A Biographical Memoir o/' Arthur Young, Esq., 

 F.R.S., Sfc, Secretari/ to the Board of Agriculture (from 

 Original Documents, furnished by his oivn Memoranda). 

 % J. A. Paris, M.D., F.L.S., M.R.I., Felloio of the 

 Royal College of Physicians, Honorary Member of the 

 Board of Agriculture, S)'c. 



In recording the life of an individual eminent for his writings 

 or discoveries, in philosophy or literature, the biographer is not 

 unfrequently charged, by a considerable portion of his readers, 

 with having lavished praise, where it was not justly merited, 

 or attached an importance to labours, ill according with their 

 intrinsic worth, and acknowledged utility. This depends, in a 

 great degree, upon that natural and inherent diversity of con- 

 stitution of the human mind, which leads difFerent individuals 

 to appreciate the value of intellectual exertions by very different 

 standards. We are, besides, too much disposed to underrate 

 attainments which we do not ourselves possess, or, in the value 

 of whose applications we are not likely to participate ; indeed, 

 in some instances, this feeling is carried to so mischievous an 

 extent, that we are induced to regard the zeal and enthusiasm, 

 evinced for particular pursuits, as traits of weakness in the 

 individuals in which they occur ; and thus the mental, like the 

 corporeal eye, by a species of natural illusion, perceives the 

 cloud which exists within itself, as a dark spot in the illuminated 

 object which it contemplates, — but I am illustrating an em- 

 barrassment, which, as the biographer of Arthur Young, I may 

 reasonably hope to escape, for agriculture, above all others, is 

 a branch of human knowledge, whose application comes home 

 to the business and bosom of every individual, however humble 

 or exalted may be his station, — limited, or extended his wants, — 

 and diversified his pleasures, or occupations ; while the suc- 

 cessful progress and improvement of this art form a subject of 

 such general and common interest, that I apprehend no indi- 

 vidual will withhold his tribute of grateful respect to the 

 memory of an aged and patriotic citizen, who concentrated, . 



