410 Memoir of Dr. Thomas Young. 



Whigs of the House of Commons beheld in him the caustic 

 orator, who, in parliamentary debates, was often the suc- 

 cessful antagonist of Canning. He was the future Presi- 

 sident of the House of Peers; he was the present Lord 

 Chancellor.* But, how could unjust criticism, proceed- 

 ing from so high a quarter, be opposed 1 I know 

 that certain minds depend implicitly on the consciousness 

 of their just claims, and in the certainty that, sooner or 

 later, truth will triumph ; but the multitude is inevitably 

 guided by a sentiment inherent in our nature, which Vol- 

 taire has thus stated : 



Quand duns la tombe un pauvre homme est inclus 

 Qu'iraporte un bruit, un nom qu'il n'entend plus ! 



Listen, for example to Galileo himself, after his abjura- 

 tion, saying in a whisper — 



E pur si muove ! 



These immortal words were not accidental expressions, but 

 were the expression of the cruel vexation which the distin- 

 guished old man experienced. Young, likewise, in a 

 pamphlet which he published in answer to the Edinburgh 

 Review, shewed that he was much discouraged. The live- 

 liness, the force of his expressions, but ill-disguised the 

 feeling which oppressed him. But now let us haste to tell 

 it: justice — complete justice — has been at last granted to 

 him. For some years the whole world beheld in him one 

 of the principal illustrations of our times. It was in France 

 (Young took pleasure in declaring it himself) that the first 



* The periodicals having done me the honour of frequently noticing the nume- 

 rous testimonials of kindness and friendship with which Lord Brougham favoured 

 me in 1834, both in Scotland and at Paris, a few words in explanation appear ne- 

 cessary. This Memoir of Dr. Young was read at a public meeting of the Aca- 

 demy of Sciences, on the 26th of November, 183'2. At this period I had no 

 personal knowledge of the author of the articles in the Edinburgh Review, I there- 

 fore cannot be accused of ingratitude. But it might be said, Why did you not 

 suppress entirely the history of this matter when you were about to publish ? I 

 mi"ht have done so, and the idea had occurred to me; but I soon gave it up. I 

 knew too well the elevated sentiments of my illustrious friend to fear that he 

 would be offended at ny candour on a question on which I am thoroughly con- 

 vinced the immense extent of his mind has not placed under the shelter of error. 

 The homage which 1 pay to the noble character of Lord Brougham in publishing 

 at present this passage in the eloge of Young, without modifying it, is, in my opi- 

 nion, so significant, that 1 shall not attempt to add more. 



