332 Hisfoiy of the English Landed Interest. 



ment? He is described by bis biograpbers as bandsome, 

 witty and versatile, " a man courted by tbe great," a con- 

 spicuous figure in good society; "one wbo would certainly 

 find a London salon more to bis taste tban a dull farmbouse." ^ 

 It was because every circumstance connected witb bis appear- 

 ance militated against bis ability to disguise bimself as a 

 farmer, that be was obliged to exaggerate tbe latter's charac- 

 teristics. He was acting a role for which he was ill adapted 

 by birth and early associations, but for which he possessed a 

 powerful predilection. A landlord in bis tenant's clothing 

 might readily be mistaken for the proverbial wolf by the 

 sheepish wits of the rustic. To play the part therefore with 

 success, he was frequently compelled to resort to stage tricks 

 and to conceal the polished manners of tbe gentleman under 

 the rough exterior of the yokel. Later on, when he had 

 appeared in the part of the farmer so long, that people might 

 well doubt whether he had not lost in the process some of the 

 polish of the gentleman, he took to caricaturing the manners 

 of the class to which he really belonged. Thus in 1770, 

 Fanny Burney describes him as overdressed, " grown all airs 

 and affectation." " Yet I believe," she adds, " this was put 

 on, for what purpose 1 cannot tell, unless it were to let us see 

 what a power of transformation he possessed," 



Young spared no pains to educate his mind for tbe part he 

 had selected in life. A day's outing with the Burneys was no 

 doubt more congenial to his tastes than heavy-land farming in 

 wet weather ; but then a course of the latter was as essential 

 for Young's future calling, as walking the hospitals for that of 

 any great medical specialist of to-day. Can we not imagine 

 how irresistible the teaching and influence of this man must 

 have been to the rude farmers who heard their interests 

 advocated and their practice criticised in terms at one and the 

 same time graceful, convincing, and familiar. To be able to 

 discuss didactically as well as successfully practical topics 

 with practical men requires the tact of the courtier and that 

 familiarity with one's subject which only comes from 



• Young's Travels in France. Biog. Sketch. M. Betham-Edwards. 



