YONGE STREET AND DUNDAS STREET. 623 



I observe among tlie " Traditions and Recollections " of Polwhele, 

 the historian of Cornwall, a reference to the literary tastes of Sir 

 George Yonge. Polwhele had communicated to him, for his judg- 

 ment, a certaia composition, intended apparently to compete for 

 some distraction at the University of Oxford. Sir George replies as 

 follows : " I very much like your poetical ideas, and think they will 

 do for Oxford very well. The ode might be spoken (Sir George 

 suggests) by a bard from the top of the Promontory of Hercules," 

 [i.e., Hartland Point, North Devon, jutting out into the Bristol 

 Channel.] And in another place in the same work of Polwhele's 

 we meet with an allusion to Sir George Yonge as an encourager of 

 the author in his labours in relation to the History of Cornwall, not- 

 withstanding the adverse criticism of a few. Thus : 



"Though Acland, scowling midst his scatter'd plans, 



May spots innumerous in my book espy ; 

 Though Incledon each fact severely scans, 



In pedigrees, perhaps, more sage than I ; 

 Yet whilst a Downman wishes to peruse 



(His mind the seat of candour !) all I write ; 

 Whilst Yonge stiU prompts me to enlarge my views, 



And bids me soar with no ignoble flight ; 

 Whilst Whitaker approves my various scheme, 



And wakes my ardour in each bold essay ; 

 With friendly light illumining the theme 



Of Roman relics sunk in dim decay ; 

 Shall not the Sjjirit of Research proceed, 



And, spurning Envy, grasp the historic meed ? " 



(Downman was a literary contemporary of note, a clerical M.D. 

 Whitaker was the Rev. John Whitaker, author of the History of 

 Manchester, of the Life of St. Neot, the eldest brother of King 

 Alfred, and other works.) 



Sir George Yonge died, as I have already mentioned, in 1812. 

 Sir W. Courthope observes, in his " Synopsis of the Extinct Baronet- 

 age of England," that he died sine prole, so that the baronetcy became 

 extinct, after existing since 1661, the time of the Restoration. It 

 is to be regretted that we have to state that towards the close of his 

 life Sir George became involved La difficulties from having invested 

 largely in wool-mills, in the neighbourhood of Honiton, the borough 

 which he, as his father before him, had repi-esented in Parliament 

 for many years. And Mr. George Roberts, of Lyme Regis, in his 



