Memoirs of William Hazlitt
Chap. I 1778-1811
William Hazlitt to William Hazlit sen.; [July] 1790
“Saturday, March —, 1790.
“Dear Father,
“I now sit down to spend a little time in an
employment, the productions of which I know will give you pleasure, though I
know that every minute that I am employed in doing anything which will be
advantageous to me, will give you pleasure. Happy, indeed unspeakably happy,
are those people who, when at the point of death, are able to say, with a
satisfaction which none but themselves can have any idea of—‘I have
done with this world, I shall now have no more of its temptations to
struggle with, and praise be to God I have overcome them; now no more
sorrow, now no more grief, but happiness for evermore!’ But how
unspeakably miserable is that man who, when his pleasures are going to end,
when his lamp begins to grow dim, is compelled to say,—‘Oh that I had
done my duty to God and man! oh that I had been wise, and spent that time
which was kindly given me by Providence, for a purpose quite contrary to
that which I employed it to, as I should ![]()
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have done; but it is now gone; I cannot
recal time, nor can I undo all my wicked actions. I cannot seek that mercy
which I have so often despised. I have no hope remaining. I must do as well
as I can—but who can endure everlasting fire?’ Thus does the
wicked man breathe his last, and without being able to rely upon his good, with
his last breath, in the anguish of his soul, says, ‘Have mercy upon me a
sinner, O God!’—After I had sealed up my last letter to you,
George asked me if I were glad the Test Act was not
repealed? I told him, No. Then he asked me why? and I told him because I
thought that all the people who are inhabitants of a country, of whatsoever
sect or denomination, should have the same rights with others.—But, says he,
then they would try to get their religion established, or something to that
purpose.—Well, what if it should be so?—He said that the Church religion was an
old one.—Well, said I, Popery is older than that.—But then, said he, the Church
religion is better than Popery.—And the Presbyterian is better than that, said
I. I told him I thought so for certain reasons, not because I went to chapel.
But at last, when I had overpowered him with my arguments, he said he wished he
understood it as well as I did, for I was too high learned for him. I then went
to the concert. But as I am now going with George to a
Mrs. Cupham, I must defer the rest of my letter till
another time. I have gotten to the 36th verse, 15th chapter.
“Monday morning.—I was very
much pleased at the concert; but I think Meredith’s
singing was worth all ![]()
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the
rest. “When we came out of the concert, which was about nine
o’clock, we went to Mrs. Chilton’s, at whose
house we slept. It rained the next morning, but I was not much wet coming home.
George was very much wet, and the colour of his coat
was almost spoiled. On Wednesday Mr. Clegg did not come,
as he was confined to his bed. On Wednesday evening Mr.
Dolounghpryeé came, to whom I was very attentive. I was sorry
Mr. Clegg did not come on Saturday, but I hope he will
come on Wednesday next. Saturday afternoon I and George,
with Miss Avis, went to a Mrs.
Bartton’s, who appeared to be an unhospitable English prim
‘lady,’ if such she may be called. She asked us, as if she were
afraid we should accept it, if we would stay to tea. And at the other English
person’s, for I am sure she belongs to no other country than to England,
I got such a surfeit of their ceremonial unsociality, that I could not help
wishing myself in America. I had rather people would tell one to go out of the
house than ask one to stay, and, at the same time, be trembling all over, for
fear one should take a slice of meat, or a dish of tea, with them. Such as
these require an Horace or a Shakspeare to describe them. I have not yet
learned the gamut perfectly, but I would have done it if I could. I spent a
very agreeable day yesterday, as I read 160 pages of Priestley, and heard two good sermons; the
best of which, in my opinion, was Mr. Lewin’s, and
the other Mr. Smith’s. They both belong to
Benn’s Gardens Chapel. Mr. Nicholls called last
night, who informed me that he sent the note by his boy, who left ![]()
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it with the servant, and that
when he went again, Mr. Yates had not received it; so that
I have not yet received the books, which I am very sorry for. I forgot to tell
you, Winfield and all the other part of the family are
very well, and that Mrs. Tracey said, I said my French
task very well last Saturday. I am now almost at the end of my letter, and
shall therefore answer all questions in your letter, which I received this
morning, which I have not already answered. And in the first place. I have not
seen Mr. Kingston since. I am glad that you liked my
letter to Joe, which I was afraid he had not received, as
you said nothing about it. Does he intend to answer me? Miss
Shepherd will go on Monday, I believe, and I shall go with her.
I have not seen Mr. Yates since I wrote last. I do not
converse in French; but I and Miss Tracey have a book,
something like a vocabulary, where we get the meanings of words. Miss
Tracey never does accompts, but I take an hour or two every
other day. I will follow your Greek precept. Give my best love to mamma, and
tell her I shall write to her next time, and hope she will write to me in
answer to it. Give my respects to Mr. and Miss Cottons,
and to every other inquirer, not forgetting Kynaston. I
wish people made larger paper. I shall put this into the post-office to-night,
Monday evening.”
“I am your affectionate son,
“William Hazlitt.”
Horace (65 BC-8 BC)
Roman lyric poet; author of
Odes,
Epistles, Satires, and the
Ars Poetica.
Joseph Priestley (1733-1804)
Dissenting theologian, schoolmaster, and scientist; he was author of
The History and Present State of Electricity, with Original Experiments
(1767).
