Memoirs of William Hazlitt
Chap. I 1778-1811
William Hazlitt sen. to William Hazlitt, March 1820
“Wem, March —, 1790.
“My dear William,
“Your brother said that your letter to him was very
long, very clever, and very entertaining. On Wednesday evening, we had your
letter, which was finished on the preceding Monday. The piety displayed in the
first part of it was a great refreshment to me. Continue to cherish those
thoughts which then occupied your mind; continue to be virtuous, and you will
finally be that happy being whom you describe; and, to this purpose, you have
nothing more to do than to pursue that conduct which will always yield you the
highest pleasures even in this present life. But he who once gives way to any
known vice, in the very instant hazards his total depravity and total ruin. You
must, therefore, fixedly resolve never, through any possible motives, to do
anything which you believe to be wrong. This will be only resolving never to be
miserable; and this I rejoicingly expect will be the unwavering resolution of
my William. Your conversation upon the
Test Act did you honour. If we only think justly, we shall always easily foil
all the advocates of tyranny. The inhospitable ladies whom you mention, were,
perhaps, treated by you with too great severity. We know not how people may be
circumstanced at a particular moment, whose disposition is generally friendly.
They may, then, happen to pass under a cloud, which unfits them for social
intercourse. ![]()
| | A LETTER OF ADVICE AND NEWS. | 15 |
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We must see
them more than once or twice to be able to form a tolerable judgment of their
characters. There are but few, like Mrs. Tracey, who can
always appear what they really are. I do not say, however, that the English
ladies whom you mentioned are not exactly as you described them. I only wish to
caution you against forming too hasty a judgment of characters, who can seldom
be known at a single interview. I wish you, if you can, to become master of the
gamut while you are there. I am glad that you have made so great a progress in
French, and that you are so very anxious to hear Mr.
Clegg’s lectures. It is a pity that you cannot have
another month at the French, &c. But, as matters are, I hope you will be
soon able to master that language. I am glad that you employed the last Sunday
so well, and that the employment afforded you so much satisfaction. Nothing
else can truly satisfy us, but the acquisition of knowledge and virtue. May
these blessings be yours more and more every day! On Thursday morning we had a
letter from Mr. Boatt, written at Boston, 24th of June,
just five weeks before we received it. He was forty-six days on his passage
from England, with agreeable company. They had sometimes very heavy weather,
and so extremely cold, that the sails were frozen to the yards. The last winter
was very extraordinary, and very unhealthy in America. Consequently, many
persons died in Boston, and in other parts of the country. He says, concerning
you, ‘I read Billy’s letter to
Fanny, and she was delighted with it. She sends
her love to him; but ![]()
| 16 | A LETTER OF ADVICE AND NEWS. | |
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Fanny has lost the recollection of her little
playfellow. The letter does Billy much credit. He has
uncommon powers of mind; and, if nothing happens to prevent his receiving a
liberal education, he must make a great man.’ This compliment, I
know, will not make you proud, or conceited, but more diligent. He also desires
his and Mrs. Boatt’s affectionate regards to
Billy. You see how careful I am to transmit to you all
the news in my power. I must, now, give you some information and directions
concerning your return home. Before you leave Liverpool you will not neglect to
call upon all persons who have shown you any particular civilities. You will
thank Mr. Nicholls for the trouble you have given him, and
especially your masters for their attention to you, and Mr.
Yates for his books, which you will be careful to return in the
good order in which you received them. You will give my respects to
Mr. Yates. I wish that he, amongst his friends, could
procure for your brother engagements for about a score of pictures at Liverpool
this summer, that we might have the pleasure of seeing him here. Your mother
gives her love; and she unites with me in affectionate regards to Mrs. and all
the Miss Traceys. I am, my dear
William, your truly affectionate father,
“W. Hazlitt.
“Wednesday, March, 1790.”
William Hazlitt (1778-1830)
English essayist and literary critic; author of
Characters of
Shakespeare's Plays (1817),
Lectures on the English Poets
(1818), and
The Spirit of the Age (1825).
