Volume 1

The Farington diary / edited by James Greig.

  • Joseph Farington
Date:
[1922?-1928]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Farington diary / edited by James Greig. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    109/464 (page 67)
    Lady Inchiquin this morning [September 30] described to me the death of Young Burke. Two days only before his death He was removed to Brompton, and it was not till then that his Father was sensible of his danger.—On that day He died He heard his Father so loud in his expres¬ sions of greif in the next room, as himself to be much moved by it. He ordered his servant to dress him and make him appear as well as He could. He then walked into the next room to his Father and addressed him on his allowing his greif so to overcome him. “ You unman me, Sir, by it,—recollect yourself,—come into me, and talk to me of religion, or on some other subject.”—They returned together and being seated the young man said, my Heart flutters.—Hearing a noise like rain He said does it rain ? His Father replied no, it is the wind—again hearing it He said surely it is rain, No said the Father it is the wind among the trees.—The Son then began to repeat that part of the morning Hymn, from Milton, [Paradise Lost, Book V.], beginning with : His praise ye winds ! that from four quarters blow, Breathe soft, or loud ; and wave your tops, ye pines ! With ev’ry plant, in sign of worship wave. Fountains ! and ye that warble, as ye flow, Melodious murmurs! Warbling tune his praise. While proceeding in repeating that Hymn, He sunk forward into his Fathers arms and expired.—Mrs Burke came in at this distressing moment. Walter King wrote the eulogium on Young Burke, published in the papers. August 9.—Taylor [an editor of the Morning Post (r. 1788) and author of “ Monsieur Tonson ”] strongly recommended Hickey the Sculptor, to me to be an Associate. This happened to be Taylors birth¬ day who is 39. August 10.-—[The Rev.] Mr. Peach [of East Sheen] said that not more than 6 weeks ago the Duke of Portland said He wd. never make part of an administration unless Fox was of the number.—Fox wd. not believe till it was absolutely settled that the Duke See would join the administration. August 7.—Called at the Shakespeare Gallery. Nicol [Scottish bookseller and one of the founders of The Shakespeare Gallery] told me Mrs. Davis, widow of Tom Davis, the Bookseller, and author of the life of Garrick, is now abt. 70 years of age, and in very indigent circum¬ stances. She had £20 a year allowed Her by Cadell, while He continued Printer to the Royal Academy, which office having been taken from him this year, she loses that advantage. I told Nicol I wd. speak to Sir Whlliam Chambers on the subject.—Met Trumbull [the artist-secretary VOL. 1. 5*