CONTENTS OF VOLUME FIRST.

ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOL. I.

Portrait of Hume from a Medallion,
Fac simile of a letter by Hume,

Frontispiece.

Page 178

Birth

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CHAPTER I.

1711-1734. ET. 0-23.

Parentage His own account of his Ancestors-Local associa-

tions of Ninewells-Education-Studies-Early Correspondence-The

Ramsays-Specimen of his early Writings-Essay on Chivalry-Why

he deserted the Law-Early ambition to found a School of Philosophy

- Letter to a Physician describing his studies and habits - Criticism

on the Letter Supposition that it was addressed to Dr. Cheyne -

Hume goes to Bristol.

1

CHAPTER II.

1734-1739. Æт. 23-27.

Hume leaves Bristol for France - Paris - Miracles at the Tomb of the

Abbé Paris-Rheims-La Flèche-Associations with the Abbé Pluche

and Des Cartes - Observations on French Society and Manners —

Story of La Roche-Return to Britain-Correspondence with Henry

Home Publication of the first and second volume of the Treatise of

Human Nature - Character of that Work-Its influence on Mental

Philosophy.

48

CHAPTER III.

1739-1741. T. 27-29.

Letters to his friends after the publication of the first and second volume

of the Treatise-Returns to Scotland-Reception of his Book-Criti-

cism in "The Works of the Learned"-- Charge against Hume of

assaulting the publisher - Correspondence with Francis Hutcheson-

Seeks a situation-Connexion with Adam Smith - Publication of the

third volume of the Treatise - Account of it - Hume's notes of his

reading-Extracts from his Note-books.

Page 105

CHAPTER IV.

1741-1745. T. 30-34.

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Publication of the Essays, Moral and Political-Their Character-Cor-

respondence with Home and Hutcheson - Hume's Remarks on

Hutcheson's System-Education and Accomplishments of the Scot-

tish Gentry-Hume's Intercourse with Mure of Caldwell and

Oswald of Dunnikier-Opinions on a Sermon by Dr. Leechman -

Attempts to succeed Dr. Pringle in the Chair of Moral Philosophy

in Edinburgh.

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136

CHAPTER V.

1745-1747. T. 34-36.

Hume's Residence with the Marquis of Annandale-His Predecessor

Colonel Forrester-Correspondence with Sir James Johnstone and

Mr. Sharp of Hoddam-Quarrel with Captain Vincent - Estimate of

his Conduct, and Inquiry into the Circumstances in which he was

placed-Appointed Secretary to General St. Clair-Accompanies the

expedition against the Court of France as Judge-Advocate-Gives an

Account of the Attack on Port L'Orient—A tragic Incident.

170

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CHAPTER VI.

1746 1748. T. 35-37.

Hume returns to Ninewells - His domestic Position - His attempts in

Poetry-Inquiry as to his Sentimentalism-Takes an interest in Poli-

tics-Appointed Secretary to General St. Clair on his mission to Turin

- His journal of his Tour - Arrival in Holland - Rotterdam - The

Hague-Breda-The War-French Soldiers-Nimeguen-Cologne

-Bonn-The Rhine and its scenery-Coblentz-Wiesbaden- Frank-

furt Battle of Dettingen-Wurzburg-Ratisbon - Descent of the

Danube - Observations on Germany - Vienna The Emperor and

Empress Queen-Styria-Carinthia The Tyrol-Mantua-Cremona

- Turin.

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225

CHAPTER VII.

1748-1751. Æт. 37 - - 40.

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Publication of the "Inquiry concerning Human Understanding" — Na-

ture of that Work-Doctrine of Necessity-Observations on Miracles

New Edition of the "Essays, Moral and Political "--Reception of the

new Publications-Return Home-His Mother's Death-Her Talents

and Character-Correspondence with Dr. Clephane-Earthquakes—

Correspondence with Montesquieu-Practical jokes in connexion with

the Westminster Election-John Home-The Bellman's Petition. Page 271

Sir Gilbert Elliot Hume's intimacy with him- Their Philosophical

Correspondence - Dialogues on Natural Religion - Residence in

Edinburgh Jack's Land Publication of the "Inquiry concerning

the Principles of Morals"- The Utilitarian Theory - Attempt to

obtain the Chair of Moral Philosophy in Glasgow - Competition with

Burke Publication of the "Political Discourses - The foundation

of Political Economy

French Translations.

319

CHAPTER IX.

1752 1755. AT. 4144.

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-Com-

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Appointment as keeper of the Advocates' Library His Duties

mences the History of England - Correspondence with Adam Smith

and others on the History-Generosity to Blacklock the Poet-

Quarrel with the Faculty of Advocates - Publication of the First

Volume of the History-Its reception - Continues the History -

Controversial and Polemical attacks - Attempt to subject him, along

with Kames, to the Discipline of Ecclesiastical Courts -The leader of

the attack Home's "Douglas"- The first Edinburgh Review. . 367

APPENDIX.

Fragments of a Paper in Hume's handwriting, describing the Descent

on the Coast of Brittany, in 1746, and the causes of its failure.

Letters from Montesquieu to Hume,

the Abbé le Blanc to Hume,

Documents relating to the Poems of Ossian,

Essay on the Genuineness of the Poems,

441

456

458

462

471

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Local associations

of Ninewells Education Studies - Early Correspondence - The Ramsays- Specimen of his early Writings Essay on Chivalry- Why he deserted the Law-Early ambition to found a School of Philosophy Letter to a Physician describing his studies and habits — Criticism on the Letter Supposition that it was addressed to Dr. Cheyne - Hume goes to Bristol.

His

DAVID HUME was born at Edinburgh, on the 26th of April, 1711. He was the second son of Joseph Hume, or Home, proprietor of the estate of Ninewells, in the parish of Chirnside, in Berwickshire. mother was a daughter of Sir David Falconer of Newton, who filled the office of Lord President of the Court of Session from 1682 to 1685, and is known to lawyers as the collector of a series of decisions of the Court of Session, published in 1701. His son, the brother of Hume's mother, succeeded to the barony of Halkerton in 1727. Mr. Hume the elder, was a member of the Faculty of Advocates. He appears, how

1 Old Style.

2 He is entered in the list of members on 23d June, 1705, as "Mr. Joseph Hume of Ninewalls." It thus appears that the ortho

B