literary reputation breaking out at last with additional lustre, I knew that I could have but few years to enjoy it. It is difficult to be more detached from life than I am at present." Such was the state of mind in which this extraordinary man sat down to compose the biographic sketch he has entitled, My Own Life. He had already settled his affairs, and it is said, that the property he left to his relations amounted to upwards of ten thousand pounds, all of his own acquiring.

"In 1775, Mr. Gibbon published the first volume of his history, in quarto; and Mr. Hume, who was ever gratified by the success of his friends, testified his happiness on the occasion in the following letter to the author.

66

"Edinburgh, March 18, 1776. “Dear Sir,

"As I ran through your volume "of history with great avidity and impatience, I cannot forbear dis"covering somewhat of the same "impatience in returning you thanks "for your agreeable present, and "expressing the satisfaction which "the performance has given me. "Whether I consider the dignity "of your style, the depth of your "matter, or the extensiveness of "your learning, I must regard the "work as equally the object of esteem; and I own, that if I had "not previously had the happiness "of your personal acquaintance, "such a performance, from an Eng"lishman in our age, would have "given me some surprise. You "may smile at this sentiment; but "as it seems to me that your comm“trymen, for almost a whole gene"ration, have given themselves up “to barbarous and absurd faction, "and have totally neglected all po"lite letters, I no longer expected

thing, will retard your succes。 "with the public; for in every other respect your work is calculated

66

to be popular. But, among many "other marks of decline, the pre"valence of superstition in Eng"land prognosticates the fall of phi

losophy and decay of taste; and "though nobody be more capable "than you to revive them, you will "probably find a struggle in your "first advances.

"I see you entertain a great "doubt with regard to the authen"ticity of the poems of Ossian. "You are certainly right in so do"ing. It is, indeed, strange, that

any men of sense could have ima"gined it possible, that above

66

twenty thousand verses, along "with numberless historical facts, "could have been preserved by oral "tradition-during fifty generations, "by the rudest, perhaps, of all Eu

ropean nations, the most necessi

tous, the most turbulent, and the "most unsettled. Where a suppo"sition is so contrary to commun sense, any positive evidence of it ought never to be regarded. Men CON

"run with great avidity to give "their evidence in favour of what "flatters their passions, and their "national prejudices. You are, "therefore, over and above indulgent to us in speaking of the mat"ter with hesitation.

"I must inform you, that we are "all very anxious to hear, that you "have fully collected the materials "for your second volume, and that 66 you are even considerably ad"vanced in the composition of it. "I speak this more in the name of my friends than in my own; as I cannot expect to live so long as to see the publication of it. Your "ensuing volume will be more de"licate than the preceding, but I "trust in your prudence for extri

66

"A few months before his death, Mr. Hume was prevailed on by the entreaties of his friends to try the effects of a long journey and the Bath waters. Having accordingly settled his affairs, and drawn up the account of his life, which was after wards published by Mr. Strahan, he set out for London towards the end of April 1776. At Morpeth he met Mr. John Home and Dr. Adam Smith, who had come from London purposely to see him. Mr. Home returned with him to the capital, and Dr. Smith proceeded to Edinburgh.

ing with their accustomed violence, and his malady increasing, he found it necessary to set out for Scotland. His cheerfulness, however, never forsook him. He wrote letters to his literary friends, informing them of his intention to be at Edinburgh on a certain day, and inviting them to dine with him on the day following. It was a kind of farewel dinner, and among those who came to partake of the hospitality of the dy ing historian, were lord Elibank, Dr. Smith, Dr. Blair, Dr. Black, Professor Ferguson, and John Home.

"After his return to Edinburgh, Mr. Hume, though extremely debilitated by disease, went abroad a times in a sedan chair, and called on his friends; but his ghastly looks indicated the rapid approach of death. He diverted himself with correcting his works for a new edition, with reading books of amusement, with the conversation of his friends, and sometimes in the evering with a party at his favourite game of whist. His facetiousness led him to indulge occasionally ja the bagatelle. Among other verb" legacies, in making which he amused himself, the following whimsical one has been related. The author of Douglas is said to have a morta aversion to port wine, and to have had frequent disputes with the historian about the manner of spelling his name. Both these circumstances were often the subject of Mr. Hume's raillery; and he verbally bequeathed to the poet a quantity of port wine, on condition that he should always drink a bottle at a sitting, and give a receipt for it under the signature of John Hume.

"Dr. Smith has recorded an instance of Mr. Hume's sportive disposition, and it also shews the pla

Colonel Edinonstone came to take leave of him; and on his way home, he could not forbear writing Hume a letter, bidding him once more an eternal adieu, and applying to him the French verses in which the Abbé Chaulieu, in expectation of his own death, laments his approaching separation from his friend the marquis de la Fare. Dr. Smith happened to enter the room while Mr. Hume was reading the letter; and in the course of the conversation it gave rise to, Hume expressed the satisfaction he had of leaving his friends, and his brother's family in particular, in prosperous circumstances. This, he said, he felt so sensibly, that when he was reading, a few days before, Lucian's Dialogues of the Dead, he could not, among all the excuses which are alleged to Charon for not entering readily into his boat, find one that fitted him. He had no house to finish; he had to daughter to provide for; he had no enemies upon whom he wished to revenge himself. I could not well imagine," said he, what ex

cuse I could make to Charon, in or

der to obtain a little delay. I have tone every thing of consequuice which I ever meant to do, and I could at no time expect to leave my relations and friends in a better situation than that in which I am now likely to leave them: I therefore have all reason to die contented."

"He then diverted himself, continnes Dr. Smith, with inventing severai jocular excuses which he supposed he might make to Charon, and with, imagining the very sury answers which it night seit the character of Charon to return to Lam.

"Upon further consideration," said he,

I thought I might say to him, good Charon, I have been correcting my works for a new edition. Allow me a little time, that I may see how the public receives the alterations." But Charon would answer, "when you see the effect of these, you will be for making other alterations. There will be no end to such excuses; so, honest friend, please step into the boat." But I might still urge," have a little patience, good Charon, I have been endeavouring to open the eyes of the public. If I live a few years longer, I may have the satisfaction of seeing the downfal of some of the prevailing systems of superstition." But Charon would then lose all temper and decency: " you loitering rogue, that will not happen these many hundred years. Do you fancy I will grant you a lease for so long a term? Get into the boat this instant, you lazy loitering rogue.”

The hour of his departure had now arrived. His decline being gradual, he was, in his last moments, perfectly sensible, and free from pain. He shewed not the slightest indication of impatience or fretfulness, but conversed with the people around him in a tone of mildness and affection; and his whole conduct evinced a happy composure of mind. On Sunday, the 25th of August 1776, about four o'clock in the afternoon, this great and amiable man expired. He was buried in a rocky spot, which he had purchased in the Calton burying-ground; and, agreeably to his will, a plain monument was afterwards erected ou the place of his interment.

IN [N 1762, the parliament of Paris issued an arrêt against Rousseau, on account of his Emilius, which had given offence to the ecclesiastical order. Hume was then at Edinburgh, where he received a letter from a friend at Paris, informing him that Rousseau intended to seek an asylum in England, and desiring our historian to do him all the good offices in his power. Mr. Hume believing that Rousseau had already put his design in execution, wrote to several of his friends in London, and warmly recommended this celebrated exile to their favour. He also wrote to Rousseau himself, assuring him of his desire to serve him, and inviting him to come to Edinburgh, and reside in his own house as long as he, Rousseau, should please to continue. No other motive, says Mr. Hume in a pamphlet, which he published in French on this affair, no other motive was wanting to incite me to this act of humanity, than the account given me of M. Rousseau's personal character by the friend who had recommended him; his well known genius and abilities, and above all, his misfortunes.'

if I had foreseen what a reception I was to meet with in my own. There was no other nation I could prefer to England. And this prepossession for which I have dearly suffered was, at that time, very excusable; but to my great astonishment, as well as that of the public, I have met with nothing but affronts and insults, where I hoped to have found consolation, if not gratitude. How many things thake me regret the want of that asylum and philosophical hospitality I should have found with you! My misfortunes, indeed, have constantly seemed to lead me in a manner that way. The protection and kindness of lord Marischal, your worthy and illustrious countryman, have brought Scotland home to me, if I may so express myself, in the midst of Switzerland; he has made you so often bear a part in our conversation; he has brought me so well acquainted with your virtues, while I before was only with your talents; he has inspired me with the most tender friendship for you, and the most ar dent desire of obtaining yours, before I knew you were disposed to grant it. Judge then of the pleasure I feel, at finding this inclination re

Motiers-Travers, Feb. 19, 1763.
Sir,

I did not receive till lately, and at this place, the letter you did me the honour to direct to me at London, the 2d of July last, on the supposition that I was then in that capital. I should doubtless have made choice of a retreat in your country, and as near as possible to yourself,

your merit but half its due, if it were the subject only of my admiration. Your great views, your astonishing impartiality, your genius would litt you far above the rest of mankind,

if

you were less attached to them by the goodness of your heart. My lord Marischal, in acquainting me that the amiableness of your dispo sition was still greater than the sublimity of your genius, rendered a correspondence with you every day

more

fnore desirable, and cherished in me those wishes which he inspired, of ending my days near you. Oh, sir, that a better state of health, and more convenient circumstances, ⚫ would but enable me to take such a journey in the manner I could like! Could I but hope to see you and lord Marischal one day settled in your common country, which should for ever after be mine, I should be thankful, in so agreeable a society, for the very misfortunes that led me into it, and should account the day of its commencement as the first of my life. Would to heaven I might see that happy day more to be desired than expected! With what transports should I not exclaim, on setting foot in that happy country which gave birth to David Hume and the lord Marischal of Scotland,

"Salve, facis mihi debita tellus ! "Hæc domus, hæc patria est." "Rousseau was afterwards obliged to fly from Motiers to avoid being stoned by the populace, whose religious zeal he had offended. He chose the isle of St. Peter in the midst of the lake of Bienne for the place of his retreat; and in a work intitled, Les Reveries du Promeneur Solitaire, he has introduced an interesting description of that island. His caprices again exposed him to the popular indignation, and he was ordered by their excellencies the syndics or magistrates to leave the country he accordingly withdrew to Strasburgh.

"From the date of the preceding Fetter, all correspondence ceased between Hume and Rousseau till about the middle of autumn 1765, when it was renewed by the following accident. The marchioness de Verdelin happened to be on a journey to one of the provinces bordering on 1807.

Switzerland; and being acquainted with Rousseau, she took the opportunity of paying a visit to him in his retreat at Motiers-Travers. He complained to the marchioness, that his residence at Neufchatel was become extremely disagreeable, as well on account of the superstition of the people, as the resentment of the clergy; and expressed his fear, that he should shortly be under the necessity of seeking an asylum elsewhere; in which case England appeared to him to be the most eligible place he could retire to with perfect security. He added, that his friend lord Marischal had advised him to put himself under Mr. Hume's protection, and that if he did not think it would have been giving the latter too much trouble, he would have already addressed him on the subject.

Hume, who was then chargé d'affaires at Paris, but had a prospect of soon returning to England, immediately wrote to Rousseau, and made him an offer of his services. To this letter he received the following answer:

Sir,

'Strasburgh, Dec. 4, 1765.

It is

Your goodness affects me as much as it does me honour. The best reply I can make to your offers is to accept them, which I do. I shall set out in five or six days to throw myself into your arms. the advice of my lord Marischal, my protector, friend, and father: it is the advice also of madame* * *. whose good sense and benevolence serve equally for my direction and consolation; in fine, I may say it is the advice of my own heart, which takes a pleasure in being indebted to the most illustrious of my contemporaries, to a man whose goodness surpasses his glory. I sigh fo D a solita