Chapter XIII: 1763-1764. Æt. 52-53 (1)

Lord Hertford's appointment to the French Embassy, and
invitation to Hume to accompany him--Correspondence on the
occasion--Residence in London, and remarks on the Political
Movements of 1763--State of his reputation in France--His
Arrival--Letters to friends at home about his flattering
reception--The young French princes--Observations on eminent
French people--His recommendations to a Clergyman--
Introductions of Fellow Countrymen.

On the conclusion of the treaty of 1763, the Marquis of Hertford was appointed ambassador to the court of France. He invited Hume to attend him as secretary; and there is no reason to believe that the selection was owing to any other motive than the desire to place an able and honest man in office. The Marquis was a man of high moral character, and his religious opinions appear to have been considered by some of his contemporaries as too zealous and exclusive. The intercourse thus occasioned, was the commencement of a lasting friendship, in which the English Marquis and the Scottish philosopher, however separated by nominal difference of rank, had too genuine a respect for each other to be affected by such inequalities. The intimacy extended to General Seymour Conway, the brother of the Marquis; and Hume's intercourse with them both, tends to confirm the impression which the portraits of the two brothers convey to the present generation, of dispositions open, kind, and artless. In reference to this event, Hume says, in his "own life," "I retired to my native country of Scotland, determined never more to set my foot out of it; and retaining the satisfaction of never having preferred a request to one great man, or even making advances of friendship to any of them. As I was now turned of fifty, I thought of passing all the rest of my life in this philosophical manner, when I received, in 1763, an invitation from the Earl of Hertford, with whom I was not in the least acquainted, to attend him on his embassy to Paris, with a near prospect of being appointed secretary to the embassy, and, in the meanwhile, of performing the functions of that office. This offer, however inviting, I at first declined, both because I was reluctant to begin connexions with the great, and because I was afraid that the civilities and gay company of Paris, would prove disagreeable to a person of my age and humour: but on his lordship's repeating the invitation, I accepted of it. I have every reason, both of pleasure and interest, to think myself happy in my connexions with that nobleman, as well as afterwards with his brother, General Conway."

We have, in his familiar correspondence, a fuller account of his feelings on the occasion.

HUME _to_ ADAM SMITH.

"_Edinburgh, 9th August, 1763._

"MY DEAR FRIEND,--I have got an invitation, accompanied with great prospects and expectations, from Lord Hertford, if I would accompany him, though at first without any character, in his embassy to Paris. I hesitated much on the acceptance of this offer, though in appearance very inviting: and I thought it ridiculous at my years, to be entering on a new scene, and to put myself in the lists as a candidate of fortune. But I reflected that I had in a manner abjured all literary occupations; that I resolved to give up my future life entirely to amusements; that there could not be a better pastime than such a journey, especially with a man of Lord Hertford's character; and that it would be easy to prevent my acceptance from having the least appearance of dependance. For these reasons, and by the advice of every friend whom I consulted, I at last agreed to accompany his lordship, and I set out to-morrow for London. I am a little hurried in my preparations; but I could not depart without bidding you adieu, my good friend, and without acquainting you with the reasons of so sudden a movement. I have not great expectations of revisiting this country soon; but I hope it will not be impossible but we may meet abroad, which will be a great satisfaction to me. I am," &c.[158:1]

HUME _to_ BARON MURE.

"_Lisle St. 1st Sept. 1763._

"MY DEAR BARON,--As I am not sure where you are, nor whether this direction be right, I am obliged to speak to you with reserve, both of public affairs and of my own. Of the latter, I shall only say, that notwithstanding of my first reluctance, I am entirely reconciled to my present situation, and have a great prepossession, or rather, indeed, a great esteem and affection for the person and family whom I am to accompany to France. The prospect of my being secretary to the embassy is neither very distant nor is it immediate; but Lord Hertford will certainly, before our departure, obtain a settlement for me for life; which at any events will improve my fortune, and is a great pledge of his friendship and regard.

"I have insulted [consulted] Elliot, Sir Harry, Oswald, and all our friends of that administration. The former said to me, that my situation was, taking all its circumstances, the most wonderful event in the world. I was now a person clean and white as the driven snow; and that were I to be proposed for the see of Lambeth, no objection could henceforth be made to me. What makes the matter more extraordinary, is, that the idea first came into my patron's head, without the suggestion of any one mortal.[159:1]

"You must have heard of the late most astonishing events with regard to public affairs.[159:2] Yesterday Lord Bute had a pretty large company dining with him, to whom he gave an account of the whole transactions, and desired them to publish it.

"One of them, a friend of mine, as soon as he went home, took it down in writing, of which he gave me a copy, and which I transmit to you. He is a military man, and his style is not elegant; but I am sure, from another certain authority, that the account is in the main just; only I have reason to think that Lord Halifax was proscribed along with the rest; at least he said so yesterday to a friend of mine. I wish this high spirit of his M. may be supported. But _femme qui écoute et ville qui parle sont bientôt rendues_. Lord Bute goes abroad very soon. Some pretend that the present administration is more enraged against him than is the opposition, on account of his taking this important step without consulting them. Never in any history was there so curious a scene; nor was there ever so formidable a demagogue as this man. Lord Sandwich, it is said, will be secretary for some weeks; our friend Wood is so at present. Many of the leading men in the opposition were left out on Mr. Pitt's plan; which, it is thought, will breed dissensions among them.

"I dined yesterday with Lord Chesterfield, along with Colonel Irvine. The Colonel made an apology for our arriving so late, on account of his being detained at court. 'At court?' said my lord: 'I should be glad to know what place that is.' Dear Mure, yours."[160:1]

In an earlier part of this work, we have found Hume narrating events of contemporary military history. In the following, as in the preceding letter, he gives his version of a celebrated ministerial revolution, of which the public is as yet possessed of no account which is not liable to doubt.

HUME _to_ ADAM SMITH.

"_Lisle St. 13th Sept. 1763._

"MY DEAR SMITH,--The settlement which I had made in Scotland was so much to my mind, I had indeed struck root so heartily, that it was with the utmost reluctance I could think of transplanting myself, and I began to approach towards that age in which these experiments became no longer practicable with safety. I own that, on my arrival in London, I found every circumstance more inviting than I had reason to expect; particularly the characters of Lord and Lady Hertford, who are allowed to be the two persons the most unexceptionable among all the English nobility. Even that circumstance of Lord Hertford's character, his great piety, ought to make my connexions with him more agreeable, both because it is not attended with any thing sour and rigid, and because I draw the more honour from his choice, while he overlooked so many seeming objections which lay against me on that head. My fortune also receives a great addition during life from this connexion; besides many openings to ambition, were I so simple as to be exposed to temptation from that passion.

"But, notwithstanding all these considerations, shall I tell you the truth? I repine at my loss of ease and leisure, and retirement and independence; and it is not without a sigh I look backwards, nor without reluctance that I cast my eye forwards. Is this sentiment an instinct which admonishes me of the situation most proper and suitable to me? Or is it a momentary disgust, the effect of low spirits, which company and amusement, and a better state of health, will soon dissipate and remove? I must wait with patience till I see the decision of this question.

"I find that one view of Lord Hertford in engaging me to go along with him is, that he thinks I may be useful to Lord Beauchamp in his studies. That young nobleman is generally spoke of as very amiable and very promising; but I remember, though faintly, to have heard from you something to the contrary, which you had heard from that severe critic, Mr. Herbert: I should be obliged to you for informing me of it. I have not yet seen my Lord Beauchamp, who is at this time in Paris. We shall not leave London these three weeks.

"You have, no doubt, heard of the strange jumble among our ministers, and of the negotiation opened with Mr. Pitt. Never story was told with such contrary circumstances as that of his secret conference with the king, and of the terms demanded by that popular leader. The general outlines of the whole story seem to be these:

"Lord Bute, disgusted with the ministers, who had almost universally conspired to neglect him, and suspecting their bottom to be too narrow, had, before Lord Egremont's death, opened a negotiation with Mr. Pitt, by means of Lord Shelburne, who employed Calcraft the agent. Mr. Pitt says, that he always declared it highly improper that he should be brought to the king, before all terms were settled on such a footing as to render it impossible for them to separate without agreeing. He accordingly thought they were settled. His first conference with the king confirmed him in that opinion, and he wrote to the Duke of Devonshire to come to town, in order to place himself at the head of the treasury. The Duke of Newcastle said, at his table on Sunday was a fortnight, that the ministry was settled. But when Mr. Pitt came to the king that afternoon, he found him entirely changed, and every thing was retracted that had been agreed on. This is his story. The other party says, that he rose in his terms, and wanted to impose the most exorbitant conditions on his sovereign. I suppose that the first conference passed chiefly in generals, and that Mr. Pitt would then be extremely humble, and submissive, and polite, and dutiful in his expressions. But when he came to particulars, they did not seem to correspond with these appearances. At least, this is the best account I can devise of the matter, consistent with the honour of both parties.

"You would see the present ministry by the papers. It is pretended that they are enraged against Lord Bute, for negotiating without their knowledge or consent; and that the other party are no less displeased with him for not finishing the treaty with them. That nobleman declared his resolution of going abroad a week or two ago. Now he is determined to pass the winter in London. Our countrymen are visibly hurt in this justle of parties, which I believe to be far from the intentions of Lord Bute. Lord Shelburne resigned, because he found himself obnoxious on account of his share in the negotiation. I see you are much displeased with that nobleman, but he always speaks of you with regard. I hear that your pupil, Mr. Fitzmaurice, makes a very good figure at Paris.

"It is generally thought that Mr. Pitt has gained credit and force by this negotiation. It turns the eyes of the public towards him. It shows that the king can overlook personal resentment against him and Lord Temple. It gains him the confidence of his own party, who see that he was negotiating for the whole of them; and puts people in mind of the French rhyme,--_ville qui parle et femme qui écoute_.

"You would hear that the case of the Douglas is now made clear, even in the eyes the most blinded and most prejudiced, which I am glad of on account of our friends. I am," &c.[163:1]

The following notice, by one who has unfortunately left nothing behind to show posterity the grounds on which his reputation rested, the Rev. Dr. Carlyle, will be read with interest.

Robertson has managed with great address: he is principal,
chaplain, minister, historiographer, and historian; that is to
say, he has £50 a-year and a house, certain, besides what he
can make by his books. It was taken for granted that he was to
resign his charge on being appointed historiographer with £200
salary; but that he will do at his leisure. It is also
supposed by his patrons, that he is to write the History of
Britain in ten volumes quarto; that also, I presume, (dreadful
task,) he will execute at his leisure.

Honest David Home, [Hume,] with the heart of all others that
rejoices most at the prosperity of his friends, was certainly
a little hurt with this last honour conferred on Robertson. A
lucky accident has given him relief. The Earl of Hertford is
appointed ambassador to France: not very capable himself, they
have loaded him with an insignificant secretary, one Charles
Bunbury, who, for the sake of pleasure, more than the thousand
a-year, solicited for the office. Hertford knew David, and
some good genius prompted him to ask him to go along and
manage the business. It is an honourable character: he will
see his friends in France. If he tires, he can return when he
pleases. Bunbury will probably tire first, and then David will
become secretary.[164:1]

The following letter, without address, appears to have been written to Dr. Carlyle.

"_Lisle Street, 15th Sept. 1763._

"DEAR DOCTOR,--The case of poor Blacklock gives me great distress; and so much the more, as I am afraid it is not in the power of any human being to relieve him.[165:1] His unhappiness seems to proceed from the infirmity of his body, and the delicacy, not to say weakness, of his mind. He has wrote to me letters full of the bitterest anguish, on account of the treatment he meets with from his parishioners. I believe it is not good; but it is impossible not to think it exaggerated by his imagination: and I am of your opinion that the same persecution, partly real, partly imaginary, would follow him in every other settlement. I had concerted with Baron Mure a very likely scheme for his removal; but to what purpose would this serve, if the same complaints must return in his new situation? I agree with you, that a small pension, could it be obtained, might bestow on him some degree of tranquillity; but how to obtain it I profess I do not know, as I suppose you will readily believe. That door was never very wide for men of letters; and is become still narrower than ever."

He proceeds, in terms similar to those already recorded, to state his satisfaction in the connexion with Lord Hertford, and continues:--

"I go to a place of the world which I have always admired the most; and it is not easy to imagine a reception better than I have reason to expect. What, then, can be wanting to my happiness? I hope, nothing; or if any thing, it will only be an age and temper better adapted to vanity and dissipation. I beg of you to embrace Mrs. Carlisle in my name, and to assure her of my sincere respects.

"I write no politics, having now become a politician. Please address yourself to John Hume for information on that head. Let him explain to you his patron's situation!!!! Pray, is there any body such an idiot at present as to be a partisan of the Douglas?"

To obtain literary distinction in France at that time, was to be received at court. The star of Germany had not yet risen in the horizon of literature, and the great monarch and warrior of the Teutonic tribes treated his native tongue as the speech of boors, tried to distinguish himself in French literature, and was ambitious of being received into equal companionship with the popular authors of France. Britain, notwithstanding her series of illustrious names, had not yet quite shaken off an air of provincialism. Shakspere was a strange wild genius, full of barbarisms and abominable galimatias: Voltaire had said it, and it was a judgment, not an opinion. Some discontented Frerons or Arnauds, might cavil against it: but this was rebellion, not controversy. The greatness of our masters in science and philosophy was fully admitted; but they were viewed as citizens of the great world of letters, accidentally born in one of its more barren districts; and they were scarcely more closely identified with the national literature of their country, than Linnæus might be with that of Sweden, or Tycho Brahe with that of Denmark. In truth, the apparent interregnum, following the decline of the Latin as the literary language of the world, appeared likely to end in the establishment of the French as its successor. Such expectations gave to the literature of France a metropolitan air, with which no other could cope; and communicated to those natives of other places, whose name was honoured in the French circles of letters, a corresponding elevation.[167:1] Hume would have been impervious to the most conclusive evidence on the subject, if he had failed to know how greatly he was honoured among all the literary circles of the continent, and particularly in those of the metropolis of literature. Lord Elibank, writing from Paris, on 11th May, 1763, says to him, "No author ever yet attained to that degree of reputation in his own lifetime that you are now in possession of at Paris;"[167:2] and the extent of his fame was abundantly attested by others.[167:3]

Hume arrived in France on the 14th day of October, 1763. Of his reception, his own letters will give the best account.

HUME _to_ ADAM SMITH.

"_Fontainbleau, 26th Oct. 1763._

"MY DEAR SMITH,--I have been three days at Paris, and two at Fontainbleau, and have every where met with the most extraordinary honours, which the most exorbitant vanity could wish or desire. The compliments of dukes and marischals of France, and foreign ambassadors, go for nothing with me at present: I retain a relish for no kind of flattery but that which comes from the ladies. All the courtiers, who stood around when I was introduced to Madame de Pompadour, assured me that she was never heard to say so much to any man; and her brother, to whom she introduced me,----[169:1] But I forget already, that I am to scorn all the civilities of men. However, even Madame Pompadour's civilities were, if possible, exceeded by those of the Duchesse de Choiseul, the wife of the favourite and Prime Minister, and one of the ladies of the most distinguished merit in France. Not contented with the many obliging things she said to me on my first introduction, she sent to call me from the other end of the room, in order to repeat them, and to enter into a short conversation with me: and not contented with that, she sent the Danish ambassador after me, to assure me, that what she said was not from politeness, but that she seriously desired to be in friendship and correspondence with me. There is not a courtier in France, who would not have been transported with joy, to have had the half of these obliging things said to him by either of these great ladies; but what may appear more extraordinary, both of them, as far as I could conjecture, have read with some care all my writings that have been translated into French,--that is, almost all my writings. The king said nothing particular to me, when I was introduced to him; and (can you imagine it) I was become so silly, as to be a little mortified by it, till they told me, that he never says any thing to any body the first time he sees them. The Dauphin, as I am told from all hands, declares himself on every occasion very strongly in my favour; and many people assure me, that I have reason to be proud of his judgment, even were he an individual. I have scarce seen any of the geniuses of Paris, who, I think, have in general great merit, as men of letters. But every body is forward to tell me the high panegyrics I receive from them; and you may believe that ----[170:1] approbation which has procured me all these civilities from the courtiers.

"I know you are ready to ask me, my dear friend, if all this does not make me very happy: No, I feel little or no difference. As this is the first letter I write to my friends at home, I have amused myself, (and I hope I have amused you,) by giving you a very abridged account of these transactions. But can I ever forget, that it is the very same species, that would scarce show me common civilities a very few years ago at Edinburgh, who now receive me with such applauses at Paris? I assure you, I reap more internal satisfaction from the very amiable manners and character of the family in which I live, (I mean Lord and Lady Hertford, and Lord Beauchamp,) than from all these external vanities; and it is that domestic enjoyment which must be considered as the agreeable circumstance in my situation. During the two last days, in particular, that I have been at Fontainbleau I have _suffered_ (the expression is not improper) as much flattery as almost any man has ever done in the same time. But there are few days in my life, when I have been in good health, that I would not rather pass over again. Mr. Neville, our minister, an honest, worthy English gentleman, who carried me about, was astonished at the civilities I met with; and has assured me, that on his return, he will not fail to inform the king of England and the English ministry of all these particulars. But enough of all these follies. You see I trust to your friendship, that you will forgive me; and to your discretion, that you will keep my secret.

"I had almost forgot, in these effusions, shall I say of my misanthropy or my vanity, to mention the subject which first put my pen in my hand. The Baron d'Holbach, whom I saw at Paris, told me, that there was one under his eye that was translating your 'Theory of Moral Sentiments;' and desired me to inform you of it.[171:1] Mr. Fitzmaurice, your old friend, interests himself strongly in this undertaking. Both of them wish to know, if you propose to make any alterations on the work, and desire you to inform me of your intentions in that particular. Please direct to me under cover to the Earl of Hertford at Northumberland House, London. Letters so directed will be sent to us at Paris. I desire my compliments to all friends. I am, my dear Smith, yours sincerely."[172:1]

HUME _to_ PROFESSOR FERGUSON.

"_Fontainbleau, 9th Nov. 1763._

"DEAR FERGUSON,--I have now passed four days at Paris, and about a fortnight in the court at Fontainbleau, amidst a people who, from the royal family downwards, seem to have it much at heart to persuade me, by every expression of esteem, that they consider me as one of the greatest geniuses in the world. I am convinced that Louis XIV. never, in any three weeks of his life, suffered so much flattery: I say suffered, for it really confounds and embarrasses me, and makes me look sheepish. Lord Hertford has told them they will chase me out of France, _à coup de complimens et de louanges_. Our friend, General Clerk, came to this place after I had passed a week in it; and the first thing he said to me was, that he was sure I had never passed so many days with so little satisfaction. I asked him how he had happened to guess so well. He said, because he knew me, and knew the French. I really wish often for the plain roughness of the _Poker_,[172:2] and particularly the sharpness of Dr. Jardine, to correct and qualify so much lusciousness. However, I meet sometimes with incidents that please me, because they contain no mixture of French complaisance or exaggeration. Yesterday I dined at the Duc de Praslin's, the secretary of state. After we had risen from dinner, I went into a corner to converse with somebody; when I saw enter the room, a tall gentleman, a little elderly, with a riband and star, who immediately called out to the Duchesse de Praslin, 'Hé, Madame la Duchesse, que je suis content, j'ai vu Monsieur Hume à la cour aujourd'hui.' Upon inquiry, I was told he was a man of quality, esteemed one of the cleverest and most sensible about the court.

"In two or three days we return to Paris, where I hope to live more at my ease, and shall pass my time with really great men; for there are such at present amongst the literati of France. Certainly there is something perverse, either in the structure of our mind, or in the incidents of life. My present situation ought naturally to appear an object of envy; for besides those circumstances of an universal good reception from all ranks of people, nothing can be more amiable than the character of the family with whom I live, and nothing can be more friendly than their behaviour to me. My fortune has already received a considerable increase by a pension procured me by Lord Hertford, and settled as they tell me for life. Mr. Bunbury has been told that he must not go to Paris, which my lord considers as a sure prelude to my being soon secretary to the embassy; an office which will expose me to little expense, and bring me a thousand a-year increase of revenue, and puts me in the road to all the great foreign employments. Yet I am sensible that I set out too late, and that I am misplaced; and I wish, twice or thrice a-day, for my easy chair and my retreat in James's Court! Never think, dear Ferguson, that as long as you are master of your own fireside and your own time, you can be unhappy, or that any other circumstance can make an addition to your enjoyment.

"When I think of my own house, you may believe I often reflect on Josey, who I am afraid will be more a loser by my absence, than ever I shall be a gainer by it; I mean in point of his education. I beg of you to have some inspection over him, and as often as my sister shall send to you to ask your advice, that you will be sure to give it. I am afraid that there occurs a difficulty at present about entering him to the Greek. He is too far advanced by his learning for the class in the High School to which he is put, and yet he is too young to go to the college: for this reason I thought that he might learn something of the Greek before he finished his Latin course, as is the practice in England; and, accordingly, Murray in Musselburgh gave him some lessons in that language. I propose that he should continue on the same footing in Edinburgh; but I am at a loss how it may be done. A master to himself alone, would not give him any emulation; and were he put to any other school for this purpose, the hours would interfere with those of the High School. Be so good as speak to Mathison, and then give your opinion to my sister.

"Please remember me to Mr. and Mrs. Adams.[174:1] I saw Willie a moment at Fontainbleau: he had arrived a quarter of an hour after Jemmy left it, whom I did not see. These two brothers have been hunting one another in vain through all France; but I hope they have met at last in Paris.

"When you favour me with a letter, put it under cover to the Earl of Hertford, and direct it to him at Northumberland House, in the Strand; letters so directed come to us with the greatest safety. Make my compliments to Baron Mure, and Mrs. Mure, and all that family. I shall write to the Baron soon. Tell Dr. Blair that I have conversed here twice or thrice with the Duchesse D'Aiguillon, who has been amusing herself with translating passages of Ossian; and I have assured her that the authenticity of those poems is to be proved soon beyond all contradiction. Andrew Stuart is here at present: I meet with nobody here that doubts of the justice of his cause. I hope your fine judges will at last be ashamed of their scandalous partiality. I should be glad to hear of all friends. I am, dear Ferguson, with great sincerity and without flattery, your affectionate friend and servant.

"P.S.--I beg you to keep the follies of the above letter to yourself. I had a letter from Lord Marischal to-day, who tells me that he is to pass the winter at Edinburgh. Wait often on him; you will like him extremely: carry all our friends to him, and endeavour to make him pass his time as agreeably as possible."[175:1]

We shall have farther opportunities of observing the affectionate anxiety with which Hume watched over the education of his nephews. Adam Ferguson appears to have undertaken the task of noticing the progress of Joseph, the elder nephew, during Hume's absence, to whom he writes, in answer to the above:--

_Edinburgh, 26th Nov. 1763._

At present his journal, as he tells me, begins with getting up
at eight, taking his breakfast and going to school, where he
remains to eleven. Then to the High School Yard to play at
Englishman and Scotsman, or the hare and the dogs; of which I
take the merit, as I saved him from the writing-school at that
hour. He returns to school at twelve, and continues till two:
goes to writing between three and four; and spends his
evenings, as he tells me, in getting his school tasks, or in
reading amusing books,--such as his uncle's history. In short,
he is a very amiable boy, with quick parts, in my opinion as
well as yours; and there is no doubt but he will do well. I am
very glad of every thing that gives you pleasure,--even of
some things that give you pain. From all accounts, both before
and since you went to Paris, it might be foreseen that your
reception, even from sincere as well as affected admirers,
would amount to a degree of teasing. But all for the best, as
my fellow philosopher, Pangloss, says. I don't care if you are
"chassé de France à coups de complimens, et accablé en
Angleterre à coups de richesse," so as not to find any rest to
the soles of your feet out of Scotland. I would fain consider
every accession to your fortune as so many dishes added to the
future dinners in James's Court; and your eclat in France, as
the forerunner of much variety of chosen and excellent wines
from every quarter of that great kingdom. Meantime, though I
like to lounge at firesides in practice, I have not, in
speculation, that opinion you mention. I know nothing that is
necessary to happiness but cordiality and the talent of
finding diversion in all places. I remember, somewhere, a
man's being told that he was too nice, because he could not
dine on a ragout, and must have cold mutton. But I should not,
perhaps, contradict you so flatly, nor rub so hard,
considering how tender your sensibility will be grown after so
many lenient applications.[176:1]

HUME _to_ DR. ROBERTSON.

_Paris, Dec. 1, 1763._

DEAR ROBERTSON,--Among other agreeable circumstances which
attend me at Paris, I must mention that of having a lady for a
translator; a woman of merit, the widow of an advocate.[176:2]
She was, before, very poor, and known but to few; but this
work has got her reputation, and procured her a pension from
the court, which sets her at ease. She tells me that she has
got a habit of industry; and would continue, if I could point
out to her any other English book she could undertake, without
running the risk of being anticipated by any other translator.
Your "History of Scotland" is translated, and is in the press;
but I recommended to her your "History of Charles V.," and
promised to write to you, in order to know when it would be
printed, and to desire you to send over the sheets from
London, as they come from the press; I should put them into
her hands, and she would, by that means, have the start of
every other translator.[177:1] My two volumes last published,
are, at present, in the press. She has a very easy natural
style: sometimes she mistakes the sense; but I now correct her
manuscript, and should be happy to render you the same
service, if my leisure permit me, as I hope it will.

Do you ask me about my course of life? I can only say, that I
eat nothing but ambrosia, drink nothing but nectar, breathe
nothing but incense, and tread on nothing but flowers! Every
man I meet, and, still more, every lady, would think they were
wanting in the most indispensable duty, if they did not make a
long and elaborate harangue in my praise. What happened last
week, when I had the honour of being presented to the D----n's
children, at Versailles, is one of the most curious scenes I
have yet passed through. The Duc de B., the eldest, a boy of
ten years old, stepped forth, and told me how many friends
and admirers I had in this country, and that he reckoned
himself in the number, from the pleasure he had received from
the reading of many passages in my works. When he had
finished, his brother, the Count de P., who is two years
younger, began his discourse, and informed me, that I had been
long and impatiently expected in France; and that he himself
expected soon to have great satisfaction from the reading of
my fine History. But what is more curious; when I was carried
thence to the Count D'A., who is but four years of age, I
heard him mumble something which, though he had forgot in the
way, I conjectured, from some scattered words, to have been
also a panegyric dictated to him. Nothing could more surprise
my friends, the Parisian philosophers, than this incident.

* * * * *

It is conjectured that this honour was paid me by express
order from the D.[178:1], who, indeed, is not on any occasion
sparing in my praise.

All this attention and panegyric was at first oppressive to
me; but now it sits more easy. I have recovered, in some
measure, the use of the language, and am falling into
friendships which are very agreeable; much more so than silly,
distant admiration. They now begin to banter me, and tell
droll stories of me, which they have either observed
themselves, or have heard from others; so that you see I am
beginning to be at home. It is probable that this place will
be long my home. I feel little inclination to the factious
barbarians of London; and have ever desired to remain in the
place where I am planted. How much more so, when it is the
best place in the world? I could here live in great abundance
on the half of my income; for there is no place where money is
so little requisite to a man who is distinguished, either by
his birth or by personal qualities. I could run out, you see,
in a panegyric on the people; but you would suspect that this
was a mutual convention between us. However, I cannot forbear
observing on what a different footing learning and the learned
are here, from what they are among the factious barbarians
abovementioned.

I have here met with a prodigious historical curiosity, the
"Memoirs of King James II." in fourteen volumes, all wrote
with his own hand, and kept in the Scots College. I have
looked into it; and have made great discoveries.[179:1] It
will be all communicated to me: and I have had an offer of
access to the Secretary of State's office, if I want to know
the despatches of any French minister that resided in London.
But these matters are much out of my head. I beg of you to
visit Lord Marischal, who will be pleased with your company. I
have little paper remaining, and less time; and therefore
conclude abruptly by assuring you that I am, dear Doctor,
yours sincerely, &c.[179:2]

HUME _to_ ANDREW MILLAR.

_Paris, 1st Dec. 1763._

DEAR SIR,--I have here fallen upon a great treasure, as I
believe, of historical knowledge; which is, fifteen volumes of
the late King James's Memoirs, wrote all with his own hand. I
shall be able to make use of them for improving and
correcting many passages of my History, in case of a new
edition; which, however, I fancy will not be soon. I am glad
to see public affairs likely to settle in favour of
government. Nobody ever led a more dissipated life than I do
here. Please send to Mr. Stewart, in Buckingham Street, six
copies of the new edition of my History; and two of the last
large paper quarto, all in sheets. Make them carefully up in a
parcel: he is to send them to me. I shall be your debtor for
the quartos. I should be glad to hear from you. My direction
is at the English ambassador's. Excuse my hurry. I beg my
compliments to Mrs. Millar. I am, very sincerely, dear sir,
your most humble servant.

HUME _to_ DR. BLAIR.[180:1]

DEAR DOCTOR,--I write every thing in haste, except on public
affairs, which are the only serious matters I have leisure to
mind: so, excuse this letter, if it prove a scrawl. I approve
very much of your plan for ascertaining the authenticity of
Ossian's Poems; and I doubt not of your success. I do not
think you can publish all the letters you receive, which
nobody would read: a summary of them will do better; but
endeavour to be as particular as you can with regard to names
of persons and passages: for the force of your argument will
be there. I have met here with enthusiasts for Ossian's
poetry; but there are also several critics who are of my
opinion, that, though great beauties, they are also great
curiosities, and that they are a little tedious by reason of
their uniformity.

You desire to know the particulars of my reception here, and
my course of life. I own I write little upon this subject, and
always with some degree of secrecy, both because I wish to
have such intelligence conveyed by others rather than myself,
and because I am somewhat indifferent whether it be conveyed
or not. However, I wrote some circumstances to Robertson,
which I allow him to communicate to you. I suppose this, like
all other violent modes, will pass; and, in the meanwhile, the
hurry and dissipation attending it, gives me more pain than
pleasure. Never was there a stronger instance of the vanity
of human wishes. But this embarrassment proceeds chiefly from
my own fault, and from a vain anxiety to give no offence nor
displeasure to any body.

The men of letters here are really very agreeable: all of them
men of the world, living in entire, or almost entire harmony
among themselves, and quite irreproachable in their morals. It
would give you, and Jardine, and Robertson, great satisfaction
to find that there is not a single deist among them. Those
whose persons and conversation I like best, are D'Alembert,
Buffon, Marmontel, Diderot, Duclos, Helvetius, and old
President Henault, who, though now decaying, retains that
amiable character which made him once the delight of all
France. He had always the best cook and the best company in
Paris. But though I know you will laugh at me, as they do, I
must confess that I am more carried away from their society
than I should be, by the great ladies, with whom I became
acquainted at my first introduction to court, and whom my
connexions with the English ambassador will not allow me
entirely to drop.

Nothing can be more easy and agreeable than my situation with
Lord Hertford, who is a man of strict honour, an amiable
temper, a good understanding, and an elegant person and
behaviour. He takes very much in this place. He has got an
opinion very well founded, that the more acquaintance I make,
and the greater intimacies I form with the French, the more I
am enabled to be of service to him: so he exacts no attendance
from me; and is well pleased to find me carried into all kinds
of company. He tells me, that if he did not meet me by chance
in third places, we should go out of acquaintance. Thus you
see my present plan of life sketched out; but it is unsuitable
to my age and temper; and I am determined to retrench and to
abandon the fine folks, before they abandon me.[181:1]

During his absence, Hume's house was let to Blair. In this letter he gives pretty minute instructions as to the most advantageous distribution of the occupation of the apartments, which incidentally illustrate his own domestic habits. Thus--

Never put a fire in the south room with the red paper. It is
so warm of itself, that all last winter, which was a very
severe one, I lay with a single blanket; and frequently upon
coming in at midnight, starving with cold, have sat down and
read for an hour, as if I had had a stove in the room.

You think it inconvenient to take the house only for an
interval. Alas! my prospects of being home are very distant
and very uncertain: I am afraid I might say worse. My
connexions with Lord Hertford must probably last for some
years; after which, I shall be rich enough to live in Paris or
London as I please, or to retire to a provincial town in
France, or to Bath, or God knows whither. I like to keep my
house in case of accidents, and therefore neither choose to
sell it, nor let a lease of it; but there is no great chance
of your being disturbed in it for some time. I am, &c.

P.S.--Pray, do you not all pay court to the Lord
Marischal?[182:1] Do you imagine that you ever saw so
excellent a man? or that you have any chance for seeing his
equal if he were gone?

HUME _to_ COLONEL EDMONDSTOUNE.

_Paris, 9th January, 1764._

DEAR EDMONDSTOUNE,--I was fully settled, and, as I thought,
for life at Edinburgh; had bought a very pretty little house,
which I had repaired and furnished to my fancy; had purchased
a chaise, and fixed every thing about my family on such a
footing as to continue there the rest of my days. But while I
was in this situation, which was far from disagreeable, I
received a letter from my friend Mr. Wood, wrote by directions
from Lord Hertford, by which I was invited to attend his
lordship in his embassy to Paris, and to perform the
functions of secretary to the embassy. I had never seen Lord
Hertford, though I had heard an excellent character of him;
but as I thought myself too old to enter on a new scene of
life, and found myself settled to my mind, I at first refused
the invitation; but on its being urged more home to me, I came
up to London, where I found that Mr. Bunbury, a gentleman of
considerable fortune, and married to the Duke of Richmond's
sister, had already been appointed secretary; but was so
disagreeable to the ambassador, that he was resolved never to
see, or do business with his secretary, and therefore desired
I should attend him, in order to perform the functions. He
also thought himself certain that Bunbury could not possibly
continue in the situation; but in order to make me more
secure, he procured me a pension of £200 a-year for life, from
the king. As I became every day better acquainted with my
lord, I liked him every day better; and I do not believe there
is in the world a man of more probity or humanity, endowed
with a very good understanding, and adorned with very elegant
manners and behaviour. My lady is also a person of great
merit; and nothing can be more amiable than my Lord Beauchamp:
so that you see I have every domestic means of happiness; and
the good reception I have met with at Paris, particularly, as
you observe, by the ladies, renders my present course of life,
though somewhat too hurried and dissipated, as amusing as I
could wish. My lord appears zealously my friend, and has urged
the matter so home, in my favour, to the king and the
ministers, that he has obtained a promise, that I shall soon
have the appointments and commission of secretary to the
embassy, which is about £1000 a-year, added to what I already
possess: so that you see, dear Edmondstoune, I am in the high
road to riches; and as there is no instance of a secretary to
the embassy at Paris, that has not been advanced to the most
considerable employments, I am at the same time in the high
road to dignities. You must know, that Lord Hertford has so
high a character for piety, that his taking me by the hand is
a kind of regeneration to me, and all past offences are now
wiped off. But all these views are trifling to one of my age
and temper. The material point is (if any thing can be
material,) that I keep my health and humour as entire as I
possessed them at five and-twenty. I am sorry to hear, dear
Edmondstoune, that the case is not the same with you, at least
with regard to the former; and perhaps somewhat with regard to
the latter. Your situation is no doubt tiresome, and somewhat
disagreeable. What is the fancy of sending one of the first
noblemen in the kingdom to pass years in a country
town?[184:1] why do you not go forward to Italy, or back to
Paris? When I arrived here, all M. Voltaire's friends told me
of the regard he always expressed for me; that some advances
on my part were due to his age, and would be well taken. I
accordingly wrote him a letter, in which I expressed the
esteem which are[184:2] undoubtedly due to his talents; and
among other things I said, that if I were not confined to
Paris by public business, I should have a great ambition to
pay him a visit at Geneva. This is the foundation of the
report you mention; but I am absolutely confined to Paris and
the court, and cannot on any account leave them so much as for
three days.

Some advice, given at this time by Hume to a young man who, though in holy orders, had a tendency to scepticism, has already been before the public, and has been severely criticised. His view, that there are certain secrets which may be circulated among the learned in published books, without any risk that the vulgar, to whom a knowledge of them would be dangerous, should ever become acquainted with them, is one of the most incomprehensible features of his character.[184:3] The application of his own ethical system to the circumstances, might have taught him that no good thing can connect itself with a lie; and that, independently of all more sacred considerations, nothing can be more desolating to human morality, than the discovery, that those who are professing to teach solemn truths, do not themselves believe in the opinions they promulgate. If, on the other hand, his counsel be a legitimate deduction from his ethical principles, it is right that the world should possess this test of their nature.

The following is the correspondence on both sides. For obvious reasons the name of the young clergyman is suppressed. It may be observed, that Hume's letter has been made a ground for attributing infidel opinions to the ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. But justice requires it to be kept in view, that it appears from the immediately ensuing letter, that this individual belonged to the Church of _England_.

COLONEL EDMONDSTOUNE _to_ HUME.

_Geneva, 26th March._