The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-04-15
ron THE FIReINIAN.
DAVID HUME.

. Several ttdff ~ iai' "P
pcared IN the Nifgnian, relating to tins geli-
ileman. If | recoll.ct Alright they have
grown out of charge of atheism, nad.
against him by a clergyman OF tbs
town. The subject opens a wide field OF
enquiry. His advocates aud opponents
ma, present Their favofite views Of ms
character, according Ia their previous pre-
possessions, without cod or utility. IL IS
nothing more than might have been expec-
ted, that difference 0i opiuion would exist
Ifelaiiye To character presenting 50 many
features, and embracing so many subjects
of importance. Ills friends claim for him
the honor of being great original genius,
possessing an unbouuded thirst for emf
hent literary attainments, that he penetrated
into l.,e depths Of moral science with 4
boldne4s unprecedented IA tie annals OF
pneumatolngy that he possessed great
equanimitv OF temper aud urbaulty of man
Iners, which rendered him most desirable
companion u short that he " lived and
died like philosopher These gentle
men, Indeed, admit that he had his errors,
but thai he erred, in most instances, at
least with the greatest men that ever lllu-
minated the world, both predecessors aud
contemporaries. 30 far the defence Of
Mr.. Hume On the other hand it Is conten-
ded, that, although all praise may be allow
I'D him as "A most gigantic literary charac-
ter, that on that very account the mud
iturnsaway from him with the greater dis
! gust, deplorlng that such noble powers
should have been appropriated 10 such
base purposes. They commended that some
of his boldest puuges into the depths Of
metaphysics contain paradoxes incompre-
hensibe ~ the human intellect, and having
emanatcd from mud deeply affected
, with belief IN " ali unbelicGo Is calculated
/ to spread vide wasting Iuln among those
who think specifically on these subjects !;
that he was a man OIL The most unbounded
ambition that 4 desire IL obtain the APP
piansc of mankind prompted him To sur
moam ili difficulties, aud that he died
more like an insane than n sane person.
am fully impressed with the belief ttai every
man. but especially every young man, if he
hasany capacity Tor thinking al all, is deeply
Interested Ia ihs controversy, aud much IL
depending on correct decision. But the
question is, how shall we, IN the midst OF
such Earring elements, arrive at the truth
how shall we dvest the subject of the pre-
ludiccs that attend il, aud present an analy-
sis of this character wltllUat disguise?
must confessit is 4 difficult task nc,erthe.
less have concluded 10 attemptlt il. | shall
make use Of the best means of Information
have al hand, and il err, ii will not be
intentional. II will of course be expected
that should consult the lie of Hume by
4 Ilr A 4
collect, seen it; and on this occasion
do not wish 10 SEE 1t; for this simple rea-
son, that I said il was written by his friend
DIR. A. S. II is well known, that on all
great questions, when men divide them
selves into friends and foes, the truth is
exposed to danger, and we must wait till
the passions subside before we can arrive
at sober conclusions, aud it may be said,
that, III general, this is pleasure reserved,
for the posterity of those Immediately in
terested. Hume has been dead AZ years.
The public have had an opportunity to de-
eide on the intrinsic merit, as we'll as ON
the tendency of his productions. lido not
know that there is much dispute with re-
spect to his personal character; he made
every thing bend 10 his mibounded thirst
ot literary distinction, and possessing but a
slender fortune, he probably acquired ha-
bit Of frugaiity. His admirers speak much
ofhis great equanimity of temper and phi
lusophicd frmness but the events of ms
! life prove that they are nj least, in II mea-
sure, incorrect as will appear by the fol-
/ lowing fact 1T was a long time before
| Hume could attract any degree Of public
notice to his writings he had the NORTH
cation 10 send his books into the world
without even provoking n reply I; his chm
grin and modification on this account were
carried TO such pitch, that he had actual
! ~, at one time, determined To take up his
residence in Il foreign country, and change
his name from which we may Justly infer
that the great good humour ascribed to him
IN his latter days, resulted not from his
PHILOSOPHY, but his popularity. We were
told by an essayist IN the Virginan, few
days ago, that he died like "A philosopher"
by tMsit is meant to compare him in
death To the venerable SoCKATEs, the
comparison is certainly calculated to excite
IN the mind no other emotion than disgust.
But llume's character as a man is, after
all, of hut little importance | shall there.
fore hasten 10 make few remarks on his
writings. Passing by his celebrated histo.
Try of England, which, notwithstanding
some hiemishes,is allowed to be mastery
production, | shall confne myself To some
OF his other works. When we read the
writings of some men on religious supersii-
ton, we are reminded of the beautiful
process of the farmer, who with his
fan, separates the chat from the
wheat but in the productions of Nj
H. on these subjects, we recognise the
operation of a dreadful hurricane, which
sweeps wheat, chaff and all into dcstrnc-
ton. Ii is pity that man whose obiec,
II was 70 do ma good, Il speak of him now
IN religious point view should PERM;
llInls II ~ Il 1, -. I.,11.-L hmm,