Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


ESQ. vols Boston Liitls BrOvn Co.
This new edition--in type, paper, and smbslishmsnt
superior 70 any which has jet appearsdsmbeiiss the
authors last corrections and Improvement together with
copoas notes and short of his life written by
! himself
To descant the merits Of une's History Of England
after mature probation Of hundred years IL task
required At hands The oay attain, the high
reputation Of the historian Is perhaps foand his
unfortunate seepcism religious topics AMI his sin
certify that point is evidenced but surely By the
sad record Of his last conversations handed down by
Adam Smith.
Save me from my friends was the bitter exclamation
Of man who had suffered from the over.wseHng zeal Of
njudcious wewishers And indeed the shade Of Hume
might Justly re- echo the complaint The who could
transmit postery passages indicating the eyity Of
thought and language displayed in the last moments Of
individual distinguishedthe ehusons PeTehanee,
of playful aluson unguarded con6denee-must have
been sadly deficient in the national virtue Of Scotland
prudence
His executors, too we're guilty Of the greatest udi,-
erection in publishing to the world his pos,hnmous works
themes raught with sentiments not only offensive 10 the
religion Of the State but repugnant to the received ethics
of his country. Such friends have contributed their
share to tarnsh the lustre Of his reputation and stain
with reflected oboquy the great achievement o. his life
and aspirations.
But pass We from the foies Of and the fgments
ofLucan to the enabling work before Ia l54 APP
peared the volume of the history and the reception
extended to this harbinger Of series which subsequent
made the fortune Of its publisher is thus described W
| the author:
was assaulted by one cry of reproach, disapproha-
ton, and even detestaon English Scotch, and Irish,
Wing and Tory churchman and sectary freethinkcr and
regionist patriot and courtier, united In their rage
against the who had presumed to shed generous
tear for the fate of Charles and the Earl Of Straord
and after the first ebulitions Of their fury over
what still more Notifying, the book seemed to sink
| into oblivion Mr. Miller told me that in twelve
month"; he sold only forty five copies Of it. scarcely,
indeed heard Of in the three kingdoms, consi-
derabe for rank letters that could endure the book
must only except the primate Of England Dr. Herring,
and the Prmate Of Ireland, Dr. Stone, which seem two
odd exceptions These dgned preates separately sent
| me message not to be discouraged
Two years after appeared the second volume embrace
ing the period from the death Of Charles the revou-
ton This was received with fewer demonstrations Of
dspleasure In 1859 published the volume contain
ing the history the House Of Tudor which portion also
excited much clamor and in 1851 flashed the two
concluding Volumes constituting the earlier section Of
English history which received with chilling
| indifference.
The completion Of the work formed an in historic
graphy Gradually vanished, like the sluggish SHOWS Of
Alpine Valleys the various narratives and compilations
dignfed with that name the vapid monotony of Each
ard the stlted dicon of Clarendon and the pompous
periods of Bolingbroke The fame Of Hume es-
tablished. His publishers the influence Of
the popular breeze became munifcent and the author
opuent. His society courted at home and sought
abroad British ambassadors solicited lis countenance
grace their legations and he presented to cont
mental Europe as the philosopher Of the age.
1t is to be regretted that the philosophical opinions Of
the elegant historian were written, rather
repubshed in order to crafty the c6pidty Of wealthy
publishers the vanity of surviving kindred Than
| David Hume no bore amiable character, o
more equabe temper, more generous nature Ex-
empt from that constitutional rritabty universally
ascrbed Of letters not all the answers ratings
petuance Of his literary antagonists in the field Of
ethics-he reverends and right reverends of England
the Warburtons the Hurds, aud others q o that k
could disturb the equanimty rue the serenity
of his mild disposition.
He lived to his great work assume its place in the
archives of nations and died with that stole calnness
characteristic of the and Of life blameless and
sued .t.