The sun., 1879-02-09


antagonist"
The publication Of tho d" History Of Great
Britain" in which Hume disclosed his Jacobito
and absolutst principles. gained him plenty OF
notorcty bat very little applause. Indeed
scarcely heard" no writes, OF ono man in tho
three Kingdoms considerable for rank or letters
that could endure tho book. | must only ac-
ccpt tho pfimate OF England and the Primnte
Of Ireland which accm two odd exceptions"
1t certainty Ia odd TO think Of David Hume be-
ing comforted In his affiiction by tho independ-
cnt and spontaneous sympathy Of couple OF
Archbishops. Hume was by no means insensi-
bic Of the value OF such support and u WAS
Lord Hertford's high reputation for virtue and
piety which induced him. he tells us. to nc
ccpt that nobleman's ofTer Of the Seeretaryship
in tho Embassy to France. We may note also
that this post was worth fi 900 n year. and en-
tailed life pension OF 600. In tho Parisinn
world Hume had very great success, unlike
Goldsmith and Johnson. who. in their foreign
tours ecom to have seen nothing whatever OF
distinguished eocety. Great mobiles fGtcd him,
and great ladies were not content unless the
"groe David" was to be seen at their recep-
tions and in their boxes ut the theatre. At the
opera his broad. umenninR face WIS usuayto
be seen entire dlu jotis D,nojs," says Lord
Charlemont. and Madame DEpinay gives u-
tableau, ma euitan between two slaves.
personatod for the occasion by two OF
the prottiest women in Paris. The phi
losopher. 1t seems kept tapping his
stomach instead OF his heart. But although
the Scotchman ovineed some awkwardness
in this delicate situation, yet in general his
cool head was by no means turned. and he took
the goods the gods provided with serene com
placency. The fact is that Ilumes reputation
stood far higher In France than at home; sew
cral OF his works had been translated; he had
exchanged letters with Montcsquieu and with
Hclvetius; Rousseau had appealed TO him and
tho charming Nine. de Bounlers had drawn
him into correspondence marked by almost
passionate enthusiasm ON her side, and with
a fair imitation Of fcrvor on the part OF the phi
losophcr. Under the circumstances II is nat
ural that Hume should cite the general regard
paid to genius and learning" in France rs one
of the points in which that country differs most
from England. Tho taste for literature"
he writes during his residence in Paris
" is neither decayed nor dcpraved here
as with the barbarians who inhabt the
banks Of the Thames" Toward London
Londoners. and indeed Englishmcn IN
general. Hume entertained n dislike. mingled
with contempt. which was as nearly rancor-
Gus rs any emotion OF his could bc and not
n whit less outspoken than DIR. Johnson's
contemporary rage against the Scotch. He
would fain see " the third Of London in ruins
and the rascally mob subdued;" the English
are II perniclous people," an Englshman is
u " rude beast" 81 bad animal" corrupted by
above century yoflicentiousncss. of To be insensi-
BILE TO the merits OF David Hume was an niquity
calculated to rufie the temper OF the philo-
sophie historian. who. without being foolishly
vain. had no nocd y rehearso tho one form OF
prayer in which his contentious countrymen
are said to agree" Lord gie us a guide CON
rcit o. oursrl-"
When Humc's pleasant diplomatic duties in
France were over he came back to Edinburgh
very opulent" according to his own modest
standard. and determined to take what re-
manned 10 him of life pleasantly and easily
He Is now disposed to crafty the gastronomic
tastes acquired in Paris. and It is diverting to
ind the mctaphysician turning from problems
- free will. forcknowcige. and necessity. to
receipts for making potdge d Ia Reine aud n
sheep's-head broth thut he declares tho Due de
Nivcrnos would bind himself apprentice to
my lass 10 learn the secret Of" Now. too hu
was able to build himself n house In the New
Town which was then springing up. His was
the first houss in the street. aud a froicsomo
young lady chalked upon the wall. st. David
Street whcreat iume's servant complained to
her master. who replied. Never mind. lassie.
many n better man hns been made a Saint of
before Daring the following six years which
intervencd before Humes death. tho house
IA st. David street notwithstanding the
inndcl opinions Of its occupant was the
centre Of the accomplished and re-.
fined society which then distinguished
Edinburgh. A he said Of himself in the con
Guiding chapier Of " My own Life" few mon So
eminent and 50 aggressive have had 50 littlo
cause to complain Of calunny. for though he
wantOnly exposed himself to tho rage of both
civil and religious factions. they seemed 10 be
iisarmed on his behalf OF their vonted fury.
No doubt the secret OF this forbearance on the
part Of an austere. not - say hgoted society Is
revealed ia his own words: ." Ny frionds ncyor
had occasion to yindicatc any one circumstance
of my character and conduct; not but that the
H'a'o,s. we may well suppose. would have been
glad to invent and propagate any story TO my
disadvantage. but they could never hnd any
which they thought would wear tho face OF
probability"
In the exposition Of Hume's philosophy Prof.
Huxley has applied hmsc.fto the task Of select
ing and arranging the passages which contain
the clcarest statements Of Humo's opinions.
The excerpts arc connected and explained by
comments Of his own. and here and there as he
confesscs, more is seen OF Huxley's thread than
oi humcs beads. As regards the object and
limitations OF his philosophy the present biog-
rapher considers Hume the spiritual child
and continuator OF the works OF Locke lie
deems him no less plainly the parent Of Kant
and the proiagonst Of that more mo lern way OF
thinking which has boon called agnostcism.
from its profession OF an incapacity to discover
the Indispensable conditions Of either positive
or negative knowledge. Prof Huxley also
counts 1t not the least Of Hume's grcat merits
that he clearly recognized the fact that
philosophy is based upon psychology; aud
that the inquiry into the contents and ope-
rations OF tho mind must be conducted
upon the same prinoiplos as u physical in
Nostigatlon. Indeed, the object ~ his first work
and from which ho never swerved in his subse-
Puent researches, was To promote tho construc-
ton OF " Science of Man" which should yield
results not less firm and deAnitethnm any which
reward tho Natural Philosopher"
Hume was buried in spot selected bv him
self, in an old graveyard on Cation Hill. whose
summit commands view said to be unolunlled
by any 10 be- gained from the midst Of II great
clty-embracing, AS tho prospect does nm cpit-
ONE OF nature and of man. Prof. Huxley finds