The sun., 1879-02-09

OnA lines OF hplullatlOn WtFb blb HHb t'1n-
tiEation of his bright and happy genius dur
Ing this closing period Of forcbodng and dcs-
penlency. His health became seriously disor-
dcred: an old disease renewed its attacks,
which grew moro and moro violent. until. in
March 177l when he was but forty-sx years
Of age. he took to his bed for tho last
time. II does not appear that any OF his
friends vlsitod him during his Illness. and
neither johnson. nor Reynolds nor Burke.
nor Garrick followed his body to tho grave.
The finest genius OF his timo was privately
buried in the ground Of the Temple Church,
and tho precise spot whero he lies is unknown.
lie had died owing not less than $4,000; he had
tired out his friends: while tho memory Of his
failings ranked. no one offered TO dcfray the
cost OF hcadstono at his grave. But some two
years afterward. when n monument WIS about
to be erected to Goldsmith in Westminster Alb
boy. johnson consented to write the poor,
dear Doctors cpitaph." The inscription in
cludes tho famous line. Nuilunt QttOd ictiou non
oT7tdrit and phrases which attest with some
what tardy fervor tho love and fidelity OF Gold
smiths friends and ends with the wise sum-
ming up which strikes the keynote OF the pres
ont biography" no had raised money and
s1randered it by every artlnco of acquisition
and folly of expense. But let not his fralties
be remembered: he WIS n very great man.
II is with an acute sense Of contrast that we
turn from the mingled shade and lustre Of
GolJsmith's life to tho staid tranquil prosper
ous. and respectable career OF the Scotch pbos-
ophor. As we have said the different conduct
and rcputc Of the two men in worldly matters II
the more striking because tho conditions under
which they started were not dissimilnr. and be-
cause Hume. like Goldsmith. was OF u genial
social not to say. convivial turn. Moreover. H.
showed no aptitude for any practical vocation
though in his writings ho ovinccd no common
share Of wisdom and tonacity Of purpose; but
3d. for that matter did the author OF the Citizen
Of the World" His mothers curious estimate
OF her son. "our Davy's fine good natur-
cd creature. but uncommon weak-mindcd."
was doubtless based upon the fact that Hume
reached the mature age OF four and thirty be-
fore he coutrved to earn his living. He was
sent TO Edinburgh University. but although
love oflearning was the ruling passion Of his
life. he does not seem 10 have pursued the
routine studies with much zeal. and at ali
events. he did not graduate. A little later his
family sought 10 push him into the profession
Of the law but this attempt miscarricd. aud
| another effort TO embark him in a practical
carecr-this time 1t was commorcc-had u like
result. Subsequently he tried tutorship. but
failed again In view of these abortive expert
ments II is amusing TO heat him dcnOunce in
after lie what he calls an ancient prejudice
countries that man Of genius is unfit for
business"
tur,o ,o,,,, hi,,s.i, n. ,A, .,.. 49,, ,...,.
| ,hr,o ,,i,hou, n ,,rotassi,,,, 40 A., .. -, -
., a.rni ,,,,,ro ai,,,,,',i, 80. -, 80,
he had no vicca or ex,rova,,ap, ,,,.t.. b,,, H.,
/ ,.i,iJ, ..,,a.,,. - i,,i,,' :. - y, -,
existence on Gj0 ayear. This small fund seems
to have been furnished by ono relative or an
other. and with 1t the young man went over to
IN a co,n,r, r.,r.., ~ r.,s,t,I :, A., - A..
"Mv o,yp / if -. q, ,,,L, a ,,,r It'll ,'.,,,.
sur,l, r,y n.ior,, -, s-,,,,.. g., 1,.,t,,,t,,,'.
imnnired nv independ.r.v md IN r,'.ari,.,1.,
oh,r.t os ,i,I ,.,,,,, ,h, ,,,',r,,'.,,,,,
! of nv talent. in litsra,rr. I, Il. c,,rio,,.,tr
! eumsian,e that tho fnture innll snon, ,I,
! cre,t.r mar, ot bis ,tr,, ,...rs, - -, 7
F,s,he in fr.ouent intercourse ,ri,h ,ha I,sri,s
| of Tho t.wons colI.,. In u,ht.h -.
| VIVA aduc,tcd U,r, a., ,.,,,,.,s1 ht. a.
work nm undartnking of 40 los mn
/ tu,L. than n Trentise Of Uun,,, N,,,,r.. .,
which considering tho nutbor's ogo pr,r
| Huxley is doubtless Justified i'm rronou,r.
| INK the most remnrkabl. nhil,sonhi,,,
work thnt hns oyer been written. Bu, ti,ou..i.
its ultimate cffr.,s UPON tho enurse Of tb,ueIt
in France and England were very eonsi,larnil,
! its immediate success fell far short ~ Hu,pc,.
/ expectations. Never literary, n;t..,p,, ,bns,vs
was more unfortunate thun nv 'Tr,o,iso .,l
/ Human Nature II fell dend.b,rn from ,b,.
press without reachin. such a distinction n.
even To excite n murmur ntnong the y.nlo,s "
! But his present biographrr points ont that on
| this occnsion. us nj other times Hmm. cxhihi,s
no small shnre OF IN. craving nf,.r p,.r. pot,-
rioty and yul.,nr 81 .ress ms distinct from, ,h.
pardonabie ambition for endurin., fame. AMI
| he thinks this flaw in the authors moral con.
stitution was the cause Of his erndnnlly for.
saking philosophical studies for politi,al anJ
historical topics. SO that worthy Mrs. HUM
may hayo h.on nfter MI ri,,ht +, :, ,.r,,in
sense. Davy was "wenk minded" not To SEE
that the world Of philosophy was his to ovcrrun
and subdue II he would but scorn the delight
OF prompt and vulgar appreciation and live la
borious days. But his weakness at all events
WAS not that last inilrmty Of noble mind"
Hume published his Moral and Political
Essays' ANONYMOUSLY at the age OF thirty. and
they met with the success they deserved. " The
Essays are all sold in London he writes. and
am told that Doctor Butler tof the AualoGy
has everywhere recommended them II is in