[71] See _ante_, ii. 443, where Johnson, again speaking of Hume, and perhaps of Gibbon, says:--'When a man voluntarily engages in an important controversy, he is to do all he can to lessen his antagonist, because authority from personal respect has much weight with most people, and often more than reasoning.' [72] Johnson, in his Dictionary, calls _bubble_ 'a cant [slang] word.' [73] Boswell wrote to Temple in 1768:--'David [Hume] is really amiable: I always regret to him his unlucky principles, and he smiles at my faith; but I have a hope which he has not, or pretends not to have. So who has the best of it, my reverend friend?' _Letters of Boswell_, p.151. Dr. A. Carlyle (_Auto_. pp. 274-5) says:--'Mr. Hume gave both elegant dinners and suppers, and the best claret, and, which was best of all, he furnished the entertainment with the most instructive and pleasing conversation, for he assembled whosoever were most knowing and agreeable among either the laity or clergy. For innocent mirth and agreeable raillery I never knew his match....He took much to the company of the younger clergy, not from a wish to bring them over to his opinions, for he never attempted to overturn any man's principles, but they best understood his notions, and could furnish him with literary conversation.' [74] No doubt they were destroyed with Boswell's other papers. _Ante_, iii.301, note 1. [75] This letter, though shattered by the sharp shot of Dr. _Horne_ of _Oxford's_ wit, in the character of _One of the People called Christians_, is still prefixed to Mr. Hume's excellent _History of England_, like a poor invalid on the piquet guard, or like a list of quack medicines sold by the same bookseller, by whom a work of whatever nature is published; for it has no connection with his _History_, let it have what it may with what are called his _Philosophical_ Works. A worthy friend of mine in London was lately consulted by a lady of quality, of most distinguished merit, what was the best History of England for her son to read. My friend recommended Hume's. But, upon recollecting that its usher was a superlative panegyrick on one, who endeavoured to sap the credit of our holy religion, he revoked his recommendation. I am really sorry for this ostentatious _alliance_; because I admire _The Theory of Moral Sentiments_, and value the greatest part of _An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations_. Why should such a writer be so forgetful of human comfort, as to give any countenance to that dreary infidelity which would make us poor indeed?' ['makes me poor indeed.' _Othello_, act iii. sc.3]. BOSWELL. Dr. Horne's book is entitled, _A Letter to Adam Smith, LL.D., On the Life, Death, and Philosophy of his Friend David Hume, Esq. By one of the People called Christians_. Its chief wit is in the Preface. The bookseller mentioned in this note was perhaps Francis Newbery, who succeeded his father, Goldsmith's publisher, as a dealer in quack medicines and books.