[227:1] Letter to Mr. Morritt, dated Abbotsford, 2d October, 1815. Lockhart's Life. The letter continues: "Would it not be a good quiz to advertise _The Poetical Works of David Hume_, with notes, critical, historical, and so forth, with a historical inquiry into the use of eggs for breakfast; a physical discussion on the causes of their being addled; a history of the English Church music, and of the choir of Carlisle in particular; a full account of the affair of 1745, with the trials, last speeches, and so forth, of the poor _plaids_ who were strapped up at Carlisle; and lastly, a full and particular description of Corby, with the genealogy of every family who ever possessed it? I think, even without more than the usual waste of margin, the poems of David would make a decent twelve shilling touch." [227:2] For instance, there is preserved in his handwriting a very neat transcript of the sweet and sad "Ode to Indifference," by Mrs. Greville, copied, probably at a time when something in its tone of plaintive imagination was attuned to his own feelings, and called up in him a response to the complaint. Nor ease nor peace that heart can know, That, like the needle true, Turns at the touch of joy or wo, But turning trembles too. And a desire to join in that prayer that the senses may be steeped in indifference, in which the poet says, The tears which pity taught to flow, My eyes shall then disown, The heart, that throbb'd at others' wo, Shall then scarce feel its own. The wounds that now each moment bleed, Each moment then shall close, And tranquil days shall still succeed, To nights of soft repose. Oh fairy elf, but grant me this-- This one kind comfort send; And so may never-fading bliss Thy flowery paths attend. So may the glow-worm's glimmering light Thy fairy footsteps lead To some new region of delight, Unknown to mortal tread. And be thy acorn goblet fill'd With heaven's ambrosial dew; Sweetest, freshest flowers distill'd, That shed fresh sweets for you. And what of life remains for me, I'll pass in sober ease-- Half-pleased, contented will I be, Content--but half to please. [228:1] MSS. R.S.E. The third piece _appears_ to be in Hume's hand; but it is written with so much schoolboy stiffness, that one cannot feel sure of its being so: perhaps it may be a production of very early life. [232:1] See p. 144. [233:1] MS. R.S.E. Probably James Crawford of Auchinames. [234:1] Macgibbon was the name of a dissipated musical composer. [235:1] Probably Philip Mercier, portrait painter, who died 1760. [238:1] The marriage took place accordingly on the day following the date of the letter, viz. 30th January. She was the second wife of Lord Marchmont; his first countess, whose name was Western, having died on 9th May of the previous year.