[365:4] With the same title as the above. It was reprinted at Berlin in 1775. [366:1] See the letter in the Appendix. [366:2] There is evidence of the lasting hold which the Discourses had taken on the minds of the French, in the appearance of a new translation so late as 1766, with the title, "Essais sur le Commerce; le Luxe; l'argent; l'intérêt de l'argent; les impots; le crédit public, et la balance du commerce; par M. David Hume," published at Amsterdam in 1766, and Paris in 1767. Querard attributes this translation to a Mademoiselle de la Chaux. So far as we are entitled to judge of a translation into a foreign language, this one seems to be very spirited, speaking through French idioms and ideas, and ingeniously overcoming the very few conventionalisms which could not have been avoided by a native of Britain, speaking of British trade and finance. CHAPTER IX. 1752-1755. Æt. 41-44. Appointment as keeper of the Advocates' Library--His Duties-- Commences the History of England--Correspondence with Adam Smith and others on the History--Generosity to Blacklock the Poet--Quarrel with the Faculty of Advocates--Publication of the First Volume of the History--Its reception--Continues the History--Controversial and Polemical attacks--Attempt to subject him, along with Kames, to the Discipline of Ecclesiastical Courts--The Leader of the attack--Home's "Douglas"--The first Edinburgh Review. "In 1752," says Hume in his "own life," "the Faculty of Advocates chose me their librarian, an office from which I received little or no emolument, but which gave me the command of a large library."[367:1] We have a very glowing account of the contest for this appointment from his own pen in the following letter: HUME TO DR. CLEPHANE. "_Edinburgh, February 4th, 1752._ "DEAR DOCTOR,--I have been ready to burst with vanity and self-conceit this week past; and being obliged from decorum to keep a strict watch over myself, and check all eruptions of that kind, I really begin to find my health impaired by it, and perceive that there is an absolute necessity for breathing a vein, and giving a loose to my inclination. You shall therefore be my physician, "Dum podagricus fit pugil et medicum urget." You must sustain the overflowings of my pride; and I expect, too, that by a little flattery you are to help nature in her discharge, and draw forth a still greater flux of the peccant matter. 'Tis not on my account alone you are to take part in this great event; philosophy, letters, science, virtue, triumph along with me, and have now in this one singular instance, brought over even the people from the side of bigotry and superstition.