Pray, can you inform me who he has authorized to receive his
majesty's bounty; because I think I may pay into their hands
the money I have of his in mine. I should be pleased if you
could be so kind as to inform me what date his letter bore,
which he wrote to the Lord Chancellor. I am, dear sir, &c.
_4th July, 1767._
This week I received a letter from Rousseau, dated, Fleury
under Meudon, wrote with great complaisance; he returns a
thousand thanks for all the civilities he received from me at
Wooton; says that he is not fixed as to the place of his
future residence, but that he will inform me as soon as he has
made choice of one.
The style of this is vastly different from some of the last of
those which he wrote in England; no mention of captivities, no
wild imaginations of any kind, but entirely calm and composed.
I heartily wish he may continue so, then sure he will be
somewhat happy. I am, &c.
_6th July, 1767._
The good woman who is called my housekeeper was my nurse, near
ninety, and more than three parts blind. Mad{lle} and she
never could agree. I have heard something of the story of the
kettle and cinders,[370:1] but am inclinable to believe my
philosopher's resolutions were determined before that fray
happened. His governante has an absolute power over him, and
without doubt more or less influences all his actions. You
certainly guess right about the unaccountable quarrel with
you, to whom he has so many and great obligations: nay, I am
almost sure he very heartily repents and inwardly wants to be
reconciled. He has desired to hear from me often, and promises
to let me know how he goes on, as soon as ever he is the least
fixed. What he was writing, is the same he mentioned to you,
will be a large work, containing at least twelve volumes. I
am positively certain that when I left him, he had not
entirely finished one. There's nothing in it which in any
shape relates to state affairs or to ministers of state.
You shall see his letter the first opportunity; but, God help
him! I can't, for pity, give a copy; and 'tis so much mixed
with his own poor little private concerns, that it would not
be right in me to do it. . . . I am, dear sir, &c.[371:1]
In the following letters, Hume narrates these events to his Northern
friends, having been so frequently desired to give explanations of the
rumours regarding Rousseau's escapades which occasionally reached
Scotland, that he found it most expedient to answer miscellaneous
inquiries by general chronological narratives.
HUME _to_ DR. BLAIR.
"_27th May, 1767._