Life and Correspondence of David Hume, Volume 2

David Hume · en
In recompense for so many mortifying things, which nothing but
     truth could have extorted from me, and which I could easily
     have multiplied to a greater number, I doubt not but you are
     so good a Christian as to return good for evil; and to flatter
     my vanity by telling me, that all the godly in Scotland abuse
     me for my account of John Knox and the Reformation. I suppose
     you are glad to see my paper end, and that I am obliged to
     conclude with--Your humble servant.[58:2]


HUME _to_ ADAM SMITH.

     _London, 28th July, 1759._

     DEAR SIR,--Your friend, Mr. Wilson,[59:1] called on me two
     three days ago when I was abroad, and he left your letter. I
     did not see him till to-day. He seems a very modest, sensible,
     ingenious man. Before I saw him, I spoke to Mr. A. Millar
     about him, and found him very much disposed to serve him. I
     proposed particularly to Mr. Millar, that it was worthy of so
     eminent a bookseller as he, to make a complete elegant set of
     the classics, which might set up his name equal to the
     Alduses, Stevenses, or Elzevirs; and that Mr. Wilson was the
     properest person in the world to assist him in such a project.
     He confessed to me that he had sometimes thought of it; but
     that his great difficulty was to find a man of letters, who
     could correct the press. I mentioned the matter to Wilson, who
     said he had a man of letters in his eye: one Lyon, a nonjuring
     clergyman at Glasgow. He is probably known to you, or at least
     may be so; I would desire your opinion of him.

     Mr. Wilson told me of his machines, which seem very ingenious,
     and deserve much encouragement. I shall soon see them.

     I am very well acquainted with Bourke, who was much taken with
     your book. He got your direction from me, with a view of
     writing to you, and thanking you for your present; for I made
     it pass in your name. I wonder he has not done it: he is now
     in Ireland. I am not acquainted with Jenyns; but he spoke very
     highly of the book to Oswald, who is his brother in the board
     of trade. Millar showed me, a few days ago, a letter from Lord
     Fitzmaurice; where he tells him, that he has carried over a
     few copies to the Hague, for presents. Mr. York was very much
     taken with it, as well as several others who had read it.