Life and Correspondence of David Hume, Volume 2

David Hume · en
I signed, yesterday, an agreement with Mr. Millar; where I
     mention that I proposed to write the History of England, from
     the beginning till the accession of Henry VII.; and he engages
     to give me £1400 for the copy. This is the first previous
     agreement ever I made with a bookseller.[61:1] I shall execute
     this work at leisure, without fatiguing myself by such ardent
     application as I have hitherto employed. It is chiefly as a
     resource against idleness that I shall undertake this work;
     for, as to money, I have enough; and as to reputation, what I
     have wrote already will be sufficient, if it be good; if not,
     it is not likely I shall now write better. I found it
     impracticable (at least fancied so) to write the History since
     the Revolution. I am in doubt whether I shall stay here and
     execute the work; or return to Scotland, and only come up here
     to consult the manuscripts. I have several inducements on both
     sides. Scotland suits my fortune best, and is the seat of my
     principal friendships; but it is too narrow a place for me;
     and it mortifies me that I sometimes hurt my friends. Pray
     write me your judgment soon. Are the bigots much in arms on
     account of this last volume? Robertson's book has great merit;
     but it was visible that he profited here by the animosity
     against me. I suppose the case was the same with you. I am,
     dear Smith, yours sincerely.[61:2]

In 1758 and 1759, much alarm was caused throughout Britain by a
threatened invasion from France. Hume seems to have "improved" this
state of matters, in the following letters, imparting wild and
exaggerated news. His writing in such a tone, at such a juncture, is an
example of his entertaining the same contempt for panics as for popular
feeling in other forms. There is no address on the first of the letters.
The second would reach its destination nearly at the same time with the
account of Rodney's destruction of the flat-bottomed boats intended for
the invasion.


"_15th May, [1759.]_

"DEAR SIR,--If you pass by Edinburgh, please bring me two pounds of
rapee, such as Peggy Elliot uses to take. You will get it at Gillespy's
near the Cross.

"Mrs. Mallet has her compliments to you, and begs you to procure her a
collection of Scotch pebbles. I assured her that I should inform you of
her desire, and also that you would not fail to execute it.

"We hear that you are to be expelled the university with disgrace. Even
the most partial of your friends here are obliged to allow that you
deserve it.

"We expect over forty thousand French, with the first fair wind. They
will probably settle the ministry; for, at present, the Pitts and the
Legges, and the Grenvilles, are all going by the ears.

"We live in hopes of seeing you soon. My compliments to Smith, whose
book is in a very good way.

"Dr. Warburton presents his compliments to you. Yours sincerely,"
&c.[62:1]


HUME _to_ MR. RUAT.[62:2]