340* 



object or definite purpose is expressed ; nor, in the ultimate disposal 

 of these papers, has the Society been fettered by any limitations or 

 conditions. His motives, however, in selecting the Society as the 

 depositary of these remains' of his illustrious kinsman, must have 

 been at once to secure their preservation in the most effectual man- 

 ner, and to prevent any injudicious or indiscreet use of them, to the 

 risk of which they might otherwise have been exnosed. 



In discharging the duty imposed on the Society by their accept- 

 ance of this bequest, there can be no doubt that the whole of the do- 

 cuments thus acquired must be carefully and faithfully preserved. It 

 may be true that in the general mass there are some articles appa- 

 rently of little value, which may have owed their preservation to ac- 

 cident or oversight ; but your Committee can by no means encourage 

 the idea, that in attempting to separate these from what they might 

 deem truly valuable, the Society would be safe in exei'cising any dis- 

 cretion whatever ; for, most assuredly, however judicious the selec- 

 tion might be, it would not fail to expose them hereafter to misi'e- 

 presentation and reproach. 



On the more difficult question as to the disposal of these manu- 

 Eci'ipts, the Committee have not arrived at any clear or decided opi- 

 nion. Thus far, indeed, they conceive it to be evident, in the first 

 place, that the property must remain inalienably in the Society, and 

 that to convert it into a subject of pecuniary speculation would be an 

 abuse of the confidence reposed in them by the testator ; and in the 

 second place, that to undei'take directly, and in their own name, the 

 publication of the whole or of any portion of these manuscripts, would 

 not be in accordance with the proper character and functions of that 

 learned Body. If in these respects the views entertained by the 

 Committee shall be deemed correct, the only obvious alternative seems 

 to be, to await the opportunity of entrusting the use of these manu- 

 scripts to an Editor, who may in all respects be thought worthy of the 

 confidence of the Society, and who may intend to employ them either 

 as the Illustrations of a Life of Mr Hume, or as a separate publica- 

 tion of his Private and Confidential Correspondence. There appears 

 to your Committee to be no good reason for any hurry or impatience 

 in accomplishing such an ai'rangement ; and, in the mean time, it is 

 obviously proper that these papers should be accessible to the inspec- 

 tion of such persons. Members of the Society or others, as may ap- 

 ply to the Council of the Society for that purpose ; all due precau- 

 tions being taken against any abuse of the liberty so to be conceded. 



Having said so much on what the Committee regard as the more 



