i EARLY LIFE 27 



astoundingly conjoined) "knew too little of the 

 rules of art to be esteemed elegant writers," and 

 the prose of Bacon, Harrington, and Milton is 

 "altogether stiff and pedantic." Hobb'.s who 

 whether he should be called a "polite" writer or 

 not, is a master of vigorous English; Clarendon, 

 Addison, and Steele (the last two, sure 

 " polite " writers in all conscience) are not men- 

 tioned. 



On the subject of " National Character/' about 

 which more nonsense, and often very misr 

 nonsense, has been and is talked than uj 

 other topic, Hume's observations are full o 

 and shrewdness. He distinguishes betw 

 moral and the physical causes of national 

 ter, enumerating under the former 



" The nature of the government, the revolutions of public 

 affairs, the plenty or penury in which people live, the situ- 

 ation of the nation with regard to its neighbours, and such 

 like circumstances." (III. 225.) 



and under the latter: 



" Those qualities of the air and climate, which are sup- 

 posed to work insensibly on the temper, by altering the 

 tone and habit of the body, and giving a particular com- 

 plexion, which, though reflexion and reason may sometimes 

 overcome it, will yet prevail among the generality of man- 

 kind, and have an influence on their manners." (III. 225.) 



While admitting and exemplifying the great 

 influence of moral causes, Hume remarks 



" As to physical causes, I am inclined to doubt alto- 

 gether of their operation in this particular ; nor do I think 



