242 HUME. 



which I certainly am) there was great pleasantry and satire. 

 The printers in Edinburgh refused to print it (a good sign, 

 you'll say, of my prudence and discretion). Mr. Mure, the 

 member, has a copy of it : ask it of him if you meet with him, 

 or bid the Colonel, who sees him every day in the house, ask 

 it ; and, if you like it, read it to the General, and then return 

 it. I will not boast, for I have no manner of vanity. But 

 when I think of the present dulness of London, I cannot 

 forbear exclaiming, ' Rome n'est pas dans Rome : c'est par- 

 tout ou je suis.' 



" A namesake of mine has wrote a tragedy, which he ex- 

 pects to come on this winter. I have not seen it, but some 

 people commend it much. It is very likely to meet with 

 success, and not to deserve it ; for the author tells me he is a 

 great admirer of Shakspeare, and never read Racine. 



" If you answer this any time within the twelvemonth, it is 

 sufficient ; and I promise not to answer your next at less than 

 six months' interval. And so, as the Germans say, ' Je me 

 recomante a fos craces.' 



" Yours, 



"DAVID HUME." 



The following, to the same correspondent, gives an account 

 of his establishment after his election as librarian : 



" Edinburgh, 5th February, 1752. 



" I must now set you an example and speak of myself; by 

 this I mean that you are to speak to me of yourself. I shall 

 exult and triumph to you a little that I have now at last, being 

 turned of forty, to my honour, to that of learning, and to that of 

 the present age, arrived at the dignity of being a householder. 

 About seven months ago I got a house of my own, and com- 

 pleted a regular family, consisting of a head, viz. myself, and 

 two inferior members, a maid and a cat. My sister has since 

 joined me, and keeps me company. With frugality I can 

 reach, I find, cleanliness, warmth, light, plenty, and content- 

 ment. What would you have more ? Independence ? I 

 have it in a supreme degree. Honour ? That is not altogether 

 wanting. Grace ? That will come in time. A wife ? That 



