HUME. 243 



is none of the indispensable requisites of life. Books? That 

 is one of them, and I have more than I can use. In short, I 

 cannot find any blessing of consequence that I am not pos- 

 sessed of in a greater or less degree ; and without any great 

 effort of philosophy, I may be easy and satisfied. 



" As there is no happiness without occupation, I have 

 begun a work which will employ me several years, and which 

 yields me much satisfaction." 



The following is his letter introducing the future Chancellor, 

 then a young man of twenty, going for the first time to 

 London, which he visited before he was admitted an advocate 

 in Scotland : 



" DEAR DOCTOR, " Edinburgh, 6th March, 1753. 



" This is delivered to you by my friend Mr. Wedder- 

 burn, who makes a jaunt to London, partly with a view to 

 study, partly to entertainment. I thought I could not do him 

 a better office, nor more suitable to both these purposes, than 

 to recommend him to the friendship and acquaintance of a 

 man of learning and conversation. He is young ; 



' Mais dans les ames bien nees 

 La vertu n'attend point le norabre des annees.' 



" It will be a great obligation both to him and me if you give 

 him encouragement to see you frequently ; and after that, I 

 doubt not but you will think that you owe me an obligation,, 

 ' Ha in giovanile corpo senile senno.' 



But I will say no more of him, lest my letter fall into the same 

 fault which may be remarked in his behaviour and his conduct 

 in life the only fault which has been remarked in them 

 that of promising so much that it will be difficult for him to 

 support it. You will allow that he must have been guilty of 

 some error of this kind when I tell you, that the man with 

 whose friendship and company I have thought myself very 

 much favoured, and whom I recommend to you as a friend 

 and a companion, is just twenty. 



" I am, dear Doctor, 



" Your affectionate friend and servant, 

 " Dr. Clephane." " DAVID HUME. 



R 2 



