296 GIBBON. 



than one. The History of Switzerland was chosen for 

 one subject; and the two friends made considerable 

 preparation for its composition by collecting materials, 

 which, when in German, were diligently translated by 

 Deyverdun for the use of Gibbon, to whom the compo- 

 sition was in 1767 consigned. He produced the first 

 book of the History; it was submitted to the judgment 

 of a society of literary foreigners ; the author, unknown to 

 them, was present ; he heard their sentence of condemna- 

 tion with pain, but confirmed it in his cooler moments. 

 It was, however, afterwards submitted to a better judge ; 

 Mr. Hume approved of it in all respects but the foreign 

 language employed, and strongly recommended a con- 

 tinuation of the work. Gibbon himself, however, sided 

 with the court below, and says in his ' Life' that he com- 

 mitted the manuscript to the flames. This he neglected 

 to do ; and though Lord Sheffield in a note has expressed 

 an opinion coinciding with Hume's, he is thought to have 

 destroyed it, possibly from respect for his friend's 

 declared intentions*. 



Another work was planned and partly executed during 

 the same period. Gibbon and Deyverdun published in 

 the two years 1767 and 1768 an annual review, entitled 

 ' Memoires Litteraires de la Grande Bretagne.' To the 

 first volume Gibbon contributed, among other papers, an 

 excellent review of Lyttleton's ' History of Henry II.,' at 

 once acute, candid, and judicious. The second was 

 adorned with an article on ' Walpole's Historical Doubts,' 

 from the pen of Mr. Hume. The dedication to Lord 

 Chesterfield obtained for Deyverdun the appointment of 



; Some believe that it is still among the Gibbon papers, the 

 publication of which Lord Sheffield, by his will, positively 

 prohibited. 



