ii LATER YEARS 33 



"with infinite regret, where I had treasured up 

 stores of study and plans of thinking for many 

 years; " and his only consolation is that the op- 

 portunity of becoming conversant with state affairs 

 may be profitable: 



" I shall have an opportunity of seeing courts and camps ; 

 and if I can afterward be so happy as to attain leisure and 

 other opportunities, this knowledge may even turn to account 

 to me as a man of letters, which I confess has always been 

 the sole object of my ambition. I have long had an intention, 

 in my riper years, of composing some history ; and I question 

 not but some greater experience in the operations of the field 

 and the intrigues of the cabinet will be requisite, in order to 

 enable me to speak with judgment on these subjects." 



Hume returned to London in 1749, and during 

 his stay there, his mother died, to his heartfelt 

 sorrow. A curious story in connection with this 

 event is told by Dr. Carlyle, who knew Hume 

 well, and whose authority is perfectly trustworthy. 



" Mr. Boyle hearing of it, soon after went to his apart- 

 ment, for they lodged in the same house, where he found him 

 in the deepest affliction and in a flood of tears. After the 

 usual topics and condolences Mr. Boyle said to him, 'My 

 friend, you owe this uncommon grief to having thrown off 

 the principles of religion : for if you had not, you would have 

 been consoled with the firm belief that the good lady, who 

 was not only the best of mothers, but the most pious of 

 Christians, was completely happy in the realms of the just/ 

 To which David replied, ' Though I throw out my specula- 

 tions to entertain the learned and metaphysical world, yet 

 in other things I do not think so differently from the rest 

 of the world as you imagine.' " 



