I EARLY LIFE 15 



fixed in fact, its branches perennially budding 

 forth into new truths, which Hume might have 

 reared. Perhaps, after all, worthy Mrs. Hume 

 was, in the highest sense, right. Davie was 

 " wake-minded," not to see that the world of 

 philosophy was his to overrun and subdue, if he 

 would but persevere in the work he had begun. 

 But no he must needs turn aside for " success " : 

 and verily he had his reward ; but not the crown 

 he might have won. 



In 1740, Hume seems to have made an 

 acquaintance which rapidly ripened into a life-long 

 friendship. Adam Smith was, at that time, a boy 

 student of seventeen at the University of Glasgow ; 

 and Hume sends a copy of the "Treatise" to 

 " Mr. Smith," apparently on the recommendation 

 of the well-known Hutcheson, Professor of Moral 

 Philosophy in the university. It is a remarkable 

 evidence of Adam Smith's early intellectual 

 development, that a youth of his age should be 

 thought worthy of such a present. 



In 1741 Hume published anonymously, at 

 Edinburgh, the first volume of " Essays Moral and 

 Political," which was followed in 1742 by the 

 second volume. 



These pieces are written in an admirable style, 

 and, though arranged without apparent method, a 

 system of political philosophy may be gathered 

 from their contents. Thus the third essay, " That 

 Politics may be reduced to a Science," defends 



