I EARLY LIFE 27 



not, is a master of vigorous English ; Clarendon, 

 Addison, and Steele (the last two, surely, were 

 " polite " writers in all conscience) are not men- 

 tioned. 



On the subject of " National Character," about 

 which more nonsense, and often very mischievous 

 nonsense, has been and is talked than upon any 

 other topic, Hume's observations are full of sense 

 and shrewdness. He distinguishes between the 

 moral and the physical causes of national character, 

 enumerating under the former 



" The nature of the government, the revolutions of public 

 affairs, the plenty or penury in which people live, the situation 

 of the nation with regard to its neighbours, and such like 

 circumstances." (III. 225.) 



and under the latter : 



"Those qualities of the air and climate, which are supposed 

 to work insensibly on the temper, by altering the tone and 

 habit of the body, and giving a particular complexion, which, 

 though reflexion and reason may sometimes overcome it, 

 will yet prevail among the generality of mankind, and have an 

 influence on their manners." (III. 225.) 



While admitting and exemplifying the great 

 influence of moral causes, Hume remarks 



"As to physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether 

 of their operation in this particular ; nor do I think that men 

 owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or 

 climate." (III. 227.) 



Hume certainly would not have accepted the 

 " rice theory " in explanation of the social state of 



