I EARLY LIFE 29 



"The Essays are all sold in London, as I am informed 

 by two letters from English gentlemen of my acquaintance. 

 There is a demand for them ; and, as one of them tells me, 

 Innys, the great bookseller in Paul's Churchyard, wonders 

 there is not a new edition, for he cannot find copies for his 

 customers. I am also told that Dr. Butler has everywhere 

 recommended them ; so that I hope that they will have some 

 success." 



Hume had sent Butler a copy of the " Treatise " 

 and had called upon him, in London, but he was 

 out of town ; and being shortly afterwards made 

 Bishop of Bristol, Hume seems to have thought 

 that further advances on his part might not be 

 well received. 



Greatly comforted by this measure of success, 

 Hume remained at Ninewells, rubbing up his 

 Greek, until 1745 ; when, at the mature age of 

 thirty-four, he made his entry into practical life, 

 by becoming bear-leader to the Marquis of Annan- 

 dale, a young nobleman of feeble body and 

 feebler mind. As might have been predicted, 

 this venture was not more fortunate than his 

 previous ones ; and, after a year's endurance, 

 diversified latterly with pecuniary squabbles, in 

 which Hume's tenacity about a somewhat small 

 claim is remarkable, the engagement came to an 

 end. 



