II LATER YEARS 37 



In 1751, Hume removed to Edinburgh and took 

 up his abode on a flat in one of those prodigious 

 houses in the Lawnmarket, which still excite the 

 admiration of tourists ; afterwards moving to a 

 house in the Canongate. His sister joined him, 

 adding 30 a year to the common stock ; and, in 

 one of his charmingly playful letters to Dr. 

 Clephane, he thus describes his establishment, in 

 1753 



"I shall exult and triumph to you a little that I have now 

 at last being turned of forty, to my own honour, to that of 

 learning, and to that of the present age arrived at the dignity 

 of being a householder. 



"About seven months ago, I got a house of my own, and 

 completed a regular family, consisting of a head, viz., myself, 

 and two inferior members, a maid and a cat. My sister has 

 since joined me, and keeps me company. With frugality, I 

 can reach, I find, cleanliness, warmth, light, plenty, and con- 

 tentment. What would you have more ? Independence ? I 

 have it in a supreme degree. Honour ? That is not altogether 

 wanting. Grace ? That will come in time. A wife ? That 

 is none of the indispensable requisites of life. Books ? That 

 is one of them ; and I have more than I can use. In short, I 

 cannot find any pleasure of consequence which I am not 

 possessed of in a greater or less degree : and, without any 

 great effort of philosophy, I may be easy and satisfied. 



" As there is no happiness without occupation, I have begun 

 a work which will occupy me several years, and which yields 

 me much satisfaction. 'Tis a History of Britain from the 

 Union of the Crowns to the present time. I have already 

 finished the reign of King James. My friends flatter me (by 

 this I mean that they don't flatter me) that I have succeeded." 



In 1752, the Faculty of Advocates elected 

 Hume their librarian, an office which, though it 



