II LATER YEARS 43 



malignity on Rousseau's side and thorough 

 generosity and patience on Hume's, I may pass 

 lightly. The story is admirably told by Mr. 

 Burton, to whose volumes I refer the reader. 

 Nor need I dwell upon Hume's short tenure of 

 office in London, as Under- Secretary of State, 

 between 1767 and 1769. Success and wealth are 

 rarely interesting, and Hume's case is no exception 

 to the rule. 



According to his own description the cares of 

 official life were not overwhelming. 



"My way of life here is very uniform and by no means 

 disagreeable. I have all the forenoon in the Secretary's house, 

 from ten till three, when there arrive from time to time 

 messengers that bring me all the secrets of the kingdom, and, 

 indeed, of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. I am seldom 

 hurried ; but have leisure at intervals to take up a book, or 

 write a private letter, or converse with a friend that may call 

 for me ; and from dinner to bed-time is all my own. If you 

 add to this that the person with whom I have the chief, if not 

 only, transactions, is the most reasonable, equal-tempered, and 

 gentleman-like man imaginable, and Lady Aylesbury the same, 

 you will certainly think I have no reason to complain ; and I 

 am far from complaining. I only shall not regret when my 

 duty is over ; because to me the situation can lead to nothing, 

 at least in all probability ; and reading, and sauntering, and 

 lounging, and dozing, which I call thinking, is my supreme 

 happiness I mean my full contentment." 



Hume's duty was soon over, and he returned to 

 Edinburgh in 1769, " very opulent " in the 

 possession of 1,000 a year, and determined to 

 take what remained to him of life pleasantly 



