IN the following work I have introduced Mr. Hume's epiftolary correspondence into the narrative, instead of relegating it to the appendix. The letters of a man, eminent for his learning and talents, form an interefting part of his biography; yet, when a collection of them is given without any connecting detail, every one must feel, that their value is confiderably diminished: few indeed have perseverance to peruse them. By the plan I have adopted, the volume ftill remains the fame in point of fize; but the reader becomes progreffively acquainted with the literary connections of Mr. Hume, the habits of him and his friends, and numberless traits in their characters, which could not be easily or advantageously compressed into history. In vi IN the biographical sketch, drawn up by Mr. Hume previous to his death, and intitled MY OWN LIFE, he has paffed over unnoticed two very important incidents. The first of these is the complaint presented to the General Affembly of the Church of Scotland, against the metaphyfical writings of our author and Lord Kames; an occurrence which derives additional importance from a late difcuffion of a like nature before that venerable body. The other is the difpute between him and Rouffeau, which it was the more neceffary to relate at confiderable length, as an opinion, unfavourable to Mr. Hume, prevailed very generally, and even still prevails, among the literati in foreign countries. A fentiment of delicacy feems to have restrained him from alluding to these transactions, but fuch a motive cannot influence a ftranger; and a fimilar omiffion in a Life of Mr. Hume, written by another perfon, would certainly render the work very imperfect. R. Belhaven Barracks, Dunbar, March 1, 1807. |