"its professors were either so moral, so humane, "or could so philosophically govern their passions, "as the sceptical David Hume."

And yet, we do not every day hear of a Christian running round a counter with his drawn sword after a reviewer; or quitting a room on the entrance of his antagonist. It appears, from a variety of instances, that Mr. Hume, when his literary character was concerned, could by no means govern "his passions so philosophically" as his apologist wishes to have it believed. But it is not my desire to depreciate any thing that might be really commendable in him. Thus much only I will venture to assert, that, whatever it was, the merit of it is not due to his philosophical principles. These afford no motives to restrain men, who have once embraced them, from any vices, to which their constitutions may happen to incline. It is too much for the same person to excel in every branch. It is enough if he point the way. All evil beings are not immoral. Lord Chesterfield's friend, himself, mentioned above, offends not in the articles of eating, wine, or women; he is differently employed. He is employed in tempting others to offend.

.

The apologist tells us, "Mr. Hume's most ab"stract researches were in favour of a behaviour

perfectly irreproachable. Whoever is acquainted "with Mr. Hume's writings will bear witness, that "he was a lover of decency, order, and decorum. "It would be the drudgery of a day to detect a single light sentence in Humef."

Page 106. 110.

I shall transcribe two or three sentences, which lie pretty near together in a Dialogue subjoined to his Inquiry into the Principles of Morals.

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"There is almost as great difficulty, I acknowledge, to justify French as Greek gallantry; except only, that the former is much more natural "and agreeable than the latter. But our neigh"bours, it seems, have resolved to sacrifice some "of the domestic to the sociable pleasures; and to "prefer ease, freedom, and an open commerce, to "a strict fidelity and constancy. These ends are "both good, and are sometimes difficult to recon"cile; nor need we be surprised, if the customs of "nations incline too much sometimes to the one “side, and sometimes to the other. It is need"less to dissemble: the consequence of a very free "commerce between the sexes, and of their living "much together, will often terminate in intrigues "and gallantry. We must sacrifice somewhat of “the useful, if we be very anxious to obtain all the agreeable qualities; and cannot pretend to reach "alike every kind of advantage. kind of advantage. Instances of li"cence, daily multiplying, will weaken the scandal "with the one sex, and teach the other by degrees "to adopt the famous maxim of la Fontaine with "regard to female infidelity, that, if one knows it, "it is but a small matter; if one knows it not, it is "nothing"." Verily, as Lord Foppington says to his brother in the stage-play, A NIĊE MARALITY, TAM, STAP MY VITALS!

Essays, vol. ii. p. 397. edit. 1772. h Essays, vol. ii. p. 402.

When we consider these sentences as proceeding from the pen of "the first philosopher of the age,' in his palmary and capital work, designed to settle the principles of morality on their only proper foundation, "it would be the drudgery of a MONTH' to find any thing in the system of Chesterfield and his three associates, "the dancing-master, the per"fumer, and the devil," better calculated to multiply new connexions, and dissolve old ones; any thing that so much deserves the profoundest acknowledgements from-the gentlemen of DOCTORS'

COMMONS.

LETTER III.

IT may still perhaps be asked, dear sir, how it should happen, that, when Mr. Hume's principles were so bad, his practices should be no worse? Let me offer the solution given of such a pheno menon in the intellectual world, by a very ingenious and sagacious writer, who had not only studied mankind in general, but, as it should seem, had bestowed some pains upon the very case now before

us.

"This fact has been regarded as unaccountable : "that sober men, of morals apparently unblameable, "should madly unhinge the great principles of re

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ligion and society, without any visible motive or "advantage. But by looking a little farther into "human nature, we shall easily resolve this seeming paradox. These writers are generally men of speculation and industry; and therefore, though

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they give themselves up to the dictates of their "ruling passion, yet that ruling passion commonly "leads to the tract of abstemious manners. That "desire of distinction and superiority, so natural to "man, breaks out into a thousand various and fan"tastic shapes; and in each of these, according as it "is directed, becomes a virtue or a vice. In times of luxury and dissipation therefore, when every

έσ

"tenet of irreligion is greedily embraced, what road "to present applause can lie so open and secure, as "that of disgracing religious belief? Especially if "the writer help forward the vices of the times, by "relaxing morals, as well as destroying principle. "Such a writer can have little else to do, but to "new model the paradoxes of ancient scepticism, in "order to figure it in the world, and be regarded, by the smatterers in literature and adepts in folly, "as a prodigy of parts and learning. Thus his vanity becomes deeply criminal, and is execrated by the wise and good; because it is gratified at "the expense of his country's welfare. But the "consolation which degenerate manners receive "from his fatal tenets, is repaid by eager praise: and "vice impatiently drinks in and applauds his hoarse "and boding voice, while, like a raven, he sits croaking universal death, despair, and annihilation to "the humankind."

But taking the account of Mr. Hume's manners as his friends have given it; to say, that "few of "the professors of Christianity ever equalled him "in morality, humanity, and the government of "their passions," is certainly going a great deal too far. Thousands, in the first ages of the Gospel, gave all their goods to feed the poor; renounced, in deed as well as word, the world and the flesh, and joyfully met death in its most horrid forms, for the love of their Redeemer. On the same principle, unnumbered multitudes, in every succeeding age, have manfully sustained the heaviest calamities of human life, and with faith unfeigned, and hope that