and you may have a more particular detail of it, if you please, from Dr. Franklin, who will be in Paris about this time, and will be glad to see you. I conveyed to him your prospectus, and he expressed to me a great esteem of it.

I see that in your prospectus, you take care not to disoblige your economists by any declaration of your sentiments; in which I commend your prudence. But I hope that in your work you will thunder them, and crush them, and pound them, and reduce them to dust and ashes. They are, indeed, the set of men the most arrogant that now exist, since the annihilation of the Sorbonne. I ask your pardon for saying so, as I know that you belong to that venerable body. I wonder what could engage our friend, M. Turgot, to herd among them,-I mean, among the economists, though I believe he was also a Sorbonist.

I sent your prospectus to Dr. Tucker, but have not heard from him since. I shall myself deliver copies to Dr. Robertson and M. Smith, as I go to Scotland this autumn.

And now, my dear Abbé, what remains to me but to wish you success in your judicious labours; to embrace you, and through you to embrace all our common friends- D'Alembert, Helvetius, Buffon, Baron D'Holbach, Suard, Mille, L'ESpinasse? Poor Abbé le Bon is dead, I hear. The Abbé Galliani goes to Naples: he does well to leave Paris before I come thither, for I should certainly put him to death for the ill he has spoken of England. But it has happened as he

foretold by his friend Caraccioli, who said that

the Abbé would remain two months in this country, would speak all himself, would not allow an Englishman to utter a syllable, and, after returning, would give the character of the nation during the rest of his life, as if he were perfectly well acquainted with them.

Pray make my compliments to M. Maletete : tell him that Prince Masserane says, that he has saved much effusion of blood to this country. It is certain that M. Maletete had a great curiosity to see a riot here, and yet was resolved to keep his person in safety. For this purpose he hired a window, and proposed to be present at one of the mad elections of Wilkes, and to divert himself with the fray. Somebody got a hint of it, and put it into the newspapers; asking the freeholders if they were so degenerate as to make themselves a laughingstock, even to the French, their enemies whom they despised. Prince Masserane alleges that this incident made that election so remarkably peaceable.

Are you acquainted with Crebillon? I am ashamed to mention his name. He sent me over his last work, with a very obliging letter: but as I must write to him in French, I have never answered him. If all the English were as impertinent as I am, the Abbé Galliani would have reason to abuse us.-I am, dear Abbé, after asking your blessing, yours sincerely,

DAVID HUME.

DAVID HUME TO THE COUNTESS DE

BOUFFLERS.

Edinburgh, 25 January, 1772.

I AM truly ashamed, my dear madam, of your having prevented me in breaking our long silence; but you have prevented me only by a few days: for I was resolved to have writ to you on this commencement of the year, and to have renewed my professions of unfeigned and unalterable attachment to you. While I was at London, I had continual opportunities of hearing the news of Paris, and particularly concerning you; and even since I had settled here, I never saw any body who came from your part of the world that I did not question concerning you. The last person to whom I had the satisfaction of speaking of you, was Mr. Dutens. But there were many circumstances of your situation which moved my anxiety, and of which none but yourself could give me information. You have been so good as to enter into a detail of them, much to my satisfaction; and I heartily rejoice with you, both on the restoration of your tranquillity of mind, which time and reflection have happily effected, and on the domestic satisfaction which the friendship and society of your daughter-in-law afford you. These last consolations go near to the heart, and will make you ample compensation for your disappointments in those views of ambition which you so naturally entertained, but which the late revo

lutions in France might perhaps have rendered more full of inquietude than satisfaction.

For my part, have totally and finally retired from the world, with a resolution never more to appear on the scene in any shape. This purpose arose, not from discontent, but from satiety. I have no object but to

Sit down and think, and die in peace

What other project can a man of my age entertain! Happily I found my taste for reading return, even with greater avidity, after a pretty long interruption: but I guard myself carefully from the temptation of ever writing any more; and though I have had encouragement to continue my history, I am resolved never again to expose myself to the censure of such factions and passionate readers as this country abounds with. There are some people here conversible enough, -their society, together with my books, fills up my time sufficiently, so as not to leave any vacancy; and I have lately added the amusement of building, which has given me some occupation.

I hearken attentively to the hopes you give me of seeing you once more before I die. I think it becomes me to meet you at London; and though I have frequently declared that I should never more see that place, such an incident, as your arrival there, would be sufficient to break all my resolutions. I only desire to hear of your journey as soon as it is fixed, and as long before it is executed as possible, that I may previously ad

just matters so as to share the compliment with others of my friends, particularly the Hertford family, who may reasonably expect this attention from me.

Can I beg of you to mention my name to the Prince of Conti, and assure him that the world does not contain any person more devoted to him, or more sensible of the obligations which he imposed on me? I suppose Madame De Barbantane is very agreeably situated with her pupil, the Duchess of Barbantane. Will she be pleased to accept of the respects of an old friend and servant? I beg to be remembered to Madame De Vierville. If Miss Becket be still with you, I wish to make her my compliments. I am with the greatest truth and sincerity ever yours,

DAVID HUME.

MR. GIBBON TO MR. HOLROYD, AT LAUSANNE.

DEAR HOLROYD,

Boromean Islands, May 16th, 1764.

HURRY of running about, time taken up with seeing places, &c. &c. &c. are excellent excuses; but I fancy you will guess that my laziness and aversion to writing to my best friend are the real motives, and I am afraid you will have guessed right.

We are at this minute in a most magnificent palace, in the middle of a vast lake; ranging about suites of rooms without a soul to interrupt us, and secluded from the rest of the universe.