Of the two portraits engraved for this work, that which will, probably, most strikingly attract attention, is taken from a bust, of coarse and unartistic workmanship, but bearing all the marks of a genuine likeness. It was moulded by a country artist, at the desire of Hume's esteemed friend, Professor Ferguson; and I am under obligations to his son, Sir Adam, for the privilege of using it on this occasion, and to Sir George Mackenzie, for having kindly mentioned its existence, and exerted himself in its recovery, after it had been long lost sight of. The medallion, from which the other portrait is taken, is in the possession of Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Esq., by whom I was presented with the engraved plate, from which the fac simile of a letter, addressed by Hume to his collateral ancestor, is printed.
Edinburgh, February, 1846.
*** It may be right to explain, that the two sizes of type, used in this work, were first adopted with the design of presenting all letters addressed to Hume, all extracts, and all letters from him with which the public is already familiar, in the smaller type, in order that the reader coming to a document with which he is already acquainted, might see at once where it ends. This arrangement was accidentally broken through, several letters having been printed in the larger that should have appeared in the smaller type.
FOOTNOTES:
[xi:1] No. LXXIII. p. 555.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME FIRST.
| ILLUSTRATIONS TO VOL. I. | |
| Portrait of Hume from a Medallion, | [Frontispiece]. |
| Fac simile of a letter by Hume, | Page [178] |
| CHAPTER I. | |
| 1711-1734. Æt. 0-23. | |
| Birth—Parentage—His own account of his Ancestors—Local associationsof Ninewells—Education—Studies—Early Correspondence—TheRamsays—Specimen of his early Writings—Essay on Chivalry—Whyhe deserted the Law—Early ambition to found a School of Philosophy—Letterto a Physician describing his studies and habits—Criticismon the Letter—Supposition that it was addressed to Dr. Cheyne—Humegoes to Bristol. | [1] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| 1734-1739. Æt. 23-27. | |
| Hume leaves Bristol for France—Paris—Miracles at the Tomb of theAbbé Paris—Rheims—La Flêche—Associations with the Abbé Plucheand Des Cartes—Observations on French Society and Manners—Storyof La Roche—Return to Britain—Correspondence with HenryHome—Publication of the first and second volume of the Treatise ofHuman Nature—Character of that Work—Its influence on MentalPhilosophy. | [48] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| 1739-1741. Æt. 27-29. | |
| Letters to his friends after the publication of the first and second volumeof the Treatise—Returns to Scotland—Reception of his Book—Criticismin "The Works of the Learned"—Charge against Hume ofassaulting the publisher—Correspondence with Francis Hutcheson—Seeksa situation—Connexion with Adam Smith—Publication of thethird volume of the Treatise—Account of it—Hume's notes of hisreading—Extracts from his Note-books. | [105] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| 1741-1745. Æt. 30-34. | |
| Publication of the Essays, Moral and Political—Their Character—Correspondencewith Home and Hutcheson—Hume's Remarks onHutcheson's System—Education and Accomplishments of the ScottishGentry—Hume's Intercourse with Mure of Caldwell andOswald of Dunnikier—Opinions on a Sermon by Dr. Leechman—Attemptsto succeed Dr. Pringle in the Chair of Moral Philosophyin Edinburgh. | [136] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| 1745-1747. Æt. 34-36. | |
| Hume's Residence with the Marquis of Annandale—His PredecessorColonel Forrester—Correspondence with Sir James Johnstone andMr. Sharp of Hoddam—Quarrel with Captain Vincent—Estimate ofhis Conduct, and Inquiry into the Circumstances in which he wasplaced—Appointed Secretary to General St. Clair—Accompanies theexpedition against the Court of France as Judge-Advocate—Gives anAccount of the Attack on Port L'Orient—A tragic Incident. | [170] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| 1746-1748. Æt. 35-37. | |
| Hume returns to Ninewells—His domestic Position—His attempts inPoetry—Inquiry as to his Sentimentalism—Takes an interest in Politics—AppointedSecretary to General St. Clair on his mission to Turin—Hisjournal of his Tour—Arrival in Holland—Rotterdam—TheHague—Breda—The War—French Soldiers—Nimeguen—Cologne—Bonn—TheRhine and its scenery—Coblentz—Wiesbaden—Frankfurt—Battleof Dettingen—Wurzburg—Ratisbon—Descent of theDanube—Observations on Germany—Vienna—The Emperor andEmpress Queen—Styria—Carinthia—The Tyrol—Mantua—Cremona—Turin. | [225] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| 1748-1751. Æt. 37-40. | |
| Publication of the "Inquiry concerning Human Understanding"—Natureof that Work—Doctrine of Necessity—Observations on Miracles—NewEdition of the "Essays, Moral and Political"—Reception of thenew Publications—Return Home—His Mother's Death—Her Talentsand Character—Correspondence with Dr. Clephane—Earthquakes—Correspondencewith Montesquieu—Practical jokes in connexion withthe Westminster Election—John Home—The Bellman's Petition. | [271] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| 1751-1752. Æt. 40-41. | |
| Sir Gilbert Elliot—Hume's intimacy with him—Their PhilosophicalCorrespondence—Dialogues on Natural Religion—Residence inEdinburgh—Jack's Land—Publication of the "Inquiry concerningthe Principles of Morals"—The Utilitarian Theory—Attempt toobtain the Chair of Moral Philosophy in Glasgow—Competition withBurke—Publication of the "Political Discourses"—The foundationof Political Economy—French Translations. | [319] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| 1752-1755. Æt. 41-44. | |
| Appointment as keeper of the Advocates' Library—His Duties—Commencesthe History of England—Correspondence with Adam Smithand others on the History—Generosity to Blacklock the Poet—Quarrelwith the Faculty of Advocates—Publication of the FirstVolume of the History—Its reception—Continues the History—Controversialand Polemical attacks—Attempt to subject him, alongwith Kames, to the Discipline of Ecclesiastical Courts—The leader ofthe attack—Home's "Douglas"—The first Edinburgh Review. | [367] |
| APPENDIX. | |
| Fragments of a Paper in Hume's handwriting, describing the Descenton the Coast of Brittany, in 1746, and the causes of its failure. | [441] |
| Letters from Montesquieu to Hume, | [456] |
| —— the Abbé le Blanc to Hume, | [458] |
| Documents relating to the Poems of Ossian, | [462] |
| Essay on the Genuineness of the Poems, | [471] |