The testimony you are pleased to give in favour of my performance, is an honour of which I should be entirely unworthy, were I not sensible of the uncommon generosity you have shown in giving it. Ever since I was acquainted with your works, your talents as a writer have, notwithstanding some differences in abstract principles, extorted from me the highest veneration. But I could scarce have thought that, in spite of differences of a more interesting nature, even such as regard morals and religion, you could ever force me to love and honour you as a man. Yet no religious prejudices (as you would probably term them,) can hinder me from doing justice to that goodness and candour, which appear in every line of your letter.

It would be in vain to dissemble the pleasure which it gives me, that I am thought to have acquitted myself tolerably in a dispute with an author of such acknowledged merit. At the same time, it gives me real pain, that any symptoms of vehemence (which are not so easily avoided in disputation as one would imagine,) should give so generous an adversary the least ground of complaint. You have (if I remember right, for I have not the book here,) in the appendix to the third volume of your "Treatise on Human Nature," apologized for using sometimes the expressions—'Tis certain, 'Tis evident, and the like. These, you observe, were in a manner forced from you by the strong, though transient light in which a particular object then appeared, and are therefore not to be considered as at all inconsistent with the general principles of scepticism which are maintained in the Treatise. My apology is somewhat similar. There is in all controversy a struggle for victory, which I may say compels one to take every fair advantage that either the sentiments or the words of an antagonist present him with. But the appearances of asperity or raillery, which one will be thereby necessarily drawn into, ought not to be constructed as in the least affecting the habitual good opinion, or even the high esteem, which the writer may nevertheless entertain of his adversary.

FOOTNOTES:

[74:1] The following contrasted extracts represent some of the variations above alluded to. The passages on the one side will be found in the first, and those in the other in the last corrected edition of the "History of the Stuarts."

First edition.Later editions.
King James inculcated those monarchical tenets with which he was so much infatuated. P. 54.Inculcated those monarchical tenets which he had so strongly imbibed.
Divine right. And though these doctrines were perhaps more openly inculcated and more strenuously insisted on during the reign of the Stuarts, they were not then invented. P. 120.And though it is pretended that these doctrines were more openly inculcated, and more strenuously insisted on, during the reign of the Stuarts, they were not then invented.
America. The seeds of many a noble state have been sown in climates kept desolate by the wild manners of the ancient inhabitants; and an asylum secured in that solitary world for liberty and science, if ever the spreading of unlimited empire, or the inroad of barbarous nations, should again extinguish them in this turbulent and restless hemisphere. P. 134.Expunged.
Charles I. However moderate his temper, the natural illusions of self-love, joined to his education under James, and to the flattery of courtiers and churchmen, had represented his political tenets as certain and uncontroverted. P. 148.However moderate his temper, the natural and unavoidable prepossessions of self-love, joined to the late uniform precedents in favour of prerogative, had made him regard his political tenets as certain and uncontroverted.
Loans were by privy seal required of several: to others the way of benevolence was proposed; methods supported by precedents, condemned by positive laws, and always invidious even to times more submissive and compliant. In the most despotic governments, such expedients would be regarded as irregular and disorderly. P. 159.Of some, loans were required: to others, the way of benevolence was proposed: methods supported by precedent, but always invidious even in times more submissive and compliant. In the most absolute governments, such expedients would be regarded as irregular and unequal.
The new counsels which Charles had mentioned to the parliament, were now to be tried in order to supply his necessities. Had he possessed any military force on which he could depend, 'tis likely that he had at once taken off the mask, and governed without any regard to the ancient laws and constitution: so high an idea had he imbibed of kingly prerogative, and so contemptible a notion of the privileges of those popular assemblies, from which he thought he had met with such ill usage. But his army was new levied, ill-paid, and worse disciplined; no way superior to the militia, who were much more numerous, and who were in a great measure under the influence of the country gentlemen. It behoved him therefore to proceed cautiously, and to cover his enterprises under pretext of ancient precedents. P. 158.The new counsels which Charles had mentioned to the parliament, were now to be tried, in order to supply his necessities. Had he possessed any military force on which he could rely, it is not improbable that he had at once taken off the mask, and governed without any regard to parliamentary privileges: so high an idea had he received of kingly prerogative, and so contemptible a notion of the rights of those popular assemblies, from which he very naturally thought he had met with such ill-usage. But his army was new levied, ill-paid, and worse disciplined; nowise superior to the militia, who were much more numerous, and who were in a great measure under the influence of the country gentlemen. It behoved him therefore to proceed cautiously, and to cover his enterprises under pretence of ancient precedents, which, considering the great authority commonly enjoyed by his predecessors, could not be wanting to himself.
In most national debates, though the reasons may not be equally balanced, yet are there commonly some plausible topics, which may be pleaded even in favour of the weaker side; so complicated are all human affairs, and so uncertain the consequences of every public measure. But it must be confessed, that in the present case, nothing of weight can be thrown into the opposite scale. The imposition of ship-money, is apparently the most avowed and most dangerous invasion of national privileges, not only which Charles was ever guilty of, but which the most arbitrary princes in England, since any liberty had been ascertained to the people, had ever ventured upon. P. 218.Expunged.
Perhaps the King, who dreaded above all things the House of Commons, and who never sufficiently respected the constitution, thought, that, in his present urgent distresses, he might be enabled to levy subsidies, by the authority of the peers alone. But the employing so long a plea of necessity, which was evidently false, and ill grounded, rendered it impossible for him to avail himself of a necessity which was now at last become real and inevitable. P. 247.Perhaps the King, who dreaded above all things the House of Commons, and who expected no supply from them on any reasonable terms, thought, that in his present distresses, he might be enabled to levy supplies by the authority of the peers alone. But the employing so long the plea of a necessity, which appeared distant and doubtful, rendered it impossible for him to avail himself of a necessity which was now at last become real, urgent, and inevitable.
The attempt to seize the Five Members.
This strange resolution, so incompatible with the majesty of a king, so improper even for the dignity of any great magistrate, was discovered to the Countess of Carlisle, sister to Northumberland, a lady of great spirit, wit, and intrigue. P. 318.This resolution was discovered to the Countess of Carlisle, sister to Northumberland, a lady of spirit, wit, and intrigue.

[78:1] In the MSS. R.S.E.

[78:2] See the letter itself in the Clarendon Papers, ii. 201-3.

[79:1] The following are some instances of the alterations made on the first edition of his History. The collection of these instances has been facilitated by the use of a copy of the first edition of the Histories of the Houses of Stuart and Tudor, in the possession of a friend, on which the alterations embodied in the subsequent editions are written in red ink.

In the first edition.As altered.
Scotch.Scottish.
Such was the terror, respectable and rare in a monarch.So great was the terror, respectable as well as rare, in a monarch.
May be esteemed a great reflection on his memory.May be deemed a great reflection on his memory.
Betwixt.Between.
We come now to relate.We are now to relate.
Under pretext of a hunting match.On pretence of a hunting match.
Making account that.Thinking himself assured that.
Their concurrence became requisite.Their concurrence became necessary.
Along with.Together with.
Esteemed impartial.Deemed impartial.
To a pitch beyond what had ever been known since.To a height beyond what had been known since.
Entirely requisite for their future safety.Absolutely necessary for their future safety.
When the exception really occurs, even though it be not precedently expected.When the exception really occurs, even though it be not previously expected.
Any way displeased at the, &c.Any-wise displeased at the, &c.
Monarchical tenets with which he was so much infatuated.Monarchical tenets which he had so strongly imbibed.
Graced with ecclesiastical titles.Endowed with ecclesiastical titles.
Inflicting this sentence.Pronouncing this sentence.
Confined in the Tower.Confined to the Tower.
Debarred from such sports.Debarred such sports.
Raleigh pretended not.Raleigh did not pretend.
War with the Spaniards.War against the Spaniards.
As to the circumstance of the narration.As to the circumstance of the narrative.
Would have had a most just cause.Would have had a just cause.
Such as together with.Such as along with.
Interposal in the wars.Interposition in the wars.
Effectuate a marriage.Effect a marriage.
He was utterly devoid.He was utterly destitute.
Headlong in his passions.Headstrong in his passions.
Obtained at last.Obtained at length.
A bill declarative.A bill declaratory.
Forced into a breach.Constrained to make a breach.
Had sat.Had sitten.
However little inclined.How little soever inclined.
Besides being a most atrocious violence.Besides its being a most atrocious act of violence.
Precedent to Strafford's trial.Previous to Strafford's trial.
Afraid that.Afraid lest.
Was ordinarily lodged in.Was commonly lodged in.
Was the person who introduced.Was the person that introduced.
During all the time when.During the time that.
Reduced to shifts.Reduced to extremities.
The Star Chamber, who were sitting.The Star Chamber, which was sitting.
A story which, as it marks the genius of parties, may be worth reciting.A story which, as it discovers the genius of parties, may be worth relating.
Contempt entertained towards.Contempt entertained for.
Could such an attempt be interpreted treason.Could such an attempt be considered as treason.
Lay great weight upon.Lay great stress upon.
Devoid of temporal sanction.Destitute of temporal sanction.
Parliament designed to levy war.Parliament intended to levy war.
It would ascertain the devoted obedience.It would ensure the devoted obedience.
His dignity was exempted from pride.His dignity was free from pride.
When the exception really occurs, even though it be not precedently expected.When the exception really occurs, even though it be not previously expected.
To those effects which were operated.To those effects which were wrought.