[81:1] A tragedy by John Home.
[83:1] The militia of England had, owing to the unpopularity of the foreign mercenaries in British pay, been strengthened and enlarged. A proposal was entertained, to extend the system to Scotland: but it was not executed till many years afterwards. There were several pamphlets on the subject. Probably the one here referred to is the well known "History of the Proceedings in the case of Margaret, commonly called Peg, only lawful Sister of John Bull, Esq.;" attributed to Adam Ferguson, which will have to be mentioned [farther] on.
[84:1] Hume seems to have himself commenced a translation of Plutarch. See above, vol. i. p. 417.
[85:1] Stewart's Life of Robertson.
[87:1] It will be observed, that Hume's strongest argument from internal criticism is, that the state of society and feeling exhibited in these poems was that of the middle ages, and involved the spirit of chivalry peculiar to that period.
[89:1] Mackenzie's Account of Home, p. 155. The original is in the MSS. R.S.E. Mr. Mackenzie says, "I could not read this letter without being confirmed in an observation which I have often ventured to make, on the uncertainty of the evidence arising from letters, when the writers are dead, and the motives of their correspondence cannot be known."
[90:1] It is not Cowley but Butler who makes this sarcasm.
For Hebrew roots although they're found
To flourish most in barren ground.
[90:2] MS. R.S.E.