language, and sometimes by a rare felicity of expression."

Now listen attentively to poor David Hume:

"After having read with impatience and avidity the first volume
of your _History_, I feel the same impatience to thank you for
your interesting present; and to express to you the
satisfaction which this production has afforded me, under the
several points of view, of the dignity of the style, the extent
of your researches, the profound manner in which the subject is
treated. This work is entitled to the highest esteem. You will
feel pleasure, as I do myself, from hearing that all the men of
letters in this city (Edinburgh) agree in admiring your work,
and in desiring the continuation of it."

Do you know, too, that the Tacitus and Livy of Scotland have been useful
to me in more ways than one. Our good English folk had long lamented the
superiority which these historians had acquired; and as national
prejudices are kept up at a small expense, they have eagerly raised
their unworthy countrymen by their acclamations to a level with these
great men. Besides, I have had the good fortune to avoid the shoal which
is the most dangerous in this country. A historian is always to a
certain degree a political character, and every reader according to his
private opinion seeks in the most remote ages the sentiments of the
historian upon kings and governments. A minister who is a great friend
to the prerogatives of the crown has complimented me, on my having
everywhere professed the soundest doctrines.

Mr. Walpole, on the other hand, and my Lord Camden, both partisans of
liberty, and even of a republic, are persuaded that I am not far from
their ideas. This is a proof, at least, that I have observed a fair
neutrality.

Let us now look at the reverse of the medal, and inspect the means which
Heaven has thought fit to employ to humble my pride. Would you think, my
dear sir, that injustice has been carried so far as to attack the purity
of my faith? The cry of the bishops and of a great number of ladies,
equally respectable for their age and understanding, has been raised
against me. It has been maintained, that the last two chapters of my
pretended _History_ are only a satire on the Christian religion--a
satire the more dangerous as it is concealed under a veil of moderation
and impartiality: and that the emissary of Satan, after having long
amused his readers with a very ag