just shall dread no future separation! And may we both remember this awful truth, that we can hope to die the death of the righteous only by resembling their lives. ELIZABETH CARTER. LETTER IV. To Mrs. Vesey. Deal, June 3, 1778. Our two letters I believe, my dear Mrs. Vesey, met each other on the road: and it is pleasant to think that perhaps at the same instant they conveyed to us our affectionate remembrance of each other. I have been about ten days settled in my little quiet abode; and very thankful I am for such a habitation. I had the happiness you kindly wished me of finding my friends, I thank God, very well. Amidst all the gratitude which I owe, and which I can never sufficiently pay, to Heaven, for the greater number of those who still survive, I feel much dejection at missing those who once used to welcome my return, and now welcome it no more! But they, I trust, are at peace. And this thought would give me un abated comfort, if the same arguments that convince the understanding, and awe the mind to resignation, could subdue the fond affections of the heart, which retains its weak regrets, "Sol perche troppo sente, e poco crede." Yet perhaps the evil would be worse, if the objects of our tenderness could be replaced, and new engagements make us entirely forget those that are suspended by the stroke of death. The world would then hold us in everlasting chains, and we should lose one powerful motive for looking forward to the prospect of a better. Every infliction of Providence in this world, is graciously designed to animate our endeavours for that where sorrow shall be no more. In the meani time, let me comfort myself in the thought that the survivers are the only mourners; and that the spirits of the friends who are at present removed from their society, are possessed of a degree of happiness infinitely superior to all that the fondest affection of the families to whom they were so dear, could procure for them in a world like this. My mind, at present too much disposed to sinking. particularly felt, what at any time would have given me pain, your seeming to raise a doubt of your coming to England. But I will hope it was only a transient cloud passing over your own mind. Public affairs do indeed carry a threatening appearance: but you and I remember when the danger was as great, or perhaps greater; when a rebel army was in the midst of the kingdom, and an invasion alarmed the extremities. That storm, God be thanked, blew happily over; and the same gracious Providence may avert the present impending calamities. Our national proVocations against Heaven are very great; but there are, I trust, in the walks of private life, so many who I proceed uniformly in a course of duty, that the proportion, one may hope, is much greater than that which would once have averted the stroke of Divine vengeance from a devoted city. Write to me soon; and cheer my heart and spirits by the hopes of our meeting next year. 1 am, &c. CHAPTER XI. LETTERS TO AND FROM DR. LETTER I. Dr. Horne to Dr. Adam Smith.*-On the life, death, and philosophy, of David Hume, esq. Sir, You have been lately employed in embalming a philosopher; his body, I believe I must say : for concerning the other part of him, neither you nor he seems to have entertained an idea, sleeping or waking. Else, it surely might have claimed a little of your care and attention; and one would think, the belief of the soul's existence and immortality could do no harm, if it did no good, in a "Theory of Moral Sentiments." But every gentleman understands his own business best. Will you do an unknown correspondent the honour, sir, to accept a few plain remarks, in a free, easy way, upon the curious letter to Mr. Strahan, in which this memorable operation of embalming is performed? Our philosopher's account of his own life, shall likewise be considered as we go along. Trust me, good doctor, I am no bigot, enthusiast, nor enemy to human learning. I have made many a hearty meal, in private, upon Cicero and Virgil, as well as Mr. Hume. Few persons, though perhaps, * Author of "Theory of Moral Sentiments," "Inquiry into the nature and causes of the Wealth of Nations," &c. as Mr. Hume says, upon a like occasion," I ought not to judge on that subject," have a quicker relish for the productions of genius, and the beauties of composition. It is, therefore, as little in my intention, as it is in my power, to prejudice the literary character of your friend. From his History of England I have received great pleasure; and I have ever esteemed it to be a noble effort of " matter and motion." But when a man takes it into his head to do mischief, you must be sensible, sir, that the public has always reason to lament his being a "clever fellow." I hope it will not be deemed vanity in me likewise to say, that I have in my composition a large proportion of the milk of human kindness." I have never known what envy or hatred is; and I am ready, at all times, to praise, wherever I can do it in honour and conscience. David, I doubt not, was, as you affirm, a social, agreeable person, of a convivial turn, told a good story, and played well at his favourite game of whist." I know not that John the Painter did the same. But there is no absurdity in the supposition. If he did not, he might have done it. Doctor, be not offended; I mean no harm. I would only infer thus muck, that I could not, on that account, bring myself absolutely to approve his odd fancy of firing all the dock yards in the kingdom. Concerning the "philosophical opinions" of Mr. Hume, you observe, that men will, no doubt, judge variously." They are certainly at liberty so to do, because the author himself did the same. Sometimes, to be sure, he esteemed them ingenious, deep, subtile, elegant, and calculated to diffuse his literary fame to the ends of the world. But, at other times, he judg ed very differently. "I dine," says he, "I play a game at backgammon, I converse, and am merry with my friends; and when, after three or four hours' amusement, I would return to these speculations, they appear so cold, so strained, and so ridiculous, that I cannot find in my heart to enter into them any far ther." Now, sir, if you will only give me leave to judge, before dinner, of Mr. Hume's philosophy, as he judged of it after dinner, we shall have no farther dispute upon that subject. I could indeed wish, to have a scheme of thought, which would bear contemplating, at any time of the day; because, otherwise, a person must be at the expense of maintaining a brace of these metaphysical hobby-horses, one to mount in the morning, and the other in the afternoon. After all, sir, friend as I am to freedom of opinion, (and no one living can be more so,) I am rather sorry that men should judge so variously of Mr. Hume's philosophical speculations. For since the design of them is to banish out of the world every idea of truth and comfort, salvation and immortality, a future state, and the providence and even the existence of GOD, it seems a pity, that we cannot all be of a mind about them. And I could have been well pleased to have been informed by you, sir, that, before his death, he had ceased to number among his happy effusions, tracts of this kind and tendency. Let me come a little closer to you, doctor, if you please, upon this subject. Do not be under any apprehensions : my name does not begin with a B. Are you sure, and can you make us sure, that there really exist no such things as a God, and a future state of rewards and punishments? If so, all is well. Let us then, in our last hours, read Lucian, and play at whist, and droll upon Charon and his boat; let us die as foolish and insensible, as much like our brother philosophers, the calves of the field, and the asses of the desert, as we can. But, if such things are, as they certainly are, is it right in you, sir, to hold up to our view as "perfectly wise and virtuous," the character and conduct of one who seems to have been possessed with an incurable antipathy to all that is called religion; and who strained every nerve, to explode, suppress, and extirpate the spirit of it among men, and that its very name might no more be had in remem |