been any time for three months. In the course of our conversation we touched
upon the national affairs. He still maintains, that the national debt must be
the ruin of Britain, and laments that the two most civilized nations, the British
and French, should be on the decline; and the barbarians, the Goths and
Vandals of Germany and Russia, should be rising in power and renown. The
French king 1 , he says, has ruined the state by recalling the parliaments. Mr
Hume thinks that there is only one man in France fit to be minister, (the archbishop of Toulouse.) of the family of Brienne. He told me some curious anecdotes with regard to this prelate, that he composed and corrected without
writing; that Mr Hume had heard him repeat an elegant oration of an hour
and a quarter in length, which he had never written. Mr Hume talking with
the princess Beauvais about French policy, said that he knew but one man in
France capable of restoring its greatness; the lady said she knew one too, and
wished to hear if it was the same; they accordingly named each their man, and
it was this prelate."
The journey had the effect of partly alleviating Mr Hume's disorder, but it returned with renewed virulence. While his strength permitted such an attempt, he called a meeting of his literary friends to partake with him of a farewell dinner. The invitation sent to Or Blair is extant, and is in these terms: "Mr John Hume, alias Home, alias the late lord conservator, alias the late minister of the gospel at Athelstaneford, has calculated matters so as to arrive infallibly with his friend in St David's Street, on Wednesday evening. He has asked several of Dr Blair's friends to dine with him there on Thursday, being the 4th of July, and begs the favour of the doctor to make one of the number." Subjoined to the card there is this note, in Dr Blair's hand writing, "Mem. This the last note received from David Hume. He died on the 25th of August, 1776." This mournful festival, in honour as it were of the departure of the most esteemed and illustrious member of their brilliant circle, was attended by lord Elibank, Adam Smith, Dr Blair, Dr Black, professor Ferguson, and John Home. On Sunday the 25th August, 1776, Mr Hume expired. Of the manner of his death, after the beautiful picture which has been drawn of the event by his friend Adam Smith, we need not enlarge. The calmness of his last moments, unexpected by many, was in every one's mouth at the period, and it is still well known. He was buried on a point of rock overhanging the old town of Edinburgh, now surrounded by buildings, but then bare and wild—the spot he had himself chosen for the purpose. A conflict betwixt a vague horror at his imputed opinions, and respect for the individual who had passed among them a life so irreproachable, created a sensation among the populace of Edinburgh, and a crowd of people attended the body to its grave, which for some time was an object of curiosity. According to his request, Hume's Dialogues on Natural Religion were published after his death, a beautifully classic piece of composition, bringing us back to the days of Cicero. It treats of many of the speculations propounded in his other works.
HUME, Patrick, first earl of Marchmont, a distinguished patriot and statesman, was born, January 13th, 1641. His original place in society was that of the laird of Pol warth, in Berwickshire, being the eldest son of Sir Patrick Hume of Polwarth, the representative of an old baronial family, by Christian Hamilton, daughter of Sir Alexander Hamilton of Innerwick. The subject of our memoir succeeded his father in 1648, while as yet a mere child; and was accordingly indebted to his excellent mother for the better part of his early education. He appears to have been, by her, brought up in the strictest tenets of the presbyterian religion, which flourished, without any constraint upon its private exercise, daring all his early years, till it was discountenanced by govern-
