On the 22d of Auguft, the Doctor wrote me the following letter: "SINCE my laft Mr. Hume has paffed his time pretty easily, but is much weaker. He fits up, goes down ftairs once a day, and amufes himself with reading, but feldom fees any body. He finds, that even the converfation of his most intimate friends fatigues and oppreffes him; and it is happy that he does not need it, for he is quite free from anxiety, impatience, or low fpirits, and paffes his time very well with the affiftance of amusing books." I RECEIVED the day after a letter from Mr. Hume himself, of which the following is an extract: "MY DEAREST FRIEND, Edinburgh, Aug. 23, 1776. "I AM obliged to make use of my nephew's hand in writing to you, as I do not rife to-day. "I Go very faft to decline, and last night had a fmall fever, which I hoped might put a quicker period to this tedious illness; but unluckily it has in a great measure gone off. I cannot fubmit to your coming over here on my account, as it is poffible for me to see you fo fmall a part of the day, but Doctor Black can better inform you concerning the degree of strength which may from time to time remain with me. Adieu, &c." THREE days after, I received the following letter from Doctor Black: "DEAR SIR, Edinburgh, Monday, Aug. 26, 1776. "YESTERDAY, about four o'clock afternoon, Mr. Hume expired. The near approach of his death be came came evident in the night between Thursday and Friday, when his disease became exceffive, and foon weakened him fo much, that he could no longer rife out of his bed. He continued to the laft perfectly fenfible, and free from much pain or feelings of diftrefs. He never dropped the smallest expreffion of impatience; but when he had occasion to speak to the people about him, always did it with affection and tenderness. I thought it improper to write to bring you over, especially as I heard that he had dictated a letter to you, defiring you not to come. When he became very weak, it coft him an effort to fpeak, and he died in fuch a happy compofure of mind that nothing could exceed it." THUS died our most excellent, and never to be forgotten friend; concerning whose philofophical opinions men will no doubt judge variously, every one approving or condemning them, according as they happen to coincide or difagree with his own; but concerning whofe character and conduct there can fcarce be a difference of opinion. His temper, indeed, feemed to be more happily balanced, if I may be allowed fuch an expreffion, than that perhaps of any other man I have ever known. Even in the loweft ftate of his fortune, his great and neceffary frugality never hindered him from exercifing, upon proper occafions, acts both of charity and generofity. It was a frugality founded not upon avarice, but upon the love of independency. The extreme gentleness of his nature never weakened either the firmness of his mind, or the fteadiness of his refolutions. His conftant pleasantry was the genuine effufion of good-nature and good-humour, tempered with delicacy and modefty, modefty, and without even the lightest tincture of malignity, fo frequently the difagreeable source of what is called wit in other men. It never was the meaning of his raillery to mortify; and therefore, far from offending, it feldom failed to please and delight, even those who were the objects of it. To his friends, who were frequently the objects of it, there was not perhaps any one of all his great and amiable qualities which contributed more to endear his converfation. And that gaiety of temper, fo agreeable in fociety, but which is fo often accompanied with frivolous and fuperficial qualities, was in him certainly attended with the most severe application, the most extenfive learning, the greatest depth of thought, and a capacity in every respect the most comprehenfive. Upon the whole, I have always confidered him, both in his lifetime and fince his death, as approaching as nearly to the idea of a perfectly wife and virtuous man as perhaps the nature of human frailty will permit. I ever am, dear Sir, Most affectionately your's, ADAM SMITH. The Britons-Romans-Saxon's-The Heptarchy -The kingdom of Kent-of Northumberland- Confequences of the battle of Haftings-Submiffion of the English- Settlement of the government-King's re turn to Normandy-Difcontents of the EnglishTheir infurrections-Rigours of the Norman government-New infurrections- -New rigours of the government- -Introduction of the feudal law-Innovation in ecclefiaftical government-Infurrection of the Norman barons-Difpute about inveftitures-Revolt of prince Robert-Doomsday book-The New Foreft-War with France-Death-and character of William the Conqueror. 231 CHAP. V. WILLIAM. RUFUS. Acceffion of William Rufus-Confpiracy against the king -Invasion of Normandy-The Crufades—Acquifition of Normandy-Quarrel with Anfelm the pri mate Death—and character of William Rufus. 285 |