you concerning the degree of ftrength which may from time to time remain with me. Adieu, &c." THREE days after I received the following letter from Doctor Black. Edinburgh, Monday, 26th August, 1776. CC DEAR SIR, "YESTERDAY about four o'clock afternoon, Mr. Hume expired. The near approach of his death became evident in the night between Thurf day and Friday, when his disease became excef five, and foon weakened him fo much, that he could no longer rife out of his bed. He conti nued to the last perfectly fenfible, and free from much pain or feelings of distress. He never dropped the smallest expreffion of impatience; but when he had occafion to speak to the people about him, always did it with affection and tendernefs. 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 speak, and he died in fuch a happy compofure of mind, that nothing could exceed it. THUS died our moft excellent, and never to be forgotten friend; concerning whose philofophical opinions men will, no doubt, judge varioufly, 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 dif ference 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 state 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-humor, tempered with delicacy and modefty, and without even the flightest tincture of malignity, fo frequently the difagreeable fource 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 learn ing, 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 ap proaching 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, OF THE The ANGLO-SAXON S. The ANGLO-SAXON GOVERNMENT and MANNERS. Firft Saxon government-Succeffion of the kings - The Confequences of the battle of Haftings-Submission of the English-Settlement of the government-King's return to Normandy Difcontents of the English - Their infurrections — Rigors of the Norman government New infurrections-New rigors of the government- Introduction of the feudal law - Innovation in eccle- fiaftical government-Infurrection of the Norman baróns - Dispute about inveftitures-Revolt of prince Robert -Doomsday-book-The New foreft-War with France |