either. I here allude to what you have done for Ferguson.

“But, pray, why do you say, that the post of Boston is like the Camp of Pirna? I fancy our troops can be withdrawn thence without any difficulty.

"I make no doubt, since you sound the trumpet for war against the Americans, that you have a plan ready for governing them, after they are subdued; but you will not subdue them, unless they break in pieces among themselves-an event very probable. It is a wonder it has not happened sooner. But no man can foretell how far these frenzies of the people may be carried.

Yours,

Copy of a Card from Mr DAVID HUME to Dr BLAIR. It was written when he, along with Mr JOHN HOME, was on the way down from Bath to Edinburgh.

MR JOHN HUME, alias Home, alias the Home, alias the late Lord Conservator, alias the late Minister of the Gospel at Athelstaneford, has calcula ted 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 Mr David Hume. He died on the 25th of August, 1776."

Copy of passage in a Letter from Mr DAVID HUME to Dr BLAIR, dated Bath, 13th May, 1776. It relates to his meeting with Mr JOHN HOME, when on the way to Bath, for recovery of his health.

"You must have heard of the agreeable surprise which John Home put upon me. We travelled up to London very cheerfully together, and thence to this place, where we found Mrs Home almost quite recovered. Never was there a more friendly action, nor better placed; for what between conver

sation and gaming,* (not to mention sometimes squabbling) I did not pass a languid moment; and his company I am certain was the chief cause why my journey had so good an effect; of which, however, I suppose he has given too sanguine accounts, as is usual with him."

Excerpt from a Codicil to Mr DAVID HUME'S Will, written in his own hand, and dated 7th August, 1776.

"I LEAVE to my friend Mr John Home of Kilduff, ten dozen of my old claret, at his choice; and one single bottle of that other liquor called port. I also leave to him six dozen of port, provided that he attests under his hand, signed John Hume, that he has himself alone finished that bottle at two sittings. By this concession, he will at once terminate the only two differences that ever arose between us concerning temporal matters."

* Both were fond of picquet, and they played every evening on the road.

Note by DAVID HUME, Esq. Nephew to the Historian.

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JOHN HOME was very strenuous in support of the o in preference to the u, in the spelling of his name, and held the point to be so clear in his own favour, as to admit of no debate. David Hume, at one time, jocularly proposed that they should determine the controversy by casting lots. Nay,” says John, “ that is a most extraordinary proposal indeed, Mr Philosopher-for if you lose, you take your own name, and if I lose, I take another man's name." This he often told me with great glee, and nearly in these words.

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Note by the Editor.

As to the port-wine, it is well known that Mr Home held it in abhorrence. In his younger days, claret was the only wine drank by gentlemen in Scotland. His epigram on the enforcement of the high duty on French wine in this country, is in most people's hands:

"Firm and erect the Caledonian stood,

Old was his mutton, and his claret good;

'Let him drink port,' an English statesman cried-
He drank the poison, and his spirit died."

Among the papers which have been preserved, is one of a remarkable kind,—a journal of that philosopher and historian's conversation and opinions delivered during the progress of a journey, which those two friends made in company to Bath, a very short while before Mr David Hume's death. That journey was highly honourable to Mr John Home, from the cordial and disinterested attachment which it shewed him to entertain for his illustrious friend.

He was at London with his wife, when he received accounts of the dangerous situation of Mr David Hume's health, and that he proposed a journey to Bath, as one of the possible means for restoring it. Mr Home instantly set off for Scotland, with the design of attending him in that journey, and ministering to him whatever ease or comfort the society of so intimate and long-tried a friend could afford. Mr Hume felt very sensibly the kindness of this measure, and it seemed to have answered, in no inconsiderable degree, the good purpose which it was intended to serve. They travelled by easy stages, they discoursed by the road with an easy unconstrained familiarity, which a sick man, in his moments of ease, can indulge without fatigue; and, in the evening, when they came early to their resting-place for the night, they played at picquet, a game of which they were both fond enough, as well as skilful in, to find an interest