who were desperately afraid of
my falling on them and crushing them."

Notwithstanding the many attractions of this appointment, Hume writes
that he leaves home "with infinite regret, where I had treasured up
stores of study and plans of thinking for many years;" and his only
consolation is that the opportunity of becoming conversant with state
affairs may be profitable:--

"I shall have an opportunity of seeing courts and camps: and if I
can afterward be so happy as to attain leisure and other
opportunities, this knowledge may even turn to account to me as a
man of letters, which I confess has always been the sole object of
my ambition. I have long had an intention, in my riper years, of
composing some history; and I question not but some greater
experience in the operations of the field and the intrigues of the
cabinet will be requisite, in order to enable me to speak with
judgment on these subjects."

Hume returned to London in 1749, and, during his stay there, his mother
died, to his heartfelt sorrow. A curious story in connection with this
event is told by Dr. Carlyle, who knew Hume well, and whose authority is
perfectly trustworthy.

"Mr. Boyle hearing of it, soon after went to his apartment, for
they lodged in the same house, where he found him in the deepest
affliction and in a flood of tears. After the usual topics and
condolences Mr. Boyle said to him, 'My friend, you owe this
uncommon grief to having thrown off the principles of religion: for
if you had not, you would have been consoled with the firm belief
that the good lady, who was not only the best of mothers, but the
most pious of Christians, was completely happy in the realms of the
just. To which David replied, 'Though I throw out my speculations
to entertain the learned and metaphysical world, yet in other
things I do not think so differently from the rest of the world as
you imagine.'"

If Hume had told this story to Dr. Carlyle, the latter would have said
so; it must therefore have come from Mr. Boyle; and one would like to
have the opportunity of cross-examining that gentleman as to Hume's
exact words and their context, before implicitly accepting his version
of the conversation. Mr. Boyle's experience of mankind must have been
small, if he had not seen the firmest of believers overwhelmed with
grief by a like loss, and as completely incon