Over all this part of Hume's career, as over the surprising episode of
the quarrel with Rousseau, if that can be called quarrel which was
lunatic malignity on Rousseau's side and thorough generosity and
patience on Hume's, I may pass lightly. The story is admirably told by
Mr. Burton, to whose volumes I refer the reader. Nor need I dwell upon
Hume's short tenure of office in London, as Under-Secretary of State,
between 1767 and 1769. Success and wealth are rarely interesting, and
Hume's case is no exception to the rule.

According to his own description the cares of official life were not
overwhelming.

"My way of life here is very uniform and by no means disagreeable.
I have all the forenoon in the Secretary's house, from ten till
three, when there arrive from time to time messengers that bring me
all the secrets of the kingdom, and, indeed, of Europe, Asia,
Africa, and America. I am seldom hurried; but have leisure at
intervals to take up a book, or write a private letter, or converse
with a friend that may call for me; and from dinner to bed-time is
all my own. If you add to this that the person with whom I have the
chief, if not only, transactions, is the most reasonable,
equal-tempered, and gentleman-like man imaginable, and Lady
Aylesbury the same, you will certainly think I have no reason to
complain; and I am far from complaining. I only shall not regret
when my duty is over; because to me the situation can lead to
nothing, at least in all probability; and reading, and sauntering,
and lounging, and dozing, which I call thinking, is my supreme
happiness--I mean my full contentment."

Hume's duty was soon over, and he returned to Edinburgh in 1769, "very
opulent" in the possession of L1,000 a year, and determined to take what
remained to him of life pleasantly and easily. In October, 1769, he
writes to Elliot:--

"I have been settled here two months, and am here body and soul,
without casting the least thought of regret to London, or even to
Paris.... I live still, and must for a twelvemonth, in my old house
in James's Court, which is very cheerful and even elegant, but too
small to display my great talent for cookery, the science to which
I intend to addict the remaining years of my life. I have just now
lying on the table before me a receipt for making _soupe a la
reine_, copied with my o