Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary - Faculty of Social Sciences

26 HISTORY OF THE EDITIONS. IIISTORY OF TIIE EDITIOSS. 2 7young enough to see what will become of the matter; butam apprehensive lest the chief rewsrd I shall have for sometime mill be the pleasure of studying on such important subjects,and the approbation of a few judges. Among the rest,you may believe I aspire to your approbation; and next tothat, to your free censure and criticism. I shall present youwith a copy as soon as I conie to Scotland ; and hope yourcuriosity, as well as friendship, will make you take the painsof perusing it.'If you know anybody that is a judge, you would do mea sensible pleasure in engaging him to a serious perusal ofthe book. 'Tis so rare to meet with one that will take painson a book, that does not come recommended by some greatname or authority, that I must confess I am as fond ofmeeting with such a one as if I were sure of his approbation.I am, however, so doubtful in that particular, that I haveendeavoured all I could to conceal my name; though Ibelieve I have not been so cautious in this respect as I oughtto have beer,.' I have sent the Bishop of Bristol a copy, but could notwait on him with your letter after he had arrived at thatdignity. At least I thought it would be to no purpose afterI began the printing. You'll excuse the frailty of an authorin writing so long a letter about nothing but his own performances.Authors have this privilege in common withlovers ; and founded on the same reason, that they are bothbesotted with a blind fondness of their object. I have beenupon my guard -against this frailty ; but perhaps this hasrather turned to my prejudice. The reflection on our cautionis apt to give us a more implicit confidence afterwards, whenwe come to form a judgment.'About the saule time, he wrote to Michael Ramsay.' As to myself, no alteration has happened to my fortune :uor have I taken the least step towards it. I hope thingswill be riper next winter ; and I would not aim at any thingtill I could judge of my success in my grand undertaking,and see upon what footing I shall stand in the world. I amafraid, however, that I shall not have any great success of asudden. Such performances make their way very heavily ?tfirst, when they are not recommended by any great name orauthority.'Life. Vol. i., p. 105. Life. Vol. i., p. 107.The nexh letter is dated June 1, and is addressed toH. Home.' DEAR SIR,-YOU see I am better than my word, havingsent you two papers instead of one. I have hints for two orthree more, which I shall execute at my leisure. I am notmuch in the humour of such co~npositions at present, havingreceived news from London of the success of my Philosophy,which is but indifferent, if I may judge by the sale of thebook, and if I may believe my bookseller. I am now out ofhumour with myself; but doubt not, in a little time, to beonly out of humour with the world, like other unsuccessfulauthors. After all, I am sensible of my folly in entertainingany discontent, much more despair, upon this account, sinceI could not expect any better froin such abstract reasoning;nor, indeed, did I promise myself much better. My fondnessfor what I imagined new discoveries, made me overlook allcommon rules of prudence; and, having enjoyed the usualsatisfaction of projectors, 'tis but just I should meet withtheir disappointnlents. However, as 'tis observed with suchsort of people, one project generally succeeds another, Idoubt not but in a day or two I shall be as easy as ever, inhopes that truth will prevail at last over the indifference andopposition of the world.' You see I might at present subscribe myself your mosth~imble servant with great propriety : but, notwithstanding,shall presume to call myself your most affectionate friend aswell as humble servant.'Nevertherless, he would not abandon hope, and busiedhimself with preparing a third volume for the press. Thishe submitted to Francis IIutcheson, then Professor of MoralPhilosophy in the University of Glasgow. On receivingHutcheson's coinrnents, lie replied as follows :-' Ninewells, 17th Sept., 1730.' SIR,-I am much obliged to you for your reflections onmy papers. I have perused them with care, and find theywill be of use to me. You have mistaken my meaning insome passages, which, upon examination, I have found toproceed from some ambiguity or defect in my expression.' what affected me most in your remarks, is your observingthat there wants a certa,in warmth in the cause of virtue,' Life. Vol. i., p. 108.