Books?
That is one of them; and I have more than I can use. In short, I
cannot find any pleasure of consequence which I am not possessed of
in a greater or less degree; and, without any great effort of
philosophy, I may be easy and satisfied.
"As there is no happiness without occupation, I have begun a work
which will occupy me several years, and which yields me much
satisfaction. 'Tis a History of Britain from the Union of the
Crowns to the present time. I have already finished the reign of
King James. My friends flatter me (by this I mean that they don't
flatter me) that I have succeeded."
In 1752, the Faculty of Advocates elected Hume their librarian, an
office which, though it yielded little emolument--the salary was only
forty pounds a year--was valuable as it placed the resources of a large
library at his disposal. The proposal to give Hume even this paltry
place caused a great outcry, on the old score of infidelity. But as Hume
writes, in a jubilant letter to Clephane (February 4, 1752):--
"I carried the election by a considerable majority.... What is more
extraordinary, the cry of religion could not hinder the ladies from
being violently my partisans, and I owe my success in a great
measure to their solicitations. One has broke off all commerce with
her lover because he voted against me! And Mr. Lockhart, in a
speech to the Faculty, said there was no walking the streets, nor
even enjoying one's own fireside, on account of their importunate
zeal.
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