Your civilities to me so much overbalance your severities, that I should be ungrateful to take notice of some expressions, which, in the heat of composition, have dropt from your pen. I must only complain of you a little, for ascribing to me the sentiments which I had put into the mouth of the sceptic in the Dialogue. I have surely endeavoured to refute the sceptic with all the force of which I am master; and my refutation must be allowed sincere, because drawn from the capital principles of my system. But you impute to me both the sentiments of the sceptic, and the sentiments of his antagonist, which I can never admit of. In every dialogue, no more than one person can be supposed to represent the author.

Your severity on one head, that of Chastity, is so great, and I am so little conscious of having given any just occasion to it, that it has afforded me a hint to form a conjecture, perhaps ill-grounded, concerning your person.

I hope to steal a little leisure from my other occupations, in order to defend my philosophy against your attacks. If I have occasion to give a new edition of the work which you have honoured with an answer, I shall make great advantage of your remarks, and hope to obviate some of your criticisms.

Your style is elegant, and full of agreeable imagery. In some few places, it does not fully come up to my ideas of purity and correctness. I suppose mine falls still further short of your ideas. In this respect, we may certainly be of use to each other. With regard to our philosophical systems, I suppose we are both so fixed, that there is no hope of any conversions betwixt us; and for my part, I doubt not but we shall both do as well to remain as we are.-I am, Sir, with great regard, your most obliged humble servant,

Edinburgh, 15th March 1753.

DAVID HUME.

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APPENDIX.-No. VII.

A Character of Dr THOMAS BLACKWELL, written by Dr ALEXANDER GERArd.

[Taken from the Aberdeen Journal.]

ON Sunday the 6th of March 1757, died at Edinburgh, in the fifty-sixth year of his age, Dr Thomas Blackwell, Principal and Professor of Greek in the Marischal College of Aberdeen. He became very early conspicuous in life for his masterly knowledge' in all the several branches of polite literature; and, by his Inquiry into the Life and Writings of Homer, acquired at once that distinguished character in the learned world, which he ever after supported with so much credit and reputation. As in learning and knowledge he was exquisite and equal to any, so in the address of a teacher he was perhaps superior to all. No man ever possessed in a more eminent degree the talent of inspiring young minds with a love of learning; of begetting among them a generous emulation; and of forming them to a taste and perception of what was elegant and beautiful in the admired productions of antiquity. On public occasions, when he appeared as head of the University, he acquitted himself with so much dignity, and delivered his orations with such just elocution, and in a manner so emphatic and graceful, as gained him not only the applause, but the universal admiration of his audience. His latter days were calm and resigned. He beheld the approach of VOL. I.

SA

death

death with fortitude, composure and serenity; like one who, having acted his part well, when he arrived at the brink of life, could look back with pleasure, and forward without apprehension. As on many other accounts, so particularly his loss is to be regretted, in that he was snatched away before he had put the finishing hand to a work which, from what of it has already appeared, will hand him down to posterity as a sincere lover of his country, and a friend to mankind.

APPENDIX,-No. VIII.

A LIST of the MEMBERS of the RANKENIAN CLUB, furnished by GEORGE WALLACE, Esq; Advocate, one of the last surviving Members.

1. THE Reverend William Wishart, D. D. one of the Ministers of Edinburgh, and Principal of the University.

2. Archibald Murray of Murrayfield, Esq; Advocate.

3. The Reverend Robert Wallace, D. D. a Minister of the New North Church of Edinburgh, author of an Estimate of the Numbers of Mankind, and Characteristics of the present Political State of Great Britain.

4. The Right Reverend Isaac Madox, Lord Bishop of Worcester. 5. The Reverend John Horsley, Rector of St Martin's in the Fields, Westminster.

6. Mr John Stevenson, Professor of Logic in the University of Edinburgh.

7. The Reverend George Turnbull, Professor of Moral Philosophy in the Marischal College, Aberdeen, author of Principles of Moral Philosophy, and a Treatise on Ancient Painting.

8. Colin Maclaurin, A. M. Professor of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh, author of a System of Fluxions, Account of Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophy, and various other works.

9. George Young, M. D. Physician in Edinburgh,

10. John Smibert, a painter of reputation.

11. Mr Charles Mackay, Advocate, Professor of Civil History in the University of Edinburgh.

12. The Reverend William Hepburn, Minister of Inverkeilor, in Angus.

13. Nichol Graham of Gartmore, Esq; Advocate.

14. The Reverend George Wishart, D. D. Minister of the Tron Church, Edinburgh, Principal Clerk to the Church of Scotland. 15. Sir Alexander Dick of Prestonfield, Baronet.

16. Sir John Pringle, Baronet, M. D. Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh, Physician to their Majesties, and President of the Royal Society of London.

17. Charles Maitland of Pitrichie, Esq; Advocate, Member of Parliament.

18. Alexander Boswell of Auchinleck, one of the Lords of Session. 19. Sir Andrew Mitchel of Thainston, Advocate, K. B. afterwards Plenipotentiary at the Court of Berlin.

After the Club had subsisted above forty years, and its attending members were much diminished by death and accidental separation, it was resolved, that the sons of the original members g 2 should

should be invited to become associates. In consequence of this resolution, the following gentlemen were added to its number :

20. Thomas Young, M. D. Professor of Midwifery in the University of Edinburgh.

21. George Wallace, Esq; Advocate, author of A System of the Principles of the Law of Scotland; Nature and Descent of Ancient Peerages; Origin of Feudal Tenures, &c.

22. John Maclaurin of Dreghorn, one of the Lords of Session, author of a Collection of Criminal Trials; Observations on some Points of Law, &c.

23. Alexander Murray of Henderland, one of the Lords of Session.

In the winter of 1771, a few months after the death of Dr Wallace, the Rankenian Club resolved to discontinue their regular weekly meetings; and a few occasional meetings were afterwards held, down to the year 1774, from which time it ceased altogether.

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