Select Reviews Of Literature, And Spirit Of Foreign Magazines (volume 8)

Synopsis

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1812. Excerpt: ... fROM THE ANNUAL REGISTER. CONTROVERSY BETWEEN HUME AND ROUSSEAU. IN 1762, the parliament of Paris issued an arrtt against Rousseau, on account of his Emilius, which had given offence to the ecclesiastical order. Hume was then at Edinburgh, where he received a letter from a friend at Paris, informing him that Rousseau intended to seek an asylum in England, and desiring our historian to do him all the good offices in his power. Mr. Hume believing that Rousseau had already put his design in execution, wrote to several of his friends in London, and warmly recommended this celebrated exile to their favour. He also wrote to Rousseau himself, assuring him of his desire to serve him, and inviting him to come to Edinburgh, and reside in his own house as long as he, Rousseau, should please to continue. No other motive, says Mr. Hume, in a pamphlet, which he published in French on this affair, --' no other motive was wanting to incite me to this act of humanity, than the account given me of M. Rousseau's personal character by the friend who had recommended him;--his well known genius and abilities, and above all, his misfortunes. To this letter Rousseau returned the following answer: sir, Motiers-Travers, Feb. 19, 1763. I did not receive till lately, and at this place, the letter you did me the honour to direct to me at London, the 2d of July last, on the supposition that I was then in that capital. I should doubtless have made choice of a retreat in your country, and as near as possible to yourself, if I had foreseen what a reception I was to meet with in my own. There was no other nation I could prefer to England. And this prepossession, for which I have dearly suffered, was, at that time, very excusable; but to my great astonishment, as well as that of the publi...