"In compliance with the wish expressed in this letter, Mr. Home gave his friend a letter of introduction to Dr. Butler, whose reputation as a metaphysician was then very high. A correspondence with this eminent man had begun on Mr. Home's part, from an earnest desire to have some doubts removed, that occurred to him when first turning his mind to the consideration of the evidences of natural and revealed religion. Those difficulties, which he justly considered as of the most serious importance, he stated in a letter to Dr. Butler, with whom he

had no previous acquaintance, and earnestly entreated that he might be allowed a personal interview, which, notwithstanding the distance that separated them, he was willing at his own cost alone to accomplish. Dr. Butler answered his letter with the utmost politeness, and endea voured as far as he could, by writing, to satisfy Mr. Home's enquiries, but modestly declined a personal meet ing, on the score of his own natural diffidence and reserve, his being unaccustomed to oral controversy, and his fear that the cause of truth might thence suffer from the unskilfulness of its advocate. However to be regretted that these letters have not been preserved (possibly from being lent to some of his philosophical friends), there is reason to believe the correspondence was most satis factory to Mr. Home, as he retained through life the greatest regard for Dr. Butler, and, though differing from him in some speculative points, entertained the highest respect for his abilities."

ORD KAMES had hitherto of good health; and at the very advanced age of eighty-five, was free from any chronical disease, or even from those symptoms of bodily infirmity, which are the usual attendants of the decline of life. His constitution, though never apparently strong, was remarkably sound; and although his manner of living was sociable, and at no time repugDant to moderate indulgences, it had on the whole been temperate. The

practice of regular excrcise in the

had happily counteracted the injury his health must otherwise have sustained from his habits of intense study. His faculties were still re markably entire; and although a slight failure of memory, and some abatement of that quickness of ap prehension for which he was so much distinguished, gave the first intimation of a diminished vigour of mind, he was not only able to con tinue the discharge of his public du

ties, but to relish the society of his friends, and solace himself with his usual literary occupations.

"He continued to enjoy those small and select evening parties, which usually met at his house, during the winter and summer sessions, without invitation; where, from the agreeable intermixture of the guests, literary conversation was happily blended with innocent mirth and pleasantry. At those meetings, -it was the envied privilege of a few ef his younger friends, to find a place; and the graver conversation of a Smith, a Blair, and a Fergusson, was agreeably tempered and enlivened by the native wit, the splendid ábilities, and the engaging manners of a Cullen; or the sprightly fancy, and whimsical eccentricity of a Boswell.

"He attended regularly, even to the last period of his life, the meetings of the Philosophical Society, and took an active share in their proceedings. The plan of the formation of the Royal Society of Edinburgh was at that time in agitation, and he entered warmly into a scheme which promised to promote his favourite objects, the improvement of literature and useful science. But the period was now at hand, which was to close his course of virtue and beneficence.

"In the beginning of the year 1782, when he had now nearly completed his 86th year, he was seized with a disorder of the bowels; a complaint which, from being attended with no pain, gave him for a considerable time very little apprehension. Perceiving, however, after some months, that though perhaps retarded in its progress, the disease had not yielded to medicine or regimen, he began, towards the end of summer, to regard it as likely to terminate fatally, and that even at no distant period.

Meanwhile, his family and friends, who saw him in the possession of his usual cheerfulness and vivacity, and still applying with ardour to his accustomed pursuits, took no alarm; and the tender regard which he felt for Mrs. Drummond, prevented him from imparting to her his own apprehensions.

"In the course of this summer, his correspondence was frequent with his much valued friend Dr. Reid, on various topics of philosophy;a correspondence which, notwithstanding the dissimilarity of charac ter in many respects between these two eminent men, had now subsisted, for a long period of years, with the most perfect cordiality and mutual esteem. On this subject, I am happy to avail myself of a testimony most honourable to both ;-a testimony the more valuable, that it is the result, not only of a discrimi nating judgment, but of an intimate acquaintance and friendship, with both the persons to whom it relates:

With one very distinguished cha"racter, the late Lord Kames," says Mr. Stewart, "he (Dr. Reid) "lived in the most cordial and affec"tionate friendship, notwithstanding the avowed opposition of their sentiments, on some moral questions, to which he attached the greatest importance. Both of them, however, were the friends "of virtue and of mankind; and "both were able to temper the "warmth of free discussion, with "the forbearance and good hu

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mour founded on reciprocal es"teem. No two men, certainly, ever exhibited a more striking

contrast in their conversation, or " in their constitutional tempers :"the one slow and cautious in his "decisions, even on those topics "which he had most diligently "studied; reserved and silent in "promis

promiscuous society; and retain "ing, after all his literary eminence, "the same simple and unassuming manners which he brought from "his country residence:-the other, lively, rapid, and communicative; accustomed by his professional "pursuits, to wield with address the weapons of controversy, and not averse to a trial of his powers on questions the most foreign to his ordinary habits of inquiry. But "these characteristical differences, "while to their common friends they lent an additional charm to "the distinguishing merits of each, * served only to enliven their social "intercourse, and to cement their "mutual attachment."

46

"A family event which took place about this time, gave Lord Kames the most sincere satisfaction. This was the marriage of his only son, Mr. Drummond-Home, to Miss Jardine, daughter of an old and valued friend, the Reverend John Jardine, D. D. one of the ministers of Edinburgh. It was the only circumstance wanting to his domestic felicity, and that of his excellent spouse. It had been long and earnestly wished for by both; and no connexion which their son could form, could be more entirely approved; as they saw in that union the prospect of all the happiness that the talents and virtues of a wife can ensure to her husband.

"During the summer term of 1782, Lord Kames gave the most regular attendance on his official duty in the courts of Session and Justiciary, and at the end of the term, went, as usual, with his family to Blair-Drummond. As his decline was now too visible, Mrs. Drummond became solicitons to prevail with him to excuse himself from attending the autumn circuit; but no intreaty to that purpose was

of any avail: "It is very possible," said he to his daughter-in-law, "that this journey may shorten my "life a little space; but what then? "have I not lived long enough?"

"On his return from the circuit, his strength decreased daily, and he was no longer able to take his accustomed walks over his grounds: but the serenity and cheerfulness of his temper remained unabated. He spent a great part of the day in study; and in the evenings took much delight in conversing with his family, and in hearing his daughterin-law read to him. His bookseller, Mr. Creech, with whom he was in the habit of frequent and familiar correspondence, having informed him that a new edition would soon be wanted of his Sketches of the History of Man, he employed himself occasionally in making corrections, not merely of the style, but, in several places, of the thought and argument. On this subject, the following letter to Mrs. Montagu, when we consider the circumstances under which it was written, (within a very weeks of his death), is a wonderful specimen of intellectual power:

• Blair Drummond, Oct. 29, 1782. My good, my cordial friend,

Decay is stamped upon whatever passes in this world. Even sacred friendship has this fatal tendency to dissolution, and to preserve it for any length of time in vigour, requires good offices, or at least a frequent communication of sentiments. The latter only is in my power; and as there are few things I value above your friendship, I am resolved that you shall not forget me; a little mental sustenance from time to time will prevent decay.

In reviewing the Sketches of the
History

History of Man, to prepare for a new edition, I have discovered a capital omission, which I purpose to supply, at p. 208, vol. iv. As of late years, I find a decay of memory with regard to things recent, I am not quite certain, whether I may not have sent you a copy of my intended addition some little time ago. If I have, it is but throwing this letter into the fire. The addition is as follows:

Some philosophers there are, not indeed so hardened in scepticism, as to deny the existence of a Deity, They acknowledge a selfexistent Being; and seem willing to bestow on that Being, power, wisdom, and every other perfection. But then they maintain, that the world, or matter at least, must also be self-existent. Their argument is, that ex nihilo nihil fit; that it is inconsistent to hold, that any thing can be made out of nothing, out of a nonentity. To consider nothing, or a nonens, as a material or substance out of which things can be formed, like a statue out of stone, or a sword, out of iron, is, I acknowledge, a gross absurdity. But I perceive no absurdity or inconsistence in supposing that matter itself was brought into existence by Almighty Power; and the popular expression, that God made the world out of nothing, has no other meaning, than that He made the materials, as well as the objects themselves. It is true, that in the operations of men, nothing can be produced, but from antecedent materials; and so accustomed are we to such operations, as not readily to conceive how a thing can be brought into existence without antecedent materials, or, as it is commonly expressed, made out of nothing. But But will any man in sober sense venture to set bounds to Almighty Power,

where he cannot point out a clear inconsistence? It is indeed difficult to conceive a thing so remote from common apprehension; but is there less difficulty in conceiving matter to exist without a cause, and to be entitled to the awful appellation of Self-existent, like the Lord of the Universe, to whom a more exalted appellation cannot be given? Now, if it be within the utmost verge of possibility for matter to have been created, I conclude, with the highest probability on my side, that it owes its existence to Almighty Power. Difficulties about the creation of matter, testify our ignorance; but to argue from our ignorance of the mode of being of any thing, that it cannot be, has always been held very weak reasoning. Our faculties are adapted to our present state, and perform their office in perfection: but to complain that they do not reach the origin of things, is no less absurd, than to complain that we cannot ascend to the moon, in order to be acquainted with its inhabitants.

At the same time, it is a comfortable reflection, that the question, whether matter was created, or no, is a pure, inconsequential speculation, and that either side may be adopted without impiety. To me, it appears more siniple, and more natural, to hold it to be a work of: creation, than to be self-existent, and consequently independent of the Almighty, either to create, or to annihilate. I cheerfully make the former an article in my creed; but without anathematizing those wha adopt the latter. I would, however, have it understood, that I limit my concession to matter in its rude and chaotic state: I cannot possibly ga so far as to comprehend the world or universe in its orderly or systematic form. That immense machine, composed of parts without

number,

number, so artfully combined as to fulfil an infinite variety of useful ends and purposes, must be the work of an Artist, the production of a Great Being, omniscient as well as omnipotent. To assign blind fatality as the cause, is an insufferable absurdity.

You have heard, my dear Madam, of the recent event in my family. I never gave my son but one counsel, as to the choice of a wife, which was, to make personal merit his object, without regard to external circumstances. He has follow ed my advice; and never was a couple united upon more rational motives; for the choice followed upon a long acquaintance, at the commencement of which, neither of them had, or could have, any prospect of being united.

'I ever am, yours, &c.

HENRY HOME.' P. S. If there should be any thing fitted to give offence in the passage quoted above, of which I am not sensible, I beg to be informed of it: and for this reason, request you would shew it to some of the. Bishops of your acquaintance, by whose opinion I shall be regulated.'

"Sensible of his rapid decline, his family now became extremely anxious for his removal to Edinburgh; in the faint hope, that some benefit might arise from the excellent medical advice of which he would there have the advantage and although he had not himself the smallest hope of that kind, he willingly acquiesced in the proposal, from motives of a different nature. Besides gratifying the earnest wishes of Mrs. Drummond, as the winter session was now near at hand, he pleased himself with the thought, that he might be able to continue, to the last hours of his life, in the exercise of his duty.

"For the following interesting particulars, I am indebted to the informatioh of his daughter-in-law, to whom alone they were known; and I am anxious to give them, as nearly as I can, in her own words. A very few days before his depar ture from Blair-Drummond, in a short walk which he took with her in the garden, he desired her to sit down by him on one of the benches; saying he felt himself much fatigued; and adding, that he was sensible he was now growing weaker every day. On her expressing a hope, that, on going to town, his friend Dr. Cullen, who knew his constitution, might be able to give him some advice that would be of service to him; and that she flattered herself, his disease had been rather less troublesome to him for some time past; "My dear child," said he, looking in her face with an earnest and animated expression, "Don't talk of my disease: I have no disease but old age. I know that Mrs. Drummond and my son are of a different opinion; but why should I distress them sooner than is neces sary. I know well, that no physician on earth can do me the smal lest service: for I feel that I am dying; and I thank God that my mind is prepared for that event. I leave this world in peace and goodwill to all mankind. You know the dread I have had of outliving my faculties; of that I trust there is now no great probability, as my body decays so fast.-My life has been a long one; and prosperous, on the whole, beyond my deserts: but I would fain indulge the hope, that it has not been useless to my fellow-creatures. My last wish regarded my son and you, my dear child; and I have lived to see it accomplished: I am now ready to obey my Maker's summons."-He

then