Philosophical Works, v. 1 · David Hume
SIR,
Your goodness affects me as much as it does me honour. The best reply I can make to your offers is to accept them, which I do. I shall set out in five or six days to throw myself into your arms. Such is the advice of my Lord Marshal, my protector, friend and father; it is the advice also of Madam * * * [1] whose good sense and benevolence serve equally for my direction and consolation; in fine, I may say it is the advice of my own heart, which takes a pleasure in being indebted to the most illustrious of my contemporaries, to a man whose goodness surpasses his glory. I sigh after a solitary and free retirement, wherein I might finish my days in peace. If this be procured me by means of your benevolent solicitude, I shall then enjoy at once the pleasure of the only blessing my heart desires, and also that of being indebted for it to you. I am, Sir, with all my heart, &c. [1] The person here mentioned desired her name might be suppressed. _French Editor_. As the motive to the suppression of the lady's name can hardly be supposed to extend to this country, the _English translator_ takes the liberty to mention the name of the Marchioness de Verdelin. Not that I had deferred till this time my endeavours to be useful to Mr Rousseau. The following letter was communicated to me by Mr Clairaut, some weeks before his death. _Motiers-Travers_, _March_ 3, 1765.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.