L&T Archive 1998-2003

Hume As Historian
In Response To: Found Hume's "History......" ()

Fwiw, Thomas Jefferson thought Hume's History was superbly written but detested its political outlook. Here's what he said in an 1810 letter:

Every one knows that judicious matter and charms of style have rendered Hume's history the manual of every student. I remember well the enthusiasm with which I devoured it when young, and the length of time, the research and reflection which were necessary to eradicate the poison it had instilled into my mind. It was unfortunate that he first took up the history of the Stuarts, became their apologist, and advocated all their enormities. To support his work, when done, he went back to the Tudors, and so selected and arranged the materials of their history as to present their arbitrary acts only, as the genuine samples of the constitutional power of the crown, and, still writing backwards, he then reverted to the early history, and wrote the Saxon and Norman periods with the same perverted view. Although all this is known, he still continues to be put into the hands of all our young people, and to infect them with the poison of his own principles of government. It is this book which has undermined the free principles of the English government, has persuaded readers of all classes that these were usurpations on the legitimate and salutary rights of the crown, and has spread universal toryism over the land.

No wonder Austen has it spoken of with respect in NA. :-)

Messages In This Thread

M.T. Mr Hume and Mr Robertson- who were these guys?
Who Were Those Guys
It is DAVID HUME??
Found Hume's "History......"
Robertson and Mary Queen of Scots
This is what he looks like
Link to text online
Thanks!
Hume As Historian
Then JA and Jefferson wouldn't have got on well? ;-)
I'm just trying to imagine their conversation! nfm
Interesting to Consider
Hume As Stylist
We should also consider JA
We should, indeed!