"David Hume - My Own Life" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hume David)

short, I was now master of near a thousand pounds.

I had always entertained a notion, that my want of success in
publishing the Treatise of Human Nature, had proceeded more from the
manner than the matter, and that I had been guilty of a very usual
indiscretion, in going to the press too early. I, therefore, cast
the first part of that work anew in The Enquiry concerning Human
Understanding, which was published while I was at Turin. But this
piece was at first little more successful than the Treatise of Human
Nature. On my return from Italy, I had the mortification to find all
England in a ferment, on account of Dr. Middleton's Free Enquiry,
while my performance was entirely overlooked and neglected. A new
edition, which had been published at London of my Essays, moral and
political, met not with a much better reception.

Such is the force of natural temper, that these disappointments
made little or no impression on me. I went down in 1749, and lived
two years with my brother at his country house, for my mother was
now dead. I there composed the second part of my Essays, which I
called Political Discourses, and also my Enquiry concerning the
Principles of Morals, which is another part of my treatise that I
cast anew. Meanwhile, my bookseller, A. Millar, informed me, that my
former publications (all but the unfortunate Treatise) were
beginning to be the subject of conversation; that the sale of them
was gradually increasing, and that new editions were demanded.
Answers by Reverends, and Right Reverends, came out two or three in
a year; and I found, by Dr. Warburton's railing, that the books were
beginning to be esteemed in good company. However, I had fixed a
resolution, which I inflexibly maintained, never to reply to any
body; and not being very irascible in my temper, I have easily kept
myself clear of all literary squabbles. These symptoms of a rising
reputation gave me encouragement, as I was ever more disposed to see
the favourable than unfavourable side of things; a turn of mind
which it is more happy to possess, than to be born to an estate of
ten thousand a year.

In 1751, I removed from the country to the town, the true scene
for a man of letters. In 1752, were published at Edinburgh, where I
then lived, my Political Discourses, the only work of mine that was
successful on the first publication. It was well received abroad and
at home. In the same year was published at London, my Enquiry
concerning the Principles of Morals; which, in my own opinion (who
ought not to judge on that subject), is of all my writings,
historical, philosophical, or literary, incomparably the best. It
came unnoticed and unobserved into the world.

In 1752, the Faculty of Advocates chose me their Librarian, an
office from which I received little or no emolument, but which gave
me the command of a large library. I then formed the plan of writing
the History of England; but being frightened with the notion of