The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Charlestown, S. Carolina, Nov. 14.

Extract of a Letter from London, Sept. 16.

– The Literati, who laugh at both the Ins and Outs, are now as much taken up as their political brethren, with a dispute between the celebrated David Hume, and no less celebrated John James Rousseau, if that may be called a dispute, where one party has only appeared.

The fact is said to be, that Mr. Hume, by the interposition of some noblemen, eminent for their humanity, and love of learning and of the learned, did, with Mr. Rousseau's permission, procure from his Majesty a pension of an hundred pound a year for him who had only a mere pittance to subsist on: yet such was the capricious conduct of this whimsical independent genius, that in a little time after, he wrote several sheets addressed to Mr. Hume, his benefactor, upbraiding him with violating the laws of friendship, by disclosing the narrowness of his circumstances, and by applying for the pension in a public manner? – not seeing the necessity Mr. Hume lay under of making use of every argument to obtain such a favour for his friend, and, at the same time, forgetting entirely his own ready acquiescence in the proposal. Mr. Hume has returned no answer to this unaccountable Hero of Liberty, who is justly honoured as a Philosopher and sensible Orator, by his immortal Eloise which could have claimed no person of inferior feelings for its author.