ASCRIBED TO THE LATE

                                  

                        DAVID HUME, ESQ.

                                  

                                  

                      Never before published.

                                  

            With REMARKS, intended as an Antidote to the

                                  

              Poison contained in these Performances,

                                  

                           BY THE EDITOR.

                                  

                         TO WHICH IS ADDED,

                                  

                      TWO LETTERS ON SUICIDE,

                                  

                    FROM ROSSEAU'S ELOISA.

                                  

                                ----

                                  

 Printed for M. SMITH; and sold by the booksellers in piccadilly,

                                  

                 Fleet-street, and Paternoster-row.

                                  

                                1783

                                  

               (Price 3 s. 6 d. sewed)

                                  
{iii}

                                  

                                  

                              PREFACE

                                  

THESE two Essays on Suicide and the Immortality of the Soul,
though not published in any edition of his works, are generally
attributed to the late ingenious Mr. Hume.

     The well-known contempt of this eminent philosopher for the
common convictions of mankind, raised an apprehension of the
contents from the very title of these pieces. But the celebrity of
the author's name, renders them, notwithstanding, in some degree
objects of great curiosity.

     Owing to this circumstance, a few copies have been
clandestinely circulated, at a large price, for some time, but
without any comment. The very mystery attending this mode of selling
them, made them more an object of request than they would otherwise
have been. {iv}

     The present publication comes abroad under no such restraint,
and possesses very superior advantages. The Notes annexed are
intended to expose the sophistry contained in the original Essays,
and may shew how little we have to fear from the adversaries of
these great truths, from the pitiful figure which even Mr. Hume
makes in thus violently exhausting his last strength in an abortive
attempt to traduce or discredit them.

     The two very matterly Letters from the Eloisa of Rosseau on the
subject of Suicide, have been much celebrated, and we hope will be
considered as materially increasing the value of this curious
collection.

     The admirers of Mr. Hume will be pleased with seeing the