David Hume

This chapter presents Jean-Jacques Rousseau's letter to David Hume on July 10, 1766. In this letter, Rousseau provides a long explanation to Hume. He begins by declaring that “the first care of those who plot nefarious deeds is to protect themselves from juridical proofs.” Rousseau then mentions that “among one of the genuine and most estimable acts of friendship and generosity, the worthiest in a word of Mr. Hume, was the effort he made on his own to solicit a pension from the king for me, to which I assuredly had no right to aspire.” He addresses Hume's accusation of his ingratitude, as well as the way that Hume's acquaintances conduct themselves toward Rousseau with Hume's approval, sometimes even with Hume's assistance. Finally, Rousseau talks about the letter from the king of Prussia, which was fabricated by Hume's friend, Horace Walpole.