On the twenty-second of August, the doctor wrote me the following
letter;--
"Since my last, Mr. Hume has passed his time pretty easily, but is much
weaker. He sits up, goes down stairs once a day, and amuses himself with
reading, but seldom sees any body. He finds that even the conversation
of his most intimate friends fatigues and oppresses him; and it is happy
that he does not need it, for he is quite free from anxiety, impatience,
or low spirits, and passes his time very well with the assistance of
amusing books."
I received, the day after, a letter from Mr. Hume himself, of which the
following is an extract:--
"Edinburgh, 23d August, 1776.
"MY DEAREST FRIEND,
"I am obliged to make use of my nephew's hand
in writing to you, as I do not rise to-day.
"I go very fast to decline, and last night had a
small fever, which I hoped might put a quicker period
to this tedious illness; but unluckily it has, in a
great measure, gone off. I cannot submit to your
coming over here on my account, as it is possible for
me to see you so small a part of the day; but Dr.
Black can better inform you concerning the degree of
strength which may from time to time remain with
me.
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