I have a hearty contempt of Rousseau, and am perfectly indifferent what the literati of Paris think of the matter.  If there is any fault, which I am far from thinking, let it lie on me.  No parts can hinder my laughing at their possessor, if he is a mountebank.  If he has a bad and most ungrateful heart, as Rousseau has shown in your case, into the bargain, he will have my scorn likewise, as he will of all good and sensible men.  You may trust your sentence to such who are as respectable judges as any that have pored over ten thousand more volumes.

P. S. I will look out the letter and the dates as soon as I go to Strawberry Hill.

(968) On the celebrated quarrel between Hume and Rousseau, D’Alembert, and the other literary friends of the former, met at Paris, and were unanimous in advising him to publish the particulars.  This Hume at first refused, but determined to collect them and for that purpose had written to Mr. Walpole respecting the pretended letter from the King of Prussia.

(969) “Your friend Rousseau, I doubt, grows tired of Mr. Davenport and Derbyshire:  he has picked up a quarrel with David Hume, and writes him letters of fourteen pages folio, upbraiding him with all his noirceurs; take one only as a specimen.  He says that at Calais they chanced to sleep in the same room together, and that he overheard David talking in his sleep, and saying, ‘Ah! je le tiens, ce Jean Jacques l`a.’  In short, I fear, for want of persecution and admiration (for these are his real complaints), be will go back to the Continent.”  Gray to Wharton; Works, vol. iv.  P. 82.-E.

Letter 312 To The Rev. Mr. Cole.  Arlington Street, Sept. 18, 1766. (page 487)

Dear sir, I am exceedingly obliged to you for your very friendly letter, and hurt at the absurdity of the newspapers that occasioned the alarm.  Sure I am not of consequence enough to be lied about!  It is true I am ill, have been extremely so, and have been ill long, but with nothing like paralytic, as they have reported me.  It has been this long disorder alone that has prevented my profiting of your company at Strawberry, according to the leave you gave me of asking it.  I have lived upon the road between that place and this, never settled there, and uncertain whether I should go to Bath or abroad.  Yesterday se’nnight I grew exceedingly ill indeed, with what they say has been the gout in my stomach, bowels, back, and kidneys.  The worst seems over, and I have been to take the air to-day for the first time, but bore it so ill that I don’t know how soon I shall be able to set out for Bath, whither they want me to go immediately.  As that journey makes it very uncertain when I shall be at Strawberry again, and as you must want your cups and pastils, will you tell me if I can convey them to you any way safely?  Excuse my saying more to-day, as I am so faint and weak; but it was impossible not to acknowledge your kindness the first minute I was able.  Adieu!