The Life of David Hume - Written by Himself #226606

My very slender fortune, however, being unsuit able to this plan of life, and my health being a little broken by my ardent application, Iwas tempted, or rather forced, to make a very feeble trial for enter ing into a more active scene of life. In 1734, I went to Bristol, with recommendations to eminent mer chants; but in a few months found that scene totally unsuitable to me. I went over to France with a view of prosecuting my studies in a country retreat; and there I laid that plan of life which I have steadily and successfully pursued. I resolved to make a very rigid frugality supply my deficiency of fortune, to maintain unimpaired my independency, and to regard every object as contemptible, except the improvement of my talents in literature. During my retreat in France, first at Rheims, but chiefly at La Fleche, in Anjou, I composed my Treatise of Human Nature. After passing three years very agreeably in that country, I came over to London, in 1737. In the end of 1738, I published my treatise, and immediately went down to my mother and my brother, who lived at his country-house, and was employing himself very judiciously and success fully in the improvement of his fortune.