about Smith from competent sources, states explicitly that he was upon intimate terms with Necker during his residence in the French capital, that he formed only a poor opinion of that minister’s abilities, and that he used to predict the fall of his political reputation the moment his head was put to any real proof, always saying of him with emphasis, “He is a mere man of detail."[169] Smith was not always lucky in his predictions, but here for once he was right.

While Smith was frequenting these various literary and philosophical salons they were all thrown into a state of unusual commotion by the famous quarrel between Rousseau and Hume.  The world has long since ceased to take any interest in that quarrel, having assured itself that it all originated in the suspicions of Rousseau’s insane fancy, but during the whole summer of 1766 it filled column after column of the English and continental newspapers, and it occupied much of the attention of Smith and the other friends of Hume in Paris.  It will be remembered that when Rousseau was expelled from Switzerland, Hume, who was an extravagant admirer of his, offered to find him a home in England, and on the offer being accepted, brought him over to this country in January 1766.  Hume first found quarters for him at Chiswick, but the capricious philosopher would not live at Chiswick because it was too near town.  Hume then got him a gentleman’s house in the Peak of Derby, but Rousseau would not enter it unless the owner agreed to take board.  Hume induced the owner to gratify even this whim, and Rousseau departed and established himself comfortably at Wootton in the Peak of Derby.  Hume next procured for him a pension of L100 a year from the king.  Rousseau would not touch it unless it were kept secret; the king agreed to keep it secret.  Rousseau then would not have it unless it were made public; the king again agreed to meet his whim.  But the more Hume did for him the more Rousseau suspected the sincerity of his motives, and used first to assail him with the most ridiculous accusations, and then fall on his neck and implore forgiveness for ever doubting him.  But at last, on the 23rd of June, in reply to Hume’s note intimating the king’s remission of the condition of secrecy, and the consequent removal of every obstacle to the acceptance of the pension, Rousseau gave way entirely to the evil spirit that haunted him, and wrote Hume the notorious letter, declaring that his horrible designs were at last found out.

Hume lost no time in going with his troubles to Smith, and asking him to lay the true state of the case before their Paris friends.  To that letter Smith wrote the following reply:—­

     PARIS, 6th July 1766.