David Hume

Smith first met Hume in Glasgow; Hutton, Ramsay and Boswell were all members of the same Edinburgh enlightenment circles. Hume made over his librarian’s salary to the blind Blacklock, before resigning in favour of Ferguson. Diderot, d’Alembert and d’Holbach were intellectual companions in Paris, Buffon a correspondent. He brought Rousseau to England and took him to supper with Garrick; but Rousseau turned on him, convinced he was conspiring against him. Hume helped Smollett, comparing him to a coconut. Sterne knew Hume in Paris and London, and said that his amiability reinforced his scepticism.