...merits of the different British historians,—Gibbon, Hume, and Robertson. Of course, Gibbon was placed foremost. There was a party at Hallam's after dinner; but I went from that to a ball at Hume 's,—Joe Hume's. You doubtless imagine that this Radical, who for twenty years has been crying out retrenchment, is an ill-dressed, slovenly fellow, without a whole coat in his wardrobe. Imagi...