HOME, HENRY (Lord Kamen), was horn at Kama!, in tho county of Berwick, in 1696. He was originally bound to a Writer to the Signet, but by diligent study he qualified himself for the higher practice of an advocate. His first work, entitled Remarkable Decisions in the Court of &miens,' which appeared in 1728, excited considerable attention. The reputation of Mr. Home was still further established by the publication of his ' Essays on Several Subjects in Law.' In 1741 ho published, in 2 vole. foL, ' Decisions of the Court of Sessions,' which were arranged under heads in the form of a dictionary; and in 1747 appeared his 'Essays on Several Snbjects concerning British Antiquities.' In his ' Essays on the Principles of Morality and Natural Religion,' while he worked out extensively the principle of a moral sense as taught by Lord Shaftesbury, he opposed all exclusive theories of human nature which derive all the actions of men from some single principle, and eudeavoured to establish several general principles. Some of the propositions advanced by him concern ing natural religion however gave considerable offence. In 1752 Mr. Hume was appointed a judge of the Court of Session, and took hie seat on the bench by the title of Lord Karnes. At the same time he was nominated a trustee for the encouragement of manufactures, fisheries, and arts, and also commissioner for the management of forfeited estates. But the activity of his mind was far from being exhausted by his numerous official duties, and lie found leisure to compose two important works, in which he attempted to apply to the science of jurisprndence the principles of philosphy. The titles of these works
are, ' Historical Law Tracts,' and The Principles of Equity.' In 1761 he published an Introduction to the Art of Thinking,' for the use of youth, which as an elementary work has been highly esteemed. The year following there appeared 'Elements of Criticism; 3 vols. 8vo, which were greatly admired at the time, and which perhaps still find readers. In 1763 he was appointed ono of the lords commissioners of justiciary ; but his literary labours wore still uninterrupted by the growing weight of duty and of years, and in 1774 he published Sketches of the History of Man,' 2 vols. 4to, an amusing work, but full of fanciful ideas, and resting on facts of very doubtful authority. In 1776 appeared The Gentleman Farmer, or an Attempt to improve Agriculture by subjecting it to the test of Rational Principles: This treatise ie even now referred to by writers on agriculture, and was not without its influence in effecting the present improved state of Scotch farming. His last work, entitled Loose Hints on Education, was published in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He died ou the 27th of December 1782. (Life of Lord Kanto, by Lord Wood houselee.)