Sister Peg
A Pamphlet Hitherto Unknown by David Hume

Hume's satirical allegory recounts the relations between England and Scotland from earliest times until April 1760

David R. Raynor (Author)

9780521109543, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 18 June 2009

140 pages
21.6 x 14 x 0.8 cm, 0.19 kg

Scholars have known for some years that in 1760 Hume write a humorous satire against William Pitt the Elder. Mr Raynor argues that this hitherto unlocated work is Sister Peg, an anonymous publication which has been traditionally ascribed to Adam Ferguson. This witty and occasionally malicious Scriblerian piece was composed as a sequel to Dr John Arbuthnot's famous History of John Bull (1712). Hume's satirical allegory recounts the relations between England (John Bull of Bull-hall) and Scotland (Sister Peg of Thistledown) from earliest times until April 1760 when a bill to extend the militia to Scotland was defeated in parliament due to the opposition of the Duke of Newcastle, Hardwicke, and King George II. The first part of the satire places this debate in historical perspective. The final chapters are an imaginary reconstruction of the militia debate in parliament. Apart from the satire's intrinsic interest and biographical significance, it is an important document for the interpretation of Hume's political theory.

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Notes to introduction
Note on the text
The History of the Proceedings in the Case of Margaret, commonly called Peg, only lawful sister to John Bull, Esq.
Notes to Sister Peg
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]