could he have that is reconcileable with the acknowledged qualities of the man, but a zeal, a warm and indignant zeal, it may be, in behalf of that learning and science which was going to ruin, by the neglect of those who were appointed for their conservation? Of course it is unnecessary to say that we refer not to Oxford as it now is; but if it has been reformed since the days of Smith, it has been reformed only, because some have been found bold and wise enough, like him and after him, to proclaim that it stood in need of such reformation. Far be it from us, and from every friend of learning, to abate that just veneration for the institutions of our country; those especially which have the promotion of science and of virtue for their object, which is really their due-due often to their antiquity to the excellence of their founders-and to the long catalogue of illustrious men who have been bred under them, and whose wisdom and learning, whose virtue and heroism in after life, seem, by a very natural and pleasing illusion, to become identified with the places in which they were educated.

Of the seven years which Smith passed at Oxford little, indeed, has been recorded. We have scarcely an incident relating to his private life, and as little do we know respecting his intellectual habits. Mr. Stewart presumes that he cultivated with particular care, at this time, the study of languages;-a study for which it would seem he had an unusual fondness, and in which, at all events, he is known to have excelled. But Smith studied languages more as a philosopher than a scholar, as they serve to throw light on the manners, the institutions, the modes of thought peculiar to different nations and ages. His knowledge of Greek was profound and accurate; and his taste and high admiration for the drama and literature of the Greeks, preserved to the latest period of his life, may be best traced to the studies and the society in which he mixed whilst at the university. Mr. Dalzell, the distinguished professor of Greek in the University of Edinburgh, has borne testimony to the extent and accuracy of Dr. Smith's acquaintance with that noble language, as often displayed in conversation with him on some of the nicest minutiæ of grammatical criticism. He was accustomed at this time to exercise himself in translation

from various languages, chiefly French; and always spoke of it as useful for the acquisition of the art of composition, and for improvement in style. Gibbon has recommended the same practice in his own Memoirs, and a mode of study, we may venture to say, which was pursued and praised by two such distinguished writers, is well worth the attention of all who cultivate literature.

Upon quitting Oxford, Smith returned to Kirkaldy, where he continued to reside with his mother for two years, with the most ardent application to study. In 1748 he removed to Edinburgh, and there commenced his connexion and friendship with many of the distinguished men who then adorned that city; and composed a society which included within its range an extent and variety of accomplishments, and a depth and solidity of philosophy and of learning, not easily equalled in any other, at any period of modern Europe. Among its members we find a vast portion of the names familiar to us, from having enriched the literature of our country in various departments, about the middle of the last century. Those of Hume and Robertson, of Blair, of Ferguson, of Lord Kames and John Home, are known to every reader; but there were others not less accomplished though less known to posterity, whose genius and talents added lustre, even to so brilliant an assemblage of men; Lord Elibank, Sir Gilbert Elliot, Lord Loughborough, Sir William Pulteney, Lord Monboddo, Dr. Logan; these, and many others, we find enumerated in the "Select Society," which was formed in Edinburgh about that period; the list of which Mr. Stewart has preserved*. At this time commenced his memorable friendship with David Hume, the philosopher who had led the way into those very regions of moral and political inquiry, where Smith was destined to follow, guided chiefly, as he always confessed, and as was admitted by his admirers, by that light which had been shed upon them by the most subtle intellect, perhaps, which ancient or modern Europe has produced.

It was not long after his settlement in Edinburgh, that the friendly patronage of Lord Kames induced Smith to com

Appendix to the Life of Robertson.

+ It is hardly necessary to remind the reader that, in the panegyrics pronounced upon Hume, we refer merely to his celebrated writings upon moral and political science, and not to those upon religion.

mence a course of Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres, which he continued for a considerable time; until the high reputation which he had earned, seconded by the zeal of his friends, procured for him, in 1751, the professorship of Logic in the university of Glasgow. In 1752, upon the death of Mr. Thomas Craigie, he was advanced to the chair of Moral Philosophy in the same University; an office which he continued to fill for thirteen years; a period which he was accustomed to look back upon, as the most useful and happy of his life. It was in deed a situation," says his biographer, "in which he was eminently fitted to excel, and in which the daily labours of his profession were constantly recalling his attention to his favourite pursuits, and familiarising his mind to those important speculations he was afterwards to communicate to the world."

It is greatly to be regretted, that no part of his lectures whilst at Glasgow, has been preserved; but the following brief and very interesting account of them was furnished by one of Dr. Smith's pupils, who afterward became one of his warmest and latest friends. There is no necessity to apologise for presenting it to our readers, seeing that we cannot better supply the vacuum that would otherwise be left, owing to the very scanty materials which remain for a life of this distinguished man. In the professorship of logic," says one of his students, "to which Dr. Smith was appointed on his first introduction to this university, he soon saw the necessity of departing widely from the plan that had been followed by his predecessors; and of directing the attention of his pupils to studies of a more interesting and useful nature than the logic and metaphysics of the schools. Accordingly after exhibiting a general view of the powers of the mind, and explaining so much of the ancient logic as was requisite to gratify curiosity, with respect to an artificial method of reasoning, which had once occupied the universal attention of the learned, he dedicated the rest of his time to the delivery of a system of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres. The best method of explaining and illustrating the various powers of the human mind, the most useful part of metaphysics, arises from an examination of the several ways of communicating our thoughts by speech, and from an attention to the principles of those literary composi

on

tions, which contribute to persuasion or entertainment. The first part of these lectures, in point of composition, was highly finished; and the whole discovered strong marks of taste and original genius. His course of lectures moral philosophy was divided into four parts. The first contained natural theology, in which he considered the proofs of the being and attributes of God, and those principles of the human mind on which religion is founded. The second comprehended ethics strictly so called; in the third part, he treated at more length of that branch of morality which relates to justice. Upon this subject he endeavoured to trace the gradual progress of jurisprudence, both public and private, from the rudest to the most refined ages, and to point out the effects of those arts, which contribute to subsistence, and to the accumulation of property, in producing corresponding improvements in law and government. In the last part of his lectures, he examined those political regulations, founded not upon the principle of justice, but of expediency, and which are calculated to increase the riches, the power, and the prosperity of a state: under this view he considered the political institutions relating to commerce, to finances to ecclesiastical and military establishments. In delivering his lectures, he trusted almost entirely to extemporary elocution. His manner was plain and unaffected, and as he seemed to be always interested in his subject, he never failed to interest his hearers. Each discourse consisted of several distinct propositions, which he endeavoured to prove and illustrate. In his attempts to explain them, he often appeared at first not to be sufficiently possessed of the subject, and spoke with some hesitation: as he advanced, the matter seemed to crowd upon him, his manner became warm and animated, and his expression easy and fluent. In points of controversy, it was discernible that he conceived an opposition to be made to his opinions, and that he was led to support them with greater energy and ve hemence. By the fulness and variety of his illustrations the subject swelled in his hands, and acquired a dimension, which, without a repetition of the same views, was calculated to seize the attention of his audience, and to afford them pleasure and instruction in following the same object through all the diversity

of shades and aspects in which it was presented, and afterwards in tracing it backwards to that original proposition or general truth from which this beautiful train of speculation had proceeded. His reputation as a professor was raised very high; and a multitude of students from a great distance resorted to the University merely upon his account. Those branches of science which he taught became fashionable at this place, and his opinions were the chief topics of discussion in clubs and literary societies. Even the peculiarities in his pronunciation, or manner of speaking, became frequently the objects of imi

tation."

In the year 1755, a few of the eminent men then at the head of literature in Scotland had established a journal under the title of the "Edinburgh Review;" a title rendered familiar to the readers of the present day by the cele brity of the literary periodical journal under that name, which was established in the same city about half a century later. All that we learn of the plan and object of this design must be gathered from the only two numbers which were published of it. Smith, as is now well known, was a contributor, and, amongst other papers, was the author of the "Review of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary," then recently published, and of a very interesting letter addressed to the Editor, on the state of literature on the Continent, especially that of France. To the curious in literary relics, even these papers will be valuable, as appertaining to so celebrated a man, and the first of the productions of his genius which were committed to the public. In other respects it is perhaps unnecessary to say, that they can add nothing to the fame of the writer. Dr. Robertson was also a contributor; Mr. Hume was not; and we are indebted to Mr. Mackenzie for an amusing anecdote accounting for the omission. Such, we are told, was the extreme artlessness of his character, that his friends feared from it the discovery of their secret ;as they also feared that their criticisms would be disarmed of all their force, from the extreme gentleness of his nature, which could not tolerate even the exercise of literary warfare. The Review immediately on its appearance had attracted, as might have been expected, considerable notice; and Mr. Hume was often expressing his astonishment amongst his friends, that a production of

so much talent should be going forward in the city in which he lived, and that he, connected as he was with every literary character of any distinction in it, should know nothing of its authors, It was determined at length that the secret should be communicated to him on a certain day, which was to be agreed upon, provided he would swear to preserve it. The day was fixed,-it was at a dinner where they were all expected to meet; the Review was mentioned ;Hume expressed, as he had done before, his surprise and curiosity on the subject, when he was told by one of the company, that provided he would take his oath not to divulge it, the secret should be communicated to him. "But how is the oath to be administered," said David, with his usual pleasantry, "to a man accused of so much scepticism as I am? you would not take my Bible oath, but I will swear by the

xaλov, and the rog, never to reveal your secret." Unfortunately, either from want of perseverance in those connected with it, or of encouragement in the public to any undertaking of the kind, the Review was shortly after abandoned, and the distinguished partisan whom they had thus enlisted, had no opportunity of rendering his service in its support.

The Select Society, which we have before mentioned, was another association of which Smith was a member; formed for the purpose of philosophical inquiry, and the cultivation of the art of public speaking. It met for the first time in the Advocates' Library in May 1754, and ever after during the sitting of the Court of Session, every Friday evening. The most distinguished in the Society as speakers were Sir Gilbert Elliot, Lord Elibank, and Dr. Robertson. "David Hume and Adam Smith," says the memorial, " never opened their lips ;" an intimation which may occasion some surprise, when it is considered that the two men thus remarked for being mute, were, unquestionably, the most original and profound thinkers in the whole of that gifted assemblage, as well as the most elegant, and (in Mr. Hume's case) the most fluent of writers, and possessing withal ample extent and variety of learning and knowledge. But however able and distinguished in the chair of moral philosophy at Glasgow, and whatever talents he was known to possess in the circle of his friends, it

The beautiful and the fitting.

was not until the year 1759 that Dr. Smith gave evidence to the world of those talents, and laid the foundation of his fame, by the publicacation of his first great work, the "Theory of Moral Sentiments," in which he may be supposed to embody the result of a part of his professional labours in the University upon one of the most interesting problems in the whole range of philosophical inquiry.

There are few things more pleasing with respect to a character or a composition of established genius, when we contemplate them at a distance, than to ascertain what were the opinions entertained of them by their contemporaries. Fortunately we possess the most satisfactory and delightful of all evidence upon this subject concerning the work before us; but before we enter upon any remarks on this beautiful production, we shall present our readers with a letter from Mr. Hume, addressed to Dr. Smith, immediately after its publication. It would be an injury to withhold this effusion of friendship, which possesses the highest claim upon our attention, from its connexion with one of the most important epochs in the life of the eminent person of whom we are writing. Mr. Hume happened to be in London during the publication of the "Theory of Moral Sentiments," mixing in society most distinguished for rank, taste, and learning, and always anxious, with the generosity and affection which characterized him, to extend the fame and glory of his friend. If the work had been lost to the world, and we had possessed no other evidence of its merits, and of the admiration excited by its appearance, we might form a tolerable estimate of both from the contents of the following letter :—

"London, April 12th, 1759.

"MY DEAR SMITH,

I give you thanks for the agreeable present of your Theory.' Wedder burn and I made presents of our copies to such of our acquaintances as we thought good judges and proper to spread the reputation of the book. I sent one to the Duke of Argyle, to Lord Lyttleton, Horace Walpole, Soame Jennyns, and Burke, an Irish gentleman who lately wrote a very pretty treatise on the Sublime. Millar desired my permission to send one in your name to Dr. Warburton. I have delayed writing to you, till I could tell you something of

the success of the book, and could prognosticate with some probability, whether it should be finally damned to oblivion, or be registered in the temple of immortality. Though it has been published only a few weeks, I think there appear already such strong symptoms that I can almost venture to foretel its fate. In short, it is this

But I have been interrupted by a foolish impertinent visit of one who has lately come from Scotland. He tells me that the University of Glasgow intend to declare Rouet's office vacant upon his going abroad with Lord Hope. I question not but you will have our friend Ferguson in your eye, in case another project for procuring him a place in the University of Edinburgh should fail. Ferguson has very much polished and improved his treatise on 'Refinement,* and with some amendments it will make an admirable book, and discovers an elegant and a singular genius. The Epigoniad' I hope will do, but it will be somewhat up-hill work. As I doubt not but you consult the reviews sometimes, at present, you will see in the Critical Review a letter upon that poem, and I desire you to employ your conjectures in finding out the author-let me see a sample of your skill in knowing hands by guessing at the person. I am afraid of Lord Kames's

Law Tracts; a man might as well think of making a fine sauce by a mixture of wormwood and aloes, as an agreeable composition by joining metaphysics and Scotch law. However, the book I believe has merit, though few people will take the pains of diving into it.But to return to your book, and its success in this town, I must tell you A plague of interruptions! I ordered myself to be denied, and yet here is one that has broken in upon me again. He is a man of letters, and we have had a good deal of literary conversation. You told me that you were curious of literary anecdotes; and therefore I shall inform you of a few that have come to my knowledge. I believe I have mentioned to you already Helvetius's book 'De l'Esprit. It is worth your reading, not for its philosophy, which I do not highly value, but for its agreeable compositiont. I had a letter from him a few

The same which he afterwards published under the title of An Essay on the History of Civil Society."

+ This passage is of itself tolerably conclusive as to the vulgar error of confounding Mr. Hume's philo sophy with that of the French materialists of the Vide page 10, and note, p. 13, last century and their English disciples in this.

days ago, wherein he tells me that my name was much oftener in the manuscript, but that the censor of books at Paris obliged him to strike it out. Voltaire has lately published a small work called Candide, ou l'Optimisme.' I shall give you a detail of it. But what is all this to my book? say you. My dear Mr. Smith, have patience; compose yourself to tranquillity: shew yourself a philosopher in practice as well as profession: think on the emptiness and rashness and futility of the common judgments of men; how little they are regulated by reason in any subject, much more in philosophical subjects, which so far exceed the comprehension of the vulgar.

Non si quid turbida Roma Elevet, accedas: examenve improbum in illa Castiges trutina: nec te quæsiveris extra. A wise man's kingdom is his own breast; or if he ever looks farther it will only be to the judgment of a select few who are free from prejudice, and capable of examining his work. Nothing indeed can be a stronger presumption of falsehood than the approbation of the multitude; and Phocion, you know, always suspected himself of some blunder when he was attended with the applauses of the populace. Supposing, therefore, that you have duly prepared yourself for the worst of all these reflections, I proceed to tell you the melancholy news, that your book has been very unfortunate; for the public seem disposed to applaud it extremely. It was looked for by the foolish people with some impatience, and the mob of literati are beginning already to be very loud in its praises. Three bishops called yesterday at Millar's shop, in order to buy copies, and to ask questions about the author. The Bishop of Peterborough said he had passed the evening in a company where he heard it extolled above all books in the world. The Duke of Argyle is more decisive than he uses to be in its favour; I suppose he either considers it as an exotic, or thinks the author will be serviceable to him in the Glasgow elections. Lord Lyttleton says that Robertson, and Smith, and Bower, are the glories of English literature. Oswald protests he does not know whether he has reaped more instruction or entertainment from it. But you may easily judge what reliance can be put on his judgment, who has been engaged all his life in public business, and who never sees any faults in his friends. Millar exults and brags

that two-thirds of the edition are already sold, and that he is now sure of success. You see what a son of earth that is, to value books only by the profit they may bring him ;-in that view I believe it may prove a very good book.

Charles Townsend, who passes for the cleverest fellow in England, is so taken with the performance, that he said to Oswald, he would put the Duke of Buccleugh under the author's care, and would make it worth his while to accept of that charge. As soon as I heard this, I called on him twice, with a view of talking with him about the matter, and of convincing him of the propriety of sending that young nobleman to Glasgow; for I could not hope that he could offer you any terms which would tempt you to renounce your professorship: but I missed him. Mr. Townsend passes for being a little uncertain in his resolutions; so perhaps you need not build much on this sally.

"In recompense for so many mortifying things, which nothing but truth could have extorted from me, and which I could easily have multiplied to a greater number, I doubt not but you are so good a Christian as to return good for evil, and to flatter my vanity by telling me that all the godly in Scotland abuse me for my account of John Knox and the Reformation. I suppose you are glad to see my paper end, and that I am obliged to conclude with

"Your humble servant,
"DAVID HUME."

SECTION 3.-The "

Theory of Moral Sentiments."

THE question which Dr. Smith undertook to investigate in the "Theory of Moral Sentiments," however little regarded in later times, had evidently attracted a very considerable share of attention in the early part of the last century. At the period when he applied himself to that investigation, it had been previously illustrated by some of the most ingenious and profound writers in our language. The inquiry into the nature and origin of virtue, had been treated of by the elegant and sublime Lord Shaftesbury, the logical and acute Bishop Butler, the eloquent and ingenious Dr. Hutcheson, and by Mr. Hume himself, in his celebrated treatise entitled "An Inquiry concerning the Principles of Morals."

If it be true, as Mr. Stewart has