ThefameofAdamSmithrestssodeservedlyonhisgreatwork，theWealthofNations，thatthefactisapttobelostsightof，thatlongbeforehedistinguishedhimselfasapoliticaleconomisthehadgainedareputation，notconfinedtohisowncountry，byhisspeculationsinmoralphilosophy。
　　TheTheoryofMoralSentimentswasfirstpublishedin1759，whenitsauthorwasthirty-six；theWealthofNationsin1776，whenhewasfifty-three。Thesuccessofthelattersooneclipsedthatofhisfirstwork，butthewidecelebritywhichsoonattendedtheformerisattestedbythefactofthesortofcompetitionthatensuedfortranslatingitintoFrench。Rochefoucauld，grandsonofthefamousauthoroftheMaxims，gotsofarinatranslationofitastheendofthefirstPart，whenacompletetranslationbytheAbbé；Blavetcompelledhimtorenouncethecontinuanceofhiswork。TheAbbé；MorelletsoconspicuousafigureintheFrenchliteratureofthatperiodspeaksofhimselfinhisMemoirsashavingbeenimpressedbyAdamSmith'sTheorywithagreatideaofitsauthor'swisdomanddepthofthought。
　　Thepublicationofthesetwobooks，theonlywritingspublishedbytheirauthorinhislifetime，arestrictlyspeakingtheonlyepisodeswhichformanythinglikelandmarksinAdamSmith'scareer。Thesixty-sevenyearsofhislife1723-90wereinotherrespectsstrangelydestituteofwhatarecalled"events；"andbeyondtheadventureofhischildhood，whenhewascarriedawaybygipsiesbutsoonrescued，nothingextraordinaryeveroccurredtoruffletheevensurfaceofhisexistence。
　　If，therefore，thehappinessofanindividual，likethatofanation，maybetakentovaryinverselywiththematerialsaffordedbythemtothebiographerorthehistorian，AdamSmithmaybeconsideredtohaveattainednomeandegreeofhumanfelicity。Fromhisidealoflife，politicalambitionandgreatnesswerealtogetherexcluded；itwashiscreedthathappinesswasequalineverylot，andthatcontentmentalonewasnecessarytoensureit。"What，"heasks，"canbeaddedtothehappinessofthemanwhoisinhealth，whoisoutofdebt，andhasaclearconscience？"
　　Tothissimplestandard，circumstancesassistedhimtomouldhislife。
　　Hishealth，delicateinhisearlyyears，becamestrongerwithage；necessitynevercompelledhimtoseekacompetenceinuncongenialpursuits；nordidatranquillifeoflearningevertempthimintopathsatvariancewiththelawsofhismoralbeingorhiscountry。InseveralpassagesofhisMoralSentiments，itwillappearthathetooknopainstoconcealhispreferencefortheoldEpicureantheoryoflife，thatineaseofbodyandpeaceofmindconsistshappiness，thegoalofalldesire。
　　Butthecharmofsuchaformulaoflifeisperhapsmoreobviousthanitsrenderingintoanactualstateofexistence。Easeofbodydoesnotalwayscomeforthewishing；andpeaceofmindoftenliesstillfurtherfromcommand。Theadvantageoftheformulais，thatitsetsbeforeusadefiniteaim，andaffordsusatanytimeameasureofthehappinessweenjoyorofthatweseearoundus。Judgedbythisstandard，however，theconclusionmustbeanditisaconclusionfromwhichAdamSmithdoesnotshrinkthatthelotofabeggarmaybeequalinpointofhappinesstothatofaking。
　　TheresultofthisEpicureantheoryoflifeonAdamSmithwas，fortunatelyfortheworld，astrongpreferenceforthelifeoflearningandliteratureovertheprofessionalorpoliticallife。Heabjuredfromthefirstallanxietyfortheprizesheldoutbythevariousprofessionstocandidatesforwealthorreputation。ThoughsenttoBalliolatseventeenasaSnellexhibitioner，forthepurposeoffittinghimselfforserviceintheChurchofEngland，hepreferredsomuchthepeaceofhisownmindtothewishesofhisfriendsandrelations，that，whenheleftOxfordafteraresidenceofsevenyears，hedeclinedtoenterintotheecclesiasticalprofessionatall，andhereturnedtoScotlandwiththesoleandsimplehopeofobtainingthroughliteraturesomepostofmoderateprefermentmoresuitabletohisinclinations。
　　Fortuneseemstohavefavouredhiminmakingsuchacoursepossible，forafterleavingOxfordhespenttwoyearsathomewithhismotheratKirkaldy。HehadnottoencounterthedifficultieswhichcompelledHumetopractisefrugalityabroad，inordertopreservehisindependence。Hisfather，whohaddiedafewmonthsbeforehisbirth，hadbeenprivatesecretarytothePrincipalSecretaryofStateforScotland，andafterthatComptrolleroftheCustomsatKirkaldy。AdamSmithwas，moreover，anonlychild，andiftherewasnotwealthathome，therewasthecompetencewhichwasallhedesired。
　　Bythecircumstancesofhisbirth，hiseducation，likethatofDavidHume，devolvedinhisearlyyearsuponhismother，ofwhomonewouldgladlyknowmorethanhasbeenvouchsafedbyherson'sbiographer。Sheissaidtohavebeenblamedforspoilinghim，butitispossiblethatwhatseemedtoherScotchneighboursexcessiveindulgencemeantnoveryexceptionaldegreeofkindness。Atallevents，thetreatmentsucceeded，norhadeveramotheramoredevotedson。Herdeath，whichdidnotlongprecedehisown，closedalifeofunremittedaffectiononbothsides，andwasthefirstandgreatestbereavementthatAdamSmitheverhadtomourn。Thesocietyofhismotherandherniece，MissDouglas，wholivedwiththem，wasallthatheeverknewoffamilylife；andwhenthesmallcirclebrokeup，asitdidatlastspeedilyandwithshortintervalsofsurvivalforthosewhoexperiencedthegriefofthefirstseparation，AdamSmithwaswell-advancedinyears。Hesurvivedhismotheronlysixyears，hiscousinabouttwo；
　　andhehadpassedsixtywhentheformerdied。
　　Itissaid，thatafteradisappointmentinearlylife，AdamSmithgaveupallthoughtsofmarriage；butifhethusfailedofthehappiestconditionoflife，itisequallytruethathewassparedthegreatestsorrowsofhumanexistence，andanumberofminortroublesandanxieties。Thedomesticeconomywasentirelyconductedbyhiscousin，andtothephilosopherisattributedwithmorethanusualjusticeallthatincapacityforthecommondetailsoflifewithwhichthepopularconceptionalwaysclothesascholar。
　　ItissaidthateventhefancyofaLaBruyè；rehasscarcelyimaginedinstancesofamorestrikingabsenceofmindthanmightbeactuallyquotedofhim；2andfromboyhoodupwardshehadthehabitoflaughingandtalkingtohimselfwhichsometimesledcasualobserverstoinferencesnottohiscredit。
　　DugaldStewart，whosesomewhatmeagrememoironAdamSmithisthechiefauthorityforallthatisknownofhislife，describeshimas"certainlynotfittedforthegeneralcommerceoftheworldorforthebusinessofactivelife。"Thesubjectofhisstudiesrenderedhim"habituallyinattentivetofamiliarobjectsandtocommonoccurrences。"Evenincompany，hewasapttobeengrossedwithhisstudies，andwouldseem，bythemotionofhislipsaswellasbyhislooksandgestures，tobeinallthefervourofcomposition。Inconversation"hewasscarcelyeverknowntostartatopichimself，"andifhedidsucceedinfallinginwiththecommondialogueofconversation，"hewassomewhatapttoconveyhisownideasintheformofalecture。"Notwithstandingthesedefects，wearetoldof"thesplendourofhisconversation，"andoftheinexhaustiblenoveltyandvarietywhichbelongedtoit，byreasonofhisreadyadaptationoffancifultheoriestoallthecommontopicsofdiscourse。
　　Ofhisearlyyearsoftenthemostinterestingofany，asindicativeoffuturecharactersingularlylittleremainsknown。SomeofthosewhowerethecompanionsofhisfirstschoolyearsatKirkaldy，andwhoremainedhisfriendsforlife，haveattestedthepassionheeventhenhadforbooksand"theextraordinarypowersofhismemory。"
　　AttheageoffourteenhewassenttotheUniversityofGlasgow，wherehisfavouritestudiesweremathematicsandnaturalsciences，andwhereheattendedthelecturesofDr。Hutcheson，whohasbeencalled"thefatherofspeculativephilosophyinScotlandinmoderntimes，"andwhosetheoryoftheMoralSensehadsomuchinfluenceonAdamSmith'sownlaterethicalspeculations。
　　Beyondthisreferencetohisstudies，nothingistoldofAdamSmith'sthreeyearsatGlasgow。Hiswholeyouthisinfactablankforhisbiographer。
　　Wehearofnoprizes，nodistinctions，nofriendships，noadventures，noeccentricitiesofanykind。NorisitmuchbetterwithregardtohiscareeratOxford，towhichhewassentbytheUniversityofGlasgowattheageofseventeen。Onlyoneanecdoteremains，ofverydoubtfultruth，andnotmentionedbyDugaldStewart，totheeffectthatheonceincurredrebukefromthecollegeauthoritiesofBalliolforhavingbeendetectedinhisroomsreadingHume'sTreatiseonHumanNature。Thestoryisworthmentioning，ifonlyasanindicationoftheprevalentideaofAdamSmith'sbentofmindinhisundergraduatedays；andthosewho，inspiteofexperience，stillholdtothetheory，thatatthebottomofeverystorysometruthmustlie，maygatherfromthisone，thatevenatcollegethefuturefriendofthehistorianwasattractedbytheboldscepticismwhichdistinguishedhisphilosophy。
　　ItwasperhapsbyreasonofthisattractionthatattheendofsevenyearsatOxfordAdamSmithdeclinedtotakeorders。LeavingOxford，whichformostmenmeansanentirechangeoflife，meantforhimsimplyachangeinthesceneofhisstudies；atransferofthemfromoneplacetoanother。
　　Languages，literature，andhistory，could，hefound，bestudiedaswellatKirkaldyasatthechiefseatoflearninginEngland。ToOxford，sodifferentinmostcollegesnowfromwhatitwasinthosedays，heseemsnevertohaveexpressedorfeltthegratitudewhichthroughlifeattachedhimtoGlasgow；andhisimpressionsoftheEnglishuniversityhavebeenimmortalizedbyhiminnoflatteringtermsinwhathehassaidofitinhisWealthofNations。
　　Afternearlytwoyearsspentathome，AdamSmithremovedtoEdinburgh，where，underthepatronageofLordKames，sowellknowninconnexionwiththeScotchliteratureofthelastcentury，hedeliveredlecturesonrhetoricandbelleslettres；andthesamesubjectformedthegreaterpartofhislecturesasProfessorofLogicatGlasgow，towhichposthewaselectedin1751，attheageoftwenty-eight。ThenextyearhewaschosenProfessorofMoralPhilosophyatthesameuniversity；andtheperiodofthirteenyears，duringwhichheheldthissituation，heeverregardedasthemostusefulandhappyofhislife。
　　OfhislecturesatGlasgowonlysomuchhasbeenpreservedashepublishedintheMoralSentimentsandWealthofNationsrespectively。
　　Hedividedhiscourseintofourparts，thefirstrelatingtoNaturalTheology，thesecondtoEthics，thethirdtothesubjectofJusticeandthegrowthofJurisprudence，thefourthtoPolitics。UnderthelatterheadhedealtwiththepoliticalinstitutionsrelatingtocommerceandallthesubjectswhichenterintohismaturerworkontheNatureandCausesoftheWealthofNations；whilstunderthesecondhead，heexpoundedthedoctrineswhichheafterwardspublishedintheMoralSentiments。OnthesubjectofJustice，itwashisintentiontowriteasystemofnaturaljurisprudence，"oratheoryofthegeneralprincipleswhichoughttorunthroughandbethefoundationofthelawsofallnations。"ItwastohavebeenanimprovementontheworkofGrotiusonthesamesubject，andtheTheoryofMoralSentimentsconcludeswithapromisewhich，unfortunately，wasneverfulfilled。"Ishall，"hesays，"inanotherdiscourse，endeavourtogiveanaccountofthegeneralprinciplesoflawandgovernment，andofthedifferentrevolutionstheyhaveundergoneinthe
　　differentagesandperiodsofsociety，notonlyinwhatconcernsjustice，butinwhatconcernspolice，revenue，andarms，andwhateverelseistheobjectoflaw。Ishallnot，therefore，atpresent，enterintoanyfurtherdetailsconcerningthehistoryofjurisprudence。3
　　OneofAdamSmith'sownpupils，andafterwardsforlifeoneofhismostintimatefriends，Dr。Millar，professoroflawatGlasgow，andauthorofanexcellentworkontheOriginofRanks，hasleftagraphicdescriptionofthegreatsuccesswhichattendedtheselecturesatGlasgow。"TherewasnosituationinwhichtheabilitiesofMr。Smithappearedtogreateradvantagethanasaprofessor……hisreputationasaprofessorwasaccordinglyraisedvcryhigh，andamultitudeofstudentsfromagreatdistanceresortedtotheUniversity，merelyuponhisaccount。Thosebranchesofsciencewhichhetaughtbecamefashionableatthisplace，andhisopinionswerethechieftopicofdiscussioninclubsandliterarysocieties。Eventhesmallpeculiaritiesinhispronunciationormannerofspeaking，becamefrequentlytheobjectsofimitation。"
　　ItseemstohavebeenduringtheearlyyearsofhisprofessorshipatGlasgowthatAdamSmithformedthatfriendshipwithDavidHumewhichformssopleasingafeatureinthelifeofbothofthem，andissomemorableinthehistoryofliteraryattachments。Therewassufficientsamenessinthefundamentalcharacteristicsandopinionsofeachofthem，togetherwithsufficientdifferencesonminorpoints，toensurethepermanenceoftheirmutualaffection。Bothtookthesameinterestinquestionsofmoralphilosophyandpoliticaleconomy；bothhadacertainsimplicityandgentlenessofcharacter；bothheldthesameideasoftherelationofnaturaltorevealedreligion。
　　AletterwrittenbyHumetohisfriendin1759，ontheoccasionofthepublicationofhisMoralSentiments，isofinterest，notonlyascharacteristicofthefriendshipbetweenthem，butasindicativeofthegoodreceptionwhichthebookimmediatelymetwithfromallpersonscompetenttojudgeofit。TheletterisdatedApril12，1759。
　　"IgiveyouthanksfortheagreeablepresentofyourTheory。
　　WedderburneandImadepresentsofourcopiestosuchofouracquaintancesaswethoughtgoodjudges，andpropertospreadthereputationofthebook。
　　IsentonetotheDukeofArgyll，toLordLyttleton，HoraceWalpole，SoameJennyns，andBurke，anIrishgentleman，whowrotelatelyaveryprettytreatiseontheSublime。MillardesiredmypermissiontosendoneinyournametoDr。Warburton。IhavedelayedwritingtillIcouldtellyousomethingofthesuccessofthebook，andcouldprognosticate，withsomeprobability，whetheritshouldbefinallydamnedtooblivion，orshouldberegisteredinthetempleofimmortality。Thoughithasbeenpublishedonlyafewweeks，Ithinkthereappearalreadysuchstrongsymptoms，thatIcanalmostventuretoforetellitsfate……IamafraidofLordKames'sLawTracts。
　　AmanmightaswellthinkofmakingafinesaucebyamixtureofwormwoodandaloesasanagreeablecompositionbyjoiningmetaphysicsandScotchlaw……IbelieveIhavementionedtoyoualreadyHelvetius'sbookdel'Esprit。Itisworthyourreading，notforitsphilosophy，whichI
　　donothighlyvalue，butforitsagreeablecomposition。Ihadaletterfromhimafewdaysagowhereinhetellsmethatmynamewasmuchoftenerinthemanuscript，butthatthecensorofbooksatParisobligedhimtostrikeitout……Butwhatisallthistomybook？sayyou。MydearMr。
　　Smith，havepatience:composeyourselftotranquillity；showyourselfaphilosopherinpracticeaswellasprofession；thinkontheemptiness，andrashness，andfutilityofthecommonjudgmentofmen；howlittletheyareregulatedbyreasoninanysubject，muchmoreinphilosophicalsubjects，whichsofarexceedthecomprehensionofthevulgar……Awiseman'skingdomishisownbreast；or，ifheeverlooksfarther，itwillonlybetothejudgmentofaselectfew，whoarefreefromprejudicesandcapableofexamininghiswork。Nothingindeedcanbeastrongerpresumptionoffalsehoodthantheapprobationofthemultitude；andPhocion，youknow，alwayssuspectedhimselfofsomeblunderwhenhewasattendedwiththeapplausesofthepopulace。
　　"Supposing，therefore，thatyouhavedulypreparedyourselffortheworstbyallthesereflections，Iproceedtotellyouthemelancholynews，thatyourbookhasbeenveryunfortunate，forthepublicseemdisposedtoapplauditextremely。Itwaslookedforbythefoolishpeoplewithsomeimpatience；andthemobofliteratiarebeginningalreadytobeveryloudinitspraises。ThreebishopscalledyesterdayatMillar'sshopinordertobuycopiesandtoaskquestionsaboutitsauthor。TheBishopofPeterboroughsaidhehadpassedtheeveninginacompanywherehehearditextolledaboveallbooksintheworld。TheDukeofArgyllismoredecisivethanheusestobeinitsfavour。IsupposeheeitherconsidersitanexoticorthinkstheauthorwillbeserviceabletohimintheGlasgowelections。
　　LordLyttletonsaysthatRobertson，andSmith，andBowerarethegloriesofEnglishliterature。Oswaldprotestshedoesnotknowwhetherhehasreapedmoreinstructionorentertainmentfromit。Butyoumayeasilyjudgewhatreliancecanbeplacedonhisjudgmentwhohasbeenengagedallhislifeinpublicbusiness，andwhoneverseesanyfaultsinhisfriends。
　　Millarexultsandbragsthattwo-thirdsoftheeditionarealreadysold，andthatitissureofsuccess。Youseewhatasonofearththatis，tovaluebooksonlybytheprofittheybringhim。Inthatview，Ibelieve，itmayproveaverygoodbook。
　　"CharlesTownsend，whopassesforthecleverestfellowinEngland，issotakenwiththeperformancethathesaidtoOswaldhewouldputtheDukeofBuccleuchundertheauthor'scare，andwouldmakeitworthhiswhiletoacceptofthatcharge。AssoonasIheardthisIcalledonhimtwice，withaviewoftalkingwithhimaboutthematter，andofconvincinghimoftheproprietyofsendingthatyoungnoblemantoGlasgow；forIcouldnothopethathecouldofferyouanytermswhichwouldtemptyoutorenounceyourprofessorship。ButImissedhim……
　　"Inrecompenseforsomanymortifyingthings，whichnothingbuttruthcouldhaveextortedfromme，andwhichIcouldeasilyhavemultipliedtoagreaternumber，IdoubtnotbutyouaresogoodaChristianastoreturngoodforevil；andtoflattermyvanitybytellingmethatallthegodlyinScotlandabusemeformyaccountofJohnKnoxandtheReformation，"
　　etc。
　　TheinvitationreferredtobyHumeinthislettertotravelwiththeDukeofBuecleuchcameinaboutfouryearstime；andtheliberaltermsinwhichtheproposalwasmade，togetherwiththestrongtemptationtotravel，ledtoafinalresignationoftheGlasgowprofessorship。
　　Buthereagaincuriosityisdoomedtodisappointment；forAdamSmithwrotenojournalofhistravelsabroad，andhehadsuchanaversiontoletter-writingthatnorecordsofthissortpreservehisimpressionsofforeignlife。4Scarcelymorethanthebareoutlineofhisrouteisknown。SometwoweeksatPariswerefollowedbyeighteenmonthsatToulouse。ThenatourintheSouthofFrancewasfollowedbytwomonthsatGeneva；andfromChristmas，1765，tothefollowingOctoberthetravellerswereinParis，thislatterperiodbeingtheonlyoneofanygeneralinterest，onaccountoftheillustriousacquaintanceswhichtheintroductionsofHumeenabledAdamSmithtomakeintheFrenchcapital。
　　DuringthisperiodAdamSmithbecameacquaintedwiththechiefmenoflettersandphilosophersofParis，suchasD'Alemhert，Helvetius，Marmontel，Morellet；anditistoberegrettedthatMorellet，whomentionsthefactofconversationsbetweenhimself，Turgot，andAdamSmith，onsubjectsofpoliticaleconomyandonseveralpointsconnectedwiththegreatworkthencontemplatedbythelatter，shouldhavegivenusnocluetotheinfluenceTurgotmayhavehadinsuggestingorconfirmingtheideaoffreetrade。
　　Thattheintercoursebetweenthembecameintimatemayatleastbeinferredfromtheunverifiedstoryoftheirsubsequentliterarycorrespondence；
　　andtoQuesnai，theeconomist，itisknownthatAdamSmithintended，butforthedeathoftheformer，tohavededicatedhisWealthofNations。
　　`WithMorellet，too，AdamSmithseemstohavebeenintimate。Theabbé；
　　recordsinhisMemoirsthathekeptfortwentyyearsapocket-bookpresentedtohimasakeepsakebyAdamSmith。ThelattersenthimalsoacopyoftheWealthofNationstenyearslater，whichMorellet，withhisusualzealfortranslating，settoworkuponatonce。TheAbbé；Blavet，however，wasagainthefirstinthefield，sothatMorelletcouldnotfindapublisher。ItisworthnoticingthatMorelletmentionsthefactthatAdamSmithspokeFrenchverybadly，whichisnottheleastinconsistentwithhisbiographer'sclaimforhimofan"uncommonlyextensiveandaccurateknowledge"ofmodernlanguages。
　　Thedukeandthephilosopher，havinglaidintheircompanionshipabroadthefoundationofafriendshipwhichlastedtillthedeathofthelatter，returnedtoLondoninOctober，1766。ThenexttenyearsofhislifeAdamSmithspent
　　athomewithhismotherandcousin，preparingtheworkonwhichhisfamenowchieflyrests。Itwasaperiodofquietuneventfulstudy，andalmostsolitude。WritingtoHume，hesaysthathischiefamusementsarelongandsolitarywalksbythesea，andthatheneverfeltmorehappy，comfortable，orcontented，inhislife。HumemadevainendeavourstotempthimtoEdinburghfromhisretirement。"Iwant，"hesaid，"toknowwhatyouhavebeendoing，andproposetoexactarigorousaccountofthemethodinwhichyouhaveemployedyourselfduringyourretreat。Iampositiveyouarewronginmanyofyourspeculations，especiallywhereyouhavethemisfortunetodifferfromme。Allthesearereasonsforourmeeting。"
　　Thiswasin1769。Sevenyearslater，1776，theWealthofNationsappeared，andHume，whowasthendying，againwrotehisfriendacongratulatoryletter。"Euge!Belle!Iammuchpleasedwithyourperformance，andtheperusalofithastakenmefromagreatstateofanxiety。Itwasaworkofsomuchexpectation，byyourself，byyourfriends，andbythepublic，thatItrembledforitsappearance；butamnowmuchrelieved。Notbutthatthereadingofitnecessarilyrequiressomuchattention，thatIshallstilldoubtforsometimeofitsbeingatfirstverypopular。Butithasdepthandsolidity，andacuteness，andissomuchillustratedbycuriousfacts，thatitmust，atlast，takethepublicattention。ItisprobablymuchimprovedbyyourlastabodeinLondon。Ifyouwerehere，atmyfireside，Ishoulddisputesomeofyourprinciples……Butthese，andahundredotherpoints，arefitonlytobediscussedinconversation。
　　Ihopeitwillbesoon，forIaminaverybadstateofhealth，andcannotaffordalongdelay。"
　　Thisletterseemstohaveledtoameetingbetweenthetwofriends，thelastbeforethesadfinalseparation。OfthecheerfulnesswithwhichHumemethisdeath，AdamSmithwroteanaccountinaletteraddressedtoStrahan，thepublisher，andappendedtoHume'sautobiography，tellinghowHume，inreferencetohisapproachingdeparture，imaginedaconversationbetweenhimselfandCharon，andhowhecontinuedtocorrecthisworksforanewedition，toreadbooksofamusement，toconverse，orsometimesplayatwhistwithhisfriends。Healsoextolled"Hume'sextremegentlenessofnature，whichneverweakenedthefirmnessofhismindnorthesteadinessofhisresolutions；hisconstantpleasantryandgoodhumour；hissevereapplicationtostudy，hisextensivelearning，hisdepthofThought。"Hethoughtthathistemperwasmoreevenlybalancedthaninanyothermanheeverknew；andthat，howevermuchdifferenceofopiniontheremightbeamongmenastohisphilosophicalideas，accordingastheyhappenedornottocoincidewiththeirown，therecouldscarcelybeanyconcerninghis
　　characterandconduct。"Uponthewhole，"heconcluded，"Ihavealwaysconsideredhim，bothinhislifetimeandsincehisdeath，asapproachingasnearlytotheideaofaperfectlywiseandvirtuousmanasperhapsthenatureofhumanfrailtywillpermit。"
　　ConsideringthatHumecountedamonghisfriendssuchchurchmenasRobertsonthehistorian，andBlair，authoroftheSermons，AdamSmith'sconfidentbeliefintheuniformityofjudgmentabouthisfriend'scharacterneednotappearunreasonable；but，unfortunately，adignitaryoftheChurch，authorofaCommentaryonthePsalms，andafterwardsBishopofNorwich，chosetoconsiderthelettertoStrahanamanifestoagainstChristianity，andaccordinglypublishedanonymouslyalettertoAdamSmith，purportingtobewritten"byoneofthepeoplecalledChristians。"Thewriterclaimedtohaveinhiscompositionalargeproportionofthemilkofhumankindness；
　　tobenobigotnorenemytohumanlearning；andnevertohaveknownthemeaningofenvyorhatred。Strangethenthat，attheageofforty-six，Dr。Homeshouldhavebeenguiltyofaletter，whichitwouldbedifficulttomatchforinjusticeofinference，orcontemptibilityofstyle，andwhichheeventhoughtfittoleavetoposterityamonghisotherpublishedworks。
　　Hebegins:"Youhavebeenlatelyemployedinembalmingaphilosopher；hisbody，IbelieveImustsay，forconcerningtheotherpartofhisnatureneitheryounorheseemtohaveentertainedanidea，sleepingorwaking。Elseitsurelymighthaveclaimedalittleofyourcareandattention；
　　andonewouldthinkthebeliefofthesoul'sexistenceandimmortalitycoulddonoharm，ifitdidnogood，inaTheoryofMoralSentiments。