第1章

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-sevenyearsofhislife(1723-90)wereinotherrespectsstrangelydestituteofwhatarecalled"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；(2)andfromboyhoodupwardshehadthehabitoflaughingandtalkingtohimselfwhichsometimesledcasualobserverstoinferencesnottohiscredit。

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。(4)Scarcelymorethanthebareoutlineofhisrouteisknown。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。