APPENDIX. 63 
Jjufiice, but that of. expediency, and which are calculated to in- 
creafe the riches, the power and the profperity of a State. Un- 
der this view, he confidered the political inftitutions relating 
to commerce, to finances, to ecclefiaftical and military efta- 
blifhments. What he delivered on thefe fubje@s contained the: 
fubftance of the work he afterwards publifhed under the title 
of An Inquiry into the Nature and Caufes of the Wealth of 
Nations. 
“* "THERE was no fituation in which the abilities of Mr Smitu: 
appeared to greater advantage than as a Profeffor. In deliver- 
ing his letures, he trufted almoft entirely to extemporary elo- 
cution. His manner, though not graceful, was plain and un- 
‘affected ; and as he feemed to be always interefted in the fub- 
ject, he never failed to intereft his hearers. Each difcourfe 
confifted commonly of feveral diftinét propofitions, which he 
fucceflively endeavoured to prove and illuftrate. Thefe propo- 
fitions, when announced in general terms, had, from: their ex- 
tent, not unfrequently fomething of the air of a: paradox. In 
his attempts to explain them, he often appeared, at firft, not 
to be fufficiently poffeffed of the fubje&, and fpoke with fome 
hefitation. As he advanced; however, the matter feemed to 
crowd upon him, his manner became warm and animated, and: 
his expreffion eafy and fluent. In points fufceptible of contro- 
verfy, you could eafily difcern, that he fecretly conceived an 
oppofition.to his opinions, and that he was led upon this ac- 
count to fupport them with greater energy ahd vehemence. 
By the fulnefs and variety of his illuftrations, the fubject gra- 
dually fwelled in his hands, and acquired a dimenfion which, 
without a tedious repetition of the fame views, was. calculated. 
to feize the attention of his audience, and to afford them plea- 
fure, as well as inftruction, in following the fame objedt, 
through all the diverfity of fhades and afpeéts in which it was. 
prefented, and afterwards in tracing it backwards to that ori-- 
ginal 
Account of 
Dr Smith, 
