APPEN DI X. 10¥ 
man of this Society fince Mr Smitn’s death, I have reafon to 
believe, that no evidence of the correfpondence exifts among 
the papers of M. Turcort, and that the whole ftory has taken 
its rife from a report fuggefted by the knowledge of their for- 
mer intimacy. This circumftance I think it of importance to 
mention, becaufe a good deal of curtofity has been excited by 
the paffage in queftion, with refpe to the fate of the fuppofed 
letters. 
Mr Smita was alfo well known to M. Quesnat, the pro- 
found and original author of the Oeconomical Table; a man 
(according to Mr Smirn’s account of him) “ of the greateft 
““ modefty and fimplicity ;” and whofe fy{tem of political ceco- 
nomy he has pronounced, “ with all its imperfedtions,’’ to be 
“ the neareft approximation to the truth that has yet been pu- 
“* blifhed on the principles of that very important fcience.’’ 
If he had not been prevented by Quesnar’s death, Mr Smitu 
had once an intention (as he told me himfelf) to have infcribed 
to him his ‘* Wealth of Nations.”’ 
Ir was not, however, merely the diftinguifhed men who 
about this period fixed fo fplendid an era in the literary hiftory 
of France, that excited Mr Smira’s curiofity while he remain- 
ed in Paris. lis acquaintance with the polite literature both 
of ancient and modern times was extenfive; and amidft his 
various other occupations, he had never neglected to culti- 
vate a tafte for the fine arts ;—lefs, it is probable, with a view 
to the peculiar enjoyments they convey, (though he was by no 
means without fenfibility to their beauties), than on account of 
their connection with the general principles of the human 
mind ; to an examination of which they afford the moft plea- 
fing of all avenues. To thofe who fpeculate on this very deli- 
cate fubject, a comparifon of the modes of tafte that prevail 
among different nations, affords a valuable collection of facts ; 
and Mr Smiru, who was always difpofed to afcribe to cuftom 
and fathion their full fhare in regulating the opinions of man- 
kind 
Account of 
Dr Smith. 
