Account of 
Dr Smith. 
126 HISTORY of the SOCIETY. 
fuperiority which he difcovers throughout, to all the little paf- 
fions connected with the factions of the times in which he 
wrote. Whoever takes the trouble to compare the general tone 
of his compofition with the period of its firft publication, can- 
not fail to feel and acknowledge the force of this remark. 
It is not often that a difinterefted zeal for truth has fo foon 
met with its juft reward. Philofophers (to ufe an expreflion 
of Lord Bacon’s) are “ the fervants of pofterity ;’’ and moft 
of thofe who have devoted their talents to the beft interefts of 
mankind, have been obliged, like Bacon, to ‘‘ bequeath their 
fame” to a race yet unborn, and to confole themfelves with the 
idea of fowing what another generation was to reap: 
Infere Daphni pyros, carpent tua poma nepotes. 
Mr SmitH was more fortunate; or rather, in this refpect, his 
fortune was fingular. He furvived the publication of his work 
only fifteen years; and yet, during that fhort period, he had 
not only the fatisfaction of fecing the oppofition it at firft ex- 
cited, gradually fubfide, but to witnefs the practical influence 
of his writings on the commercial policy of his country. 
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