1792. — gléanings of lwerature. 209 
i a Sc Se a a a a 
GLEANINGS OF LITERATURE. 
Sir, To the Editor of the Bee. 
J xerurx you, with many thanks, the numerous volumes 
of political economy, from which it appears the excellent 
Adam Smith drew a great patt of the materials for his: 
noble treatise on the causes of the Wealth of Nations. 
I have read that book with great attention, and have 
had recourse, at all the pafsages you had marked, to the 
authors from which you justly suppose he drew his first 
imprefsions of political conviction, on the subjects of his. 
argument ; and entertain no doubt that Dr Smith would 
have quoted those authors, if he had any where followed 
them so closely as to render it necefsary. But the truth 
is, as I know from having had the happinefs to live long 
and much with him, that he reasoned, spoke, and wrote 
from complex results of logical induction, conversation, 
and reading, that rendered it almost impofsible for him to 
retrace the sources of his knowledge. Perhaps he fhould 
have been fuller in a preface to mention the various wri- 
ters on his subject who had preceded him, in fixing the 
principles of political economy ; but I believe he was in- 
duced to forbear attempting this literary gratitude, from 
his inability to recollect the nature of his obligations. 
Every man must be apt to find an apology for the 
worthy Adam Smith in this particular, when he attempts 
to recollect the sources of his conviction on moral and 
political subjects; and to this jury I trust the, reputation 
of my excellent preceptor and amiable friend. . 
So much for the Wealth of Nations, and its. sagacious 
efsayist ; but can I pafs,the consideration and the verdict, 
without exprefsing my astonifhment and concern that no 
‘Jearned friend of human kind has ever attempted a sub- 
