180 ADAM SMITH. 



his conversation. He was fond of laying down princi- 

 ples, illustrating them, and tracing their consequences. 

 He was not, indeed, in such careless discussions, always 

 either very practical or very reflecting and circumspect 

 as to conclusions; and his hasty opinions, whether of 

 men or of things, were often the result of momentary 

 impressions, which he was quite ready to correct upon 

 reconsideration. But the interest which he took in his 

 subject always animated his discourse ; and no one 

 could more appropriately, or with greater claims to his 

 hearer's attention, illustrate the bearing of the truths 

 which he meant to convey. His language, too, was 

 choice, both elegant, various, and plain ; his manner 

 having been formed upon the best models which he 

 had, as we have seen, diligently studied, as indeed he 

 had the principles of rhetoric, the subject of his earliest 

 lectures. Nor had he any difficulty of extempore com- 

 position, though like many greater speakers, he at first 

 was apt to hesitate until he became warmed with his 

 subject, and then he could prelect with as great fluency 

 of language as copiousness of illustration. It may thus 

 be well supposed that on the subjects of his lectures, 

 when he had given them the full consideration which 

 was required for preparing himself, he could convey 

 instruction in a manner at once sound, luminous, and 

 attractive. Accordingly we find all accounts agree in 

 representing him as a teacher of the very highest order, 

 and his pupils as receiving instruction with a respect 

 approaching to enthusiasm. Even the talents of Hutche- 

 son had failed to recommend these studies to as general 

 and cordial acceptation. The taste for metaphysical and 

 ethical inquiries was greatly increased ; discussions of 

 the doctrines he taught became the favourite occupa- 

 tion in all the literary circles, and formed the subjects 

 of debate in the clubs and societies of the place ; even 

 the peculiarities of his manner and pronunciation were 

 eagerly caught up and imitated, though there was noth- 

 ing which he less affected than the graces of delivery, 



