ADAM SMITH. 185 



the editors upon the propriety of extending their plan, 

 which had been confined to the criticism of works pub- 

 lished in Scotland. He enters at some length into the 

 general state of literature on the Continent, and shows 

 a familiar acquaintance with it, that could only have 

 been acquired by very extensive reading in the works 

 of foreign writers. The advice which he gave would 

 in all probability have been followed; but the Keview 

 was given up, as I have elsewhere stated,* in conse- 

 quence of the ferment excited by the fanatical part of 

 the Kirk. 



In 1759 Dr. Smith published his 'Theory of Moral 

 Sentiments,' being the greater part of the second divi- 

 sion of his course of lectures, and the explanation of 

 the principles upon which his ethical system rested. 

 To the 'Theory' was subjoined a 'Dissertation on the 

 Origin of Language,' a subject to which he had paid 

 great attention. There is some doubt whether this 

 was not added to the second edition of the work. 

 Mr. Stewart is inclined to think that it was not in the 

 first, but a different opinion has been confidently ex- 

 pressed by others. The success of this publication 

 was great, and it was immediate. The book became at 

 once generally popular ; and Mr. Hume, who was in 

 London at the time of its first appearance, wrote him 

 a most lively and humorous letter, in which he gives 

 the history of his friend's complete success. In this 

 letter there is mentioned a circumstance, too, which we 

 shall presently see was destined to have a great influence 

 on his future prospects. The celebrated Charles Towns- 

 end said, on reading the book, that he should make it 

 worth the author's while to undertake the charge of 

 the young Duke of Buccleugh's education, whose 

 mother, the dowager Duchess, he had married. 



The success of this excellent work, however, was 

 confined, at least for a long time, to the author's own 



* ' Life of Robertson,' vol. ii. 



