ADAM SMITH. 187 



bias upon their minds from former habits of thinking 

 or long-formed professional opinions. 



In 1763 the project, already mentioned, of Charles 

 Townsend, was carried into execution, and Dr. Smith 

 was induced to resign his professorship, with the view 

 of attending the Duke of Buccleugh on his travels. 

 The settlement of an adequate annuity upon him made 

 this arrangement one sufficiently consistent with ordi- 

 nary prudence. But it may reasonably be doubted, if, 

 after enjoying the advantages of a residence during a 

 year or two abroad, his happiness would not have been 

 better consulted by returning to the duties and habits 

 of his academical life. Nothing, certainly, can be more 

 clear, than that the official appointment to which this 

 change in his plans ultimately led, was one deeply to 

 be lamented, and indeed to be disapproved in every 

 respect, however well meant. It is somewhat hum- 

 bling to our national pride to reflect that our Govern- 

 ment could find no better employment, and no fitter 

 reward for the most eminent philosopher of the age, 

 than making him a revenue officer. For the last 

 twelve years of his precious life he was condemned to 

 go through the routine business of a Commissioner of 

 the Customs ; as, some time after, one of the greatest 

 poets who ever appeared in this island was made an 

 exciseman, at seventy pounds a-year, for a bare sub- 

 sistence, and daily threatened with removal, to die of 

 hunger, if he did not square his conversation by the 

 opinions on French politics which his superiors enter- 

 tained.* 



It must, however, be added, that nothing could 

 better suit Dr. Smith, than the opportunity which his 

 connexion with the Duke gave him of visiting France 



* It is a gratifying proof of the progress which has since those times 

 been made, that no minister could in our day propose such preferment to 

 such men. An instance may probably be cited of an eminent poet being 

 early in this century so employed ; but there was a wide difference in the 

 emoluments, and the place was nearly a sinecure. 



