194 ADAM SMITH. 



"that the moral and serious strain which prevails 

 through those additions, when connected with the cir- 

 cumstances of his declining health, adds a peculiar 

 charm to his pathetic eloquence, and communicates a 

 new interest, if possible, to those sublime truths, which 

 in the academical retreat of his youth awakened the 

 first ardours of his genius, and on which the last efforts 

 of his mind reposed." 



In 1795, a volume of posthumous works was pub- 

 lished, consisting of four Essays. The first is a por- 

 tion of the extensive work which he had begun, on 

 the principles which lead to and direct philosophical 

 inquiries ; these he illustrates from the history of as- 

 tronomy, of ancient physics, and ancient logic and 

 metaphysics. His second is an Essay upon the imi- 

 tative arts ; the third on certain affinities of English 

 and Italian verse, and the fourth on the external 

 senses. The only part of this work that appears to be 

 nearly finished, is the ' History of Astronomy ; ' but 

 the whole of the Essays are replete with profound and 

 ingenious views, and show an extensive and accu- 

 rate acquaintance with all the branches of inductive 

 science. 



The true picture of a great author's intellectual cha- 

 racter is presented by his writings ; and of the depth, 

 the comprehensiveness, the general accuracy of his 

 views, on the various subjects to which his mind was 

 bent, there can be but one opinion. His understanding 

 was enlarged, and it was versatile ; his sagacity, when 

 he applied himself deliberately to inquiry or to discus- 

 sion, was unerring ; his information was extensive and 

 correct ; his fancy was rich and various ; his taste, 

 formed upon the purest models of antiquity, was simple 

 and chaste. 



His integrity was unimpeachable, and the warmth of 

 his affections knew no chill, even when the languor of 

 age, and the weight of ill health, was upon him ; his 

 nature was kindly in the greatest degree, and his bene- 



