ADAM SMITH. 285 



" My business here is study, in which I have been very 

 deeply engaged for about a month past. My amusements 

 are long solitary walks by the sea side. You may judge how 

 I spend my time. I feel myself, however, extremely happy, 

 comfortable, and contented. I never was perhaps more so 

 in all my life. You will give me great comfort by writing 

 to me now and then, and by letting me know what is passing 

 among my friends at London. Eemember me to them all, 

 particularly to Mr. Adams's family and to Mrs. Montague. 



" What has become of Rousseau ? Has he gone abroad, 

 because he cannot contrive to get himself sufficiently per- 

 secuted in Great Britain ? 



" What is the meaning of the bargain that your Ministry 

 have made with the India Company ? They have not I see 

 prolonged their Charter, which is a good circumstance. 

 What are you going to do ?"* 



Thinking it probable that the Dalkeith repositories might 

 contain some letters, the present Duke of Buccleugh was 

 kind enough, at my request, to make search, but none were 

 found. 



I have much satisfaction in adding the following letter, 

 because it gives Dr. Smith's first impressions, which in this 

 case proved most just ones, of a person whose virtues and 

 amiable qualities were the theme of universal respect and 

 esteem during her whole life, the late Duchess of Buccleugh, 

 grandmother of the present Duke. 



" MY DEAR FRIEND, DALKEITH HOUSE, September 18, 1767, 



" Be so good as to convey the enclosed letter to the 

 Count de Sarsfield ; I have been much in the wrong for 

 having delayed so long to write both to him and you. 



" There is a very amiable, modest, brave, worthy young 

 gentleman, who lives in the same house with you ; his name 

 is David Skeene. He and I are sisters' sons, but my regard 

 for him is much more founded upon his personal qualities 

 than upon the relation in which he stands to me. He acted 

 lately in a very gallant manner in America, of which he 

 never acquainted me himself, and of which I came to the 



* Remainder of the letter obliterated. 



