ADAM SMITH. 471 



of any that will be of use to it, but the spruce tree and tea 

 plant and scurvy grass ; and I know not if this last is en- 

 graved. The flax plant is engraved : but whether the pub- 

 lishing of this in my Journal will be of any use to seamen 

 I shall not determine. In short, whatever plates of this 

 kind falls to my share, I shall hope for your kind assistance 

 in giving some short account of them. On my arrival 

 here I gave Omai three guineas, which sent him on shore 

 in high spirits : indeed he could hardly be otherwise, for he 

 is very much caressed here by every person of note ; and, 

 upon the whole, I think he rejoices at the prospect of going 

 home. 



" I now only wait for a wind to put to sea ; unless Capt. 

 Clarke makes good haste down, he will have to follow me. 

 Sir John Pringle writes me that the Council of the Koyal 

 Society have decreed me the Prize Medal of this year. I 

 am obliged to you and my other good friends for this un- 

 merited honour. 



" Omai joins his best respects to you and Dr. Solander 

 with, 



" Dear Sir, 



" Your most obedient and very humble servant, 

 " JAMES COOK." 



These letters are given out of their place, not having 

 come into my possession until after the Life of Sir J. Banks 

 was printed. They appeared sufficiently interesting to be 

 here inserted. The same reason must justify the inserting, 

 also out of its place, the following extract from a letter of 

 Dr. Black to Mr. Smith, on his ' Wealth of Nations.' The 

 rest of the letter regards Mr. Hume's health. It was writ- 

 ten apparently in August, 1776. Nothing can be more 

 interesting than to mark the sentiments of a great and 

 original genius respecting the exertions of another and con- 

 genial spirit in a different walk of science. 



DR. BLACK TO ADAM SMITH. 



" Though I sit down to write to you upon another ac- 

 count, I cannot help expressing the pleasure and satisfaction 



