110 ADAM SMITH. 



In particular, his discussions of commercial policy were 

 more elaborately conducted ; and he profited by his 

 intimacy \vith merchants and manufacturers of eminence 

 in the great trading city in which he resided to obtain 

 practical information which might illustrate, if not guide, 

 his speculative views possibly also correcting those views 

 by bringing them to the test of experience by free dis- 

 cussion. 



The progress of his opinions in making converts to the 

 modern doctrines concerning trade is represented as 

 having been considerable, even among those whose preju- 

 dices in favour of the older maxims were of long standing ; 

 but of course his philosophy was more readily adopted, 

 and more extensively diffused by the pupils, who came to 

 the consideration of the subject with no bias upon their 

 minds from former habits of thinking or long-formed pro- 

 fessional 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 ordinary 

 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 humbling to our national 



