AUTHORS. 



miration of the great, the wonder 

 of the learned, and the ornament of 

 society : science might have smiled 

 upon his labours, fame might have 

 proclaimed his excellence, and pos- 



terity with delight would record his 

 name. But mistaking the way to 

 happiness he plunged into misery, 

 and fell an early victim to impru- 

 dence. (Life by Eaymond.) 



PECULIAEITIES AND ECCENTBICITIES. 



ADAM SMITH AND DAVID HUME. 



Mr. Smith observed to me, not 

 long before his death, "that after 

 all his practice in writing, he com- 

 posed as slowly, and with as great 

 difficulty, as at first." He added, at 

 the same time ; that Mr. Hume had 

 acquired so great a facility in this 

 respect, that the last volume of his 

 History was printed from the origi- 

 nal copy, with a few marginal cor- 

 rections. Mr. Smith, when he was 

 employed in composition, generally 

 walked up and down his apartment, 

 dictating to a secretary. All Mr. 

 Hume's works (it has been said) 

 were written with his own hand. 

 (Stewart.) 



ADAM SMITH. 



The comprehensive speculations 

 with which Mr. Smith had always 

 been occupied, and the variety of 

 materials which his own invention 

 continually supplied to his thoughts, 

 rendered him habitually inattentive 

 to familiar objects, and to common 

 occurrences. On this account, he 

 was remarkable, throughout ' the 

 whole of life, for speaking to him- 

 self when alone, and for being so 

 absent in company, as, on some oc- 

 casions, to exceed almost what the 

 fancy of a Bruyere could imagine 

 In company, he was apt to be en- 

 grossed by his studies; and ap- 

 peared, at times, by the motion of 

 his lips, as well as by his looks and 

 gestures, to be in the fervour of 

 composition. It was observed, that 

 he rarely started a topic himself, or 

 even fell in easily with the common 

 dialogue of conversation. When he 

 did speak, however, he was some- 

 what apt to convey his ideas in the 



form of a lecture ; but this never 

 proceeded from a wish to engross 

 the discourse,or to gratify his vanity. 

 His own inclination disposed him 

 so strongly to enjoy, in silence, the 

 gaiety of those around him, that his 

 friends were often led to concert 

 little schemes, in order to bring on 

 the subjects most likely to interest 

 him. (Life.) 



VOLTAIRE. 



This extraordinary person has 

 contrived to excite more curiosity, 

 and to retain the attention of Europe 

 for a longer space of time, than any 

 other man this age has produced, 

 monarchs and heroes included. His 

 person is that of a skeleton; but 

 this skeleton, this composition of 

 skin and bone, has a look of more- 

 spirit and vivacity than is generally 

 produced by flesh and blood, how- 

 ever blooming and youthful. The 

 most piercing eyes I ever beheld are 

 those of Voltaire, now in his eigh- 

 tieth year. His whole countenance 

 is expressive of genius, observation, 

 and extreme sensibility. An air of 

 irony never entirely forsakes his 

 face, but may always be observed 

 lurking in his features, whether he 

 frowns or smiles. By far the greatest 

 part of his time is spent in his study, 

 and whether he reads himself, or 

 listens to another, he always has a 

 pen in his hand, to take down notes 

 or make remarks. Composition is 

 his principal amusement. No author 

 who writes for daily bread, no 

 young poet ardent for distinction, 

 is more assiduous with his pen, or 

 more anxious for fresh fame, than 

 the wealthy and applauded Seigneur 

 Ferney. Happy if this extraordi- 



