218 ADAM SMITH. 



man would ever choose to send for a stranger unless he was 

 either a bard or a soothsayer. The danger, too, of travelling 

 either alone or with few attendants made all men of any con- 

 sequence carry along with them a numerous suite of retainers, 

 which rendered this hospitality still more oppressive. Hence 

 the orders to build hostellaries in 24 and 85. And as many 

 people had chosen to follow the old fashion and to live rather 

 at the expense of other people than at their own, hence the 

 complaint of the keepers of the hostellaries, and the order 

 thereupon in Act 56. 



" I cannot conclude this letter, though already too long, 

 without expressing to your Lordship my concern, and, still 

 more, my indignation at what has lately passed both at 

 London and at Edinburgh. I have often thought that the 

 Supreme Court of the United Kingdom very much resembled 

 a jury. The law Lords generally take upon them to sum up 

 the evidence, and to explain the law to the other peers, who 

 generally follow their opinion implicitly. Of the two law 

 Lords who upon this occasion instructed them, the one has 

 always run after the applause of the mob ; the other, by far 

 the most intelligent, has always shewn the greatest dread of 

 popular odium, which, however, he has not been able to 

 avoid. His inclinations also have always been suspected to 

 favour one of the parties. He has upon this occasion, I sus- 

 pect, followed rather his fears and his inclinations than his 

 judgment. I could say a great deal more upon this subject 

 to your Lordship, but I am afraid I have already said too much. 

 I would rather, for my own part, have the solid reputation 

 of your most respectable President, though exposed to the 

 insults of a brutal mob, than all the vain and flimsy applause 

 that has ever yet been bestowed upon either or both the 

 other two. I have the honour to be, with the highest esteem 

 and regard, 



"My Lord, 

 " Your Lordship^s most obliged 



and obedient servant, 

 (Signed) "ADAM SMITH." 



