Account of 

 X)i Smith. 



58 HISTORT of the S0CIE7T. 



nature in all its branches, more particularly of the political hi- 

 fbory of mankind, opened a boundlefs field to his curiofity and 

 ambition ; and while it afforded fcope to all the various powers 

 of his verfatile and comprehensive genius, gratified his ruling 

 passion, of contributing to the happinefs and the improvement 

 of fociety. To this ftudy, diverfified at his leifure hours by 

 the lefs fevere occupations of polite literature, he feems to have 

 devoted himfelf almofl entirely from the time of his removal 

 to Oxford ; but he ftill retained, and retained even in advanced 

 years, a recollection of his early acquisitions, which not only 

 added to the fplendour of his converfation, but enabled him to 

 exemplify fome of his favourite theories concerning the natural 

 progrefs of the mind in the inveftigation of truth, by the hi- 

 itory of thofe fciences in which the connection and fuccefsion 

 of difcoveries may be traced with the greatefl advantage. If I 

 am not miftaken too, the influence of his early tafte for the 

 Greek geometry may be remarked in the elementary clearnefs 

 and fulnefs, bordering fometimes upon prolixity, with which 

 he frequently ftates his political reafonings. — The lectures of 

 the profound and eloquent Dr Hutcheson, which he had at- 

 tended previous to his departure from Glafgow, and of which 

 he always fpoke in terms of the warmed admiration, had, it 

 may be reafonably prefumed, a considerable effect in directing 

 his talents to their proper objects. 



I have not been able to collect any information with re- 

 fpect to that part of his youth which was fpent in Eng- 

 land. I have heard him fay, that he employed himfelf fre- 

 quently in the practice of tranflation, (particularly from the 

 French), with a view to the improvement of his own ftyle : 

 and he ufed often to exprefs a favourable opinion of the utility 

 of fuch exercifes, to all who cultivate the art of composition. 

 It is much to be regretted, that none of his juvenile attempts 

 in this way have been preferved ', as the few fpecimens which 

 his writings contain of his fkill as a tranilator, are sufficient to 

 ihew the eminence he had attained in a walk of literature, 



which, 



