A P P E N D I X. 



9i 



fhould be registered in the temple of immortality. Though it 

 has been publifhed only a few weeks, I think there appear al- 

 ready fuch ftrong fymptoms, that I can almofl venture to fore- 

 tel its fate. It is in fhort this But I have been in- 

 terrupted in my letter by a foolifh impertinent vifit of one who 

 has lately come from Scotland. He tells me that the Univer- 

 fity of Glafgow intend to declare Rouet's office vacant, upon 

 his going abroad with Lord Hope. I queftion not but you 

 will have our friend Ferguson in your eye, in cafe another 

 project for procuring him a place in the Univerfity of Edin- 

 burgh mould fail* Ferguson has very much polifhed and 

 improved his treatife on Refinement *, and with fome amend- 

 ments it will make an admirable book, and difcovers an elegant 

 and a fingular genius. The Epigoniad, I hope, will do ; but it 

 is fomewhat up-hill work. As I doubt not but you confult the 

 Reviews fometimes at prefent, you will fee in the Critical Re- 

 view a letter upon that poem ; and I defire you to employ your 

 conjectures in finding out the author; Let me fee a fample of 

 your fkill in knowing hands by your guefling at the perfon. I 

 am afraid of Lord Kames's Law Tracts. A man might as well 

 think of making a fine fauce by a mixture of wormwood and 

 aloes, as an agreeable compofition by joining metaphyfics and 

 Scotch law. However, the book, I believe, has merit; though 

 few people will take the pains of diving into it. But, to re- 

 turn to your book, and its fuccefs in this town, I muft tell 



you A plague of interruptions ! I ordered myfelf to 



be denied ; and yet here is one that has broke in upon me again. 

 He is a man of letters, and we have had a good deal of literary 

 converfation. You told me that you was curious of literary 

 anecdotes, and therefore I mall inform you of a few that have 

 come to my knowledge. I believe I have mentioned to you al- 

 ready Helvetius's book de I'Efprit. It is worth your read- 



(M 2) ing ? 



* Publifhed afterwards under the title of " An Eflay on the Hiftory of Giril 

 Society." 



Account of 

 Dr Smith, 



