94 HISTORT of the SOCIETY. 



Account of land abufe me for my account of John Knox and the Reforma- 

 tion. I fuppofe you are glad to fee my paper end, and that I 

 am obliged to conclude with 



Your Humble Servant, 



David Hume." 



SECTION III. 



From the Publication of The Theory of Moral Sentiments, till 

 that of The Wealth of Nations. 



AFTER the publication of the Theory of Moral Senti- 

 ments, Mr Smith remained four years at Glafgow, 

 difcharging his official duties with unabated vigour, and with 

 increafing reputation. During that time, the plan of his lec- 

 tures underwent a considerable change. His ethical doctrines, 

 of which he had now publifhed fo valuable a part, occupied a 

 much fmaller portion of the courfe than formerly ; and ac- 

 cordingly,* his attention was naturally directed to a more com- 

 plete illuftration of the principles of jurifprudence and of po- 

 litical ceconomy. 



To this laft fubject, his thoughts appear to have been occa- 

 fionally turned from a very early period of. life. It is proba- 

 ble, that the uninterrupted friendfhip he had always maintain- 

 ed with his old Companion Mr Oswald*, had fome tendency to 

 encourage him in profecuting this branch of his fludies ; and 



the 



* Since the firfl fection was printed, I find that I have committed a flight inac- 

 curacy in mentioning Mr Oswald and Mr Smith as fchool-fellows. The former 

 was born in 1715 ; the latter in 1723. It appears, however, that their intimacy 

 had commenced before Mr Smith went to the Univerfity. 



