125 HIS TORT of the SOCIETY. 



D C T nt h f fuperiority which he difcovers throughout, to all the little paf- 

 fions connected with the factions of the times in which he 

 wrote. Whoever takes the trouble to compare the general tone 

 of his compofition with the period of its firft publication, can- 

 not fail to feel and acknowledge the force of this remark. 



It is not often that a difinterefted zeal for truth has fo foon 

 met with its juft reward. Philofophers (to ufe an expreflion 

 of Lord Bacon's) are *' the fervants of pofterity ;" and raoft 

 of thofe who have devoted their talents to the bed interefts of 

 mankind, have been obliged, like Bacon, to " bequeath their 

 fame" to a race yet unborn, and to confole themfelves with the 

 idea of fowing what another generation was to reap : 



In/ere Daphni pyros, carpent tua poma nepotes. 



Mr Smith was more fortunate ; or rather, in this refpecl, his 

 fortune was Angular. He furvived the publication of his work 

 only fifteen years ; and yet, during that fhort period, he had 

 not only the fatisfaction of feeing the oppofition it at firft ex- 

 cited, gradually fubfide, but to witnefs the practical influence 

 of his writings on the commercial policy of his country. 



SECTION 



