MR small's biographical SKETCH OF PROF. ADAM FERGUSON. 621 



The following interesting letter, addressed to Adam Smith at this time, has 

 reference to the publication of the ' Inquiry into the Wealth of Nations :' — 



" Edinburgh, April 18th, 1776. 



" My dear Sir, — I have been for some time so busy reading you, and recom- 

 mending and quoting you, to my students, that I have not had leisure to trouble 

 you with letters. I suppose, however, that of all the opinions on which you have 

 any curiosity, mine is among the least doubtful. You may believe, that on fur- 

 ther acquaintance with your work my esteem is not a little increased. You are 

 surely to reign alone on these subjects, to form the opinions, and I hope to govern 

 at least the coming generations. I see no addition your work can receive except 

 such little matters as may occur to yourself in subsequent editions. You are not 

 to expect the run of a novel, nor even of a true history; but you may venture to 

 assure your booksellers of a steady and continual sale, as long as people wish for 

 information on these subjects. You have provoked, it is true, the church, the 

 universities,* and the merchants, against all of whom I am willing to take your 

 part ; but you have likewise provoked the militia, and there I must be against 

 you. The gentlemen and peasants of this country do not need the authority of 

 philosophers to make them supine and negligent of every resource they might 

 have in themselves, in the case of certain extremities, of which the pressure, God 

 knows, may be at no great distance. But of this more at Philippi. You have 

 heard from Black of our worthy friend D. Hume. If anything in such a case 

 could be agreeable, the easy and pleasant state of his mind and spirits would be 

 really so. I believe he will be prevailed on at last to get in motion, and to try 

 the effect of Bath, or anything else Sir Jno. Pringle may recommend. I have 

 said more on this subject to Mr Gibbon, who, if you be found at London, will 

 communicate to you. If not, I hope we shall soon meet here. And am, &c, 



" Adam Ferguson."! 



For several years Ferguson had meditated the publication of a History of the 

 Roman Republic; and he now began with greater perseverance to collect his 

 materials for the projected work. He was also stimulated to bring his labours 

 on this subject to completion, as Gibbon had, in 1776, begun the publication of 

 his ' History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire ;' and the following 

 correspondence is valuable, as showing the friendly relations which existed 

 between these eminent men : — 



" Edinburgh, March 19th, 1776. 



" Dear Sir, — I received, about eight days ago, after I had been reading your 

 History, the copy which you have been so good as send me, and for Avhich I now 

 trouble you with my thanks. But even if I had not been thus called upon to 

 offer you my respects, I could not have refrained from congratulating you on the 



* See ' Wealtli of Nations,' book v. cliap. i. part 3, art. 2. 



f The original letter is in the possession of the Rev. Mr Cuiwingham, Prestonpans. 



