WILLIAM SMELLIE. 
21 
Mr Smellie to the Rev. Dr Charters. 
1763. 
“ Dear Sir, — To study physic to the bottom, 
as I would wish, is perfectly impracticable. 
A penury of precious metal is indeed the prin- 
cipal cause of this impracticability. I formerly 
expressed my difficulties as to divinity. Were 
1 to prosecute that study, I could not with a 
clear conscience declare, as I am told every 
minister at his ordination is obliged to do, that 
my sole motive for assuming the sacred office 
was purely to advance the glory of God, and to 
promote the eternal interests of mankind. How 
amiable the principle 1 But, alas ! the highest 
stretch of vanity, and the most enthusiastic self- 
approbation, will never be able to make me 
dream that I am possessed of such a God-like 
heart. The converse of this idea is shocking and 
nauseous ; therefore let me speedily banish it. 
Besides, bating all scruples of this nature, sup- 
posing I had got a charge, read Pictet, com- 
menced preacher, held forth in all the pulpits in 
Edinburgh, and ten miles round ; at last shut up 
in a country cloister with L.60 or L.70 a-year, 
excluded from all rational converse with man- 
kind — I mean the ingenious part of the species 
— afraid to speak my genuine sentiments of men 
and things, and, to crown all, perhaps hated by 
nine-tenths of the parish — I put the case to your- 
self, — ■ What satisfaction, what pleasure, what 
