ThefameofAdamSmithrestssodeservedlyonhisgreatwork，theWealthofNations，thatthefactisapttobelostsightof，thatlongbeforehedistinguishedhimselfasapoliticaleconomisthehadgainedareputation，notconfinedtohisowncountry，byhisspeculationsinmoralphilosophy。
TheTheoryofMoralSentimentswasfirstpublishedin1759，whenitsauthorwasthirty-six；theWealthofNationsin1776，whenhewasfifty-three。Thesuccessofthelattersooneclipsedthatofhisfirstwork，butthewidecelebritywhichsoonattendedtheformerisattestedbythefactofthesortofcompetitionthatensuedfortranslatingitintoFrench。Rochefoucauld，grandsonofthefamousauthoroftheMaxims，gotsofarinatranslationofitastheendofthefirstPart，whenacompletetranslationbytheAbbé；Blavetcompelledhimtorenouncethecontinuanceofhiswork。TheAbbé；MorelletsoconspicuousafigureintheFrenchliteratureofthatperiodspeaksofhimselfinhisMemoirsashavingbeenimpressedbyAdamSmith\'sTheorywithagreatideaofitsauthor\'swisdomanddepthofthought。
Thepublicationofthesetwobooks，theonlywritingspublishedbytheirauthorinhislifetime，arestrictlyspeakingtheonlyepisodeswhichformanythinglikelandmarksinAdamSmith\'scareer。Thesixty-sevenyearsofhislife1723-90wereinotherrespectsstrangelydestituteofwhatarecalled\"events；\"andbeyondtheadventureofhischildhood，whenhewascarriedawaybygipsiesbutsoonrescued，nothingextraordinaryeveroccurredtoruffletheevensurfaceofhisexistence。
If，therefore，thehappinessofanindividual，likethatofanation，maybetakentovaryinverselywiththematerialsaffordedbythemtothebiographerorthehistorian，AdamSmithmaybeconsideredtohaveattainednomeandegreeofhumanfelicity。Fromhisidealoflife，politicalambitionandgreatnesswerealtogetherexcluded；itwashiscreedthathappinesswasequalineverylot，andthatcontentmentalonewasnecessarytoensureit。\"What，\"heasks，\"canbeaddedtothehappinessofthemanwhoisinhealth，whoisoutofdebt，andhasaclearconscience？\"
Tothissimplestandard，circumstancesassistedhimtomouldhislife。
Hishealth，delicateinhisearlyyears，becamestrongerwithage；necessitynevercompelledhimtoseekacompetenceinuncongenialpursuits；nordidatranquillifeoflearningevertempthimintopathsatvariancewiththelawsofhismoralbeingorhiscountry。InseveralpassagesofhisMoralSentiments，itwillappearthathetooknopainstoconcealhispreferencefortheoldEpicureantheoryoflife，thatineaseofbodyandpeaceofmindconsistshappiness，thegoalofalldesire。
Butthecharmofsuchaformulaoflifeisperhapsmoreobviousthanitsrenderingintoanactualstateofexistence。Easeofbodydoesnotalwayscomeforthewishing；andpeaceofmindoftenliesstillfurtherfromcommand。Theadvantageoftheformulais，thatitsetsbeforeusadefiniteaim，andaffordsusatanytimeameasureofthehappinessweenjoyorofthatweseearoundus。Judgedbythisstandard，however，theconclusionmustbeanditisaconclusionfromwhichAdamSmithdoesnotshrinkthatthelotofabeggarmaybeequalinpointofhappinesstothatofaking。
TheresultofthisEpicureantheoryoflifeonAdamSmithwas，fortunatelyfortheworld，astrongpreferenceforthelifeoflearningandliteratureovertheprofessionalorpoliticallife。Heabjuredfromthefirstallanxietyfortheprizesheldoutbythevariousprofessionstocandidatesforwealthorreputation。ThoughsenttoBalliolatseventeenasaSnellexhibitioner，forthepurposeoffittinghimselfforserviceintheChurchofEngland，hepreferredsomuchthepeaceofhisownmindtothewishesofhisfriendsandrelations，that，whenheleftOxfordafteraresidenceofsevenyears，hedeclinedtoenterintotheecclesiasticalprofessionatall，andhereturnedtoScotlandwiththesoleandsimplehopeofobtainingthroughliteraturesomepostofmoderateprefermentmoresuitabletohisinclinations。
Fortuneseemstohavefavouredhiminmakingsuchacoursepossible，forafterleavingOxfordhespenttwoyearsathomewithhismotheratKirkaldy。HehadnottoencounterthedifficultieswhichcompelledHumetopractisefrugalityabroad，inordertopreservehisindependence。Hisfather，whohaddiedafewmonthsbeforehisbirth，hadbeenprivatesecretarytothePrincipalSecretaryofStateforScotland，andafterthatComptrolleroftheCustomsatKirkaldy。AdamSmithwas，moreover，anonlychild，andiftherewasnotwealthathome，therewasthecompetencewhichwasallhedesired。
Bythecircumstancesofhisbirth，hiseducation，likethatofDavidHume，devolvedinhisearlyyearsuponhismother，ofwhomonewouldgladlyknowmorethanhasbeenvouchsafedbyherson\'sbiographer。Sheissaidtohavebeenblamedforspoilinghim，butitispossiblethatwhatseemedtoherScotchneighboursexcessiveindulgencemeantnoveryexceptionaldegreeofkindness。Atallevents，thetreatmentsucceeded，norhadeveramotheramoredevotedson。Herdeath，whichdidnotlongprecedehisown，closedalifeofunremittedaffectiononbothsides，andwasthefirstandgreatestbereavementthatAdamSmitheverhadtomourn。Thesocietyofhismotherandherniece，MissDouglas，wholivedwiththem，wasallthatheeverknewoffamilylife；andwhenthesmallcirclebrokeup，asitdidatlastspeedilyandwithshortintervalsofsurvivalforthosewhoexperiencedthegriefofthefirstseparation，AdamSmithwaswell-advancedinyears。Hesurvivedhismotheronlysixyears，hiscousinabouttwo；
andhehadpassedsixtywhentheformerdied。
Itissaid，thatafteradisappointmentinearlylife，AdamSmithgaveupallthoughtsofmarriage；butifhethusfailedofthehappiestconditionoflife，itisequallytruethathewassparedthegreatestsorrowsofhumanexistence，andanumberofminortroublesandanxieties。Thedomesticeconomywasentirelyconductedbyhiscousin，andtothephilosopherisattributedwithmorethanusualjusticeallthatincapacityforthecommondetailsoflifewithwhichthepopularconceptionalwaysclothesascholar。
ItissaidthateventhefancyofaLaBruyè；rehasscarcelyimaginedinstancesofamorestrikingabsenceofmindthanmightbeactuallyquotedofhim；2andfromboyhoodupwardshehadthehabitoflaughingandtalkingtohimselfwhichsometimesledcasualobserverstoinferencesnottohiscredit。
DugaldStewart，whosesomewhatmeagrememoironAdamSmithisthechiefauthorityforallthatisknownofhislife，describeshimas\"certainlynotfittedforthegeneralcommerceoftheworldorforthebusinessofactivelife。\"Thesubjectofhisstudiesrenderedhim\"habituallyinattentivetofamiliarobjectsandtocommonoccurrences。\"Evenincompany，hewasapttobeengrossedwithhisstudies，andwouldseem，bythemotionofhislipsaswellasbyhislooksandgestures，tobeinallthefervourofcomposition。Inconversation\"hewasscarcelyeverknowntostartatopichimself，\"andifhedidsucceedinfallinginwiththecommondialogueofconversation，\"hewassomewhatapttoconveyhisownideasintheformofalecture。\"Notwithstandingthesedefects，wearetoldof\"thesplendourofhisconversation，\"andoftheinexhaustiblenoveltyandvarietywhichbelongedtoit，byreasonofhisreadyadaptationoffancifultheoriestoallthecommontopicsofdiscourse。
Ofhisearlyyearsoftenthemostinterestingofany，asindicativeoffuturecharactersingularlylittleremainsknown。SomeofthosewhowerethecompanionsofhisfirstschoolyearsatKirkaldy，andwhoremainedhisfriendsforlife，haveattestedthepassionheeventhenhadforbooksand\"theextraordinarypowersofhismemory。\"
AttheageoffourteenhewassenttotheUniversityofGlasgow，wherehisfavouritestudiesweremathematicsandnaturalsciences，andwhereheattendedthelecturesofDr。Hutcheson，whohasbeencalled\"thefatherofspeculativephilosophyinScotlandinmoderntimes，\"andwhosetheoryoftheMoralSensehadsomuchinfluenceonAdamSmith\'sownlaterethicalspeculations。
Beyondthisreferencetohisstudies，nothingistoldofAdamSmith\'sthreeyearsatGlasgow。Hiswholeyouthisinfactablankforhisbiographer。
Wehearofnoprizes，nodistinctions，nofriendships，noadventures，noeccentricitiesofanykind。NorisitmuchbetterwithregardtohiscareeratOxford，towhichhewassentbytheUniversityofGlasgowattheageofseventeen。Onlyoneanecdoteremains，ofverydoubtfultruth，andnotmentionedbyDugaldStewart，totheeffectthatheonceincurredrebukefromthecollegeauthoritiesofBalliolforhavingbeendetectedinhisroomsreadingHume\'sTreatiseonHumanNature。Thestoryisworthmentioning，ifonlyasanindicationoftheprevalentideaofAdamSmith\'sbentofmindinhisundergraduatedays；andthosewho，inspiteofexperience，stillholdtothetheory，thatatthebottomofeverystorysometruthmustlie，maygatherfromthisone，thatevenatcollegethefuturefriendofthehistorianwasattractedbytheboldscepticismwhichdistinguishedhisphilosophy。
ItwasperhapsbyreasonofthisattractionthatattheendofsevenyearsatOxfordAdamSmithdeclinedtotakeorders。LeavingOxford，whichformostmenmeansanentirechangeoflife，meantforhimsimplyachangeinthesceneofhisstudies；atransferofthemfromoneplacetoanother。
Languages，literature，andhistory，could，hefound，bestudiedaswellatKirkaldyasatthechiefseatoflearninginEngland。ToOxford，sodifferentinmostcollegesnowfromwhatitwasinthosedays，heseemsnevertohaveexpressedorfeltthegratitudewhichthroughlifeattachedhimtoGlasgow；andhisimpressionsoftheEnglishuniversityhavebeenimmortalizedbyhiminnoflatteringtermsinwhathehassaidofitinhisWealthofNations。
Afternearlytwoyearsspentathome，AdamSmithremovedtoEdinburgh，where，underthepatronageofLordKames，sowellknowninconnexionwiththeScotchliteratureofthelastcentury，hedeliveredlecturesonrhetoricandbelleslettres；andthesamesubjectformedthegreaterpartofhislecturesasProfessorofLogicatGlasgow，towhichposthewaselectedin1751，attheageoftwenty-eight。ThenextyearhewaschosenProfessorofMoralPhilosophyatthesameuniversity；andtheperiodofthirteenyears，duringwhichheheldthissituation，heeverregardedasthemostusefulandhappyofhislife。
OfhislecturesatGlasgowonlysomuchhasbeenpreservedashepublishedintheMoralSentimentsandWealthofNationsrespectively。
Hedividedhiscourseintofourparts，thefirstrelatingtoNaturalTheology，thesecondtoEthics，thethirdtothesubjectofJusticeandthegrowthofJurisprudence，thefourthtoPolitics。UnderthelatterheadhedealtwiththepoliticalinstitutionsrelatingtocommerceandallthesubjectswhichenterintohismaturerworkontheNatureandCausesoftheWealthofNations；whilstunderthesecondhead，heexpoundedthedoctrineswhichheafterwardspublishedintheMoralSentiments。OnthesubjectofJustice，itwashisintentiontowriteasystemofnaturaljurisprudence，\"oratheoryofthegeneralprincipleswhichoughttorunthroughandbethefoundationofthelawsofallnations。\"ItwastohavebeenanimprovementontheworkofGrotiusonthesamesubject，andtheTheoryofMoralSentimentsconcludeswithapromisewhich，unfortunately，wasneverfulfilled。\"Ishall，\"hesays，\"inanotherdiscourse，endeavourtogiveanaccountofthegeneralprinciplesoflawandgovernment，andofthedifferentrevolutionstheyhaveundergoneinthe
differentagesandperiodsofsociety，notonlyinwhatconcernsjustice，butinwhatconcernspolice，revenue，andarms，andwhateverelseistheobjectoflaw。Ishallnot，therefore，atpresent，enterintoanyfurtherdetailsconcerningthehistoryofjurisprudence。3
OneofAdamSmith\'sownpupils，andafterwardsforlifeoneofhismostintimatefriends，Dr。Millar，professoroflawatGlasgow，andauthorofanexcellentworkontheOriginofRanks，hasleftagraphicdescriptionofthegreatsuccesswhichattendedtheselecturesatGlasgow。\"TherewasnosituationinwhichtheabilitiesofMr。Smithappearedtogreateradvantagethanasaprofessor……hisreputationasaprofessorwasaccordinglyraisedvcryhigh，andamultitudeofstudentsfromagreatdistanceresortedtotheUniversity，merelyuponhisaccount。Thosebranchesofsciencewhichhetaughtbecamefashionableatthisplace，andhisopinionswerethechieftopicofdiscussioninclubsandliterarysocieties。Eventhesmallpeculiaritiesinhispronunciationormannerofspeaking，becamefrequentlytheobjectsofimitation。\"
ItseemstohavebeenduringtheearlyyearsofhisprofessorshipatGlasgowthatAdamSmithformedthatfriendshipwithDavidHumewhichformssopleasingafeatureinthelifeofbothofthem，andissomemorableinthehistoryofliteraryattachments。Therewassufficientsamenessinthefundamentalcharacteristicsandopinionsofeachofthem，togetherwithsufficientdifferencesonminorpoints，toensurethepermanenceoftheirmutualaffection。Bothtookthesameinterestinquestionsofmoralphilosophyandpoliticaleconomy；bothhadacertainsimplicityandgentlenessofcharacter；bothheldthesameideasoftherelationofnaturaltorevealedreligion。
AletterwrittenbyHumetohisfriendin1759，ontheoccasionofthepublicationofhisMoralSentiments，isofinterest，notonlyascharacteristicofthefriendshipbetweenthem，butasindicativeofthegoodreceptionwhichthebookimmediatelymetwithfromallpersonscompetenttojudgeofit。TheletterisdatedApril12，1759。
\"IgiveyouthanksfortheagreeablepresentofyourTheory。
WedderburneandImadepresentsofourcopiestosuchofouracquaintancesaswethoughtgoodjudges，andpropertospreadthereputationofthebook。
IsentonetotheDukeofArgyll，toLordLyttleton，HoraceWalpole，SoameJennyns，andBurke，anIrishgentleman，whowrotelatelyaveryprettytreatiseontheSublime。MillardesiredmypermissiontosendoneinyournametoDr。Warburton。IhavedelayedwritingtillIcouldtellyousomethingofthesuccessofthebook，andcouldprognosticate，withsomeprobability，whetheritshouldbefinallydamnedtooblivion，orshouldberegisteredinthetempleofimmortality。Thoughithasbeenpublishedonlyafewweeks，Ithinkthereappearalreadysuchstrongsymptoms，thatIcanalmostventuretoforetellitsfate……IamafraidofLordKames\'sLawTracts。
AmanmightaswellthinkofmakingafinesaucebyamixtureofwormwoodandaloesasanagreeablecompositionbyjoiningmetaphysicsandScotchlaw……IbelieveIhavementionedtoyoualreadyHelvetius\'sbookdel\'Esprit。Itisworthyourreading，notforitsphilosophy，whichI
donothighlyvalue，butforitsagreeablecomposition。Ihadaletterfromhimafewdaysagowhereinhetellsmethatmynamewasmuchoftenerinthemanuscript，butthatthecensorofbooksatParisobligedhimtostrikeitout……Butwhatisallthistomybook？sayyou。MydearMr。
Smith，havepatience:composeyourselftotranquillity；showyourselfaphilosopherinpracticeaswellasprofession；thinkontheemptiness，andrashness，andfutilityofthecommonjudgmentofmen；howlittletheyareregulatedbyreasoninanysubject，muchmoreinphilosophicalsubjects，whichsofarexceedthecomprehensionofthevulgar……Awiseman\'skingdomishisownbreast；or，ifheeverlooksfarther，itwillonlybetothejudgmentofaselectfew，whoarefreefromprejudicesandcapableofexamininghiswork。Nothingindeedcanbeastrongerpresumptionoffalsehoodthantheapprobationofthemultitude；andPhocion，youknow，alwayssuspectedhimselfofsomeblunderwhenhewasattendedwiththeapplausesofthepopulace。
\"Supposing，therefore，thatyouhavedulypreparedyourselffortheworstbyallthesereflections，Iproceedtotellyouthemelancholynews，thatyourbookhasbeenveryunfortunate，forthepublicseemdisposedtoapplauditextremely。Itwaslookedforbythefoolishpeoplewithsomeimpatience；andthemobofliteratiarebeginningalreadytobeveryloudinitspraises。ThreebishopscalledyesterdayatMillar\'sshopinordertobuycopiesandtoaskquestionsaboutitsauthor。TheBishopofPeterboroughsaidhehadpassedtheeveninginacompanywherehehearditextolledaboveallbooksintheworld。TheDukeofArgyllismoredecisivethanheusestobeinitsfavour。IsupposeheeitherconsidersitanexoticorthinkstheauthorwillbeserviceabletohimintheGlasgowelections。
LordLyttletonsaysthatRobertson，andSmith，andBowerarethegloriesofEnglishliterature。Oswaldprotestshedoesnotknowwhetherhehasreapedmoreinstructionorentertainmentfromit。Butyoumayeasilyjudgewhatreliancecanbeplacedonhisjudgmentwhohasbeenengagedallhislifeinpublicbusiness，andwhoneverseesanyfaultsinhisfriends。
Millarexultsandbragsthattwo-thirdsoftheeditionarealreadysold，andthatitissureofsuccess。Youseewhatasonofearththatis，tovaluebooksonlybytheprofittheybringhim。Inthatview，Ibelieve，itmayproveaverygoodbook。
\"CharlesTownsend，whopassesforthecleverestfellowinEngland，issotakenwiththeperformancethathesaidtoOswaldhewouldputtheDukeofBuccleuchundertheauthor\'scare，andwouldmakeitworthhiswhiletoacceptofthatcharge。AssoonasIheardthisIcalledonhimtwice，withaviewoftalkingwithhimaboutthematter，andofconvincinghimoftheproprietyofsendingthatyoungnoblemantoGlasgow；forIcouldnothopethathecouldofferyouanytermswhichwouldtemptyoutorenounceyourprofessorship。ButImissedhim……
\"Inrecompenseforsomanymortifyingthings，whichnothingbuttruthcouldhaveextortedfromme，andwhichIcouldeasilyhavemultipliedtoagreaternumber，IdoubtnotbutyouaresogoodaChristianastoreturngoodforevil；andtoflattermyvanitybytellingmethatallthegodlyinScotlandabusemeformyaccountofJohnKnoxandtheReformation，\"
etc。
TheinvitationreferredtobyHumeinthislettertotravelwiththeDukeofBuecleuchcameinaboutfouryearstime；andtheliberaltermsinwhichtheproposalwasmade，togetherwiththestrongtemptationtotravel，ledtoafinalresignationoftheGlasgowprofessorship。
Buthereagaincuriosityisdoomedtodisappointment；forAdamSmithwrotenojournalofhistravelsabroad，andhehadsuchanaversiontoletter-writingthatnorecordsofthissortpreservehisimpressionsofforeignlife。4Scarcelymorethanthebareoutlineofhisrouteisknown。SometwoweeksatPariswerefollowedbyeighteenmonthsatToulouse。ThenatourintheSouthofFrancewasfollowedbytwomonthsatGeneva；andfromChristmas，1765，tothefollowingOctoberthetravellerswereinParis，thislatterperiodbeingtheonlyoneofanygeneralinterest，onaccountoftheillustriousacquaintanceswhichtheintroductionsofHumeenabledAdamSmithtomakeintheFrenchcapital。
DuringthisperiodAdamSmithbecameacquaintedwiththechiefmenoflettersandphilosophersofParis，suchasD\'Alemhert，Helvetius，Marmontel，Morellet；anditistoberegrettedthatMorellet，whomentionsthefactofconversationsbetweenhimself，Turgot，andAdamSmith，onsubjectsofpoliticaleconomyandonseveralpointsconnectedwiththegreatworkthencontemplatedbythelatter，shouldhavegivenusnocluetotheinfluenceTurgotmayhavehadinsuggestingorconfirmingtheideaoffreetrade。
Thattheintercoursebetweenthembecameintimatemayatleastbeinferredfromtheunverifiedstoryoftheirsubsequentliterarycorrespondence；
andtoQuesnai，theeconomist，itisknownthatAdamSmithintended，butforthedeathoftheformer，tohavededicatedhisWealthofNations。
`WithMorellet，too，AdamSmithseemstohavebeenintimate。Theabbé；
recordsinhisMemoirsthathekeptfortwentyyearsapocket-bookpresentedtohimasakeepsakebyAdamSmith。ThelattersenthimalsoacopyoftheWealthofNationstenyearslater，whichMorellet，withhisusualzealfortranslating，settoworkuponatonce。TheAbbé；Blavet，however，wasagainthefirstinthefield，sothatMorelletcouldnotfindapublisher。ItisworthnoticingthatMorelletmentionsthefactthatAdamSmithspokeFrenchverybadly，whichisnottheleastinconsistentwithhisbiographer\'sclaimforhimofan\"uncommonlyextensiveandaccurateknowledge\"ofmodernlanguages。
Thedukeandthephilosopher，havinglaidintheircompanionshipabroadthefoundationofafriendshipwhichlastedtillthedeathofthelatter，returnedtoLondoninOctober，1766。ThenexttenyearsofhislifeAdamSmithspent
athomewithhismotherandcousin，preparingtheworkonwhichhisfamenowchieflyrests。Itwasaperiodofquietuneventfulstudy，andalmostsolitude。WritingtoHume，hesaysthathischiefamusementsarelongandsolitarywalksbythesea，andthatheneverfeltmorehappy，comfortable，orcontented，inhislife。HumemadevainendeavourstotempthimtoEdinburghfromhisretirement。\"Iwant，\"hesaid，\"toknowwhatyouhavebeendoing，andproposetoexactarigorousaccountofthemethodinwhichyouhaveemployedyourselfduringyourretreat。Iampositiveyouarewronginmanyofyourspeculations，especiallywhereyouhavethemisfortunetodifferfromme。Allthesearereasonsforourmeeting。\"
Thiswasin1769。Sevenyearslater，1776，theWealthofNationsappeared，andHume，whowasthendying，againwrotehisfriendacongratulatoryletter。\"Euge!Belle!Iammuchpleasedwithyourperformance，andtheperusalofithastakenmefromagreatstateofanxiety。Itwasaworkofsomuchexpectation，byyourself，byyourfriends，andbythepublic，thatItrembledforitsappearance；butamnowmuchrelieved。Notbutthatthereadingofitnecessarilyrequiressomuchattention，thatIshallstilldoubtforsometimeofitsbeingatfirstverypopular。Butithasdepthandsolidity，andacuteness，andissomuchillustratedbycuriousfacts，thatitmust，atlast，takethepublicattention。ItisprobablymuchimprovedbyyourlastabodeinLondon。Ifyouwerehere，atmyfireside，Ishoulddisputesomeofyourprinciples……Butthese，andahundredotherpoints，arefitonlytobediscussedinconversation。
Ihopeitwillbesoon，forIaminaverybadstateofhealth，andcannotaffordalongdelay。\"
Thisletterseemstohaveledtoameetingbetweenthetwofriends，thelastbeforethesadfinalseparation。OfthecheerfulnesswithwhichHumemethisdeath，AdamSmithwroteanaccountinaletteraddressedtoStrahan，thepublisher，andappendedtoHume\'sautobiography，tellinghowHume，inreferencetohisapproachingdeparture，imaginedaconversationbetweenhimselfandCharon，andhowhecontinuedtocorrecthisworksforanewedition，toreadbooksofamusement，toconverse，orsometimesplayatwhistwithhisfriends。Healsoextolled\"Hume\'sextremegentlenessofnature，whichneverweakenedthefirmnessofhismindnorthesteadinessofhisresolutions；hisconstantpleasantryandgoodhumour；hissevereapplicationtostudy，hisextensivelearning，hisdepthofThought。\"Hethoughtthathistemperwasmoreevenlybalancedthaninanyothermanheeverknew；andthat，howevermuchdifferenceofopiniontheremightbeamongmenastohisphilosophicalideas，accordingastheyhappenedornottocoincidewiththeirown，therecouldscarcelybeanyconcerninghis
characterandconduct。\"Uponthewhole，\"heconcluded，\"Ihavealwaysconsideredhim，bothinhislifetimeandsincehisdeath，asapproachingasnearlytotheideaofaperfectlywiseandvirtuousmanasperhapsthenatureofhumanfrailtywillpermit。\"
ConsideringthatHumecountedamonghisfriendssuchchurchmenasRobertsonthehistorian，andBlair，authoroftheSermons，AdamSmith\'sconfidentbeliefintheuniformityofjudgmentabouthisfriend\'scharacterneednotappearunreasonable；but，unfortunately，adignitaryoftheChurch，authorofaCommentaryonthePsalms，andafterwardsBishopofNorwich，chosetoconsiderthelettertoStrahanamanifestoagainstChristianity，andaccordinglypublishedanonymouslyalettertoAdamSmith，purportingtobewritten\"byoneofthepeoplecalledChristians。\"Thewriterclaimedtohaveinhiscompositionalargeproportionofthemilkofhumankindness；
tobenobigotnorenemytohumanlearning；andnevertohaveknownthemeaningofenvyorhatred。Strangethenthat，attheageofforty-six，Dr。Homeshouldhavebeenguiltyofaletter，whichitwouldbedifficulttomatchforinjusticeofinference，orcontemptibilityofstyle，andwhichheeventhoughtfittoleavetoposterityamonghisotherpublishedworks。
Hebegins:\"Youhavebeenlatelyemployedinembalmingaphilosopher；hisbody，IbelieveImustsay，forconcerningtheotherpartofhisnatureneitheryounorheseemtohaveentertainedanidea，sleepingorwaking。Elseitsurelymighthaveclaimedalittleofyourcareandattention；
andonewouldthinkthebeliefofthesoul\'sexistenceandimmortalitycoulddonoharm，ifitdidnogood，inaTheoryofMoralSentiments。