PREFACE.

THE three Memoirs contained in this Volume were written in compliance with a practice, which, after the example of some foreign Academies, the founders of the Royal Society of Edinburgh were anxious to introduce at the time of its first establishment. In forming this design, they indulged the hope of being able, not only to preserve, in their Transactions such notices with respect to the lives of their more distinguished Colleagues as might be of use to future Biographers, but to record, while facts were yet recent, and recollections lively, the impressions which their characters and manners had left on the memory of their surviving friends. A portrait executed in these circumstances might, they thought, even if it should exhibit nothing but a faithful outline, prevent, at a more distant period, those misconceptions both of men and of things, which are the natural consequences of oral tradition.

In this light-of Academical Contributions-and in this light alone, I should wish the following Essays to be considered by my readers. They are not meant to supersede a more detailed account of the eminent men to whom they relate, when any other person shall choose afterwards to resume the same portions of the literary History of Scotland; far less to interfere with the province of those who delight in gleaning the anecdotes and memorable sayings ascribed to distinguished characters. In the first and third Memoirs, indeed, I believe that I have nearly exhausted all the authentic information which it was possible to collect; and in these, accordingly,—as the few incidents, which diversify a philosopher's life, derive

VOL. X.

A

their whole interest from the light they throw on the history of his studies, and on the progress of his mind,-I have been induced to connect with the slender thread of my narration a variety of speculative discussions and illustrations, for the length of which, I trust, that my anxiety to do justice to the memory of the dead will be a sufficient apology. With respect to Dr. Robertson, whose personal habits, as well as official station, engaged him in more extensive connexions with the world, and whose favourite pursuits directed his attention to researches very different from those which have employed my life,-an ample field still remains to reward the labours both of the biographer and of the critic. I should be happy to see such a task undertaken by a competent hand; and have done something to facilitate its execution, by the original letters from Mr. Hume and others, which I have printed in the Appendix.

The additions which have occurred to me in revising my papers for the present publication are inclosed within brackets,* to prevent any confusion that might arise from a difference of dates. The whole of these additions are confined to the Notes; the Text remaining (with the exception of some trifling verbal corrections) in its original state. The Notes annexed to the Life of Mr. Smith being entirely new, I have not thought it necessary to distinguish them by any typographical mark. It is sufficient for me to mention, in this place, that they were written in the year 1810.

* [The present manuscript insertions of the Author are, besides the square brackets, further marked out by the

words, Author's last addition; whilst the Notes of the Editor are here sufficiently distinguished by an asterisk, &c.]

ACCOUNT

OF

THE LIFE AND WRITINGS

OF

ADAM SMITH LL.D.

FROM THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH.

[READ BY MR. STEWART, JANUARY 21, AND MARCH 18, 1793.]

ACCOUNT

OF

THE LIFE AND WRITINGS

OF

ADAM SMITH, LL.D.

SECTION I.

FROM MR. SMITH'S BIRTH TILL THE PUBLICATION OF THE

THEORY OF MORAL SENTIMENTS.

ADAM SMITH, author of the Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, was the son of Adam Smith, comptroller of the customs at Kirkaldy,1 and of Margaret Douglas, daughter of Mr. Douglas of Strathenry. He was the only child of the marriage, and was born at Kirkaldy on the 5th of June 1723, a few months after the death of his father.

His constitution during infancy was infirm and sickly, and required all the tender solicitude of his surviving parent. She was blamed for treating him with an unlimited indulgence;

1 Mr. Smith, the father, was a native of Aberdeenshire, and, in the earlier part of his life, practised at Edinburgh as a Writer to the Signet. He was afterwards Private Secretary to the Earl of Loudoun, (during the time he held the offices of Principal Secretary of State for Scotland, and of Keeper of the Great Seal,) and continued in this situation till 1713 or 1714, when he was appointed Comptroller of the Cus

toms at Kirkaldy. He was also Clerk to the Courts-martial and Councils of War for Scotland; an office which he held from 1707 till his death. As it is now seventy years since he died, the accounts I have received of him are very imperfect; but, from the particulars already mentioned, it may be presumed, that he was a man of more than common abilities.