M M.! iMili^ i V.S^,« y\r^ < ^\*-fc * >. :^.^^ Lt) 9^5nnS/n fz n ("?v<'/ 9*ub/r.^jli'tf (',r':/A"/('. /lY .7<'///i .l//rf> rs<^//.'fiorA-se7/(r^EfiTTibi(rff?i . MEMOIRS ' 1 ■» 3 -» 3 J 1 > ■> 3 1 3 ■) ■ OF THE , ) ' 1 > > , T 1 ill , ,' ) ) 1 , n LIFE, WRITINGS, & CORRESPONDENCE OF WILLIAM SMELLIE, F.R.S. & F.A. S. LATE PRINTER IN EDINBURGH, SECRETARY AND SUPERINTENDANT OF NATURAL HISTORY TO THE SOCIETY OF SCOTISH ANTIQUARIES, &C, By ROBERT KERR, E. R. S. & F.A.S. Ed. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOLU.ME FIRST. EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR JOHN ANDERSON ; AND XONGMAN, HURST, pEES, OK ME, & BROWN, LONDON. Alex. Smcllie, Printer. 1811. r ««< * c'c '.I r r • • « « • • • • • « • • •• • ,' • « < • • • • •■ « « « •• « • • • T e • r TO THE MEMORY "O 12 OF THE HOXOURABLE HENRY HOME, OF KAMES AXD BLAlR-PRUilMOXD, LORD KAMES, OXE OF THE SEXATORS OF THE COLLEGE OF JUSTICE, AND ONE OF THE COMMISSIOXERS OF JUSTI- CIARY IX" SCOTLAXD : A most aorthj, learned, a?hl upright J vbge, a?t enlightened Philosopher, and a most respectable and intelligent Couxtry Gextlemax; icith n-hose friendship ^Ir Smellie icas long honoured, and to xvhose early and steadily continued patronage, he i^ (rued material oblioation: J/ze^e Memoirs are in- ^ scribed as a testimony of indelible gratitude from Alexander Smellie, to the illustrious friend and S benefactor of his father ; and as a mark of high •5 respect Jor his Lordships character and talents. by THE AUTHOP^ MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE, WRITINGS, AND CORRESPONDENCE OF WILLIAM SMELLIE. 1 HE LIFE even of an eminent printer may scarcely appear of sufficient importance for biography, as by many persons his whole time and talents may be considered as occupied in correcting the proof-sheets of the literary pro- ductions of other men. But Mr Smellie was not only the most learned printer of his day, and the most eminent of his profes- sion in the capital of Scotland ; he was like- wise an author of no ordinary genius and talent, and contributed not inconsiderably to the extent and celebrity of Scots literature. Besides his own acknowledged original com- Vol. I, A c ' rt t 3IEM0IRS OF c e f ' e t positions and translations, many learned and ingenious Scots authors had the good fortune to have their works critically examined by him in their passage through the press, and the candour to acquiesce in his liberal and ju- dicious corrections. Almost from his boyish days some works of sterling merit, which still liold a distinguished place in public estima- tion, were materially indebted to his cor- rect taste and critical skill, for improve- ments in their language, arrangement, and reasoning ; and in his more mature years, few works of importance were printed at Edinburgh without having been submitted to his consideration. Of this position a strong confirmation is afforded in the following extract of a letter from a respectable and worthy clergyman of the Church of Scotland, who was several years corrector to the late Mr Smellie, and made this communication to his son and successor in June 1810, " I REMEMBER that, about the year 1771, ** a Mr P. Wilson published something in La- •* tin about the inequalities observable on the ** moons surface ; and I perfectly recollect *' that this j)aj)er passed through Mr Sjmel- ** LIES hands, and liave reason to beheve WILLIAM SMELLIE. 3 ** that his criticisms were of material use. *' The paper did I\Ir Wilson much credit ; " and he ohtained a premium from some fo- " reign literary society. " Mr Smellik was often consulted upon *' literary subjects; and his thorough know- *' ledge of the structure and composition " of the Eno'Hsh lanu:uao:e, i^i^ined him the " esteem and friendship of all the learned " men in and about Edinburgh. The late •' Lord Ka.mes had nuich confidence in his " critical acumen, and consulted him upon " many occasions. " The fu'st volume of Sir Joiix Dal- *' RY3IPLES Memoirs was jirinted when I " was about vour fathers hands ; and I re- " member well to have heard Sir John ex- *' press his obligations to Mr Smellie ; add- *' ing, at the same time, that Principal Ro- " BKRTSox, David Hume, Dr Blair, and Dr *' Ada3i S.MiTH, had all read his manuscript, *• but that he had derived ten times more " advantaire from vour fiithers observations, " than from all the above conjoined : And ** there was a bond of union formed, that I ** believe was never broken. A 2 4 MEMOIRS OF " Dr CuLLEN and Dr Hope, and the late " Professor Robertson, had much literary *' intercourse with Mr Smellie. Indeed all " the literary people in and about town, while " I was with him, were his daily companions. " I used sometimes to think he had too many " associates of that description ; for it threw " too great a load of the business of the house " on my shoulders." A GREAT proportion of this biographical work will necessarily consist of anecdotes re- lative to the literature of Scotland ; in which Mr Smellie held either a direct connexion as an author, a translator, or a compiler, of distinguished eminence ; or as conjoined with others in what may be called copartnership literary speculations and adventures ; or indi- rectly, in the way already indicated, as aid- ing, by his judicious and almost instinctive critical skill, to ameliorate the style, lan- guage, and arrangement, and even the rea- sonings of other writers. Of all these, so far as warranted by authentic documents, an ample and impartial account will be given in this work : Yet, in detailing the last of these departments of his literary labours, pru- dent delicacy in regard to the feelings of WILLIAM SMELLIE. ^ others has induced the suppression of many prominent circumstances, which could have been sufficiently authenticated by unques tionable evidence. Mr Smell IE repeatedly expressed to his eldest son, the present Mr Alexander Smellie, his intention of drawing up an account of his own life and writings. From his acknowledged candour and well known abilities, this must surely have proved an interesting and instructive work ; as it would unquestionably have contained nume- rous and authentic anecdotes of the many learned and respectable men with whom he was acquainted and connected. Consider- ing the frequent advertence to this subject in the light of a testamentary wish, his son and successor has always been anxious to have this intention supplied, by the publica- tion of a life of his honoured father. To his earnest representations the present attempt owes its origin ; and by the partiality of his friendship, the author has been induced to undertake the task ; for the performance of which, the younger Mr Smellie placed a vast mass of papers in his hands, by means A3 6 MEMOIRS OP of which this work has been selected, ar- ranged, and compiled with much care. In confirmation of the authenticity of the materials employed in the composition of this work, the author received along with these materials the following letter from his friend Mr Alexander Smellie, Printer in Edin- burgh, and Secretary to the Society of An- tiquaries of Scotland ; who has likewise been consulted on a great number of circumstan- ces in the course of its composition, and has deliberately and often examined and com- pared every part of it, both in manuscript and while passing through the press. To Mr Robert Kerr. " D E A R S I R, Edinhurgh, March 17- 1810. " In consequence of the conversation I had " with you some time ago, I have drawn up " some facts and circumstances respecting " the life of my father. From a carelessness " which he had about every thing he wrote, *' the materials I send you are unfortunate- " ly much interrupted. This has often been WILLIAM SMELLIE. " the cause of regret to me, as a full ** account of his life, writings, ' and corre- " spondence, would have furnished a com- " plete history of the literature of Scotland ** during his time. Besides his intimacy " with almost every eminent literary charac- " ter of this country during that period, it is " perfectly well known that many publications '* of great merit were considerably improved " by him, not merely as a servile corrector *' of the press, but by critical revisal, and ma- " terial amendment of language, argument, *' and arrangement. " Some books of great interest were in " reality all written over again by him, and ** others were very materially altered by his " hand, or pursuant to his suggestions. One " book on Medicine of almost unexampled sale, *' and which has gone through a vast number " of editions, was entirely re-written by him " before going to press. For a considerable " period, no less than six thousand copies *' of that book were sold yearly. Many " other works were revised and amended by " him, of which you will fmd ample proofs in " the facts and correspondence with which I ' now furnish you, and which I have set down A 4 8 MEMOIRS OF ** and copied, for your use, just as they oc- " curred, without any regard to arrangement. "Besides the letters and other papers which I transmit for your assistance, I regret ex- ceedingly to say, that I saw a vast mass of curious letters burnt, which had passed be- tween my father and Lord Kames, Lord Hailes, Lord Elibank, David Hume, Dr Gilbert Stewart, the Count de Buffon, Dr Blacklock, Robert Burns, and many other eminent men. This happened when my father was assorting some papers in an old desk, not long before his death ; and I was then too young to be fully aware of their value, or to be anxious to rescue them from destruction ; although I have often perused many of them. I send you what remains ; and, as many of the originals are decayed and torn, I have transcrib- ed most of them for your more ready use. You may absolutely depend upon the authenticity ajid accuracy of the whole materials ; and I leave to your prudence and discretion to suppress whatever you may deem improper for publication. I am, &c. ^^ Alex. Smellie." WILLIAM SMELLIE. 9 Since writing the foregoing letter, Mr Alexander Smellie has recovered a very considerable mass of additional materials, principally consisting of letters which had passed between his father and many respect- able characters of his time ; all of which have been likewise used in drawing up these Memoirs. Owing to the nature of many of Mr Smellies letters, often copies without dates, and many of the originals having no date of the years in which they were written, the arrangement of this work has necessarily be- come more defective in regard to chronolo- gical order than was to have been desired. Many of these documents, likewise, either want dockets of the persons names to whom they were addressed, or are only un- certainly indicated by initial letters ; and even a good many of the originals are un- signed. This has occasioned a defect in some places, which could only have been sup- plied conjecturally, but which motives of de- licacy have prevented the indulgence of, lest the feelings of worthy persons might suffer injury. It might reasonably be expected, that a full account of the life, writings, and corres- 10 3IEM0IRS OF pondence of Mr Smellie, would comprise the literary history of the capital of Scot- land, from about the year 1760, when he first began to take an active share in the literature of his country, to the year 1795, in which he died. It unfortunately happens, however, that materials for executing so complete a history of Scots literature, as connected with the life of Mr Smellie, are not now to be procured. From the circum-. stances already mentioned, the documents upon which this work are founded are much interrupted : Yet such as these are, and it has been an invariable rule to advance no- thing in these Memoirs without authentic evidence, it is hoped that the following pages may be found not altogether unworthy of the persons and circumstances they are intended to commemorate, and to contain a consider- able assemblage of interesting, curious, and instructive information. The whole original documents on which the following Work is founded, shall be ar- ranged in a large volume, and deposited in the library of the Antiquarian Society of Scotland, as memorials of its authenticity. Every other paper, which has been deemed WILLIAM SMELLIE. II improper for insertion, is carefully destroy- ed ; because the son and the biographer of Mr Smellie are quite unambitious of gratify- ing the cravings of improper curiosity by the sacrifice of private feelings. Of the composition of this Work, it be- comes not the author to speak ; except that he has anxiously endeavoured to follow, hand passihus acquis^ some modern celebrated pub- lications of a similar nature, yet without pre- suming to any pretensions of having attain- ed to equality, far less to rivalry, with such excellent models of biographical composi- tion : He hopes, however, to have succeeded in erecting a not entirely inadequate monu^ ment to the memory of a regretted literary friend, and so far to have fulfilled the wishes of a living friend whom he much respects. W^iLLiAM Smellie, late printer in Edin- burgh, was born in the Pleasance, one of the suburbs of the city of Edinburgh. The pre- cise date of his birth cannot now be ascer- 12 MEMOIRS OF tained, either from the parish records of the time having been incorrectly kept, or because his father may have omitted to direct the registration, as he was a dissenter from the estabhshed church : But his eldest son dis- tinctly remembers to have heard his father mention, that he was born in 1740 ; a year the most remarkable of any in the recollection of the oldest persons now alive in Scotland for an extraordinary dearth, almost amounting to famine. Mr Smellie was the youngest son of Alex- ander Smellie, an eminent architect or master-builder and stone mason of Edin- burgh ; who appears to have been esteemed and respected among his brethren of the same profession, as he served the office of Deacon of the Masons in the united incor- porations of Marys Chapel. For the infor- mation of English readers, it may be neces- sary to explain, that the office of Deacon of an Incorporation in Edinburgh, is almost precisely similar with that of Master of a Company in the city of London : With this difference, however, that all the fourteen dea- cons of trades in Edinburgh are constituent members of the common council of that WILLIAM SMELLIE. 13 city. This council, including the Lord Pro- vost and other Magistrates, consists in all of thirty-three members ; by whom all the public concerns' of the city are managed, and to whom the election of the successive magis- trates and members of the town-council^ and of the representative in Parliament, ex- clusively belongs. His grandfather, William Smellie, was of the same profession, and was also in his day Deacon or Master of his trade or company. He likewise was of a religious disposition, and was one of the elders of the Tolbooth church of Edinburgh ; a species of lay assistants to the parish ministers in the church of Scotland, who still assist in the dis- pensation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and constitute with the minister a species of ecclesiastical court for superin- tending the morals of the parishioners, and for taking care of the parish poor. In those days the elders likewise assisted the ministers in visiting and praying with the sick, and in parochial examinations. About the commencement of the eiixhteenth century, it is said there were only three mas- 14 MEMOIRS OF ter masons in Edinburgh of such note as to be denominated architects. One of these was Mr Milne, the descendant of the archi- tect who built the sumptuous and elegant palace of Holyroodhouse, and the ancestor of him who devised and executed Blackfriars bridge, which the late illustrious Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh, Mr John Robison, used to dis- tinguish as the most scientifically perfect in its contrivance and execution of any existing in the world. The second was Mr Adaji, the father of the celebrated architect Mr Ro- bert Adam, who built the Adelphi and many magnificent edifices, and the grandfather of the present William Adam, Esq. of Blair- Adam in Kinross-shire, a learned and elo- quent English counsellor, and member of Parliament. Mr Willi a3i Smellie, the grandfather of the object of these Memoirs, was the third of these eminent Edinburgh builders. John Smellie, the older and only bro- ther of our Printer, was likewise bred a ma- son ; but seems never to have risen to any eminence or celebrity in his profession, and left no family behind him. Indeed it would WILLIAM SMELLIE. 15 rather appear that he had been of a thought- less and idle disposition ; as his brother Wil- liam was frequently under the necessity of giving him pecuniary assistance. Though bred to a mechanical profession, on the traditionary authority of the family, lianded down by his son William to the pre- sent Mr Alexander Smellie his grandson, Mr Alexander Smellie is stated to have been an excellent classical scholar. He was even a Latin poet of no contemptible talents ; and some of his productions in that line still remain. The Latin poem which his son, Mr William Smellie, considered as possessing the greatest merit, he used almost constant- ly to carry about with him in his waistcoat pocket ; and frequently exhibited it with much honest exultation among his literary compa- nions, as the composition of his father a stone mason, good humouredly challenging the best classical scholar among them to en- ter into fair competition. By frequent use it was at length worn to tatters, and became quite illegible. On the same authority, we are inform- ed, that Mr Alexander Smellie w^as a 16 MEMOIRS OF very religious member of that sect of Pres-^ byterians which is termed Cameronians ; who had strenuously adhered to the Presby- terian form and doctrines under the most trying circumstances, and to the Solemn League and Covenant after the Restoration ; and of whom, since the Revolution, a small remnant still retains strongly rooted opinions and prejudices, long after the cause of se- paration from the established church of Scotland has entirely ceased to operate. Mr Smellie used to mention to his fa- mily, that his father frequently carried him when very young to hear sermons on the Pentland hills, a mountain range a few miles south from Edinburgh. The Cameronians had been originally constrained to adopt this practice, as their meetings for social worship were interdicted during the rehgious perse- cutions in the reigns of Charles II. and James VII. and they long persisted in the same custom, from which they have often been call- ed Mountaineers, down almost to the present times, either from habit, or in commemora- tion of the sufferings of their ancestors. There is a sepulchral monument in the Greyfriars church-yard of Edinburgh, com- monly denominated the Martyrs Tomb, William smellie. 17 which was erected after the Revolution by the Cameronians, to the memory of those of their brethren who fell in the battles of Pentland and Bothwell-bridge, in opposition to the per- secuting measures of Charles If.for dragooning the Scots Presbyterians into an acquiescence with the Episcopal form of church worship and government, which they heartily abhor- red. This tomb is supposed to have been ori- ginally built by Mr Alexander Smellie, the father of our Printer, or by his grandfather William Smellie ; and Mr Alexander Smellie and several of the elder branches of the family are there interred. OwixG to some extreme religious prejudice which he had imbibed from the principles or notions of that sect to which he belonged, Alexander Smellie refused to serve heir to his brother, who was proprietor of a con- siderable portion of St Leonard's Hill, now a valuable property in the immediate vici- nity of Edinburgh ; in consequence of which that property was irrecoverably lost to his family. About the year 1780, his son Wil- liam drew u*^ a memorial on this subject, for the consideration of the late learned Scots counsellor, Mr Alexander Wight, Vol. I. B 18 MEMOIRS OF author of a much esteemed Treatise on the Law of Elections for Members of ParUament from this part of the united kingdom, with whom Mr Smellie Hved in habits of friendly intercourse. Mr Wight gave a decided opi- nion, that it was then impossible to recover possession of the property, owing to lapse or legal prescription ; and in this advice, how-^ ever reluctantly, Mr Smellie prudently ac- quiesced. Our William Smellie received the first rudiments of his education in reading and writing at a school in the village of Dudding- stone, about a mile from his paternal resi- dence in the Pleasance ; and, though destin- ed like his father to follow a mechanic or handicraft profession, he had the advantage, of being initiated early into the preliminaries of a learned education, by going through a regular course of classical study at a gram- mar school ; a practice long universal, and still much pursued, among the sons of al- most every respectable citizen or inhabitant of Edinburgh ; where an excellent public La- tin school instituted, as well as the Univer- sity, by James VL has existed for many years under a succession of able masters, and WILLIAM SMELLIE. J9 tit which very moderate fees are exacted. This school contains four ordinary masters and a rector, all of whom teach in separate rooms. Each set of scholars continues dur- ing four years under the tuition of one of the ordinary masters ; and in the usual course remains two years at the upper class or high- est form which is taught by the rector, who usually examines one of the other classes once every week in succession. During the two or three latter years of the course, be- sides being gradually advanced into the high- er Latin classics, the boys go through a regular series of instruction in Roman anti- quities, are taught comparative ancient and modern geography, and are initiated into the principles of the Greek language. It must not, however, be omitted, that this admirable system of the institutes of classical learning owes its present state of perfection to the unwearied diligence of the late most worthy, learned, and industrious Dr Alexander Adam, who was rector of this High School from 1771 to 1810; and to whom our inge- nious youth and their teachers are indebt- ed for several excellent fundamental books of education ; particularly a Grammar and Dictionary of the Latin language, a System B 2 20 MESIOIRS OF of Roman Antiquities, an Epitomy of Anci- ent and Modern Geography, and an Abridge- ment of Classical Biography. In 1752, AViLLiAM Smellie was taken by his father, when about twelve years of age, to the shop of a stay-maker, then a remark- ably well employed trade, for the purpose of binding him an apprentice ; but fortunate- ly, as will appear in the sequel, both for his own literary fame and the interest of Scots literature, his father and the stay-maker dif- fered upon the proposed terms; and the young scholar was preserved from the mortifying drudgery of scraping whalebone, and stitch- ing coats of armour to force the female form into every shape save that of natural ele- gance. This plan for his establishment in life being abandoned, he was bound an ap- prentice for six years and a half, on the 1st of October 1752, to Messrs Hamilton, Bal- four, & Neil, printers in Edinburgh, being then about twelve years of age. At that period, and for a considerable time afterwards, it seems to have been very com- mon for the eminent Edinburgh booksellers to be concerned likewise in the printing busi- WILLIAM SxMELLIE. 21 ness. Messrs Hamilton & Balfour, were eminent booksellers and copartners, and like- wise carried on the manufacture of paper at Bogsmill, in the neighbourhood of Colling- ton, on the Leith water, a few miles from Edinburgh. After some time their partner- ship was broken up, and the two concerns separated. Mr Hamilton became the sole proprietor of the paper-mill, and was after- wards succeeded in that business by his sons. Mr Balfour continued the bookselling busi- ness for many years with great spirit and success ; and afterwards purchased the paper- mill from the family of his former partner Mr Hamilton, which business is still carried on to considerable extent by his sons ; but the bookselling business was lately abandon- ed. At the time when Mr Smellie was bound apprentice to the printing business, Mr Patrick Neil was the active partner in the printing concern, whicJi is still carried on by ins surviving brother ^Vdam, his only son James, and Patrick, the son of the present head of the house, Mr Adam Neil. Mr Patrick Neil, the junior partner of this old and respectable house, is a young man of learning and ingenuity, and has publish- ed a well written account of a Tour made B3 22 MEMOIRS OF by him through some of the Orkney and Shetland islands in 1804; originally printed in several successive numbers of the Scots Magazine for 1801 and 1805, and reprinted with corrections and an appendix, in a sepa- rate volume, in 1806. Though chiefly in- tended to illustrate the natural history of these islands, this work contains much va- luable information on a variety of other in- teresting topics, and does much credit to its author. The former custom, of booksellers enter- ing into leading partnerships with printers, has of late years been almost entirely dis- continued ; and, in the present day, the prin- ters in Edinburgh depend very materially for a valuable portion of their business on the practitioners in the law, as a very large pro- portion of the arguments of counsel in law- suits before the Court of Session, or Supreme Court of Scots Civil Jurisprudence, is print- ed and distributed to the Judges, by which means they are enabled to study the cases deliberately at home, instead of trusting to their memories or notes for the j)leadings on either side. It is said that this practice of written or printed pleadings, or arguments WILLIAM SMELLIE. 23 ill Scots law proceedings, originated during the usurpation of Oliver Cromwell, who supphed the Scots bench with Enghsh judges. The spoken language of Scotland at that pe- riod, even among men of education, seems to have been considerably more dissimilar to English than it now is, as the English judges were utterly unable to comprehend the lan- guage used in argument before them at the Scots bar ; and gave orders, therefore, that the arguments on both sides should be print- ed for their deliberate consideration ; and the practice has been continued ever since. It is said that there are every year printed at Edinburgh for this sole purpose, 90,000 full quarto pages, equal to 150 well-sized quarto volumes. What adds very considerably to this voluminous mass of printed law is, thatp instead of witnesses being examined viva voce before the Court, their depositions are taken down separately by commissioners especially appointed for the purpose, and are all print- ed before they are submitted to the conside- ration of the Judges : And, besides, all writ- ten documents founded upon as evidence, or adminicles of proof, on both sides, are like- wise printed. B4 24 MEMOIRS OF Even within memory, some of the best educated Scots men, and gentlemen of most respectable rank, continued to use the unadul- terated broad Scots dialect. The late Robert Macqueen of Braxfield, an eminent lav/yer and judge, and Lord Justice-Clerk, or chief Judge of the Supreme Criminal Court, and the late pious, learned, and eloquent minister of the gospel, Dr John Erskine, both rigid- ly adhered to this dialect in all their public appearances. In the present day, however, young gentlemen, who are studying for the pulpit and the bar, uniformly make English elocution a part of their education ; and the language of Scots people of family and edu- cation is fast assimilating to that of England. Fko3i similar circumstances with those al- ready mentioned, in respect to the date of Mr S.MELLiEs birth, it has not been possible to discover the name of his motlier, who died when he was extremely young, as we learn from a letter in his correspondence with one of the early friends of his youth, which will be found in an after part of these Memoirs. He likewise soon lost his respectable father, who left him no inheritance, saving the ex- emplary memorial of a well spent, religious, WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 25 and strictly moral life, and the inestimable advantage of a good fundamental education. Besides William, who was his youngest son, Alexander Smellie left one other son and three daughters. John, the oldest son, was bred to the profession of a mason, and married Agnes Ferrier, sister to the pre- sent James Ferrier, Esq. Clerk of Ses- sion, and grand-daughter of Sir William Hamilton, Bart, of Westport, near Linlith- gow. Anne, the eldest daughter, married a Mr Mabon, shipmaster belonging to the port of Leith. Helen, the second daugh- ter, died unmarried. Elizabeth, the young- est, married a Mr Duff, merchant in Lon- don. Such is the account of this family as recollected by Mr Smellies widow. During his apprenticeship, the exeibplary diligence and regular conduct of our young printer, and his early indication of superior intelligence, may be appreciated by the fol- lowing extracts from two recent letters to his son, Mr Alexander Smellie. Dr Ro- bert Hamilton, Professor of Natural Phi- losophy in the University of Aberdeen, the son of one of his masters, writes thus. " Your father was considered as a capital and steady 26 MEMOIRS OF compositor, and was employed in every work that required particular accuracy." On the same subject, the worthy, respectable, and Reverend Dr Samuel Charters, minister of the parish of Wilton near Hawick, in the coun- ty of Roxburgh, who was an early and long- continued friend of Mr Smellie, writes as follows. " When I resided with your father, his manner of living was uniform and regular. He was constantly employed in the printing- office during the day, and occupied all his evenings in study or in literary pursuits.'* The estimation in which his conduct and abilities were held by his masters may easily be judged of from this circumstance ; that, two 3^ears before the expiration of his appren- ticeship, they appointed him to the important employment of corrector of their press, with a weekly allow^ance of ten shillings. This certainly was a large salary in those days, for a young man in the situation of an ap- prentice, and to whom they were only bound by the indentures to pay three shillings a week ; and the circumstance reflects honour both on the masters and their youthful cor- rector of tlie press ; on the former, for their WILLIA3I SMELLIE. liberality and discernment ; on the latter, for his abilities and meritorious conduct. — The comparatively equivalent wages between 1756 or 1757, when this arrangement took place, and the present year 1810, at the dis-. tance of rather more than half a century, cannot be now satisfactorily ascertained ; but from an attentive consideration of the change in the prices of every necessary of life sincQ that time, ten shillings would then have pro- cured as much essential comfort and accom- modation in Edinburgh, as thirty shillings will now, The nephew of one of his masters, Mr Pa- trick Neil, formerly mentioned, reports, that young Smellie, when an apprentice, was remarkable for being what is technically called a clean setter ; that is, his work was uncommonly neat and accurate, and requir- ed exceedingly few corrections. He was likewise uncommonly diligent and quick in his work, and might have vied with the cele- brated Franklin, likewise a printer, in the quantity of matter which he composed ; in or- dinary language, in the quantity of work which he. executed. 28 MEMOIRS OF Young Smellie, for he was then only sixteen or seventeen years of age, made a most excellent use of the well-merited favour of his masters, as he materially contributed to the support of his sisters, who were almost entirely dependant upon his industry and fraternal affection. While an apprentice, he asked and re- ceived liberty from his masters to attend some of the classes in the University. The prin- ting-office in which he served was situate within the precincts of the College, and he generally continued at work till he heard the bell ring for lecture ; Avhen he immediately laid down his composing-stick, shifted his coat, ran off with his note-book under his arm, and returned to his work immediately after lecture. In the year 1757, when Mr Smellie was still apprentice and corrector to Messrs Ha- milton, Balfour, and Neil, and only in his seventeenth year, the Edinburgh Philoso- phical Society offered a prize for the most ac- curate edition of a Latin classic. On this occasion Mr Smellie, in the name of his masters, became a competitor, and produced WILLIAM SMELLIE. ^9 an edition of Terence in duodecimo, the whole of which he set up and corrected him- self, and for which the prize was awarded to his masters, as the work was published under their names. This medal is of silver, and of considerable size. On one side the word Merenti is surrounded by a wreath of lau- rels ; on the other side are these words : the EDINBURGH SOCIETY, TO MESSRS HAMILTON, BALFOUR, AND NEIL, PRINTERS IN EDINBURGH, FOR THEIR EDITION OF TERENCE, M,DCC,LVII. The book itself, however, is dated in 1758 ; it being an ordinary circumstance with booksellers and printers, towards the close of a year, to date publications as if printed in the subsequent year. The follow- ing account of this edition by Harwood is repeated by Dibdin, in his Introduction to the Classics, vol. ii. p. 270. Terence, Edinburgh, 11 58, in 12mo, " This edition," says Harwood, "was pur- posely published for the prize offered by the rSO MEMOIRS OF* University of Edinburgh, and obtained it. It is an immaculate edition, unknown to the Bi- pont editors." Harwood is however mistaken in referring the offered prize to the University of Edin- burgh ; it was given by the Edinburgh Phi- losophical Society, originally instituted in 1731 for the improvement of medical know- ledge ; remodelled in 1739, so as to include subjects of philosophy and literature, under the name of the Edinburgh Society for im- proving Arts and Sciences, but more gene- rally known by the name of the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh. In its original esta- blishment, it published several valuable vo- lumes under the name of Medical Essays; and in its more extended constitution, other vo- lumes called Essays and Observations Physi- cal and Literary. In 1782, the members of this Society, with many other eminent, sci- entific, and literary men, were incorporated, by charter from the King, into the Royal So- ciety of Edinburgh. This edition of Terence, besides its in- <}omparable accuracy, is a very beautiful piece of typography, and might challenge compa- WILLIAM SBIELLIE. 31 rison in point of fine printing with any of the boasted works which have issued of late years from the crack printing-houses either of Lon- don or Edinburgh. In point of accuracy it leaves them all behind. The ink used on this occasion is said to have been made from the soot, or lamp-black, gathered from the Uni- versity lamps. The edition has now become very scarce and dear, a perfect copy selling for two guineas. It appears from one of the letters which will be found in the sequel, that Messrs Ha- milton, Balfour, & Neil carried on a newspaper at this period named the Chronicle. What particular concern Mr Smellie took in the conduct of this paper is unknown ; but, as corrector of the press to his masters, it is highly probable that the selection of articles of intelligence would chiefly rest on his care. From the same authority, this newspaper seems to have been unsuccessful ; as in 1759 its publication was limited to once a week, and it was altogether discontinued long ago. During many years the publication of news- papers in Edinburgh was a poor concern ; and three separate papers, two of them thrice a week, and the third twice, afforded very scan- 32 MEMOIRS OF ty profits to their proprietors. These three are now the sources of very considerahle opu- lence ; and besides their eight weekly sheets, five other newspapers are published weekly by new adventurers, including a Gazette or go- vernment newspaper. The period of his indentures expired on the 1st of April 1759, when he must have at- tained to his nineteenth year. By this time, or soon afterwards, his merits as a steady compositor and accurate corrector, and the value of his early attainments in literature and science, became known to Messrs Mur- ray & Cochrane, then very respectable prin- ters in Edinburgh, and which house still car- ries on business under the same firm. Be- sides their ordinary business as printers, these gentlemen carried on the Scots Magazine, a monthly periodical work of miscellaneous li- terature, which has maintained considerable celebrity among works of that description, from 1st January 1739 to the present day, a long period of seventy-two years ; while nu- merous rivals in both of the British metropoli- tan cities, and in many provincial towns, have strutted their hour on the public stage, and have successively dropped into oblivion. The WILLIAM SMELLIE. 33 nature, extent, and objects of this compound literary, and- laborious engagement, in which Mr Smellie was employed when only nine- teen years of age, will best appear from the following letter from his respectable employ- ers, here copied from the original in the pos- session of his eldest son and successor. No. I. 2\> Mr William Smellie, Printer in Edin- burgh, SiRj Edinburgh^ 6th September 1759. You and we have lately come to the fol- lowing agreement ; viz. You engage to employ your time in correcting for us and partners, printers in Edinburgh ; in collect- ing such articles for our Magazine as we shall direct ; in making abstracts, extracts, or transcripts of such pieces as we may have occasion for ; or in writing accounts ; and, in cases of hurry of printing, in composing, or case work ; for which we hereby agree to pay you sixteen shillings Sterling weekly. This agreement to last for a whole year, Vol. I. C 34 MEMOIRS OF from and after the twenty-second day of September current, and thereafter till you or we chuse to discontinue it, of which the party desirous to discontinue the agreement shall give the other three months premoni- tion or previous notice. As this letter is binding on us for the performance of our part of the agreement, we desire that you will write us an answer that may be equally binding on you for your part of the same. We are, Sir, Your well-wishers and humble servants* Alexander Murray. James Cochrane. As the engagement with Messrs Murray & Cochrane began in the end of September 1759, and continued till the end of March 1765, when Mr Smellie first settled in busi- ness as a master printer, he must have been engaged in the conduct of the Scots Maga- zine for the five entire years or volumes, 1760, 1, :2, 3, and 4, besides three numbers or months of 1759, and three months of 1765. But no memorial remains of the precise ex- tent of his labours in this literary and mis- cellaneous journal ; though, from the tenor WILLIAM SMELLIE. S6. of the letter of engagement with his mastersj he probably had nearly the entire charge of its compilation. The actual firm of this co- partnery was Sands, Murray, & Cochrane. Mr Sands was a respectable bookseller in Edinburgh, who was succeeded in business by the late Mr Charles Elliot, who was remarkably liberal in his payments to authors, and who, as will be more particularly men- tioned hereafter, gave to Mr Smellie the largest sum ever paid in Edinburgh, at and before that time, for literary property, being one thousand guineas, besides other contin- gent advantages, for a single quarto volume, not one sentence of which was composed at the time the bargain was concluded. Mr S31ELLIE had very early qualified him- self for thus rising beyond the mere servile and mechanical part of his profession, by care- fully preserving and extending the education which had been bestowed upon him by his fa- ther. Although not mentioned in the fore- going letter of agreement with Messrs Mur- ray & Cochrane, it will be seen in some of the letters in his subsequent correspondence, that they indulged him, whether from stipu- lation, or from voluntarily noticing his strong C2 36 ME3I0IRS OF propensity for improvement in science and literature, does not certainly appear, with the allowance of three hours a day for the prose- cution of his studies. This valuahle privilege he eagerly availed himself of, by devoting that time to the acquisition of knowledge ; for which purpose he sedulously attended the various courses of lectures then delivered in the University, and profited by the in- struction of several eminent teachers in va- rious branches of knowledge. We have no distinct account now remaining of the precise course of his studies; but, from circumstances which will be found in that portion of his cor- respondence which we have deemed of suffi- cient interest to be inserted in these Memoirs, it is quite certain that he went through a re- gular series of those academical exercises which are prescribed as the necessary prepa- rations for entering upon the study of theo- logy. These, besides the Humanity and Greek classes, are the lectures upon Mathe- matics and Natural Philosophy, with Logic, Rhetoric, or Belles Lettres, Metaphysics, or Moral Philosophy, and Hebrew. We know likewise, from the sources of information a- bove referred to, that he carefully attended all the medical lectures of the University^ including Botany, for which he had a decid- WILLIAM SMELLIE. 37 ed taste, and that he retained during his whole hfe a pecuhar preference for Natural History. In proof of his early and sedulous applica- tion to various studies, the following extract of a letter from the Rev. Dr Thomas Mil- ler, minister of Cumnock, to the present Mr Alexander S-Mellie, is adduced. No. II. From Dr Thomas Miller to Mr Alexander Smellie. Sir, Cumnock, WthJuhj 1810. So long ago as the year 1758, your wor- thy father and I were fellow students at the Hebrew class, which he attended for the sake of enabling him to superintend the print- ing of a Hebrew Grammar edited by our then teacher, Professor Robertson. From this ca- sual acquaintance between us, a more inti- mate intercourse ensued, which subsisted for several years, and which only ceased by my leaving town in 1764, and thereafter residing in the country. We never corresponded by letters ; nor do I recollect that any passed be- tween us but at the time of publishing his Philosophy of Natural History, which, for his C3 38 MEMOIRS OF sake, I felt interested in, and which I was s© fortunate as to be considerably instrumental in spreading in this corner of the country. We were for some years joint members of a Physical or Natural Philosophy Society. In that society, the discourse you refer to, if I mistake not, was first delivered. It was soon after delivered in the Botanical Garden, where it attracted much attention, and pro- cured him not only the professor, Dr Hopes premium, but very general celebrity. As to the other prize you mention, it must, I should suppose, refer to an edition of Phaedrus, remarkable for its beauty and accuracy, which issued from the University printing-office, I think in 1758, in which office I believe your father was then correc- tor. This is all the information I am able to give on the points you mention, which I fear you will reckon to be very imperfect. Such as it is, you will please to accept of it, as an expression of the high esteem I entertain for your father's memory, &c. I am, Sir, &c. Thomas Miller. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 39 P. S, — Perhaps you may obtain fuller information than I can communicate, of your father's earlier years, from Dr Charters of Wilton, and Dr R. Hamilton of Aberdeen, who were joint members of the same society with him and me. In the systematic prosecution of Mr Smel- LiEs academical studies, he was for the most part actuated by a general inclination to ac- quire and extend his knowledge in the various departments of science and literature, with- out any determinate prospects as to their ulti- mate application to personal objects of profit or establishment in life. But it will appear in the sequel, that he occasionally held particu- lar ends in view in the prosecution of his stu- dies, to fit him particularly for certain pro- fessional situations that were proposed to him by his contemporary friends and companions, as more eligible, in their estimation, for his literary and scientific turn of mind, than the servile drudgery of composing, imposing, and justifying the works of others. In the course of his attendance on the University of Edin- burgh, he mentions in one of his letters, which will be found in these Memoirs, that Dr Wil- C4 40 MEMOIRS OF LI AM CuLLEN, loiig a bright ornament and main pillar of our medical school, and one of those who contributed most materially to the establishment of its wide celebrity and exten- sive utility to the healing art, presented him with a free ticket to attend his lectures. Tic- kets for the attendance of Mr Smellie on two subsequent courses of chemical lectures, given in the University of Edinburgh by Dr Cul- LEN, in the winter sessions of 1761 and 1762, are among the papers found in Mr Smellie s repositories. It is a fact well known to the wTiter of these Memoirs, and which he has peculiar pleasure in using this opportunity of record- ing, that, though never in affluence, and hardly ever even in easy circumstances, ow- ing to a large and expensive family, almost all grown up before his superior abilities and address had raised him to the high eminence he so deservedly attained, the highly and just- ly celebrated Dr Cullen was always most li- beral in giving gratis admissions to his lec- tures to students in narrow circumstances, and in giving attendance and advice, either gratis, or on scanty fees, to patients who could not afford to fee him properly. It is proper and necessary to add;, from the same WILLIAM SMELLIE. 41 experience, that neither of these circum- stances of honourable liberaUty belonged ex- clusively to Dr CuLLEX, though he perhaps could less afford to bestow them than any of his eminent colleagues. Whether proceeding from Mr Sjiellies own honest ambition, roused by the scientific and literary knowledge which he had acquired in the course of his studies, to aspire beyond the limited sphere in which the mechanical profession, so to speak, which he had been bred to seemed to have doomed his future days to mere laborious exertions for subsistence, or whether the idea of a change originated with some of his juvenile companions and fellow student s, cannot now be certainly known ; but it appears obvious from some of his let- ters, that he hesitated for several years whe- ther he should persist in his employment as a printer, or should embrace theology or me- dicine as the object of his future exertions. By one of his early companions and friends, he appears to have been advised to devote himself to the sacred office of a minister of the Gospel in the Church of Scotland ; and by Dr William Buchan, the author of Do- mestic Medicine, another of the intimate companions of his early studies, he was long 42 MEMOIRS OF and eagerly solicited to adopt the practice of the heahng art. However strongly these proposals, for a time, may have flattered his youthful ambition, or may occasionally have influenced the direction of his studies, he al- ways stated what appeared to him insuperable objections to either plan, and persisted to the last in prosecuting the business of a printer. During the course of his studies, the wages of his professional employment were indispen- sibly necessary to his subsistence ; and his early marriage precluded all possibility, after that decisive step, of abandoning a certain though scanty income for the mere chance of higher emoluments at a future period in a profession of more fancied respectability. The ideas v/hich he entertained on this subject will be best understood from the remains of the correspondence which took place between him and some of his companions, extracts from which will be found in the sequel of these Mem.oirs. While Mr Smellie was employed as cor- rector of the press to Messrs Sands, Mur- ray, & Cochrane, some disputes arose be- tween the journeymen printers in Edinburgh and their masters about a rise of wages, the WILLIAM SMELLIE, 43 particulars of which are not now known. On this occasion Mr Smellie drew up an ingeni- ous scheme of arrangement for calculating the prices to be paid for setting up types, upon fixed principles, in proportion to the number of letters contained in each page of differently sized types ; but which does not seem of suf- ficient importance for insertion. One part of the plan which Mr Smellie appears to have laid down for himself in the prosecution of his studies, and in order to acquire facility in committing his thoughts to paper on literary and scientific subjects, was by the encouragement of free correspondence with his friends and companions, of which some early fragments still remain. Among the earliest of these letters are some which were written to him from London by Wil- liam Tod a journeyman printer, who had been his fellow compositor in the printing- house of Messrs Hamilton, Balfour, & Neil. One of those has no date, and its writer is uncertain, though probably from the same person. No part of Mr S.aiellies own cor- respondence on this occasion remains, except one letter of the year 1 766, apparently to Mr 44 MEMOIRS OF Tod, which, on that account, has been in- serted after those from that person. No. III. From lllr William Tod to Mr William Smellie. Dear Willie, London, ^9thNovembej^l'759, On my leaving Edinburgh, I promised to write you sooner than to any other in the house ; and am afraid you will impute my neglect to disregard, as Willie Auld has received several letters from me. Suffer me, then, to assure you, that my friendship is not in the least degree diminished, and that the reason of Willie Auld and I correspond- ing so much together has been, that business and particular concerns between us has re- quired it. I might also tell you, that I have been little at ease and in the capacity of re- lishing agreeable correspondence since I came here, and that it is not above six or eight weeks since I wrote my first letter to an uncle whom I much value. But to insist long in excuses of this kind, would seem to put a value on what I am sensible is of little WILLIAM SMELLIE. 45 importance, namely, my own comments and clish-ma-clavers *. I shall conclude, there- fore, this preamble about nothing, by assur- ing you, that my apprehension of your tak- ing my dilatoriness amiss renders me uneasy ; and were it not for shame, I would crave a few lines in your own good time. If I could at all relish or agree with my business, I should like my present situation well enough ; for the English are a free, open-hearted, communicative people. The main difference, as to work, between this and Edinburgh, is, that a journeyman runs less risk of wanting it. For the rest, considering the difference of living, I do not think it is very material. All types below English are at the rate of a groat the thousand, but Eng- lish is somewhat more. The people are very good natured ; but have a way of jeering one another, which they call riinning-the-rigg, and going-off' u^on. each other, and can say the severest things, and vent the most poignant sarcasms, with the greatest serenity and good nature ima« *' A Scots phrase, signifying iJnprofitable conversation. {46 MEMOIRS OF ginable. They take the Scots to be very clanish and easily touched ; and for this rea- son, whenever a raw Sawney, as they call him^ is new-hauled, or fresh imported, his jealous ear is very soon alarmed with reflections he may think unmannerly upon the poverty of his country. Such as, What deil brings you here ? Get home to your crowdie, and be d — d to you ! Ha' ye got your parritch yet ? When will you get a sheeps head or a hag- gis, you ill-far'd lown ? Did you ever see meat in Scotland, saving oat-meal hasty pudding ? Keep out of his way, Thomas, or you'll get the itch ! These, and a thousand such, they utter out of pure rigg and merriment, with- out having the least antipathy at the person, or any desire to affront him. I WAS much surprised to hear of your late change, and also of the shiftations of John Re ID ; but I would not desire to hear more of it than is agreeable to you to unfold, for good reasons of your own. I long much to hear from you, and the affection I bear you will make any thing from you agreeable. I hope I shall soon have more freedom to write you at large, and to revive a corres- pondence I shall be fain to cultivate. Send WILLIAM SMELLIE. 47 me some printing news concerning Mr Ha- milton's paper, its success, and your reflec- tions upon it ; — about the Green Devil and Iiis new partner, — whether his wig and de- |)ortment be as cleverly mechanical as Peters, &c. &c. &c. ; and by so doing you will oblige your very curious and sincere friend, &c. William Tod. No. IV. From Mr Willia3i Tod to Mr William S31ELLIE. Dear Willie, 26^/a May 1760, Your letter diverted me highly, particular- ly your account of the Devils empire falling to the ground, and of the usurpation and progress of Oliver, with his serious and de- liberative manner of forming an angle v/ith liis arms before he closed with a soul reviv- ing pinch ; though you forgot to mention whether he implored a blessing. I even took out my snuff-box, for I too am turned snuf- fer, and attempted to take a pinch with the ,same propriety of action ; but, alas, I found 48 MEMOIRS OF it would not do, as my manner is too much formed on the modern model ; so, after giving it two or three tosses and flourishes in the profane vulgar way, I was fain to slip it again into my pocket. Having read your letter two or three times over, I consigned it to the pocket of my new coat. " Lie you there," said I, " till the Lords day ; for, if I keep you in the print- ing-house, you'll make me neglect business." I thought Smellie had turned serious since he commenced corrector ; but what is bred in the bone, you know, &c. Alas ! I reckon- ed without my host ; for my new suit never graced my back another Sunday. Some thief stole in, and carried off my new coat, with your letter in its pocket. I A3I glad to hear from Willie Hay that you are better situate at present than you were with Hamilton & Balfour. The bad success of the Chronicle has affected me much ; its being reduced to a weekly paper, &c. Mr Hamilton seems to have had a good deal of uneasiness of late, which must give concern to all who have any generosity in their nature. WILLIAxM SJIELLIE. 49 I HflAR that Jo. Reid is going into part- nership with Sands and Donaldson, and that there is a great rivalship at present in Edin- burgh. I shall be obliged to you for what particulars you have leisure to communicate concerning the printing-business in general in your town, but must leave the time to yourself. I am, &c. William Tod. No. V. From Mr William Tod to Mr William Smellie. Dear Willie, London, 6th Juli/ 1160. I am glad to find you agree with me in ad- miring Addison and Swift. Addison makes this remark in one of his Spectators, " That people, when they read a performance, are very inquisitive about the minutest trifles re- lating to the author, as whether he be of a fair, brown, or black complexion, &c. ; and seem to conceive that the knowledge of these particulars contribute greatly to the under- standing of his work." This is a piece of very fine satire. Men are too often measur- VoL. I. D 50 MEMOIRS OF ed by their opinions, and, on the contrary^ opinions are too often measured by consider- ing the men who advance them. These hedges of distinction not only obstruct cha- rity, but knowledge. Who told you this ? This is what is said by the orthodox party, or the moderate party ! Let us throw away those distinctions, weighing opinions only, and endeavouring to suck honey from every flower, without seeming to know whether either of them is a Hutchinsonian or New- tonian, orthodox or heterodox. Though he who starts a subject has the advantage of making a choice, he still labours under a disadvantage. The other may say, What have I to do with your Stoicism or Epicureanism ? Or he may enter so far into the subject, and turn short with the same re- partee. Let, therefore, any subject proposed by me the Commentator be agreeable to you the Connoisseur ; and I promise, on my part, to enter willingly into any one you may pick out ; and shall not pretend to any other plea but utter ignorance of the subject. In this point I yield to you without flattery ; but I may sometimes divert you on subjects of which you know little ; while you, perhaps. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 51 may apply to me these lines of the Lord- knows-whom, Pope, I believe : Sometimes to sense, sometimes to nonsense leaning, And always blund'ring round aljout his meaning. Or these from Hudibras ; His notions fitted things so wellj That which was which he could not tell. The Commentator subscribes himself the Connoisseurs most devoted, &c. WlLLIA»I ToD. No. VI. From Mr William Tod to Mr William Smellie. Dear Williej I take your quick return very kindly ; and am so far from being offended at the humo- rous picture you draw of me, that I shall heighten your representation with the addi- tional idea of a beard and breast embellished with reddish snufF; for my beard is red, and the snuff matched, as I don't chuse to make D2 52 MEMOIRS OF a contrast of my visage. Admitting your supposition, that my dilatoriness proceeded , from laziness, I think you have used me gently rather than roughly. I regard you, and could not brook the thought of indiffer- ence on your side. In ridiculing others for imperfections in body or mind, we often tacitly insinuate, that we ourselves are possessed of the contrary perfections. " The Commentator is a spin- dle-shanked, thin-gutted, long-necked fellow ; obliged every moment to keep his hands at his waste to prevent his falling in two by the middle, or at least to swinge about his arms to preserve a proper balance ; while the Con- noisseurs head, by being placed on a short thick neck, and that again supported by" a massy trunk and stout limbs, is enabled to take a more steady survey of the works of Creation *." * The passages in this letter between inverted commas, are evi- dently quotations from Mr Smellies letter, to which this is an answer, and may therefore be considered as the earliest specimens of his composition. In this correspoiidenci', Mr Smellie ap- pears to have acquired the sobriquet of Connoisseur, and in a great mrasure to have dictated the subjects of iatercouise ; while his WILLIAM SMELLIE. 53 You fall foul of me for a parcel of Irish bulls, some of them designed, and rank this expression among the rest, " A larger field is opened betwixt Willie Auld and me than betwixt you and me." You add, " I maintain the field is the same, and that the subjects of intercourse are infinite." I shall not maintain any thing about the matter, as the subject seems a little abstracted ; and shall, therefore, only propose a few things relative to it, to the consideration of the Connoiseur. Perhaps the affair may divert us. If we attempted to disuse every phrase that is not strictly philosophical, would not we confine language more than the present state of human nature admits of? All subjects are infinite, every subject is infinite. There seems here to be a contradiction. But does not the difficulty vanish, when we consider what we mean by infinite applied in this manner ? If every subject be infinite, is it not an absurdity to suppose one larger than an- other? And, if all subjects taken together be infinite, is it not absurd to call one sub- D3 friend was contented with (he more humble denomination of Com- mentator. 54 JMEMOIRS OF ject infinite, which is but a part of all sub- jects ? You may illustrate this point a little, by the infinite divisibity of matter, for the consideration of matter is less abstruse. But what do we mean by infinite thus applied to the word subject ? You know it is a maxim among philosophers, that nothing can be call- ed great or small but by comparison. Thus, it would seem in the present case, that when we call a subject infinite, we compare it with our own understanding, which is limited, and only say, that the one is not commensurate to the other ; or, in other words, that our understanding, far from being capable of com- prehending all subjects, cannot penetrate to the bottom of any one subject. Thus any sub^ ject may be called infinite with regard to our understandings ; because, if we cannot see to its bottom, it is the same thing to us as if it were infinite in the strictest sense of the word. Are there not some subjects in which we lose ourselves sooner than in others ? Are there not some subjects capable of being ex- tended to a greater length than others, so as more to promote the purposes of instruction and entertainment than others ? What then WILLIAM SMELLIE. 55 is the absurdity of saying, " A larger field is opened," &c. ? ^' Yes, Commentator," say you ; " there is a very great absurdity ; for, taking the thing in your own light, there is still, if you consider the fact, the same field betwixt you and me as between Willie Auld and you, &c. Open but the field. Do you think because he has got a pair of longer and more limber supporters, that he can surmount obstacles quicker than I ? Are you exactly acquainted with what measure of active powers we are severally possessed ? Because you are two tall thin fellows, is that a reason why I should yield you every thing ? Mens minds are not measured by inches, remember that." I AM not obliged to defend the phrase, *' A larger field opened," because it is none of my invention, but used by good authors, and readily enough understood. But, for the jokes sake, let us examine it. Do not the words Jield and province admit of several dif- ferent senses ? Does not field often imply ex- tent or compass ? Is not the word open also often used differently ? ex. gr. landscapes opening D4 56 MEMOIRS OF to view, opening a door, &c. &c. &c. If you consider every subject as having a large compass, then the farther we penetrate into that subject, the greater number of subdivi- sions are continually opening to our view ; or, in other words, the larger is the field that is continually opening up to us. We may con- ceive that a persons acquaintances, and the events that befal them in life, is a subject of large compass. Sit you down, lay your haf-. fit * on your hand, and I'll lay you a bet you shan't enumerate one third of your acquaint- ances. When I came to London, I saw a great many known faces, whom I should never have dreamed of meeting. Is. not every mans case, allowing for difference of years, &c. the same in this respect ? I shall suppose that, on my leaving Edinburgh, the acquaint- ances mutual between you and me were much the same with those mutual between Willie Auld and me. When we were in London together, we enlarged the compass of our acquaintances. A change of fortune to any of these new acquaintances, his mar- riage, setting up in business, &c. interest and entertain Willie Auld ; but would scarce- • A contraction of half-head, implying the check. WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 57 ly entertain you at all, as not knowing the persons. Is not the compass of acquaintan- ces betwixt Willie Auld and me enlarged beyond what it was in Edinburgh ; and there- fore the measure of our entertainment there- by enlarged. As to what you say of subjects being infi- nite, it is very true. " Why then, Commen- tator," you will say, *' do you consider only the compass of acquaintances ?" Should we not consider the mind of man which acts on subjects, as well as the subjects acted upon ? Matters of fact, that are daily passing before our eyes, are easily taken in and retained ; while a man may find himself so circumstan- ced as either not to have time to look out for objects of entertainment foreign to busi- ness, or may find both mind and body so jaded by the pursuit of business as to be in- capable of indulging himself in the most fa- vourite study. May not this man be almost allowed to say he has only one field ? You are much happier in this respect than I, be- ing much more capable of doing a great deal of work, and indulging a good deal of specu- lation on the same day. Sunday is the only day on which I have time to make observa- 58 MEMOIRS OF tions ; the only time, I may almost say, I think at all ; and it is on Sunday that I write this long rigmarol. I leave these things to your own consideration, claiming no superio- rity ; and would rather yield a point at any time than enter into controversy, which is endless. Be it an Irish bull, or be it not, the Commentator shall not fall out with the Connoisseur about the matter. If the Con- noisseur thinks the Commentator very fond of controversy from the present specimen, he will do well to remember, that he endeavour- ed to fasten an Irish bull upon the Commen- tator, with the formality of an "I main- tain," tacked to his assertion, and plainly in- dicated he did not think the Commentator fell into this bull designedly, but through ig- norance. Does then the Commentator decline corresponding with the Connoisseur from an impression that he ha^ nothing to yield in return ? By no means. The Commentator has a great regard for the Connoisseurs good opinion ; and only hints these things by way of claiming a little indulgence. The Com- mentator is a very various being ; sometimes like brisk beer, sometimes like flat ; and shall always be very ready to write the Connois- WILLIAM SMELLIE. 59 seiir, when he finds himself in any thing of a right trim, or mellow humour. With regard to herbs and plants, &c. I know little about them. There is, however, a coffee-house about two miles from London, where I have seen a number of foreign ani- mals, birds, &c. Bird of paradise, rattle-snake, tarantula, &c. And another thing which would perhaps afford you small entertain- ment, namely, the china plate out of which Queen Elizabeth used to eat her strawber- ries. With regard to the court end of the town, though I have little knowledge that way, I shall soon take an opportunity of dis- closing what I may hear or see on that sub- ject ; and shall, therefore, beg leave to pro- pose a few preliminaries at present towards settling ^ correspondence with you. I avow that I derive what I am to say from a narrow inspection into what has happened within my own breast, and am far from presuming to make any application to you. With my eyes turned inwards then, and three huge thumps on my stomach, I thus begin. Let us be cautious of advancing any thing with a positive air ; as that obstructs 60 MEMOIRS OF knowledge very much, and the purposes of entertainment or edification will be promoted better without it. Let us, like two men in quest of a treasure, resolve to divide it be- tween us ; or, like two in a copartnery, di- viding their acquisitions fairly. Advancing a thing positively is like violently grasping an acquisition which ought to be mutual. '■1* ^ vt* ^T» ^ vP TT* "^ vp 7r vl* w "TS" "Tt* It has been already mentioned, that the following letter, though dated in 1766, con- siderably posterior to any of the former let- ters, appears to have been written to Mr William Tod ; on which account, and be- cause it does not particularly apply to any of the important incidents in the life of Mr S31ELLIE, it is here inserted. No. VII. Mr William Smellie to Mr Willia3i Tod. Dear Willie, Edinhiirgh, 26thMarch 1766. It is no uncommon thing for the best of friends, during a long separation, to fall out WILLIAM SMELLIE. 61 of the habit of corresponding. Such has been the case with us. I still have your last let- ter in my possession ; but I believe it was written six years ago. Since that time I have had the happiness of conversing with you only once. A renewal of that long ne- glected correspondence would be extremely agreeable to me ; and I flatter myself it would not be disagreeable to you. I shall never forget the attention you paid me while a mere carnoubie, and totally unworthy of your notice. I have since that time acquired eight or ten years more experience ; and I must confess that the revolution of every year makes me rate the pleasures of human life a degree lower. The plans and prospects of youth, as they are generally the fruit of a warm and ill- directed imagination, seldom fail to prove abor- tive. However, as they please at the time, instead of despising, we ought to regard them as among the innocent amusements which accompany that giddy period of our exist- ence. As we grow in years, these airy schemes are discovered to be without foun-. dation. This discovery undoubtedly gives us great pain, but not so exquisite as we, 62 ME3I0IRS Of would imagine before hand ; for, long before the period we had fixed for their accomplish- ment arrives, reflection informs us of the folly and extravagance of such expectations. Those only that are of a more solid and ra- tional nature are now entertained ; and even these we now begin to view with coolness and deliberation : If they succeed, the happiness is not so great as we expected : If they fail^ something or other generally occurs, which, if it does not entirely annihilate, greatly blunts the pain of disappointment. I WOULD willingly proceed to tell you how disappointments have affected me, and from what sources I have found relief; But I must stop till I learn from yourself whether you chuse to correspond with me, and what subjects would be most agreeable to you. The principal intention of this letter is to offer my best services to a man whom I sin- cerely esteem* And I beg, as the greatest mark of friendship, that you will tell me freely if I can be of any use to you. Any thing I am able to perform you may com-' WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 63 inand, without reserve, from your sincere friend, &c. WlLLIA3I SmELLIE. P. S. — Direct for me at Mr Aulds print- ing-house, Moroccos close* Mr S31ELLIE was one of the early members of a society of young men, established in 1760, for their mutual improvement in lite- rature and science, more especially in natu- ral philosophy, to which they gave the name of the Newtonian Society, in honour of the immortal Newton, the author, so to speak^ of the true science of nature, as founded up- on observation and rigid mathematical induc- tion, in opposition to the wild theories of Descartes and others. While we give a decided opinion, from experience, in favour of the societies which have long subsisted at the University of Edinburgh, as highly con- ducive to the improvement of youth, by means of free discussion, and by the strong induce- ment to study, which the natural ambition of being able to appear to advantage in these societies most certainly excites ; we must confess that we do not approve the adoption 64 MfiMOIRS OF of the name of any scientific person, however exalted his merit and reputation, as a deno- mination for a society instituted on purpose to search after truth. Newton in physics, Linnaeus in botany, Lavoisier in chemistry, Werner in mineralogy, may all have been excellent philosophers, and vastly superior to others in their day. But to adopt their names in this manner implies the setting bounds to the researches of the members, beyond which it were indecorous to endeavour to proceed ; and indicates that every attempt to call in question any of the decisions of the patron philosopher may be in some measure consi- dered as heterodox, at least within the walls of the particular society which has thus iden- tified itself with his doctrines. Excessive de- ference to any name or authority, however exalted, degenerates into party or sect, and becomes a check or restraint on the progress of research, instead of forwarding the great object of science, the expiscation of truth, either by the establishment of former opi- nions on new arguments and additional data, or by the discovery of error in long establish-, ed opinions. It would swell these incidental observations far beyond any due bounds, to give illustration of their principles by the WILLIAM SMELLIE. 65 many examples which might easily be found in the history of science. The mention only of the long and arbitrary reign of the Aristo- telian philosophy may be quite sufficient to elucidate this idea. Of this Society the following account has been communicated to Mr Alexander Smel- LiE, by Dr Robert Hajiilton, Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Aberdeen, one of its original members. Be- 'des which, several allusions will be found ^.pecting it, in the correspondence of Mr '^.llie, in the sequel of these Memoirs* No. VIII. Prom Dr Robert Hamilton to 3Ir Alex- ander Smellie. Sir, Aberdeen, 1 Maixh 1810. The Newtonian Society was instituted in 1760, and was composed of young men, most of whom had completed their academical stu^ dies at the University of Edinburgh. Week- VoL. L E 66 MEMOIRS OF ly meetings were held in one of the rooms of the College ; at each of which a discourse was read by one of the members in rotation, and a subject discussed which had been given out for debate at the preceding meeting. The original design of the Society was chief- ly directed to the prosecution of Natural Phi- losophy, whence the members assumed the name of the Newtonian Society ; but they afterwards extended their debates to miscel- laneous subjects, though their discourses were always confined to natural science. The So- ciety subsisted in this manner for several years ; and though its members were fluc- tuating, as is usual with most societies, their number never exceeded twenty at any one time. Of the members of this Society, there are still in life, The Right Honourable Ro- bert Blair, Lord President of the Court of b Session, — the Reverend Dr Samuel Char- ofTERs, minister of Wilton, — the Reverend Dr o^Thomas Miller, minister of Old Cumnock; — and the Reverend Dr W. Macquhae, minister of St Quivox. Among the deceased mem- bers were, the Reverend Dr Henry Hunter, late of London-wall ; — ^the Reverend Dr An- drew Hunter, late Professor of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh ; — the Reverend Dr Thomas Blacklock ; Michael Na- WILLiAM S31ELLIE. 67 SMYtH, Esq. writer to the signet; — Dr Wil- liam BucHAN, physician in London ; Mr John Petrie ; — Pvir Ja3ies Gray, writer; — Mr Michael Gardiner, surgeon in Dum- fries ; — and Di" Alexander Adams, late Rec- tor of the High School of Edinburgh, was Se- cretary. I am, &c. Robert Hamilton. After the discontinuance of the regular meetings of this Newtonian Society, some of the members met once a week, in the even- ing, at a tavern in Edinburgh, to keep up their acquaintance, where they partook of a very sober repast, spending their time in a- greeable conversation, partly literary and partly in social cheerfulness. Of this club, which continued for some years, only two members now remain alive, Dr Robert Ha- milton and Dr Samuel Charters, with both of whom Mr Smellie always continued upon an intimate and friendly footing. In the year 1778, a new society was insti- tuted under the name of the Newtonian Club, which appears to have been in some measure connected with the Philosophical Society, the original of the present Royal Society of Edin^ burgh. The members of this new society E 2 68 MEMOIRS OF were Dr Andrew Duncan, sen. present Pro^ fessor of the Institutes of Medicine ; — Dr James Gregory, present Professor of the Practice of Medicine ; — Dr Daniel Ruther- ford, present Professor of Botany ; — Du- GALD Stewart, Esq. emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy ; — Mr James Russell, pre- sent Professor of Clinical Surgery, — all in the University of Edinburgh: — Dr Andrew Wardrop, Surgeon in Edinburgh ; — Alex- ander Keith, Esq. of Revalston ; — the late Dr John Hope, Professor of Botany in the University ; — the late Dr John Gardiner,. Physician in Edinburgh ; — and the late Mr William Smellie was Secretary. Of this club or society nothing is now particularly known, except by the two following short entries in their sederunt book, now in the hands of Mr Alexander SiMellie : Edinburgh, 1th May 1778. SEDERUNT. Dr Andrew Duncan, Dr Andrew Wardrop, Mr Jabies Russell, Mr William Smellie. At this meeting Dr Duncan was chosen president, and Mr Smellie secretary. It was William smellie. 69 then resolved that every member of the Phi- losophical Society may, on or before next meeting, become a member of the Newtonian Club, if they chuse to apply; and that regula- tions should afterwards be formed for the ad- mission of future members, and for the pro- per management of the club. Andrew Duncan, P. June ISth 1778. SEDERUNT. Mr James Russell, elected President. Dr Andrew Wardrop, Mr Alexander Keith, Dr Andrew Duncan, Mr William Smellie, Secretary. The meeting adopted the following regu- lations, under the name of laws for the NEWTONIAN CLUB. I. That as a multiplicity of laws has a di- rect tendency to produce confusion instead of order, it is resolved to limit their num- ber as much as possible. II. That no person be admitted unless he be a member of the Philosophical Society. E 3 70 MEMOIRS OF in. That tlie number of members shall never exceed twenty. IV. That one black ball shall exclude any candidate ; and if only one black ball, there shall be a reballot. V. The Newtonian Club shall meet immedi- ately after the dismission of every meeting of the Philosophical Society. VI. That, as this club consists entirely of philosophers, it would therefore be ridi- culous to make any laws for its internal police. While engaged in his various studies at the University of Edinburgh, Mr Smellie formed several intimate connexions among liis fellow students, some of whom rose to con- siderable eminence in their several walks of life. With some of these gentlemen, after their remo\^al from Edinburgh, he carried on a con- tinued intercourse of literary correspondence, a large collection of which was once contained in his repositories, but most of it, as has been already mentioned, was unfortunately destroy- ed only a few years before his death. From the small remnant which has been preserved, the three following, which seem to have been written about the year 1761, are selected. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 71 The first of these is from Mr Smellie to the well known Dr Henry Hunter, then a young man, and a divinity student, of whom the following short biographical notice may be acceptable, as he was a person of most respec- table literary character. Henry Hunter, D.D. a respectable, learn- ed, and ingenious divine of the Church of Scotland, was born at Culross in Perthshire in 1741. Showing an early quickness of ap- prehension, his parents determined to give him the best education which their circum- stances could afford. After receiving the ru- idiments of learning at the school of his native place, he was sent, when only thirteen years of age, to the University of Edinburgh, where he prosecuted his studies, in literature, phi- losophy, and divinity, with unwearied dili- gence and much reputation ; insomuch that, at the early age of seventeen, he was appoint- ed tutor to Mr Boswell of Balmuto, now one of the Senators of the College of Justice. He soon, however, gave up this charge on hearing that his own father lay dangerously ill, and preferred attending upon his sick parent to all the advantages he might have derived from the situation of a tutor to the eldest son. E4 72 MEMOIRS OF ^ of a respectable family. On the death of hi§ father, after an illness of four months, he was appointed tutor to the sons of the late Earl of DuNDONALD, then resident at Culross Ab- bey. In May 1764, he received his licence to preach the Gospel from the presbytery of Dunfermline, after passing through the cus- tomary trials and exercises with great ap- plause. He now began to preach, and was always listened to with much attention and interest, and was sure to draw a crowd of hearers to any church in which it was known that he was to officiate. About a vear after his ordination, he was offered the ministry of the chapel of ease be- longing to the parish of St Cuthberts at Edin- burgh ; and shortly afterwards received the offer of what is called the Laigh Kirk of Pais- ley. But having a prospect of obtaining the ministry of the parish of South Leith, which he greatly preferred, though inferior in point of stipend to both the others, he declined these two offers. He was, according to his expecta- tions, soon afterwards unanimously chosen to be one of the two ministers of the Collegiate Church of South Leith, to which he was ordain- ed in January 1766. In May following he mar-j WILLIAM SMELLIE. 73 ried Miss Margaret Charters, a young lady to whom he had been long attached. After he had resided about three years in Leith, he made a visit to London, where he preached at several of the Scots meeting-houses, parti- cularly in those of Swallow-street and Lon- don-wall. Soon after his return to Leith, he received an offer of the ministry to Swallow- street Meeting-house, which then yielded a stipend of two hundred a year, more than double the income he received at Leith. He declined this offer, intimating privately to his friends, that nothing would induce him to quit his congregation at Leith, unless he were to obtain the church at London-wall. In little more than eighteen months that charge became vacant, and shortly after- wards he received an unanimous call to supply the vacancy. He accordingly left Leith, to the great regret of his parishioners, and entered on the charge of London-wall Meeting-house in August 177L Having de- termined to educate his own children, he in- stituted a private academy in his house, where he superintended the education of a small number of pupils. 74 MEMOIRS OP In 1784 Dr Hunter published the two first volumes of his Sacred Biography, con- sisting of a series of lectures or discourses on the lives of the most eminent persons record- ed in the Sacred Scriptures. This work met with great success, being both original in its design, and executed in a masterly manner, and was afterwards extended to six volumes. To these he afterT>^ards added a seventh on the life of our Saviour. He likewise pub- lished tvv^o volumes of Miscellaneous Sermons in 1795, most of which had been previously printed separately. These had been written for particular occasions, and mostly to com- memorate the anniversaries of various chari- table institutions ; and are prefaced by short memoirs, anecdotes, and illustrations, re- specting the persons, institutions, and events which gave occasion to their composition. This collection likewise contains accounts of the Scottish Incorporation, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in the High- lands and Islands of Scotland, and the Soci- ety for promoting Religious Knowledge a- mong the Poor. In January 1797, the Rev. John Fell be- gan a course of lectures on the Evidences of WILLIAM SMELLIE. 75 Christianity, which he dehvered on the first Sunday of every month at London-wall Meet- ing-house. The design being interrupted by the death of Mr Fell, who had only de- livered four of these lectures, Dr Hunter was prevailed on to complete the series, ori- ginally intended to have been twelve in num- ber. And the whole twelve were afterwards published in one volume, and quickly passed through three editions. After his decease, two volumes of sermons and other miscella- neous pieces were published, which complete the series of his original works : We shall now give a short account of his translations of the works of others, The first of his translations was that of the singular work by Lav ate r on Physiognomy ; in the course of which he actually travelled to Zurich in Switzerland for the express pur- pose of paying a visit to Lavater ; whom he characterised as " a strange, wild, eccentric creature ; possessing great genius, unaffect- ed piety, unbounded benevolence, moderate learning, much caprice and unsteadiness, a mind at once aspiring by nature, and grovel- ling through necessity, with an endless turn to speculation and project ; in a word, a cle^ 76 MEMOIRS OP jjft ver, flighty, good natured, necessitous man. The first number of this work in EngUsh was pubUshed in January 1789, in a style of ele- gance, both as to printing and engraving, to which the public was then little accustomed ; being among the first of those expensive pub- lications which have done so much honour to the talents of our artists, and the public spi- rit of our country. In January 1795, he published a translation of Euler's Letters to a German Princess, a work which explains many of the most abstruse subjects in philo- sophy in a clear and simple manner. In the same year he published a translation of the Studiesof Nature by Bernardine St. Pierre. A work abounding in excellent moral and phi-, lanthrophic sentiments, but full of declama- tion and absurd hypothesis. In 1796, he published the translation of a volume of Ser- mons by Saurin ; and in 1800, a translation of Memoirs of the Empress of Russia by Cas- ter a ; which completes the list of his literary exertions. Dr Hunter long officiated as chaplain to the Scottish Incorporation ; and in August 1790 he was elected Secretary to the Cor- responding Board at Loudon of the Society WILLIAM SMBLLIE. 77 for Propagating Christian Knowledge in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland ; and to his exertions both of these excellent institu- tions owe a large portion of the ample funds they now enjoy. Dr Hunter was a tall slender man, with a strongly marked countenance of much ex- pression ; his mind was energetic, his heart uncommonly warm, and his feelings quick and powerful. Whatever he undertook he prosecuted with ardour, and his views were always bent on some important or interest- ing object. Though uncommonly lively and agreeable in conversation, he had not the smallest turn for raillery or repartee, and perhaps never attempted a joke in the whole course of his life ; yet had a keen relish for those social qualities in others, when inno- cently exerted, and was an admirable judge of humour, which he either actually did not possess, or never allowed himself to indulge. As a pulpit orator his abilities vfere of the first order ; clear and perspicuous in reason- ing and arrangement of his subject, animated and pathetic in the expression of feelings, solemn, distinct, and engaging, in delivery. 78 MEMOIRS OP After losing three sons and a daughter, who had all grown up to the excitement of high expectations from their success in life, the feelings of the Doctor were irrepara- bly injured by these repeated shocks upon a susceptible heart endowed with warm affec- tions, and their loss preyed deeply on his constitution. Yet he repined not, and scarce- ly complained, but endeavoured to comfort the remaining branches of his family ; but the struggle between duty and affectionate remembrance undermined his constitution : In summer 1802 he was suddenly seized with faintness in the pulpit. Soon afterwards he ac- quired a severe cold by walking on the damp grass for a considerable time near Green- wich, which brought on a cough and pain in his breast. He was advised to try Bristol, where he died on the 27 October 1802, aged 61 years. His character is summed up by a friend as follows : '• ^Although one man may be found to fill his place as a minister, a second as a man of active charity and be- nevolence, a third as an instructor of youth, and a fourth as a literary character ; yet we must not expect to see a man speedily arise capable of sustaining all these various cha- WILLlAxM SMELLIK. 79 racters in one equal to Henry Hunter *.'* His widow survived him only nine months^ and died of a few hours illness. His daugh- ter, Miss Agnes Hunter, has lately publish- ed a respectable miscellaneous work, princi- pally calculated for the improvement of young persons of her own sex. There is a pleasure in recording departed worth, which, if any apology is necessary, must excuse the length of the foregoing bio- graphical sketch of one of the earliest friends of Mr Smellies youth. They had much re- semblance in one circumstance, that both were equally negligent of the goods of for- tune, though both had numerous families to- which they were both most affectionately attached. The two letters which follow that from Mr Smellie to Mr Henry Hunter, are to Mr SiMELLiE from Mr Samuel Hunter, an intelligent young man who was bred to the ministry in the Church of Scotland, but died in early life before having procured any charge. The familiar expression Hally used * Sermons, &c. of the late II. IIuwter, D. D. I. xlvi. so MEMOIRS OF by Mr Smell ie in the immediately following letter, arose from this circumstance, that he and his young friend had been accustomed to read the works of Shakespeare together, probably as an exercise in elocution. No. IX. Mr William Sjiellie to Mr Henry Hunter,- Dear Hall, 1761. I AM afraid, that whoever is so stupid as to procrastinate till he feels the secret mo- tions of the spirit (but, by the bye, what spi- rit do you mean ? Is it the spirit of dullness, of motion, of friendship, or of poetry ? If any but the last, I must henceforth consider you to be as great a sinner as any divine in the church) will, agreeably to my material sys- tem, never be able to move either leg or limb. Instead of waiting for the spirit, I have delayed writing my friend till I had got a stout dinner of roast beef, with a pretty tolerable suck of Scotch porter. Hence, what- ever follows flows from matter, and matter alone, without the intervention of any paul- WILLIAM SMHLLIE. 8l try god or goddess. Society is doubtless the peculiar happiness of the human species, ac- cording to all writers, both ancient and mo- dern, the author of this letter except- ed. I say, I affirm, nay, if it please your reverence, I shall swear, that every order of brutes, from the grasshopper that chirps in the meadow to the lion that roars in the fo- rest, delight as much in society, especially on particular occasions, as those of the hu- man race. I could prosecute this theme to a very great length. For example, I could prove even to your satisfaction, a better phrase than to a demonstration, that brutes associate together from far more disinterest- ed motives than men. Why do men flock to large cities as bees to a hive ? You, and all the orthodox, will answer, Because mankind are social animals. But I say, because they are rapacious animals. They come together in order to trick, cheat, and prey upon each other. Of all animals men are unquestionably the most unsocial. Why do men go in crov/ds to the tavern ? Not surely because they love one another sincerely; otherwise in every room we should find a circle of sincere and disin- terested friends. But you well know, dear Hall, how seldom this is the case. The in- VoL, I. F 82 MEMOIRS OF satiable desire after wine, humour, and frivo* lity, or dissipation, forces every individual to run to taverns and tippling houses. Hence vanity, debauchery, and selfishness, are the true sources of this and every kind of hu- man society. Not so the beasts of the field. The fewer horses or sheep there may be in a pasture, so much the better is the chear ; and yet experience teaches, that a single horse in a meadow, or a single sheep on a mountain, is not half so gay, frolicsome, or happy, as if some hundreds of their kind fed together, although by that means they may even be forced to live on short allowance. Hence horses and sheep are more social animals than the so much boasted lords of the creation. Let me see ; what confounded noise is this about horses and sheep, and meadows and mountains, and society, &c. O ! I have it. So you are now become portioner of a bee-hive : — an excellent member, i'faith ! You unquestionably introduced yourself to Jamie Spittal, that penetrating bee-gazer, and the other members of that respectable body, in the following strain. " Gentlemen bee-masters ! I return you my most hearty and gracious thanks for that very singular WILLIAM SMELLIE. 83 instance of your generosity in admitting me to be one of your society. Think not, how- ever, that I am an entire novice in your pro- fession. No ; I have lain three days and three nights prostrate on my belly, exactly fronting the door of a bee- hive, with my head and shoulders raised to an angle of 30"^ 3' 45'^, in order to inspect the Empress- queen ; and never once shut my eyes till her Imperial Majesty, attended by the lords and ladies of the bed-chamber, &c. stalked forth in awful procession to feast my wearied and wondering imagination. Nor is this the only instance of my heroism. Not to mention my infinite reading on this amiable and dig- nified subject, I have composed, be not sur- prised Gentlemen, a whole treatise on bees, which I had the honour to read before the celebrated Newtonian Society, and which that honourable body was pleased to stamp with public approbation. I shall not, how- ever, entirely anticipate my own merit ; but conclude with a cup of thanks (N. B. the strong ale quaich * is now at the door of your lips) to thee, O Jamie Spittal ! to the * A wooden dish, anciently much used in Scotland before the introduction of pottery. F 2 84 MEMOIRS OP weavers, tailors, tide-waiters, tars, wlieel- barrow makers, soutars f, flunkies if, and the remanent members of this worthy and truly learned society." Yours, &c. William Smellie. Address to me (no inconsiderable person- age) at Cochrane & Murrays, Craigs close. No. X. From Mr Samuel Hunter to Mr WiLLiA3t Smellie. Dear Smellie, No date. The chief design of this is to remind you of my existence. How are you ? What are you doing ? What have you been doing ? For my poor part, I have been chiefly employed in making and uttering sermons. As to essay making, I have done but little ; yet I have made one upon Daughters, containing much useful instruction for country ministers f Shoemakers. | Liverymen. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 85 and lairds, and for town merchants and prin- ters too. I have not sent it, because, in the present scattered state of our fraternity, I imagine you would not apply to it the edge of critical sagacity. This shews how much my style is improved. The scattering of the brethren will certainly be a great loss to our plan ; as it cools our zeal, and will, I am afraid, render it impossible for us to have our labours revised and corrected by each other. I WRITE this on Sunday, in full possession of the house, the family being gone to an oc- casion *. Had you been with me, I should have been happier, but I had not written so much of a sermon. I am gradually proceed- ing to a point which I consider to be abso- lutely necessary for preachers ; which is, to have no concern about what the hearers may think of me. I can easily be indifferent as to the opinion of the people ; but it is not easy to get rid of a concern about the opi- nit)n of a person one thinks has sense ; yet that too must be attained, because you can never know peoples opinions, and their tastes Fa * A customary Scots phrase, implying attendance on the Sa- crament of Communion. 86 MEMOIRS OF are so very different, many of them even so absurd, that it is impossible to please all. There is another more stickingly vexatious consideration to people in our way, which is the improlmbihty of doing any good by preaching. The people seem so incapable of thinking, and so attached to a set of notions, that I sometimes think there is little proba- bility of being able to touch them. Some- times one would think they shew marks of thought and candour, which give room for hope. The truth is, they would be much better than they are, if the ministers did not spoil them. These have got a particular set X>f words and notions which they can preach upon extempore, and to which, I believe, they have themselves an immoveable attach- ment, and are alarmed with any thing which seems to differ from them. Their consciences are not very good about extempore preach- ing, and they wish, therefore, to make people believe that reading of sermons is worse than any thing. They are unwilling to be at the trouble of preaching on any other subjects than what they have always been accustom- ed to ; and they wish, therefore, that nobody else would, and that no other manner of sermons should be acceptable to the hearers. "WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 87 Perhaps all this is dictated to me by pride ; and I do not, therefore, require that you should believe it. Meantime, I should be happy to have one friend by me, to whom I might talk over every thing I am in doubt about, and speak every thing I think. My sense of the need of this induced me to talk a little to you, but you make no answer. You have never returned my servitude. Perhaps you may have had a letter in your pocket these two months, and think you sent it to me. Pray look ; for I have received none. I could write away with great ease ; but on looking back to what I have written, I think you have enough of the goodness. The above has lain by me a long time ; and having now taken it into my head to send you a letter, I have not time to write another. Will you come hither ? If you can afford a poor horse to accompany you, I can get one to obviate you. Let me know ; and write if you cannot come. Let me know your history. — Tell me if * * ^ '*' * * is come. If I can see you all no other way, I will come to see you. Kind remembrance to the club and family. Yours, &c. Samuel Hunter. F4 §8 MEMOIRS OF No. X. Mr Samuel Hunter to Mr William Smellie. Dear Sir, No date. Having thought of an argument for the moral character of the Deity somewhat dif- ferent from any I remember to have seen, I intend in this letter to lay it before you. If it has any force at all, it deserves attention ; if it has none, it only goes the way that many others have gone before it. By particular affections implanted in hu- man nature, men are naturally led in some cases to virtuous actions. Conscience, ap- proving of every virtuous action, and disap- proving the contrary, has a farther tendency to make us virtuous ; and, since conscience is naturally superior to all particular affec- tions, and has a right to have its dictates listened to, it is a declaration from the Au- thor of our nature of what conduct he re-^ quires from us. Any advantages to be ob- WILLIAIil SMELLIE. 89 tained by a virtuous conduct are farther incitements to virtue. By the constitution of nature, then, men are directed to be vir^ tuous. There is, from analogy, a presump-. tion that God directs his creatures to that conduct which he approves ; he approves of virtue ; and a being, therefore, who approves of virtue, is virtuous. The same considera^ tions may, I think, be so extended as to give some ground to think he is so in a higher degree than appears in the govern- ment of the world. In the constitution of things, there is plainly a plan laid down, which, if it were kept to, would render men more happy, and would proportion their happiness more ex- actly to their virtue, than we find to be the case in the government of the world. Did we obey the dictates of conscience in every case, we should be saved from many of the inconveniencies which we bring upon our- selves : Did others obey their consciences, we should be saved from most of the calami- ties brought upon us by others. In cases where a man offends, every mans having a sense of merit or demerit, together v^^ith an indignation at vice, has a tendency to punish 00 MEMOIRS OP vice more uniformly than it actually is pu- nished. Now, if we look for the character of the Deity, rather in the plan that he has laid down, and in what he has done himself, than in those things which are the conse- quences of the actions of voluntary agents, we shall find his intention to he, that men should all be virtuous, and happy in proportion to their virtue. In order to shew that there shall be a state of retribution, we have then only to shew that God keeps to his first in- tention ; that his plan is upon the whole consistent, and is carried into execution ; and of this we have as strong proofs as ana- logy can afford ; as in every instance we know of or can conceive, laying a plan and giving it up proceeds from weakness or want of foresight. We have also proofs of God acting according to consistent plans, from the observations we can make on the works of nature. We may come to the same con- clusion by a shorter road. God has made us to approve of perfect virtue ; which is a direction for us to practise perfect virtue. But God does not shew perfect virtue in the government of the world ; he approves, there- fore, of more perfect virtue than he shews, and is therefore possessed of a more perfect WILLIAM SMELLIE. 91 virtue. The weakness of all the arguments to prove the Deity possessed of a more per- fect virtue than he shews, seems to be in this, that they are all founded on analogy ; and in this case, it is plain that analogy af- fords at best only weak evidence. Yet, in the coolest speculation, I find some of the analo- gies on this subject have force ; and, when I would give up the point, force me to some sort of assent. So far as the point concerns practice, I think analogy sufficient to deter- mine what is the prudent part. It is a guide we are obliged to trust ; a guide whom, in most cases where we try, we find faithful and safe. Why, then, should we distrust it here ? I s HALL make no apology for troubling you with so much on this subject. I confess I am loath to give up the point, and would gladly take hold of any thing which can throw any light on the subject. If you can find time to write it will be very refreshing. You can send a letter by the Saline carrier along with the newspapers. We expect * * * * # # here some of these days. Yours, &c. Sam. Hunter. 92 MEMOIRS OF In the course of his studies, Mr Smellie shewed a decided preference to that of Na- tural History in all its hranches, and at one period hecame much attached to that of Bo- tany ; hut his duties as corrector of the press to Messrs Murray and Cochrane did not allow him sufficient leisure for collecting so many plants himself as he wished to ohtain ; and in the summer 1760, heing engaged in writing a Botanical essay, which afterwards gained the prize, he employed the present Mr Pili:ans, printer in Edinhurgh, then his reading hoy, as his assistant in traversing the fields round Edinhurgh early in the mornings in search of flowers. His instruc- tions were, to gather every jjlanf, of what- ever nature, that had a flower ; which, when ohtained and examined, Mr Shiellie care- fully inserted in a folio hook kept for that purpose, writing on the opposite page a par- ticular account of the plant, with its nature and virtues, and every circumstance he knew respecting it. At this time he collected an extensive Hortus Siccus, containing ahove 400 native plants ; most of which he present- ed to Dr Hope, then Professor of Botany, and afterwards gave a duplicate of his collec- tion to the Antiquarian Society. The fol- "-> WILLIAM SMELLIE. ^ 93 lowing letters from Dr Hope, reiicive to the collection of dried plants which Mr Simellie had transmitted to him, shews either that Mr PiLLANS may have been mistaken in the year in which he was employed to gather the wild flowers, or that Mr Smellie had continued his labours on this subject for some years afterwards, before he considered his Hortus Siccus as worthy of being presented to the Professor. There is no date to the first of these letters ; but as the subject is ob- viously continued in the second, they must have been both written nearly about the same time. No. XL Dr John Hope to Air William Saiellie. Dear Sir, I have sent Georce to know at what time I shall send him with a careful porter for the plants. I beg that you may reserve some of them for yourself, as I should be sorry to rob you of them all. I shall call at your sisters at ten o'clock. Yours, &c. John Hope. 94 , MEMOIRS 01? No. XII. Dr John Hope to Mr William Sjiellie. Dear Sir, Edinburgh, 1th Feb. 1764. I HAVE the pleasure of acquainting you, that your collection of dried plants gave en- tire satisfaction to all the gentlemen who as- sisted in adjusting the annual premium ; and none scrupled to say that it well deserved to be distinguished by some honorary re^ ward. Your collection, made under the unfavour- able circumstances of a constant avocation, flatters me with the hope that no stranger will next year carry off the honorary medal ; and that it will be the lot of your successful application to this your favourite study. I am, &c. John Hope. According to the prediction in the above letter, Mr Smelue gained the honorary gold WiLLtAM SMELLIE. 95 prize medal, given by the Professor for the best botanical dissertation, in the following year, when he presented his Dissertation on the Sexes of Plants, the substance of which he afterwards published in the first volume of his Philosophy of Natural History. From the next subsequent letter, it would appear that he had published this dissertation in a separate pamphlet. This prize medal which Mr Smellie ob- tained is not now to be found in his repo- sitories, but its description will be seen in the subsequent letter from Dr William Wright, formerly an eminent physician in Jamaica ; who, in the intervals of his pro- fessional labours, has largely illustrated the botanical riches of that island, and has add- ed several valuable remedies from the vege- table kingdom to the list of the Materia Medica. This letter may be considered im- portant, as it establishes some facts in the life of Mr Smellie, to be noticed hereafter. 96 MEMOmS OF No. XIII. From Dr William Wright to Alexander KiNCAiD Tate, Esq. Dear Sir, Luss^ ^9th June 1810. Mr Alexander Smellie wrote me a few days before I left town, but time did not per- mit me to reply. You will please to say to liim, that I often met his father at literary societies, and at the houses of friends. I knew him to be an able natural historian, and a good botanist. He published a pamphlet against the Linnssan system, which gave of- fence to the friends of the illustrious Swede : and indeed it could not be otherwise, as Mr Smellie had not any thing to put in the room of it. Mr Smellie had a hand in the Edinburgh Magazine and Review with Dr Gilbert Stu- art, one of the ablest and severest works that ever appeared in this or any other country. As I lodo:ed in the same house with Dr Sxu- art in London, I learned much about Mr WILLIAM SMELLIE. 97 Smellie and his friends. Dr Stuart assur- ed me that the Domestic Medicine was ori- ginally written by Mr Sjiellie, and that Dr BucHAN had only to adopt it as his own. Tell Mr Saiellie that I got a gold me- dal from Dr Hope. The device on it is a cedar and a low plant : Round the margin is the following inscription, — " A Cedro ad Hys- sopum usque:'' At the bottom, — /. Hope, Bot, Prof, daf." I recovered the dye, and gave it to his son, Dr Thomas Hope, where Mr SiMELLiE may see it. I am, &c. WiLL^'- Wright Without meaning to take any part in the controversy respecting the sexual hypothesis in the economy of vegetables, which is now universally adopted upon good grounds of analogical reasoning, it may be permitted to say, that every one has a clear right to state his objections to any philosophical theory or hypothesis, even although he may not be prepared to supply its place by another ; and that philosophers, whose duty and profession is to search after truth, err egregiously in taking offence at any opposition which may Vol. I. G 98 MEMOIRS OF be made against their own opinions or those of chosen teachers. If a hypothesis is false and untenable, the sooner its weakness and absurdity is exposed, so much the better for the interests of truth and science. If just, opposition will excite the attention of inge- nious men to confirm its truth by new argu- ments and additional facts and experiments. We believe that the progress of science has suffered incalculable injuries in all ages by the hasty adoption of ingeniously devised theories, and brilliant but fallacious systems. Leaving the Aristotelian philosophy, which held the human mind in chains of adamantine ignorance for many centuries, it may be quite sufficient to adduce the overthrow of the che- mical theory of Phlogiston, in consequence of which the science of chemistry has made a thousand times more progress during the last thirty years than during thirty preceding cen- turies. During the period when Mr Smellie was attending the botanical lectures, Dr Hope had the misfortune to sprain his leg so severe- ly as to be unable to attend his class for a long time. The Doctor was so highly sensible of the knowledge and abilities of Mr Smellie^ WILLIAM SMELLIEi 99 that he requested him, on this occasion, to carry on the lectures to the students during his own necessary absence. Tliis was actu- ally done by Mr Smellie for a considerable time, his widow says during six weeks, and to the entire satisfaction of his fellow stu- dents. The author of these Memoirs perfectly re^ members to have heard Mr Saiellie recom- mend the Kings Park at Edinburgh, which includes Arthurs-seat and Salisbury-craigs, as a most excellent field for the researches of a botanical student ; because, owing to the great variety of its soils, exposures, and ele- vations, it produces an uncommonly great variety of different species of indigenous plants. He remembers likewise to have heard from Mr Smellie, that he had gained some wagers from his botanical companions, by en- gaging to collect a certain large specified number of distinct species in that place, far beyond what they believed possible, within a circle described by the extent of his hands stretched out, while his feet remained at th$ centre. 100 MEMOIRS. OF As Dr Hope, besides his connexion with Mr SsiELLiEs botanical studies, was one of his earUest friends and patrons, and contri- buted, by his assistance, to Mr Smellies first estabhshment in hfe as a master printer, to be afterwards mentioned, some biographical notice of that worthy and ingenious physician and professor seems called for in this place. The late Dr John Hope, professor of Bo- tany, was born at Edinburgh on the 10th of May 17^5. His father, Mr Robert Hope, a respectable surgeon, was a younger son of Sir Archibald Hope, Lord Rankeilar, a distinguished senator of the College of Jus- tice. His mother, Marion Glass, was a descendant of the ancient family of Glass of Sauchie in Stirlingshire. Dr Hope receiv^- ed his early education at the school of Dal- keith, then taught by the celebrated Mr Bar- clay. From thence he removed to the Uni- versity of Edinburgh, Avhere he prosecuted his medical studies under the elder Dr Mon- ro and the other early luminaries who laid the solid foundation of the present celebrated medical school of that University. He be- came an early member of the Medical Society of Edinburgh, which has been many years. w WILLIAM SMELLIE 101 justly celebrated as an excellent source of improvement to the industrious medical stu- dents, and was one of the first of those who were raised to the rank of an honorary mem- ber in that society. After going through the usual academi- cal course of studies at the University of Edinburgh, he went to some of the foreign medical schools, and had the advantage of studying botany, his favourite science, under the then celebrated Bernard Jussieu, the botanical professor at Paris. Recalled to Scotland by the death of his father, he ob- tainetl the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of Glasgow about the begin- ning of the year 1750; and was soon after- wards admitted a member of the Royal Col- lege of Physicians of Edinburgh, and entered into the practice of medicine in that city ; the duties of which profession he always dis- charged with much judgment, and with that humane atteiition which so much becomes a medical practitioner, and for which he was minently conspicuous. On the death of Dr Alston, the professor- ships of botany and materia medica became G3 102 ME3I0IRS OP vacant; and as Dr Hope had shown an ear-. ly and decided partiality and attachment to the science of botany, he was considered as a fit successor for that chair ; one in whose hands the credit of the university might safely be entrusted, and by whose exertions its risr ing fame might be both supported and ex- tended. Accordingly, by a royal commis- sion, dated 13th April 1761, he was appointed Kings Botanist for Scotland, and Superinten- dant of the Royal Garden at Edinburgh. A few weeks after receiving that commission from the Crown, Dr FIope v/as elected by the Town Council of Edinburgh as the successor of Dr Alston in the professorships of botany and materia medica. The Royal Garden, then occupied by the Kings botanist, was si- tuate close to the Palace of Holy rood-house;; and the professor of botany had the use of another piece of ground belonging to the City of Edinburgh, called the Physic Garden, im- mediately to the east of the North Bridge. He continued for about six years to giv^ regular courses of lectures on both these sub- jects, with much credit to himself, and great- ly to the satisfaction and improvement of the students ; teaching the science of botany du- ring the summer months, and the materia WILLIAM SMELLIE. 103 medica class during the winter session. But, finding his health impaired by his unwearied and constant attentions, he resigned the chair of materia medica in 1768, and confin- ed himself to his favourite science of botany. On this occasion, he got a new commission from his Majesty on the 8th May 1768, as Regius Professor of Medicine and Botany in the University ; and the offices of Kings Bo- tanist and Superintendant of the Royal Gar- den, which had hitherto been granted during pleasure only, were now conferred upon him for life. Not many months after resigning the pro- fessorship of materia medica, Dr Hope was elected one of the physicians to the Royal Infirmary, then vacant by the death of the late worthy Dr David Clerk. He conti- nued to discharge the duties of this employ- ment, almost to the day of his death, with much humanity, besides bestowing the most unremitting attention to a very extensive private practice. It has been already mentioned that there were formerly two botanical gardens occupi- ed by the professor of botany, one belonging G4 lOi MEMOIRS OP to the Crown, and attached to the office of Kings botanist, while the other was the proj)erty of the town, and was attached to the professorship of botany. Both of these were small and ill situate ; and the public funds allowed for the purpose were quite in- sufficient for the establishment of a fit bota- nical garden, or the erection and manage- ment of proper conservatories for plants. Dr Hope therefore transmitted a judicious me- morial to the Crown on this subject, during the administration of the Earl of Bute, a no- bleman who was peculiarly attached to the science of botany ; in consequence of which adequate funds were granted for the purpose of purchasing a convenient spot of ground, and for erecting a new botanical garden, with appropriate conservatories. On this occasion, the present garden in Leith Walk was esta- blished, planned, and perfected by Dr Hope, and is a lasting memorial of his warm and ju- dicious attachment to the sciences in gene- ral, and to botany in particular. During the administration of the Duke of Portland, Dr Hope afterwards procured additional roy- ^1 aid to this his favourite object; and through bis perseverance, the University of Edinburgh finally became possessed of the most exten^ AVILLIAM SMELLIE. 105 sive public botanical garden in Europe, which has been enriched with a vast variety of ve- getable productions from every part of the globe. Besides these unremitting and successful exertions in forming and enriching the bo- tanical garden, Dr Hope was most assiduous in cherishing and promoting a zeal for bota- nical studies among the young gentlemen who resorted to the University of Edinburgh for medical education. His predecessor, Dr Alston, had only been in use to read a very small number of lectures on this science ; but Dr Hope was quite indefatigable in perfect- ing his lectures, till they became as complete and comprehensive as any scientific course in the celebrated medical school of Edinburgh ; and in delivering this extended course, he always evinced an ardent enthusiasm to ad- vance and extend his favourite science, which had a powerful effect to inspire similar emo- tions in his hearers. Among the means he employed to excite a spirit for botanical studies, he was long in use to bestow an an- nual gold medal entirely at his own expence, as a spur to exertion, and as a testimony of superior merit, for the best botanical essay 106 MEMOIRS OF written by the students on a prescribed sub- ject ; a description of which has been already- given. Besides some useful manuals for facilitat- ing the acquisition of botany by his students, Dr Hope was long engaged in the composi- tion of an extensive botanical work, on which he bestowed much study and reflection ; the object of vv^hich was to increase the advantages which result from the highly ingenious artifi- cial system of the great Linnaeus, by conjoin- ing with it a system of vegetables distribut- ed according to their great natural orders. He had made very considerable progress in this valuable work ; and it is much to be regretted by every lover of botany, that the public has been deprived of the fruits of his labours oi:^ this important subject, as it was left imperfect at his death. Two valuable dissertations by this learned professor of botany have been published in the London Philosophical Trans- actions ; one on the Rheum Palmatum, and the other on the Ferula Assafoetida, in which he demonstrates the practicability of culti- vating these two officinal plants in our own country. The true rhubarb has been since extensively and successfully cultivated ; but WILLIAIiI SMEIerly said to be perfectly innocent ; and, in consequence of this, must not such a man be entitled to all the rewards due to virtue*. Yours. &c. \VlLLlA3I S3IELLIE. P. S. — Don't $core TOur queriturs so un- mercifullv ; I can scarcely read your last : Farthermore, to avoid the same inconveni- ence^ write vour letters in such a manner that the sealing may not overiard the words. No. XXVI. To Mr WiLLiA3i S-MELLiE from *******. Dear S-Mellie, A~o date, My method in this letter shall be, first to answer a question, and then to ask one. 1. The question to be answered is, " ^lav not a man who never sins but frcm an una- * Ttk is a mere jm«ule arid -anteaable idea, tin>«u cc: :_ a^- cit as aas«>a- firoa kis leuaed frioid, asd to kerp xro die ball of improving oonv^oadenccw Vol. I. K 146 MEMOIRS OF voidable necessity, either of nature or consti- tution, be properly said to be perfectly inno- cent ; and, of consequence, entitled to the rewards due to virtue?" Ans. — A man who sins, from any cause whatever, cannot be said to be perfectly in- nocent ; because sin is the transgression of a law, which is always connected with the notion of guilt ; and the very nature of a law infers some penalty or sanction. Transgres- sion andguilt imply punishment. This answers the second part of your question ; I speak as a heathen ; but you had certainly an immediate eye to Christianity ; and in that view it may be answered in the affirmative ; if we attempt the practice of every virtue to the utmost of our power ; if we indulge ourselves wilfully in no known sin, then may we find accep- tance, but only through a Mediator, and on- ly by faith in him. This is the very mean- ing of his dying for our offences, — to conci- liate the just and mighty God to our imper- fect services,— to procure an entrance for us, notwithstanding our defects, and notwith- standing the wilful sins we may have former- ly been guilty of. WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 147 2. I ONCE before questioned you concern- ing the effects of thunder on the animal, and now do I want to learn of its effects on the potable creation. Two-penny*, and strong ale, and, for Avhat I know, all sorts of malt liquors, are said to be killed dead by a storm of thunder. Query. How is that effect pro- duced ? Wherefore does it affect all ales, when only an antrinf animal is destroyed ? Is there any means of preventing it ? Does thunder affect any other liquors besides those made from malt ? Again, what are the prin- ciples of life in two-penny ? How is its natu- ral death effected ? And are there any means of resuscitation ? Yours, &c. The following letter to a friend, of which the remaining copy is entirely without date, * Two-penny was a favourite potation at Edinburgh in former days : it was a mild, brisk malt liquor, or table beer ; named either fi'om its price of two-pence the Scots pint,nearly half an English wine gallon, or fnnn a tax paid to the City of Edinburgh by the brewer of two Scots pennies, each equal to one twelfth of a penny Sterling, on each Scots pint of the liquor. The prodigious increase of the Excise on brewing has banished this economical, wholesome, and exhilarating liquor from Edinburgh, forcing the labouring people to regale themselves on destructive ardent spirits. t Anlr'tn is a Scots word signifying occasional or chance. K2 148 ME 310 IRS OF commences with the subject then in agita- tion about the proposed change of his pro- fession, and seems to have been written be- tween the 1759, when he became corrector to Murray and Cochrane, and the 1763j when he married. Soon leaving, however, the incipient topic about his entering into the clerical profession, it discusses some phi- losophical subjects upon which his friend ap- pears to have consulted him, and narrates the circumstances of an interview between our young philosophical journeyman printer and Dr John Hope, then Professor of Botany in the University of Edinburgh. No. XXVlI. Mr William Smellie to # * * Dear Sir, No date. Since you Avill have me to wear sables, I must say that, if I had no other earthly ob- jection to the sacred function, I could not answer for it to my conscience. My ideas of WILLIAIM SMELLIE. 149 the virtues and endowments which I judge indispensibly necessary to the constitution of a clergyman run so very high, that my heart flatly tells me I am both unqualified and unworthy of that honourable but much j^bused office. * * * * ^^ * -;^ * # # . In compliance with your demands, I shall relate an anecdote concerning the behaviour of Dr Hope, which I am certain will not entertain you half so much as it surprised myself. The occasion of it was this. Gar- land asked a sight of my discourses on Vegetation and Generation ; and, after reading them, he shewed them to the Doctor. Some days after this I acciden- tally encountered with the Doctor at the Cross *. The usual compliments being over, and our hats mutually replaced, he told me that he had seen my discourses, and was K3 • The Cross is a central situation in the raain street of the old city of Edinburgh, where the inhabitants used long to re^^ort at a £xed hour for the purposes of business and ordinary intercourse. The former part of this still exists, especially on Wednesday, the market-day ; But, from the vast modern extension of the; new city, the latter is now divided among: numerous coffee-houses, reading rooms, and various iashionable lounges. 150 ME3I01RS OF pleased with them. lie next asked me if I had purchased the Systema Naturse ? When I replied in the negative, he said there was not a single copy to be had in Edinburgh, but that he designed to lay hold of the first that came to this country, and to make me a present of it, adding, that he thought he could not dispose of it to better purpose. Thanks being given, &c. he desired me to call upon him at eight o'clock. The appoint- ment was faithfully kept on both sides. We discoursed about an hour on plants, insects, chemJstry, and other topics. I took an op- portunity to ask him about the arrows *. He entirely satisfied me upon that head, that the snails did not throw them out of their bodies, as the fluttering Monsieur observed ; but that the arrows were merely thin membranous bo- dies situate som_ewhere about their genitalia, which they invariably and reciprocally erected and struck each other with when excited by the passion of propagation. You may now in- * This refers to some crude notions about the sexual in- tercourse of snails, which liis correspondent had requested Mr S:*3ELLiK to explain, and which will be found elucidated in ono of his letters. These, and many other of the vermes, arc now known to be androgynous ; and the phenomenon mentioned in the text is in reality a reciprocation of active and passive mu? tual impregaation. WILLIAM SI^IELLIE. 151 spect, and probably discover, this mysterious little machine. We next supped and drank wine. After this we went to another room, and read over my discourse on Vegetation. He started several difficulties, some of which were the very remarks you made in the so- ciety ; and I removed them as well as might be. After breaking a few rotten eggs, or, if you chuse your simile, after thrusting a few squamous snails into my hand *, he conclud- ed with assuring me, that he would use his utmost influence to put me into a situation that should be more grateful to my taste than conning over insipid laiuisms f ; and, in the interim, offered me the full use of his li- brary. I have a double view in telling this story ; 1. To shew that there is such a thing as disinterested benevolence in the world, bad as it is ; and, 2. To tell you, what you know sufficiently already, that vanity lurks in a secret corner of my little heart. When I first began to imagine myself superior to K4 * Certain quaint expressions, meaning praise or contplimentij. t Alluding to his employment of Corn ctor of the press, where he had a great number of hiw pa})ejs to read and conect. 152 MEMOIRS OF scriveners *, I then felt vanity springing up apace in my mind. Although I have got some very humbling strokes, from observing the genius and ability of others, whom I kno^v to be more ingenious, more learned, and more wise than myself; yet I confess this passion is far from being totally master- ed. For some time past, however, I have every day simk a degree in my own esteem. How to overcome, or where to fix the lawful bounds of vanity, if any such there are, may be a very proper enquiry for your next weeks epistle. . As to the medicinal virtues of snails ; no]; having a dispensatory by me, I can only say this much, that I know they are frequently prescribed, and particularly in consumptions. Linnaeus ranks snails ^mong the Vermes, which is the sixth order of his Regnum Ani- mak ; whereas serpents make the ^/'^^ order CI his third class of animals, vi?. the Amphi- bia ■\, * Probably referring to the apprentices and clerks to the writers or attornics, who might consider themselves as superior be- insis to such of their former scliool fellows as were in mechanical employments. + T'h.re is an inaccuracy, or rather loose want of precision here, by confounding in careless epistolary writing the diftercnce between WILLIAM SMELLIE. 1 d3 On Friday last Mr Gardiner* read a very masterly paper in the Botany class on the method of arranging natural bodies. The subject was dry, but was made very agreeable by handsome composition and the gentle- mans conspicuous modesty. If you have not seen Campbell on Miracles f , I shall supply that defect if it can be conveyed to you with safety. Two months hence, I intend to advertise a meeting of the society, if np material objection is started. My spirits are at present very low, although the sun shines, and the sky is serene. I am frequently out of humour both with myself and the world. I am not old ; yet am I sometimes tired with the insipid uniformity and dull similarity of entertainments, which classes ancl orders; but of which ?.Ir Smellie was perfectly aware. Vermes QUght to have been called the sixth class instead of order, * This is believed to have been the late worthy and ingenious Dr John Gardineii, physician in Edinburgh, the author of the Animal Economy and other excellent works. + There is a remarkably neat abridged account of the arguments used by Hume against the authenticity of miracles, and the re- futation of these by Campbell, written by MtSmellie for the first cVlition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, which will be found in the sequel. 154 MEMOIRS OF turns round and round and round, without presenting any thing new. Forgive, there- fore, the brevity and flatness of this letter. Yours, &c. William Smellie. No. XXVIII. To Mr William S.mellie from *****. Dear Smellie, I am engaged in quite a different scene from what I had figured to myself. So much with company, and so much in study, will considerably retrench my correspondence hours. My former musing contemplative folios are now exchanged for closets and conversation ; so that I cannot propose such length in speculation as heretofore. We may, however, and must, once a fortnight, hear from each other, though it should not be always in folio, or always in the depths of speculation. I WAS thinking a little more of the occa- sional Speculator, and am very much in love WILLIAM SMELLIE. 155 with him ; only it must be deferred longer than the time you were mentioning, at least till ten or twelve approved ones are in readi- ness ; six or eight at the very least ; and that might be against next winter, if there were a third. The style, you know, must be correct, and the whole composition polish- ed, to make it any way respectable, or to seem the work of genius. I AM in great expectation from your Titu- lating Theory, aiid long to feast my imagina- tion with it. In the mean time, if you will have a queritur, think if you can demonstrate a climax in the senses, if you can perceive them running into each other, and blending together, like most other objects of nature, and if in any case it is difficult to determine their boundaries, or to assign every percep- tion to its proper sense. Yours, &c. The following letter to one of Mr Sjiellies friends has no date, but may probably belong to the same period with those which have gone before ; and evidently refers to several pro- jects for essays in a periodical paper which he and this person intended to have published in 156 3IE3IOIRS OF conjunction, but which project was never exe- cuted. Ko. XXIX. Ml^ WlLLIAHI SmELLIE fo * * ^ * * *. Dear Sir, No date. I WAS both surprised and disappointed at your delay. Crowds of youngsters daily har- rass me with impertinent questions. Is ***** dead ? Surely he must be dead or mad ? I re- plied that the alteriiative was unjust ; for that you were neither dead nor mad, but that some strange humour had overflowed the banks, and you had sunk ^ven as a stone * ; J, Glen ! The Speculator f must be christened a- new. A trifling club is set up under the ^ This allusion ami apostrophe to J. Glen is obscure, but may refer to some well known cant of the day. t From this it would appear, that the name of their intended periodical work had been changed from the iNJan of the Moon to the Speculator. It is curious to notice this contemptuous opinion of the Speculative Society, which has been eminently useful and WILLIAM SMELLIE. 157 name of the Speculative Society. This rea- son is very conclusive. Whatever designa- tion he may obtain, he has much of my good graces, and henceforth I design to make him my bosom friend. I heartily approve of your plan, but a dozen handsome essays are sufficiently few. I can think of no third hand, neither do I wish for a third ; provided we two could execute it properly ; one third of the profits would considerably diminish our gain. I have calculated the expence, and find that 500 copies, sold at twopence each> produce two pounds clear, allowing for every possible circumstance. The worst that can happen is the loss of twenty shillings. What a trifle ! what a nothing is this ! compared to the cash, the honour, and, above all, the im- mense fun we shall be regaled with at the ex- pence of good Mr Innominatus *. What think you of the Ranger, — the Illuminator, — the Lustrator, — the IMan of the Moon, — the Dis- quisitor, — the Contempiator,— the Tutor, — the Guide, — ^the Director, — ^the Instructor, — &c. &c. ? has subsisted in vigour ever sincp. Mr Smellie was then oiily a little more reraoved from a boy than the original instituturs ol that Society, yet chuses to look duwn upon them as trifli.'rs. * This seems to have been the intended name of the concealed author of the proposed periodical paper. 1.58 MEMOIRS OF I CANNOT engage to do any thing for some time.- I have, however, jotted down the Iieads of an essay on Flesh-eating ; for which I have a peculiar theory, whereby I imagine that I can justify the conduct of Providence in permitting one animal to prey upon an- other. Dr Wallace, the last writer who mentions this subject, has given it up as in- explicable. Another on Genius, in which I propose to investigate the cause why one genius differs from another. A third, a Phy- sico-Theological Essay on Botany. A fourth, on the Nature of Sleep, Dreaming, &c. *. — A fifth, on Vulgar Ignorance ; chiefly setting vulgar errors in a ridiculous point of view. — A sixth, on Jealousy ; mostly founded on observation. I hope you are not idle. Tell me which of the half dozen I should try my hand upon first, I have not yet begun my discourse on Shaking of Hands : It will be difTicult ; and I dread the execution. I WAS lately appointed by the Society of Masons to give them a discourse on Cha- rity. I hammered it over in my old way, on * This Eisiiy is published in the second volume of the Philos9r phy of Natural History L>y Mr Smei,i.ie. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 159 Monday se'eni^rht. I had the solatium of a verv long and ven- loud clap. I wrought this same essay entirely out of my own imasjina- tion, without turning over a single leaf of a book. Hall Hunter * heard it : so that if you chuse to learn any thincj farther of it, you mav consult him. It has been shewn to several persons of sense, and among the rest to no less a man than the Earl of Levex ! Won- derful ! I am strongly solicited to print it for the amusement of the town f . I wish vou had been here, as your opinion would have had considerable weiorht ; but I beUeve I shall not expose myself to the view of the public. One thing I lament : It would have been a tolerable morsel for 3Ir Innominatus. The Society met ten davs a^^o. We had a meetinor of seven i^ood fellows, all hijijh mettled, havina: their heads full of Xewto- aiaiiism. • The Rev. Dr Hexrt Hcxtsr, late of London-w^ll. who hA» been already mentioned. t Thfs essay on Charitj- was printed^ aad 5,500 copies of it arc said to haw been spet^lily sold. No printed Ci»py ol this essay can now be touod ; but a raanuschpt essay oa the same subject, in Mr Sjikllies hand-wniin^, still rvotaiits, and is ^tipposcri t«x ha>-c been the original here alluded lo. 160 ME-AIOIRS OF Write me by next carrier, under the pe- nalty of anathematization. The carriers will call punctually enough at Millers shop. I have not yet thought of your climax : But it has long been a fancy of mine that there is but one capital passion, and that all the rest are but mere cringing dependants. I shall think of this afterwards more at lencrth. I AM again entirely buried in law-fustian*; I pray you, therefore, from mere humanity, to give me a reviving draught as frequently as possible. Yours. Szc. WiLLiA3i Smellie. F. S. — I HAVE wrote down F. S. but have nothing to tack to its tail. Fro3i these and many Similar letters, it is obvious that Mr Smellie had become dis^ contented at his professional situation, as dooming him to what he considered mechani- cal drudgery, hopeless of bettering his con- dition in life, and precluded from the enjoy- AUuding to the dull employment of revising and corrcctim^ the printed law arguments which are presented to the Court of Session in all causes. WILLIAM SMELHE. 161 Inent of literary ease. His companions and friends, falling into his views of the matter, appear to have fostered this discontent, by- proposals of altering his condition into one of the learned professions ; and the following is evidently an answer to a letter on this to- pic from one of his early friends. It was written in the year 1763, but the remainder of the date is omitted in the copy. It opens a new scene, however, in his life, matrimony, on which he entered soon afterwards. No. XXX. Mr William Smellie ^ * * * * *. Dear Sir, 1763. To study physic to the bottom, as I would wish, is perfectly impracticable. A penury of precious metal is indeed the principal cause of this impracticability. I formerly express- ed my difficulties as to divinity. Were I 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 Vol. I. L 162 MEMOIRS OP ofRce was purely to advance the glory of God, and to promote the eternal interests of mankind. How amiable the principle ! But, alas ! the highest stretch of vanity, and the most enthusiastic self-approbation, will never be able to make me dream that I am possess- ed of such a God-like heart. The converse of this idea is shocking and nauseous ; there- fore let me speedily banish it. Besides, bating all scruples of this nature, supposing I had got a charge, read Pictet, commenced 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 mankind, I mean the ingenious part of the species, afraid to speak my ge- nuine sentiments of men and things, and, to crown all, perhaps hated by nine-tenths of the parish. I put the case to yourself. What satisfaction, what pleasure, what so- ciety, what mighty profit, can such an em- ployment afford to a man of my kidney ? Even supposing I had the good fortune to be admired by some; but the supposition is indeed extremely absurd ; for however elegant the composition, yet elocution, O sovereign elo- cution ! thou canst never flow from Smellier WILLIA3I SMELLIE. 163 awkward tongue ; by consulting my own imagination, I learn that I have a passion for novelty, and for straining things to their ut- most pitch : A very dangerous and very un- popular turn for a clergyman ! I SHALL now inform you of an affair which will surprise you more than if I had turned a worshipper of Mahomet. Nature has deem- ed me to be a violent lover for some years past. Many expedients have I tried to overcome the passion ; vain and unsuccess- ful, however, every attempt of this kind has been. Neither books, conversation, or phi- losophy^ have been able to eradicate the deep-rooted affection. What is still more singular, the flame had seized both our hearts long before either of us were aware of or suspected the secret cause, which forcibly determined us to be no where so easy as in the simple society of two. I have coolly and deliberately, and warmly and passionately, alternis vicibus, considered what was most pro- per to be done. To give up all correspond- ence would have hurt me extremely ; but I have every reason to believe, it would have proved fatal to a female who is constitution- ally constant in affection, and whose mind is L2 164 MEMOIRS OF sensibility itself. I often resolved, and as often tried to forsake her ; and had several times almost diverted the natural bias of my heart. But, when I beheld the very cause of my pain, tortured beyond expres- sion, unless flint or adamant had been the principal ingredients of my composition, I must infallibly have dissolved, retracted my former resolution, and resumed my former passion. The result of all this is, that in a few days 1 shall perhaps be personally acquainted with the right-worshipful Hymen. Like the com- mon herd of younkers, you will no doubt pronounce this a mad and distracted resolu- tion. But pause a moment, and listen to the following thoughts. Old Reikie * gave me birth, and in Old Reikie have I lived these twenty-three years and some more. Most of my blood relations have long been in their graves. By a don't know what nor how, I have gained several friends and well wishers, besides a tolerable competency of good acquaintances, in the said Old Reikie. I might probably have lived as long, and per- t A customary quaint nai;:e for the old part of the city of Edinburgh, bigiiifyiiii; Old Smokey, WILLIAM SMELLIE. 165 haps much longer, in a different quarter of the globe, before I could have been so well known or have met with such friendly reception from a strange people. Here, therefore, moneyless and rich relationless, I have a better chance than any where else ; unless you plead that some lucky fortune is always ready to drop into a travellers poc- ket. But in the common run of adventures, might not some horrible misfortune have as probably gravitated towards my head, and struck me to the ground. Moreover, the girl is far from being in my situation ; She has many good relations, to whom I have been introduced, and by whom I am not only well received, but loved and caressed. And over and above, she has a business, which, without any chance of loss, brings in between twenty and thirty pounds yearly. This added to my present pittance of L. 42, will not come far short of a country parsonage. Wonder not when I tell you, that the love of virtue is a strong stimulus to matrimony. I need scarcely mention how hard it is for a young man hving singly in a room to be virtuous : Having no spur to prick him home but affec- tion for books and literary speculation, he is constantly dragged along by his thoughtless L3 166 MEMOIRS OF companions, and his no less thoughtless self, to foolish and frequently to sinful irregularities. Every other evening he is obliged to crawl to bed with his body steaming with liquor, or his mind dissipated by nonsensical con- versation. It has been a frequent wish of mine to be in a situation which would enable me to banish fools and sycophants from my dwelling-place ; to be often serious, and sel- dom giddy. Experience teaches me, how- ever, that my wish can never be gratified so long as I dine in a tavern, live in a hired room, &c. A society consisting of a very few mem- bers has always the best chance of being sober and virtuous. A crowd, for what reason I at present know not, is almost constantly impi- ous. I think an essay on this subject would be an excellent lunarian number, I COULD urge many other motives for the alteration about to take place in my way of life. I could even shew, by mathematical de- monstration, that to act otherwise would be highly criminal ; nay, even a refractory spe- cies of rebellion against the great God of nature : But this I decline, as my letter is already too voluminous. Thus have I, with- put reserve, opened my mind to one whom I WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 167 may call my friend. I need not add, that it would be highly improper that this letter should be shewn ; for not a single compa- nion but yourself knows any thing of the matter. If you write me not very fully by first post, I shall, as the saying is, be very much out with you. If you are to stay in Edinburgh this sum- mer, and if I have a house of my own, as the folks say, it would add greatly to my happiness if you would make one in our little society. Every thing shall be made as agree- able to you as possible, and we shall frequent- ly crack about the Man of the Moon, &c. So keen am I about the lunarian scheme, that I believe, though you should entirely desert me, as Heaven avert, I shall one time or other attempt the execution of it alone. Yours. &c. William Smellie. The succeeding letter to the same friend is without date ; but as, from some allusions, it was obviously written soon after his mar- riage, and from containing the compliments of the new year, it must have been dated early in January 1764. L4 16S ME'^ioms OF No. XXXI. Mi' William Smellie to *******, Dear Sir, I Avish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I could give you some specula- tive observations on this nonsensical vulgar phrase ; but I shall reserve them for a Christ- mas-box to the Man of the Moon, Delays, His said, are dangerous ; but I have always thought that precipitance does much more mischief in the world, A year hence will be, I think, a very proper period for the expulsion of this embryo, which is about to grow up and to become a great man. His magnitude, however, will depend solely on the texture and situation of the febrillae of our brains. If we miss the peculiar knack of attracting the eyes of a multitude, abortion must inevi- tably be the consequence. I design to sift the Spectator, and endeavour to discover wherein he excels, and wherein he falls short of the mark. This is talking too pompously; WILLIAM SMELLIE. 169 but it is between you and I, as say the pro- pagators of scandal. I AM at length totally immersed in matri- mony. I wish you could be here at omy feu- de-joy e on Sir Isaac's birth-day*. This hap- piness, however, I despair of enjoying. Here I sit in my cabin, grottof , or what you please to call it, in a very melancholy mood ; worn out with correcting the vices of printers;]:, and corroded with anxious love. Were my pas- sions at rest, I would entertain you a little longer ; but I need not wait for the recovery of my reason, for next morning Hall Hun- ter carries you this in his pocket. Adieu. William Smellie. P. S. — You promised me an odd thought from Maupertuis ; remember that ! • The Newtonian Society meant to celebrate the anniversary of its patron philosopher. f Meaning the correcting room or closet. X Alluding to the errors made by the printers in composing or ^tting up their types. 170 MEMOIRS OF No. XXXII. To Mr William Smellie from -* ^ * ^ * * * Dear Smellie, No date. My unfinished letter to you is so various, and so abstract in thought and matter, and myself so circumstanced (this moment hear- ing my pupil blunder Bibo) that I believe you may depend upon never receiving it. People in a family way, as Mrs Sjiellie knows, really have not time to study letters ; and it is only women and geniuses, as the same lady knows, who can write them with- out study* Therefore, when liberty, or ge- nius, or woman inspires, you may depend upon my first flowings : but at present I am a bond-man, an ignoramus, and a misogynist. I HEAR well enough what you are saying — " I would rather have wanted such a nothing letter." Mrs Sjiellie, too, peeping over your shoulder, — " Might not he have written me a letter, stupid provoking creature, with his WILLIAM SMELLIE. 171 family way." You're both in the right, — very right, — very true : but people in the family way, you know, Mrs Smellie knows these things well enough. Yours, &c. No. XXXIII. Mr William Smellie to ****^*-^**. Dear Sir, The pleasure resulting from literary corre- spondence is manifold. I shall just hint at the two most agreeable of these folds. Fold the first : — When a man writes to his companion or friend, he never fails to see him present, and to hold an imaginary conver- sation with him. For instance ; here stands my friend, looking slyly down on his parent clod ; his golden locks, a parte posteriore, cu- riously adminicled with a hempen rope, and spreading bushy, like bruins tail, on his man- ly shoulders. A parte anteriore, the said red ray-refracting excrements lye flat and sleek on each side his honest front, as if the cub }iad been recently licked by its pains-taking 17^ MEMOIRS OF dam. His nose and mouth, I see, is not yet embellished with the soul-reviving powder of tobacco, but wisely ornamented with a soft whitish down, &c. Fold the second is both useful and delec- table ; for by mutually starting and answer- ing queries, both invention and ratiocina- tion are set to work, which are undoubtedly the most delightful employments our consti- tution is capable of, I MUST immediately proceed to answer, as far as I am able, your notable difficulties; for I am afraid the solution will be pretty long*. No. XXXIV. Mr William Smellie ^o ****** * Dear Sir, You see I am no infidel, because I fulfil my engagements. It could never have en- * This is obviously the mere fragment of a letter, as the solu- tion of the difficulties which had been started by his friend, and those dinficultics themselves, are not to be found among his remain- ing papers. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 173 tered my pineal gland, that such trifling re- buffs, for the most peevish wretch on earth would not call them misfortunes, would have had so much influence on your sober self, as to convert you into a flat, insipid, fretting misanthrope. ##*****# What comes next ? A descant on bo- tany, I suppose. I violently suspect that some of your northern conjurers have bribed Eolus ; and the rascal seems noways averse to be tipt, for he has these four weeks clung fast to the east and north-east, and has by that means cut the throats of many a beauti- ful creature of the vegetable tribe. Argal, you cannot expect any thing on that subject. I intend, however, when vegetation begins to increase in the land, to wait upon Orator Hope. This is no reflection on the Doctor ; for in RuDiMANS Rudiments you will see Ci- cero Orator, which is precisely the same thing with Orator Cicero. The Newtonian Society was prorogued on the 1st instant till the 12th of November next; but having resolved into a committee of the whole house on the 8tli of May, took the 174 ME3IOIRS OF ways and means into consideration for sup-* plying a dozen of gormandizing Newtonians with lamb-legs, fat geese, minced collops, pork, troiits, pease, &c. and then ordered the bills, unread, to lie on the table till the fore- said 1 2th of November. Nasmyth, Miller, and all the good fel- lows, are gone to the country. I am so much of your opinion that I abhor all triflers ; and shall therefore rather chuse to converse with you than to chatter about news, good and bad weather, charming dances, buxom lasses, &c. I formerly promised to answer if you wrote me ; I now give it under my hand, that I shall answer you as frequently as you please, and on whatever subjects you may propose. But, if possible, I would recommend such subjects as were never yet attempted in prose or rhyme. Miss Bellamy shines with much splendour*; but I have so far mortified my inclinations as not to give her half-a-crown. Send no more of your letters to Hall, as he keeps them till they begin to foist and breed moths ; besides, I am not much • Miss Bellamy the celebrated actress, then acting at Edin* bur^h in conjunction with Digges. WILLIA3I SMELLIE. 175 in love with second-hand hats, second-hand breeches, or second-hand buckles ; but, above all, my very marrow fries and ferments at the idea of second-hand women. These grie- vances being duly considered, I hope you'll direct to me at Mackays, or at Cochran & MuRRAYs, printers in Craigs Close. I SHALL inquire after your Mttle kaknts^ as soon as I can. Next week I shall be gaping like a raw gorbf for a swinging letter. Con- sider, Mounsieur, I am a mathematician, and remarkably fond of the rule in arithmetic called proportion. My leisure hours are not above one sixth of yours ; aj^gal : S. S. : W. S, :: 6 : 1. Remember this, and I shall continue to be Yours, &c. William Smellie. * A Scots term meaning slippery boys ; but the particular al- lusion here is unknown. I A raw unfledged bird in a nest, gaping for food. 176 MEMOIRS Of No. XXXV. 3Ir William Smellie to * * * -^ * * * Dear Sir, No date. Thunder! thou frolic of Omnipotence! Though this elegant and spirited exclama- tion, the author and occasion of which I take it for granted you are sufficiently acquainted with, was furiously beat down by the dull dictates of ignorance and authority, Would to Heaven that these qualities were less fre- quently coupled ! yet, to a man of my cast, it contains a more tremenduous, more striking, more elevated idea of the immensity of that Power which forms, regulates, and puts the match to these majestic explosions, than ei- ther the breaking of cedars or the calving of hinds. The Jewish poet, very emphatically indeed, calls thunder the voice of the Lord. He could not have hit perhaps on a better epi- thet for strengthening that reverential dread which is the natural effect of this phenome- non. But does not the idea it involves repre- sent that of a person summoning up the WiLLlAM SMELLIE. 177 whole power and dignity of his soul, col- lectins: these in his countenance, and add- ing to them the terrors of awful vociferation, in order the more forcibly to strike the ti- morous imagination of earthly pigmies ? Not so the Scottish bard. — Thou frolic ! Here is neither pomp nor preparation. It exhibits the idea of ease and indifference ; and pre- sumes that thunder-bolts are fabricated and darted with the same facility as a man would cast pease in his mouth, scratch his head, or crook his little fmger. Henceforward, let not the bards of fertile Palestina be likened unto those of barren Caledonia ! As to the effects you so justly ascribe to the influence of thunder, I'll bet my head to a halfpenny, that the very same thing hap- pened to the cattle on the plains of Minden, when two or three hundred cannons roared forth their thunder ; especially if the dismal- ness of the scene was heightened by a calm still atmosphere, and torrents of rain and hail- stones. Besides, the sudden effusion of milk in the lactiferous, or of urine or fgeces in the purliferous animals, is purely the effect of .surprise, and ought not to be ascribed to any peculiarity in the rattling of thunder. Sur- VoL. I. M 178 MEMOIRS OF prise strongly captivates the imagination, and so totally occupies the whole powers of the soul, that this sagacious sentient principle en- tirely forgets to execute its proper functions, and neglects to commission the nervous flu- ids into the valves and sphincters of the paps, bladder, and anus : the consequences must ijifallibly be a profluvium of milk, urine, and faeces. Even in my small experience, my dear friend, I have met with a very satisfactory proof of what I am now saying. As I vvas one day marching over a muck-midden, An- glice a dunghill, and brandishing a kail-runt* in my right hand, perchance a hen presented herself to my view. Fired at the appearance of this formidable enemy, in a moment I made the clumsy javeline whistle past her nose. Keck, keck, keck, quoth the hen, and dropt a lusty egg, covered only with a thin tough membrane. Is not this as strange as the cir- cumstance you allude to ? Secondly, surprise long continued acts as an astringent, and so shuts up these valves more firmly than be- fore their sudden relaxation. Never use * The stem of a kail or cabbage plant. WILLI A3I SMELLIE. 179 Scripture but when you cannot be so well served any where else. • It is remarked by AddisoiX, Swift, or some of those strange genii, that every man v/hile awake is in one common world ; but is, while asleep, in a world of his ov/n. How others are affected in their nocturnal excur- sions I know not ; but certain I am that this observation applies, with the most scrupulous exactness to your humble servant. I then seldom or never find myself oecupied with fa- miliar objects. My brain is always busied about objects which never did^ and never can exist : — Earthquakes ; volcanos ; showers of hquid fire ; the curtains of heaven opened ; hell with all its horrors ; the last judgment ; general conflagration ;~hanging ; drowning ; shooting ; burning ;~ my throat cut from ear to ear ; my flesh minced like coliops with knives, sabres, &c. ; — running the gantlet be- tween two opposite rows of cannons ;— con- versing with beings quite different, both in nature and form, from those of the human species ; — besides innumerable uncouth fan- tacies which eye hath not seen, nor imagina- tion conceived, neither is it possible for words to utter. x\ll these, I say, are nothing to the M 2 180 MEMOIRS OP horrid phenomena I am presented with when marching through this world of fancy. What to me appears wonderful is, that neither my visionary tragedies nor comedies end fortu- nately. If at any time, which indeed is ex- tremely rare, I engage myself in agreeable company, the shutting of the scene turns always out to something worse than vanity ; L €. grievous vexation of spirit. — For ex- ample : Some nights ago, I fancied myself in a very magnificent hall, illuminated by numer- ous shining tapers, and adorned with a splendid group of beaux and belles. The music struck up, the dance was formed^ and every eye sparkled with cheerful emo- tions. I was not an idle spectator of the general festivity. No ; my body being light as air, and my soul glowing with social aflbc- tion, I sprung through all the evolutions of the dance with uncommon vigour and alacri- ty. But, oh ! how can I name the shocking catastrophe ? My very flesh shudders at the thought ! But out it must. In the midst of this universal mirth ; I can't say in the face of the sun, but what I think infinitely worse. in the face of three or four hundred spright- WILLIAM SMELLIE. 181 ly young dames, as I was setting to a most enchanting female, down fell my breeches plump to my heels ! Was not this worse than vanity ? My misery did not end here ; for, on attempting instantly to apprehend the naughty fugitives, I found my hands, legs, and whole fabric, converted, lik;e Lucky Lot * of old, into a motionless statue. Roused by the sharp stings of painful verecundity, and by the loud laughs of the general assembly, I awoke ; and, to my unspeakable comfort, " behold it was a dream." Another night I found myself in a most tremendous situation. Alarmed by a sudden shock attended with a hollow subterraneous noise, I ran out to the streets of this popul- ous city, in order to discover the cause. A dreadful prospect presented itself to view. The ground began to undulate like the waves of the sea ; sheets of fire dazzled the eye ; peals of thunder stunned the ears ; the build- ings spUt in a, thousand directions ; and, had not the native horrors of the scene soon re- stored me to reason, I should infaUibly have been crushed to atoms. MS * A Scots familiarism, quasi IMislrcss Llt, for Lots wife. 18^ ME5I0IRS OF Another nocturnal entertainment, though not so riarming, was much more extravagant and hjdicrous. I was for some time diverted with a furious dispute between Dr Monro and Dr Wkytt concerning the uses of the Deltoid Muscle ! The combatants at length became so hot, that they Avere just proceed- ing to give the dispute an effectual termina^ tion by the intervention of the cudgel, when I awoke. On a subsequent occasion, my employment was still more serious and awful. I saw a group of winged angels descending from the sky. One of them, who seemed to lead and command the rest, had a large golden trum- pet in his hand. When near the surface of the earth, he sounded the instrument, the noise of which made all Nature shrink. He an- nounced the arrival of the last day, that day when the quick and the dead are to be jud- ged, and receive everlasting rewards or tor- ments, according to the merit or demerit of the deeds done by individual mortals. Asto- nishment and anxiety arrested all the living. Th y stood m.otionless, and looked aghast. A new scene instantly appeared. I saw the dead rising in myriads all around me. I parr? WILLIAM s:mellie. 183 ticularly remarked, that, in the Grey-friars church-yard, hundreds of both sexes pushed one another out of the same graves ! The day was so cold and frosty, that the terrified expectants of doom were all shivering. An- other phenomenon solicited my attention. I saw immense numbers of leaden pipes filled with cold water. Another trumpet was sound- ed ; and the angel proclaimed, that, instead of being roasted in the flames of hell, the damned were to liave their limbs eternall}^ im- mersed in these water-pipes. Terrified and half petrified with this frigifying idea, I started, and awoke. Upon examination, I found that, by some accident, my limbs had been uncovered, and were excessively cold. This simple incident produced the whole scenery I have represented. Methinks I now hear you exclaim, " Smellie is certainly about to run mad ; why does he disturb my rural felicity with such wild chimeras ?" Be patient, dear Sir. As I know you to be a great dreamer of dreams and seer of visions, I therefore make application to you, as a demoniac to a con- jurer, if it comes within the compass of your M 4 184 MEMOIRS OF ocult art, to get rid of the evil spirit, or this dreaming devil. Accept a whole broad-side of queries. 1. Why is one man more addicted to dreaming than another ? 2. How comes it about that one man is al- ways entertained with horrid spectacles, while his neighbour is constantly disappointed at the return of the light, merely because he is more happy in hi^ sleeping than in his wak- ing hours ? 3. Does this difference depend upon mat- ter or spirit ? 4. May not pleasant dreams be owing to a slow, gentle, and easy circulation ? 5. In consequence of this, may not a very languid circulation, just sufficient to detain the spark of life, be productive of such a de- gree of insensibility, both of soul and body, that sensation may totally cease ? 6. E contra. May not wild distracted fan- cies proceed from a too brisk and rapid circu- lation ? 7. In consequence of this again, Would not a very quick circidation deprive us of sleep altogether ? WILLIAM 63IELLIE. 185 8. Or, if you don't relish this mechanical account of the matter, May not a mans ge- nius be as easily discovered by his nightly visions as by his words and actions during the day ? This solution would bring me in for a very morose, phlegmatic, dismal, visionary fellow ; and, therefore, I must keenly vote against it. 9. Is not the trite observation mere non- sense, That the soul during sleep, being then less encumbered with the body, becomes more active, and therefore more intelligent ? 10. Is it not more natural to think, that were the soul entirely freed from the body, it would have no sensations at all, unless fur- nished with other organs wherewithal to be acted upon ? 11. Will not this thought appear more probable, when it is considered that the ma- chine is compound, and that, when its parts are decomposed, none of these parts can act without the assistance of its correspondent ? Give a clear and accurate solution of these, et eris mihi magnus Apollo, 186 MEMOIRS OP I COULD give you a very moving account of the trial and condemnation of an unfortu- nate young lass, who was yesterday conse- crated, i. e. set apart, according to the He- brew, to two carniverous animals, com- monly called Professor Monro and Son *. But this I decline, fearing that your cogita- tions are a little tinctured with a drop of the atrabilis. Here's an excellent shower. — The day is overcast, &c. — Dr Young has publish- ed a poem entitled Resignation, which is considered as a faint glimmering of a dying luminary, Valete, et plaiidite ! William Simellie. P. S. — I am never ashamed of my name, although it be a very queer one. No. XXXVI. To Mr William SMELLiEy}'077i ******, Dear Smellie, No date, I FIND that a sheet from me is too much for your prolixity, having only got answer to * This must allude to thr dissection of some young female sub- ject by the then joint professors of anatomy, the present Dr Alex- ander IMoNKO, sen. and Lis father. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 187 tlie first page of my last ; so that you must either take to the two sheet letter, or I must fall to a half sheet for a post or two. I am very thankful for any bit of news which I should not otherwise hear of in this desert ; but you omit the more, perhaps from think- ing it strange we should be ignorant of what is familiar to you. * * * # * * * * has left Edinburgh, who was my great source of in- telligence. Dr Youngs publication much amazes me. If you have the poem in hand, you'll oblige me to inclose some ten or twelve of his best lines, * The solution of dreams depends on a point which has hitherto been accounted mysteri- ous — the mode of union between the soul and body. I believe it an error in our specula- tions on these topics to run too greedily up- on system and hypothesis ; fain to erect a whole structure upon one bottom, which needs many pillars to support it. I am far from receiving your mechanical scheme as an universal solution. It may have its in- fluence, and that too considerable ; but what if, in the same night, without any known al- teration in the velocity of the fluids, I dream of Elysium and of Tartarus, — the most 188 MEMOIRS OF sprightly and the most horrible ideas ? There seems to be much exercise, during sleep, of that power in the mind of concatenating ideas, and of running from one to another by a very slender thread ; and I can't but think that, when both body and mind are in their usual frame, we are susceptible of the same sort of ideas, and of the same variety of them, when asleep as when awake ; allowing, at the same time, that an extraordinary ve- locity of the fluids may determine the train of thinking more forcibly when asleep than when awake. A bad conscience I take to be an excellent thing for procuring anxious dreams. I AM much taken with your last thought, of investigating the genius and character of a man from his nightly visions. What makes me think it a reasonable and probable way, is the analogy which commonly takes place between ones waking and sleeping thoughts, words, and actions. Experience confirms me of this in my own particular case ; for I remember not ever to have acted a part du- ring sleep but what was eminently agreeable to my natural temper. When one is in some measure satisfied of the probability of this, WILLIAM SMELLIE. 189 the advantages which obviously arise from it are twofold. 1. It is a new way to judge of the character of another * ; a thing so very difficult as to stand in need of every help ; and by means of this, if we can betray a per- son into the rehearsal of his dreams, we can draw conclusions without any sort of suspi- cion ; at least if we take it for granted that this way of judging is not yet got abroad into the world. 2. The second advantage is like the first, in a matter perhaps of as great dif- ficulty, and of greater importance to every individual, to assist him in forming a just notion of his own character. Our waking actions, and even our sentiments on events, are often so blended and darkened in their principles and motives, that we ourselves are often at a loss to say what and how many motives went to determine us, as the writers on morality witness. By attending and re- flecting, therefore, on our sleeping thoughts, words, and actions, the view of our own his- tory is enlarged ; we can see our behaviour in a greater variety of scenes, and, of con- sequence, are better enabled on the whole to form a judgment. • See on this subject, a Discourse on Dreams, by Mr Smellie^ in his Philosophy of Nutural History, vol, ii. . 36l. 190 MEMOIRS OF I FIND I could say a great deal upon this topic. The thought pleases me, and I thank you truly for the hint ; but my half sheet forbids a prosecution for the present. If you like the theme, you'll favour me with another folio upon it. If you pleased you could some- times favour me with a letter oftener than once a fortnight. You could write at any time through the week. For example, what would enable me to cut a figure in these parts, an account of the philosophy of hard and soft water ; and leave it at the recepta- cuhfin epistolanim. Your account of the effects of thunder ap- pears to be very rational : Only, I think there should be something more requisite to extrude the faeces, and to make the hinds calve, than a mere relaxation of the sphinc- ters. In the common performance of these functions, the abdominal muscles are brought into play, not to say the diaphragm likewise ; and I know not but the rectum in the one operation, and the uterus in the other, may likewise have their share in the drama. Je jitis le voire. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 191 No. XXXVII. To Mr William Sn^iA^ii^from * * * * * *". Dear Smellie, No date. I REMEMBER yoii oiice proposed that we should write, if possible, on topics unattempt- ed yet in prose or numerous verse. I am no way averse from the proposal, nor do I know a properer man in the world to start such subjects than you ; nor a properer person to prosecute them, wlien started, than your humble servant, provided always that they overleap not the circuit of all human com- prehension. You know that my meditations this summer bear clean away from the three kingdoms, except now and then an accidental touching at some of their islands. What would you think of a discourse in your Magazine* upon the theme of Hybrids ? We might spoilzie f the Orator for instance, and add of our own what we may. * Mr Smellie was at this time corrector to Murray and CcCHRAN'E, and had the supcrintendance of the Scots Magazine, then the property of his masters. t A Scots expression, meaning to pilfer from the lectures of Dr Hope, on the subject proposed for a joint essay. 192 MEMOIRS Of There are several more vulgar things which I greatly need to have your thoughts upon. Such 2ls, firstly, the Curdling of Milk. The calfs stomach with its contents, salted, is it seems employed for this purpose, and likewise the stomach of a pregnant cow, if my information be just. Your chemistry will bear you out in the solution of this ; and I will trouble you with no more at present, as I fear me a whole sheet of your spargality will scarce contain a response. P. S. Will you now permit me to trouble you with a tender of my respects to Mr Wal- ker, and an earnest desire to borrow of him his written French Exercises, to assist me in my tutorage. I too wrote them once, but on the Sybils leaves. Finally, it is sperated that any esternism pervading the above sche- dule, I mean the supra-schedula, will be promptly exculpated by one of your orientali- ty *. I never subscribe my name, but to letters of religion, so you must excuse it for the pre- sent ; nevertheless, as the above contains a * This alludes to some comments on passages in the Old Testa- ment, which are here omitted ; as however properly they might occupy the attention of ingenious young men in private discussion, they do not sseem precisely suitable in a work like the present. WILLIA3I SMELLIE. 193 INIonroyan discovery, I hereby profess it to have been written on the 14th June 1762, and invented three weeks preceding that date. So I expect you'll shew it to my brother at London, and bear me out in these assertions, when any controversy concerning it shall be- come more public. No farther seek to pry, as the ghost of Hamlet hath it. Yours, 8zc, No. XXXVIII. Mr William Smellie ^o ***** *; Dear Sir, Why did not you favour me with a para- graph or two of the rhapsody on the eminent sin of uncleanness ? You know, at this dis- tance from the humming drones of D e,- I might have given a full swing to my risible faculties with impunity. I am pleased^ how- ever, to hear that you only smile at the in- consistent fooleries of your very reverend fathers and brethren ; and that you occa- sionally wait upon occasions. Kiss ! an abo- minably detestable nauseous pun ! for which Vol. I, N 194 MEMOIRS OF I dreadfully dread the implacable rev^enge of all the gods and godlings. I DESIGN giving you a complete and se- rious account of the curdling of milk ; in which I propose to invent a new hypothesis as to the cause of coagulation, &c. * Although a calfs stomach is most com- monly used by country people for the coagu- lation of milk; yet experience shews, that the stomachs of sheep, oxen, cows, horses, goats, deer, hares, conies, cocks, geese, ducks, crows, &c. &c. are all possessed of the same coagulating virtue. The succus gastricus of abortive children, or of new-born babes be- fore they have received the sincere milk ; as also the flowers of the artichoke have the power of curdling milk. In short, the stomachs of all animals, exclusive of their contents, are coagulating substances. It is a curious fact, however, that among ruminat- * The rage for bypothosis was then and long continued the pre- valent fashion of the Edinburgh studenls. WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 195 ing animals, the fourth stomach alone serves as a coagulum to milk. It is no less ciirioas, that live fishes put into milk produce this effect ; but if dead, whether raw or boiled, they lose their coagulating qualities. It has been supposed, that the various coagula produce this effect by means of their acidity ; but the contrary is proved from this circumstance, that the addition of alkalies, or antacids, does not diminish their coagu- lating force. Nevertheless, the addition of a quantity of an acid, as for example the juice of lemon, increases the virtue of any coagulum. Now, to account for the phenomenon. What is the cause, say you ? I say, Putre- faction. My reasons for this hypothesis are the following. The animals stomach with its contents, being salted, is hung in the chimnev-corner till it has g-one throu.^li a considerable degree of putrefaction ;• it is. then steeped in salted water for twenty-fOur hours ; a quantity of this pickie or runnet is mixed with milk vrhich has been previous-- ly heated ; these conjoined make a troop of N 2 196 JMEMOIRS OF very putrefactive gentlemen, and must of ne- cessity forward the putrefaction of a sub- stance so remarkably liable to putrescency as milk. To sum up all in a few words : If milk is kept a few hours in a warm room, it will coagulate without the assistance of any runnet. The addition of a coagulum only forwards or hastens a process which, I ima- gine, begins to take place immediately after the milk is drawn from the udder, &c. Send me your remarks on Hybrids ; to which I shall add whatever I think deficient, and prepare it for a place in the Magazine. I have cai'efully marked the day on which you invented the most convincing of all ar- guments in favour of the sexual system ; and shall depone accordingly. Yours, &c. William Smellie. No. XXXIX. Mr William Sjiellie ^o ****** ^, Dear Sir, Instead of disrelishing the subject of com- memoration ; there is not any thing in which WILLIAM SMELLIE. 197 I would SO much desire to be fully instructed, to have my doubts cleared up, my apprehen- sions removed, and my resolution strength- ened *. I WILL not enter into any argument up- on the propriety or impropriety of the insti- tution, as it would be highly base and disin- genuous to find any fault with what my rea- son and conscience approve. I will rather endeavour, with all the candour I am master of, to lay open to you the real motives which have hitherto obstructed my compliance. It is long since I began to think of this subject. When very young, my feelings were strong, and my desires of being old and wor- thy were ardent. Afterwards, although I can- not accuse myself of being altogether scepti- cal, I wished to be fully satisfied with regard to the truth and authenticity of Christianity. For this purpose, but not with such diligence as I ought, I made it my business to read and * This is an interesting letter, in wliich our young philosopher, probably then under twenty-three years of age, opens his mind unreservedly to his companion, who was a student of divnity, upon the subject of religion ; on which he anxiously courts his assistance and advice. 198 ' MEMOIRS OF converse about the evidences. For some time past I have got over every doubt which can have the least influence upon my principles or moral conduct. If I had no other motive, this consideration alone is sufficient to make me believe in the Gospel, preferably to every other religion I am acquainted with. No man who is in the least acquainted with the human nature, or the history of mankind, before the appearance of our Saviour, can possibly dis- pute the propriety and necessity of a divine revelation. There are but three religions of any consideration in the world that pretend to a direct revelation. I am thoroughly satisfied that of these, Christianity is the most rational, — best accommodated to the. weakness and imperfections of mankind, — freest from absurdity, or even mystery, in its doctrines and institutions ; — in a word, has more genuine marks of something supe- rior to human wisdom. A man who can say this much with sincerity, and after a tolera- bly accurate comparison, is, I hope, not far from being a Christian. One would naturally think, and it is un- questionably my duty, that nothing now re- mained but a hearty and diUgent compliance with all the precepts and institutions of this^ WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 199 religion. But men have more motives to ac- tion than beHef. It were easy to be a Chris- tian, if a dihgent attendance upon its public institutions were the only thing required. But, besides these, Christianity requires the pu- rest and most perfect virtue, habitual grati- tude and devotion to God, to the Saviour of the world. To guard against deceptions, to oppose the passions, to check vitious propen- sities, to keep devotion alive in the heart. A strict regard to these things would be suffi- cient employment for all our thoughts and all our industry, although no necessary in- terruptions were to occur. Heaven not only- demands all this, but even that we should daily grow more and more perfect. Such, however, is the situation of almost the whole human race, that it is absolutely impossible, in the nature of things, that they should ever make even a tolerable progress in the duties of (Christianity. The greatest and most va- luable part of our time is necessarily con- sumed in labouring for subsistence ; after which we must rest and sleep, to prepare for returning to our labour. Crosses in business and private affairs disturb our thoughts, and oiien put us out of all tune for devotion or religious exercises. These are difiiculties N4 200 MEMOIRS O? which you are well acquainted with. I mean not to mention purity and devotion as objec- tions to Christianity ; on the contrary, they are its excellence and its glory. But I men- tion these unavoidable difficulties as some a- pology for the small progress I have made in virtue and true goodness. I confess the apo- logy is bad ; for much time is spent, to say no worse of it, iji idleness and amusementj and sometimes in unprofitable study. But I promised to disclose the real motives that obstruct my progress in religion. So far as I know myself, bashfulness is the great source of all my errors. All other passions I have learnt to keep at least within decent bounds ; but this passion is deeply rooted. That it is so I will not attribute entirely to constitution, I think I can trace something like a cause or origin. It was my misfortune, very early in life, to lose my mother. My father, though he set before me an example of the purest manners and warmest devotion, was neces- sarily abroad at business from morning to night. He had no time to cause his children exhibit any portion of their religious duties before him. He was naturally abstracted ; and performed every thing of that kind by himself. He often inculcated prayer, &c. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 201 but enjoined secrecy, and never asked to hear our performances. You can easily see tliat, in a family of this nature, company would be but seldom indulged. Thus things went on, till I arrived at fourteen years of age, when I was put to business. This recluse kind of life had stampt such strong impressions of shamefacedness and bashfulness, that I dare say I was twenty years of age before I could even venture to read aloud in presence of a human creature. Since that time I have thrown off a great deal ; but, when so much was to do, a great deal makes but a small appearance. I am still far behind what I know to be my duty, which I earnestly wisl:^ to accomplish. You will probably think that I ought to make a bold push. But an enterprize of this kind has done mischief. About five years ago I attempted this, and even proceeded so far as to pray one evening in a family. You need not doubt but this was the result of much intreaty. You can scarcely figure my situation. I trembled, — my tongue faulter* ed, — neither sentiment nor expression could I command. In short, I was so highly dis- gusted with my performance, that I almost 202 MEMOIRS or secretly resolved never to make such another attempt. My present situation is likewise unfortu- nate : Considerably chagrined with difficult affairs : Another person liying in the house besides my own family. This last circum- stance is an insuperable objection against setting that example which I so much desire. I hope, however, soon to get free from this obstruction, to take a cheaper house, and to live more privately. This is prpcrastinating, but I cannot resist. I could hardly think of communicating without previously setting up family worship, which I can never attempt till we are entirely alone ; nor would I chuse to begin it without adhering uniformly to the practice. I HAVE endeavoured to be candid, to throw aside all sophistry, and to unbosom myself with simplicity and truth. I doubt not, how- ever, but you will be able to perceive both sophistry and deceit. If you do, I expect and desire you'll point them out. You ask a poor favour. I have some of your letters ; others are destroyed. My WILLIAM SMELLIE. 203 only motive for keeping them was this, — Whatever revolutions might happen, either with regard to you or myself, that I might possess some memorials of a friendship which even then I valued, but for which I now have better cause. I shall examine them all ; and shall deliver such as are exceptionable into your own hands. Or, if you desire it, I shall make yourself judge of what shall be preserv- ed, or whether any should*. Yours, &c. William Smellie. No. XL. To Mr William SMELLiEyrom *******, Dear Smellie, Our last nights conversation was so in* teresting, and so imperfect, that I cannot help resuming it. * Had there been no other motive for the rigid delicacy obser- ved in communicating this correspondence to the public, which has been already explained, this would have been considered as an imperious command, or testamcntory rule of conduct, for the Editon ^. $04 MEMOIRS OF Your great objection to communicating seems to be, " The perfection of virtue which is requisite.** No doubt, new and complete obedience must be resolved upon, but in a way consistent with human imperfection. Christian morality, in itself, cannot be con- ceived as too pure and perfect ; but there seems an impropriety in supposing that per- fection to be requisite to qualify us for a means of attaining it. The object of Chris- tianity is to train us to virtue ; and all its institutions are adapted to this end. There are stated seasons of instruction, that our knowledge and virtue piay be continually increasing. There are stated acts of de- votion enjoine4, because there still are sins to ^e confessed, and pardon and assistance to be asked. A stated memorial of Christs death is instituted, which supposes a tenden- cy to forget it, and to forget that horror at guilt which it so strongly inculcates. Preparation for these several acts of re- ligion is surely proper, and the most virtuous will perform them the most worthily; but still they are only means of virtue ; and con- sequently a desire after, rather than the ac- tual possession, seems to be the natural pre- WILLIAM SMELLlte. 205 paration ; and a desire for higher degrees of it, the preparation for the more solemn act. After all, if the high idea of perfection is conceived requisite, it is not an argument for absolute and determined neglect, but ra- ther for deliberate and zealous preparation. You conceive that guilt afterwards will be highly aggravated ; and to be sure it will, in proportion to the fitness and excellence of the means ; but the laws of virtue are of themselves sacred and obligatory, and con- sequently the means of virtue are so ; where- fore the deliberate and obstinate neglect of the means is an aggravation on the other hand. To have used means and come short of the end, bespeaks a feebleness and incon- stancy ; yet the attempt is good ; and the success, however small, is better than none. But the neglect even of the means bespeaks a total unconcernedness ; and its pernicious effects, though not so obvious, are equally real ; for to it must be imputed the loss of all these pious sentiments, gratitude, love, re- morse, and of that partial or temporary re- formation which the use of means produces, likewise the suffering neglect to grow into a habit, and giving scope to that self-deceit and sophistry which are natural to the 206 ME3I0IRS OF mind, when determined upon any thing im- proper. You are afraid of shewing a bad example afterwards — a very reasonable ground of fear. Example, especially when there is any thing of respect and deference, is important and sacred. Next to the virtues of ones own heart, it deserves the chief attention, as it is the most successful method of recom- mending goodness. Hence, it is surely agreeable to the designs of Providence, that they who are sincerely virtuous, and consi- dered as such, should be exemplary in all the means of virtue ; and the fear of coming, short, after using the most excellent of the means, will operate as an additional motive to become a perfect pattern. You object to all this, that the not com- municating is overlooked ; whereas the do- ing it and behaving inconsistently is noto- rious. Were example the only thing, there might be something in this ; yet not even then, unless there be more than an equal chance of behaving inconsistently, and of that inconsistent behaviour being known. Neither is the neglect of it so wholly over- WILLIAM SMELLIE. 207 looked : By the many to be sure it is ; but every one has his circle, who know and ob- serve him. There are shallow and unthink- ing infidels, who grasp at such an argument : — there are timorous and diffident youth, who are thereby the more discouraged ; — to encourage one in this class, to silence one in that, are no inconsiderable objects in the way of example. I KNOW you can make allowance for self- deceit on your own part, as well as for preju^ dice on mine, and will therefore excuse a suspicion that the above and other objec- tions of the like kind are not the real ones, at least not the strongest. Such refinements are oftener the product of a mind already determined, than the motives of determina- tion : They soothe and quiet the principle of reason, or, more properly, they are the operation of that principle bent one v/ay, eager upon every objection and every argu- ment that may tend to confirm and make it obstinate. If you read over these hints with an inclination not to be persuaded, but ra- ther to detect false reasoning ; that, though not intended, will very probably be found, and may suggest this inference, that an ar- 208 MEMOIRS OF gument which has been badly supported is not tenable. These suspicions are suggested by experience. Every new argument in de-^ fence of my conduct gives pleasure, and it is pleasant to invent and refme upon them. All arguments against are unpleasant ; and there is a tendency to discover their weak- ness, rather than to consider their weight. All refinement apart, there seems a direct obligation on all who believe in Christ, in his friendship and good offices to the world, especially evinced by his deathj to remember it as a memorial and a debt of gratitude. It is no more than we would do in memory of a friend and benefactor, who had requested it as his dying wish. The cares of a family, and health, and bu- siness, are great apologies, and will no doubt excuse a less deliberate preparation. But, so long as we have leisure for company, con- versation, essays of genius, and trifles, the excuse is not complete. Shame is a great re- straint; it is one of those against which Christ has warned us, and the breaking through it is insisted upon as a proof of our regard in this state of trial. A habit of neglect is most difficult to conquer ; but, in the eye William sbiellie. 209 of sound reason, it is an aggravation rather than an apology ; and, if no attempts are made, it will al^^ays be growing stronger. At the very least, it seems reasonable to consider the matter fairly and fully, and, as much as maybe, to la}^ aside prejudice, care- fully weighing the arguments on both sides. Were I as good a man as I ought, I should reason better on its usefulness. You have known all my weaknesses since ever our friendship commenced ; and I vnll now tell you, in the confidence of friendship, that any attempts towards a better temper have been commonly suggested at the time of the communion. The impropriety of mocking, or lightly treating, the name, character, word, and institution, of so dear and gene- rous a friend ; — ^the obligation to tempe- rance, industry, and natural affection, friend- ship, charity ; — the importance of studying usefulness, and that only, in my profession ; — the importance of a lesson which I "^hall never be perfect in upon earth, true humili- ty : — the great importance of inward purity and uprightness. It is abnot.t hnpossibJe, at a communion, not to bethink ourselves of our vices, and to make some attempts to re- VOL. I. O 210 MEIMOIRS OF form tliem ; to entertain some sentiments of love to our fellow Christians ; to lay some plans for doing good ; to be somewhat affect- ed with the love of Jesus, and to look for- ward to his second coming to judge us ac- cording to our present conduct. Methinks the having a family should render this duty particularly engaging. I cannot express what I felt, when I saw Mr Balfour of Pil~ rig leading his blind Avife to the table of the Lord, where they united in the most pure and solemn act of devotion, forgetting a mis- fortune that must be perpetual here ; or rising from it to a more affecting and thank- ful contemplation of the period when the misfortunes, and troubles, and humility, and patience of this state, shall enhance everlast- ing joy. The training up of children to rehgion and virtue is an interesting ol)ject ; the join- ing with them in acts of devotion, by whid) tliey and we will be united hereafter and to all eternit}^, is truly sublime. The remeinbrance of a communion diffuses pleasure over tlie soul in times of melancholy, distress, and sorrow. 1 have seen it particularly pleasing on u death-bed ; and on another occasion tlie ne- WILLIAM SMELLIEl. ^ll gleet of it was regretted bitterly. I know you will impute this to friendship, and shall therefore make no apology. It is absolute- ly betwixt ourselves. If you dislike the sub- ject, I shall never speak or write upon it again, leaving our intercourse and friendship upon the same footing as before ; though I must own it would give me sincere pleasure, as a new bond of affection in a much valued friendship, were you to enter more fully into the benevolent designs of Jesus ; and Jet his love constrain you to remember him, and to enter more directly into his service, that we might unite in the faith and obe- dience of the gospel, and assist one another to rise in resemblance of our Saviour, and die in the hope of that immortality which he has revealed, and meet him in the clouds, adorinff to^cether the wonders of Gods love to all eternity. Yours, &c. We now take leave, witli regret that it is so imperfect and abrupt, of this interesting correspondence between these two young and ingenious friends. Had the whole se- ries been preserved, we are convinced that it would have afforded an excellent example 02 212 MEMOIRS OP for the imitation of other young men simi^ larly situate, and eager like them to avail themselves of reciprocating friendly assist- ance to instruct and l^e instructed, by the joint investigation of various literary topics, and by the tree interchange of critical ob- servations on their mutual essays. Before proceeding to more grave matters of public literary enterprise, we have thought it proper to subjoin two other miscellaneous letters, which have no reference or connex- ion with any particular fact or transaction of Mr Smellies life, either in regard to his business as a printer, or with any literary- concern or adventure. The first of these was written by Mr Smellie to the Reverend Dr George Campbell, Principal of Maris- chal College, Aberdeen, and author of a much admired Treatise on Miracles, in an- swer to the celebrated David Hu3ies obser- vations on that subject. It appears to have been written for the purpose of acquiring some fixed principles of argument upon a diflicult topic of philosophical theology, which were to be submitted to a society of which Mr Smellie was then a member. WItLIAM SMELLIK. 21 S On the subject of Aliracles, an extended correspondence took place between Mr Smei^ LIE and David Hume ; the former endea- vouring to overturn the doctrine whicii had been set forth in Mr Humes Essavs, and the latter strenuously supporting and de- fending his published arguments and posi- tions. But that correspondence, which had been seen and read by Mr Alexaxder Smellie, was long ago destroyed by his fa- ther, along with many other interesting let- ters, essays, and hterary projects, as akeady mentioned on several occasions. In an after part of these Memoirs, there will be found an abstract or abridgement of the arguments for and against the credibility of Miracles, by Dr Campbell and Mr Hume, drawn up in a masterly manner by Mr Smellie for the first edition of the Encyclopedia Britanuica, which sets this momentous controversy in a singularly clear and satisfactory light. The sepond of these letters, likewise on a philosophical subject, is from Professor Vv^il- spN of the University of Gl3Lsgow, to whom Mr Smellie appears to have transmitted a letter or discourse on Final ('auses, which is not now to be found among his papers. OS 214 3IEMOIRS OF No. XLL Mr William Smellie to the Reverend Dr Campbell. Rev. Doctor, Edinhurgli^ ^ 5th April \1iQ5, Nothing but your character as a philoso- pher could justify a letter of this nature from a person whose very name must be un- known to you. In his Essay on Providence and a Future State, David Hume has advanced an argu- ment, which not only strikes at the founda- tion of that comfortable doctrine, but like- wise tends to create suspicions with regard to one of the most amiable perfections of the Deityc If the Supreme Being be possessed of ever so much power or wisdom, what consolation can that afford to a reasonable creature, unless his goodness or beneficence be equally extensive ? The cause, says that ingenious philosopher, is always proportioned or limited to the effect. If the goodness displayed in this world is but small and in- WILLIAM SaiELLIE. 215 considerable, why do we ascribe more of that quahty to the cause than what is discoverable in the effect ? NoAr, Sir, when I first read the Essay, I confess that this argument, although sup- ported with great ingenuity, and ornament- ed with all the beauties that composition can bestow, did not, however, appear to be altoge- ther satisfactory. That there was a fallacy in the reasoning I never once doubted ; but it is difficult at the same time to point out with ac- curacy and precision where that fallacy lies. This, however, I shall attempt ; and I mean to send it to IMr Hume himself. Is it in every instance agreeable to reason, that the cause should be exactly proportion- ed or limited to the effect ? Here the fallacy must lie. Does not the gradual discovery of new effects, proceeding from the same cause, lay a reasonable foundation for ascribe ing greater power to the cause than results merely from its known effect ? This holds even in physical causes. Moral causes, be- ing more complex in their nature, must be subject to still greater varieties ; and, of course, must tend to produce a more thorough 01 216 ME3IOIRS OP conviction of power in the cause superior to the production of those effects which we are already acquainted with. The longer a man lives, and the more he inquires into the physical or moral constitution of this world, he undoubtedly discovers greater and greater degrees of wisdom and goodness in its con- stitution and government. But it seems doubtful whether such a person will not find, in the course of his observations, that the scale of goodness does not ascend in the sam-e proportion with that of power and wisdom. The creation and preservation of matter, in all the variety of forms which is displayed even in this world, demonstrates a degree of power and wisdom which is infinite, at least with regard to our conceptions. But the goodness which appears in this world is neither superior to our conceptions, nor any way equal in degree to the wisdom and power "wbicli is displayed in the formation of a single annual body. It has been alleged, and not without some foundation, that many of the evils, to which human nature is subjected, take their rise from irregularities in our own conduct ; — that phyr sical evils are productive of moral good, &c. WILLIA3I S3IELLIE. 21? But every person of reflection must have ob- served that there is a prodigious group of physical evils which have no dependence on our behaviour. Slight and temporary afflic- tions evidently induce a serious and virtuous habit of mind. But the stone, and such dis- tempers as haunt a man through the greatest part of life, instead of assisting our virtue, have, I am afraid, a natural tendency to sour and fret the mind, to render us peevish and discontented. The mind, when constantly galled with pain, is so totally occupied, that it is deprived of the power of exerting any vir- tuous disposition, unless the fortitude of a few individuals be an exception. Perhaps we are not so impartial in our judgments of goodness as of power and wis- dom. Men are strongly biassed in favour of every thing connected with their own haj)pi- ness. We often mistake wherein true hap- piness consists. Not thoroughly skilled in our own constitution and relations, we fre- quently wish for enjoyments and degrees of enjoyment totally inconsistent with our nature. This perhaps may contribute both to mislead our reasonings concerning goodness, 218 MEMOIRS OF and to hinder us from enjoying that degree of it which is placed within our reach. After all, I am unahle to satisfy myself upon this subject. I was informed, Sir, by a west-country gentleman, that he once had the happiness of hearing a lecture from you upon this subject. But, as he had never read Mr Hu3iEs essay, and did not at the time think himself much interested in the inquiry, he was not in a capacity to give any account of your discourse, farther than that it was e- qually ingenious and satisfactory. I am a- shamed to give you the trouble of transmit- ting a summary of your reasoning on this subject : but, as I beg thjs favour not simply for myself, but for above a dozen of philoso- phical acquaintances, who are equally dubi- ous on this point, I presume to hope that your goodness will induce you, at a conveni- ent season, so far to oblige, Sir, Yours, &c. WiLLIAfll S3IELLIE. P. S. — An answer, directed to me in Mof- FATs land. Bow-head, Edinburgh, will be pa- tiently expected, and thankfully received. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 219 At first sight it may appear odd that so just a thinker as Mr Smellie, who had stu- died medicine regularly, should for a moment have been induced to bring forward the con- sideration of ordinary disease as an instance of want or deficiency of goodness in the mo- ral attributes of the Deity : It is obvious that at least nine tenths of such human evils are the consequences of wrong conduct in the pa- tients themselves, their ancestors, or caused by the situations in which the diseasedpersons are placed by merely human institutions ; and it may be reasonably conjectured that the re- maining fraction is in a similar predicament. It must however be considered, that Mr Smellie was then a very young man, eager in the prosecution of knowledge ; and in this letter, he may naturally be supposed rather to state the ordinary objections against the universal benevolence of an over-ruling Pro- vidence, in hopes of receiving instruction on the subject from his reverend correspondent, than intending seriously to impugn that com- fortable doctrine. 220 MEBIOIRS OF No. XLII. To Mr William Smellie fro7Jt Professor P. Wilson of the University of Qlasgow. Dear Sir,, Glasgow^ ISth Februa?y IHGJ^ I RECEIVED your discourse on Finalization long since, and perused the same to my great profit. As the question was first put by me, you'll no doubt \v onder how I have not ere now showed you the like deference, by com- municating my remarks on Dreamers and Dreams. Your topic promises to be curious in the investigation ; every attempt, however, to finalize upon the matter puts an end to my researches. Sometimes, I am apt to think that I have stumbled on the causa, upon the first entrance into the discussion. I say to myself, What can be the cause final, mid- dle and principient, that this said Wedues^ day is, in our longitude, the 18th dayof Fe- bruary 1 767? Could not this same present day as well have been to-morrow ? WILLIAM SMELLIE. 221 I FIND I must relinquish this subject till meeting ; when we shall endeavour to pene- trate beyond the veil of this argument, un- der the benign influence of tobacco smoke and porter at Claryheughs*. Your late animadversion on liearts lie a little at my 5/0- mach. I RECEIVED yours of the loth, accompany- ing some proposals for the Family P]ears to have taken place about the close of Vol. I. P 226 MEMOIRS OF 1759, or the commencement of 1760, as Mr Smellie mentions the agreement he had en- tered into with Messrs Murray & Coch- rane as a recent event, and says that the professor of anatomy was then too far advan- ced in his course for beginning to attend his lectures that season. It is quite obvious from the tenor of this correspondence, especially at its commence- ment, that Dr Buchan was very eager to have seduced Mr Smellie from his situation of cor- rector of the press, and to have conferred up- on him the splendid office of dispenser of me- dicines, anatomical assistant, and literary drudge at Ackworth ; with a quantum sufficit of meat and drink as his hire, but without money or cloathing. The Doctor had proba- bly by this time planned the composition of his great work. Domestic Medicine, or some other medical performance, with a view of bringing himself into notice ; and, conscious that he required important aid, he appears to have wished to exchange his then indolent shopman, Mr Rutherford, for a person whom he believed, and afterwards found to be qua- lified to maturate his plans, and to carry them into successful execution, as will appear in the sequel. WILLIAM SMELLIE* 221 No. XLIII. To Mr William Smeljae from Dr Willi a^i Bucha:^. Dear Smellie, A^o date. The only scheme that I can put you upon, or assist you in, is as follows. Get as much knowledge picked up at Edinburgh this, win- ter as possible, and hold yourself in readiness to come up along with me about the end of May next ; and you shall be welcome to live with me until you learn pharmacy, and see as much practice as to be able to set up for yourself. If you make yourself very useful to me, you shall be upon the same footing with Mr Rutherford; viz. bed, board, washing, &c. free : and if you don't chuse to serve me in that capacity, which indeed will only be serving yourself, you shall liave all these things upon the most reasonable terms in my house ; and I will trust you for payment until you shall be in a capacity. This, in one word, is the scheme, and I would have you consider of it. P 2 228 MEMOIRS OF I CAN easily provide Mf Rutherford, as soon as I know of another to fill his place ; but, instead of giving any thing, I might have money for taking young men, but can't think of being plagued with them ; so chuse only to have one of whom I can make a companion. Mr Rutherford understands pharmacy very well, and knows a good deal of diseases ; and no wonder, as he enjoys greater privileges at present than any young man in England. You know my turn is not to conceal what I know, but am rather too fond to communicate. The only fault I have to John is indolence : he absolutely re- fuses to assist me in any one of my curious researches ; and won't so much as touch a subject, or attend when I am opening a child, let the case be ever so curious, but wants always to sit and hang his head over a book. This makes me lose many curious preparations, which I have not time to make myself, and which nothing can induce John to bestow a little labour upon. No body can do better if he would, but no one did I ever see possessed of such a degree of indif- ference. I am just now preparing a curious skeleton in the next room to where he sits ; but he has never once deigned to give it a WILLIAM SMELLIE. 229 look, far less to give me any assistance, though I desired him in the most pressing manner. " Who would be plagued with such nonsense ?" is all his answer. Now, I leave you to judge if such a man can have a parallel. Who, in his right wits, would not jump at such an opportunity ? Yours, &c. W. BUCHAN. No. XLIV. Mr William Smellie to Dr William BuCHAN. Dear Sir, No date. As I hate cramming letters with com- pliment and apology, I shall here, without ceremony, communicate to you my naked thoughts concerning the generous scheme you propose. I BEGIN with a description of my present situation. Two months after you left this place, I had an offer of L.41 a-year to cor- rect for Messrs Murray and Cochrane, which I accepted, and am engaged for twelve P3 230 ' JIE3iOIRS OF months, beginning 22(1 November 1759 ; but I am by no means confmed, and have more opportunities of reading now than ever I had. Had this agreeable scheme been proposed two months sooner, nothing could have gra- tified my wishes more. But Monro is far on with his subject ; and I cannot think of entering in the middle of a session. I long much to hear a particular detail of your pro- posal. In the mean time, supposing this session to be lost, the method I intend to pursue is this. I shall read books on physic with great application from this time till Alstons summer class, which I shall attend, and take Monro next season. If this, with the directions I expect to receive from you, particularly in the choice of my books and mxCthod of study, can by any means bring about what you desire, it will give me infinite satisfaction, and I hope shall be the era from which I shall hereafter date my happiness. As I have more paper left than I expected when 1 sat down to write, I cannot conclude better than by putting the head where the tail should be, congratulating you on your WILLIAM SMELLIE. 231 good fortune, or rather happy genius ; and assuring you that nothing can give me great- er pleasure than to hear of your success ; which that it may increase as your wishes, is the prayer of, Yours, &c. William Smellie. p. S, — Pray write me soon. If this affair does not succeed, I wish from my heart it had never been spoken of ; for it has touch- ed one of my quickest senses, and ex- cited that passionate desire which has al- ways possessed my breast ; viz. to have stu- dy for my constant employment, especially the study of Nature in all her various opera- tions, and the study of physic appears to be the only cure for this my painful distemper. No. XLV. Dr William Buck an to Mr William Smellie. Dear Smellie, No date. I take this opportunity of troubling you once more with a few lines, in order to keep P4 232 . MEMOIRS OP lip our old friendship, which I am determin- ed shall not fail on my side. I have been in a perpetual hurry since I left you, otherwise would have wrote you sooner ; but I flatter myself that it won't be disagreeable new^ to you to hear that more advantageous em- ployment than that of letter writing takes up my whole time and attention. The bearer, Mr Wood, for whom I have a great respect, intends to spend some time at Edinburgh in the study of physic ; and, as I believe him to be a sober, sensible, young gentleman, I can with the greatest freedom recommend him to your acquaintance, which I hope will be of considerably service to him, as he is ^x\ entire stranger to the country, and may need to be informed of sundry par- ticulars relating to his method of studying, living, lodgings, &c. I am satisfied that you can be of as much use to him in all respects as if I was upon the spot, so shall say no more on that subject. I OWN it gave me some concern and a good deal of surprise, when in Edinburgh, to find you so undetermined as to your fu- ture project for life, as I am satisfied no WILLIAM SMELLIE. 233 man can fix too soon or prosecute his plan with too much steadiness, if he ever hopes to make a figure in any one branch of busi- ness or Hterature. If ever you form a reso- lution to pursue the study of physic, and can make me any way subservient to your plan, you know you may always command 4ny service in my power. I shall be glad to hear what classes you attend this winter ; and, if any thing new is talked of, I don't need, I hope, to desire you to communicate the same. I GREATLY waut some anatomical prepara- tions ; and you, I think, have it in your power to help me to a few. The method to come at them will be by applying to Jack Innes, as he has these things frequently to dispose of, and I shall not grudge money if they are pretty good ones. You must ap- ply as if they were for yourself ; and I will put you upon the method of sending them up ; but I am afraid nothing but dried pre- parations could be carried, or such as can bear a deal of motion without being broken to pieces or destroyed. ^34 MEMOIRS OP I SHOULD chuse to have as many parts of the human body, injected and dried, as you can procure ; such as arms, legs, hearts, stomachs, &c. One thing I greatly want is, to have all the bones of a strong old subject asunder and well marked by the impressions of the muscles. I don't much mind whe- ther they all belong to the same subject, so that they are well marked. You see I have no room for communicat-r ing any thing curious, but if you will write soon you shall have a packet. I WAS highly entertained to-day by a man who came to me for advice, and who firmly believed he was turned into a woman *. Yours, &c. W. BUCHAN. * It has not been deemed necessary to insert the medical case here alluded to. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 235 Mo. XLVI. iMr William Smellie to Dr William BuCHAN. Dear Doctor, 1761. I SHOULD be extremely sorry if our friend-r ship were dissolved, merely because our views of the same object were different. Your de- lay indeed gave me pain ; but I guessed the cause, and earnestly wish for the continuance of it. Business must constantly be preferred to letters of amusement. Mr Wood an- swers in every respect the character you gave of him. He is very fond of Edinburgh. As to lodgings, &c. he is agreeably enough situate. Resolution is certainly a necessary qua- lification for carrying mankind through every stage of life. But you must allov/ that a very great degree of it is required, when a man is about to leave friends, relations, com- panions, &c. ; and not only so, but in a mo- ment to change entirely his former sphere of 236 MEMOIRS OF action, and to launch into the practice of an art which demands both labour and abilities. I DOUBT much if I shall be able to procure the preparations you mentioned ; and, were it practicable to procure them, I imagine it would be next to impossible to preserve them from being injured by so long a car- riage. I shall, however, attempt to get you as many bones as I can procure. I AM singularly indebted to you for com- municating any thing curious that occurs in practice. The story of your crazy would- be hermaphrodite diverted me highly. I wish I could entertain you as well in re- turn. But that is beyond my power, for every thing here is as dull and insipid as usual. One Harris is just about to be Caped. The subject of his thesis is de Abor^ tu, I expect nothing new from it. Dr Cullen lately presented me with a ticket without any solicitation. Business does not admit of my attending any one else. With regard to the practice of physic, I am still as undetermined as ever. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 237 Some weeks ago I was desired by the So- ciety of Masons to give them a discourse on Charity. This I delivered on Monday se'enight. The lodge ordered it to be print- ed ; and I believe I shall make two or three guineas of it. Our Newtonian Society goes on with great vigour. I shall be happy to hear from you as soon as your convenience will admit of. My kind compliments to Mrs Buchan. Yours, &c. William Smellie. No. XLVII. Dr William Buchan to Mr William Smellie. Ackworth, August 20. 1761. Dear Willie, I had your favour in due course ; and am, I assure you, very sorry that your subject did not prove in every respect to your satis- faction ; however, I think, by the account you have made of it, your labour has not at all been lost. ^38 MEMOIRS OP Honest John is got quite well again ; but is such an indolent rogue, that I am afraid you will not avail yourself much of his cor- respondence. He has, however, done one great work since he came here ; viz. compile ing a Dispensatory, which, if he was not afraid of a discovery by some of your Edin- burgh critics, he would entitle Pharmacopoeia RuTHERFORDIANAw I SHOULD be glad to know if you attend Dr Hope, and how he seems to succeed. I don't in the least doubt his good intentions ; but am a little afraid that he wants the knack of pleasing his pupils ; and that, I as- sure you, is all and all with a public teacher. As I take Edinburgh at present to be the- seat of the medical muses, I shall reckon myself highly obliged to you if frequently you will be so good as transmit me an ac- count of whatever you may think worth com- municating ; and in return you may depend upon any observations that I can pick up in this part of the country. I have quite alter- ed my theory of vegetation ; but, as I have read no treatise upon that subject, and as your new opinion is entirely the result of WILLIAM SMELLIE. 239 observations, so I hope it will stand the test. I purpose to commit some of my observa- tions to writing as soon as possible ; and if they please me when digested, I shall be glad of the sentiments of my Edinburgh friends on the subject ; for which purpose a copy shall be sent to you ; and which if you please to read in the Society, you may. Believe me, dear Willie, &c. W. BUCHAN. No. XL VIII. Dr William Buchan to Mr William Smellie. Ackworth, Saturday, "Ith November 1761. Dear Willie, It has surprised me greatly that I have not had the pleasure of hearing from you since I wrote you last. I really intended to have used you as a correspondent ; and had promised myself a good deal of satisfaction from the information that I hoped you would communicate to me from time to time, of any thing curious that was going on in your 240 MEMOIRS OF part of the world, as that happens to be at present the seat of the medical muses. I am afraid you don't care to take the trouble' of writing, though I intended to have com- municated to you all the observations I am capable of making in this part of the world, in order to render our correspondence as useful on both sides as possible. If you intend to pursue the study of phy-' sic, I should be glad to know what classes you mean to attend this winter ; and if you don't think yourself too wise for advice, would offer you mine on the occasion, as a person can often see better afterwards what he ought to have done than the greatest prudence is able to foresee. Your friend Mr Rutherford is still with hie ; and, though I could fmd sundry places for him here, yet I think I am more his friend by keeping him by me for some time, than to send him to some stupid fellow, who, though he would give him wages, would yet teach him nothing, which is generally the case with journeymen. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 241 I ASSURE you I have your interest sincere- ly at heart ; and flatter myself that it is in my power to serve you, if you will allow me. I would therefore beg of you to write me as soon as possible, and communicate as much of your scheme of life to me as you think proper ; and you may depend on my free and candid opinion, advice, or assistance, in all your undertakings. I think, in your last, you mentioned some people calling on you for copies of my Thesis. I left 100 with My Moore, bookbinder ; and if a few of them were stitched in marbled paper, you might give them to any particular acquaint- ance of yours and mine, whom one could not handsomely refuse ; but I should not like to be too free with them, as it savours of ostentation. i WOULD have wrote you more particular- ly ; but not knowing whether you were dead or alive, as I have really been apprehensive for some time past that some accident had befallen you, I shall say no more at present, but that I am, as ever, your affectionate friend, W. BUCHAN, Vol. I. Q 242 MEMOIRS OF No. XLIX. Dr William Buchan to Mr William Smellie. Ackworth^ Monday^ ISth January 1762. Dear Willie, I had the favour of a letter from you some time ago ; since which I wrote you, and expected to have heard from you before now ; as I really wanted, for an extremely good reason, to know if you intend to prac- tise physic ; and must, in the ministerial style, insist upon a categorical answer. The reason you shall know by and by*. I should also like to know what classes you attend, and if there is any thing new stirring among you this session. If you attend Cullex, you will find him much more ingenious in fishing for difficul- ties and starting doubts, than in solving them ; and, when he has roused your whole * This is obviously a hiiu at his intended publication, Domestic Medicine, of which hereafter. WILLIAM SMELLIE* 243 soul into curiosity and expectation, and you are just gaping to hear the sokition of some fine problem, all that you are to expect is, " That we are not yet in a capacity for de- termining this matter." At this declaration, methinks I see you bite your nails, and curse the shallo'wness of human genius. But soft and fair, say I ; perhaps it is as well that we don't know more, as that we don't know less. — Vide Essay on Man. I INTENDED to havc v/rittcu some little fessays this winter, some of the subjects, I think, I hinted to you ; but since that time 1 have plunged so effectually into practice, that I verily believe the theory of physic may sink or swim for ine, as, although no man loves it more, yet I fmd the practice is the more profit a])le part. i SHALL be glad to hear that the Newto- nian Society flourishes ; and beg you will make my compliments to all the members of it that I have the honour to be acquainted v/ith. If I get to Edinburgh before it rises, 1 shall do myself the pleasure of waiting up- on them ; and if i can think of any subject new, or that may be wortby of their atten- Q 2 244 MEMOIRS OF tion, I hope they will indulge me in deliver-^ ing it, as I had no time last winter to think of philosophical matters. I AM not at all surprised at your account of Mr BuLLERs behaviour, as tyrants are commonly cringers ; and as to his choice of a subject, you know it must be out of the usual road, otherwise below his notice. But I really believe Arteriotomy will have the same fate with the brush described by Heis- TER for cleaning the stomach. Its use may be demonstrated, but few will ever dare to put it in practice : and, indeed, should it be attempted by one of a thousand who practise physic, more mischief would ensue from its use than is ever likely to happen from its neglect. I WOULD advise you by all means to attend MoiVRo ; as anatomy is a subject you can never know too much of, if you practise physic ; and if you don't attend the public lecture, I would at least have you endeavour to be with Jack at night, during the time the subject is in hands. I take young Mon- ro to be quite an expert anatomist. Cullen is clever, and does not want for genius, but WILLIAM SMELLIE. 245 has his head full of theory and vague hypo- thesis. Whyte will afford you the greatt^st satisfaction imaginable, being both ingenious and solid. Rutherford is slow, but abso- lutely sure. If you are not a member of the Medical Society, I would advise you to enter imme- diately ; as one never fails to pick up some- thing in these clubs, let them be ever so stu- pid. As I cannot entfjrtain you with any new piece of theory, I hope you won't be disobliged if I should just mention a history or two, to shew you a little of my success in practice. * * ^'^ # # # # ^^ * I BEG of you to write me soon ; and giv^ your letter to my wife, who will take care to send it in a frank. Yours, &c. W. BuCHAN. The person alluded to in the foregoing letter, under the name of Jack, was Mr John Ixives, long dissector to the Professor of Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh. This gentleman used to give every evening a private repetition of the anatoinicai tieinon- Q3 246 MEMOIRS OF strations, to the students who attended the public class, and who were disposed to avail themselves of this excellent means for im- pressing a knowledge of the structure of the human body on their memories. This useful institution still continues under Mr Fyfe, the successor of Mr Innes in the of- fice of dissector. The fee given to the pro- fessor, for attending the public lectures, is three guineas for each course ; that to the dissector, for the private demonstrations, is one guinea. The professor at that period was the present Dr Alexander Monro, senior, whose eldest son, Dr Alexander Monro, junior, has now been for a good many years his assistant and successor ; and v/ho has added a course of lectures upon the morbid anatomy of the human body to the former customary academical course of me- dical education. It may be here remarked, that the chair of Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh has now been occupied for near a century by Dr Alexander Monro, senior, and his father of the same name, who was appointed professor in 1719. In the original of the foregoing letter from Dr Buchan, he communicated to his WILLIAM SMELLTE. 247 friend Mr Smellie two cases of wonderful cures which he had performed in his private practice ; but which it has not been thought necessary to insert. No. L. Dr William Buchan to Mr William Smellie. Ackworth, lOth July 1762. Dear SxMellie, A prodigious hurry of business has both prevented your hearing from me, and also retarded my journey to Edinburgh for some time past. I HOPE you wont take it amiss if, after so long silence, I should say nothing fartl?er than that, God willing, I flatter myself with once more having the pleasure of seeing you, and all my Edinburgh friends, soon. I shall set off in a few days ; and expect to reach Auld Reikie about the 16th instant. I de- sire you will hold yourself in readiness for a journey, as I don't fear soon convincing you Q4 248 MEMOIRS OF of your capacity for the practice of Apollos art, and shall be answerable for the success, Believe me, Szc. W. BUCHAN. The letters from Dr Buchan to Mr Smel-. LIE, so far as we have hitherto reached, have continued very much on general topics. In the subsequent portion, however, of this cor- respondence, we find another and nearer in- terest arising in the Doctors mind, and for the advancement of which he more eagerly urged the young philosophical corrector to abandon the setting up of types and correc- tion of foul proofs for the regular study of medicine. Whatever may have been the motive, it certainly succeeded in making Mr Smellie an excellent scholar on all the to})ics connected with the healing art, and even with the theory of medicine. It induc- ed LiiD to give a marked attention to the study of natural history in all its branches, to ? hicii he became ever afterwards much devoted, qualiljing him for the excellent traiislation of Buffon, which he afterwards executed, and for the composition of those lectures which he proposed to have read, WILLIA3I SMELLIE. 249 and a considerable portion of which were ac- tually published, upon the Philosophy of Natural History ; and it enabled him to be- come afterwards essentially useful to the Doctor, in aiding him in the composition and publication of his Domestic Medicine, No. LI. Mr WiLLiA3i S31ELLIE to Dr Buchan. Dear Sir, 1762. I AM greatly indebted to you for commu- nicating the curious cases contained in your letter, and more so for the obliging invita- tion of coming to stay with you. Ever since I enjoyed the pleasure of your ac- quaintance, I have had the strongest proofs of your friendship ; and I fmd that neither absence nor difference of situation have in the smallest degree impaired the goodness or generosity of your heart. Would that I were able to make you some other return, than barely that of gratitude. It is altoge- ther impracticable, I am afraid, to comply with your intentions at present ; and I wish 250 MEMOIRS OF I did not see several obstacles which make me entertain doubts of the success of such a scheme in any future period. I doubt no- thing either with regard to your care or ca- pacity to instruct me. But, supposing even I were arrived at the degree of a tole- rable surgeon ; yet, when I consider my si- tuation in life, together with the disposition and temper of my mind, it comes to be a question with me, wiiether or not I could benefit myself by it. I am equally desti- tute of money and impudence ; two great sources of w^ealth and reputation. Any booby v/ith a little brass in his face and a doctoreal peruke, &c. w^ould cut a much better figure either in town or country than your most humble servant. Hovv^ever, we shall try to canvass this subject more fully Avheu you come to Edinburgh. In one of his lectures some days ago, Dr CuLLEN said that coralines, spunges, &c. which w ere formerly su{)posed to be vegetable substances, were now considered as entirely the production of gregarious anim.als ; and away he ran, without saying a syllable more on the subject. The devil twist your Doc- torships nose about, thinks I, for I had much WILLIAM SMELLIE. 251 rather that you had not mentioned it at all. Now the things I want are the quomodos '^ how ? what ? and so forth. I would be glad to have a solution of this knotty point. If you can have any opportunity of being served with the London Chronicle, I Avould recommend it to you as the only newspaper in Britain that is worth the paying for. If you cannot get it with ease, I imagine the Edin- burgh Journal, which is a weekly paper, and contains the substance of the news for the week, will be the most proper for your pur- pose. Advise me with regard to this in your next. I had the satisfaction of seeing Mrs Buck AN last night in very good health. Yours, &c. William S.mellie. i No. LII. Dr William Buchan to Mr Williaji Smellie. Dear S^iellie, I HAD your letter some time ago without date *, so can't tell whether it came in due * In this letter the Doctor complains of the want of date ; yut the original of this very letter, now in the hands of Mr Alexan- der Smellie, has no date cither of time or place. From its 252 3IEMOIRS OF course or not : but you must excuse me if I should tell you that your truly whimsical notion of modesty seems to me quite roman- tic. I never thought you impudent ; but am perfectly sure you never will be a loser by your modesty in the medical profession, as I don't think you possessed of that quality to a fault, and a man never loses by the ap- pearance of it. If you have no other objec- tion to the medical profession but your in- nate modesty, I desire you never to think of that more, as I shall be answerable for your success if that proves the only impedi- ment ; and I think I have gone pretty far to remove any other objection which you can possibly start. Impudence may introduce a man, but real merit must secure his success in the practice of medicine ; and this, if I mistake not, is the case all over the world. The quahfications which you seem to wish so much to be possessed of, might, I own, do very well to fit a man for the stage as a quack ; but can never be supposed necessary for a regular physician, unless you suppose subject, it must have been written a'nout l?^'^. at the time when Mr SjiELLiE was led by the advice ot s«.>mc ot his friends to the idea oi studying raedirine, with a view to a i han!j;e of proicssion. The Doctor was then in bubiiies6 as a pliysician at Shctheid. WILLIAM SMELLIE. S53 US all to be a parcel of brazen-faced rascals together. I DESIRE my compliments to all friends ; and beg of you to write me soon, and let me know your final resolution as to medicine. Excuse hurry and inaccuracy ; and believe me to be, as ever, yours sincerely, W. BuCHAX. IVo. LIII. Dr William Bug h ax io Mr William Smellie. Sheffield, '29th Fehrum^ 1764. Dear Smellie, After long silence, which has been occa- sioned more by hurry and bustle about busi- ness than by indifference, I liope you will ex- cuse my troubling your repose once more, by desiring you to acquaint me with your present situation, and what future scheme you have in your head, as I can't help feel- ing a sort of secret wish for your welfare ; and I assure you, flattery aside, that it will 254 MfeMOIRS OF not a little add to my present happiness to hear that you are so. I HAVE at length fixed upon a town where I think it not improbable that I shall end my days in quality of a physician, viz. Shef- field, a large, populous, and growing place^ abounding with trade and money. I SPENT some time in London last winter \ but neither can nor will give you any parti- culars till I hear from you, which I wish to do immediately for sundry reasons ; and you may expect in course a whole packet of news, and two or three trifling commissions, from yours, &c. W. BUCHAJV. The Doctor seems now to have maturated his scheme of the Domestic Medicine ; and, feeling his need of literary aid, endeavours to recal the intimacy with Mr Smellie which he had allowed for some time to fall asleep, as he had not been able to ])revail up- on him to become his humble companion and subservient drudge* WILLIAM SMELLIE. 255 No. LIV. Dr WiLLIAiAI BuCHAN tO Mv WiLLIAM Smellie. Dear Smellie, Sheffield. No date, I HAD your favour of the 20th ult. and I reckon myself deeply indebted to you for sending me so full a packet of news, espe- cially Y/ith regard to the University. Your account of the challenge entertains me much ; but I am afraid you have not stated the case fairly, as * ^'^ * * * ^'' certainly would not challenge Cliinny without a great deal of provocation ; and to tell you truty I never admired ^^ * * * * good manners. I am sorry that * * * * * has lost his popularity, as I think he deserves well of the learned world, at least of the medical world, and I wish I could say as much for the otlier. Don't you think * * * * ^ was very bold to venture a substance against a shade ? I CANNOT make out from your account whether Dr Humes pampiiiet on the Croup ^56 3IEM0IRS OP is wrote in Latin or English. If in the fbr"- mer, I think Suffocatio Stridula a very proper name ; but if he translates that into Croiip^ he may keep his pamphlet at home ; for I have never met with any one in England, either medical people or others, who called the disease by that name. Though that dis- order is very common here, yet should one speak of the croup to a Yorkshire man, he would believe you either meant the rump of a fowl, or the buttocks of a horse. The disease, however, is by no means sufficientl}^ understood ; and I should be extremely glad to be possessed of any good performance on the subject. Betwixt you and I, it does not matter a pin what name any man gives a disorder, provided he points out the symp- toms accurately, and proposes a rational me- thod of cure. I A3I extremely sorry to hear of poor Dr Whytes deplorable situation, as I think his death would be a real loss to the University and to learning in general. I have not yet seen his new book, but I have read some ex- tracts from it in the magazines. I promise myself a good deal of satisfaction from the perusal of his performances, especially as the WILLIAM SMELLIE. 257 diseases on which he treats make ahuost one half of our business here ; but I think the task too great for any one man ; and am afraid the Doctor has hurt his own nerves by endeavouring to preserve those of other people. Your strictures upon Linnaeus were, I dare say, well supported ; and I am glad they had such happy consequences. I know Mr Dalrymple very well, and always looked upon him as an ingenious gentleman. I am glad you have found so good a friend, as I take him to be a person of a good deal of honour. Your observations on Lord Kames I can say nothing about, as I never saw the work which occasioned them ; but I think his Lordships conduct implies that they were just, at least in his opinion, and no body was so likely to think them otherwise. I am glad his Lordship took them in good part ; and I should think it much your interest to cultivate his friendship. I have a high opi- nion of his integrity, which is the great point in a friend. I think you are quite in the right not to push my Lord, nor would I Vol. L R 258 BIEMOIRS OF have you to trust too much to his or any mans friendship, as you are more certain to meet with kindness if you don't ask it, or seem not to stand in need of it, than if you do either. The world is extremely caprici- ous now-a-days, especially the great ; and he who would use their interest must take care to ride very gently, and to use the spur with great caution. You see I am so much of a Yorkshire man as not to he ahle to write without horrowing my ideas from horses, jockies, &c. I HAVE long looked on matrimony as a ne- cessary ingredient in hum.an happiness ; for which causey ou have no reason to suppose that I shall think the worse of you for having taken that step. I heartily wi^h you all happiness ; and shall he glad to know the happy woman. I am so far from thinking matrimony a clog to any man, that I look upon it as a spur to a virtuous mind ; and to me, at least, it is no small inducement to industry that the effects of it tend to the ease and happiness of those for whom I feel the strongest affection. I am glad to hear that Hope is so much your friend, as I really l>elieve him to be a good WILLIAM SMELLIE. ^59 ::;6rt o^ a man, and one Avho wishes well to mankind in aeneral. o So much for your letter. You see I have only left one page for myself ; and I am de- termined to fill it up, as you desire measure for measure* As to your hint, I understand it very well ; and, if you will put it in my power, I am de- termined not to be behind hand with any of your friends. Whether the manner in which I mean to serve you will suit or not, I can- not say, but shall be glad to have your opi- nion of it. The plan is this. I intend to print my performance here, as it is a popular one, by subscription in weekly numbers ; and I may afterwards do the same at London and Edinburgh. Now, it is no easy matter, you know, for a person in practice to be able to find time both for writing and connecting ; and, if you could make it suit your conve- niency to come up here for a few weeks, and lend me a hand at the time of printing, I should not only esteem it a great favour, but will engage to give you L.lOO, not in loan, but as a reward, provided you can stay long enough, besides the preference of R 2 260 MEMOIRS OF printing my work at Edinburgli, which I flatter myself might turn out to good ac- count. You certainly think I am very vain of my performance ; but you will find that I am not so vain a parent as you may ima- gine ; only I think I have hit upon some- thing that will sell. I CANNOT fix upon the time when I should want you up, as the subscription is just now about to be opened ; but, as I have given you the hint, I beg your opinion of it in course, and you shall hear more of the parti- culars. I have sundry other reasons for wish- ing to see you here, besides what I have mentioned, and I am greatly mistaken if the journey do not turn out to your account. I intended, if you had net been settled in bu- siness, to have given you an invitation to my house for a year or so, by way of looking about you ; and I believe had that happen- ed, you would not have fixed in Edinburgh. But as it is, ajatmt cannot hurt you, as your partner can look after the business ; and it must pass in your town that you are gone up to London on affairs relating to bu- siness ; and to make this strictly true, you shall visit the capital before your return. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 261 But my paper is done before I have got the affair properly opened. Pray write me in course; and you shall have another sheet with the scheme at large. Yours, &c. W. BUCHAN. It is difficult to explain some of the rather , vague allusions employed by Dr Buchan in the foregoing letter, and which delicacy has even induced us to render less obvious. Dr CuLLEN was for many years one of the brightest luminaries and ablest supporters of the high fame of the medical school in the University of Edinburgh ; and, quite con- trary to the observation of Dr Buchan, was a man universally known and esteemed for great suavity of manners. The other per- son alluded to was a gentleman of much ge- nius, knowledge, and industry ; and had re- cently brought out a very useful work on medicine. It unfortunately happened that Dr CuLLEN, in one of his prelections, made use of some expressions which were conceiv- ed to convey an insinuation against the au- thenticity of the facts contained in the pub- lication of the other learned Doctor ; to whom the expressions, perhaps exaggerated R3 262 ME3IOIRS OF in their recital, were reported by some busy body. Conceiving his honour and veracity nttacked in the tenderest point, the indig- nant author is said to have sent a challenge to the professor ; but the dispute fell to the ground without the effusion of blood. In one of the paragraphs of this letter, Dr BucHAN is rather fastidiously hypercritical in his observations on the common Edinburgh name of the Cynanche Trachcalis of nosolo- gists. It has received its Scots name of Croup hovci a somewhat similar disease of the same name which is incident to poultry. In the north of England it is called the stuffing; which a Yorkshire man, in the same spirit of cavil with Dr Buchan, might be disposed to look for in the pannels of his saddle. After all, in his own favourite literary child. Do- mestic Medicine, the disease is named Croup. From certain allusions in this letter, it seems highly probable that Mr Saiellie had applied to his friend Dr Buchan for the loan of an hundred pounds, to enable him to set up in business for himself. The Doctor here affects to impress upon Mr Smellie, that his medical practice did not leave him sufficient WILLIA3I SMELLIE. 263 leisure to correct his intended medical Avork, and offers to give him one hundred pounds as a reward for correcting \.\\e proof sheets of an octavo volume. L. 100 in these days were equal at this period to L.300. It has been already mentioned that we have no documents now re- maining on which to found any estimate of the actual share which Mr Smellie had in the composition or correction of that v/ ork ; and Dr Wright was assuredly misinformed by Dr Gilbert Stuart as to the whole work having been composed by Mr Smellie. Cer- tain is, however, that Dr Buchax actually gave his bill for an hundred pounds to iMr Smellie, in payment of his services upon this occasion ; and this bill is still in the hands of Mr James Gextle writer in Edinburgh. Mr Smellie collected, and procured to be col- lected, a considerable number of subscriptions for the book ; and Dr Buchax made him re- sponsible for the payment of all these sub- scriptions, by which Mr Smellie suifered a pecuniary loss of some moment, as a good many of the subscribers neglected to pay for their copies. Mr Smellies principal business appears to have been to reduce the exuberance of the work R4 264 MEMOIRS OF within due bounds. Had it appeared before the world in its original prolixity, the sale must have been small indeed. At this period Dr BucHAN resided in Sheffield ; and, being afraid to have it known that Mr Smellie had gone into Yorkshire upon a visit to him, lest the fact might be detected, that he was em- ployed, like Voltaire by the King of Prussia, to revise and amend his works, the Doctor urges him to give out that he was going to London ; and even proposes a Jesuitical salvo to save appearances. But, as it was utterly impossible for Mr Smellie to accept of this kind invitation without abandoning his re- cently begun business, the Doctor had to em- brace the other alternative, of going himself to Edinburgh to have his work corrected and printed. As the mountain could not go tQ Mahomet, Mahomet went to the mountain. The Doctor accordingly came to Edinburgh., where the whole work underwent the correc- tion of Mr Smellies pen and judgment. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 265 No. LV. To Mr William Smelj^ie from Dr Willia-M BUCH4N. Dear Smellie, Slieffidd, \ 5th Dec. 1765, I had your favour of the 30th ultimo ; and you should have heard from me sooner, but for an ugly inflammation of my face, which made my eyes so weak I could not look upon paper. I thank God it is now quite gone ; and I am again able to scribble as usual ; so you may expect a whole sheet, provided this old bropmstick of a shop pen be but able to go through with it ; for, to tell you the truth, I am not at present master of a pen-knife to mend it with ; which must appear a prodigi- ous paradox, considering that I am situate amidst ten thousand cutlers. I AM sorry that I desired you to make bricks without allowing you straw ; or, to speak more philosophically, required solutions with- out furnishing proper and sufficient data. But this blunder you must impute to my not 266 MEMOIRS OF understanding the art about which I was writ- ing. I am vain enough to think, had you wrote a medical case for my opinion, though you are far from being ignorant of that science, that I could have found as many flaws in your data as you very justly did in mine ; but, be that as it may, your answer was quite satis- factory ; at least, it contained all the mate- rial articles of information which I wanted*. You seem startled at the supposition of 10,000 copies, without ever considering the old proverb, that chalk 's not cheese. I never said that I should print that number. I only asked you what such a number might be done for at Edinburgh, including paper, print, and stitching in blue paper covers. Now, where was the diiTiculty of your supposing the price of the paper, the length of the lines, and the number of lines in a page, ail at a medium, and making your calculations accordingly ? You seem to have a strong inclination to know my subject ; and indeed I think it hard- ly friendly to keep you in the dark about that ; * ILtc follows a lone discuss'on about the rjUality an;] price of paper, w„icu, Oiing qiatc uimi'icresting, is oinitud. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 267 but there is not room now to say much about it ; only, in general, it is a medical perfor- mance, calculated for general use ; and is something in the manner of Dr Tissots Ad- vice to the People, but upon a more general plan, and will, I hope, be more extensively useful. I am so far come to the cool part of life as to look upon publications which are not calculated for the good of mankind as a pro- stitution of talents, an abuse of time, and a gross imposition. I FORGET whether I told you before, that the reason of my changing my plan of publi- cation was the vast expence of time and trou- ble that I saw would attend the distribution pf a numerous edition in weekly numbers ; besides my being obhged to be upon the spot during the whole time of publishing, distri- buting, &c. I PROPOSE sending you one of my propo- sals in a frank, as soon as I can get one ; but would not have it mentioned at Edinburgh till I am there myself, for sundry reasons. It is a point which cannot yet be certainly determined what the size of the letter must be 5 because until we begin to print, I shall 268 MEMOIRS OF either keep adding or altering somewhat. I once thought of using the same letter with that in which Dr Brookes Practice of Physic is printed ; but I don't love it ; and will have a larger if possible, as I think it gives a book a, confused and mean look to be printed in too small a letter. What say you ? I think the letter of Dr Homes Principia a very neat size, and could wish to use such a one, if my work would come in with it. If we use a j>icct let- ter, the pages m.ust be as full as possible. Do you think forty lines in the page, and fifty letters in the line will be too many ? I COULD wish to be as soon as possible de- termined with regard to the place of printing, and must beg you to give me all the infor- mation you can in the affair. I think it would be a job of very great importance to you, as you are only beginners ; and I own it would give me pleasure if I could be of service to you. I also imagine that I could have the work much more accurately done by you than by any person here ; and I have sundry rea- sons for not chusing to print, at least the first edition, in London. You know it would be folly to be at the expence of printing an edition in London, which is all to come &owi\ to the WILLIAM SMELLIE. 269 country: But at Edinburgh, I could stay both with more satisfaction and at a much smaller expence. I think I might pick up some use- ful hints at Edinburgh during my stay, which might be of service to my performance. Pray write me soon ; and give me ail the hints a- bout the affair that you think proper* I shall also thank you for all news, literary, political, philosophical, &c. Yours, &c. W. BUCHAN* No. LVI. To Mr William SMELLiEy/ow Dr William BUCHAN. Dear Smellie, No date. Your favour of the 20th ultimo came duly to hand. I am glad to hear that you hav^e tolerable success in collecting subscriptions^ as that is an affair which I have greatly at heart ; and must beg of you to leave no stone unturn- ed in order to promote it. Your extensive ac- quaintance, especially among the youth in the literary way, will, I hope, be of great service in this affair. Youth is the season when 270 MEMOIRS OF people are keen in undertaking, and general- ly ardent in pushing, whatever they take in hand. Their friendship is more warm, and their efforts to shew it more vigorous than those of age. I would, for this reason, have you to make use of the students of every de- nomination, and try to induce them to take half a dozen, in order to frank one for their own use. This, I fmd, goes greatly dov^n am.ong the peasantry of this part of the coun- try ; and I dare say most of your students in divinity will like this plan, as they can easi- ly procure six subscriptions among their friends in the country. I have not so much hope from the students in physic, as I fear they will deem the publication an encroach- ment upon their prerogative ; but of this they have no reason to be apprehensive, as the physicians province shall never be infringed by me. This is by no means the intent of my work, nor could I possibly be of service to mankind by decrying physicians. My plan, in one word, pray God prosper it, is this: — To put mankind on their guard against diseases by pointing out their causes, and likewise to show them how far it is in their power to remove slight disorders by the use of simple remedies. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 271 I WOULD have you to take particular care to recommend it to the clergy, as they are the most likely people to promote its sale and usefulness. If you can fmd means to convey one of the proposals to every minister of the Church of Scotland, and likewise to the dis- senters, I shall be obliged to you, and shall not grudge any expence. If you can find an honest fellow whom you can depend upon, who is pretty well acquainted with the coun- try, and has got somewhat to say for himself, I shall be obliged to you to employ him in collecting subscriptions. What Mr Ward allows here is ten shillings a-week ; but I ge- nerally put the allowance upon the number of subscriptions procured, as that is an incite- ment to industry. What I allow is one shil- ling for each subscription. If I know the subscribers, or can depend upon the honesty of the person I employ, I give^one half of this when he delivers in the names, and the other at the delivery of the book. This I think the better plan for sundry reasons. With regard to the time of publication, I generally tell people that it will be out next spring ; but, for my own part, I think there will be no loss in delaying it as long as we can, for the fol- lowing reasons : First, that no more copies 272 MEMOIRS OF can be sold by subscription after the first pub- lication; second^ the extreme deadness of trade and consequent want of money at present, in these parts ; thircU the high price of provi- sions of all sorts. These two latter are rea- sons of much greater weight than you are a- ware of, and greatly influence the sale of any thing here. You must know, when trade is brisk, and provisions low, we are all brisk as Lords in this trading country ; but when the contrary happens, we are as poor as rats or beggars. I HAVE now teazed you to death about my book ; and it is high time to talk of some- thing else. I am very sorry that our good friend Mr Hamilton has lost the class, as I think he would have been an honour to the chair, and might have proved of great use ; and I think it a pity his genius should be thrown away on trade. Pray offer him my best respects ; and I hope his lucky stars have reserved him for somewhat better. I had the pleasure of spending an evening very agree- ably with our friend Mr Miller at Don- caster, on his way to Edinburgh. I think him greatly improved both in his taste and humour, and was extremely happy in his WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 273 company. As I presume you see him fre- quently, you will please remember me to him, and I hope to have the pleasure of hearing him sing the Merry Ploughman over a bottle of claret before the end of October, Nothing could have given me greater plea- sure than the change I observed in ********. His former humour of turning every thing into ridicule made me apprehensive that he might do more mischief than good by his ge- nius ; but his serious and steady deportment now encourages me to hope for something very extraordinary from him, as I know him to be capable of doing something clever. You will not fail in making my compliments ac- ceptable to him. It would give me the greatest pleasure to be present at your Thursday-night meetings, especially as you are a select party, and all pure genii of the right sterling philosophical stamp ; but that is a piece of happiness which I cannot at present enjoy. I hope, however, to see you in four weeks or so. You have my hearty wishes for success ; but I can't see any reason for your depending so abso- lutely upon the approbation of Lord Kames. Vol. I. S 214< MEMOIRS OP I have reason to believe that, with many, the work, at least the moral part of it, will be better received without than with his appro- bation. Yours, &c. W. BUCHAN. P. S. — I shall never cut a figure at the bot- tom of a letter while I live, by squeezing my name into a corner. If you write soon after the receipt of this, I shall have the pleasure of hearing from you again before I come north ; and pray, if you do write, give me at least measure for measure. The only fault of your letters is their ending too soon. Your apology of wanting matter is certainly the worst you could make for many reasons. But I must say little, as my errors are generally in the other extreme, and I find it just as easy to write a long letter about nothing as oi' something. The concluding reflection in the foregoingi letter alludes to a philosophical work which' Mr Smellie then had in contemplation, and expresses a sentiment which does not do much honour to the Doctors judgment and pene- tration ; the approbation of Lord Kames was." most valuable to whoever had the honour and happiness to deserve and obtain it. WILLIAM SMKLLIE. 275 We now approach the more busy period of Mr Smellies life, when he became involved in the cares of providing for a family, and be- gan to engage in literary projects for himself and others. In giving an account of the in- cidents of his life, and of his literary projects and adventureSj it is hardly possible to follow any exact order of arrangement ; at least, the sevei*al circumstances cannot be reduced to any exact chronological series. Several of the transactions which we shall have to record were the employment of successive years, and some of them were in a considerable degree simultaneous. It has therefore been judged most convenient to treat of each prominent circumstance separately, to prevent con- founding persons, events, and subjects with each other; and it has been endeavoured to do this as much according to the order of time as circumstances and information would admit. Lv one of the letters already inserted, it will be seen that Mr Smellie, though con- stantly employed in business, and much occupied with study, became deeply ena- moured of a young lady with whom he had formed an acquaintance, and to whom he S 2 276 MEMOIRS OF was soon afterwards married. At the com- mencement of this attachment, he could not exceed twenty-two years of age ; and the object of his affections was about seventeen. He was then corrector of the press to Messrs Murray & Cochrane, with a salary of about forty-two pounds a-year ; and, with the usual sanguine ideas of youth and inexperience, flattered himself that this scanty income might enable him to encounter the cares and expences of domestic economy with decent comfort. In appreciating his probable in- come for these purposes, he quoted to liis bo- som friend and confident the considerable ad- dition which his destined bride would bring to the domestic fund, by the profits of her industry, which he estimated at thirty pounds a-year. But he seems entirely to have left out of view the obstructions which might rea- sonably be expected to lessen her. economical endeavours, through the necessary attention to domestic affairs, and, the probable conse- quence of matrimony, the cares of a rising family. We have no memorials of the progress of this attachment, except that, from the letter already mentioned, it appears to have WILLIAM SMELLIE. 277 been reciprocal ; and all the eloquent prudence of his confident ial friend was unavailing to persuade him to banish anxious love from his mind. In the year 1763, when about twen- ty-three years of age, Mr Smellie was mar- ried to Miss Jean Robertson, who was born in London, being the daughter of Mr John Robertson, an eminent army agent, a na- tive of the shire of Cromarty. At one time, Mr Robertson was agent for twelve regi- ments, and had realized a considerable for- tune : but, in consequence of living extrava- gantly among the great military characters with whom he was connected by means of his employment, his circumstances became invol- ved, and his family was reduced to indigence at his death. Mrs Robertson, the mother of Mrs Smellie, v^as the daughter of a Mr Hugh Macdonald. Her maternal grandmother was Janet Smart, the daughter of a very re- spectable family in Musselburgh. Mr Alex^ ANDER Gray, one of the clerks of Session, was her uncle by marriage ; and his son, Mr Alexander Ross Gray, full cousin to Mrs Smellie, succeeded her father Mr Robert- son as an army agent, and acquired a great fortune. The present Mrs Oswald of Du- nikier is her full cousin, their mothers S3 278 MEMOIRS OF having been sisters. Thus in marriage Mr Smellie connected himself very respectably; but his wife had no fortune ; and however gen- teel her connexions, they never appear to have been of any service to her husband or family. Of this marriage, Mr Smellie had thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters ; of whom four spns and four daughters survived him in 1795 : His widow, with two sons and four daughters, still survive. Mr Alexan- der S31ELLIE, his second born but eldest surviving son, is married and has a family. His eldest daughter has been long married to Mr George Watson, an eminent por- trait painter in Edinburgh, to whom she has ^ numerous family. The rest of Mr Smel- lie s children remain unmarried. Although anticipating the order of time, it has been deemed most convenient to insert in this place such information respecting Mr S^iel- LiEs family as have come to our knowledge, and have appeared proper to be noticed ; that these incidental circumstances might not break in upon the various subjects of busi- ness and literature, which constitute the principal objects of attention in the sequel. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 279 Mr Sjiellie was a most affectionate and very indulgent father to all his children, whom he hardly ever corrected with seve- rity, except on occasions of any deviation from truth ; as he always used his utmost endeavours to impress on their young minds a rigid adherence to truth, as the solid foun- dation of moral virtue and purity of charac- ter. To his third son Tho3ias, he was par- ticularly partial, as he was of a remarkably docile and gentle disposition, exceedingly attentive to his education, and shewed strong and early indications of rising genius. Tho- mas had a particular talent for the acquisi- tion of the learned languages, and much classical taste ; and, in the course of his stu- dies, in that department of literature, had completed an entire translation of the works of Tacitus into English ; which his father, who was himself an excellent scholar, and a thorough judge of both languages, thought so well executed, that at one period he had almost determined to publish this version by his son. But in February 1795, the san- guine hopes he had fondly cherished of the future eminence of this promising youth were fatally blasted, by the effects of a ma- lignant sore throat which then prevailed in 8 4 280 MEMOIRS OF his family, but of which Thomas was the only victim. Of this melancholy event Mr Sbiellie made the following communications to Mrs Maria Riddell of Woodley Park in Dumfriesshire, and to the Author of these Memoirs No. LVII. Mr William Bjiellie to Mrs Maria RiDDEtL. Edinhurgh, 19th February 1795. Dear Madam, For several weeks past, my family has been in a very sad condition. Five sons were all at once afflicted with dangerous sore throats. One of my sons, aged between nineteen and twenty, a good and useful young man, who, from his cradle to his grave, never vexed me, expired after an ill- ness of five or six days. The rest, I hope, are in a state of convalescence. I am, &c, William S^iellie. WILLIAM SxMELLIE. 281 No. LVIII. Mr William Smellie to Mr Robert Kerr. Dear Sir, Edinburgh^ 2SthFebruajy 1795. During the last four weeks, my family has been in a dreadful situation. Out of nine children, five were down at once in an abominable sore throat. As Shakespeare says, Poor Tom 's a-cold I aged between nine- teen and twenty. In five days illness, he has left this best of possible worlds. The others are now perfectly recovered. I am, &c. It may not be impertinent to subjoin the answer which was returned to this last let- ter. Mr Smellie and its writer correspond- ed on business at the time, but that portion of the letter only which refers to the melan- choly event communicated by Mr Smellib i« here printed. 382 MEMOIRS OF No. LIX- To Mr William Smellie yrom Mr Robert Kerr. Dear Sir, Millbank^ 2d March 1795. I HAVE heard of the distresses in your fa- mily with very sincere concern ; and that poor Tom should have left this best of pos- sible worlds, may be all for the best to him, but must be a very sensible loss to you in many respects. This world would be the best possible for us all, did we not exert all our powers and faculties to make it the worst. I have not room for a long disser- tation, but I think it may be demonstrated, That all the evils in the moral world, and a very large proportion of those which are call- ed physical, arise from mankind anxiously pursuing the road of unhappiness for them- selves and others, while that of happiness is open to all, yet unpursued by any. This thesis is very ill expressed, but I have no spirits or leisure for nice discrimination, I am, &c. Rob"". Kerr. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 283 The death of this promising youth was at- tended by the following particularly distress- ing circumstance. He had gone to bed at night with every appearance of being con- siderably better, and was considered as in a fair way of recovery. Henry Smellie, a younger brother, since deceased, who lay in the same bed with Thomas, and was afflict- ed with the same disease, thought proper towards morning, for some reason now un- known, to endeavour to awaken his brother ; when, to his indescribable astonishment and horror, he discovered that Thomas lay dead beside him. Not long before his death, Thomas Smel- lie became intimately acquainted with Mr Alexander Murray, now minister of the parish of Urr, in the county of Dumfries, and Secretary for foreign correspondence to the Society of Scottish Antiquaries ; who was then a young man about the same age, and had come from the country to pro- secute his studies at the University of Edin- burgh. They were introduced to each other by a journeyman printer ; and a congeniality of talents and pursuits soon gave rise to a close intimacy between these young men. 281 MEMOIRS OF The mature opinion and sentiments of at- tachment which Mr Murray still entertains respecting his long-departed friend were very recently expressed hy him in the fol- lowing letter. No. LX. To Mr Alexander Smellie from Ihc Rev. Alexander Murray. Dear Sir, Urr^ ^d Sep I ember 1810. Your hrother Thomas had made very considc.Tahle progress in Latin and Greek, and would have prov^ed a line scholar, if he had lived ; heing attached to literature for its own sake, which is often its oidy reward. The r(?gard which 1 had for him was fully merited, if it had heen worth ten thousand times its value, on account ofhisremarkahly fine disj)Osition, and the decided taste which he shewed for literature. I am, &c. Alexander Murray. It is difficult to speak with {)ropriety of a living ])erson, lest j)raise may appear as tend- ing towards aduhition, or the delicacy of the individual might he unintentionally offended : But we hope, without imputation of the one W'lLLIA.M SMELLIE. 285 or danger of the other consequence, it may be permitted to say, that IMr JNIcrray is a rare instance of almost incredible, and cer- tainly imiisnal attainments in literature and pliilology, though originally placed in j>e- culiarly discouraging circumstances of si- tuation, everv way adverse for elicit in<>* or promoting his uncommon taltMits. Alto- gether unknown and destitute of |)atron- age, and barely possessing the means of sub- sistence, that gentleman Ix^came in very ear- ly youth, entirely by his own exertions, and in a wonderfully short time, complete master of the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages. AVHiile livinc: in an obscure situation in the country, almost without any assistance what- ever, for he is said to have been only three months at school, and hardly able to procure even the most ordinary elementary books, he is reported to have made himself master of seven languages, before lie was twenty years of age. While engaged in theological studi(\s at l*]dinburgh, he accpiired a thorough know- ledge of Hebrew, and of the allied dialects or languages, Chaldee, Samaritan, Syriac, and Arabic ; and extended his researches into Persix^ Cirerman, Dutch, Spanish, and even Gaelic. Having been employed for some 286 Memoirs op time as editor of the Scots Magazine, by Messrs Constable and Co; eminent and spirited booksellers in Edinburgh, he under- took in their service the superintendance of a new edition of the celebrated Travels of Bruce into Abyssinia, with considerable ad- ditions from the papers of that adventurous traveller. To qualify himself effectually for this purpose, he made himself in a great de- gree a proficient in the Ethiopic or Abyssi- nian language, which is a dialect of the Ara- bic ; or rather consists of two principal dia- lects, the Geez, or language of Tigre, and the Amharic, or court language of Abyssi- nia, since the seat of government has been established at Gondar in Amhara. Mr Mur- ray appears to have entered considerably into the study of the barbarous languages, or dialects of the subjects and neighbours of the Abyssinian monarchy, named the Fala- shan, Gafat, Agow, and Tcherets-Agow ; and even to have acquired some knowledge of that spoken by the savage Galla. In the prosecution of his philological stu- dies, Mr Murray has carefully examined and made himself master of all the principal dialects or languages of Europe, ancient as well as modern, including, besides those WILLIAM SMBLLIE. 287 which are derived from the Latin, those of Teutonic, Sclavonic, and Celtic origin ; and such is the facility with which Jie acquires languages, a task so difficult and irksome to most men, that we are credihly informed he is capable to surmount the obstacles in the way of acquiring any language whatever in one month, so as to understand its grammati- cal construction and idiomatic phraseology, and to be able to translate from it with ac- curacy. Mr Murray has by no means de- voted this extraordinary talent for the acqui- sition of languages to the barren defight of storing up words and phrases for his own private amusement ; but has announced a philosophical work on this curious subject to the public, in which he proposes to trace the affinities and origin of the Greek and Latin languages from one much more simple, re- gular, and ancient, which he considers as the basis or root of almost all the languages of Europe, ancient as well as modern, and even of the Sanscrit. The title of this in- tended work, which is said to have been nearly ready for the press two years ago, is. Researches into the Origin and Affinity of the Greek and Teutonic Languages ; and which we have some reason to believe may be put to press before the present work comes before 288 MEMOIRS OP the public— The Author of these Memoirs makes no pretensions to philological learn- ing ; yet presumes to allege, that it is im- possible to investigate the filiation of any language or leading dialect, without a com- petent knowledge of all those which are geo- graphically and historically connected by neighbourhood or colonization. Philologists have generally confined their researches to one or two favourite languages, from which they endeavour to deduce the roots of that which is the object of their investigation. Mr Murray appears to have chosen a wider field, by securing a previous knowledge of all the sources of derivation, and their interme- diate steps ; and much curious information may be expected from his labours. We have already inserted the high sense which Mr Murray still retains of the charac- ter and talents of his departed friend Mr Thomas Smellie ; whose untimely fate he very feelingly and elegantly deplored in the following elegiac stanzas, which were com- posed immediately after the melancholy event. Having been originally printed on a loose sheet, their intrinsic poetical merit, and the occasion of their composition, call irresistibly for their insertion in this place. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 289 ELEGY ON Mr THOMAS SMELLIE, FOURTH SON OF THE LATE MR WILLIAM SMELLIE, F. R. S. 6c F. A. S. Osfe/ident terris bvnc tnntiim fata, nee vllr^ Esse sine/It. x^eiv, Lib. vi. 870. Gray weeping vaults, and lonely mould'nng domes, From whose dim walls the very sculptures die ; In whose cold, dark, and ever silent wombs The dear, the good, the great, the honour'd lie ! Thou hear'st not, object of my bursting heart ! O first to hear when sorrow was the theme, Ere swiftly flew the sure unerring dart That bade my bliss be like a morning dream ! Fair faithless hopes, by fond illusions fed. How soon you've past, unconstant and unkind ! The grass is waving on thy lowly bed, And I am bolitary here behind. How oft deluded Expectation said — " Long be the liglit of Friendship's holy flarae" ; A thousand happy scenes she then pourtray'd In dreams of future years and future fame. Vol. I. T 290 MEMOIRS OF But, like a keen and all-subduini^ blast, Thai wastes the harvest ere the harvest day< Thy heavy death o'er expectation past, And all my happiness fled far away. The morn arises in her orient bloom ; t feel no joy at her approaching light : And darkness falling, with its dreary gloom, No longer brings the comforts of the night. Now clos'd that eye whose brightest beams have shone ; No teai-s can animate the lifeless clay : Nc; grief can 'wake to life the crumbling bone, Nor give the faded form again to day. Cold, envious Grave ! within thy barren breast The early ray of genius sank and died, And all the virtues in oblivion rest ; No more of friends the early hope and pride, Kor had the morn of life her midway bound Approach'd with him, through fields of summer's dew^ Till deep and fatal darkness veil'd her round, And quench'd her azure light with midnight's hue. At friendship's call, at pity's bursting tear, No more thy bosom feels the generous glow ; Nor melts that heart when misery's form is near. That ever keenly felt a brother's woe. Dark winter's storms, and April's faithless gales, And gay green Summer, with her fluw'ry heady And vutumn, waving o'er her golden dales, Shall waft no pleasure to th)? silent bed. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 291 Ah ! never dawns all-blest Remembrance there, Nor young Sensation beams in living light ; Destruction's banners fan the mortal air, And all is horror there, and all is night ! Why gone so soon? With undivided race, Our fiiithful steps had trac'd the painful way ; To the cold grave had mov'd in equal pace ! But thou art gone before th' appointed day ! Too good, too dear, with cv'ry virtue blest. Friend of my heart, for ever from me fled ! O where, in yon all-hallow'd land of rest, Lift'st thou on high thy mild, thy honour'd heal? Escap'd from trouble sore and wasting care, From age's pang, and sorrow's fatal wound, Fann'st thou, aloft, the bright ethereal air, Where endless happiness enfolds thee round. ! if to fields of never-fading light A sigh may come, where peaceful spirits dwell, Return one moment to my aking sight, Then, for a little, gentle shade, farewell ! 1 come apace — nor long I wait belli nd ; Short is the journey to our kindred clay : Soon shall we meet, and parting never find. And death and sorrow vanish both away. O'er thy green turf, each slow revolving year, ril heave the sigh to early merit due ; And dreary add poor friendship's sar red tear. For ne'er was one more hapless, nor more true. T 2 ^99. KlEMOIRS OF Mr Smellies third son, Johx, chose to become a seaman. He first sailed for two years in the merchant service from Leith, in the Bacchus, commanded bv Lieutenant El- DER of the Royal Navy, brother to the late Thomas Elder^ Esq. Lord Provost of Edin- burgh, and Deputy Postmaster General for Scotland. John afterwards made a China voyage, as midshipman in the Lord Macart- ney, commanded by Captain Hay, son of Sir James Hay of Hay stone, Bart. M. D. He then, in 1790, became a midshipman in the Collossus line of battle ship, com- manded by the Honourable Captain Chris- tian ; and served afterwards as masters mate in the Hind frigate, then on the Scots sta- tion, and commanded by the Honourable Captain Cochrane, now Admiral Sir Alex- ander Cochrane, Knight of the Bath. This gallant admiral has atchieved, in the present war, a triumph which never before graced the annals of British naval glory : — He has not left a hosiilejiag in the sects of the western woidd! in conjunction with General Beckwith, he has likewise completely expelled the French from the whole of their possessions in the West Indies ; and is now governor of Guadaloupe, the last of these brilliant conquests. John WILLIAM SMELLIE. SOS S31ELLIE died at Sheerness, in October 1799, commander of a gun-vessel. In endeavouring to procure employment for his son John, the following letters passed between Mr Smellie and Mr Patrick Cla- soN. Of this gentleman we regret that so little is known to us, and that so small a rem- nant of the correspondence which seems to have taken place between him and Mr S31EL- LIE is now to be found. We have been in- formed, on good authority, that Mr Clason was, or rather is, an excellent scholar, and a gentleman of abilities and considerable litera- ry attainments ; for we have reason to believe that he is still alive, and resides in London. According to our information, he was origi- nally educated for the ministry in the Church of Scotland ; but had devoted the prime'of his life to the employment of a travelling tutor. That portion of the correspondence bet\\^een him and Mr S^iellie which still remains is quite abrupt. It is probable that Mr Smel- lie had recommended his son John to the attentions of Mr Clason, v\'ho evidently ap- pears to have been one of his contemporaries and companions at tiie University of Edin- burgh. It farther appears that, in the course ^^ this correspondence, Mr Clason had made T .^> 294 MEMOIRS OF inquiries at Mr Smellie respecting the health of Dr Adam Smith, the immortal author of the Wealth of Nations ; a book greatly more celebrated and admired than understood ; and the principles which it inculcates and esta- blishes, though almost universally acknow- ledged to be just and irrefragable, are still successfully opposed by the narrow mercan- tile system of monopoly, and the bigotted terror which actuates many respectable cha- racters against every appearance of innova- tion and reform. The first of these letters is peculiarly characteristic, and partly biogra- phical ; and, having no direct connexion with any of Mr Smellie s literary exertions, ex- cept an incidental allusion to the first volume of his Philosophy of Natural History, is there- fore inserted in this place. No. LXL Mr William Smellie to Mr Patrick Cla- SOJV. Dear Clason, Edinburgh, Tlth June 1790. I really do not know how to thank you suf- ficiently for your attention and kindness to my son John. I beheve I have now disco^ WILLIAM SMELLIE. 295 vered the mode that will best suit your hu- mane disposition. I hope to see the young man, by your means, in a situation that will give you pleasure. Poor Smith ! We must soon lose him ; and the moment in which he departs will give a heart-felt pang to thousands. Mr Smiths spirits are flat ; and I am afraid the exertions he sometimes makes to please his friends do him no good. His intellects, as well as his senses, are clear and distinct. He wishes to be cheerful ; but nature is omnipotent. His body is extremely emaciated, because his sto- mach cannot admit of sufficient nourishment : But, like a man, he is perfectly patient and resigned. O Peter ! What is this world ? I have laboured incessantly upwards of thirty years, and have reaped nothing but distress and ca- lamity. I have brought thirteen human be- ings into existence, perhaps, though God forbid, to be as miserable as myself. These ideas are dismal. Have you read my book ? As you must be in habits with literary men, it is natural T4 296 MEMOIRS OF for me to wish to know your own opinion and theirs. Nothing in the way of literature is going on here. There is a bustle about elections ; but these I never mind. If any thing occur that will either serve or please you, lay your commands upon me. I am, &c. William Smellie. No. LXIL To Mr William Smellie from Mr Patrick Clason. London, 6. July 1790. No. 5 Cleveland Court, St Jameses^ My Dear Sir, Informed by your son that he was in want of money, I trembled lest he should lose his birth ; and hastened to my banker, though already in arrears to him, frorn whom I pro- cured some money for poor John ; for which he gave a draft upon you, payable to me or order on demand. Hand ignara (sentiment lias no peculiar gender) mcdi miserts, &c. WILLIA3I SMELLIE. 297 Finding, to my real sorrow, that your in- dustry and talents have not been rewarded, I shall keep the bill till you find a moment favourable for discharging it ; for I should feel more than the ordinary pain of dunning, in being a dun to you. The news you give of Mr Sjiith alarms and afflicts me severely. Were he known to me only by his works, I should even then esteem his death a greater loss to the world than would be sustained by that of any other literary man, indeed of any man in Europe. But he has been long my friend ; and I feel that I shall mourn more bitterly for the good friend than for the great man. Fain, O ! fain would I still hope — his constitution is good, and, except by study, he never has done any thing to hurt it, and study never kills. I hope Dr Black visits him. — I hope — I hope.-^I beg you will now and then take the trouble, for which I will be grateful, of sending me an account of his situation. My mind is thrown into cruel derangement when I think of him. I HAVE not yet had an opportunity to read your book : but, as soon as some volumes 298 3IEMOIRS OF before me are perused, I mean to take up yours. I rejoice in being able to inform you, that good judges have spoken to me very advantageously of your work. Do you ever see Dr Samuel Charters, Mr Gray ? To them, and to all our com- mon friends who recollect me, I beg you to remember me kindly. My best respects to Mrs S31ELLIE, and my blessings on her bairns. With great regard and esteem, I am, &c. Patrick Clasojv. We have lately had occasion to notice the decisive step which was taken by Mr Smel- LiE in 1763, by entering into the state of ma- trimony while only a corrector of the piress ; and have nov^^ to mention his first establish- ment in life, or setting up in business as a master, which took place about two years afterwards. On the 25th of March 1765, when about twenty-five years of age, ]Mr Smellie commenced business as a master printer at Edinburgh, in conjunction with Mr Willia?,! Auld, who appears to have been one of his companions vv^hen an appren- tice, though older than himself; probaijly. WILLIA3I SMELLIE. 299 from some expression) s in one of his letters, formerly inserted, a journeyman, or far ad- vanced apprentice, at the time when Mr S31ELLIE first entered to the profession with Messrs Hasiil on, Balfour, aiid Neill. The copartnership on the present occasion consisted of Mr Robert Auld, writer in Edinburgh, Mr William Auld, printer, his brother, and Mr S^iellie ; and from circum- stances mentioned in some letters which have not been deemed of sufficient interest to require insertion, it seems probable that this new company was formed upon the dis- solution of a fornjer partnership between the Messrs Aulds and a Mr Ruddiman, perhaps of the family of the famous grammarian of that name, formerly librarian to the Faculty of Advocates, As Mr Smellie began the world entirely destitute of patrimony, and as we have al- ready seen that he gave himself an exten- sive University education out of his wages, besides contributing materially to the main- tenance of two sisters, it is not to be suppos- ed that he coidd have saved any money for the purchase of his proportion of the types, presses, and other implements of the business. He accordingly needed assistance from his 300 MEMOIRS OF friends on this occasion ; and we find, from the subsequent letter, that he was encoura- ged to this important step by the friendly patronage of two worthy members of the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh, the late Dr John Hope, Profes- sor of Botany, formerly mentioned with de- served respect, and Dr James Robertson, late Professor of Oriental Languages in the University of Edinburgh, who conjunctly ad- vanced L.70 to enable him to complete the necessary arrangements in the bargain with the Messrs Aulds. Mr Smellie studied He- brew for the sole purpose of correcting Dr Robertsons Grammar. Dr Robertson was a very worthy and most respectable person, who, though bred to the ministry of the Church of Scotland, and an ordained minister, never possessed a charge of souls. He had made great attainments in the knowledge of Hebrew, and the connected lan- guages or dialects, Samaritan, Chaldee, Syri- ac, and Arabic, and even in the modern Persic; and long taught the Hebrew class in the Uni- versity witli great respectability. He was the author of a very learned grammar of the Hebrew, which he taugl-t as conjoined with the IvJasoretic points : But one upon a more WII/LIAM SMELLIE. SOl simple plan, and without points, by the late Professor Charles Wilsox of St Andrews, has now mostly superseded the more recon- dite performance of Dr Robertson. Dr Robertson died in 1795; and is buried in the Westkirk church-yard, where a monu- ment was erected to his memory, with a very elegant Latin inscription, by the present Dr Daniel Robertson professor of Hebrew, St Andrews. He is mentioned in the inscri}>- tion as eximius patronus studiosorum atque e- gciiorujn, i^^c. As Mr S31ELLIE found the sum of L.TO by no means adequate for carrying on the printing business in an efficient m.anner, he made application about this time to a third person, with whom he seems to have been but slightly acquainted, requesting a farther ad\ance of tvrenty cr thirty pounds to en- large his scanty funds. There is no remain- ing memorandum of the name of the person to whom this letter was addressed, neither is there any date in the copy : But it must have been vrritten about the end of March or beginning of April 1765; as he mentions having entered into this copartnery only a 302 MEMOIRS OP few days before it was written. Even the event of the appHcation is unknown. No. LXIIL Mr William Smellie to ********. Dear Sir, 1765. It will undoubtedly surprise you to re- ceive a letter of this nature from a person who can boast of no farther acquaintance than what is acquired by the conversation of an hour or two. A FEW days ago, I signed a contract of copartnery with Mr Robert Auld, writer, and Mr William Auld printer in Edin- burgh. I should not have done so, had I not been encouraged by Dr Hope and Pro- fessor Robertson, whom I can never too much love. But, although these gentlemen have assisted me to the extent of L.70, that, in my way, is, I find still insufficient for the purpose. Twenty or thirty pounds more would, by the assistance of industry and frugality, in all human probability, put me in such a way as to enable me both to live decently, and, in a year or two, to return WILLIAM SMELLIE. 303 the money to my generous friends with a grateful heart. I WAS with Lord Kames on Wednesday last. He at that time, as he has often done, was pleased to assure me of his friendship and patronage in every circumstance in life ; desiring me to inform him frankly whenever I happened to be embarrassed, and he would endeavour to assist me. Had his Lordship at this time seen my heart, he would there have discovered a curious struggle between false modesty and real necessity. But the former prevailed ; and, notwithstanding his Lordships benevolent intentions, I was obli- ged to return without uttering a single word concerning my private affairs. Now, Sir, I shall be very imhappy if the first letter of the kind I ever wrote in my life, I hope it may be the last, should not only prove unsuccessful, but should likewise give offence : Let me therefore beg security against the latter. I am, &c. William Smellie. P, S. — If this letter meets not with your approbation, pray commit it to the flames ; if 304 MEMOIRS OP otherwise, preserve it as a mark of disin^ terestedness on your part, and a strong mo- tive of gratitude on mine. Ix the year 1765, Mr Smellie was at- tracted hy what appeared to him a very dis^ ingenious attack in the Monthly Review on the metaphysical principles of the celebrated Dr Re ID of Glasgow, the author of a new System of Pneumatology, founded on the dictates of common sense, or plain and una- dulterated human reason, in opposition to the reveries of the sophists and school-men, who had so long usurped the name of phi- losophers. Our young printer, then about twenty-five years of age, resolved to try his hand in defending the principles of this new philosophy, which is founded on the true ba- sis of induction, by attempting to prove the fallacy and false reasoning by which an anonymous writer in the Monthly Review had endeavoured to shew its absurdity, and sent the following answer to the editors of that long established and respectable work ; which we think requires insertion, both as one of the first serious productions of Mr WILLIA3I .SMELLIE. 305 SiMELLiES pen, and because it possesses con* siderable intrinsic merit. No. LXIV. to the Authors of tlte Mo.\thly Review ; A Letter from Mr William Smellie. Gex TLEMEN, Edinburgh^ 1 ^th August 1 765. Not pretending to make the publication of this letter a criterion of your candour or regard to truth, I proceed to make a few ob- servations on S. C.'s rem.arks upon Dr Reids Inquiry into the Human Mind, published in your Review of June last ; the fate of which I freely resign to your own determination. This author begins his remarks with ani- madverting on the title of Dr Reids per- formance. '* An Inquiry into the Human Mind, on the Principles of Common Sense,^' says he, " is a strange inconsistency. For common sense, in its general acceptation, means the opinions entertained by the gene- rality of mankind, or the unlearned ; and a man would be just as successful who would Vol. I. U 306 MEMOIRS OF attempt to shew that the perceptions, opera- tions, and faculties of the mind are agreeable to the common notions of mankind, as if he should attempt to prove the same of the po- sitions and revolutions of the planets." With- out inquiring into the propriety or impro- priety of this definition of common sense, it is sufficient to say, that it is totally different from Dr Re ids idea of that quality of the human mind. There are undoubtedly cer- tain principles which, from the constitution of our nature, we must necessarily believe without being able to give any other reason for our belief than by referring to the com- mon sense of mankind. The external qua- lities of most natural objects excite the same ideas in the mind of every individual, whose senses are not vitiated by disease, or deprav- ed by an original blemish in the organs them- selves. If any person endeavour, by mere subtilty of reasoning, to persuade us that these qualities, or, which is still worse, that the objects themselves, are not only different from v\^hat they appear to be, but have no existence at all, Whether are we to renounce the authority of our senses, or to suspect the solidity of such a persons reasoning ? For example, I affirm that I at present see the WILLIAM SMELLIE. 307 Montlily Review, and particularly that part of it which contains the remarks of S. C. on Dr Reids Inquiry. Prove your proposition, says my friend. Wh}^ here is the paper, the characters, &c. Turn your eyes this way, and be convinced. If this is unsatis- factory, I will not pretend to demonstrate the existence of the Monthly Review, or of S. C.'s letter, by any other means. Our belief is entirely regulated by sensa- tion and reflection. That belief Avhich is founded on the evidence of the senses is more cogent and convincing than that which is the result of reflection. Our ideas are first acquired by the intervention of the senses ; and their evidence acquires such force, both from the constitution of our nature and ha- bitual exercise, that the utmost efforts of reason are often insufficient to weaken them, even when the senses are in some measure deceived. Now, it is impossible to read Dr Reids Inquiry without perceiving that he always opposes common sense, or the evi- dence of sensation, not to philosophy in general, but to that spurious species of rea- soning which endeavours to unhinge the hu- man constitution, and to annihilate the au- U 2 308 MEMOIRS OP thority of the senses where it is impossible that they can be deceived. The positions and revolutions of the planets, although they are not evident to the senses of a person who is unacquainted with the general laws of nature ; yet, when these laws are even but superficially known, instead of contra- dicting, they are perfectly agreeable to the common sense of mankind. However, a man of ordinary understanding will freely confess that he is ignorant of the laws by which the heavenly bodies are governed ; and that he has, therefore, properly speaking, no settled opinion or belief about the matter. But, if any person pretend to demonstrate that nei- ther sun, moon, or stars exist; that they are nothing but impressions or ideas ; or that, if they exist at all, it is not in the hea- vens, but in his own mind that he must look for their existence, common sense would in- stantly revolt at such unintelligible jargon. Were I a man of an inflammatory tem- per, I would be tempted to say, that our au- thors next remark is something worse than ignorance of Dr Reids meaning in the fol- lowing passages. " It is genius," says Dr Reid, " and not the want of it, which adul- WILLIAM SMELLIE. 309 terates philosophy." Hear S. C.'s remark on this observation, which, even in the de- tached and unconnected manner in which he has quoted it, is extremely obvious and just. " Now, if the Doctor means only by this expression, that a genius for poetry, when employed about philosophy, adulterates it, then it is certainly an indisputable truth, but so self evident, that it does not appear worthy of the learned authors observation. But if he means, as the title and general tenor of his work imply, that a genius for r-easoning, or the genius proper for philoso- phy, that the talent which alone qualifies a man for the understanding and improvement of philosophy, is the talent which occasions the adulteration of it, and without which there would be error or false theory ; then, supposing the supposition to be true, which seems to involve in it a contradiction, might we not with just as much reason find fault with our legs as with genius ; because, though we should not be able to walk without them, we should not then be hable to stumble ?" Here S. C. seems to have industriously avoided the real meaning of the Doctors observation, which must be apparent to the 113 310 ME3IOIRS OF most superficial reader, especially if he give himself the trouble of perusing the ten lines immediately following. But, even taking it as it stands in S. C.'s letter, it plainly im- plies, that a lively impetuous imagination is a temper extremely ill adapted for exploring truths, or for investigating the principles, operations, and affections of the human mind. — " It is cenius," savs the learned Doctor, " and not the want of it, that adul- terates philosophy, and fills it with error and false theory, A creative imagination dis- dains the mean offices of digging for a foun- dation, of removing rubbish, and carrying materials ; leaving these servile employments to mere drudges in science, it plans a design and raises a fabric. Invention supplies ma- terials where they are wanting, and fancy adds a colouring and every befitting orna- ment. The work pleases the eye, and wants nothing but sohdity and a good foundation," &c. Read these few lines Mr S. C. and seriously consider whether you have done justice to Dr Reids performance. Philoso- phy requires her votaries to be men of a slow train of perceptions. They must be able, as it were, to correct the impetuosity of their ideas, and patiently to revolve, examine, and WILLIAM SMELLIE. 311 arrange them. How ill qualified for this employment is a man of genius, or a man of a lively and impetuous imagination ? His train of ideas is rapid as lightning. He can- not submit to any thing that requires deep thinking, or strict examination ; his ideas succeed each other with such velocity, that they leave him no time to ruminate. I C03IE now to the third remark of our author. Speaking of Bishop Berkleys Prin- ciples of Human Knowledge, Dr Reid says, " The opinion of the ablest judges seems to be, that Berkleys principles neither have been, nor can be confuted ; and that he hath proved what no man in his senses can believe J'^ Very good. If Bishop Berkley, by reject- ing the evidence of the senses, has proved that nothing exists in nature except spirits and ideas, is not Dr Reid sufficiently v.ar- ranted to m.ake this observation ? And will any man in his senses ever attempt to shew, that Bishop Berkleys principles are ill founded in any other way than by referring to that very evidence which he rejects as false ? That Bishop Berkleys principles cannot be confuted but by the evidence of sensation, or consciousness, or common sense, U4 315 ^lEJMOIUS O!' is all thai Dr Reid intends bj tiie above ob- servation. But our author goes on, and draws the following conclusion. " It follows," says he, ^' from this position, either that the ablest judges of this point are mistaken about it, which is impossible to he true, because they would not he the ablest,"" &c. This conclu- sion is either too deep or too shallow for my comprehension. For, according to my way of thinking, it is very possible that the ablest judges of any point or subject under heaven may be mistaken about it. Neither vfill it surprise any man acquainted with human na- ture tliat this should frequently be the case. But let us view the other alternative in this conclusion : " or that, as no man in his sen- ses can believe arguments which cannot be confuted ; therefore no man in his senses can trust his reason, or assent to demonstra- tion." Dr Reid does not use the word de~ monstration ; though, arguments which can- not be confuted, which is the Doctors real ex- pression, seems much the same with demon- stration. But, when the Doctor says, argu- nients which cannot he confuted, he plainly WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 313 means, that they cannot be confuted but by opposing to them the evidence of the senses. S. C. goes on to finish his remarks with shewing, as he thinks, the truth of that pro- position which Dr Re ids whole work is in- tended to refute. The proposition is this, ^' That nothing is perceived but what is in the mind which perceives it." This proposition, according to S. C. is a self-evident truth, when its terms are explained. Let us attend, then, to his explanation of the terms, and the self-evident truth which is to be the re- sult of this explanation. The words per- ception or sensation have two significations ; by the one they imply the faculty^ by the other, the object of that faculty, or the thing perceived. An object of sense, therefore, is a thing perceived ; and a sensation or percep- tion, taken in their latter signification, are synonimous terms ; and, as the learned au- thor himself grants, and every man else must, that a sensation cannot be without a mind, or sense and being, it follows, that no per- ception, object of sense, nor any thing picrceived, can be without a mind ; or, in other words, that nothing is perceived but ivhat is in the mind that perceives it. — It is certainly true, that 314 MEMOIRS OF the terms perception and sensation are employ- ed by some authors to signify the objects of perception and sensation. But, however loosely these terms may have been used, no two things in nature can be more distinct and separate. Perception or sensation is that internal operation by which we are made conscious of the existence or qualities of ob- jects. The existence or qualities of objects, on the other hand, are the causes of our per- ceptions or sensations. But, allowing the conclusion all the force which S. C. desires, he seems to destroy its foundation when he comes to explain his own meaning. Or, " in otlier words," says he, " nothing is perceived but what is in the mind which perceives it." It is readily granted that nothing can be perceived without the intervention of a mind or sentient being ; but to say that therefore nothing is perceived but what is actually in the mind, is a m.ere quibble on the words in and without^ which scarce merits a serious answer. I perceive a house, a garden, &c. I have no other means of perceiving these objects but by the assistance of a mind or sentient principle : The perception of them is occasioned by some mutual influence of the object upon the mind, and of the mind upon WILLIAM SMELLIE. 315 the object, the nature of which we are en- tirely unacquainted with. But that the ob- jects themselves are really in the mind, is so contradictory to sense and observation, that nothing but the genius of a Berkley or a Hume could have even rendered such an hy- pothesis respectable enough to have been at any time a subject of serious disputation. It is almost needless to take notice of the last remark of our author. Dr Reid had formerly observed, that " a sensation cannot be without a mind or sentient being ;" and yet, adds S. C. " he confesses, that if any man should demand a proof of this, he can- not give one." — Dr Reid could give no other proof of this than what arises from the prin- ciples of common sense ; that is the whole mystery. Now, Gentlemen, I would wish to see the foregoing observations inserted in your Re- view ; not that I may thereby afford you an opportunity of shewing your impartial re- gard for truth, for every article in your in- structive work affords you an opportunity of this kind ; but because S. C. seems to triumph over Dr Reids performance as if he had sap- « 16 MEMOIRS OF ped the very foundation, and overturned the whole superstructure, by one masterly blow. — " I have shewed the incongruity, and I think I may say (without offence to truth or candour) the absurdity of the authors plan in this work." How awkwardly does such important language flow from a man who has only made a trifling criticism on the title, and has mistaken or misrepresented the ob- vious meaning of six or eight lines in the in- troduction and first chapter of a work which is fraught with ingenuity, experience, and solid argument ! I am, Gentlemen, your constant reader, and frequent admirer, William Smelue, Although not directly connected with the foregoing communication to the Month- ly Review, another circumstance of a similar nature may be here mentioned, though very long posterior in point of time. But they are both undated circumstances. In 1783, the present Dr Alexander Monro, senior, who has for more than half a century filled the anatomical chair in the University of Edinburgh with uncommon ability and pa- tient industry, published au anatomical and WILLIAM SMELLIE. SiJ physiological work of considerable merit, en- titled, Observations on the Nervous System. Mr Smellie transmitted for the London Re- view an analysis of that work ; but whether it was finally accepted and published we have now no means whatever to ascertain : All that is known on the subject is contain- ed in the following letter from Mr Grif- fiths, then the conductor of that work for the late Mr R. Dodsley, the famous London bookseller, now sole proprietor of that highly celebrated literary journal, a work without a rival till the appearance of the Edinburgh Review. Xo. LXV. i}Jr R. Gripfitiis io Mr Williabi Smellie' Sir, No date. I SHOULD have sooner answered your fa- vour of June 30th, but have been prevented by various accidents. I had sent Monros Observations to the gentleman who was stat- edly the reviewer of such articles, and who hved at the distance of near 150 miles from 18 MEMOIRS OF lience. On the receipt of your analysis, I forwarded your paper to the gentleman here alluded to ; who, to my great loss, and that of the public, is now no more ! You may, perhaps, have seen the character of this learned and excellent person in some of the newspapers, where he is stiled the Philoso-- pher of Massingham : His name was Bewly ; but all that has been said in his praise falls short of his extraordinary merit. Yesterday 1 received information that all the books and papers which my late worthy friend had, in connexion with the Monthly Review, will soon be returned by Ids widow. When they arrive at this place, I shall possibly know what has been the fate of your paper. It is possible he may have marked it for insertion, with or without alteration ; or he might have prepared some account of his Own. I have said possibly, because the acceptance of communications is by no means a usual thing with the Monthly Reviewers ; never, indeed, but vrhere they truly convey the re- viewers sentiments. But, concerning this matter, I shall probably be enabled to give you farther intelligence in a short time hence. Meanwhile, I remain, &c. R. Griffiths. •WILLI A3I S3IELLIE. 319 The first copartnery into which Mr S.mel- LiE had entered with the ?rles3r3 Aulds, as ah'eady mentioned, was dissoh^ed in less than two years, in consequence of Mr Robert AuLD withdrawing from the concern. But a new company was immediately formed, hy- the accession of Mr Joh'x Bilfour, late bookseller in Edinburgh, who had formerly belonged to the firm of HamiltoxY, Balfour, and Neil, vWth whom Mr Smellie had served his apprenticeship. The new copart- nership consisted of .^Ir John Balfour, Mr William Auld, and Mr William Saiellie, and commenced business on the 2 2d Decem- ber 1766. Mr Balfour appears to have brought along with him, into this new con- cern, the newspaper or Journal which had formerly been carried on by Messrs Hamil- ton, Balfour, and Neil ; or at least this new company certainly did publish a news- paper. This circumstance is ascertained by the following letter from Mr Smellies part- ner Mr William Auld, who seem.s to have then been at some distance from Edinburgh. .320 MEMOIRS of No. LXVL Mr William Auld to Mr William S3iellie. Dear Willie^ 30th April 1768. I have just read your paragraph in the Journal concerning Bowed Joseph and his procession ; which is indeed diverting enough, if it bring no reflections. But no doubt you are acquainted with the facts, and can best judge upon what grounds they are founded. If there was a real procession, what meanness not to take notice of it ! If it is altogether imaginary, I hope you will be answerable for the paragraph. If Baltoiores trial is fmished, send me a copy by the post. I am, &c. William Auld. The person named Bowed or crooked Jo- seph, in this letter, was a low blackguard cobler ; who, by dint of fearless effrontery^ long led the Edinburgh mobs ; and frequent- V.'ILLIAM SMELLIE. 321 ly excited or directed lawless excesses which would not nov/ be tolerated, and were then a disgrace to the want of energy in the Magis- trates. In those days, as hinted at in this letter, the Scots printers trembled to venture upon the slightest allusion that might be construed into the smallest offence by those who held themselves to be of the higher or- ders ; yet mobs were then almost permitted to do as they pleased. In our more modern days of various improvement, those matters are fortunately reversed : The scandalous excesses of mobs are either not heard of, or are repressed by the firm and temperate de- termination and exertion of well regulated civil authority; and the Scots press is fast approximating to a full participation of the liberties enjoyed in the sister kingdom of England. The entire abohtion of the unde- fined and undefinable nohile qfflcium, and the full introduction of jury trials for all alleged misdemeanors or libels, would consolidate the political independence of Scotland upon a footing equal to that enjoyed in England : For the time is now happily gone bye, when the frown of the sub-deputy-agent of a party could controul the freedom of literary or Vol. I. X 322 MEMOIRS OF constitutional discussion, and blast the sale of the efforts of genius. — Requiescat in pace f It is told of Bowed Joseph, that when leader of a numerous mob occasioned by the scarcity and dearness of oat-meal, after a bad harvest, their indignation was chiefly levelled against the dealers in that necessary article of subsistence, then called Meal-mongers, under the vulgar notion that they held back the meal from market, and artificially en- hanced its price, by a fancied crime, still re- maining on our statute book, called yore^/cf//- ing. The mob proceeded to assail the houses of these dealers, and to seize and distribute their stores of meal among themselves : But Joseph, their ruler, affixed what he presum- ed to be a just and moderate price, which he took care should be paid into his own hands for every particle of meal carried away, and which he honestly delivered to the proprie- tors, who would otherwise have lost all. In this part of his conduct, however justly re- prehensible on the whole, though he acted as leader of the mob, he was in some measure the moderator likewise. WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 323 The copartnery of Balfour, Auld, and Smellie, seems to have been carried on for several years to the mutual satisfac- tion of the parties. At length, towards the end of the year 1769, disputes arose be- tween Mr Smellie and Mr William Auld, one of the partners ; but such is the imper- fect state of the correspondence which re- mains on this subject, that it is exceedingly difficult to form any tolerably certain con- jecture on the nature and cause of the dis- cord. As already mentioned, Mr John Bal- four, whose name was at the head of the firm, was an eminent bookseller ; and being fully occupied with the care of his own pe- culiar business, entrusted the entire manage- ment of the printing concern to his partners, Messrs Auld and Smellie, who were each entitled to an allowance of twelve shillings a- week from the company, as a compensation for their trouble. Mr William Auld had fallen into a bad state of health, owing to which he was long under the necessity of re- siding in the country, and had even taken a voyage to London in hopes of benefiting his health. During a long protracted ill- ness, and consequent absence from the print- ing office, although by that means the whole X2 324 MEMOIRS OF charge and labour devolved upon Mr Sm el- lie, Mr AuLD appears to have regularly taken credit in the books of the company, which seem to have been under his manage- ment as senior acting partner, for his week- ly allowance of twelve shillings. To this arrangement Mr Smellie appears to have ob- jected, and not unreasonably, because the who]e burden of management had fallen to his share. At this period, likewise, a newspaper call- ed the Journal, which was carried on by the company, appears to have been considered by Mr Smellie as a losing concern, and he strongly urged the necessity of its being dropt ; while his partner Mr Williaji Auld pertinaciously insisted that it should be con- tinued. A farther bone of contention arose between these partners, from the circum- stance of Mr William Auld having engaged an apprentice to the business, without con- sulting with Mr Smellie ; who alleged that there vrere already more apprentices in the printing-house than could be profitably em- ployed, and positively refused to admit this additional apprentice into the house. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 325 These disputes appear to hav^e occasioned a long correspondence ; and, by some of the letters which still remain, Mr William Auld lost his temper in the course of the dispute, and even descended into personal invective against Mr Smell ie. The commencement of this dispute seems to have been about the month of October 1769; and the final issue was a dissolution of the copartnery in November 1771. Mr Balfour, the leading- partner, does not appear to have taken any concern in this protracted dispute ; yet we have reason to conclude that he considered Mr S31ELLIE as in the right, for immediately on the breaking up of the company of Bal- four, Auld, and Smellie, a .new partnership was entered into by Mr Balfour and Mr Simellie, which commenced business on the 12th November 1771, as will be farther no- ticed in the sequel. So3iE time before the dissolution of the co- partnery with Mr Willia3i Auld, and per- haps arising from the discord which had un- fortunately taken place between him and Mr Smellie, it would appear that a plan was in agitation about the close of 1769, for intro- ducing Mr S31ELLIE into the management of X 3 S26 MExMOIRS OF the vast printing concern carried on at Lon- don by the late eminent William Strahan, Esq. M. P. joint Kings printer for England. The commencement of the following letter refers to the Memoirs of Great Britain, a work published in 1771, by Sir John Dal- RYMPLE, which was then printing by Mr Smellie. The concluding paragraph hints very distinctly at the before-mentioned plan of employing Mr Ssiellie at London. No. LXVIL «Si> John Dalrymple to Mr Williaji Smeli^ie. Dear Sir, London, Januari/ 30. 1771, I SEND you the preface and the errata ; and so we bid farewell to each other. I HAVE a very material thing to tell you. In a note at the bottom of p. 115, part II, there are these words : / gave it afterwards to Lord Hjrdwicke, who has it now. He has lost the paper, and insists these words should be out. You will therefore cause ^> WILLIAM SMELLIE. 32? pen be put through every copy, and the ink must be firm and black, so as to make it quite illegible. I TOLD all your qualities to Strahan, in much stronger terms than I can repeat to you, and have reason to believe you will soon take up your residence here. He asked me what your business was worth in Edinburgh. I said I did not know ; but that one of your friends called it to me about L.200 a-year. Let me know what terms you would expect, and I will manage the affair for you. Yours, &c, J. Dalrymple. Though never carried into effect, the same idea seems to have recurred in J 780 or 1781, as appears by the following letter, which is peculiarly valuable, as containing a sketch of Mr Smellies life written by him- self. His son, the present Mr Alexander Smellie, says that it was written to the late William Strahan, Esq. and that it proceed- ed from an offer made to him by Mr Strahan to go up to London, and to take the manage- ment of his great printing concern, either with X4 328 MEMOIRS OF a share of the business, or on a high salary. The letter has no date ; but from internal evidence must have been T^rritten about or after 17S0, as he indirectly states himself to have been then forty years of age ; and from the mention of his having been recently elected Superintendant of Natural History to the Scottish Antiquaries, it must have been in 1781. In this letter he expresses a strong inclina^ tion to see London ; but in this he was never gratified, owing to his close and arduous at-r tention to business and literary pursuits and speculations, The low situation of printing and bookselling at Edinburgh, which he states to have been the case when he wrote this letter, about thirty years ago, is now very materially changed for the better. It has been ascertained, London alone excepted, that there are now more printing in this place than in the whole island besides ; and that as elegantly and as correctly printed books now issue from the Edinburgh press as from any in the known world. Mr Smellie was himself a first rate printer; and almost the whole Scots literature of any moment in his day was printed and WILLIAM S.MELLIE. 329 corrected by him. This could be easily and fally substantiated, were it deemed proper to give an abstract of his ledgers, as has been done in the life of a London brother in profession, Mr Bowyer. No person of his day could read proofs more accurately, or make more correct work than Mr Smellie, especial- ly when the subject and composition was in- teresting or pleasing : But, as he abhorred the mere mechanical drudgery of this part of the employment, it frequently happened that his mind wandered from the dull sub- ject in hand into a different train of think- ing, which afterwards occasioned him a great deal of additional trouble. The allusion which he makes to certain abominable editions of many of the best English classics, must be understood of some underling printers, who, having no regular employment, had taken to printing cheap editions of popular books, of which the property right was expired, upon coarse paper, and with small worn-out types ; some of which reprints w^ere so gross- ly inaccurate, and so shamefully ill printed, as to be a disgrace to Edinburgh and the profession. The subject of the proposed lec- tures on the Philosophy of Natural History, pientioned in this letter, will be discussed 330 BIEMOIRS OF more Jit large in a subsequent part of these Memoirs. No. LXVIII. Mr William Smellie to William Strahan, Esq. Sir, I THANK you for your kind letter of the 10th current, which I ought to have answer- ed sooner. I have long had a most ardent desire to see the capital, and this ardour has increased ever since I had the honour of your acquaintance ; but I have never been able to command time, or to spare money sufficient to procure me a repast so luxuri- ous. With regard to printing and bookselling here, they are both in a wretched condition. When you left Scotland, I suppose there were not above half a dozen printing-houses in Edinburgh. Now there are near thirty. How the masters of them live, God alone knows: But, by printing abominable editions, WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 331 and selling often below cost, they have ruin- ed the reputation and sale of many of the best English classics. For this irreparable injury the booksellers have themselves to blame. Instead of publishing good editions, or of employing men who could execute business with accuracy, they encouraged ignorant journeymen to set up, and bought from them the trash they produced ; be- cause, as was alledged, they could by this means purchase 100 copies of any book as cheap as they could print 1000. They did not foresee the effects. They now feel them ; and deserve what they have met with. Your affectionate inquiries concerning my private affairs I shall never forget ; and they merit a candid exposition. I have a fa- mily of no less than nine children. My income I suppose to be about L.200 annually, arising from the profits of business. Were this money well paid, I might contrive to be tolerably easy ; but could never acquire riches. My partner* has for some years printed little or nothing ; and it is not likely that he will again become an adventurous publisher. Every other bookseller of any * The late Mr John Balfour, bookseller in Edinburgh. 332 .MEMOIRS OF note, except Mr Creech, is likewise a print- er ; so that, instead of increasing, it is pro- bable that my business will diminish. This is not a flattering prospect ; but I must submit. From the age of fourteen to forty, inclina- tion and fortune have condemned me to a very laborious life. During that period, without the aid of relations, I went through a regular course of the University, including chemistry, botany, and all the medical classes. You will perceive. Sir, from this course of studies, when joined to the sole management of the printing-house, that I could not be idle. The leisure hours which many young men spend in amusement or dissipation, I obliged myself to dedicate to study. Habits are acquired by a frequent repetition of the same tenor of conduct. Besides the neces- sary attention to business, I iind that I can- not be happy without some literary project to amuse me. It was this penchant which produced the translation of Buffon, from which I still entertain hopes of some httle euiolument. The undertaking was laborious, but not unpleasant. ill.. .' I MENTION another project. liv the year 1774, my honourable Irieiid Lord Kames ^VILLIAM SMELLIE. 333 suggested to me a plan for composing Lectures on the Philosophy of Natural History, which I hiffhlv relished. I immediately began the work ; and proceeded for some years collect- ing m.aterials, till it received a long interrup- tion from BuFFON. After finishing my trans- lation of that work, I resumed my former scheme; and shall complete the lectures in less than twelve months. About three years ago Dr Ramsay, Pro- fessor of Natural History, died. My friends applied to Lord Suffolk in my favour ; but Dr Walkers political interest was strongest, and I lost the chair. At the last meeting of the Antiquarian So- ciety, I was appointed Keeper of their Muse- um, with a request to deliver my Lectures in their hall when they were ready. This ofiice, though no salary is annexed to it, increased my prospect of success, from the patronage of a body so numerous and resp-ectable. But jealousy always rises in proportion to the narrowness of a country. Dr Walker ac- cordingly, though he has never yet lectured himself, has taken the alarm, and is using all his influence to get my Lectures suppressed. 334 MEMOIRS OF I have endeavoured to convince his friends that no interference can ever happen. This explanation, however, has not satisfied him ; and how the matter is to terminate, time a- Jone can discover. ♦ I BEG pardon for consuming so much of your valuable time with a detail of my private affairs. Were I not certain that I am com- municating an abstract both of my past and present situation to the breast of an honour- able friend, prudence would have prevented me from being so explicit. I have the ho- nour, &c. William Smellie. Mr William Strahan, to whom the fore- going letter was wTitten, was born at Edin- burgh in 1715. His father held a small ap- pointment in the head office of the Customs in Scotland, and gave his son the education Avhich every boy of decent rank in Edinburgh could then, and still does receive, in conse- quence of the very moderate fees of all the elementary schools rendering the avenues to learning accessible even to the most mode- rate circumstances. After acquiring the ele- WILLIAM SMELLIE. 335 mentary foundations of learning at the gram- mar school, he, like Mr Smellie, was bound apprentice to a printer in Edinburgh. Soon after the expiry of his apprenticeship, he went to London, as a wider field for improvement in Jiis profession. Before which change he ap- pears to have entered into matrimony, while yet very young, and only a journeyman prin- ter. Though he married early, and without looking forwards to any such provision for the establishment of a family as prudence might have dictated ; yet, by sobriety, diligence, and attentive economy, even while his emo- luments were extremely confined, he contriv- ed always to live rather within his income, and gradually bettered his circumstances. This is the true golden rule by which every man may thrive, and which he used often to adduce as an encouragement for early marri- age. He used often to say. That on every augmentation of his family, Providence al- ways sent a sufficient increase of income to enable him to provide for his increased house- hold expences. By his abilities in his profession, joined to- correct literary taste and judgment of the opinions of the public in relation to books, ac- 33G MEMOIRS OF companied by perfect integrity, unabating diligence, and honourable economy, he got on in business with almost unexampled suc- cess, after his first difficulties were mastered. Having become one of the most flourishing men in the printing trade in London, he pwr- chased in 1770, from Mr Eyre, a share in the patent of Kings Printer for England ; which, besides the right to print bibles and prayer-books, in which the two English uni- versities have an equal participation, gave an exclusive right to print all statutes of the Le- gislature, after the royal assent has consti- tuted them the Kings laws. Besides the emo- luments arising from this appointment, and from very extensive private business as a printer, he now entered largely into the spe- culation of literary property, whicli requires considerable knowledge and sagacity to con- duct with advantage. Chiefly in conjunction with his friend, the late Alderman Tho- mas C A DELL, the great London bookseller, he purchased the copy-rights of many of the most celebrated literary productions of his time ; a considerable number of which, by Scots authors, were purchased through the judgment of, and in conjunction with, Mr William Creech, the apprentice, partner. V.ILLIAM SMELLIE. ^37 and successor of the late Mr Alexander KiNCAiD, Kings printer and stationer for Scotland. In these purchases of literary pro- perty, the liberality of Mr Strahan was equally conspicuous with his prudence and judgment, and, in some instances, may ra- ther have exceeded the bounds of discretion. Yet, although no such liberal rewards had ever been before given for literary exertion as were bestowed by him and his associates, af- fluence to no common degree was the reward of this liberality ; although, in a few indivi- dual instances, the sales may have not re- munerated them for the expences, as must necessarily be the case in every extensive trade, in which some adventures must be ex- pected to fail, while others iiave a prosperous issue^ Having acquired considerable wealth, the honourable reward of patient industry and ju- dicious adventure, Mr Strahan, at the age of sixty, came into Parliament for the first time, as one of the members for the borough of Malmsbury in Wiltshire, having that il- lustrious and enlightened statesman and ora- tor, C. J. Fox, as his colleague. He began his political career too late in life to attempt Vol. I. Y 338 MEMOIRS OF becoming a public speaker ; but in tbis new- situation, he applied himself to public busi- ness with that ardency which was natural to him in every thing he undertook : He attend- ed the House with the most scrupulous punc- tuality, and became a very useful member, especially in those laborious committees in which all important matters are patiently in- vestigated and arranged, previously to their being submitted to the determination of the House. Political subjects had long occupied his active mind ; and he had corresponded on the most interesting topics with some of the first characters of the age. Among these poli- tical correspondents was the celeratedDr Ben- jamin Franklin, himself a printer, to whom, in 1769, he had addressed a series of queries respecting the American discontents, which evinced that he entertained very just concep- tions on the important consequences of that dispute, and much patriotic anxiety to inves- tigate the proper means by which the grie- vances of these invaluable colonies might be removed, and permanent harmony restored between the two countries. These queries were published in the London Chronicle for 28th July 1778. \^'iLLTAM SMELLiE. 339 In the succeeding Parliament, Mr Stra- iiAiv was returned as one of the members for Wotton-Basset in the county of Wilts. In his parhamentary conduct, he was a steady supporter of the North administration ; and, when that party had finally to quit the direc- tion of public affairs, in spring 1784, he lost his seat in Parlia,ment by the dissolution con- sequent upon that change. Finding the in- firmities of age advancing, and that liis health had suffered from the long sittings and late hours which had been occasioned by the poli- tical warfare of the last Parliament, he took no measures for resuming a seat in the House of Commons. Without any formed di- sease, his strength was visibly declining ; and, though his spirits survived his strength, even the vigour and activity of his mind began sensibly to decay. By a gradual decline of his corporeal and mental faculties, he died in the 71st year of his age, on the 9th of July 1785. By will he left L.IOOO to the London Company of Stationers, with directions that the interest should be yearly divided among decayed printers, in portions of Jive pounds each. Y2 340 MEMOIRS OF The foregoing digression could not have been brought into any other part of these me- moirs more conveniently than the one it now occupies, as it does not interfere with any particular portion or incident in the life of Mr Smellie, and is in itself an isolated circum- stance, which, as it had no connexion with any other part of his life, appears to have led to no future consequences whatever. It mere- ly serves to shew the interest that was taken by very respectable persons in the welfare of Mr Smellie ; and gives an opportunity to no- tice one of his most respectable friends, who was an honour to his country, and to his pro- fession as a printer, and a munificent patron of literature and learned men. It has been already mentioned that, on the dissolution of the copartnery between Bal- four, AuLD, & Smellie, a new company was immediately entered into by Mr John Balfour and Mr Smellie, which commen- ced business on the 12th November 1771. In the former copartnership of Balfour, Auld, & Smellie, the two latter, as the active part- ners, were each allowed twelve shillings week- ly, in name of salary for their trouble in ma- naging jointly the concerns of the company. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 341 In this new copartnership, Mr Smellie was allowed ninety pounds a-year, as a compen- sation for taking the whole charge upon him- self, very nearly three times as much as his allowance from the former company ; for which he was bound to devote his whole time to the superintendence of the work in the printing-house, to correct all the proof sheets, to post the books, to draw out accounts, to collect and pay money, and, in general, to execute the whole duty belonging to the mas- ter of a printing-house. Somewhat more than two years after the establishment of this new copartnery, Mr Smellie made a successful application to the late Henry Home, Lord Karnes, to aid his industry by becoming surety or bondsman for him to the Royal Bank of Scotland, that he might be accommodated with a credit or cash account to the extent of two or three liun- dred pounds. In a transaction of this nature, which is almost universal in Scotland, a per- son in business grants a bond with satisfac- tory cautioners or sureties to a bank for a cer- tain specified sum ; and acquires thereby a rigiit to draw u];on the bank for any part, or the whole of that sum, as needed. Interest Y3 342 MEMOIRS OF at the rate of five per cent, per anuiiin is al- ways charged against him by the bank for all advances. He fdls into his cash account, as he is able, all cash received by him which he may not have immediate occasion for, and such good discountable bills as come into his hands. If at any time he may have overpaid the bank, he is allowed three per cent, per an- num upon the balance in his favour. A ba- lance of principal and interst is struck yearly ; and the amount, whether for or against him, constitutes the first article in his debit or cre- dit of the account of the ensuing year. The following letter, which has no date in its remaining copy, must have been written considerably posterior to the 12th November 1771, on which day Mr S^iellie commenced his new copartnership with Mr Balfour; how long afterwards we have no means of precise- ly ascertaining ; but, from his mentioning the increase of his business during the past two years, it was probably written in the spring of 1774. The answer to this letter, or that announcing the accomplishment of its object, which inmiediately follows, is dated on tiie 2Bth May 1114. Without often at- tending minutely to chronological arrange-. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 343 ment, for reasons already urged in the com- mencement of this work, it has been tliought best to class along with this any other corre- spondence which took place between Mr SiMELLiE and Lord Kames, and which has come to our knowledge ; but, as often men- tioned, a great deal of this correspondence was long ago destroyed. No. LXIX. Mr William Smellie to Lord Kames, My Lord, As I believe your Lordship is inclined to befriend me, I presume to beg a favour which will be of the greatest importance to me, and cannot, I imagine, be in the least prejudicial to your Lordship. My business, these two years past, has in- creased to such a degree that I find a bank credit for L.200 or L.300 necessary to make the proper advantage of it. As Mr Balfour, my partner, is likewise bound for any intro- missions, the risk must amount to nothing. Y4 344 MEMOIRS OF Now, my Lord, if you will do me the lionoiir to become one of my sureties, you will have the pleasure of doing an essential service to a man of business, which must always be pe- culiarly grateful to a mind so susceptible as that of your Lordship, I have the honour to be, &c. WlLLIA3I SmELLIE. No. LXX. To Mr William Smellie^o??* Lord Kames. Dear Sir, Blalr-Drummond^ 28. May 1774. I have signed the bond this day, witness William Sconce writer in Stirling, and John Dick my servant. The Sketch on Government, being intro- ductory only to what follows, I know not what review can be made of it ; though that it cannot be shortened is certain. There is an- other subject I wish much more to be brought under review, and which will furnish much matter ; viz. The attempt to account for mo- ral evil in this world, which concludes the WILLIAM SMELLIE. 345 first sketch in the second hook. A good deal of genius may be exerted upon this suhject. I SAW your friend Hamilton at Perth, who seems well satisfied with his condition. Your friend most sincerely, Hejvry Home, Mr Smellie enjoyed the honour and hap- piness of an intimate acquaintance with the great and good lawyer, philosopher, and judge, Henry Home Lord Kames, for more than twenty years. Their acquaintance be- gan in consequence of an anonymous letter which Mr Smellie sent to his Lordship, con- taining some observations, and even stric- tures, on his admired publication, the Ele- ments of Criticism, then printing by Mur- ray and Cochrane, to whom he was correc- tor. These critical observations have not been preserved ; but the accompanying letter and its appropriate answer are subjoined, to- gether with some other letters which passed between them. It has been already mention- ed that the acquaintance to which these cri- tical observations gave occasion continued for a long time ; — in fact, it continued to the end 346 MEMOIRS OF of the life of Lord Kames. The first edition of the Elements of Criticism was printed in 1762, in three volumes octavo; but we have no certain memorial of the date of Mr Smel- LIES first acquaintance with Lord Ka3ies. From the Avant of date in the copy of this Mr Smellies first letter to Lord Kames, there is considerable difficulty in settling the period of commencement of this acquaintance. Mr Smellie, jun. is disposed to believe that this intercourse, honourable to both parties, be- gan while his father was still apprentice and corrector to his masters Hamilton, Balfour, and Neill. But, from the answer to this a-. nonymous communication being dated in De- cember 1764, it could not have been above a few days prior to that date when Mr Smel- lie first wrote anonymously ; and from Lord Kames expressing a wish to end the blind in- tercourse^ it may be presumed tliat Mr Smel- lie declared himself shortly afterwards. He was corrector to Murray and Cochrane in 1764. Of all the subsequent publications by Lord Kames, Mr Smellie uniformly corrected the proof sheets, and constantly used full critical WILLIA3I SMELLIE. 347 freedom in animadverting or proposing alte- rations in the language, &c. When Lord Ka3ies thought any particular observation or alteration on the proofs of his works not of any great moment, he used to express himself in writing, on returning the proof, in the following easy and good natured way, " Either of them is good enough, but I have altered the sentence to please you." Of this we have ample proof in the liand-writing of Lord Kames, exactly conformable to the circumstance alleged. No. LXXL Mr William Smellie to Lord Kames. My Lord, No date. I HAVE perused the Elements of Criticism with great satisfaction. The utility, as well as the ingenuity of the performance, induced me to read it with even peculiar attention. Many observations occurred ; some of which I committed to paper, that I might be the better enabled to judge if they were well founded. Sensible that your Lordships can- 348 MEMOIRS OF dour will allow them all the weight they de-^ serve, I have presumed to submit them to your review. If they can be of any service, my sole end in transmitting them will be fully attained. Being informed that a third edition is just going to press, I determined to send a few of these observations, although they are not finished with that accuracy I could have wished. If, however, your Lord-r ship incline to see any more of them, a line directed to will be communicat- ed to your Lordships most obedient humble servant, In this letter Mr Smellie inclosed his ob- servations on the Elements of Criticism, to which it alludes ; and Lord Kames, it is to be presumed without delay, sent the follow- ing answer to his anonymous correspondent. It is certain that their acquaintance began shortly afterwards, perhaps inmiediately ; but of this circumstance we have no certain re- cord. triLLIAM SMELLIE. 349 No. LXXII. Lord Kames to ******^^ %mm%%^ To the Person who has made Observations on the Elements. Sir, Edinburgh, Dec. 6. 1764. The manuscript you sent me, and which I now retrirn, gave me pleasure ; and I am not a little ohhged to you for it. I could have wished for more time to consider it de- hberately ; but as I would avoid the least suspicion of neglect, I have chosen to return my answer as soon as you could possibly ex- pect it. Iiv general, I like your observations ; they must flow from one v/ho has read with atten- tion and with judgment. At the same time, the nature of my performance will not allow me to make much use of them. In the Ele- ments, I keep altogether to general views ; and it would swell the work beyond bounds if I were to follow those general views throughout all their consequences. This ^50 MfeMOiRS OP work I leave to the reader, who, 1 suppose, will be better pleased to have these conse- quences left to himself, than to be led by the hand, as it were, in every step. There are, besides, several observations that, according to the plan of the work, cannot come in pro- perly in those parts of the book that are re- ferred to ; and which are taken in, in sub- stance at least, under other heads. It is both difficult and tedious to explain all in writing. I shall, however, proceed to a few particulars to clear my meaning. You observe very rightly, that to make composition orderly and connected, it is not alone sufficient that the thoughts be con- nected, &c. But then, if you consider that I am liere only treating in general of con- ceptions and ideas in a train, I fancy you will fmd that I have omitted nothing which was proper to be brought in, in that general view. At the same time, you'll re- mark, that it is no part of the aim of that chapter to handle all the requisites of a com- plete discourse or composition : These, or the most of them, may be picked out from dif- ferent chapters. With respect to the sym- WILLIAM SMELLIE. 351 pathetic emotion of virtue, I am of opinion, tliat the principle upon which it is founded may produce pleasant emotions from many agreeahle ohjects ; and probably had this oc- curred at the time, it would have been add- ed. But the sympathetic emotion of virtue was sufficient for my purpose ; and I think it better to be modest in my additions, to prevent an ugly suspicion of a design to force a man to buy the same book tv/ice. With respect to the affection a man bears to his children, I had occasion to give it in the place, cited as an example of the com- munication of passion. But you'll remark that it could not be my design there to give a dissertation upon the love of parents to children ; and if that could make part of my work, I sliould thankfully adopt several of your observations. At the same time, I have not said, or at least did not intend to say, that the love of parents to children is entire- ly resolvable into this communication of pas- sion. I am not certain, because that part of the book is at the press ; but if there be any such unwary expression, there is yet time to correct it. 352 3IEMOIRS OF What you observe of grandeur fairly Ac- counts for the difference of taste about it. I was born and bred in a flat country ; and the first time I saw a small round hill, per- ha])s not above 40 feet perpendicidar, it made a stronger impression upon my mind than the greatest mountain I have seen since that time. But such particular observations, though pretty, are too minute for a general plan ; and, in order to preserve the unity of design, I often denied myself the satisfaction of introducing them. With respect to what is observed upon vol. I. p. 92. the theory is pretty, but I doubt of its being solid. I SHALL be glad to see more of your ob- servations ; though I cannot fmd any neces- sity for this sort of blind intercourse. You have no reason to be ashamed of your ob- servations ; and the Author of the Elements will be glad of the acquaintance of a gentle- man who studies to so good purpose a work that he thought worthy to see the light. I am, Sir, your obliged humble Servant, Henry Home. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 353 It is conceived to be more useful to con- tinue an account of all the circumstances that have come to our knowledge respecting the intercourse between Lord Kames and Mr Smellie in this place, than to break down the narrative into disjointed fragments, by a rigid adherence to chronological arrange- ment. The two remaining letters in this correspondence refer to a new publication by Lord Ka.mes, Sketches of the History of Man, and announces a friendly review of that curious and entertaining work, by Mr Smel- lie. The second of these letters must have been written very shortly after the first, as it mentions the appearance of an anonymous review of a part of the Sketches in the num- ber of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review for May 1774. No. LXXIIL Mr William Smellie to Lord Kames^ My Lord, Edinburgh, April "iS. 1774. I have perused the Sketches. No book ever afforded me so much entertainment and Vol. L Z 354 MEMOIRS OP instruction. The curious remarks and hints are innumerable, and conveyed in so light and so easy a manner, that women and chil- dren, if they please, may become philoso- phers, with little expence of thought ; and the philosopher, at the same time, has so mucli food for thought and reflection, that a few pages would require a volume of com- mentary. This I take to be the summum bonum of good writing. I hope your Lord- ships example will give an eftectual check to those mystical, I might say, those nonsensi- cal writers on human nature, who involve themselves in clouds of obscuritv, and ex- pect their readers to understand what they themselves cannot explain. Of this stamp is the treatise of Human Nature ; and some later publications are liable to the same ex- cention. Your Lordships views of natural history will, I hope, lead the attention of naturalists to the only thing valuable in that science. I have read this part with great delectation ; and shall soon write a short commentary, which will be sent for your Lordships peru- sal. I have the honour to be, &c. WlLLIA3I SmELLIE, WILLIAM SMELLIE. 355' From the first paragraph in the next en* suing letter, which has no date, it was pro- bably written in the end of April 1774, as it v^ery evidently alludes to the friendly con- duct of Lord Kames, in becoming his surety to the ])ank credit bond, as expressed in the letter from Lord Kames of 28th May 1774, already inserted ; but must have been ear* lier considerably than that letter, as it an- nounces the appearance of a review of one part of Lord Kameses Sketches of the His- tory of Man on the 1 st of May. No. LXXIV. Mr William SAiellie to Lord Kames. My Lord, No date. Yesterday I received your most obliging letter, which shall be faithfully preserved as a monument of disinterested benevolence. With regard to the article on Natural History, it will be very difficult to say any thing to purpose in such short bounds. Hov^- ever, I shall endeavour to crowd in as much Z 2 356 MEMOIRS OF matter as possible. I shall soon have the ho- nour of transmitting the manuscript to your Lordship. If it have the good fortune to please you, I need be under no apprehension of publishing it ; if otherwise, it shall never appear. I PROPOSE some general remarks on in- stinct, — strictures on the bad taste of natu- ralists in confining themselves, almost en- tirely, to the technical and uninteresting part of the subject ; — to extract the argu- ment in favour of marriage ; — to conclude, by adding a few pecuhar instincts, with their uses, &c. I MEAN not to pursue these topics in the way of a regular plan. The nature of re- view writing does not admit of strict me- thod. The observations will, therefore, be made in a rambling manner. My only fear is, that they will be unworthy of appearing with the title of Sketches of Human Nature at their head. But your Lordship will at least approve the intention, whatever the execution may be. I have the honour to be, &c. William Smellie. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 357 P. S. — A sensible man, and a particular friend of your Lordship, has given us a re- view of the Sketch upon the Arts, which will be published on the first day of May. During his intimacy with Lord KaxMes, Mr Smellie went one summer evening to sup with his Lordship ; and the company was soon afterwards joined by the late Dr John Warden M^Farlane, the worthy, respect- able, and highly useful minister of the Ca- nongate, one of the suburbs of Edinburgh, and by Mr David Hume, the celebrated phi- losopher and historian. The conversation went on for some time very agreeably ; till Dr Warden happened to mention, that he had read a sermon just published by one Edwards, under the strange title of the Usefulness of Sin. Mr Hume repeated the words. Usefulness of Sin ! " I suppose," said he, " Mr Edwards has adopted the System of Leibnitz, * that all is for the best.' To this he added, with a peculiar keenness of eye, and forcible manner of expression which was usual with him : " But what the devil does the fellow make of hell and damna- tion ?" Dr Warden immediateiv took his Z3 358 MEMOIRS OF hat and left the room ; and, though follow- ed by Lord Kames, who anxiously pressed him to return, he positively refused to re- join the company. Lord Kames, it is well known, paid great and successful application to the improvement of agriculture. A great number of years ago, a German quack, who called himself Baron Von Haak, vaunted of having dis- covered a powerfully fertilizing manure, which he advertised for sale, pretending that a very small quantity sufficed to fertilize an acre of land in a very extraordinary manner. Happening to converse with one of his neigh- bours on this subject, a plain sagacious far- mer ; the farmer observed to Lord Kames, that he had no faith in the Barons nostrum, as he conceived the proposed quantity was vastly too small to be of any use. " My good friend," said Lord Kames, ^' such are the wonderful' discoveries in science, that I should not be surprised if, at some future time, we might be able to carry the manure of an acre of land to the field in our coat pocket." — " Very possibly," replied the far- mer ; " but, in that case, I suspect you will WILLIAM SMELLIE. , 359 be able to bring back the crop in your waist- coat pocket." Mr Smellie wrote a short account of the life of his excellent and illustrious friend Lord Kames, which was first puWished in the third edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, and was afterwards reprinted in 1800, by his son Mr Alexander Smellie, in a posthu- mous volume, containing a selection from his fathers unpublished manuscripts. The ori- ginal composition of this life, which was written on the spur of the occasion, proceed- ed from the following circumstance. Soon after the death of Lord Kames, some igno- rant pretender to literature drew up a mise- rable tissue of falsehood and malignity, as a biographical account of that distinguished person, which was meant to have been insert- ed in the third edition of the Encyclopedia, then going on at Edinburgh. Intelligence of this was fortunately conveyed to Mr Home Drum3iond, his Lordships only son ; who came immediately to Edinburgh, and sent for Mr Smellie, who readily undertook to draw up an appropriate and characteristical memoir of his friend and benefactor, to be substituted for the miserable perforin ance Z 4 360 BIEMOIRS OF which was meant to have been inserted ; and which, by his influence with Mr Andrew Bell, the principal proprietor of the Ency- clopedia, Mr Smellie readily got inserted. The authority for this incident, in addition to the recollection of the circumstances by Mr Alexander Smellie, as related to him by his father, will be found distinctly specified in a subsequent letter from Mr Smellie to the late Francis Garden, Lord Gardenston, of the Court of Session. If Mr SiMELLiE had lived, it was his inten- tion to have made this life of Lord Ka3ies considerably more complete, by the introduc- tion of many curious and interesting anec- dotes, and by critical illustrations of his nu.- merous and excellent works. This desidera- tum in bcots literary biography has been of late most amply and excellently supplied, by the publication, in 1807, of Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the Honourable Hen- ry Home of Kames ; by the Honourable Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Wood- houselee, in two quarto volumes ; which con- tains an extensive and well written account of Scots literature during the lengthened life of that distinguished Senator and illustrious philosopher ; and which precludes the neces- WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 361 sity, or even propriety, of attempting to in- sert any biographical sketch of that eminent character in this work. One of the earliest important literary pro- jects of Mr Smellie, was the compilement and entire conducting of the first edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, in three vo- lumes quarto, which began to appear in numbers at Edinburgh in 1771. The plan, and all the principal articles of that Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, were de- vised and written or compiled by Mr Smel- lie ; and he prepared and superintended the whole of that work, for which he only got L.200 from its proprietors. The following terms on which Mr Smel- lie was engaged in this undertaking by Mr Andrew Bell engraver, and Mr Colin Macfarquhar printer in Edinburgh, are in the hand-writing of the late Mr Andrew Bell, the principal proprietor of the work. 362 MEMOIRS OF No. LXXV. Mr Andrew Bell to 31r William Smellie. Sir, As we are engaged in publishing a Dic- tionary of the Arts and Sciences ; and as jou have informed us that there are fifteen capital sciences which you will undertake for, and write up the subdiv^isions and de- tached parts of these conform to your plan, and likewise to prepare the whole work for tlie press, &c. &c. ; we hereby agree to allow you L.200 for your trouble, &c. I am, &c. Andrew Bell. Besides the ordinary labour of compile- ment and abridgement of the entire first edi- tion of the Encyclopedia Britannica, he wrote several original essays for that work ; but he held Dictionary making in great con- tempt ; and used to say jocularly, that he had made a Dictionary of Arts and Sciences with a pair of scissars, clipping out from various WILLIA5I SMELLIE. 363 books a quantum sufflcU of matter for the printer. It is well observed by the immortal Shake- spear, " There is a tide in the affairs of man, which, taken at the height, leads on to fortune." Had Mr Ssiellie firmly adhered to this grand literary project, the Encyclo- pedia Britannica, he had assuredly accumu- lated a handsome fortune, and might have left one third of that valuable work to his family. He was applied to by Mr Bell to take a share, and to superintend the con- struction of the second edition of that work, which began to be published in 1776. This he most unfortunately declined ; because the other persons concerned, it has been said upon the suggestion of a very distinguished nobleman of the highest rank and most princely fortune, insisted upon the introduc- tion of a system of general biography into the work ; which Mr Smellie objected to, as by no means consistent with the title Arts and Sciences. At the death of Mr Macfarquhar, printer, in April 1793, the whole work became the property of Mr Blll. It is well known that Mr Macfarquhar left ja handsome fortune to his family, all or 364 MEMOIRS OF mostly derived from the profits of the En- cyclopedia ; and that Mr Bell died in great affluence, besides possessing the entire pro- perty of that vast work, which still belongs to his executors ; every shilling of which may be fairly stated as having grown from the labours of Mr Smellie in the original fabri- cation of the work, which is confessedly su- perior ; and all of which he and his family might have shared in equally with Mr Bell and the other proprietor, if he had not been too fastidious in his notions, and perhaps too timid in his views of the risk which might have been incurred in the mercantile part of the speculation. Of the original edition of the Encyclope- dia Britannica, already mentioned as the en- tire work of Mr Smellie, we do not know its exact number of copies. The second edi- tion, which consisted of 1500, began to be published in 1776, and extended to ten vo- lumes in quarto. A third edition, in eighteen volumes, was commenced in 1786, and ex- tended to 10,000 copies. By this edition, the two proprietors, Mr Bell and Mr Macfar- QUHAR, are said to have cleared a net profit of L. 42,000, besides being each paid for WILLIAM SMELLIE. 365 their respective work in the conduct of the puhhcation as tradesmen ; Mr Bell as en- graver of all the plates, and Mr jMacfar- QuiiAR as sole printer. Even the warehouse- man and the corrector of the press are re- ported to have made a considerable profit from the copies for which they procured sub- scriptions. The fourth edition of this work, just finished, extended to 20 quarto volumes, and 3,500 copies ; and a fifth edition is now at press, to consist from the first of 2000 co^ pies, besides the possibihty of extended sales calling for reprints. One of the original articles which Mr S3IELLIE wrote for the first edition of the Encyclopedia, is that entitled ^THER. That article became the subject of a great misunderstanding between two celebrated medical professors in the University of Edin- burgh, the late Dr John Gregory and Dr William Cullen. Of that singular dispute, the present Professor of the Practice of Medicine, Dr Ja3ies Gregory, gives the following account, in his Additional Memo- rial to the Managers of the Royal Infirmary, published in 1803, p. 187. 366 MEMOIRS OF " A YEAR or two afterwards, an event took place, which made Dr Cullen very angry, and gave my father, Dr John Gregory, some uneasiness. " L\^ the first edition of the Edinburgh Encyclopedia Britannica, which, to the best of my recollection, was published here in numbers about 30 or 35 years ago, the article JEther made a conspicuous figure. In that article, the doctrine of the Nervous jEther, and the whole of Dr Cullens doctrine of the Nervous System, was very roughly handled. This, without ever mentioning Dr Cullens name, or alluding to him as the author or fissertor of such doctrines, was done under pretence of discussing a certain thesis, en- titled, De Ortu Animalium Calore, by Gusta^ vus Richard Browh, of Maryland, published in 1768. In that thesis, the production of ani- mal heat, and many other curious things, are referred to the supposed Nervous iEther and its vibrations. It was well known to every student at the University at the time, and in- deed it is avowed by Dr Brown in the whole of his thesis, from the motto on his title page to the concluding sentence of his disserta- tion, that it was the theory on these subjects WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 367 tail gilt by Dr Cullen. It was one of his tubs to amuse the ivhale; and after it had serv- ed its purpose for some time, and was a little shattered in the service, lie very wisely with- drew it, and threw out another and another, so as to keep the v^hale effectually amused^ and always playing about him. But, as he had not forgotten my fathers hint on the .subject, as scon as the severe discussion of the Nervous /Ether appeared in the Ency- clopedia, he immediately supposed it was vrritten by my father. So fully was he pos- sessed with this notion, that he mentioned it without much reserve to some of his pupils, some of whom reported it to my father. I have heard that he mentioned his belief on that point to several other persons : I know h^ did so to Mr Creech the bookseller. Nay, as I liave lately learned from the present Mr Alexander Smellie, printer, Dr Cullen, in conversation with his father, the late Mr William Smellie, one of the authors, not the printer of that edition of the Encyclope- dia, told him that he was sure that my father had written that article, and that he knew his style. 368 MEMOIRS OF " This must have afforded much amuse- ment to Mr Smellie, who was himself the author of that article ; as my father soon learned from Mr Smellie ; for he was so much piqued at Dr Cullens unjust and un- generous suspicion, that he spared no pains to discover the real author of that well writ- ten but severe article, which had given such offence, and been so rashly imputed to him. Mr Smellie, for good reasons, did not choose to be generally known as the author of it at that time ; but I know that, in the course of some years afterwards, Dr Cull en found him out, and was very angry at him accordingly. That discovery of Mr Smel- lie being the author of it, I have always understood, gave occasion to the complete alteration and softening of the article JEiiher in the second and all the subsequent editions of the Encyclopedia ; so that nothing of it was allowed to remain that could give offence to Dr Cullen." It has been alleged that the circumstance which weighed most with Dr Cullen in being angry on the subject, was, that certain god- ly ministers of Edinburgh had taken the a- WILLIAM SMELLIE. 369 larm at Dr Cullexs doctrine, and impressed an idea on some good ladies that it was unor- thodox. Dr Cull EN therefore was apprehen- sive that it might injure his medical practice among the leading ladies of Edinburgh. We are far from wishing to impute any sinister motives to the reverend clergy who bestirred themselves on this occasion, to repress what they considered as heterodox doctrines. We know that the order is generally most respec- table, and contains an uncommon number of learned, ingenious, and liberal men. But some well-meaning members of that nume- rous and respectable body are apt occasion- ally to embrace confined views in science and philosophy with a too hasty zeal, as was the case on the occasion here alluded to. The article respecting Miher is ingenious ; and the publication in which it appeared having been long superseded by more exten- sive editions, it has been deemed worthy of being reprinted in this place. It gives a striking instance of Mr Smellies acute dis- cernment, and strict philosophical induction ; which otherwise is now in a manner hidden from the world in that obsolete edition of the Encyclopedia. Vol, I. A a 370 MEMOIRS OF * jEther, the name of an imaginary fluid, supposed by several authors, both ancient and modern, to be the cause of gravity, heat, light, muscular motion, sensation, and, in a word, of every phenomenon in nature. An- AXAGORAs maintained that aether was of a si- milar nature with fire ; Perrault represents it as 7200 times more rare than air ; and Hook makes it more dense than gold itself. Whoever has an inclination to know the va- rious hypotheses concerning aether may con- sult Shebbere, Perrault, Hooks posthu- mous works, ylct. Enid. Lips. 1716, Berno- iTiLLis Cogitat. de gravitate (Ctheris, &c. &c. Before the method of philosophising by induction was known, the hypotheses of phi- losophers were wild, fanciful, ridiculous. They had recouse to aether, occult qualities, and other imaginary causes, in order to ex- plain the various phenomena of nature : But since the days of the great Lord Verulam, who may be styled the parent of genuine phi- losophy, a contrary course has happily been followed. He convinced the world, that all knowledge must be derived from experiment and observation ; and that every attempt to investigate causes by any other means must be unsuccessful. Since his time, the best WILLIAM SMELLIE. 371 philosophers have followed the tract which he pointed out. Boyle, Locke, Newton, Hales, and a few others, in little more than one century, have improved and extended science far beyond what the accumulated force of all the philosophers since the creation had been able to effectuate : A striking proof both of the comprehensive genius of Bacon, and of the solidity of his plan of investiga- tion. It must indeed be acknowledged, that there is a propensity in the human mind, which, unless it be properly restrained, has a direct tendency both to corrupt science, and to retard our progress in it. Not contented with the examination of objects which readi- ly fall within the sphere of our observation, we feel a strong desire to account for things which, from their very nature, must, and ever will, elude our researches. Even Sir Isaac Newton himself was not proof against this temptation. It was not enough that he had discovered the nature of light and co- lours, the application of gravity to the mo- tions of the heavenly bodies, &c. he must go further, and attempt to assign the cause of gravity itself. But, how does he proceed in this matter ? Not in the way of experiment; A a 2 372 MEMOIRS OF which hLid led him to his former discoveries, but in the way of conjecture, which will never lead any man to truth. He had re- course to a subtile elastic aether, not much different from that of the ancients, and by it accounted for every thing he did not know, such as the cause of gravitation, muscular motion, sensation, &c. Notwithstanding the reputation of Sir Isaac, philosophers have generally looked upon this attempt as the foible of a great man, or, at least, as the most useless part of his works ; and accordingly peruse it rather as a dream or a romance, than as having any con- nexion with science. But we are sorry to find that some late attempts have been made to revive this doctrine of aether, particularly in a dissertation De ortu animalium calorisy pub- lished in May 1768. As the revival of an old doctrine becomes in some measure a new one, we shall plead no other apology for inserting a specimen of the method of reasoning employed in this dis- sertation. The author makes frequent use of a spe- cies of argument termed dilemma by logicians. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 373 For example, in the first part of the work, after endeavouring to prove that animal heat cannot be owing to fermentation, the motion of the fluids, and other causes that have usu- ally been assigned, he draws this conclusion : — " If none of these causes are sufficient to produce the effect ; therefore, by dilemma,'* says he, " it must be sought for in the nature and action of the nerves." This is a new spe- cies of dilemma ; — If the author had proved, that the cause of heat in animals could not possibly exist any where, but either in fermen- tation, the motion of the fluids, &c. or in the nerves, after having disproved its existence in all the rest, his conclusion in favour of the nerves vv^ould have been just ; but, as he has not so much as attempted this, the conclu- sion is not only false, but ridiculous. However, upon the authority of this di- lemma, the author first gives what he calls a Compend of a new doctrine concerning the nerves, and then proceeds to inquire in what manner the nerves produce animal heat : He tells us, " That thought {cogitatio) and sensa- tion depend upon impulses either on the ex- tremities of the nerves, or the sensorium com- mune, and the consequent motions produced by these impulses : That these motions are A a 3 374 MEMOIRS OF SO quick, as to be almost instantaneous : That as all motion is mechanical, therefore thought, sensation, and muscular motion, must like- wise be mechanical : That such quick motions cannot be produced without the intervention of some extremely elastic power ; and as Sir Isaac Newton has shown that the impulses which occasion the different sensations must be owing to an elastic power ; therefore the muscular motions of animals must be occasi- oned by the oscillations of some elastic power.'* " But," says he, " as this elastic power can- not exist in the solid nervous fibres, nor in any inelastic fluid ; therefore, by dilemma, it must exist in an elastic fluid ; and hence also, by the former dilemma, this elastic fluid must be seated, either in the nerves, or in their medullary substance." Here again the author calls Sir Isaac into his assistance. — " What confirms this opi- nion," says he, " is the Newtonian aether, which pervades all nature, and which, with a few variations in its modification. Sir Isaac has shown to be the cause of cohesion, elas- ticity, gravity, electricity, magnetism, &c. in the following manner : 1 . As the rays of light, when reflected, do not touch the solid parts of bodies, but are reflected a little be- WILLIAM SMELLIE. 375 fore they reach them, it is plain that the aether not only fills the pores of bodies, but likewise floats upon their surfaces ; and hence it becomes the cause of attraction and repulsion. — 2. All metals, and inelastic fluids, are non-electrics ; on the other hand, all so- lid bodies, metals excepted, are electrics, /. e. proper for accumulating aether. But aether, thus accumulated in such a variety of bo- dies, may produce various motions in the parts of these bodies, without inducing any change in the bodies themselves. Hence ae- ther, with some variations in its modification, is sufficient to account for all the phenomena of electricity. — 3. As iron, by accumulating aether around it, exhibits all the wonders of magnetism ; so this magnetical aether is more analogous to the nervous aether of animals than any other kind of it : For, as the mag- netical aether passes along iron without chang- ing any part of the iron ; so the nervous ae- ther, in like manner, passes along the me- dullary substance of the nerves, and excites motion in any part that is continuous with them, without inducing any change in the nerves. — 4. The irritability and life of plants, which very much resemble those in animals, cannot be explained by any inelastic cause, A a 4 376 ME3ioins OF and must therefore be attributed to an aethe- rial one. — Lastly, As the common sether is differently modified in each of the substances above taken notice of, and also produces va- rious motions or effects peculiar to each, it likewise varies, and has some peculiar quali- ties when residing in animal bodies ; so that the nervous or animal aether is not exactly the same, but differs in some respects from those species of aether which give rise to co- hesion, gravity, magnetism, electricity," &c. Having thus explained the nature and qualities of aether, our author starts a very important question ; viz. " Whence is aether derived ? and whether does it leave any body after having once got possession of it ?" In answer to this, he observes, *' That certain bodies have the power of collecting the elec- trical matter from every circumjacent body, and of accumulating it in their pores and on their surfaces, but do not suffer it again to transmigrate into any other body. There are other substances of an opposite nature, which do not accumulate the electric matter, but instantly allow it to pass into others, unless prohibited by an electric. Hence," says he, ^^ nothing more is necessary for substances of W'ILLIA3I SMELLIE. 377 the former kind but to be in such circum- stances as allow them to accumulate the elec- tric matter. In the same manner," proceeds our author, " the nervous sether, which is diffused through svery part of nature, flows copiously into the medullary part of the nerves, when no obstacle stands in its way ; but, when once it has got there, it keeps firm possession, and never afterwards leaves it. Now," says he, " a quantity of sether pro- bably consitutes one of the staminal parts of animal bodies, and increases in proportion to their age and growth : For nothing is more ridiculous than to suppose that what is com- monly called the nervous fluid can be daily wasted by labour and exercise, and daily re- paired by a new secretion from the brain. To refute this vulgar notion, nothing more is necessary than to say, That it is one ofBoEn- HAAVES theories^ and must he false, as all Boer- HAAVEs other theories have been proved to be ill-founded ! But aether is of a more fixed and determinate nature ; whenever it gets possession of any substance, it never forsakes it, unless the texture and constitution of the body itself be changed. Hence," continues our author, " the aether of an acid body re- mains as long as the body continues to be 378 MEMOIRS OF acid ; the same observation holds with re- gard to the aether of an alkaUne body : But, if these two be blended together into a neu- tral salt, the aether must likewise be changed into a neutral ; and therefore, in the forma- tion of the medullary or staminal part of animals, the aether which before belonged to, or had the properties of some other substance, is instantaneously changed into animal aether, and remains so till the dissolution of that animal." Our author next observes, " That bodies require to be in a certain state or condition in order to the formation of an aether that is proper for them. This condition of bodies is called an excited state : Thus,' as sulphur, when fluid, does not receive the electric matter, but, when solid, instantly receives it ; in the same manner, the nerves, though pro- perly formed, do not admit an aether adapt- ed to their nature, unless they be in an ex- cited state. Hence," says he, " the aether of a dead, and that of a living person, are very different, although the texture and fi- gure of the nerves be the same. The state necessary for constituting the aether of a liv- ing animal, seems to depend on heat and 3VILLIAM SMELLIE. 379 moisture ; because these things are abso- lutely necessary in the constitution of life ; and hence," continues our author, " the excited state of the nerves depend on heat and moisture. There are also certain circum- stances," says he, " which contribute to ren- der the state of the nerves more or less apt for accumulating aether : A spasmodic fever, for example, renders the nerves of the whole body less pervious to the motion of the aether; and hence, in cases of this nature, health, and all the vital functions^ must be injured." " These," our author observ^es, " are the outlines of a new doctrine concerning the na- ture and functions of the nerves ;" and, upon this foundation, proceeds to give his new theory of animal heat. " From the foregoing reasoning,^^ says he, " the heat, as well as all the functions of ani- mals, seem to be occasioned by the oscilla- tions of the nervous aether betwixt the ex- tremities of the sentient nerves and the brain, or, more properly, betwixt the brain and muscles. But electrical aether, as above observed, varies a little from common aether ; all inelastic fluids, as was likewise formerly remarked, are non-electrics ; and all solid 380 MEMOIRS OF bodies, metals excepted, are electrics : These circumstances," says our author, seem to be owing to the oscillations of the electric mat- ter in bodies. In the same manner," says he, " the nature of animals may be such, and the nerves may be so constituted, as to form an aether adapted to their nature, and to excite those oscillations which occasion animal heat. The wonderful effects of heat and cold upon the nerves," continues our author, " confirms this theory ; Every action, and even life it- self, requires a certain degree of heat ; for, as the heat of the external air is so variable, it was absolutely necessary that animal bo- dies should be endowed with the faculty of producing a degree of heat suited to their na- ture, independent of external circumstances : Hence we see the reason why the degree of heat so seldom varies in the same species of animals. Hov/ever, although the nervous ae-^ ther is always ready for exciting heat by its oscillations ; yet, in order to bring about this effect successfully, external stimuli are neces- sary, otherwise the aether would be in danger of stagnating, which would occasion sleep, a palsy, and, last of all, death. The most per- manent of these stimuli is the pulsation of the arteries ; which is the reason why heat is so connected with the circulation of the blood, Ti'ILLIAM S3IELLIE. 381 and why many authors have mistaken it for the true cause of animal heat. Our author now concludes with observ- ing, " That by his theory, the varieties of heat in different parts of the body, the heat and flushing of the face from shame, and all the other phenomena of heat in animal bodies, admit of a better explanation, than by any other theory hitherto invented.' 5> Having thus given a pretty full account of an attempt to explain the most abstruse operations of nature, as nearly as possible in the very words of the author, we cannot de- ny ourselves the liberty of making a few ob- servations. To give a formal refutation of this au- thors reasoning, is no part of our plan. It is perhaps wrong to say that he has reasoned ; for the whole hypothetical part of his essay is a mere farrago of vague assertions, non-enti- ties, illogical conclusions, and extravagant fancies. His aether seems to be an exceed- ingly tractable sort of substance ; Whenever the qualities of one body differ from those of another, a different modificoAion ofcether at once solves the phenomenon. The sether of iron 382 MEMOIRS OP must not, to be sure, be exactly tbe same with the nervous aether, otherwise it would be in danger of producing sensation in place of magnetism. It would likewise have been very improper to give the vegetable aether ex- actly the same qualities with those of animal aether ; for, in such a case, men would run great risk of striking root in the soil ; and trees and hedges might eradicate and run a- bout the fields. Nothing can be more ludi- crous than to see a writer treating a mere em rationis as familiarly as if it were an object of our senses : The notion of compounding the aether of an acid and that of an alkali^ in or- der to make a neutral of it, is completely ri- diculous. But if men take the liberty of sub- stituting names in place of fads and experi- ments, it is an easy matter to account for any thing. By this method of philosophising, obscuri- ty is for ever banished from the works of na- ture. It is impossible to gravel an aetherial philosopher. Ask him what questions you please, his answer is ready : — As we cannot find the cause any where else ; ergo., by dilem- ma, it must be owing to asther ! For ex- ample, ask one of these sages, What is the cause of gravity ? he will answer, 'Tis aether / WILLIAM SIMELLIE. 383 Ask him the cause of though f, he will gravely reply, The solution of this question was once universally allowed to exceed the limits of human genius : But now, by the grand discoveries we have lately made, it is as plain as that three and two make five : — Thought is a mere mechanical thing, an evident effect of certain motions in the brain produced by the oscillations of a subtile elastic fluid called (lather ! This is indeed astonishing ! Such jargon, however, affords an excellent lesson to the true philosopher. It shows to what folly and extravagance mankind are led, whenever they deviate from experiment and observation in their inquiries into na- ture. No sooner do we leave these only faithful guides to science, than we instantly land in a labyrinth of nonsense and obscuri- ty, the natural punishment of folly and pre- sumption. When endeavouring to account for that propensity in the human mind which prompts us to attempt the solution of things evident- ly beyond our reach, we recollected a pass- age in Swifts works, which explains it in the most satisfactory manner. 38i MEMOIRS OF " Let us next examine (says the Dean) the great introducers of new schemes in phi- losophy, and search till we can find from what faculty of the soul the disposition arises in mortal man, of taking it into his head to advance new systems, with such an eager zeal, in things agreed on all hands im- jiossihle to be Jinown ; from what seeds this disposition springs, and to what quality of human nature these grand innovators have been indebted for their number of disciples ; because it is plain, that several of the chief among them, both ancient and modern, were usually mistaken by their adversaries, and indeed by all except their own followers, to have been persons crazed, or out of their wits ; having generally proceeded, in the common course of their words and actions, by a method very different from the vulgar dictates of unrefined reason ; agreeing, for the most part, in their several models, with their present undoubted successors in the Academy of modern Bedlam. Of this kind were Epicurus, Diogenes, Apollonius, Litcre- iius, Paracelsus, Des Cartes, and others ; who, if they were now in the world, tied fast, and separated from their followers, would, in this undistinguishing age, incur manifest WILLIAM SMELLIE. 385 danger of phlehotomy^ and vjhip.s, and chains^ and dark cha?ubers, and straw. For what man, in the natural state or course of tliinking, did ever conceive it in his power to reduce the notions of all mankind exactly to the same length, and breadth, and height of his own ? Yet this is the first humble and civil design of all innovators in the empire of reason. — Now, I would gladly be informed, how it is possible to account for such imaginations as these in particular men, without recourse to my phe- nomenon of vapours, {i. e, aether) ascending from the lower faculties to overshadow the brain, and there distilling into conceptions, for which the narrowness of our mother- tongue has not yet assigned any other name besides that of madness or phrenzy. Let us therefore novv' conjecture how it comes to pass that none of these great projectors do ever fail providing themselves and their notions witli a number of implicit disciples ; and I think the reason is easy to be assigned. — - For there is a peculiar string in the liar- mony of human understanding, which, in se- veral individuals, is exactly of the same tun- ing. This, if you can dextrously screw up to its right key, and then strike gently upon it, whenever you have the good fortune to light Vol. I. Bb 386 MEMOIRS OF among those of the same pitchy they will, by a secret necessary sympathy, strike exactly at the same time. And in this one circum- stance lies all the skill or luck of the matter : For if you chance to jar the string, among those who are either above or below your own height, instead of subscribing to your doctrine, they will /fe you fast, call you mad., ^nd feed you with bread and wdter. It is there- fore a point of the nicest conduct to distin- guish and adapt this noble talent with respect to the difference o^pej^sons and of times:- — For, to speak a bold truth, it is a fatal miscaf I'iage so ill to order affairs as to pass for difo^l ii^ one company, when in another you might t)e treated as a jihilosopher : which I desire so?nc certain gentlemen of my acquaintance to lay up in their hearts as a very seasonable innuendo'' " We would not have dwelt so long upon this article, had it not been to guard, as far as our influence extends, the minds of those who may be unacquainted with the genuine principles of philosophy, from being led into a wrong tract of investigation." WILLIAM SMELLIE. ,387 I.v the first edition of the Encyclopedia Bn'tann/ca, under the word Abridgement, and as an example of v/hat Mr Smellie then thought to he the best and most useful mode of abridging books, he gave the fol- lowing short views of Mr Hu3ies E.-isay on Miracles, and of Dr Ca.mpbells Aiisiver to it. For similar reasons with those already assigned for reprinting the article on ^ther, that upon Abridgement has been deemed proper to be inserted in these Memoirs. " Abridgement, in literature, a term sig- nifying the reduction of a book into a smaller compass. The art of conveying much senti- ment in few words, is the happiest talent an author can be possessed of. This talent is peculiarly necessary in the present state of literature ; for many writers have acquired the dexterity of spreading a few tritical thoughts over several hundred pages. When an au- thor hits upon a thought that pleases him, he is apt to dwell upon it, to view it in different lights, to force it in improperly, or vyoix the slightest relations. Though this rnay be pleasant to the writer, it tires and vexes the reader. There is another great source of dif- fusion in composition : It is a capital object Bb 1 38 MEMOIRS OF with an author, whatever be the subject, to give vent to all his best thoughts : when he finds a proper place for them, he is pecuhar- ly happy. But rather than sacrifice a thought he is fond of, he forces it in by way of digres- sion, or superfluous illustration. If none of these expedients answer his purpose, he has recourse to the margin, — a very convenient apartment for all manner of pedantry and im- pertinence. There is not an author, however correct, but is more or less faulty in this re« spect. An abridger, however, is not sul)ject to these temptations. The thoughts are not his own : he views them in a cooler and less affectionate manner ; he discovers an impro- priety in some, a vanity in others, and a want of utility in many. His business, there- fore, is to retrench superfluities, digressions, quotations, pedantry, &c. and to lay before the public only what is really useful. This is by no means an easy employment : To abridge some books requires talents equal, if not superior, to those of the author. The facts, spirit, manner, and reasoning, must be preserved; nothing essential, either in argument or il- lustration, ought to be omitted. The difficul- ty of the task is the principal reason why we have so few good abridgements. Wynnes a- WILLIAM SiMELLIE. 389 bridgement of Locke s Essay on the Human Understanding is perhaps the only luiexcep- tionable one in our language. These obser- vations relate solely to such abridgements as are designed for the public. But, When a person wants to set down the subs^lance of any book, a shorter and less la- borious method may be followed. It would be foreign to our plan to give examples of a- bridgements for the public : But, as it may be useful, especially to young people, to know how to abridge books for their own use, after giving a few directions, we shall exhibit an example or two, to show with what ease it may be done. Read the book carefully ; endeavour to learn the principal view of the author ; at- tend to the arguments employed : When you have done so, you will generally find, that what the author uses as new or additional ar- guments are, in reality, only collateral ones, or extensions of the principal argument. Take a piece of paper, or a common-place book, put down what the author wants to prove, subjoin the argum.ent or arguments, and you have the substance of the book in a Bb3 S90 MEMOIRS OF few lilies. For example, in his Essay on Mi- racles, Mr Humes design is to prove, ' That miracles, which have not been the immedi- ate objects of our senses, cannot reasonably be beliveved upon the testimony of others.' Now, his argument, for there happens to be but one, is, — ' That experience, which in some things is variable, in others uniform, is our only guide in reasoning concerning matters of fact. A variable experience gives rise to probability only ; an uniform experience a- niounts to a proof. Our belief of any fact from the testimony of eye-witnesses is deriv- ed from no other principle than our experi- ence in the veracity of human testimony. If the fact attested be miraculous, here arises a contest of two opposite experiences, or proof against proof. Now, a miracle is a violation of the laws of nature ; and as a firm and un- alterable experience has established these laws, the proof against a miracle, from the very nature of the fact, is as complete as any argument from experience can possibly be imagined ; and, if so, it is an undeniable con- sequence, that it cannot be surmounted by any proof whatever derived from human tes- timony. WILLIAJI SMELLIE. 391 In Dr Campbells Dissertation on Miracles, the authors principal aim is to show the falla- cy of Mr HuxMES argument ; which he has done most successfully by another single ar- gument, as follows % ' The evidence arising from human testi- mony is not solely derived from experience : on the contrary, testimony hath a natural in- fluence on belief, antecedent to xperience. The early and unlimited assent given to tes- timony by children gradually contracts as they advance in life : It is, therefore, m .re consonant to truth to say, thai our diffidence in testimony is the result of experience, than that our faith in it has this foundation. Be- sides, the uniformity of experience in fav our of any fact is not a proof agauist its being re- versed in a particular instance. The evi- dence arising from the single testimony of a man of known veracity will go far to establish a belief in its being actually reversed : If his testimony be confirmed by a few others of the same character, we cannot withhold our con- sent to the truth of it. Now, though the o- perations of nature are governed by uniform laws, and though we have not the testimony of our senses in favour of any violation of them, Bb4 892 ME3IOIRS OF still, if, in particular instances, we have the testimony o^ thousands of our fellow-creatures, and those too men of strict integrity, swayed by no motives of ambition or interest, and governed by the principles of common sense, That they were actually eye-witnesses of these violations, — the constitution of our na- ture obliges us to believe them.' These two examples contain the sub- stance of about -^00 pages. Making private abridgements of this kind has many advan- tages : It engages us to read with accuracy and attention ; it fixes the subject in our minds ; and, if we should happen to forget, instead of reading the books again, by glan- cing a few lines, we are not only in possession of the chief arguments, but recall, in a good measure, the author's manner and method." In the year 1773, in conjunction with the celebrated Gilbert Stuart, L L. D. Mr S^iEi-LiE engaged in a new monthly periodi- cal work, entitled TJie Edinburgh Maga::ine and Review. The first number was, published about the middle of October 1773 ; and the work was WILLIAM SMELLIE. 393 conducted for some years with great spirit, much display of talent, and conspicuous me- rit. It would assuredly have succeeded, to the satisfactory emolument of its proprietors, and the lasting fame of its conductors, if its management had heen entirely committed to the calm, judicious, and conciliatory control of Mr SxMELLiE. But, owing to the harsh ir- ritability of temper, and the severe and almost indiscriminate satire in which Dr Gilbert Stuart indulged, several of the Reviews which appeared in that Magazine gave great offence to many leading characters of the day, which occasioned the sales to become so much diminished as to render it a losing concern to the adventurers, insomuch that it was dis- continued on the publication of the number for August 1776, after the production of 47 numbers, forming^i;e octavo volumes. Few periodical publications of a miscella- neous nature have ever been conducted with more talent, genius, and spirit ; perhaps none with less judicious consideration of the cir- cumstances and opinions of the time and place in which it appeared. In both of these attri- butes of excellence and defect, it was emi- 394 MEMOIRS OF neiitly beholden to Dr Stuart. Possessed of excellent talents and much literary taste, which had been cultivated by a most liberal and extensive education, his genius and spi- rit, conscious of superior powers and attain- ments, were bold and regardless almost of every consideration of prudence or discretion. If he had regulated his exertions in the con- duct of this Magazine and Review by a simi- lar calm suavity of mind and manners with that which ever adhered to his literary coad- jutor Mr Smellie, in every difficult}^, and through many trying situations, the success of this adventure nuist have been secure, and, in the present day, could not have failed of being brilliant. But Dr Stuart was a disap- pointed man : thwarted in his early prospects of establishment in life, through the natural and necessary consequences of his own rash and imprudent conduct, he became indig- nantly hostile against others for the indispen- sible effects of his own improprieties. In the gratification of Lis misplaced resentments, he carelessly ruined the cherished offspring of his own conceptions ; which, under judicious management, must have grown to giant strengLli, and splendid fame and fortune. WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 395 Without attempting to institute a com- parison between the Edinburgh Magazine and Review and the present unexampledly suc- cessful periodical publications of Edinburgh ; it may be proper to adduce the introductory address of that former Magazine, as a model of elegant and excellently appropriate com- position ; and the assertion may be safely ha- zarded, That, if it had been conducted on the principles there developed, and which Dr Stuart and Mr Smelue were perfectly qua- lified to have acted up to, that work would have had few rivals, and fewer superiors. To the Public, " There has not hitherto appeared in Scot- land a periodical publication which has been conducted with liberal views and on an exten- sive plan. Schemes, partial and imperfect, have been formed, and have been carried into execution, without even the merit of which they were capable. These could not be con- tinued with success among a people remark- able for the purity of their taste and the so- lidity of their understanding. Many works, accordingly, of this nature have been drop^ o96 MEMOIRS OF ped ; and of those of them which still are published, it cannot be said, by their warm- est partizans, that they awaken curiosity, or are worthy of applause. But, from the imperfections of former at- tempts, some instructive lessons may be learn- ed. They evince the difficulty of such publica- tions ; they point out the dangers to be avoid- ed ; and they ought to excite to greater vi- gour of execution. These circumstances have not escaped the undertakers of the present work. They have remarked the obstacles they have to encounter, and have endeavoured to put themselves in a situation to surmount them. Nor is it chiefly from their own resources and their own preparation that they hope for the public favour and encouragement : They have secured the correspondence of many re- spectable and ingenious men in different quar- ters of the kingdom ; and several authors of high and approved merit have given the pro- mise of occasional aid. The great object of the plan they have adopted is Variety. To be generally useful and ent«rrtaining, they mean to suit them- selves to readers of every dtnomination.lt WILLIAM SMELLIE. 397 is not solely their intention to paint the manners and the fashions of the times, to in- terest the passions, and to wander in the re- gions of fancy. They propose to blend in- struction with amusement ; to pass from light and gay effusions to severe disquisition ; to mingle erudition with wit ; and to con- trast the wisdom and the folly of men. They wish equally to allure and to please the stu- dious and the grave ; the dissipated and the idle. To the former they may suggest mat- ter for reflection and remark ; into the lat- ter they may infuse the love of knowledge ; and to both, they may afford a not inelegant relaxation and amusement. Under one division of their work, they will present historical anecdotes and details, state papers, singular characters and inscrip- tions, extraordinary adventures, and facts and relations descriptive of mankind in the different stages of civilization and refine- ment ; they will record useful projects and inventions, improvements in agriculture and manufactures, the proceedings of the British Parliament, interesting decisions of the courts of justice, and remarkable cases in surgery and medicine ; and they will com- 398 MEMOIRS OF mimicate researches into antiquity, strictures on the theatre, essays on curious topics of literature, memoirs of distinguished person- ages, ."^elect and original pieces of poetry, and discoveries and views in all the different branches of philosophy and science. The other division of their undertaking will include an account of the more capital literary performances which appear in Eng- land, and of every new production which is published in Scotland. In the reports which they are to offer concerning the merit of the different authors who shall fall under their observation, they will conduct themselves with candour and impartiality. While they ascertain the advances of knowledge, they will endeavour to encourage the pursuit of it ; and it will be much more agreeable to them to commend than to blame. They will pronounce their opinions with freedom, but will not stoop to indulge in ill nature or in satire. Their commendation will be tinctured with no malicious reserve, and their censure will not rise into petulance or acri- mony. To procure the public approbation, they will be studious to deserve it. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 399 Actuated by honourable motives, they have become candidates for the pubhc fav- our ; but, if it shall be found that they are imequal to the task they have imposed on themselves, they will not obstinately persist to solicit attention. They will listen with deference to the general opinion that is formed of their undertaking, and of their abi- lity to execute it ; and they will know from its tenor, whether they are to continue to deserve respect and encouragement ; or, whether tliey are to relinquish an attempt, to which their ambition had taught them too fondly to aspire." By the contract of copartnery, the part- ners in the Edinburgh Magazine and Review were, the late Alexander Kincaid, Esq. his Majestys printer and stationer for Scot- land, a most vrortliy and respectable book- seller, who died in the olfice of Lord Provost or Chief Magistrate of Ediiiburgii, in Janu- ary 1778; Mr William Ckeech, his part- ner in the bookselling business ; Gilbert Stuart, Doctor of Laws ; the late Wiillam Kerr, Esq. surveyor of the General Post Office for Scotland ; and Mr William Smel- LiE : And the foUowmg is an abstract of the 400 MEMOIRS OF conditions of their agreement, taken from the original corrected scroll copy. 1. The v/hole to be formed and conducted by Dr Stuart, who engaged to furnish the press with copy. 2. The paper to be supplied by Messrs KiNCAiD and Creech, who were to be al- lov/ed the price out of the proceeds of sale. 3. The printing to be performed by Mr Smellie, who was to be paid at the ordinary rates out of the sales ; — who was regularly to compile the last half sheet of every num- ber, to consist of foreign and domestic oc- currences, or the news department, and other articles ; — to keep the accounts of ^the con- cern ; — to answer all letters relative to the concern ; — and to review certain articles, as should be agreed upon between him and Dr Stuart. 4. Mr Kerr engaged to give every assist- ance consistent with the duties and privileges of his official situation, in advancing the in- terests of the concern ; for which purpose only he seems to have been invited to be- come a partner, as his share was to cease on the event of his death or demission from of- fice. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 401 0. The profits, divided into six shares, were to he thus distributed among the part- ners: One to Messrs Kincaid and Creech conjunctly ; one each to Mr Kerr, Dr Stuart, and Mr Smellie ; and two, under the idea of copy-money, to Dr Stuart and Mr Smellie, as authors and conductors, to be divided between them as they might agree. In the conduct of the Edinburgh Maga- zine and Review, the whole of the article History, or News, as already mentioned, was confided to the sole management of Mr S.mellie ; besides which he wrote several essays for the Magazine part, but which these were cannot now be ascertained. He gave a copy of this work to his son, on which he had marked with his initials all those Re- views of his writing which he thought proper to acknowledge. These w^ere : 1. Kameses Sketches of the History of Man, Art. HI. 2. A small part of Lord Monhoddo on the ' Origin and Progress of Language. Vol. L Co 402 3IEM0IRS OF 3. Revelation, the most effectual means of civilizing and reforming mankind ; a sermon, by Robert Henry, D. D. 1773. 4. Worihingtons Scripture Theory of the Earth, 1771. 5. The Druids Monument, a tribute to the memory of Dr Goldsmith, by the Author of the Cave of Morar, 1774. 6. Considerations on the Broad-cloth Ma- luifacture, 1774. 7. Buffons Natural History, in French, 1774. 8. Goldsmiths History of the Earth and Animated Nature, 1775. 9. Pringles Discourse on the Torpedo, 1775. 10. Hamiltons Observations on IVIount Ve- suvius, 1775 11.- Essays on Agriculture, by a Farmer. 1775. 12. Dr Hardys Sermon before the Com> missioner, 1775. 13. Jenkinsons Botany, 1775. 14. Harrises Philosophical Arrangements, 1775. 15. Clark on the Shoeing of Horses, 1775. 16. Boutcher on Forest Trees, 1775. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 403 17. Cockburns Collection, 1775. 18. Martt/iis Elements of Natural History, 1775. 19. i^o^e^ Elements of Botany, 1775. 20. Lines on the Muscles, 1775. 21. Hamiltons Practice of Midwifery, 1775 ; and several others which he did not chuse to be known. The limits of the present work preclude any extended account of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, except so far as Mr Smellie was concerned in its composition and success ; yet it may not be unaccept- able to the Public to see a list of the Re- viewers, with the principal works which they respectively reviewed, and of such authors as furnished essays in the Magazine depart- ment, with the titles of their Essavs. This account has been likewise made up from the copy marked by Mr Smellie for the use of his son, as already mentioned. Dr Gilbert Stuart reviewed as follows : Hawkesworths Voyages. — Animadversions on Mr Adams Grammar, by Jo. Rich. Bush- by, assisted by his father George Stuart, — - Remarks on the History of Scotland, by Sir Co 2 401 MEMOIRS OF David Dalrijmph'. — Chapiuaus Treatise on Education. — Wight on Election Laws.— Ar- ch^eoiogia, published by the Society of Anti- quaries of London. — -Lelamh History of Ireland. — Institutes of Moral Philosoj)hy, by /)?• Adam Ferguson.- — Henrys History of Great Britain. — Howards Siege of Tanior. — An Address to the Citizens of Edinburgh, rela- tive to the Management of Herriots Hospi- tal, by a free Burgess. — Guihries Geogra- phical Grammar. Richardsons Poems. Kameses Sketches, only a part of it. — Origin and Progress of Languages, only vol. III. '. — Gregorys Legacy to his Daughters. — Rich- ardsons Analysis of Shakespeare. — Carstairs State Papers, by Jos. M^Cormick, D. D. — Whitakers History of Manchester. — Dr Dun- can, minister of Smallholm, on Infidelity.—- Wart oris History of EnHish Poetry. — The Graliam, an heroic Ballad, by Dr Black- lock,— ^GerardsEss^ij on Genius. — Helvetiuses Child of Nature. — 3I'Laurins Decisions in Criminal Cases. — Perry s Arithmetic. — Aikens Life of Agricola. — Andersons History of France. — The History of A?-saces, Prince of Betlis. — Macphersons History of Great Bri- tain. — Religious Correspondence, in a series of letters toaLady. — Twrne^ Travels through WILLIA3I SiMELLIE. 405 Portugal and Spain. — De Lolme on the Con- stitution of England. — Moirs Vade Mecaui,, as:^isted by his father George Stuart. — Jus^ tamonds Translation of Abbe Resnals History. — Craigs Sermons — An Essay on Nothing. — Annals of Scotland, bv Sir David Dal^ rymple. — Huherti Langueti Epistolag, &c. accurante D. Dalrymple de Hades, Esq. — Gibbons Decline and Fall of the Roman Em- pire. — Voltaires Young James, or the Sage and the Atheist. — Tophams Letters on the Diversions, &c. of the Scots. — Pennants Tour in Scotland, &c. 2. Dr Gilbert Stuart wrote the following Essays : The Introduction to the Public. — Anec- dotes of Scottish Literature. — A Constitu- tional Tract. — Character of Mary Queen of Scots. — A short Memoir of Principal Car- stairs. — A Sermon. — A Memoir of George Buchanan, — Memoir of Dr Pitcairn. — Anec- dotes of Laura and Petrarque. — Memoir of the Admirable Crichton. — Character of John Knox. — Character of George Drummond, Esq. &:c. 3. Professor William Baron reviewed the following books ; C c 3 406 MEMOIRS OF His own Essay on the Plough. — De Luc on the Barometer, &c. — Ogilvie on Compo- sition. — Walkers Sermons, vol. II. — Simpsons Elements of Conic Sections. — Sermon by the Reverend R. Walker, preached before the Governors of the Orphan Hospital. — Baillies Letters and Journals. — Glenies History of Gunnery. — Rev. Dr John Erskines Discourse, " Shall I go to war with my American bre- thren ?" — Campbells Philosophy of Rhetoric, &c. 4. Reverend Dr Thomas BlacMock review- ed as follows : A Treatise of Modern Falconry, by James Campbell, Esq. — A New System of CathoHc Theology. — Poems, by the Author of the Sentimental Sailor. Beatties Minstrel. — Downmans Infancy. Priestleys Institutes. — Priestleys Remarks on Dr Reids Inquiry, &c. Hartleys Theory of the Mind. The Lusiad ; or, The Discovery of India ; an E- pic Poem. — Remarks on Dr Prices Observa- tions. — Remarks on a Pamphlet lately pub- lished by Dr Price, &c. Dr Blacklocks Essays. — Advantages of a Classical Education. — On the Education of the Bhnd. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 407 5. Reverend A. Gillies reviewed as follows : Monboddos Origin and Progress of Lan- guage, the greater part of it. — Gihbs Display of the Secession Testimony, &c. Rev. A, Gillies wrote the following Essay, A modest Defence of Blasphemy. 6. The Rev. Mr Nimmo wrote the Essay on the Antiquities of Stirlingshire, which he afterwards extended into an octavo volume. 7. Professor Richardson of Glasgow review- ed, Life of Dr Alexander Monro, senior, by his son Dr Donald Monro. Professor Richardsons Essays. — Adventures of Omar. — On the Tragedy of Macbeth. — The Indians, a Tale, &c. In its embellishments, the engravings in the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, which indeed were only attempted in the first and second volumes, are much below mediocrity, yet, as containing portraits of several distin- guished Scots characters, faithfully copied from authentic originals, they merit being enumerated: To all of these biographical Cc 4 408 - MEMOIRS OF sketches are added by the pen of Dr Gilbert Stuart. 1. Mary Queen of Scots, toierably copied from an engraving by Vertue, in vol. i. facing p. 57. 2. W'dUam Carstairs^ S. T. P. Principal of the University of Edinburgh, vol. i. p. 113. 3. Duncan Forbes^ of Culloden, Lord Pre- sident of the Court of Session, vol. i. p. 183. 4. Mr George Buchanan, the celebrated Latin poet and historian, vol. i. p. 245. 5. Alexander Monro, sen. M. D. F. R. S. late Professor of Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh, vol. i. p. 303. 6. Archibald Fiicairne, M. D. vol. i. p. 361. 7. John Arbnihnot, M. D. vol. ii. p. 417. 8. The Admirable Crichton, vol. ii. p. 465. 9. John Knox, the celebrated Reformer, vol. ii. p. 517. 10. George Drummond, Esq. Lord Provost of Edinburgh, vol. ii. p. 580, During the subsistence of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, Dr Gilbert Stu- art wrote a very severe attack on the Ele- ments of Criticism by Lord Kames, which he transmitted to Mr Smellie for insertion WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 409 ill the Review. But, in this instance, Mr Smellie successfully counteracted the inten- tions of his colleague, by altering the whole into a totally opposite tendency, converting the far greater part from harsh invective into reasonable and merited panegyric, in which guise the review was actually printed. On the day of publication, Dr Stuart came to inquire at the printing-office " if the was damned ;" using a gross term which he usually indulged in when he had censured an author. Mr Sjiellie told him what he had done ; and put a copy of the altered re- view into his hands. After reading the two or three introductory sentences, he fell down on the floor, apparently in a fit ; but on coming to himself again, he good naturedly said, " William, after all, I beheve you have done right." A PRINCIPAL cause of the failure of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review was de- rived from the harsh and unmannerly treat- ment of a work entitled, Of the Origin and Progress of Language, the favourite em- ployment of the late learned, worthy, and respectable Judge in the Court of Session, James Burnett, Lord Monboddo ; which, 410 MEMOIRS OF owing to some iinfortuaately facile deferences to authority, and perhaps to certain mistaken biasses to a favourite theory, Dr Stuart and the Reverend A. Gillies anatomized and tortured without remorse, and perhaps much be ond reason. That we are correct in this idea of the in- jury sustained by the Edinburgh Magazine and Review by this unprovoked and unne- cessary severe attack on Lord Mokboddo, the following extract of a letter from the late respectable and experienced London bookseller, Mr John Murray, in Fleet-street, to Mr Smellie, is a sufficient proof. Mr Murray was London publisher to the Edin- burgh Magazine and Review : Perhaps it would have been of material benefit to the success of the concern if he had been a part- ner. Dear Ssiellie, I am sorry for the defeat you have met with. Had you praised Lord Monboddo, instead of damning him, it would not have happened. Yours, &c. J. Murray. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 411 It may perhaps appear singular, however, that ahiiost immediately after the failure of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, Dr Gilbert Stuart was invited up to Lon- don, and employed by Mr Murray as con- ductor of a new Review at London, called the English Review. Mr Murrray, who was himself a very good judge of literary powers, could not be ignorant of those pos- sessed by Dr Stuart, which he probably believed himself able to regulate within the bounds of decorous prudence ; no very easy task ; and he certainly knew that London was a wide field for literary knight-errantry, which could not be then endured in Edin- burgh. For the following account of the intimacy between Mr Smellie and Lord Monboddo, we are indebted to a respectable gentleman, long an inmate in the family of that learn- ed Judge. — Mr Smellie was well known to the late Lord Monboddo of the Court of Session, and used to be a frequent visitor at what his Lordship, with much propriety, used to call his learned suppers. In imitation of the ancients, for whom he professed an enthusiastic attachment, Lord Monboddo 412 ME3I0IRS OF always made supper his principal meal, and his regular time of entertaining his friends. These learned suppers used to take place once a fortnight during the sitting of the Courts ; and among the usual guests were the late Dr Black, Dr Hutton, Dr Hope, Dr Walker, Mr Smellie, and other men of science and learning, of whom Edinburgh at that time furnished an ample store. Besides these set parties, Mr Smellie was often in- vited to a private supper by Lord Mox- BODDo ; who was always anxious to see him when any part of his Lordships works or studies happened to relate to Natural His- __tory, the favourite pursuit of Mr Smellie. On these occasions, the conversation was pe- culiarly interesting ; as each expressed his Uiibiassed sentiments with unreserved free- dom. Though nothing but harmony pre- vailed for the most part, yet a little collision of Opinion sometimes occurred, but this was only momentary. Tiie llrst meeting between Lord MoNBOJ^Do and Mr Saiellie, after the Review of Harrises Philosophical Arrange- ments m the Edinburgh Magazine and Ue- view was particularly interesting. How his Lcrdsiiip felt on this occasioL*, \viil appear from the Preface to the third volume of the WILLIAM S3IELL1E. 413 Origin and Progress of Language, which appeared not long afterwards, and gave an- other opportunity for the Reviewers to at- tack his Lordship ; and they according open- ed their whole artillery upon him on this oc- casion. 0.\ occasion of this review, however, the cri- tics themselves fell into a capital hlunder. In the interpretation of a passage of Dionysius of Halycarnassus on Composition, which Lord MoivBODDO had quoted in the work then under their review, by unaccountably having recourse to the Latin translation, not of Hudson, for he has rendered the pas- sage without ambiguity, but to some older editor, who had rendered a Greek expression by what is called in Latin the ablative abso- lute, and therefore left to the judgment of the reader the application of this disjointed Latin construction, either to what precedes or what follows, as he thinks best. The re- viewers had the misfortune to apply this ablative the wrong way : and by this means converted their own hlunder into a matter of triumph over the reputed knowledge of Lord MoNBODDo in Greek and Latin. 414 MEMOIRS OP It is a certain fact, that these severe criti- cisms on the Origin and Progress of Lan- guage were the cause of the downfall of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review ; and Mr SiMELLiE very candidly acknowledged this to Lord MoNBODDo, whose friendship and at- tachment to his learned printer continued uninterrupted till the death of Mr Sjiellie, notwithstanding the continual and illiberal abuse of his Lordships works, which issued from Mr Smellies press. Mr Smellie used sometimes to read his juvenile essays to Lord Monboddo, who was much amused and delighted by them ; parti- cularly with his Theory of Sleep and Dream- ing, and with what he called his Tangible Theory, which was a curious Essay on Shak- ing Hands, &c. Many very severe criticisms appeared in the Edinburgh Magazine and Review against the Origin and Progress of Language ; but none of them gave the ingenious and rather paradoxical author nearly so much uneasiness as the following paragraph at the end of a Review of the Philosophical Arrangements by Harris, which was written by Mr Smel- lie. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 415 " Upon the whole, Mr Harris, even in his present volume, with all its imperfections, has an elevation of sentiment that rises ahove the ordinary reach of mere classical scholars. He may he considered as a singu- lar exception to a general and well founded observation, that those who have been re- markable for their skill in Greek and Latin have seldom discovered a good taste, or any- talents for p/iilosophical discussion. He gives a value to classical learning, imknown alike to the pedant and the j^^dagogue. He tires not his reader with verbal criticism ; and it will not be disputed, that his efforts tend to illustrate the dark glimmerings of ancient philosophy." Lord Monboddo took the allusions of this paragraph in great dudgeon, as levelled against himself particularly ; and often teazed Mr Smellie ineffectually to inform him who was the author of this offensive review, in warding off' which inquiries, Mr Smellie was often put to considerable difficulty. In the year 1773, the late laborious and ingenious Dr Henry, then one of the mini- sters of Edinburgh, brought out the second 416 MEMOIRS OP vokinie of his History of Great Britain. Dr Hei\ry applied on this occasion to the late celebrated David Hume, earnestly entreat- ing him to write an account of that volume for the Review in the Edinburgh Magazine ; Mr Hume consented to gratify his wishes. When the manuscript appeared, and was read to the club of reviewers, the praises it contained were considered so overstrained, as to have been actually meant by Mr Hume to burlesque the author. It was therefore committed to the farther consideration of one of their number, who still continued of the same opinion, and who accordingly rais- ed the encomiums to so high a pitch of ex- travagance, that no person could possibly have mistaken the meaning of the reviewer. In this state of exaltation, a proof was sent to Mr Hume for his perusal and corrections ; who, to the astonishment of the members, sent them an angry letter, complaining loud- ly of the freedoms they had used with his manuscript, and declaring that he was per- fectly sincere in the account which he had given of Dr Henrys History. Upon this Mr HuxMEs altered review was cancelled ; and a new one was written by a member of the society, condemning the book in terms per- WILLIAM SMELLIE. 417 haps too severe ; so that Mr Hu.ues inten- tion of serving Dr Henry proved not only ahortive, but was the occasion of inducing a severe criticism on his work. liX the course of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, a person took it into his head to pubhsh a book on Falconry ; but found him- self unable to write a preface, and applied to Mr S-AiELLiE for assistance, who accordingly wrote a preface for him, in which he turned the whole work into complete ridicule. The poor Falconer thought the preface a perfect masterpiece, and prefixed it to his work ex- actly as written by Mr Sjiellie. It was afterwards reviewed in the Edinburgh Ma- gazine and Review in the most whimsical and ridiculous style, which effectually put the sale of the book to a stand. In the review, the pre- face is particularly taken notice of. This trans- action occasioned the following letter to Mr Smellie from the Reverend A. Gillies, a gentleman of great abilities, one of the first rate reviewers in that Magazine, and author of an essay in the same publication, Avhinisi- cally entitled a Modest Defence of Blasphemy. The letter has no date, but must have been written before the appearance ^' the review of the Treatise on Falconr^ ^ m the number Vol. I. D d 418 MRxMOIRS OF for October 1773, vol. i. p. 92. That re- view was drawn up by the late v/orthy and ingenious Dr Blacklock. No. LXXVL The Rev A. Gillies to i^ir Willia3i S3iellie. My Dear Sir, No date. Nothing was ever more happily descrip- tive. You have hit off our ancient falconer inculpably well. I see him in the back apartment, rejoicing at his prospect of ap- pearing as an author. Alas ! the ^vorld is plenteous in disappointments, and amazingly bountiful too in bestowing them. He ima- gined his work, luckless wight ! among the necessaries of life. How can it but grieve him, to see people set at least an equal value upon bread and butter ? He is now con- vinced that the half is, on some occasions, greater than the whole. The agonies of his balked avarice wring his heart ; and, to com- plete his distress, his vanity is also stabbed. It would go to your very soul to survey his prolix melancholy countenance. You would WILLIAM SMELLIE. 419 imagine he had been jast bereft by lightning of a wife and nine small children ; sad cala- mity ! I am naturally compassionate, and of- fer him consolation now and then, as thus : *• Sir, let not this misfortune prey upon your vitals. The affair is not so deplorable as you fancy. Consider, I beseech you, that the honour of being called an author is a cheap acquisition, at the trifling loss in which that title has involved you. Never was there a greater author. You are the only man in the realm who can boast of a li- brary of above five hmidred volumes, ail of your own composition ! Think of that. Sir, and be happy." He growls, " Sink the ho- nour ! I want profit," and so refuses to be comforted. I HAVE seen your proposals for a new Ma- gazine ; and, as you are concerned in it, my hopes of its success are very sanguine. The effusions of your own humour, if you have leisure to write, will afford matter of endless laughter. Such a Magazine is a right thing in our country. The Scotch have sense enough to instruct, and wit enough to di- vert one another : and you give them a cre- ditable way of shev/ing both. Thus the Dd2 420 MEMOIRS OF flimsy, friyoloLis tilings that come from Lon- don, to steal o'jr money and vitiate our taste, will remain in the land of their nativi- ty- The stated period of publishing such com- pile ments is, perhaps, hurtful to their repu- tation. You may not always be fortunate enough to furnish a monthly collection of clever original pieces. When necessity com- pels you to give your readers dull things, they lose all patience, and the character of your work sinks. What if you advertised you should publish sooner or later just as you have exquisite materials ? The idea is full of respect for the public, and therefore catching. There is one way, but I dare not recommend it, of making the three kingdoms your customers. The undertakers of the Town and Country Magazine discovered much knowledge of human degeneracy, when they fell upon the idea of their tete-a-tetes. Your general invective against vice excite no curiosity ; nor is the matter much mend- ed by conjuring up profligate phantoms, such as Damons and Celias My Lord K — t, or my Lady P — s : Actual, existing, industri- ous sinners : That is the thing ! This sort of WILLIAM SBIELLIE. 421 biography is wonderfully taking. 'Tis true, all the world will call you a confounded slanderous fellow ; but, mind me, all the world will buy your slanders. You may look grave, and allege the reformation of in- dividuals is your design. Ah, ha, ha ! If I have any thing candid for your use, you shall have it. Yours, &c. A. Gillies. In consequence of the virulent severity of attack upon the Origin and Progress of Language, great offence, as has been already observed, was taken by many respectable persons at the manner in which the Review connected with the Edinburgh Magazine was carried on. Of this we have a specimen in the following correspondence on the sub- ject, which took place between Mr Smellie and John Maclaurin, Esq. of Dreghorn, the son of the celebrated mathematician, CoLiiV Maclaurin, who was elected to the Mathematical Professorship in the Universi- ty of Edinburgh on the recommendation of the immortal Newton. Mr John Maclau- rin was an excellent lawyer, and became a Dd3 422 MEMOIRS OF respectable Judge in the Court of Session, under the title of Lord Dreghorn. No. LXXVIL From John Maclaurin, Esq. to. Mr Wil- liam Smellie. Edinhurgh, 17th November 1776. Mr Maclaurins compliments to Mr Smel- X.IE, has just now paid his account for the Edinburgh Review from No. xv. to No. xxxiii. but desires that no more numbers be sent to him, for a reason which he imagine^ will be easily guessed by Mr Smellie. No. LXXVIIL From Mr William Smellie to John Maclaurin, Esq. Advocate. Sir, Edinburgh, ISth November 1116. As I have a very high respect for your opinion, the card you were pleased to write WILLIAM SMELLIE. 423 me yesterday has given me much anxiety. After rev^olving every circumstance, I find myself unable to discover any thing in my conduct that could ever have a tendency to displease you. In these circumstances, you will forgive me for expressing a desire to learn in what particular I may have inadvertently offended you, that I may have an opportuni- ty of making every reparation in my power. I am, &c. William Smellie. No. LXXIX. To Mr William Smellie ^w/t John Mac- LAURIN, Esq. Sir, No date. I Afli extremely sorry that the brevity of my card, which was owing to my being in a hurry when I wrote it, has led you to ima- gine that it proceeded from any dissatisfac- tion with you personally. That could not be the case, as I have not the pleasure of your acquaintance. I long ago intended to have written such a card to Mr Creech, but it Dd4 421 MEMOIRS OF went out of my head. My reason, and my only reason, for giving up the Review is the shocking scurrihty and abuse in the late ar- tides of it concerning Lord Monboddos book. I differ in opinion in many things from his Lordsliip, yet I highly disapprove of the manner in which he has been treated by the reviewers ; and every gentleman with whom I have talked upon the subject is of the same way of thinking. I therefore thought it my duty to discourage that work as far as I can. From the character which you bear, I am, with much regard. Sir, &c. John Maclaurin, No. LXXX. From Mr William Smellie to John Mac- laurin, Esq. giRj No date. Your second letter gives me pleasure pro- portioned to the pain excited by your first. I am unwilling to trouble you in a matter in which you have no interest : but the polite attention you have shown me on this occa- WILLIAM SMELLIE. 425 sion encourages me to hope for your indul- gence while I communicate a few thoughts in as short bounds as I can. Your resentment against the abuse of my Lord MoNBODDos book is just, and is found- ed on the principles of humanity and genuine criticism. Such has been the unfortunate situation of the proprietors of the Edinburgh Review, that they were often under the dis- agreeable necessity of printing and publishing many things which were utterly repugnant both to their judgment and to their feelings. With respect to my Lord Monboddo, for whom, both as a gentleman and a man of learning, I entertain the most respectful re- gard, Mr Creech and I remonstrated and pled, in the strongest terms, against the re- view of his second volume. When I saw the manuscript of the review of his third volume, I was most uncommonly shocked. I reason- ed, I intreated, for a change in the whole te- nor of it. But all the success I obtained was the alteration of a few words, which were still more indelicate and improper than the many- harsh and ungentlemany expressions it con- tains. As to Mr Creech, I declare with 426 MEMOIRS OF truth, that he never saw a word of it till the copies went to his shop for sale. After perceiving that no change is now likely to be produced, either by reasoning or by intreaty, I have at last resolved to give up my concern in this paper, purely from the personal abuse that has been poured out upon Lord MoNBODDo, Dr Henry, and some others. In this resolution I am joined by Mr Creech and Mr Elliot. Pardon t?iis intrusion. It gives me some consolation that I have thus been accidental- ly led to declare my sentiments to a gentle- man of your character and disposition ; espe- cially as I shall perhaps, some time or other, thmk it necessary to communicate them to the public. I am, Sir, &c. William Smellie. Mr Charles Elliot, mentioned in the foregoing letter as concerned in the Edin- burgh Magazine and Review, was some time ago a very spirited and successful bookseller in Edinburgh, who acquired a share of the adventure on the death of Mr Kinc.\id. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 42T In consequence of the general dissatisfac- tion of the public at the improper conduct of Dr Stuart and others in carrying on the Edin- burgh Magazine and Review, and the failure of sales, it was at length determined to be discontinued ; and this was announced at the close of the number for August 1776, which seems to have been published about the 18th or 19th of that month. " *#* The publishers have to inform the numerous and respectable encouragers of this work, that the publication of it must be dis- continued for some months. It will after- wards appear in an improved form ; and pro- per notice will be given of the changes that are intended to be made." From the two subsequent letters it will ap- pear, that, so early as August 1774, two years before the discontinuance of the Edin- burgh Magazine and Review, an intention had been started of separating the Review de- partment from the Edinburgh Magazine, and publishing them as entire distinct concerns ; and to have superadded a newspaper to th^ 428 MEMOIRS OF literary adventure. But as hardly any me- morials remain of this project, any farther than as contained in these letters, they are left to speak for themselves, without any com- mentary, except that this plan was never car- ried into execution, and does not seem to have proceeded any farther than this corre- spondence. No. LXXXI. To 3Ir WlLLIA3I SMELLIEyroWi Dv GlLBERT Stuart. No date, — hut must have Dear Bill, been in August 1774. Inclosed is Murrays letter, which you will consider attentively, and send me the re- sult, that I may write to him. That was to have been done by Creech and you, but has not yet been thought of by either. The bu- siness we are about to engage in is too seri- ous to be trilled with. '* ******** I. It appears to me perfectly obvious that without a partner in London, we cannot pos- WILLI A3I SI\IELLIE. 429 sibly be supplied with books. And on our speedy supply of them the whole success of the Avork must depend. Murray seems ftdly apprized of the pains and attention that are necessary, has literary connexions, and is fond of the employment ; let him. therefore be the London proprietor. II. I FORESEE that the labour which will rest upon you and me, in the event of this undertaking, will be immense in itself, and will be made more troublesome than it is na- turally, by your having too much to do. * * # # # # There must therefore be some per- son in Edinburgh on whom we can fully rely, and who, on a moments notice, can buckle to work and do his business expeditiously. Such a person is Blasphemy Gillies*; and that he may be acquired is, I think, obvious from the present poorness of his situation. Another reason calls strongly for his presence, or that of some person like him : — The esta- blishment of our newspaper will require a great deal of attention, and one man in par- ticular to look after it as a whole. It is easy * This ci;ithot was given liim on account of an essay bo wrote for the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, entitled A Jlodcst Di> ifenco of Blaspheni}'. 430 ]\IE3iOlRS OP to fabricate essays ; but it is not easy to at- tend to all the minute circumstances neces- sary in the conduct of a paper. The former I can manage here ; the latter is out of my power to manage ; and that they must both be managed you will allow. I hold it then as perfectly obvious, that the presence of Gil- lies is absolutely requisite. The next question is, How can we afford him an establishment ? Let the shares in the Review be six ; one for yourself, one for Creech, one for Murray, one for Gillies, and two for the conductor. Let the shares in the Newspaper be five ; and let two of these go to Gillies. Let him receive for his re- views at the rate of two guineas per sheet* ; and, lastly, let him receive L.30 per annum as your corrector. Let this agreement be lasting, while Gil- lies chuses to continue in Edinburgh and to act for the interests of the several works ; and when his situation leads him from us, let him have an equivalent from the works esta- • The modern Edinburgh Review gives L. 10. 10s. per printed sheet ; so much has the value of literature in a commercial light become enhanced since 1774. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 131 blished, in proportion to their annual sale, and to the trouble he has expended. All this is fair and genteel ; and I know not any other way of acting with a gentleman. III. Consider and weigh all these things with yourself ; and, having done so, write me your sentiments ; and send me the scroll of a letter to Gillies, proposing to him all these things ; and be expeditious, for before this is settled we cannot write to Murray fuilv. IV. If I receive your letters to-morrow, they may be sent off the day after. Shut yourself up for two hours after supper. Be explicit and full ; and, in the mean time, let me know what books ai'e sent off, besides Harwood and the Child of Nature-, which, by the bye, might have been sent off three full weeks ago, as they have been so long in your possession. As to the introductory paragraph about an extract fromJvAMEs, I wrote you fully about it ten days ago ; and it is a pain to me to write fifty times on the same subject. It is odd that you will rather give one incessant trouble tban keep a book of transactions, or lay asid^ the letters you receive with copy 4S2 MEMOIRS OF inclosed. The extract from Katies is laid aside to make way for extracts from Pennant, which are more popular. Explain to ^*--*'**, who is by this time in town, the ridiculousness of his behaviour. It would seem that his servants are perfect idiots, and that he trusts to them. If I were in his place, and a servant once neglect- ed to do what I had ordered him, he should never receive from me a second order. The Scots Magazine will not be refused, because there are many volumes. Let it be packed in parcels of ten volumes each. Stirlingshire and other copy you shall receive in proper time. Let us wait a little, to catch any thing popular that may be sent. Yours, &c. Gilbert Stuart. No. LXXXII Mr John Murray to Dr Gilbert Stuart. Dear Sir, London, 3d. August 1774. I AM favoured with yours of the 28th ; and I approve of the scheme you mention to be in WILLIAM SMELLIE, 433 agitation, of undertaking a Review by itself. I was always of opinion that the Edinburgh Magazine and Review would have done better without the Magazine part ; and it will not sell the worse when you deprive it of that ap- pendage. But, although I like your idea of a Re- view by itself, it has some difliculties to over- come in its establishment, which I shall just run over as they occur to me. 17710, You will consider that there does not appear to be sale at present in England for two reviews ; for I look upon the Critical Re- view as barely to pay expences. 2f/oj A new Review will have to compete with the Monthly^ a publication which is con- ducted with the greatest care and attention by Mr Griffith, who dedicates his whole time to the management and conduct of it. 3f?o, The publication of an Edinburgh Re- view must be a month later in its appearance than the London ones ; and so will be behind in its account of books. Vol. I. E e 431 MEMOIRS OF These are the objections that I see just now to your plan, but which by care may be overcome ; but it must be very great care, and pains f and attention. A METHOD of review for the large and small articles should be settled and adhered to in the execution of the work, with regard to their lengthy the extracts, and the manner of reviewing. A BioNTH before publication, a considerable sum of money should be laid out in advertising in the London papers, and in the country pa- pers of England, to the amount at least of sixty pounds. The number of London Reviev,^s sold in Scotland should, if possible, be ascertain- ed, in order to calculate the probability of your success there. It might also be taken into consideration whether an Edinburgh Review could be fur- nished for sixpence. No plates are necessary ; and this price would give it an evident supe- riority one way over the London ones ; and the price may be raised, with little danger, after the first year. If I mistake not, the WILLIAM SMELLIE. 435 MontJily was a sixpenny publication at the be- ginning. A CALCULATION should be made of the ex- pence of publication, under the following heads : 1. Copy money. 4. Advertising. 2. Paper. 5. Contingencies. 3. Printing. It should be settled what person is to fur-' nish books, and keep an exact list of all pub- lications, which he must regularly scratch off as they are reviewed, and as often take notice of those that may be omitted. What I have mentioned I mean only as hints for the consideration of you and the partners. It may serve in part to give you a view of what is to be expected from the un- dertaking, and to prepare the proprietors, af- ter they have come to a resolution of proceed- ing, to be assiduous and active in their diffe- rent departments. I THINK, from my situation, and my ac- quaintance with different gentlemen of taste Ee 2 436 MEMOIRS OF and learning, that I can prove of some service to the scheme, if it takes place. And, as it is long since I told you that I liked the idea of a Review much better than I did that of a Magazine, so I have no objection to take a share in the intended work, if it shall be found agreeable ; and my attention and pains, as publisher, shall be as great as I can make them. Write me therefore at your conveni- ence, as I am impatient to receive an account of this design at length. I am, &c. J. Murray. Mr Murray, who was London publishei^ of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, was a very respectable and eminent bookseller in Fleet Street, London ; where he succeeded to the business of Mr Mill an, a Scotsman, who, to accommodate himself to the preju- dices of the English, formerly strong against the Scots, changed his original name of Mac- MiLLAN, by dropping the patronymic 3Iaek, signifying so?i of. Maclin the famous come- dian, who was an Irishman, had, in a some- what similar manner, changed his name of Maclane to Maclin ; and Almack, a Scotsman well known in the fashionable end WILLIAM SMELLIE. 437 of the town, by keeping a famous subscrip- tion-house in Pall Mall, nearly opposite the palace of St Jameses, altered his name from M'Caul. The original name of Mr John Murray was Mackmurray, under which name he served his country for several years as an officer of marines ; and being reduced upon half-pay at the close of the war which ended in 1763, he purchased the stock in trade and good will of Mr Millan, then lately de- ceased, and imitated him in dropping the northern Mack. He was succeeded in busi- ness at his death by his son, the present Mr John Murray, who now carries on the book- selling business extensively in the same shop in Fleet Street- As Dr Gilbert Stuart was a man of great learning and splendid talents, and a writer of much eminence and reputation in his day, a more extended account of him than could with propriety be introduced in this place, as connected with the Edinburgh Ma- gazine and Review, will be found at the close of the present discussion. During the time of the Edinburgh Maga- zine and Review, a note appeared in that pub- EeS 438 ME3rOIRS OF lication respecting a ball in Bathgate, which became the subject of a vexatious prosecution against the editors, at the instance of one Jardii^je a schoolmaster. Some time after- wards, on a vacancy of one of the minis- ters of St Cuthberts parish, immediately on the western skirts of Edinburgh, the Re- verend Mr Barron, then minister of Whit- burn, afterwards professor of logic in the Uni- versity of St Andrews, became a candidate ; and it would appear that some sinister means had been used to prejudise the heritors and inhabitants of the parish against that respec- table gentleman. In these surmises, Mr SiMELLiEs name had been falsely implicated, as appears from the following expostulatory letter : But, as we do not wish to rake up the ashes of departed disputes, we have cho- sen to withhold the name of the person to whom it was addressed. No. LXXXIH. From Mr William Smellie to ******. Sir, 'i o discover anxiety on account of trifling insinuations, that may tend in some measure WILLIA3I SMELLIE. 439 to affect character, is no indication of sense, or of a consciousness of integrity. But when malignant lies are invented, and seriously told in presence of respectable people, a man must have lost all respect for reputation, if he takes not proper steps to contradict them. The fact. Sir, I am about to narrate re- gards you personally ; and, as I have a very high opinion of your honour and veracity, I doubt not but you will instantly do justice to yourself and the other gentlemen con- cerned. That ^ou lately delivered yourself, in a pretty numerous company, to the following effect, I have good authority for saying. The discourse occasionally turned upon the candidates for succeeding Mr Stuart as mi- nister of the West Church ; when, according to my information, you observed, That it consisted Avith your knowledge that the Re- verend Mr Barron, one of these candidates, was the author of a note in the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, which has lately been made the subject of a prosecution, at the in- stance of one Jardine a schoolmaster in Bath- gate ; and that you had even an acknowledge- E e 4 440 MEMOIRS OP Kent to that effect from the mouths of Mf Creech and Mr Smellie. > Now, Sir, you must give me leave to tell you, that every single word in the above sto- ry, said to be told by you, is false, — and not only false, but not a single circumstance ever existed that could have the smallest tenden- cy to give rise to it. You must see the in- tention. It has been invented with a view to injure Mr Barron, a gentleman whose character has already stood, and will stand, proof against the most malicious attacks, Mr Creech and I have been brought on the carpet, to add force to the malevolence of the invention. The bearer will wait for a pointed and sa- tisfactory answer, which I have a right to demand ; and I doubi not you will feel a strong desire to comply. If my information should happen to be wrong, which I confess would astonish me, you will not find me backward in asking your pardon for writing you in this manner. I am, &c. William Ssiellie, WILLIAM SMELLIE. 441 p. 8. — I FORGOT to mention that, when tlie above paragraph was written and printed, Mr Barron, to my certain knowledge, was not nearer than twenty-three miles to its real writer ; and that, as I have been in ha- bits of friendship with Mr Barron for some years, this story, if allowed to pass without notice, would make him regard me in a very despicable light. In the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which met in May 1775, a cause came before that venerable Court, of con- siderable temporary interest, and which pro- duced a long and ardent debate. Mr Fin- LA.Y, minister of Dollar, was accused of hav- ing admitted Mr Thojison to the charge of the parish of St Ninians, near Stirling, " in a manner highly disrespectful to the Gene- ral Assembly, most injurious to Mr Thom- son, anji very offensive and indecent to the congregation." It would greatly exceed all due bounds in the present biographical work to give any thing like an entire history of this singular transaction, which will be found detailed in the various parts of the Edin- l>urgh Magazine and Review, beginning at 442 3IE3IOIRS OF No. viii. p. 446. In this place we have only alluded to it as connected with a virulent attack upon that Magazine, by the Reverend Mr Charles Nisbet, one of the ministers of Montrose, in consequence of a report given in that work of the debate in the Assembly upon this cause, and in which he complained of his speech upon the occasion having been unfairly reported. As Mr Saiellie made a conspicuous figure in the consequent literary warfare with Mr Nisbet, and victoriously drove him vanquished from the field, it be- comes proper to quote the speech as report- ed in the Magazine, and then to give the controversial writings which passed between Mr Nisbet and Mr Smellie at full length. The report of Mr Fin lays speech was in- serted in the Edinburgh Magazine and Re- view for June 1775, vol. iii. p. S63. The first violently abusive letter from Mr Nisbet appeared in the Caledonian Mercury for Wednesday 19th July 1775. Mr Smellies answer appeared in the July number of the Magazine 1775, vol. iv. p. 455. To this Mr Nisbet chose to make a reply in the Cale- donian Mercury of VV^ednesday 30th August 1775. This appeared too late in the month WILLIAM SMELLIE. 443 of August for Mr Smellie to write a com- plete answer ; but he took notice of it in the last page of the Magazine for that month, vol. iv. p. 504. with a j)romise of honourino* Mr NisBET with a total refutation in the succeeding number ; which promise he most effectually performed in the September num- ber of the Magazine, 1775, vol. iv. p. 555. Mr NisBET was thoroughly and completely satisfied with the sound dressing he had re- ceived, and never adventured to renew the combat. The several pieces above alluded to are inserted in their due order, and re- quire no farther commentary except this : Mr NisBET actually followed the advice given him by Mr Sjiellie ; he transported himself to America, and died there a citizen of the Independent States. In this curious dispute, Mr Smellie gives strong instances of his powers of controversial satire, a vein of writing in which he seldom indulged his pen. 444 MEMOIRS OF REPORT OF MR NISBETS SPEECH. Edinbut'gh Magazine and Review, vol.iii. p. S63. Mr Nisbet of Montrose made several sa- tjrical remarks on what Dr M'Cormick had said respecting his zeal for religion, and his trembling for the ark of God. He alleged that many of the members appeared to be more violent than even some of the Popes themselves had been in cases of a similar nature ; and, quoting some instances from his notes, which he said shewed the great moderation of the infallible pontiff, when compared with the sentiments of those who were for inflicting a severe censure on Mr FiNLAY ; and thus he endeavoured to throw ridicule on the whole proceedings. He con- cluded by saying, that having formerly given offence * to delicate minds by quoting scrip- ture in that house, he would at this time submit to their consideration a passage from the great Shakespeare, and there it was. * -And very justly, if lie quoted scripture ludicrously, — Edin. Ml);:, and Rev. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 445 He then read * two passages from that poet, relating to the use and abuse of power, which would have been very proper if the Assembly had been going to behead Mr Finlay, or even to depose him. — He was for giving Mr FiNLAY a rebuke. MR NISBETS FIRST LETTER. Caledonian Mercury, \9thJuly 1775. To the Printer of the Caledonian Mercury, Sir, Such is the condition of our times, that those who have no inclination to trouble the public are forced, by the restless malice of scribblers, to appear in their own defence. In reading the Edinburgh Magazine and Re- view for June last, I find an account given of my speech in the General Assembly, in the cause of Mr Finlay, which is equally false * If it be true, that tragi-comcdy is thejustcsl picture of nature, Mr NisBET ratlu-r mended Shakespeare ; for it was really co- mical to hear the gentleman read two very sublime passages of that author, in the same flat and woful tone, in which a Fife herd re- peats his catechism ; and with the same regard, too, to emphasis and punctuation. — Ed. Mag. and Rev. 446 MEMOIRS OP and malicious. I not only alleged, but proved, from authentic testimony, that the Church of Rome had shown greater mode- ration, in cases exactly similar, than those who were for suspending Mr Finlay : I qr-oted two instances of this from Matthew Paris ; the one of a French priest, who pub- lished a sentence of excommunication ac- cording to his own conscience, and not ac- cording to the Popes order, Avithout suffering any censure whatever ; the other of Robert Grostheadj then Bishop of Lincoln, who peremptorily refused to execute an order of Innocent IV. and who was cleared in a full Consistory of Cardinals, summoned upon that occasion. I observed that the great design of Christian discipline was the extinc- tion of offences, and bringing offenders to re- pentance ; and that as Mr Finlay had, in my opinion, removed the offence by his ac- knowledgment, we were obliged, by the laws of our religion, to forgive him ; in proof of wliicli, I said I could have quoted many pas- sages of scripture ; but as I had formerly of- fended some tender consciences, and had been called to order for quoting scripture in that house, I would give them the same sen- timents from Shakespeare, whose divinity I WILLIAM SxlIELLIE. 447 thought very orthodox ; and I still think that the passages I quoted apply to the case of Mr Fia^lay, even though it was not })roposed to behead him. Upon this Mr Re- viewer has a short note, hinting that I had been very properly called to order, if I had quoted scripture ludicrously : Most true ; but who told him that I had quoted scripture lu- dicrously ? The Reviewer does not say so ; and if he did, the entire speech referred to, being still extant in the London Magazine for June and July 1773, if I remember right, will convince any one of the falsehood of his insinuation. If you would grant Mr Re- viewer his postulatimi, he would be in no pain to establish his conclusion ; but, unluckily for him, in the present case, his argument rests upon a lie of his own invention. This dark and sceptical mode of calumniating, I take to be entirely new, and peculiar to this author ; though I remember an old logical brocard, posito qnolibei, sequitur quodlibet, from which some may think that it had been known in former times. The Reviewer seems to have been greatly at a loss for matter of criticism, when he descends to take notice of my pronounciation, v/hich, though not censured by better judges, he 448 ME3IOIRS OF tliinks flat and luoful., and fitter for the As- semblys Catechism (of which he seems to have no great esteem) than for so subhme an author as Shakespeare. I do not pre- tend, Sir, to be a master of theatrical pro- noimciation ; and if I was, I would avoid it in a discourse addressed to an assembly of grave divines, content that I was understood, as I am sure I was, by the General Assem- bly ; but the truth is, I know as little of stage pronounciation as I do of the tone in which a certain modern critic lately deliver- ed an oration against Christianity, to a com- pany of oister women in a gin shop at Mus- selburgh, for which meritorious performance he was rolled m the kennel by his audience ; and very justly, if he quoted scripture ludicrous- ly. He says that my manner of reading tra- gedy was comical : It may be so ; but I can- not help thinking that his manner of reason- ing is at least equally so, when he infers that, because the passage I quoted was an argument against beheading Claudio, there- fore it could not be proper unless the As- sembly had been going to behead Mr Fin- lay, or to depose him, which is a sort of ec- clesiastical decapitation. I know not why this author has thought proper to abuse me WILLIAM SMELLIE. 449 in this illiberal manner, unless it is in re- sentment of tsvo letters which I published not long ago in the ':Veekly M'lgadne, in de- fence of the work of a friend, unjustly at- tacked by this author in his first number, though I carefully abstained from all asperi- ty of language. It may, perhaps, be thought needless to defend ones self against the ac- cusations of an author so incapable of the task he has undertaken, as this Reviewer seems to be. If I had been so captious as he, I might have told the world long ago of his ignorance, in publishing an old fable from Ariosfos Orlando Furioso, canto xxix. as the real history and transactions of a Scots High- lander in 1747, which he did in his Magazine for January 1774 ; or I might just now have wrote you a letter, extolling his skill in chronology, for telling us, in his last number, p. 392. that the name of Physician began to be used in France and Italy about the year 1750. But so great is the malice of tijis author, that he spares not even his ov/n par- ty. The Reverend Dr M'Cormick had, in the heat of debate, said, that he trembled for the ark of God ; and, though no prophet ^ he would stretch out his arm to save it. A candid critic might easily have discerned. Vol. I. F f 450 MEMOIRS OF from the train of the Doctors speech, that }ie meant to say, and^ though no priest, he would stretch out his arm to sav^e the ark. Every body knov/s that it was the business of the priests to take care of the ark, Josh. iii. 6. No doctor in divinity could be sup- posed to be ignorant of this ; but we never read that the prophets had any business with it, except that David, a propliet, once danced before it. But it seems this Reviewer did not know that Eli was no prophet ; for he makes Dr M'Cormick say what he did not say, and what he was incapable of saying, that he felt something of the zeal of the an- cient ^ropAe^, when his heart trembled for the ark of God. If Mr Reviewer had not forgot his catechism, he would surely have known that there was some difference be- twixt a prophet and a priest ; and his igno- rance of this is but a poor excuse for having chronicled, in his periodical performance, the casual mistake of a reverend gentleman who liad never done him any injury. I would advise this author, instead of dully aiming at wit, or abusing innocent people by hypothe- tical slander, to study the true spelling of the English language, in which he seems re- markably deficient, that we may not read WILLIAM SMELLIE. 451 a^!:^ain, as in his last nuaibor, o: cirlica^ notes writ by Mr Gray, p. 343. drest dear skins worn by the Americans, p. 347. or of reflec- tion assuming the sensorial dignity, p. 3.53. not to mention manv other bkinders that v^^oiild disgrace the lowest publication in Eu- rope. I kno\y it is alleged by some, that this author, in his account of our church matters, is but the tool of another person, whom he is under the necessity of pleasing ; and it may be thought, that the drubbing merited by the servant, would be more pro- perly bestowed on the master, who sets him on ; but, as I have no legal evidence of the truth of this supposition, I must take the of- fice of a Reviewer to be a responsible office, and conduct myself accordingly. If he is indeed a hirehng, I must pity him, and shall give him no more disturbance. Let him he on, and please his master. I shall take my leave of him in the words of Junius Tibe- RiANus, Prsefect of Rome, to Flavius Vo- piscus, an ancient Reviewer, Scribe tit liheti securus ; quod veils, dicas, habiiurus Tiiendacio^ rum comites quos Historic^e Eloqu entire mi- ramur auctores. I am, Sir, your constant reader, and humble servant, Charles Nisbet, Montrose, July 12. 1775. Ff 2 452 ME3IOIRS OF MR SMELLIES ANSWER. Edinburgh Magazine and Review, Vol. iv. p. 445. To the Rev. Mr Charles Nisbet, Minister of the Gospel at Montrose. Rev. Sir, Edinburgh, August I. 1775. Give me leave to address you on the sub- ject of your publication in tlie Mercury of the 19th, and Weekly Magazine of the 20th of July last. As the whole of that produc- tion is a direct attack against the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, and against a parti- cular gentleman who only contributes occa- sionally his assistance to that Paper, the Printer, who must necessarily be acquainted with every circumstance relative to it, thinks himself called upon to undeceive the public with regard to many false insinuations you have made. You will pardon me for apply- ing the word false to the composition of a minister of the gospel of truth. It is indeed a series of falsehoods. But perhaps you are not directly chargeable with an infringement of the laws of truth. You may have been misinformed. You may have been instruct- ed by some designing friend ; the spirit of WILLIAM SMELLIE. 453 party may have shut your eyes ; in the warmth of passion, you m.ay have been se- duced to wander from truth, and yet lo de- ceive yourself with an ilkisive notion of rec- titude. I know not whether any of these theories will explain your conduct, and make it consistent with integrity. — After I have stated the facts, let the Public judge, and draw the proper conclusions. You begin by obs ving, that the account given in the Edinburgh Magazine of your speech in the General Assembly, with regard to Mr FiNLAYS cause, was both ' false and malicious ;' and that you had proved, from history, the moderation of the church of Rome in similar cases, to be superior to that of those members who thought Mr Finlay merited the censure of suspension. You likewise asserted, that you could have brought evidence from Scripture to the same purpose ; ^ but,' to use your own words, ' as I had formerly offended some tender conscitiices, and had been called to ot^der for quoting scripture in that house, I would give them the same sentiments from Shakespeare, whose divinity I thought very orthodox.' Upon this, you proceed, * Mr Reviewer has Ff3 451 MEJMOIRS OF a short note, hinting that I had been very justly called to order, if I had quoled Scrip- ture ludicrously. Most true ; but who told him that ' I had quoted Scripture ludicrous- ly ?' In the appearances you make in the General Assembly, I have no interest ; but, I humbly think, that the above passage of your letter has a most ambiguous aspect. Did the General Assembly call you to order for simply quoting scripture ? To account for this fact, there is but one alternative ; either your reverend brethren will not allow the ■quoting of scripture in their court, or they thought that you, in quoting, acted not with that gravity which every Christian ought to observe when he appeals to the sacred writ- ings in support of his arguments. As a proof that you did not quote scripture in a, ludicrous manner, you refer to the London Magazine for June and July 1773, where the entire speech is recorded, Of this I know nothing. I never saw the speech. But Mr NisBET knows, that the mode of delivering a speech, and its ap})earance when printed, are often very difftrent. There are certain tones, grinsaces, grins, and shrugs, which have the power of throwing a species of ridi- puie upon matters of the most serious im- WILLIAM SMELLIE. 455 port ; and Mr Nisbet need not be informed that mode, and gesture, and leer, exceed the Hmits of the typographic art. But, throw- ing all fancies of this kind aside, — the note in the Edinburgh Magazine charges you not with quoting Scripture ludicrously : It only jus- tifies the propriety of the Court in calling you to order, on the supposition that you had endeavoured to excite a laugh by a ridiculous application of some Scripture passages. What I principally intended by copying your own words in the above passage of your letter was, to set you and the readers of this work right with regard to a circumstance of some importance to a gentleman who has suf- fered repeated insults and much personal a- buse, which generally proceeded from want of discernment, and sometimes, I fear, from malevolence. This gentleman you have thought proper to consider, without any evi- dence, as the writer of the account of the proceedings of the General Assembly, and indeed as the author of the whole Magazine and Review. Novv^, Sir, let me assure you, from perfect knowledge, that he is not the author of that account, — that he did not at- tend a single sederunt of last Assembly, — Ff4 45G JIEMOIRS OF tl}at lie had.no knowledge of yon till he saw your name at the hottorn of a libel against him in the Caledonian Mercury, — that he writes much less of the Edinburgh Magazine than any of the gentlemen concerned with it, — that many numbers have been published of which he composed not a single essay or review ; and yet every article, however oppo- site in stile and manner, has been attributed to him. These facts are material to be known for the sake of those who are incapable of dis- tiiigcishing the composition of one man from another. Another mistake must still be rectified. The gentlemen who review books you consi- der to be responsible for such articles as ap- pear in the department of the Magazine al- loted to essays. You certainly cannot be ig- norant that these essays are often sent us by unknown hands ; and that most of them are received in the printers-box. In these the reviewers are not ii:terested. When papers favourable to one party are inserted, the Ma- gazine is equally open to compositions on the other side, if they be written with propriety. Will you now indulge me in a few expos- tulations ? W hat induced you to point out a. WILLIAai SriELLIE. " 457 particular person as the author of that account which offends you so much ? And, after you had, contrary to internal evidence arising from the account itself, fixed upon a person who could not possibly be the author, how came you to say that his argument rested upon a lie of his own invention ? If there was any lie in the case, it is obvious that it must have been the invention of your own brethren in the General Assembly; and this, as I observed be- fore, appears from your own words. Are you a- ware of the proper answer to such treatment ? Does it indicate either a gentleman or a scho- lar, to retail calumny in the language of a tinker? To connect the account of your speech more closely with the reviewers, you affect to consider two papers published by you in the Weekly Magazine against them, as the source of their resentment. This, Sir, is an- other mistake, founded in vanity and self- importance. None of the reviewers ever knew you to be a writer against them in any periodical publication, till you were thus pleas- ed to inform them. Many mean and con- temptible attacks have appeared against them; and they would never have conjectured them to be the manufacture of clergymen, who 458 MEMOIRS OF ought, and are generally supposed to be men of some learning and ability. You seem at a great loss to find examples of this supposed reviewers ignorance. The following instance is not a little curious, and may be considered as a specimen both of your candour and learning. " If," you observe, " I had been as cautious as the reviewer, I might have told the world long ago of his ig- norance, in publishing an old fable from Ari- osTos Orla^^do Furioso, canto 29. as the real history and transactions of a Scots High- lander in 1747, which he did in his Maga- zine for January 1774." Here, Sir, I am sorry to remark you have had the satisfaction of telling the imrld what will never recommend you as a man of candour and veracity. The two stories, though there be a similarity in their catastrophe and the methods employ- ed to avoid impending danger, are perfectly different. The fable of Ariosto relates a fictitious stratagem used by a fictitious lady, whom the poet names Isabella, to pre-, ent the violation of her chastity. The anecdote of the Higliland sergeant, recorded by the Ab- be K.ESNAL, relates the manner in v*Lich the sergeant actually deceived some savage Indi- VriLLIAM SMELLIE, 459 ans v/ho liad taken him captive, and were a- boiit to torture him with their accustomed barbarity. Where now hes the charge of ig- norance ? Besides, to the title of this very- anecdote, there stands an asterism referring to a note at the bottom of the page, which contains the following words : " Translated from the Abbe Resxals History of the Eu- ropean Settlements in the two Indies." Did you really overlook this note ? or did you suppress the truth, that you might have an opportunity of grftifying your resentment a- gainst the Edinburgh Magazine ? \ ou cer- tainly have sagacity enough to have disco- vered, long before this time, that hardly a real incident can happen in human life, to which a similar fiction may not with ease be found in ancient or modern fahle ; and if you can read the French language, and will con- sult the Abbe Resnal, you will mid the pre- sent incident to have been a real one. It is wonderful how you allow your passion to ex- pose you I And how has it happened, Sir, that your temper has been so completely rufiled i Is it merely because, in the account of your speech in last Abseuibly, the writer hap- 460 -MEMOIRS OF pened to say, that you repeated plays " in the same flat and v/oful tone in which a Fife herd repeats his catechism?" My dear Sir, there seems to be nothing material in this charge, — nothing that could discompose a so- ber and well regulated mind. The tone of your voice may be misrepresented. I cannot decide in this matter, for I never had the pleasure of hearing your oratory. It is really astonishing, that a person who is a clergy- man, and who doubtless conceives himself to be a gentleman, and is fh fact so great a scholar as to be able to read Orlando Furi- oso, should thus lose his temper, and abuse innocent people, for no better reason than because it has been alleged that tlie structure of his windpipe does not qualify him for the stage ! CiRTicisM^ deai\ and sensorial, are exhibit- ed as further specimens of ignorance in the reviewer ; and you have the singular polite- ness to recommend to his perusal Enticks Spelling Dictionary. These, Sir, you must know to be typographical errors, for which the printer alone is answerable. This circum- stance notwithstanding, you iusist, that these and similar blunders would disgrace the low- WILLIA3I SMELLIE. 4G1 est publication in Europe ! Here the fury of resentment has again made you degenerate into meanness and disingenuity. You can- not be ignorant of the impossibihty of avoid- ing hteral escapes in periodical works, which admit not of that deliberate attention which is bestowed in correcting books. The insi- nuation, let me tell you, is both false and ungrateful ; for you cannot surely have for- gotten your late elevation from a servile sta- tion in a printers sliop to the more dignified character of minister of the Gospel, and spou- ter oi plays in the General Assembly. I am ashamed to dwell longer on this circumstance. It appears to indicate an undistinguishing rage, that would devour botli friends and foes, and for which no proper apology can possibly be invented. As to your wit about the reviewers ob- serving that the name of physician began to be used in France about the year 1750, it is perfectly ridiculous. You affect to consider this as an error of chronology, when it is merely a mistake of the press. For, a little lower, it is said, " Tlie appellation of physi- cian can be traced back to the year 1150;" so that, in the former passage, there can be no doubt but 1 1 50 was meant, in place of 4r>2 MEMOiPtS OF 1750. But you had not, it seems, penetra- tion enough to disco\^er this. And as to Dr M'CoRiMicKS making Use of the word pro- phet, tl^ere is no duhiety, even by your own account ; yet you censure the reviewer as abusing Dr M'Cormick, by applying a term that was actually used by him. This is indeed folly in its greatest excess. There is anothei* charge against the per- son whom you have been chiefly solicitous to calumniate, which I have authority to assure you is an atrocious and abominable false- hood. It is where you accuse him of violate ing the laws of his country, and of profaning religion. I will not pretend to account for this flight of yours. It is not enough, to say that it is false, vulgar, and indecent : it seems to border on distraction and lunacy. Iiv fine, in order to render the Edinburgh Magazine odious to a certain party in the church, you insinuate that the reviewers are the tools of another person ; and that they are obliged to obey the dictates of their master. This insinuation, allow me to inform you^ has not the smallest foundation. The gen- tleman you allude to, and who cannot be mis- understood, nevef took any concern in the WILLIAM SMELLIE. 463 Review ; and the reviewers know no party, unless when they meet with injurious and false attacks, similar to the contents of your letter. This correction and notice you owe to my anxiety as a man of hnsiness. You may take it in what part you please. It is sufficient for me that I do my duty ; and that, Sir, I would do, if a thousand persons of your cha- racter stood in my way. i will not anticipate the reflections which your misconduct will suggest to you. It pains me that you have yielded so much to your passions ; and I am sorry that the religion you have been called to teach has so little influence on your beha- viour. Permit me to wish you a calmer tern- per, and a sounder understanding. I am. Sir, your most humble servant, WlLLIA3I SmELLIE* MR NISBETS REPLY. Caledonian Mercury, SOth August 1775* To the Author of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review. Sir, I HAVE read over your very polite letter to me of the 1st August, which exhibits a sufficient 46'i M£3I0IRS OF specimen oi jour good maimers, and convinces me that you have kept the best company. Pray, Sir, how do you contrive to write so charmingly? I am certain you must have consulted the Complete Letter^ Writer, and the Academy of Compliments, before you could collect such a profusion of rhetoric as ap- pears in your epistle. I observ^e that it is subscribed by your printer, which I attribute to your great n^odesty. Perhaps you thought you could lurk as safe under tl.at cover as Achilles in petticoats, or the Grand Cyrus under the name of Artamenes ; but your great talents shine through every disguise. If you would publish a volume of such let- ters as your last, you would put down Ches- terfield and the Marchioness de Savigny ; so that ]Mr Dodsleys property, though se- cured at so great expence, would be of no use to him. But, to come to the contents of your let- ter. I address myself to the Author of the Proceedings of the General Assembly, and of the letter of August 1st, whether they are the same or different persons. You call my letter a series of falsehoods ; but as you have not proved any such against me by WILLIAM SMRLLIE. 465 proper evidence, that charge must retvirri from whence it came. When I ask wh ^told you that I had quoted scripture ludicrously, you say, that " this has an asnbiguous as- pect," as you are loth to confess yourself the inventor of this calumny. But I must hold you for the inve^ntor, till you produce your informers, as you are the first and only person that ever said or supposed such a thing. I referred you to the entire speech in question, that you might be convinced by your own eyes of the falsehood of your slan- derous supposition ; but it seems you did not choose to be convinced. You own that you never saw the speech; and yet you must needs be making criticisms on it, by mere conjecture and imagination, to infer a crime against me. Is this the v/ay that you re- view books ? Your alternative is an imper- fect one. The General Assembly neither called me to order simply for quoting scrip- ture, nor did any of them alleg-e that I had quoted it in a manner unbecoming a Ciiris- tian ; but some of them thou^^cht it disresDcct- ful to their dignity, to have a passage quot- ed, which some might apply to certain parts of their own conduct, though I applied it only to an inferior judicatory. As you are Vol. I. G g ,* 65 ME3I0IRS OF SO little versaiit in the Scripture as to iiiake Eli a propliet, in the name of a great Doc- tor of this church who knows hetter, I must set down the passage at length. It is from a real prophet, PtiALACHi ii. 7, 8. " But je are departed out of the way ; ye have caus- ed many to stumble at the law : ye have cor- rupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemjjtible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law." I quoted tliis passage in great seriousness, being deeply alarmed at the practice of buying and selling benefices, now said to be so frequent among us. With what front, then, could you, Mr Author, say, or wantonly suppose, that I had quoted scripture ludicrously ? But you have another trick in reserve. You suppose there miglit be certain shrugs, grins, or grimaces, which miiiht still denominate it ludicrous, tliat are not within the limits of the typogra- phic art. In this too you are quite mistak- en, as the only person who complained of me, sat with his back towards me while I spoke, and so could not see any of these mys- terious shrugs, &c. which you imagine. It is curious to observe, that after depriving me WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 46? of every power of elocution, you immediately dress me up as a complete actor, when it suits your purpose of detraction. I have then the dicentis gestus, in ess^is, discursus, omnibusqiie motihus animi consenstaneun vigor corporis, as Pliny words it. This is a spe- cimen of your candour. What you say of my attributing the ac- count of the Assembly to a particular gen- tleman, is entirely your own imagiiiatioii, as I knovv^ not who was the author of that ac- count, and so could have no particular per- son in view. I see you are a dealer in con- jectures, and can turn them to good account. You first suppose that I was in a great pas- sion when I wrote my letter, and then you gravely reprove me for it. But you think too highly of yourself, if you imagine that so minute an object as the sting of an ob- scure Reviewer could put me in the least passion. On the contrary, I never would have taken the least notice of your vile ob- servations, had I not been pressed by the importunity of friends ; so that all your fine declamation on this head falls entirely to the ground. Surely, your understanding and your candour must have been out of toiun, Gg 2 J-" 468 ]\ie:,ioiks of when you made this fine discovery. Did you realb/ mistake the specimens I gave of j)rofessed ccvptions criticism, for serious obser- vations, and indications of mighty passion ? I only gave you a string of observations, hke your ovvn vrith reo^ard to me, and in your own language and manner, as nearly as I could imitate it. If they offend you, you have yourself only to blame. Your criticism on my reading, I thought sufficiently obviat- ed by retaliating on your spelling. The irony was visible to any that were willing to see it. You take it ill that your Magazine should be compared to the lovv^est publication in Europe. You have made it so in effect by your last letter, which, for scurrility and violence, is not to be matched by any of the publications of Mr Edmund Curl, your worthy predecessor. You can make low comi^arisons enough, bat you would not have them retorted upon yourself. Please learn to do Jis you woidd be done by. You tax me with using the language of a tinker^ by which I suppose you mean a revleivei\ these gentry being a kind of literary or book-tink- ers, who commonly make as sad work, and use as coarse language as their sable bretin'eii of the haumier. 1 should be ashamed to use WILLIAM SMELLIE. 469 their language, unless in irony, or to them- selves. You call all the strictures that have heen published on your Magazine mean and con- temptible, which is a very short and conve- nient way of answering them ; but perhaps the only one of which you are capable. The faults which disgrace your work are not of the typographical kind. They are much more important. Your fulsome encomiums on the blasphemous works of the Abbe Res- NAL, and your commendation of Hawks- worths obscenities, prove that sceptics and infidels have no small sliare of your charity ; while your reproaching the memory of Mr Patrick Hamilto.x, upon mere conjecture, and your unworthy treatment of the Rev. Dr Henry and Mr Walker, shew that you are no friend to good men, or sincere Chris- tians. I cannot but think it an honour done me to suffer in so good company, and to be reviled by those who have reviled such men as these. I cannot admit your story of the Highland sergeant to be true ; and if you observe the manner in which the Abbe Resnal introduces it, you will find that he does not afTirm it. I must call it ignorance Gg3 470 MEMOIRS OF to mistake fable for history : If you had made the story yourself, I would have called it forgery. And I confess I could liave no great opinion of a persons learning, who could not distinguish the history of Alex- ander the Great, from that of Jack the Qiant-killer, or the Seven Wise Masters. You complain that I attribute the compo- sitions of one person to another. I know none of your gentlemen behind the curtain, and so cannot distinguish their productions, I think nothing is more simple than that each should take what praise or blame is his own, and not meddle with what belongs to otiiers. But it is very unlucky for one to receive a stab in the dark from a society of nameless gentlemen, as one knows not whom to complain of, whether Mr Publisher, Mr Printer, or Mr Reviewer, or the whole Dun- ciad in conjunction. When a charge is made against one gentleman, another gentle- man, who was not charged, nor called, stands forth to defend him, and to deny the fact. This is mighty convenient, but not quite fair. If a society of gentlemen, indicted at the Old Bailey, were to be allowed to be witnesses and compurgators for one another, WILLIAM SMELLIE. 471 in this manner, it would no doubt save a great many lives. You reproach me with having been bred in a printers shop ; a sure proof that the let- ter was not wrote by a printer, who could never reckon his own profession an indignity. But how you think it an indignity for one clergyman to be bred in a printing house, any more than for another to have been bred in an ale-house, I am at a loss to imagine, and would propose it as a problem to the cu- rious. You call me a spouter of plays in the General Assembly ; but your great learning liindered you from knowing that St Paul, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, and CicKRO, in his oration pro Vatinio, have quoted plays as well as I did. I can bear any epithet that applies to such men as these. The Younger Pliny treats a rer mark like yours, upon my reading plays, with great contempt : Cur tragoediam^ quae non auditojnum, sed scenam et adores postulate recitari concedunt ? — At harurn recitatio usujam recepta est : num ergo culpandus est ille qui ccepit ? How the allusion to a modern critic Gg4 4^ 12 5IEMOIRS OF could have given you such offence, or have been thought to point out a particular gen- tleman, unless that gentleman is conscious of guilt, I am unable to imagine. Critics are a tribe almost as numerous as cater- pillars or politicians ; so that any charge against one of these must seem very far from a particular one. But your denying the charge is superlatively comical. You say you are authorised to do so ; but pray, Sir, by whom ? Are you Advocate-general for ail the critics and profligates of Great Britain ? If so, till you produce your com- mission, your denial must go for nothing. You accuse me of endeavouring to make your Magazine odious to a certain party in this Church ; but you are not aware how much you have done that way yourself, espe- cially when you constantly call a body of clergymen (inferior in nothing, except num- bers, to their opponents) by the name of the wild partly. This proves the truth of the re- mark you make in your preface, that " you have declined joining with any of tlie reli- gious factions in Scotland ;" and is no great invitation for them to write in your Maga- zine, You likewise call those who v/ould WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 473 exalt cluirch-aiithority, in some cases, a- bove the rights of conscience, the moderate parhj^ which is as complete Irish as when you tell us in your last number, p. 403. of " a canoe appearing to two persons fast asleep on the banks of lake Ontario." I hinted it as the opinion of others, that the Reviewers had a master, whom they were under the necessity of pleasing. But you have convinced me, that the gentleman in question knev/ nothing of your last number, as he never uses lan- guage like yours. You say, that it is ob- servable, that the only Wilkites among the clergy (I suppose you mean friends to liherty and the constitution) are a few of the wild party. You are doubly mistaken to my knowledge. They are neither a few, nor wholly of that party, who wish w ell to liber- ty and the faith of charters. But you are quite surprising when you tell us, that the only Jacobites of the clergy in the rebellion 1745 were of that party. They must be very wild principles indeed, that incline people at once to such opposites as Jacobitism and Liberty, passive obedience and the constitu- tion. A philosopher must be diverted by so bizarre an appearance. If the principles of the Wilkites and Jacobites are the same, as 474 MEMOIRS OF you attribute them to the same persons, pray why is not iMr Wilkes preferred at Court? But I am determined to write no more on this subject. You were the aggressor, and have no right to complain of my defending myself. I have even a title to the last word. If you use foul language, you can neither disturb nor hurt me. All the regret I have suffered is that of having lost some pages of St AuGusTi.NE, while I have been animadvert- ing on your genteel performance. You say you wish me a calmer temper and a sounder understanding. Pray, Sir, next time you put on your wishing-cap, be so good as wish me your polite manners, and your happy talents for criticism. I SHALL not presume to offer you any ad- vice ; but you will accept a hint from an old rhetorician, by some mistaken for Cicero. Desine bonos peiula/dissi?iia consectari lingna : Desine morho procaciiatis isto uti : Desine nnum- quemque moribus tuis cesthnare. His moribus amiciim tibifacere non potes : videris velle inimi- cvm habere, I am, in all good humour, and with all deserved esteem, Sir, your very humble servant, Montrose, ^i, Aug. 111,5. Charles Nisbet. WILLIAM SMELLIE. 475 NOTE FROM MR SMELLIE. The Edinburgh Magcmne and Review, vol. Jr, p. .004, cj- Mr Nisbets second letter appeared in the Caledonian Mercury of Wedne day Au- gust 30th, a period of the month when it was impossible to answer it completely ; and be- fore two days (^ September have passed, it will ]je on the road to oblivion. The readers of this work, who are disposed to take a peep at it, will remark a beautiful confusion of ideas, not unworthy of the reverend writer, who found it difficult to reply to arguments which were irrefragable, and who, it is pro- bable, in evidence of some of his falsehoods, has not yet found leisure to subborn his wit- nesses, and to prepare against their detection. His first letter showed him to be not only weak, but worthless. His second confirms his first ; and, if the importuniLy of his friends can prevail with him to \vrite a third, it may possibly apologize for both, by discovering that his wits are turned the seamy side 476 MEMOIRS OF outwards. The letter he has just piibHshed is addressed to an imaginary personage ; for a pamphlet which evidently arises from com- pilation, and from the compositions of diffe- rent writers, cannot, without fatuity or mad- ness, be imputed to one man. But this flight is rather to be pitied than wondered at. It has, however, its use. It prevents him from entering into close combat with the printer, whose pen he has reason to dread ; and who, it would seem, cannot, on that account, be the author of his OAvn letter. The Printer, in return, by a similar polite^ss, might fan- cy him to have received, in his, the assistance of the reverend gentlemen whose panegyric he has pronounced. For though the snap- pishness of it might well be supposed to be the s^enuine effusion of Mr Nisbet, its solemn nothingness might belong to Dr Henry, and its peevishness might not improperly proceed from Mr Walker*. In one view, the letters * These gentlemen he mentions particularly in his letter, As to El!, \vh<;n), in the vviidncss of his rage, he has ventured to a- bu«c, ir he vviii consult Epii-hanius, he will find him marked as a prophi!^, Ahd 41s to the canue appearing to txco persoiu fast asleep the pnsiii-e is quoted dish».tu'->tly, a thing not uiiconiiijon to Mr MiSBLT. See Wagdzinefor July, p. 403, and Mr Smellies let- tei ill ihc Ust nuijibcr. WILLIAM smeLlie. 477 subscribed bj him excite regret. Those v/ha love religion, and v> ho are void of a factious spirit, will observ^e with sorrow so much ig- norance, levity, and disingenuity, in a teach- er of truth, and a preacher of righteousness. " Wo to the world," says Dr Erskine, " be- cause of offences. It must needs be that of- fences come ; but wo to the man, double wo to the ministery by whom they come. It were better for Mm that a milhtone were hanged about his neck, and he be cast into the depths oftfie sea^ This text Mr Nisbet will fmd in Dr Erskines judicious sermon, entitled, " Mi- nisters of the Gospel cautioned against giving Oifence;" and he will be so kind to himself as to make the conmientary, and to draw the inference. Thursday, August 31. — This short notice of Mr NisBETs letter will probably attract his attention. The time does not admit of any thing more formal. The protraction or delay of his elaborate performance till the close of the month is a tacit confession of its weak- ness, and of his apprehension of a proper re- ply. Mr Smellie, however, engages hiniself to the public to attempt, next month, to re- 478 MEMOIRS OF vive Mr Nisbets letter; and he will do him the honour of bestowing on it a total refuta- tion. MR S3IELLIES FINAL REJOINDER. Edinhurgh Magazine and Review^ vol. iv.p. 555. To the Reverend Mr Charles Nisbet, Mi- nister of the Gospel at 31ontrose. Sir, After receiving so complete a refutation to your first letter, I never dreamed of your being mad enough to attempt a second. But you yielded, it seems, to the solicitation of your friends. False or ignorant must those friends be, who could counsel you to expose at once both your understanding and your heart. The charge is weighty ; but it is not difficult to prove it to the conviction of all mankind. Your first contained many striking marks of disingenuity, and of a malicious re- sentment, unaccompanied with capacity. I was willing, however, to consider it as an un- guarded effusion of rage, or as an effect of a WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 479 petulant vanity, which is apt to betray weak men into a notion of their own dignity and importance. But these apologetical phan- toms are novv^ vanished. You liave uncover- ed your dupncity^ — you have banished every favourable idea that your friends might wish to indulge, — you have put it out of the power of benevolence itself to palliate your baseness, or conceal your demerit. With much reluc- tance, therefore, I proceed to show you in your real character, by exhibiting a new se- ries of falsehoods with which you have thought fit to disgrace your last epistle, the compos- ing of which cost you and your friends so much agitation, anxiety, and trouble. You deny me the honour of v/riting my own letter. This gives me no uneasiness, as the contrary is well known to many better men than Mr Nisbet. Such folly and base- ness could only proceed from a man who i& more hackneyed in the arts of deceit than I ever before had any conception of. If I could have had the meanness to have signed what was written by another person, I should con^ sider myself to be ripening apace, and might entertain flattering ideas of acquiring in time those qualities which would entitle me to be 480 ME3IOIRS OF a companion in turpitude to the minister of iMontrose. You struggle hard, Sir, to wipe off the im- putation of quoting Scripture ludicrously in the General Assembly. You say I gave no authority for such an insinuation. The only authority I had was your own. In your first letter are the following words : — " As I had formerly offended some tender consciences, and had been called to order for quoting Scrip- ture in that house," &c. It was in this man- ner also you apologized in the Assembly for repeating pstssages from Shakespeare. You asserted that you had been called to order for quoting Scripture in that house. This then is repeating your own authority ; but you think it not y>^orthy of credit, and I heartily agree with you. There is no blunder more com- mon than the mistaking of imperfection for a- bility. Do you not seriously think yourself a capital orator ? Is it not a common practice with you to collect jests, ludicrous scraps from poems, plays, &c. with a view to belch them out in the General Assembly, for the purpose of raising a laugh ? Did you never perceive that the rabble laugh only at absur- dities ? It is wonderful that none of your WILLIA'.I SMELLIE. 481 friends have had the virtue to inform yon, that this conduct, in place of bringing you fame or respect, could only procure you the character of a reverend buffoon. But why this anxiety about trifles ? You have been accused of deliberate fahehoods, and of quot- ing dislionestly ; but crimes of this nature seem not to hurt you : if you can free yourself from the notion of playing vv^ith the Sacred Writ- ings, you are perfectly unconcerned, not be^ cause you think this the v/orst species of wick^ edness, but because you know it might alarm the vulgar, who are not qualified to form a judgment of literary demerit. Allow me now' to collect a few passages from your last letter; and I will bet a thousand to one, that it is beyond the power of human credulity to believe a single word they con- tain. Here they are : — '' What you say of my attributing the account of the Assembly to a partkidar gentleman is entirely your ovm imagination, as / knoiu not who was the au- thor of that account, and so could have no particular person in view." Again, " / know none of your gentlemen behind the curtain, and so cannot distinguish their productions." Further, " How tbe allusion to a story of a Vol. I. H h 482 ME310IRS OF ?nodern critic could have given you such of- fence, or have been thought to point out a lyariicular gentleman, unless tJiat gentleman is conscious of guilt, I am unable to imagine." Now, Sir, a few words for your ear ; and, if you have not lost even the most distant idea of virtue, they must act as so many daggers in your heart. You tell a particular and cir- cumstantial falsehood,- — you narrate the for- ged action, — you fix the place and the fancied company, — ^you lay the scene at the door of a particular gentleman, whom you describe ; and yet, after the calumny has been detect- ed, you are not ashamed to deny that you had any particular pei^son in view ! This is truly shocking. In the most hardened sinner, it would be reckoned so base and unworthy as to fall below the standard of rectitude, even when estimated by thieves and highwaymen ; — in a minister of Christ, it is horrid, and excites ideas of wretchedness, malice, and depravity, beyond the powers of expression. I go farther with you, Sir : I appeal to many of your acquaintances to whom you have re- peatedly mentioned the gentlemans name you have chosen to calumniate. I appeal to those confidents who are in possession of your let- ters on this subject. In what a despicable WILLIAM SMELLIE. 483 and dishonourable light must you appear to these men ! Did you not rejoice when you learned that the application you intended was generally made ? Blush, Sir, aiid discover that you have still some sense of decency and of moral obligation ! Do you believe in the religion you teach ? If you do, your pangs must be dreadful. I sincerely wish that the defect may be in your head, and not in that part which is principally valued by all good men and sincere Christians. But, if you have reason to be suspicious of the latter, consult Gilpin, and he will direct you to examine yourself, and to pray fervently for a sp'.^cdy deliverance from the fascination and dominion of Satan. The following remark, — " That after de- priving me of every power of elocution, you immediately dress me up as a complete ac- tor," is an astonishing instance of your bold and dishonest invention. I defy you to show the most distant allusion to such a sentiment in my whole letter. I made a remark of an op- posite nature. I lamented that you should be enraged, merely because the structure of your windpipe did not qualify you to appear with advantage oq the stage. It is easy to distin- Hh2 484 MEMOIRS OF guisli a mountebank from a Garrick ; and I could never fancy that a creature, whose only- use could be to make an awkward figure in a procession, to drop a curtain, or to snuff can- dles, should be able to perform the parts of Hamlet or Jaffier. When detected in false and ignominious observations, you have the meanness to say, you was only jesting and in irony. Is it Sijcst to charge a man with crimes of your own cre- ating ? Is it a jest to endeavour to hurt a man of business who never could offend you ? Read the fable of the Boys and Frogs. Your wit and irony are indeed so flat and un- meaning, that you ought to imitate the pain- ter who found it necessary to write the names below his figures ; e. g. This is an ass, — and this a baboon ; and when you fancy yourself to be superlatively clever, say, N.B. This is wit, and this irony. However, if falsehoods impertinent and detestable, — if assertions the most determined and frivolous, — if quotations the most dishonest, and the most obvious to detection, constitute wit, then may Mr NiSBET be proclaimed the wittiest man in Eu- rope. WILLIAM SxMELLIE. 485 But I hasten to an example which will doiihtless attract the attention of your friends, and excite the indignation of all honest men. " The faults," says Mr Nisbet, " that dis- grace your work are not of the typographical kind : they are much more important. Your fulsome encomiums on the blasphemous work of Abbe Resnal, and your commendation of Ha WKES WORTHS obsccuities, prove that sa'p- tics and injidels have no small share of your charity," &c. These few lines contain no less than two manifest and deliberate breaches of truth ; as the reader will perceive by turn- ing to the reviews in question*". Having ex- plained the plan of the Abbe Res^^als His- toire Philosophique et Politique, &c. and, in concurrence with all Europe, commended the authors ideas concerning trade, manufactures, geography, natural productions, &c. the re- viewer subjoins the following severe strictures against his notions of religion : " After," says the reviewer, " bestowing so large a portion of praise, the impartiality >v^ have professed de- mands that we should also mention what we think worthy of blame. Our author is not without his faidts. Perhaps he may be justly * Edinburgh r>Iag. ant! Rev. \'!l. I. p. 33. and p. 159. H h 3 486 MEMOIRS OF charged with impiety. His attack upon Chris- tianity is vehement ; nor does he treat any other form of worship with tenderness or with respect. Since rehgion is the growth of every soil, and seem necessary to mankind, had it not been wiser to have bent or to have lopt off the crooked and luxuriant branches than thus to have laid the ax to the root of the tree ?" How do you find yourself now, Mr Nisbet ? The invention of fifty more lies will not be sufiici- ent to cover this one. If the reader chuses to consult the article appealed to, he will find the Abbe Resnal heartily condemned for many other particulars beside that of irreligion. As to what you call the obscenities of Ha wKEs WORTHS Voyagcs, they are not com- mended. A few particulars in the manners of the people of Otaheite are mentioned as facts fit for the speculation of philosophers ; but by no means with a view to excite impro- per ideas. It would be equally absurd to stigmatize the writers on anatomy and mid- wifery as the most obscene authors of the age. But it would appear that Mr Nisbrts taste is too gross to allow him to read the manners of women in different ages and nations with personal safety. I am amazed, however, that WILLIAM SMELLIE. 487 Mr NisBETS avidity for blunders did not en- able liim to discover, in the review of Hawkes- woRTH, the word morality in place of manners. But the efficacy of morals appears not to be an article in his creed. You next remark, that " your unworthy treatment of the Reverend Dr Henry and Mr Walker show that you are no friend to good men or sincere Christians. I cannot but think it an honour done me to suffer in so good company, and to be reviled by those who have reviled such men as these,'' Here you bring in names into your quarrel with which you had no business, and for which I am certain these gentlemen have no reason to thank you. It is placing them in an awk- ward position, when you hold them up as mo- dels of goodness, and as shining luminaries in Christianity. Real good men chuse not to be exhibited as public spectacles of virtue. Modesty, which is one great article in a wor- thy character, cannot bear such an insult ; and if these gentlemen be really good men and sincere Christians, as I hope they are, I am certain they cannot, with propriety, have any communication with you, unless it be with the charitable view of bringing you back Hh4 488 MEMOIRS OF to the paths of virtue and of truth. But per- haps you wished to derive to yourself a third share of their righteousness. You have much need of it ; and I heartily wish it may do you a service, " I CANNOT," you observe, " admit the story of the Highland Sergeant to be ^rwe." But what is become of Orlando Furioso? In your first letter, you asserted that the a- necdote was stolen from that work. Now that this falsehood has likewise been detect- ed, you double about, and affect to deny the genuineness of the anecdote itself. The story is good ; whether true or fabulous merits not a serious investigation ; and, at any rate, Mr NisBET knows nothing of the matter: he is only here observing his usual trick of denying or affirming, as best suits his sinister pur- poses, without the smallest regard to truth. The following syllogism you imagine to be a demonstration that I did not write my for- mer letter : " You reproach me with having been bred in a printers shop ; a sure proof that the letter was not ivrofe by a printer." It is a sure proof, if proof were necessary, of tlie very reverse. I ref]^retted that a man WILLIAJI SMELLIE. 489 who knew the numberless accidents to which printing is Uable should have been base enough to exhibit wrong or transposed types as marks of ignorance in an author I The latter part of this paragraph is some- what singular : " But how," says Mr Nisbet, " you should think it an indignity for one clergyman to be bred in a printing-house any more than for another to be bred in an ale- house^ I am at a loss to imagine, and would propose it as a problem to the curious." The allusion to a clergyman bred in an ale- house is to me altogether incomprehensible. Your problem, however, has given rise to conjectures. In this city, it is generally sup- posed to mean the Reverend Dr Daniel M'QuEEN. But what phrenzy should have tempted you to insult that gentleman may be proposed as another problem to the curious. As your letter grows more entertaining to- wards the conclusion, it encourages me to make the more use of your own words ; " You call me a spouter of plays in the General As- sembly ; but your great learning hindered you from knowing that St Pavl, in his First E- pistle to the Corinthians, and Cicero, in his 490 MEMOIRS OP oration pro Vjtinio, have quoted plays as well as / did. I can bear any epithet that ap- plies to such men as these.'' St Paul^ Cice- RCy and MrNisBET, minister of Montrose, is as bizarre a conjunction as could well be ima- gined ! St Paul and Cicero, it would ap- pear, Mr NisBET conceives to have been both Christian apostles. Pauls quotation from a play is a hackneyed remark. Mr Foote, when in this place, used it as an argument against a certain seimon"^ ; and Mr Nisbet seems to think the argument solid ! It is a trite observation, that little minds, who have nothing to recommend them to notice, per- petually endeavour to cover their own naugh- tiness or deformity under the shelter of supe- rior merit. You first link yourself with two Presbyterian divines ; now you buckle your- self to Paul and Cicero, whom you chuse to call spoil tors of plai/s, in order to keep up an imaginary connection with yourself. Rise a little higher in your absurd associations, and you will soon find yourself at the very pinacle of blasphemy and distraction. A little farther on, we meet with a fresh increase to the catalogue of your falsehoods. f Pr. ached some years ; go in the New Church of Edinburgh. WILLIAM S-'.IELLIE. 491 " You likewise call those who would exalt church-authority in some cases ahove the rights of conscience, the moderate party ; which is as complete Irish as when you tell us, in your last number, p. 403. of a canoe appearing to two persons fast asleep) on the banks of lake Ontario." As to the different parties in the church, let them fight their own battles ; but I must not lose sight of the canoe. The Irishism, Sir, is a fabrication of your own : For the justice of this charge, I appeal to the meanest of your parishioners. In the tale of the Intlians*, v/hich bears strik- ing marks of the taste, judgment, and hu- manity of its author f, we are told that, af- ter Sidney and Marano had been exhausted with fatigue and agitation of mind, they fell asleep on the banks of a lake. The tale goes on in this manner : — " Calm and unruf- fled was their repose ; they enjoyed the hap- py visions of innocence, and dreamed not of impending danger. The moon, in unrivalled glory, had now attained her meridian, when * Sec Edinburgh Magazine and Review, vol- iv. p. 403, the in- dividual page to which Mr Nisbet refers when he makes the above infamous remark, t Mr RicHARDdON Professor of Humanity in the University of Glasgow. 492 . MEMOIRS OF the intermitting noise of rowers came slowly along the lake. A canoe soon appeared ; and the dipping oars, arising at intervals from the water, shone gleaming along the deep," &c. Now, Sir, if you have a servant-maid or a cow-herd near you, desire them to read the above passage, and ask them to whom the ca- noe appeared ? They will answer, with truth and simplicity, that it appeared to the imagi- tion of the author, vrho all along describes events and objects as a spectator. Indeed it is impossible to compose *a tale or romance in any other manner. The position and features of the persons asleep, the moon, the lake, the rowers, are all particularly described. Who saw these appearances ? Not Sidney and Ma- RANO surely, but the author of the tale. It is needless to be more explicit. It is painful to remark the appea?Ytnces of atrocity and of guilt which this example of your dishonesty affords. I really begin to think that you can- not read, or that there is some unaccount- able perversion in your understanding, which makes you conceive rig^^^ to be wrong, and truth to he falsehood. I NOW proceed to examine your political principles, which are not incurious. In Mr WILLIAM SMELLIE. 49^ LiSTONS speech, given by the author of the Assembly proceedings, in the Magazine for July, p. 416. is the following remark : " The spirit of sectaries," says Mr Liston, " is a dangerous spirit. It once overturned both church and state in these kingdoms. It is at this moment fomenting rebellion in our colonies, and it will ever have a tendency to anarchy and confusion." To this passage the author of the proceedings subjoins this note : " It is very remarkable, that the only Wilkites in this country are some of the wild party, both clergymen and laymen ; and that, dur- ing the rebellion in forty-five, the only cler- gymen in Scotland who were suspected of Jacobitism were two or three of that party .'^ In your last you meant to combat these facts ; but the following quotation will shew how beautifully you betray yourself and the party you wish to support. Take your own words ; for I will not imitate you in quoting dishonestly. " You say, that it is observ- able, that the only Wilkites anions the clergy (I suppose you iJ\Qm\ friends to liber ly and the cons^ution) are a few of the wild party. You are doubly mistaken to my knowledge. They are neither yew, nor whol- ly of that party, who wish w^ell to liberty and the faith of charters. But you are quite sur- 494 MEMOIRS OF prising when you tell us, that the only Ja- cobites of the clergy in the rebellion 1745 were of that party. They must be very wild principles indeed, that incline people at once to such opposites as Jacobitism and li~ heriy^ passive obedience and licentiousness. A philosoper must be diverted by so bizarre an appearance. If the principles of the Wil- kites and Jacobites be the same, as you attribute them to the same persons, pray why is not Mr Wilkes preferred at court ?" Here yoii not only admit the justness of Mr LisTONS remark, but you extend it to your party. " They are neither /m," you say, " nor wholly of that party, who wish well to libertjj and the faith of charters.'' Does not this plainly indicate that you and your friends are Wilkites, and favourers of the present re- hellion in America? The writer of the proceed- ings never considered Wilkites and Jacobites to be synonimous terms, any farther than as they both mean enemies to the present go- vernment ; and, from your own accoimt of your principles, and those of ^our party, it would appear that they lead to rebellion, whatever form or name it may assume ! Have you read the late proclamation ? and do you WILLIAM SMELLIE. 495 comprehend its full force ? The publication of treasonable sentiments is somewhat dan- gerous. I imagined that the many flagrant instances of duplicity in which you have been detected, might perhaps have recommended you to the attention of your presbytery. I am now alarmed, lest the first foolish con- troversy 1 ever was engaged in, should have tiie disagreeable effect of bringing a man to an untimeiij end. But you have more reason to hope from the moderation of His Majestys Advocate, than you could expect from his vigilance and his discernment. Matters of this nature may be overlooked ; but they pass not, therefore, unnoticed. There is a cur- rent report in town, that a certain reverend Doctor of your party, has lately had one of his private letters, to another reverend Doc- tor in America, returned from the Secretary of States Office, with a rebuke for a first fault, but with a caveat to beware for the future of encouraging and enforcing rebel- lious principles. If you persist in your opinions, it will be prudent in you to leave Montrose, and to transport yourself to Ame- rica *, where you may bellow in safety * Mr NisBET, as formerly mentioned, did, according lo tUis ad- vice, transport himself to America, 496 MEMOIRS OF sedition and obstinacy into the ears of a de- luded people. I HAVE now travelled over your memorable system of falsehoods, absurdities, and sedi- tious principles. Besides these, your readers must doubtless have observed a beautiful air of pedantry and hypocrisy spread over the whole. In the following scrap of Latin, your modes- ty is conspicuous. ' Desine bonos petidan- tissima lingua consectari.' Your publications have discovered you to have no claim to the character of a good, or even of an honest cri- tic. You may still, however, have some distant hope of becoming a good man. But, if you continue to write any more in the same strain, you will in time eradicate every principle of virtue which nature may have forced into your heart. You affect to regret that you should have " lost some pages of Si Augustine,'' while you were animadverting on my last letter. Pious soul ! how does your devotion allow you leisure to invent and publish lies ? You complain that I used you scurrilous- ly and virulently. If truth be to you scur- rility, and just reproof, virulence ; then was WILLIAM SMEI.LIE. 497 my last truly scurrilous and virulent. In one part of your letter, you say, that, in your first, you imitated the language and manner of the reviewers ; in another, vou tell us, that you would be ashamed to use their lan- guage, ' unless in irony^ or to themselves.' Upon these topics you may make yourself perfectly easy. Your publications have al- ready convinced every man of taste and judgment, that it exceeds the limits of your talents to imitate any writer superior to those of Mother Gooses Tales, or Satans In- visible World. It is with real pain that I thus expose you to the world ; but, after what you have writ- ten, no person of candour can say that I am to blame. If your behaviour had been no- thing worse than weak and indecent, I would have withheld my correction. For, in a character, of which wisdom was never sus- pected to be a part, it is not surprising to find follies and absurdities ; and of these the proper punishment is contempt and silence. But, when you presumed. Sir, to burst through the decorum of private life, — when, in the wild excesses of your rage, you forgot both truth and justice, it Avas necessary that Vol. I, I i 498 MEMOIRS OF I should speak. I feel sufficiently the awk- v/arduess of my situation, and am truly ashamed of the imbecillity of. my opponent. But I feel also what I owe to truth, and to my friends ; and, while I despise the insigni- ficance of your composition, and the frivol- ousness of your intellect, I cannot help think- ing, that disingenuities require to be laid open, and falsehoods to be detected. The perplexity into which you have thrown your- self is dreadful. To save your heart, your real and sincere friends, if any such you have, will, I doubt not, be ready to give up your understanding ; and, if it affected not your subsistence and support, would be even forvv^ard to pronounce, that your brain is not sound. My expression. Sir, is ardent ; but I appeal to your letters if it is not proper. The evidence on which I rest is as uncom- mon as it is convincing. My vouchers are forcible, circumstantial, and to the point. What will be your private reflections upon the matter^ I kno^Y not. My liumanity makes me wish they may lead you to re- pentance. I cannot, however, prevent your persevering in your demerit. You have heard from me twice. Bevfare of provoking a third letter. October 1. William S^iellie. WILLIAM S3IELLIE. 499 Both as the prime mover and principal conductor of the Edinburgh Magazine and Reviev,^, and as a Uterary character of much genius and reputation, long and intimately connected with Mr Smellie, some more Dar- ticular notice of Dr Gilbert Stuart seems called for in these Memoirs, besides the in- cidental circumstances which have occurred in the account already given of the Edin- burgh Magazine and Review : And to the folloAving biographical sketch, several letters to and from that eminently learned author are subjoined, under the impression that every thing respecting him will probably be perused with considerable interest. Dr Gilbert Stuart, L. L. D. v>^as a per- son of eminent genius, extensive learning, and great literary powers, but of ill regulated conduct. His father, Mr George Stuart, a profound classical scholar, was long Pro- fessor of Humanity and Roman Antiquities in the University of Edinburgh. Dr Stu- art was born at Edinburgh in 17^2, in which city he received a complete classical and literary education, under the superin- tending care of his learned father. When jittle more than twenty years of age, he I i 2 500 Memoirs of wrote a dissertation concerning the antiquity of tlie British constitution, for which he was complimented with the diploma of Doctor of Laws. While engaged in some of his stu- dies and projected publications, he has been known to confine himself for many weeks to solitary literary labour, hardly ever stirring abroad for air and exercise ; but he unfortu- nately indulged in occasional sallies of vast- ly too great latitude and even licentiousness. Having turned the best of his studies to the law, he became a candidate for one of the law chairs in the University of Edin- burgli which happened to fall vacant ; and being diappointed, as is said through the proper interference of the late celebrated Dr RoBEP.TsoN, then Principal of the Universi- ty, who is reported to have objected to the dissipation of his habits, as rendering him unfit to be entrusted vrith the instruction of youtii. Instead of improving the deserved chastisement which he had experienced on this occasion, as a useful lesson, tliat he mio'ht amend his evil habits, and reform his own misconduct, tb.e real cause of losing the situation on which he had anxiously fixed bis hopes of ceiebritv, and which his genius WILLIAM SMELLIE, 501 and attainments were admirably calculated for filling with reputation to himself and ad- vantage to the University, his eager and irascible temperament of mind became filled with indignant and unconquerable hatred of the person whom he believed to have been the cause of his well merited rejection. In consequence of this deep-rooted enmi- ty, which he cherished with rancarous keen- ness during the whole remainder of his life, Dr Stuart prostituted his great talents in the composition of two historical works, otherwise of distinguished merit, which con- sist in a great measure of violent invectives against corresponding publications by Prin- cipal Robertson. The work entitled a View of Society in Europe, by Dr Stuart, is in obvious contradiction to the excellent luminous Introduction to the admirable History of the Emperor Charles V. by Dr Robertson: And Dr Stuarts History of Scotland, from the Reformation to the death of Queen Mary, is an undisguised and viru- lent hypercritical attack on the History of Scotland by the same illustrious author. 502 ME3I0IRS OF On his disappointment of the Professor- ship, Dr Stitart went to London, where he was sometime employed as a writer in the Monthly Review. But of the share which he took in that long established and respect- able literary journal, of his other literary la- bours at that time in the metropolis, or of his general habits at that period, we have no information. In 1773, he returned to Edin- burgh, where he set on foot the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, of which an account ]ias already been given. During the sub- sistence of that periodical work, Dr Stuart mostly resided with his father at Mussel- burgh ; where he often devoted himself to seclusion, employed in intense application to study : But occasionally indulged in fits of extreme dissipation, which ultimately under- mined his constitution, and hurried him to a premature grave. In the course of one of his rambles, dur- ing the publication of the Edinburgh Maga- zine and Review, Dr Stuart came one even- ing to the house of Mr Smellie in a state of complete intoxication, and was imme- diately put to bed. Awakening in the course of the night, he conceived himself in a bro- WILLIAM SMELLIK. 503 thel, and alarmed the family by repeatedly vociferatius: liouse ! house! Mr Sjiellie came as soon as possible to the bedside of his friend, to learn \yhat he wanted, and endeavoured to persuade hiil^to go quietly again to sleep. On seeing Mr Smellie almost naked, and still im|Oressed with the idea of being in a house of bad fame, he addressed Mr Smellie with great emphasis in nearly the following words : "Smellie ! I never expected to find you in such a house. Get on your clothes, and return immediately to your wife and fa- mily ; and be assured I shall never mention this affair to any one." On another ramble of dissipation, Dr Stu- art is said to have taken several days to travel on foot betv/een the Cross of Edin- burgh and Musselburgh, a distance of only six miles ; stopping at every public-house by the way in which good ale could be found, . of which he was remarkably fond. In this strange expedition he was acccmpanied part of the way by several boon companions, who were fascinated beyond their ordinary exces- ses by his great pov/ers of wit and hilarity in conversation ; but who gradually fell off at various stages of the slow progression. The 504 MEMOIRS, &Ci last of these companions began his return towards Edinburgh from the Magdalane Bridge, Avithin a mile of Musselburgh ; but oppressed by the fumes of the ale, which he had too long and liberally indulged in, he staggered in the middle of the night into the ash-pit of a great steam engine which then stood by the road-side, and fell into a pro- found sleep. On awakening before day, he observed the mouth of an immense fiery furnace open, several figures all grim with soot and ashes were stirring the fire, ranging the bars of the enormous grate, and throw- ing on more fuel, while the terrible clanking of the chains and beams of the machinery above, impressed his still confused imagina- tion with an idea that he was in hell. Horror- struck at the frightful idea, he is said to have exclaimed, ^' Good God ! is it come to this at last !" END OF VOLUME FIRST. 'ifj'Se^ »;py/ ■;;5"a»^e.«c^.'PT4 *"jt^5^Si