A Lebler Te De. folam Smith, wits . Bttarpara Joykeishus Poblic Livre Govt. of West Bengal DR. ADAM SMITH. SIR, Low have been lately employed in embalming a philosopher; his Sody, T believe I must say; for concerning the other part of him, neithor you nor he seemed to have eutertained on idea, sleoping or waking. Else, it surely might have claimed a fute of your care and attention; a) one would think, the beliet of the seu’s ¢: ‘and immortality could prhanes, & it did do good ima Theory of Moral ppt every gentloman understands his est, ‘yinido an unhuown correspondent the honour, ‘Sie, to dowept 2 few plain remarks, in a free and easy sabe the curious letter to Mr. Sraartan, ia which fhla qver memorable operation of embalming in performed? Oar philosopher's account of his ote if will Hikomiao ho considared as wo go along. ‘Lrec me, good Doctor, I am no bigot, enthusiast, or enemy topaman leaming—H? ego ix Arcadid— Lheve mado many & hearty meal, in private, upon. Cicero and Vrrers, ps well ag Mr. Hume’ Few persons (though pethaps as My, Dipaim says, {dine pt Ag 4 > A Letter to Dr. Adam Smith. 3 ‘upod a, Tike oceasion, “ I onght not to judge on that ~ subject”) have a quicker relish for the productions of genius, and the brantics of composition, It is therefore as lite ia my intention, asit ism my power, to prejudice the literary character of your friend. From some of his writings I have received great pleasure, and have ever esteemed his History of Engiand to have been a noble effort of Matter and Motion, Bul when a man takes it into his head 10 do mischiof, yon must be sensible, Sir, the Pab- Ye has always reason fo lament his being a cleeer fellor, f hope it will vot be deemed vanity in me likewise to say, that L have in my composition a large peo- portion of that, which our indnilable SuraKsPEARE styles, the mith af Ramen kindness. Unever knew what cavy or hatted was ; and am seady, at all times, to praise, wherever T can do it in honour and con- science. Davrp, Jdoubt not, was, as you afficm, a social agceeable person, of a convivial turn, lold a good story, and played well at bis favourite game caf whist Jinow uot that JOHN Tie PAINTER aid the kame, But there is no absurdity in the sup- position. If he did not, he might bava done it— Deetor, he uot offended—T mean na ham. T would only infer (ms much, that 1 could not, on that cvount, bring 1yself absolately to approve his odd faney of firing all tho dockyards in the kingdom, Concerning the philosophical opinions of Mr. Tums you observe’, that “1uen will, no doubt, Jeelge variously.” "They are certainly at Tibeyy 59 19-~ do, because the unthor himself did dhe same." Some- times, to be sure, he estcomed them ingenious, deep, subtle, clegant, and ealentated to diffuse his literary fame to the onds of the world. But, at other times, he judged vesy distecently ; very much 20, indeed. J hare Ge pad * Thi, poh. A Felter ta Dr, Adam Sinith, % "<1 dino,” says be, “1 play a game at back-gammon, I converse, and am merry wilh my friends; and When, after three or four hours’ amusement, I would retur ti these speculations, they appear 80 cold, 80 strained, and so ridicufous, (hat 1 cannot find in my heart to enter into them any farther." Now, Sir, if you only will give me leave to judge, before dimer, of Mr. Uvae's philosophy, as he judged of il after dinner, we shall have no further dispute upon that subject, 1 could indeed wish, if it were possible, to have a scheme ofthought, which would Lear con- iemplating, at auy time of the day; becanse, other- wise, a person must be al the expence of maintain ing a brace of these anctaphysical Mobby-Horses, one to mount in the moring, and the other in the afternoon. After all, Sir, friend as E am to freedom of opinion, {and no one living can bo moro so) I am rather sotry, methinks, that. men should judge so cueréously of Mr. Humx's philosophical speculations. Yor since the design of them ix to banish out of the world every idea of troth and comfarl, salvation and im- mortality, a future state, and the providence, and even existence of Gop, it seems a pity, that we can= not be all of a mind about thom, though wo might have formerly liked to iivar the author crack a joke, over a botile in his life-time. And 1 could have Been well ploased to have been informed, by you, Sir, that before his death, ke hud ccased to number among bis happy effusions tracts of this kind and tendency. For—(let me come a little eloser to you, Dr. if you please, upon this subjeci—Don’t be under apy up- prehensions—my vamo does not begin with a B—) ‘Are you sure, and can you make we sure, that there "4 Preatien on Hamen Noturr, 1 467. In the Postscript to this Letor, 4 view will be exhibiled of the Toman system, tea exsety pened (u is mulher at als o'clock in the evening. a3