Atance, he, in conjunction with Mrs Drummond, his refpectable and accomplished spouse, did much more fervice to the indigent than most families of greater opulence. If the prefent neceffity was preffing, they gave money. They did more. When they difcovered that male or female petitioners were capable of perform ing any art or labour, both parties exerted themselves in procuring that fpecies of work which the poor people could perform. In cafes of this kind, which were very frequent, the lady took charge of the women, and his lordship of the men. From what has been faid concerning the various and numerous productions of his genius, it is obvious that there could be few idle moments in his long-protracted life. His mind was incef. fantly employed; either teeming with new ideas, or parfuing active and la borious occupations. At the fame time, with all this intellectual ardour, one great feature in the character of Lord Kames, befides his literary talents and his public fpirit, was a remarkable innocency of mind. He not only never indulged in detraction, but when any fpecies of fcandal was exhibited in his company, he ei. ther remained filent, or endeavoured to give a different turn to the converfation. As natural confequences of this amiable difpofition, he never meddled with politics, even when parties ran to indecent lengths in this country; and, what is ftill more remarkable, he never wrote a sentence, notwithstanding his numerous publications, without a direct and manifeft intention to benefit his fellow-crea Providence, dwelt upon his mind. From this fource arofe that propenfity, which appears in all his writings, of investigating final causes, and tracing the wisdom of the Supreme Author of Nature. Two days before his death, Lord Kames, who had uniformly retained the firmeft belief in the future exiftence of human fouls, told the late celebrated Dr Cullen, that he earneftly wished to be away, because he was exceedingly curious to learn the nature and manners of another world. He added, "Doctor, as I never could "be idle in this world, 1 fhall wil"lingly perform any talk that may "be impofed upon me But here we must stop. Lord Kames, to the great regret of the public, died on the 27th day of December 1782. A he had no marked difeafe, but the debility neceffarily refulting from extreme old age, a few days before his death, he went to the Court of Seffion, addreffed all the judges feparate ly, told them he was fpeedily to de part, and took a folemn and an af fectionate farewell. Hume and Rousseau-Dr Henry's hif tory. The time which Mr Hume fpent with M. Rouffeau gradually enabled him to unfold his real character. “I "at laft perceived," fays he, "with "infinite pain, that this ingenious "man was born for tumult and "ftorms;" but, as Mr Hume had done every thing to accommodate Rouffeau, and to render his fituation comfortable, he never dreamed that he himfelf was to become a victim of his rage and peevithne fs. The origin of the rupure between these two great men took its rife from a ridiculous circumftance. Mr Horace Walpole, who, it would appear, was no great friend to Rouffeau, wrote a letter, under the fictitious defignation of Frederic King of Pruffia, inviting him to come and refide in his court at Berlin. Of this affair Mr Hume had no knowledge. But Rouffeau, from what circumstances it is difficult to conjecture, imagined that Mr Hume had written and circulated that let ter with a view to perplex and burlelque him Mr Hume, in this more than foolish ffair, excuses Mr Walpole by calling it an innocent plaifanterie. But when the genius, the temper, and the diseased state of Rouf feau's body are confidered, inftead of a plafanterie, it was a direct cruelty, and had, by a natural mistake, the unhappy effect of converting two cordial and celebrated friends into mor tal enemies. M. Rouffeau, though Mr Hume procured him a grant of a penfion from his Majefty, actuated by some whimsical ideas of independency, and a notion that his belt friend meant to betray him, refused to accept of it. Mr Hume, by friendly letters, preffed Rouffeau to accept of the penfion; but the latter obftinately perfiited in his denial, and even reproached Mr Hume, in terms the most indecent, for fo fuccefsfully endeavouring to ferve him, and to render his circum ftances eafy for life. The fuppofititious letter, written in the name of the King of Pruffia, after copies of it had been circulated over Europe, was at last published in the St. James's Chronicle. It was in that newspaper where Rouffeau firft faw this imprudent and ill-judged production. M. Rouffeau immediately wrote to the editors of the St. James's Chronicle, complaining bitterly of the impofture, and indirectly infinuating that the pretended letter was compofed by Mr Hume. When Mr Hume learnt that he was fufpected by M. Rouffeau to be the author and publifher of this letter, it gave him much uneafinefs. Mr Hume remarks, that after the great attention and beneficent fervices he had, with unremitting perfeverance, beftowed on M. Rousseau, he was suddenly become the object of is refentment and obloquy, upon no other foundation than a foolish and even abfurd suspi- . cion. Mr Hume, notwithstanding this unhappy affair, continued to protect and cherifh Rouffeau by friendly letters as well as good offices. But, foon afterwards, Rousseau threw off every mafk, and accufed Mr Hume openly as a traitorous enemy, without affigning any reasons but what were evidently capricious, frivolous, and contemptible. I fhall mention one example only The first night after these two remarkable mén left Paris, in their way to Britain, they both flept in the fame chamber. Mr Rouffeau, in the laft letter he ever wrote to Mr Hume, which is of an enormous length, fays, that during the night, Mr Hume, feveral times, called out with uu ual vehemence, Je tiens J. J. Rouf au. He, however, acknowledges, that he knew not whether Mr Hume was fleeping or waking. The expreffion, in the Freuch language, is ftrong; but, ke many verbs, tenir is frequently used in very different and even oppofite fenfes. Rouffeau interpreted the expreffion thus: I have kouffeau in my poffeffion, or, I hold him faft. Every time thefe words were repeated, Rouffeau tells us that he trembled with terror This and fome fimilar infignificant circumftances gave rife to a complete rupture between thofe two great men. When the periodical paper called the Edinburgh Magazine and Review was published in the year 1773, the late Rev Dr Henry, then one of the minifters of this city, a moft laborious clergyman, as well as a facetious and good humoured companion, brought forth the fecond volume of his Hiftory of Great Britain. Dr Henry, it was faid, applied in the moft earneft manner to Mr Hume, to give an account of that volume in the Review, to which Mr Hume gave his affent. When the manuscript ap peared peared, after reading it, the praifes appeared to be fo high trained, that the Reviewers, in my prefence, agreed that Mr Hume's account was meant as a burlefque upon the au thor. It was, therefore, committed to the farther confideration of one of their number, who ftill continued to be of the fame opinion, and, accordingly, raised the encomiums fo high, that no perfon could mistake the fuppofed meaning of the writer. The types of the manufcript, in this laft form, were composed, and proof-fheets fent to Mr Hume for his perufal and corrections To the aftonifhment of the Reviewers, Mr Hume wrote them an angry letter, complaining, in the higheft terms, of the freedoms they had ufed with his manufcript, and declaring, that in the account he had given of Dr Henry's Hiftory, he was perfectly fincere. Upon which, Mr Hume's review was cancelled, and another was written by a member of the Society, condemning the book in terms perhaps too fevere; fo that Mr Hume's intention of ferving Dr Henry was not only abortive, but produced an oppofite effect. Another circumitance in the life of Hr Hume mult not be omitted. When a young man, he applied to be made Profeffor of Moral Philofophy in the Univertity of Edinburgh. The Scottish clergy took an alarm. They reprefented that Mr Hume, in his principles was an Atheist, or at leaft a Deift; and, confequently that he was very ill qualified to teach morals to youth in a Chriftian country. Their remonftrances were effectual; and Mr Hume's application was rejected. From that moment, as was natural, he conceived a rooted antipathy to the generality of Scottish clergymen. This antipathy was not, however, indifcriminate; for he was in intimate habits of friendship and fociality with feveral of the ministers of the Church of Scotland; as the celebrated Dr Robertfon, Dr Blair, Dr Wallace, ir Jardine, Dr Wifhart, Dr Dryidal, Mr Home, the author of the ingenious and popular tragedy of Douglas, and many others. Thefe reverend and learned gentlemen, however much they differed fro a Mr Hume in religious or philo-. fophical opinions, were fully fenfible of his genius as an author, and of his worth as a man. Dr Adam Smith. That Mr Smith had many peculiarities, both in his manners, and in his intellectual habits, (and what man of genius has not?) was obvious even to fuperficial obfervers. He was but ill qualified for the general intercourse of fociety, or for the active employments of life. The various and extenfive fpeculations which he indulged from a very early period of his youth, and the ample materials derived from his own invention, made him often inattentive to common occurrences, and to familiar objects. Even when in company, Mr Smith was apt to be engroffed with his ftudies, as appeared from the motion of his lips, as well as from his looks and geflures. Of what is called abfence in company, he exhibited frequent and remarkable examples. He often walked for miles with Dr Hutton, one of his mot ingenious, learned, and intimate friends in Edinburgh; and, tho the cheerful Doctor, in order to rouse Mr Smith's attention, talked to him frequently, he feldom uttered a word, but walked on moving his lips, and muttering to himself. It was probably owing, in fome measure, to this circumstance, that Mr Smith fo feldom joined in the common topics of general converfation, and that he was occafionally difpofed to exprefs his own ideas fomewhat in the form of a lecture. This practice, however, did not originate from a defire to gratify vanity, or to engrofs too much of the Dd2 con His opinions of men, which he fometimes formed upon a fuperficial acquaintance, were often erroneous. But the natural temper of his mind difpofed him more to indulge fond partialities than ill-founded prejudices. Conftantly occupied with extenfive views of human affairs, he had neither time nor inclination to em ploy his houghts on the peculiarities of common characters. Accordingly, though deeply fkilled in the powers of the human mind, as well as in the paffions and propenfities of the heart; yet, in judging of individual characters, his eftimates were fometimes formed in a manner remarkably false and precipitate. The fame remark is applicable to the opinions he occafionally gave of books, and of fpeculative fubje&ts. These were often not uniformly what might have been expected from a man of his fuperior understanding and knowledge. His opinions and fimilar topics were not unfrequently influenced by accidental circumstances and the humour of the moment; but, when thefe were retailed by perfons who were not thoroughly acquainted with him, they conveyed falfe ideas concerning his genuine fentiment and character. On fuch occafions, however, his remarks always contained much truth and ingenuity; and, if the different opinions, which he expreffed upon the fame fubjects, had been conjoined, they would have furnished materials for a judgment both juft and comprehenfive. But, in his friendly affociations, he did not take the trouble of drawing thofe qualified conclufions which are fo confpicuous in his print ed works. He generally gave a bold and mafterly sketch of the object from the first point of view that occurred to his fancy. His pictures were always vivid and expreffive, and had a ftrong refemblance to the ori ginals, when viewed under a parti cular afpect, but feldom conveyed a jult and complete conception of it in all its parts and dimensions. But, however thefe peculiarities of his manners are to be accounted for, it is unquestionable that they were refults of a candid and an innocent mind. His external appearance exhibited nothing very remarkable. In ftature, he fomewhat exceeded the ordinary fize; and his countenance was manly and agreeable. When warmed with the converfation of his friends, his features were often illuminated with fmiles of inexpreffible benignity, and his geftures were animated and not ungraceful. His tendency to abfence, especially in the company of ftrangers, gave his manner fometimes the appearance of embarraffment. In his deportment, when walking, there were fome tingularities. His head had a gentle motion from fide to fide; and his body, at every ep, had a kind of rolling or vermicular motion, as if he meant to alter his direction, or even to turn back. In the ftreets, or elsewhere, he always carried his cane on his fhoulder, as a foldier does his mufket. Thefe may be confidered as flight fhades; but, in a picture, flight fhades are often highly characteristic. His library, though not a very large collection, but moft judicioufly felected, he bequeathed, together with the rest of his property, to his coufin David Douglas, Efq. Advocate. The first time I happened to be in his library, Mr Smith obferved me looking at the books with fome degree of curiofity, and perhaps furprife; for most of the volumes were elegantly, and fome of them fuperbly bound. You must have remarked,' he faid, that I am a beau in nothing but my books." Upon Upon the whole, Mr Smith was one of thofe extraordinary men whom, at fome times only, nature exhibits to the view of mortals. Enough has already been faid of his learning and mental abilities. Though his compofitions always conveyed diftinét ideas; yet, in language, he is often carelefs and inattentive. Every reader of tafte mult perceive the justice of this re mark. The inftances are innumerable. where he employs the fame verb or noun, two or three times in the fame fentence, when he might, with the utmost eafe, have diverfified them, and given a greater and more harmonious effect to his compofition, without injuring, in the fmalleft degree, the perfpicuity of his thoughts and reafonings. HISTORY OF PRINCE FEROKH-FAUL; A PERSIAN TALE. TN the kingdom of Serendib, there was a fovereign to fuccesful and happy, that nothing was wanting to complete the felicity of his reign, but a fon. For this bleffing he had recoarie to prayers both night and day, and after a confiderable time spent in fupplication, a reclufe fuddenly appeared before him, and prefenting him with an apple of much beauty and flavour, faid, This fruit will prove the fulfilment of thy defire. It is proper that this night thou give it the queen to The fultan obeyed the commands of the reclufe, and at the appointed time a fon was born to his hopes. eat.' The faltan now commanded that his aftrologers should narrowly examine the aspects of the planets, and calculate the nativity of the young prince. Having made their oblervations, they reprefented to the attendants on the throne, that there was every promife of good fortune, but that at the age of fourteen he would be in danger of feiring much from love, on the fight of a portrait. The fultan, warned by this prediction, appointed Confidential perfons to attend conftantly In turn upon the prince, that no pictures might be prefented to his eye. But as it is impoffible for the wifeft man to oppose fate with contrivances, 1 the prince, about his fourteenth year, going one day into an apartment of the palace, faw a female attendant, who upon his approach fhut down the lid of a cheft with great hafte. He infifted upon fering the contents, which happened to be port-tolios of drawings. At first the refuted, but the prince being importunate, at length uplifted the lid, and opened a volume; which he had feargely done, when the fatal portrait of the fair princels, who (the aftrologers had fore toid) was to occafion him fo many perils, prefented itfelf to his view. IIe inftantly fainted, and the flave conveyed intelli gence of his condition to the fultan, and related the happy caufe of the diforder. When recovered from his fit, his mind became diftractedly bent on travelling, and the fultan was obliged to fubmit to his inclination. Freed from reftraint, the prince fet out in purfuit of the original, whofe portrait had captivated him. The fon of his father's vizier, named Jaffier, who had been brought up with prince FerokhFaul from is infancy, when he heard of his forlorn condition, offered to accompany him, which was accepted. After much toillome and fatiguing travel, they reached a populous city, through every ftreet and alley of which they fearched in vain. Quitting this city in despair, the prince took up his abode at an idol temple not far from it, which had many spacious buildings for pilgrims and devorees, and refolved to propitiate heaven by a portion of prayer and p.nance. more A few days after, Jaffer once vificed the city, to find out, if poffible, the original of the portrait which had defroyed the repofe of his master's heart; and the prince remained alone in the temple. During the night he repaired to the niche of the principal idol, which was illuminated with lamps, in order to invoke fuccefs to his purfuits. When half of the night was paffd, he heard the found of foot-fteps, and fuppofing them thofe of evil fpirits, concealed himflf behind the image. Suddenly entered a band of thieves, who, after the manner of the Hindoos, proftrating themselves. before the idol, faid, 'We hear that the daughter of the fultan of this city fleeps upon a bed fet with jewels, and wears ornaments equal in value to the revenues of an empire. If to-night, through thy aufpicious promotion of our defigns, we fhould gain the object of our defires, we will make the princefs' head an offering a |