BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
countries of Europe. The “Theory of Moral Sentiments” appeared in 1’759,
and the same volume contained a dissertation on the origin of languages, and
on the different genius 6f those which are original and compounded. Towards
the end of 1763, he received an invitation from the Right Hon. Charles Townshend,
to accompany Henry Duke of Buccleuch on his travels, and the
liberal terms of the proposal made, added to the strong desire he had felt of
visiting the Continent of Europe, induced him to resign his Professorship at
Glasgow. Before he left that city, he requested all his pupils to attend him,
and as each name was called over he returned the several sums he had received
as fees, saying, that as he had not completely fulfilled his enga,ment, he was
resolved his class should be instructed that year gratis, and the remainder of
his lectures should be read by one of the senior students.
After leaving Glasgow, be joined the Duke at London early in 1764, and
set out for Paris in the month of March. In this first visit to Paris they only
spent ten or twelve days, and then proceeded to Toulouse, where they k e d
their residence : they next undertook a pretty extensive tour through the south
of France, to Geneva, and about Christmas 1765, revisited Paris, where they
resided till October 1766, when the Duke returned to London.
For the next ten years Dr. Smith lived chiefly with his mother in Kirkcaldy,
and his time was entirely occupied by his studies. In the beginning of 1’1’16,
he gave to the world the result of his labour, by the publication of his “ Inquiry
into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.” About two years
after the appearance of this work, he was appointed one of the Commissioners
of his Majesty’s Customs in Scotland, a preferment bestowed upon him
through the interest of the Duke of Buccleuch. When he obtained this appointment
he‘offered to resign the annuity of $300 per annum, which had beeli
granted him for superintending the Duke’s education and travels, an offer which
was immediately declined. The greater part of the two years preceding his
appointment he lived in London in a society too extensive and varied to afford
him any opportunity of indulging his taste for study, although much of it was
spent with some of the most distinguished literary characters, as may be seen by
the following verses by Dr. k n a r d , addressed to Sir Joshua Reynolds and his
friends :- ‘‘ If I have thoughts and can’t express ’em,
Gibbon shall teach me how to dress ’em,
In words select and terse ;
Jones teach me modesty and Greek,
Smith how to think, Burke how to speak,
And Eendire to converse.”
In 1778, Dr. Smith removed to Edinburgh, with the view of attending to
the duties of his new office, where he passed the last twelve years of his life, enjoying
an affluence more than equal to all his wants. He now and then revisited
London, The last time he was there, he had engaged to dine with Lord Melville,
then Mr. Dundas, at Wimbledon ; Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, Mr. Addington,
afterwards Lord Sidmouth, and some other of his lordship’s friends were there.
