WRITINGS OF DU. SMITH. XIII

“ There was no fittiation in which the abilitiesof Mr. Smith appeared to greater advantage thanas a Profeffor. In delivering his lectures, he trail-ed almoft entirely to extemporary elocution. Hismanner, though not graceful, was plain andtin a fleeted; and as he feemed to be always inter-c-fted in the fubjeCl, he never failed to intereft hishearers. Each difeourfe confifted commonly offeveral diflinct propolitions, which he fucceffivelyendeavoured to prove and illuftrate. Thefe pro-pofitions, when announced in general terms, had,from their extent, not unfrequently fomething ofthe air of a paradox. In his attempts to explainthem, he often appeared, at firft, not to be fuf-ficiently poffeffed of the fubjeft, and fpoke withfome helitation. As he advanced , however, the■matter feemed to crowd upon him, his mannerbecame warm and animated, and his expreffioneafy and fluent. In points fufceptible of contro-verfy, you could eafily difeern, that he fecretlyconceived an oppofltion to his opinions, and thathe was led upon this account to fupport themwith greater energy and vehemence. By thefulnefs and variety of his illuftrations, the fubjeftgradually fwelled in his hands, and acquired adimenhon which, without a tedious repetition ofthe fame views, was calculated to feize the atten-tion of his audience , and to afford them pleafure,as well as inftruciion, in following the fame object,