LXXII ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND

attached them to the ’place of their birth. In thefociety of fuch men, Mr. Smith delighted; and tothem he was endeared, not only by his fimpleandunaffuming manners, but by the perfect knowledgethey all poffelfed of thofe domeftic virtues whichhad diftinguifhed him from his infancy.

Mr. Hume, who ( as he tells us himfelf) confi-“ dered “ a town as the true fcene for a man ofletters,” made many attempts to feduce him fromhis retirement. In a letter, dated in 177a, he urgeshim topafs fome time with him in Edinburgh . “ I“ fhall not take any excufe'from your flate of“ health, which 1 fuppofe only a fubterfuge inven-“ ted by indolence and love of folitude. Indeed,“ my dear Smith , if you continue to hearken to“ complaints of this nature, you will cut yourfelf“ out entirely from human fociety, to the great“ lofs of both parties.” In another letter, datedin 1769, from his houfe in James’s Court , (whichcommanded a profpebl of the frith of Forth, andof the oppofite coafl of Fife,) “lam glad ( fays“ he) to have come within fight of you; but as I“ would alfo be within fpeaking terms of you , I“ wifli we could concert meafures for that puipofe.“ I am mortally fick at fea, and regard with hor-“ ror and a kind of hydrophobia the great gulph“ that lies between us. I am alfo tired of travel-“ ling, as much as you ought naturally to be of“ flaying at home. I therefore propofe to you to