WRITINGS OF OH. SMITH. TXXIII

<c come hither, and pafs fome days with me in this“ folitude. I want to know what you have been“ doing, and propofe to exaft a rigorous account“ of the method in which you have employedf ‘ yourfelf during your retreat. I am pofitive you“ are in the wrong in many of your fpeculaticns,il efpecially where you have the misfortune tou differ from me. All thefe are reafons for our“ meeting, and I wifli you would make me fome“ reafonable propofal for that purpofe. There is“ no habitation in the ifland of Inchkeith , other-u wife I lhauld challenge you to meet me on that-“ fpot, and neither of us ever to leave the place,“ till we were fully agreed on all points of con-“ troverfy. I expecl General Conway here to-“ morrow, whom I Hi all attend to Rofeneathand11 I fliall remain there a few days. On my return,“ I hope to find a letter from you, containing a<s bold acceptance of this defiance.”

At length ( in the beginning of the year 1776)Mr. Smith ■ accounted to the world for his longretreat., by the publication of his Inquiry into the“ Nature and Caufes of the Wealth of Nations.”A letter of congratulation on this event, from Mr.Hume , is now before me. It is dated iff April1776, (about fix months before Mr. Hume’s death,)and difeovers an amiable folicitude about his friend’sliterary fame. iu Euge ! Belle l Dear Mr. Smith:“ I am much pleafed with your performance,