WRITINGS Of DR. SMITH.

Ill

extend the boundaries of fcience, but to enlightenand reform the commercial policy of Europe .

The fchool of Kirkaldy , where Mr. Smith re-ceived the firft rudiments of his education, wasthen taught by Mr. David Miller, a teacher,in his day, of confiderable reputation, and wholename deferves to be recorded, on account of theeminent men whom that very obfcure feminaryproduced while under his direction. Of this num-ber were Mr. Oswald ofDunikeir; his brother;Dr. John Oswald , afterwards Bilhop ofRaphoe ;and our late excellent colleague, the ReverendDr. John Drysdale : all of them nearly contem-porary with Mr. Smith , and united with himthrough life by the clofeft ties of friendlliip. —> Oneof his fchool-fellows is ftill alive * ; and to hiskindnefs I am principally indebted for the fcantymaterials which form the firft part of this narrative.

Among thefe companions of his earlieft years ,Mr. Smith foon attracted notice, by his paflionfor books, and by the extraordinary powers ofhis memory. The weaknefs of his bodily confti-tution prevented him from partaking in their moreadtive amufements j but he was much beloved bythem on account of his temper, which, thoughwarm, was to an uncommon degree friendly andgenerous. Even then he was remarkable for thofe

* George Drysdale, Efq. of Kirkaldy , brother of the lataDr. Drysdale.