WRITINGS OF DR. SMITH.

V

M civilibus doftrinis addendam & afpergendam“ fufficeret*. " The fludy of human nature in allits branches, more particularly of the political hif-tory o mankind, opened a boundlefs field to hiscuriofity and ambition ; and while it afforded fcopeto all the various powers of his verfatile and com-prehenfive genius, gratified his ruling paffion, ofcontributing to the happinefs and the improve-ment of fociety. To this ftudy, diveriified at hisleifure hours by the lefs fevere occupations of po-lite literature, he feems to have devoted himfelfalmoft entirely from the time of his removal toOxford ; but he flill retained , and retained evenin advanced years, a recolleftion of his early ac-quifitions, which not only added to the fplendorof his conversation, but enabled him to exemplifyfome of his favorite theories concerning the na-tural progrefs of the mind in the inveftigation oftruth , by the hiftory of those sciences in which theconnexion and fucceffion of discoveries may betraced with the greateft advantage. If I am notmiftaken too, the influence of his early tafte forthe Greek geometry may be remarked in the ele-mentary clearness and fulness, bordering some-times upon prolixity, with which he frequently Ha-tes his political reasonings. — The le£lures of theprofound and eloquent Dr. Hutcheson , whichhe had attended previous to his departure from

* Redargutio Philofophiarum.