WRITINGS OF OR. SMITH. CXIII

The more delicate and chara£teriftical featuresof his mind, it is perhaps impoffible to trace. Thatthere were many peculiarities, both in his man-ners, and in his intelleftaal habits, was manifeftto the moft fuperficial observer; but although tothose who knew him, these peculiarities detractednothing from the refpeff which his abilities com-manded; and although, to his intimate friends,they added an inexpressible charm to his conver-sation , while they displayed, in the moft intereft-ing light, the artless simplicity of his heart; yetit would require a very skilful pencil to presentthem to the public eye. He was certainly not fittedfor the general commerce of the world, or for thebusiness of aftive life. The comprehensive specu-lations with which he had been occupied from hisyouth, and the variety of materials which his owninvention continually supplied to his thoughts,rendered him habitually inattentive to familiar ob-jecta, and to common occurrences; and he fre-quently exhibited inftances ofabfence, which havescarcely been surpassed by the fancy of La Bruyere .Even in company, he was apt to be ingroffed withhis ftudies; and appeared, at times, by the motionof his lips, as well as by his looks and geftures,to be in the fervor of composition. I have often,however, been ftruck, at the diftance of years,with his accurate memory of the moft trifling par-ticulars ; and am inclined to believe, from this and

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