SMI 598 S M O
SMELL, Odour, with regard to the organ, is an impressionmade on the nose by little particles continually exhaling fromodorous bodies. With regard to the object, it is the figure anddisposition of odorous effluvia, which, sticking on the organ, ex-cite the sense of smelling : and with regard to the soul, it is the per-ception of the impression of the object on the organ, or the affec-tion in the soul resulting therefrom. See Anatomy , and Meta-physics.
SM ELLIE, W ix.ltam, F. R. S. E. a late eminent and learnedScottish printer, of whose birth, education, age, &c. we can giveno account, as his surviving friends have reserved every interest-ing particular respecting him to be published in a large work en-tirely dedicated to his biography. We can therefore only mentiona few facts consistent with our knowledge. After he had com-menced business in Edinburgh , he was much patronized by thelate learned lord.Karnes, w ho not only introduced him to his lite-rary friends in general, but recommended him to the University ofEdinburgh as their printer. In 1780, when the earl of Buchanfounded the Royal Society of Scottish Antiquaries, he associatedMr. Smellie as a member, and appointed him printer of its jour-nals and transactions. A few years afterwards, on the death of JamesCummyng, esq. secretary to that society, Mr. Smellie was unani-mously elected secretary, and keeper of its museum of natural his-tory, antiquities, &c. Of bis admission as a member of the RoyalSociety of Edinburgh , a society instituted nearly about the sametime with the Antiquarian, we neither know the date, nor indeedthe certainty, of the fact, which we mention only upon the autho-rity of Dr. John Watkins, who, in his Biographical and HistoricalDictionary, styles him “ fellow” of it. Mr. Smellie publishedseveral learned works ; particularly the Philosophy of NaturalHistory, in one vol. 4lo. and translated Bulfon’s Natural History.As a member of society, Mr. Smellie was a kind father, a warin-Jiearted friend, and a social companion. As to opinions in reli-gion and philosophy, his sentiments were tinctured with the scep-ticism of the age, as appears from his writings: and some of hisphilosophical opinions - , particularly his theory respecting instinctand the passions, have been severely and justly censured by thereverend and learned Dr. Gleig. lie dieil at Edinburgh , June24, 1795.
SMELLING, the act whereby we perceive smells, or wherebywe become sensible of odorous bodies, by means of certain efflu-via thereof; which striking on the olfactory organs briskly enoughto have their impulse propagated to the brain, excite a sensation inthe soul. The principal organs of smelling arc the nostrils and theolfactory nerves ; the minute ramifications of which last are distri-buted throughout the whole concave of the former. See Anatomy.
SMELTING, in metallurgy, the fusion or melting of the oresof metals, in order to separate the metalline part from the earthy,stony, and other parts. See Metallurgy .
SMILAX, Rough Bindweed; in botany, a genus of plantsbelonging to the class dioecia, and order hexandria; natural orderSarmentacese. Calyx six-leaved ; corolla none: female, stylesthree; berry three-celled; seeds two. There are 23 species.
S. .Sarsaparilla, affords the sarsaparilla-root, is the most va-luable, and has stems of the thickness of a man’s finger; they arejointed, triangular, and beset with crooked spines. The leavesare alternate, smooth, and shining on the upper side; on the otherside are three nerves or costs, with sundry small crooked spines.The flower is yellow, mixed with red. The fruit is a black berry,containing several brown seeds. Sarsaparilla delights in low moistgrounds, and near the banks of rivers. 'The roots run superficiallyunder the surface of the ground. The gatherers have only toloosen the soil a little, and to draw out the long fibres with awooden hook. In this manner they proceed till the whole root isgot out. It is then cleared of the mud, dried, and made into bun-dles. The sensible qualities of sarsaparilla are mucilaginous andfarinaceous, with a slight degree of acrimony. The latter, how-ever, is so slight as not to be perceived by many ; and we are aptto believe that its medicinal powers may fairly be ascribed to itsdemulcent and farinaceous qualities.
SMITH, Adam, LL. D. an eminent writer, was horn in Kir-kaldy, in Scotland , in 1723. He received his education first atKirkaldy school, and afterwards at the university of Glasgow ,where lie became professor of logic and moral philosophy, andlook his degree of doctor of laws. In 1759, by the publication of
his Theory of Moral Sentiments, 8vo, lie acquired a reputation,which was greatly heightened and extended by his Enquiry intothe Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, printed in 1766,4to. and several times since in 3 vols. 8vo. Not long after thepublication of this work lie was appointed a commissioner of thecustoms in Scotland . Dr. Smith was the intimate friend of Hume,and published an Apology for his Life, which was severely butjustly animadverted on by Dr. Horne for its atheistical sentiments.He died in 1790. A volume of his posthumous essays lias beenprinted.
Smith, Thomas, D. D. an eminently learned English divine,horn in London , in 1038, and admitted of Queeu’s College, Ox-ford, in 1657. In 1663, lie was made master of a free school nearMagdalen college ; and, in 1666, was elected a fellow, being nowfamed for his skill in the oriental languages. In June, 1663, hewent as chaplain to Sir Daniel Harvey, ambassador to Constanti-nople , and returned thence in 1671. In 1676, he travelled intoFiance, and on his return became chaplain to Sir Joseph William-son, secretary of state . In-1679, it was proposed that he shouldcollate and translate the Alexandrian Manuscript of the Bible , (seeSeptuagint,) and Charles II . promised him a benefice for it;hut Ibis excellent design was never executed. His reputation washigh among the learned. In 1683, he graduated. In 1687, hewas made prebendary of Ileyghbury, Yvilts. In August 1688, liewas deprived of his fellowship by Dr. Giiifard, the popish presi-dent, hut restored in October; yet afterwards he lost it, upon re-fusing to take the oaths to William and Mary. He died at Lon-don, May 11, 1710. He published four letters in Latin , whichhe translated afterwards, intituled, 1. Remarks on the Manners,Religion, and Government, of the Turks; 8vo. 1678. 2. An Ac-
count of the Greek Church ; Eng. and Lat. Svo. 1680. 3. ALife of Camden; Lat. 4to. 1691. 4. Vita: Quorundam Eruditis-
simorum et Illustrium Virorum; 4lo. 1707 ; with many otherlearned tracts.
SMITI1EKY, the art of a smith, by which iron is wrought intoany shape by means of fire, hammering, filing, &c.
SMITHFIELD, a town of Virginia , in Wight county; 63miles E. by S. of Petersburg, and 85 S. E. of Richmond .
SMFI Ilf A, in botany, a genus of the decandria order* and dia-delphia class of plants; natural order, Papilionaceie. Calyx one-leated, bilabiate; corolla winged ; legumen inclosed in the calyx,with three or four joints, and containing as many seeds, which aresmooth, compressed, and kidney-shaped. There is only onespecies.
SMITH’S ISLAND, an island in the South Pacific Ocean , dis-covered by lieutenant Ball. Lon. 161. 54. E. Lat. 9. 44. S.
Smith’s Point, a cape of the United States , opposite PointLookout, on the S. bank of the Patowmac, and W. side of Chesa-peak Bay.
SMITING LINE, in a ship, is a small rope fastened to themizen-vard-arm, below at the deck, and is always furled up withthe mizcn-sail, even to the upper end of the yard, and thence itcomes down to the poop.
SMOKE, a dense elastic vapour , arising from burning bodies.As this vapour is extremely disagreeable to the senses, and oftenprejudicial to the health, mankind have fallen upon several con-trivances to enjoy the benefit of fire without being annoyed bysmoke. The most universal of these contrivances is a tube lead-ing from the chamber in which the lire is kindled, to the top of thebuilding, through which the smoke ascends, and is dispersed intothe atmosphere. These tubes are called chimnies; which, whenconstructed in a proper manner, carry off the smoke entirely;bill, when improperly constructed, they carry off the smoke im-perfectly, to the great annoyance of the inhabitants. Although wewould naturally imagine, that the causes which occasion smoke inrooms are exceedingly various, yet, upon examination, it will befound, that they may he all reduced to one of these three generalheads, each of which will admit of several varieties. 1. To 3fault in the form of the tube or chimney itself. 2. To some faultin the other parts of the building, and a wrong position ol thechimney with respect to these. Or, 3. To an improper situationof the house with respect to external objects. It is of the utmostconsequence, in attempting a cure, accurately to distinguish fromwhich of these defects the smoke proceeds, otherwise the meansused will bu very uncertain. See Fire-place, and Stove .
Smoke-
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