I CANNOT engage to do any thing for some time. I have, however, jotted down the heads of an essay on Flesh-eating; for which I have a peculiar theory, whereby I imagine that I can justify the conduct of Providence in permitting one animal to prey upon another. Dr WALLACE, the last writer who mentions this subject, has given it up as inexplicable. Another on Genius, in which I propose to investigate the cause why one genius differs from another. A third, a Physico-Theological Essay on Botany. A fourth, on the Nature of Sleep, Dreaming, &c. *. A fifth, on Vulgar Ignorance; chiefly setting vulgar errors in a ridiculous point of view.A sixth, on Jealousy; mostly founded on observation. I hope you are not idle. Tell me which of the half dozen I should try my hand upon first. I have not yet begun my discourse on Shaking of Hands: It will be difficult; and I dread the execution.

I was lately appointed by the Society of Masons to give them a discourse on Charity. I hammered it over in my old way, on

*This Essay is published in the second volume of the Philosophy of Natural History by Mr SMELLIE,

Monday se'enight. I had the solatium of a very long and very loud clap. I wrought this same essay entirely out of my own imagination, without turning over a single leaf of a book. Hall HUNTER * heard it; so that if you chuse to learn any thing farther of it, you may consult him. It has been shewn to several persons of sense, and among the rest to no less a man than the Earl of LEVEN! Wonderful! I am strongly solicited to print it for the amusement of the town t. I wish you had been here, as your opinion would have had considerable weight; but I believe I shall not expose myself to the view of the public. One thing I lament: It would have been a tolerable morsel for Mr Innominatus.

THE Society met ten days ago. We had a meeting of seven good fellows, all high mettled, having their heads full of Newtonianism.

*The Rev. Dr HENRY HUNTER, late of London-wall, who has been already mentioned.

This essay on Charity was printed, and 2,500 copies of it are said to have been speedily sold. No printed copy of this essay can now be found; but a manuscript essay on the same subject, in Mr SMELLIES hand-writing, still remains, and is supposed to have been the original here alluded to,

1

WRITE me by next carrier, under the pe nalty of anathematization. The carriers will call punctually enough at MILLERS shop. I have not yet thought of your climax : But it has long been a fancy of mine that there is but one capital passion, and that all the rest are but mere cringing dependants. I shall think of this afterwards more at length.

I AM again entirely buried in law-fustian* I pray you, therefore, from mere humanity, to give me a reviving draught as frequently as possible. Yours, &c.

WILLIAM SMellie.

P. 8.-I HAVE wrote down P. S. but have nothing to tack to its tail.

FROM these and many similar letters, it is obvious that Mr SMELLIE had become discontented at his professional situation, as dooming him to what he considered mechanical drudgery, hopeless of bettering his condition in life, and precluded from the enjoy

* Alluding to the dull employment of revising and correcting the printed law arguments which are presented to the Court of Session in all causes.

ment of literary ease. His companions and friends, falling into his views of the matter, appear to have fostered this discontent, by proposals of altering his condition into one of the learned professions; and the following is evidently an answer to a letter on this topic from one of his early friends. It was written in the year 1763, but the remainder of the date is omitted in the copy. It opens a new scene, however, in his life, matrimony, on which he entered soon afterwards.

No. XXX.

Mr WILLIAM SMELLIE to

DEAR SIR,

1763.

To study physic to the bottom, as I would wish, is perfectly impracticable. A penury of precious metal is indeed the principal cause of this impracticability. I formerly expressed my difficulties as to divinity. Were I to prosecute that study, I could not with a clear conscience declare, as I am told every minister at his ordination is obliged to do, sole motive for assuming the sacred

that

my

office was purely to advance the glory of GOD, and to promote the eternal interests of mankind. How amiable the principle! But, alas! the highest stretch of vanity, and the most enthusiastic self-approbation, will never be able to make me dream that I am possessed of such a God-like heart. The converse of this idea is shocking and nauseous; therefore let me speedily banish it. Besides, bating all scruples of this nature, supposing I had got a charge, read Pictet, commenced preacher, held forth in all the pulpits in Edinburgh, and ten miles round; at last shut up in a country cloister with L. 60 or L.70 a-year, excluded from all rational converse with mankind, I mean the ingenious part of the species, afraid to speak my genuine sentiments of men and things, and, to crown all, perhaps hated by nine-tenths of the parish. I put the case to yourself. What satisfaction, what pleasure, what society, what mighty profit, can such an employment afford to a man of my kidney? Even supposing I had the good fortune to be admired by some; but the supposition is indeed extremely absurd; for however elegant the composition, yet elocution, O sovereign elocution! thou canst never flow from SMELLIES