dour will allow them all the weight they deserve, I have presumed to submit them to

your review. review. my sole end in transmitting them will be fully attained. Being informed that a third edition is just going to press, I determined to send a few of these observations, although they are not finished with that accuracy I could have wished. If, however, your Lordship incline to see any more of them, a line directed to will be communicated to your Lordships most obedient humble servant,

If they can be of any service,

******* *******

In this letter Mr SMELLIE inclosed his observations on the Elements of Criticism, to which it alludes; and Lord KAMES, it is to be presumed without delay, sent the following answer to his anonymous correspondent. It is certain that their acquaintance began shortly afterwards, perhaps immediately; but of this circumstance we have no certain record.

No. LXXII.

Lord KAMES to ******* *******

To the Person who has made Observations on

SIR,

the ELEMENTS.

Edinburgh, Dec. 6. 1764. THE manuscript you sent me, and which I now return, gave me pleasure; and I am not a little obliged to you for it. I could have wished for more time to consider it deliberately; but as I would avoid the least suspicion of neglect, I have chosen to return my answer as soon as you could possibly expect it.

In general, I like your observations; they must flow from one who has read with attention and with judgment. At the same time, the nature of my performance will not allow me to make much use of them. In the Elements, I keep altogether to general views; and it would swell the work beyond bounds if I were to follow those general views throughout all their consequences. This

work I leave to the reader, who, I suppose, will be better pleased to have these consequences left to himself, than to be led by the hand, as it were, in every step. There are, besides, several observations that, according to the plan of the work, cannot come in properly in those parts of the book that are referred to; and which are taken in, in substance at least, under other heads.

Ir is both difficult and tedious to explain all in writing. I shall, however, proceed to a few particulars to clear my meaning.

You observe very rightly, that to make composition orderly and connected, it is not alone sufficient that the thoughts be connected, &c. But then, if you consider that I am here only treating in general of conceptions and ideas in a train, I fancy you will find that I have omitted nothing which was proper to be brought in, in that general view. At the same time, you'll remark, that it is no part of the aim of that chapter to handle all the requisites of a complete discourse or composition: These, or the most of them, may be picked out from different chapters. With respect to the sym

pathetic emotion of virtue, I am of opinion, that the principle upon which it is founded may produce pleasant emotions from many agreeable objects; and probably had this occurred at the time, it would have been added. But the sympathetic emotion of virtue was sufficient for my purpose; and I think it better to be modest in my additions, to prevent an ugly suspicion of a design to force a man to buy the same book twice.

WITH respect to the affection a man bears to his children, I had occasion to give it in the place, cited as an example of the communication of passion. But you'll remark that it could not be my design there to give a dissertation upon the love of parents to children; and if that could make part of my work, I should thankfully adopt several of observations. At the same time, I have not said, or at least did not intend to say, that the love of parents to children is entirely resolvable into this communication of passion. I am not certain, because that part of the book is at the press; but if there be any such unwary expression, there is yet time to

your

correct it.

WHAT you observe of grandeur fairly accounts for the difference of taste about it. I was born and bred in a flat country; and the first time I saw a small round hill, perhaps not above 40 feet perpendicular, it made a stronger impression upon my mind than the greatest mountain I have seen since that time. But such particular observations, though pretty, are too minute for a general plan; and, in order to preserve the unity of design, I often denied myself the satisfaction of introducing them.

WITH respect to what is observed upon vol. I. p. 92. the theory is pretty, but I doubt of its being solid.

I SHALL be glad to see more of your observations; though I cannot find any necessity for this sort of blind intercourse. You have no reason to be ashamed of your observations; and the Author of the Elements will be glad of the acquaintance of a gentleman who studies to so good purpose a work that he thought worthy to see the light. I am, Sir, your obliged humble Servant,

HENRY HOME.