L

pleased with them, He next asked me if I had purchased the Systema Naturæ ? When I replied in the negative, he said there was not a single copy to be had in Edinburgh, but that he designed to lay hold of the first that came to this country, and to make me a present of it, adding, that he thought he could not dispose of it to better purpose. Thanks being given, &c. he desired me to call upon him at eight o'clock. The appointment was faithfully kept on both sides. We discoursed about an hour on plants, insects, chemistry, and other topics. I took an opportunity to ask him about the arrows *. He entirely satisfied me upon that head, that the snails did not throw them out of their bodies, as the fluttering Monsieur observed; but that the arrows were merely thin membranous bodies situate somewhere about their genitalia, which they invariably and reciprocally erected and struck each other with when excited by the passion of propagation. You may now in

*This refers to some crude notions about the sexual intercourse of snails, which his correspondent had requested Mr. SMELLIE to explain, and which will be found elucidated in one of his letters. These, and many other of the vermes, are now known to be androgynous; and the phenomenon mentioned in the text is in reality a reciprocation of active and passive mu tual impregnation.

spect, and probably discover, this mysterious little machine. We next supped and drank wine. After this we went to another room, and read over my discourse on Vegetation. He started several difficulties, some of which were the very remarks you made in the society; and I removed them as well as might be. After breaking a few rotten eggs, or, if you chuse your simile, after thrusting a few squamous snails into my hand *, he concluded with assuring me, that he would use his utmost influence to put me into a situation that should be more grateful to my taste than conning over insipid lawisms †; and, in the interim, offered me the full use of his library. I have a double view in telling this story; 1. To shew that there is such a thing as disinterested benevolence in the world, bad as it is; and, 2. To tell

you, what you know sufficiently already, that vanity lurks in a secret corner of my little heart. little heart.

When

I first began to imagine myself superior to

K 4

* Certain quaint expressions, meaning praise or compliments.

† Alluding to his employment of Corrector of the press, where he had a great number of law papers to read and corect.

scriveners*, I then felt vanity springing up apace in my mind. Although I have got some very humbling strokes, from observing the genius and ability of others, whom I know to be more ingenious, more learned, and more wise than myself; yet I confess this passion is far from being totally mastered. For some time past, however, I have every day sunk a degree in my own esteem. How to overcome, or where to fix the lawful bounds of vanity, if any such there are, may be a very proper enquiry for your next weeks epistle.

As to the medicinal virtues of snails; not having a dispensatory by me, I can only say this much, that I know they are frequently prescribed, and particularly in consumptions. LINNAEUS ranks snails among the Vermes, which is the sixth order of his Regnum Animale; whereas serpents make the first order of his third class of animals, viz. the Amphibia t.

Probably referring to the apprentices and clerks to the writers or attornies, who might consider themselves as superior be ings to such of their former school fellows as were in mechanical employments.

There is an inaccuracy, or rather loose want of precision here, by confounding in careless epistolary writing the difference between

If

On Friday last Mr GARDINER✶ read a very masterly paper in the Botany class on the method of arranging natural bodies. The subject was dry, but was made very agreeable by handsome composition and the gentlemans conspicuous modesty. If you have not seen CAMPBELL on Miracles †, I shall supply that defect if it can be conveyed to you with safety. Two months hence, I intend to advertise a meeting of the society, if no material objection is started.

My spirits are at present very low, although the sun shines, and the sky is serene. I am frequently out of humour both with myself and the world. I am not old; yet am I sometimes tired with the insipid uniformity and dull similarity of entertainments, which

classes and orders; but of which Mr SMELLIE was perfectly Vermes ought to have been called the sixth class instead

of order.

• This is believed to have been the late worthy and ingenious Dr JOHN GARDINER, physician in Edinburgh, the author of the Animal Economy and other excellent works.

+ There is a remarkably neat abridged account of the arguments used by HUME against the authenticity of miracles, and the refutation of these by CAMPBELL, written by Mr SMELLIE for the first edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, which will be found in the sequel.

turns round and round and round, without presenting any thing new. Forgive, therefore, the brevity and flatness of this letter. Yours, &c.

WILLIAM SMellie.

No. XXVIII.

To Mr WILLIAM SMELLIE from *****

DEAR SMELLIE,

I AM engaged in quite a different scene from what I had figured to myself. So much with company, and so much in study, will considerably retrench my correspondence hours. My former musing contemplative folios are now exchanged for closets and conversation; so that I cannot propose such length in speculation as heretofore. We may, however, and must, once a fortnight, hear from each other, though it should not be always in folio, or always in the depths of speculation.

I was thinking a little more of the occasional Speculator, and am very much in love