It is conceived to be more useful to continue an account of all the circumstances that have come to our knowledge respecting. the intercourse between Lord KAMES and Mr SMELLIE in this place, than to break down the narrative into disjointed fragments, by a rigid adherence to chronological arrange

ment.

The two remaining letters in this correspondence refer to a new publication by Lord KAMES, Sketches of the History of Man, and announces a friendly review of that curious and entertaining work, by Mr SMEL

LIE.

The second of these letters must have been written very shortly after the first, as it mentions the appearance of an anonymous review of a part of the Sketches in the number of the Edinburgh Magazine and Review for May 1774.

No. LXXIII.

Mr WILLIAM SMELLIE to Lord KAMES.

MY LORD,

Edinburgh, April 23. 1774. I HAVE perused the Sketches. No book ever afforded me so much entertainment and

instruction. The curious remarks and hints are innumerable, and conveyed in so light and so easy a manner, that women and children, if they please, may become philosophers, with little expence of thought; and the philosopher, at the same time, has so much food for thought and reflection, that a few pages would require a volume of commentary. This I take to be the summum bonum of good writing. I hope your Lordships example will give an effectual check to those mystical, I might say, those nonsensi cal writers on human nature, who involve themselves in clouds of obscurity, and expect their readers to understand what they themselves cannot explain. Of this stamp is the treatise of Human Nature; and some later publications are liable to the same exception.

YOUR Lordships views of natural history will, I hope, lead the attention of naturalists to the only thing valuable in that science. I have read this part with great delectation; and shall soon write a short commentary, which will be sent for your Lordships perusal. I have the honour to be, &c.

WILLIAM SMELLIE.

Y

FROM the first paragraph in the next ensuing letter, which has no date, it was probably written in the end of April 1774, as it very evidently alludes to the friendly conduct of Lord KAMES, in becoming his surety to the bank credit bond, as expressed in the letter from Lord KAMES of 28th May 1774, already inserted; but must have been earlier considerably than that letter, as it announces the appearance of a review of one part of Lord KAMESES Sketches of the History of Man on the 1st of May.

No. LXXIV.

Mr WILLIAM SMELLIE to Lord KAMES.

MY LORD,

No date.

YESTERDAY I received your most obliging letter, which shall be faithfully preserved as a monument of disinterested benevolence.

WITH regard to the article on Natural History, it will be very difficult to say any thing to purpose in such short bounds. However, I shall endeavour to crowd in as much

matter as possible. I shall soon have the honour of transmitting the manuscript to your Lordship. If it have the good fortune to please you, I need be under no apprehension of publishing it; if otherwise, it shall never appear.

I PROPOSE Some general remarks on instinct, strictures on the bad taste of naturalists in confining themselves, almost entirely, to the technical and uninteresting part of the subject;-to extract the argument in favour of marriage ;-to conclude, by adding a few peculiar instincts, with their uses, &c.

I MEAN not to pursue these topics in the way of a regular plan. The nature of review writing does not admit of strict method. The observations will, therefore, be made in a rambling manner. My only fear is, that they will be unworthy of appearing with the title of Sketches of Human Nature at their head. But your Lordship will at least approve the intention, whatever the execution may be. I have the honour to be,

&c.

WILLIAM SMellie.

P. S.-A sensible man, and a particular friend of your Lordship, has given us a review of the Sketch upon the Arts, which will be published on the first day of May.

DURING his intimacy with Lord KAMES, Mr SMELLIE went one summer evening to sup with his Lordship; and the company was soon afterwards joined by the late Dr JOHN WARDEN M'FARLANE, the worthy, respectable, and highly useful minister of the Canongate, one of the suburbs of Edinburgh, and by Mr DAVID HUME, the celebrated philosopher and historian. The conversation went on for some time very agreeably; till Dr WARDEN happened to mention, that he had read a sermon just published by one EDWARDS, under the strange title of the Usefulness of Sin. Mr HUME repeated the words, Usefulness of Sin! "I suppose," said -he," Mr EDWARDS has adopted the System of LEIBNITZ, that all is for the best.' To this he added, with a peculiar keenness of eye, and forcible manner of expression which was usual with him: "But what the devil does the fellow make of hell and damnation?" Dr WARDEN immediately took his