I had many agreeable parties with the officers of the Horse Guards, who were all men of the world, and some of them of erudition and understanding.  I was introduced to Smollett at this time, and was in the coffee-house with him when the news of the Battle of Culloden came, and when London all over was in a perfect uproar of joy.  The theatres were not very attractive this season, as Garrick had gone over to Dublin; but there remained Mrs. Pritchard, Mrs. Clive, and Macklin, who were all excellent in their way.  Of the literary people I met with I must not forget Thomson, the poet, and Dr. Armstrong.

In June, 1746, I was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Haddington, and was ordained minister of Inveresk on August 2, 1748.  There were many resident families of distinction, and my situation was envied as superior to that of most clergymen for agreeable society.  As one of the “Moderate” party, I now became much implicated in ecclesiastical politics.  Dr. Robertson, John Home, and I had an active hand in the restoration of the authority of the General Assembly over the Presbyteries.

II.—­Literary Lions of Edinburgh

It was in one of these years that Smollett visited Scotland, and came out to Musselburgh.  He was a man of very agreeable conversation and of much genuine humour, and, though not a profound scholar, possessed a philosophical mind, and was capable of making the soundest observations on human life, and of discerning the excellence or seeing the ridicule of every character he met with.  Fielding only excelled him in giving a dramatic story to his novels, but was inferior to him in the true comic vein.  At this time David Hume was living in Edinburgh, and composing his “History of Great Britain.”  He was a man of great knowledge, and of a social and benevolent temper, and truly the best-natured man in the world.

I was one of those who never believed that David Hume’s sceptical principles had laid fast hold on his mind, but thought that his books proceeded rather from affectation of superiority and pride of understanding.  When his circumstances were narrow, he accepted the office of librarian to the Faculty of Advocates, worth L40 per annum, and to my certain knowledge he gave every farthing of the salary to families in distress.  For innocent mirth and agreeable raillery I never knew his match.

Adam Smith, though perhaps only second to David in learning and ingenuity, was far inferior to him in conversational talents.  He was the most absent man in company that I ever saw, moving his lips, and talking to himself, and smiling, in the midst of large companies.  If you awaked him from his reverie and made him attend to the subject of conversation, he immediately began a harangue, and never stopped till he told you all he knew about it, with the utmost philosophical ingenuity.  Though Smith had some little jealousy in his temper, he had the most unbounded benevolence.