KIRKALDY, FIFESHIRE, 7th October 1776.[265]

Mr. Home returned Smith’s manuscript to him on the 14th of October, and expressed his entire approbation of it except “that as it is to be added to what is wrote in so short and simple a manner, he would have wished that the detail had been less minutely entered into, particularly of the journey which, being of a private concern and having drawn to no consequences, does not interest the publick,” but still he expressed that opinion, he said, with diffidence, and thought the piece would perhaps best stand as it was.  He says, too, that instead of the words, “as my worst enemies could wish” in the remark to Dr. Dundas, he was told that the words his brother actually used were, “as my enemies, if I have any, could wish”—­a correction which was adopted by Smith.  And he repeats that by his interpretation of his brother’s will he considers the legacy to belong to Smith both in law and in equity.

Meanwhile Smith had also written Strahan from Dalkeith:—­

MY DEAR STRAHAN—­By a codicil to the will of our late most valuable friend Mr. Hume, the care of his manuscripts is left to you.  Both from his will and from his conversation I understand that there are only two which he meant should be published—­an account of his life and Dialogues concerning Natural Religion.  The latter, tho’ finely written, I could have wished had remained in manuscript to be communicated only to a few people.  When you read the work you will see my reasons without my giving you the trouble of reading them in a letter.  But he has ordered it otherwise.  In case of their not being published within three years after his decease, he has left the property of them to his nephew.  Upon my objecting to this clause as unnecessary and improper, he wrote to me by his nephew’s hand in the following terms:  “There is no man in whom I have a greater confidence than Mr. Strahan, yet have I left the property of that manuscript to my nephew David, in case by any accident they should not be published within three years after my decease.  The only accident I could foresee was one to Mr. Strahan’s life, and without this clause my nephew would have had no right to publish it.  Be so good as inform Mr. Strahan of this circumstance.”  Thus far this letter, which was dated on the 23rd of August.  He dyed on the 25th at 4 o’clock afternoon.  I once had persuaded him to leave it entirely to my discretion either to publish them at what time I thought proper, or not to publish them at all.  Had he continued of this mind the manuscript should have been most carefully preserved, and upon my decease restored to his family; but it never should have been published in my lifetime.  When you have read it you will perhaps think it not unreasonable to consult some prudent friend about what you ought to do.

I propose to add to his Life a very well authenticated account of his behaviour during