by a diminution in the purely agricultural districts, due to the consolidation of farms.  That, at least, was the impression of the officials of the Ministers’ Widows’ Fund, through whom the correspondence on the subject with the ministers had been conducted; and they threw doubt on an observation of a contrary import—­apparently to the effect that the population of Scotland was increasing—­which Smith heard Webster make in one of those hours of merriment for which that popular and useful divine seems destined to be remembered when his public services are forgotten.

Smith’s first letter runs thus:—­

SIR—­I have been so long in answering your very obliging letter of the 8th inst. that I am afraid you will imagine I have been forgetting or neglecting it.  I hoped to send one of the accounts by the post after I received your letter, but some difficulties have occurred which I was not aware of, and you may yet be obliged to wait a few days for it.  In the meantime I send you a note extracted from Mr. Webster’s book by his clerk, who was of great use to him in composing it, and who has made several corrections upon it since.

My letters as a Commissioner of the Customs are paid at the Custom House, and my correspondents receive them duty free.  I should otherwise have taken the liberty to enclose them, as you direct, under Mr. Rose’s cover.  It may perhaps give that gentleman pleasure to be informed that the net revenue arising from the customs in Scotland is at least four times greater than it was seven or eight years ago.  It has been increasing rapidly these four or five years past, and the revenue of this year has overleaped by at least one-half the revenue of the greatest former year.  I flatter myself it is likely to increase still further.  The development of the causes of this augmentation would require a longer discussion than this letter will admit.

Price’s speculations cannot fail to sink into the neglect that they have always deserved.  I have always considered him as a factious citizen, a most superficial philosopher, and by no means an able calculator.—­I have the honour to be, with great respect and esteem, sir, your most faithful humble servant,

     ADAM SMITH.

     CUSTOM HOUSE, EDINBURGH, 22nd December 1785.

     I shall certainly think myself very much honoured by any
     notice you may think proper to take of my book.[339]

The second letter followed in a few days:—­

     EDINBURGH, 3rd January 1786.

     SIR—­The accounts of the imports and exports of Scotland
     which you wanted are sent by this day’s post to Mr. Rose.