about the univerfity in manufcript, which fhew a masterly hand; and, though maimed and injured by frequent tranfcribing, make their way into our moft celebrated mifcellanies, where they fhine with uncommon luf tre. Befides those verses in the Oxford books, which he could not help fetting his name to, several of his compofitions came abroad under other names, which his own fingular modefty, and faithful filence; strove in vain to conceal. The Encœnia and public Collections of the Univerfity upon State Subjects, were never in fuch efteem, either for elegy or congratulation, as when he contributed moft largely to them; and it was natural for those who knew his peculiar way of writing, to turn to his share in the work, as by far the most relishing part of the entertainment. As his parts were extraordinary, fo he well knew how to improve them; and not only to polish the diamond, but enchafe it in the most folid and durable metal. Though he was an academick the greatest part of his life, yet he contracted no fournefs of temper, no spice of pedantry, no itch of disputation, or obftinate contention for the old or new philofophy, no affuming way of dictating to others ;

5

others; which are faults (though excufable): which fome are infenfibly led into, who are constrained to dwell long within the walls of a private college. His converfation was pleasant and inftructive; and what Horace faid of Plotius, Varius, and Virgil, might justly be applied to him:

"Nil ego contulerim jucundo fanus Amico." Sat. v. 1. r.

As correct a writer as he was in his most elaborate pieces, he read the works of others with candor, and referved his greatest severity for his own compofitions; being readier to cherish and advance, than damp or deprefs a rifing genius, and as patient of being excelled himself (if any could excel him) as induftrious to excel others.

"Twere to be wifhed he had confined himfelf to a particular profeffion, who was capable of furpaffing in any; but in this, his want of application was in a great measure. ewing to his want of due encouragement.

He paffed through the exercises of the college and university with unusual applause;

and

and though he often fuffered his friends to call him off from his retirements, and to lengthen out those jovial avocations, yet his return to his ftudies was fo much the more paffionate, and his intention upon those refined pleafures of reading and thinking fo vehement (to which his facetious and unbended intervals bore no proportion) that the habit grew upon him, and the series of meditation and reflection being kept up whole weeks together, he could better fort his ideas, and take in the fundry parts of a fcience at one view, without interruption or confufion. Some indeed of his acquaintance, who were pleased to distinguish between the wit and the scholar, extolled him altogether on the account of the first of these titles; but others, who knew him better, could not forbear doing him juftice as a prodigy in both kinds. He had fignalized himself in the fchools, as a philofopher and polemick of extenfive knowledge and deep penetration; and went through all the courses with a wife regard to the dignity and importance of each fcience. I remember him in the Divinity-fcool refponding and difputing with a perfpicuous energy, a ready exactnefs, and commanding force

of

.

of argument, when Dr. Jane worthily prefided in the chair; whofe condefcending and difinterested commendation of him, gave him fuch a reputation as filenced the envious malice of his enemies, who durft not contradict the approbation of fo profound a master in theology. None of thofe felf-fufficient creatures, who have either trifled with philofophy, by attempting to ridicule it, or have encumbered it with novel terms, and burdenfome explanations, underftod its real weight and purity half so well as Mr. Smith, He was too difcerning to allow of the character of unprofitable, rugged, and abstruse, which fome fuperficial fciolifts (fo very fmooth and polite as to admit of no impreffion), either out of an unthinking indolence, or an ill-grounded prejudice, had affixed to this fort of ftudies. He knew the thorny terms of philofophy ferved well to fence-in the true doctrines of religion; and looked upon school-divinity as upon a rough, but well-wrought armour, which might at once adorn and defend the Chriftian hero,. and equip him for the combat.

cy

Mr. Smith had a long and perfect intimawith all the Greek and Latin Clafficks

with whom he had carefully compared whatever was worth perufing in the French, Spanifh, and Italian (to which languages he was no ftranger), and in all the celebrated writers of his own country. But then, according to the curious obfervation of the late earl of Shaftesbury, he kept the poet in awe by regular criticism, and as it were, married the two arts for their mutual fupport and improvement. There was not a tract of credit, upon that fubject, which he had not diligently examined, from Ariftotle down to Hedelin and Boffù; fo that, having each rule conftantly before him, he could carry the art through every poem, and at once point out the graces and deformities. By this means he seemed to read with a defign to correct, as well as imitate.

Being thus prepared, he could not but tafte every little delicacy that was fet before him; though it was impoffible for him at the fame time to be fed and nourished with any thing but what was fubftantial and lafting. He confidered the ancients and moderns not as parties or rivals for fame, but as architects upon one and the fame plan, the Art of Poetry; according to which he

judged,