friendship for more than forty years, and we shall have occasion again
to mention his name. But I allude to him at present because a letter
still exists which was given him by Smith at this period to introduce
him, during a short stay he made in London, to James Oswald, then
newly appointed to office at the Board of Trade. This is the only
letter that happens to be preserved of all the correspondence carried
on by Smith with Oswald, and while both the occasion of it and its
substance reveal the footing of personal intimacy on which they stood,
its ceremonious opening and ending indicate something of the reverence
and gratitude of the client to the patron:--

SIR--This will be delivered to you by Mr. William Johnstone,
son of Sir James Johnstone of Westerhall, a young gentleman
whom I have known intimately these four years, and of whose
discretion, good temper, sincerity, and honour I have had
during all that time frequent proofs. You will find in him
too, if you come to know him better, some qualities which
from real and unaffected modesty he does not at first
discover; a refinement and depth of observation and an
accuracy of judgment, joined to a natural delicacy of
sentiment, as much improved as study and the narrow sphere
of acquaintance this country affords can improve it. He had,
first when I knew him, a good deal of vivacity and humour,
but he has studied them away. He is an advocate; and though
I am sensible of the folly of prophesying with regard to the
future fortune of so young a man, yet I could almost venture
to foretell that if he lives he will be eminent in that
profession. He has, I think, every quality that ought to
forward, and not one that should obstruct his progress,
modesty and sincerity excepted, and these, it is to be
hoped, experience and a better sense of things may in part
cure him of. I do not, I assure you, exaggerate knowingly,
but could pawn my honour upon the truth of every article.
You will find him, I imagine, a young gentleman of solid,
substantial (not flashy) abilities and worth. Private
business obliges him to spend some time in London. He would
beg to be allowed the privilege of waiting on you sometimes,
to receive your advice how he may employ his time there in
the manner that will tend most to his real and lasting
improvement.