u. His name is
David Skeene. He and I are sisters' sons, but my regard for
him is much more founded on his personal qualities than upon
the relations in which he stands to me. He acted lately in a
very gallant manner in America, of which he never acquainted
me himself, and of which I came to the knowledge only within
these few days. If you can be of any service to him you
could not possibly do a more obliging thing to me.

The Duke and Dutchess of Buccleugh have been here now for
almost a fortnight. They begin to open their house on Monday
next, and, I flatter myself, will both be very agreeable to
the People of this country. I am not sure that I have ever
seen a more agreeable woman than the Dutchess. I am sorry
that you are not here, because I am sure you would be
perfectly in love with her. I shall probably be here some
weeks. I could wish, however, that both you and the Count de
Sarsfield would direct for me as usual at Kirkaldy. I should
be glad to know the true history of Rousseau before and
since he left England. You may perfectly depend upon my
never quoting you to any living soul upon that subject.--I
ever am, dear sir, most faithfully yours,

ADAM SMITH.[207]

The Duke of Buccleugh had never been at Dalkeith since his infancy--if
indeed he had been even then, for Dr. Carlyle's words in describing
this celebration are, "where his grace had never been
before"--because his stepfather, Charles Townshend, was afraid he
might grow up too Scotch in accent and feeling; and his home-coming
now, with his young and beautiful bride, excited the liveliest
interest and expectation, not only on the Buccleugh estates, but over
the whole lowlands of Scotland, from the Forth to the Solway. The day
originally fixed for the celebration was the Duke's birthday, the 13th
of September, the very day Smith wrote Hume; but the event had to be
postponed in consequence of the sudden death of Townshend, from an
attack of putrid fever, between the day of the Duke's arrival at
Dalkeith and the anniversary of his birth. It came off, however, two
or three weeks later. An entertainment was given to about fifty ladies
and gentlemen of the neighbourhood; but Dr. Carlyle, who was present,
and wrote indeed an ode for the occasion, says that though the fare
was sumptuous, the company was formal and dull, because the guests
were all stranger