ther this decided expression of unfavourable opinion on the part of
his old and venerated tutor altered the Duke of Buccleugh's mind on
the subject, or in any way prevented him from persevering in his
contemplated application to Government, we have no means of knowing,
but at any rate no further action seems to have been taken in the
matter, and it was left to the Scottish universities themselves to
remedy abuses which were seriously telling on their own interest and
good name.

The last year of Smith's residence in London was overcast by growing
anxiety about the condition of his friend Hume, who had always enjoyed
fairly good health till the beginning of the year 1775, and then
seemed to fall rapidly away. As Smith said one evening at Lord
Shelburne's to Dr. Price, who asked him about Hume's health, it seemed
as if Hume was one of those persons who after a certain time of life
go down not gradually but by jumps.[241] Under those circumstances
Smith had determined as soon as his new book was out to go down to
Edinburgh and if possible persuade Hume to come back with him to
London, to try the effect of change of scene and a little wholesome
diversion. But, bad correspondent that he was, he appears to have left
Hume to gather his intentions from the reports of friends, and
consequently received from Hume the following remonstrance a few weeks
before the publication of his work:--

EDINBURGH, _8th February, 1776_.

DEAR SMITH--I am as lazy a correspondent as you, but my
anxiety about you makes me write.

By all accounts your book has been printed long ago, yet it
has never yet been so much as advertised. What is the
reason? If you wait till the fate of Bavaria be decided you
may wait long.

By all accounts you intend to settle with us this spring,
yet we hear no more of it. What is the reason? Your chamber
in my house is always unengaged; I am always at home; I
expect you to land here.

I have been, am, and shall be probably in an indifferent
state of health. I weighed myself t'other day, and find I
have fallen five compleat stones. If you delay much longer I
shall probably disappear altogether.

The Duke of Buccleugh tells me that you are very zealous in
American affairs. My notion is that this matter is not so
important as is commonly imagined. If I be mistaken I shall
probably correct my error when I see you or read