m to face
the possibility of its extinction, he resolved at last to save it from
that fate, clamour or no clamour. If he lived, he would publish it
himself; if he died, he charged his executor to do so.

But this was a duty for which Smith had no mind. He was opposed to the
publication of these _Dialogues_ on general grounds and under any
editorship whatever, as will appear in the course of the
correspondence which follows, but he had also personal scruples
against editing them, of the same character as those which had already
so long prevented their author himself from publishing them. He shrank
from the public clamour in which it would involve him, and the injury
it might do to his prospects of preferment from the Crown. When he met
Hume at Morpeth accordingly he laid his mind fully before his friend,
and the result was that Hume agreed to leave the whole question of
publication or no publication absolutely to Smith's discretion, and on
reaching London sent Smith a formal letter of authority empowering him
to deal with the _Dialogues_ as he judged best.

LONDON, _3rd May 1776_.

MY DEAR FRIEND--I send you enclosed a new ostensible letter,
conformably to your desire. I think, however, your scruples
groundless. Was Mallet anywise hurt by his publication of
Lord Bolingbroke? He received an office afterwards from the
present king and Lord Bute, the most prudent men in the
world, and he always justified himself by his sacred regard
to the will of a dead friend. At the same time I own that
your scruples have a specious appearance, but my opinion is
that if upon my death you determine never to publish these
papers, you should leave them sealed up with my brother and
family, with some inscription that you reserve to yourself
the power of reclaiming them whenever you think proper. If I
live a few years longer I shall publish them myself. I
consider an observation of Rochefoucault that the wind,
though it extinguishes a candle, blows up a fire.

You may be surprised to hear me talk of living years,
considering the state you saw me in and the sentiments both
I and all my friends at Edinburgh entertained on that
subject. But though I cannot come up entirely to the
sanguine notions of our friend John, I find myself very much
recovered on the road, and I hope Bath waters and further
journies may effect my cure.