regard to yourself. The two copys intended for you will be
left with my sister when you please to require them, and the
copy of the new edition of his works you shall be sure to
receive, tho' you have, no better title to that part than
the other, tho' much you have to the friendship and esteem,
dr. sir, of him who is most sincerely yours,

JOHN HOME.

EDINBURGH, _2nd September 1776_.[264]

Smith's reply was that though the legacy might be due to him in strict
law, he was fully satisfied it was not due to him in justice, because
it was expressly given in the will as a reward for a task which he had
declined to undertake. This reply was given in a letter of the 7th
October, in which he enclosed a copy of the account of Hume's death
which he proposed to add to his friend's own account of his life.

DEAR SIR--I send you under the same cover with this letter
what I propose should be added to the account which your
never-to-be-forgotten brother has left of his own life. When
you have read it I beg you will return it to me, and at the
same time let me know if you wd. wish to have anything
either added to it or taken from it. I think there is a
propriety in addressing it as a letter to Mr. Strahan, to
whom he has left the care of his works. If you approve of it
I shall send it to him as soon as I receive it from you.

I have added at the bottom of my will the note discharging
the legacy of two hundred pounds which your brother was so
kind as to leave me. Upon the most mature deliberation I am
fully satisfied that in justice it is not due to me. Tho' it
should be due to me therefore in strict law, I cannot with
honour accept of it. You will easily believe that my refusal
does not proceed from any want of the highest respect for
the memory of your deceased brother.--I have the honour to
be, with the highest respect and esteem, dear sir, most
sincerely and affectionately yours,

ADAM SMITH.

KIRKALDY, FIFESHIRE, _7th October 1776_.[265]

Mr. Home returned Smith's manuscript to him on the 14th of October,
and expressed his entire approbation of it except "that as it is to be
added to what is wrote in so short and simple a manner, he would have
wished that the detail had been less minutely entered into,
particularly of the journey which, being of a private concern and
having drawn