I once told him that I had read the whole, of "Pearson on the Creed;" at
which, in his usual cold dry way, he replied, "So have I, and very
carefully. I liked it much. And I'll tell you another book that I have
read still more carefully, both in Latin and English--Mosheim's
'Ecclesiastical History.'" I have heard him say the same of Hooker's
"Ecclesiastical Polity." We have often discussed the merits of Jeremy
Taylor, Barrow, and South; the last of whom was a favourite of his. He
had a surprising knowledge of the Old and New Testaments. One of his
oldest and ablest friends, and whom he appointed one of his executors,
recently alluded, in conversation with me, to this circumstance, adding,
"Smith _read_ the Bible as few but he could read it; and _remembered_
it, as very few but he could remember it." I have occasionally myself
had evidence of his exact knowledge of very recondite portions of the
Old Testament; but, as already intimated, he was always cautious and
sparing in scriptural allusions or quotations. Since writing the
foregoing sentences, a learned friend has informed me, that Mr. Smith,
about two years before his death, had entered into a prolonged and
ardent discussion with him on the subject of the _Apostolical
Succession_, insisting that no one who did not assent to that doctrine,
was in reality, or could be conscientiously, a minister of the Church of
England. Again and again, during a considerable interval of time,
whenever they met, Mr. Smith pertinaciously renewed the discussion,--his
friend for some time doubting whether Mr. Smith had any other motive
than to amuse himself with the matter as one of mere logical exercise,
but being at length satisfied that he was sincerely expressing his own
opinions. To a brother of this gentleman, Mr. Smith became closely
attached, on discovering the extent and depth of his knowledge of
divinity, a subject on which they conversed whenever they could, Mr.
Smith exhibiting, on all such occasions, the utmost zest and energy. I
have already intimated the extent of his acquaintance with general