_Sir William Blackstone_, 1723-1780: a distinguished lawyer, he was an unwearied student of the history of the English statute law, and was on that account made Professor of Law in the University of Oxford. Some time a member of Parliament, he was afterwards appointed a judge. He edited _Magna Charta_ and _The Forest Charter_ of King John and Henry III. But his great work, one that has made his name famous, is _The Commentaries on the Laws of England_. Notwithstanding much envious criticism, it has maintained its place as a standard work. It has been again and again edited, and perhaps never better than by the Hon. George Sharswood, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. _Adam Smith_, 1723-1790: this distinguished writer on political economy, the intelligent precursor of a system based upon the modern usage of nations, was educated at Glasgow and Oxford, and became in turn Professor of Logic and of Moral Philosophy in the University of Glasgow. His lecture courses in Moral Science contain the germs of his two principal works: 1. _The Theory of Moral Sentiments_, and 2. _An Enquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations_. The theory of the first has been superseded by the sounder views of later writers; but the second has conferred upon him enduring honor. In it he establishes as a principle that _labor_ is the source of national wealth, and displays the value of division of labor. This work--written in clear, simple language, with copious illustrations--has had a wonderful influence upon the legislation and the commercial system of all civilized states since its issue, and has greatly conduced to the happiness of the human race. He wrote it in retirement, during a period of ten years. He astonished and instructed his period by presenting it with a new and necessary science. CHAPTER XXX. SAMUEL JOHNSON AND HIS TIMES. Early Life and Career. London. Rambler and Idler. The Dictionary. Other Works. Lives of the Poets. Person and Character. Style. Junius. EARLY LIFE AND CAREER.