# Smooth — Passages from the Life of a Philosopher character guide

> Smooth in Passages from the Life of a Philosopher by Charles Babbage.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Smooth, Mr. Smooth, Shift ; Smooth

**First appearance:** 0040-xxii-scene-from-a-new-afterpiece-called-politics-and-poetry-or-the-decline-of-science

## Who they are

Turnstile's colleague for Shoreditch and a Cabinet schemer, Smooth damns him with faint praise—'I wish to support him; but'—while steering the Manufactures post toward MacLeech.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Turnstile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/mr_turnstile)

_professional_

Mr. Turnstile and Smooth interact often, suggesting a professional dynamic where Smooth may be a subordinate or assistant.

### [Mr. Tripes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/mr_tripes)

_professional_

Mr. Tripes and Smooth have a frequent professional connection, possibly as superior and clerk.

### [Lord Flumm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/lord_flumm)

_professional_

Lord Flumm and Smooth interact professionally, with Smooth likely serving as a clerk or assistant to Flumm.

### [MacLeech](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/macleech)

_rivalry_

MacLeech and Smooth have an antagonistic professional relationship, likely as adversaries in a bureaucratic setting.

### [Mr. Turnstile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/mr_turnstile)

_professional_

Mr. Turnstile and Smooth interact often, suggesting a professional dynamic where Smooth may be a subordinate or assistant.

## In the story

### [Act I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/chapters/act-i)

A colonial secretary and political rival who undermines Turnstile by courting Tripes and MacLeech.

### [Act II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/chapters/act-ii)

A Whig minister and colleague of Turnstile at Shoreditch who undermines him and supports MacLeech for the presidency.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters/smooth
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/passages_from_the_life_of_a_philosopher_se/characters