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56.: From ROBERT CULLEN - Adam Smith, Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence Vol. 6 Correspondence of Adam Smith [1740]

Edition used:

Correspondence of Adam Smith, ed. E. C. Mossner and I. S. Ross, vol. VI of the Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1987).

Part of: The Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith, 7 vols.

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56.

From ROBERT CULLEN1

  • Address: To Mr Adam Smith, Professor of Moral Philosophy, College at Glasgow

MS., GUL Gen. 1035/141; Scott 255.

Edinburgh, 24 June 1761

Dear Sir

My Papa intended to have writ you this night himself but he is this day in particular so excessively hurried that he has not a moments time to sit down. He has therefore desired me to write for him. We are excessively sorry to hear that you have had the misfortune to lose Mr Buchanan. My Papa desires me to inform you that if you would desire a Successor to him, a young man of very good parts of a Literary turn one who has applied with Success to the Oriental Languages and one who would be contented with that Place alone you may find such a one in Dr Cumings2 Son Peter.3 I am Sir

Your most humble Servant

Robert Cullen

[1 ]Robert Cullen (? 1740–1810), s. of Dr. William Cullen; educ. Glasgow (‘the best student I ever had’, according to Smith) and Edinburgh; lived with Lord Kames; advocate, 1764; Lord of Session (Lord Cullen) 1796; Lord Commissioner of Justiciary 1799.

[2 ]Patrick Cumin or Cuming (1695–1776), D.D., Minister of the Old Kirk, Edinburgh, and Professor of Church History there, 1737–62, then of Divinity; one time leader of the moderate party in the Church of Scotland; much consulted by the 3rd Duke of Argyll about patronage in Scotland; called ‘Dr Turnstile’ by the literati for his feeble behaviour in the affair of Home’s Douglas.

[3 ]Patrick Cumin (1741–1820), 3rd s. of Dr. Patrick Cumin. Hume also wrote to Smith on his behalf (Letter 57, dated 29 June 1761), and Cumin was elected Professor of Oriental Languages on 26 Oct. 1761. In addition to his own subject, he taught French and Italian. Though he had retired from active teaching in 1814, his death marked the end of fifty–nine years’ tenure of his Chair, which remains a record at Glasgow.