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173.: From WILLIAM STRAHAN - 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.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


173.

From WILLIAM STRAHAN

  • Address: Adam Smith Esqr., Kirkaldy, Fifeshire, N.B.

MS., RSE viii. 149; Letters of David Hume to William Strahan, ed. G. Birkbeck Hill (Oxford, 1888), 349 n. 2 (in part).

Southampton, 16 Sept. 1776

Dear Sir

I received yours1 in the Neighbourhood of this Place where I was upon a Visit to a Friend, and for a little fresh Air and Relaxation. I am now come to Southampton, where I shall not stay many Days before I return home, but that will somewhat depend upon the Weather. I had a Letter from the Brother of our late excellent Friend, a few days before I received yours, and my Son2 writes me that the MSS. are also come to hand, but the Parcel will not be opened till my Return. All therefore that I can say just now, is, that I shall do nothing precipitately, and without the Advice of my Friends, to whose Opinion, and particularly to yours, I shall pay great Regard. I will likewise give the Dialogues a very attentive Perusal, before I consult any body, that I may at once see how far their Judgments coincide with my own. I own I did not expect to hear they were so very exceptionable, as in one of his late Letters to me he tells me there is nothing in them worse than what I have already published, or Words to that Effect. But at any Rate, they shall certainly be published distinct from the Life, which I think we may throw out this Winter, and afterwards prefix to the Edition of his History now printing. I have not the least doubt that your Addition3 to it will be highly proper, and if it is ready, I beg you would transmit it to me without Delay; for I long very much to see it. Every Particular respecting that great and good Man I would wish to know and to remember. You see by his leaving the Dialogues ultimately to his Nephew4 in case of any Accident to me his extreme Solicitude that they should not be suppressed, so that if it is at all judged proper to let them see the Light, I should wish to execute his Intentions. But, of this, as I said before, I shall not hastily determine. I shall write you again from London as soon as I have read them.

I hope your Mother’s Health will not prevent you from returning hither at the time you propose. You know I once mentioned to you how happy I thought it would make you both if you could bring her along with you to spend the Remainder of her Days in this Place, but perhaps it will not be easy to remove her so far at this time of her Life. I pray you offer her the respectful Compliments of my Family, who do not forget her genteel and hospitable Reception at Kircaldy some Years ago.

I hope you will excuse this hasty Scrawl; but as you desired to hear from me soon, I would not delay writing tho from a Place of Dissipation, and without having much to say. As for our late worthy and most valuable Friend, I shall only say, that all who knew him have sustained a Loss by his Death which is altogether irreparable, and which they must all feel, and chiefly those who knew him best. I will add no more.

Believe me, with the sincerest Respect and Esteem

Dear Sir Your affectionate and faithful

Will: Strahan

[1 ]Letter 172, dated 5 Sept.

[2 ]Andrew Strahan (1750–1831), who inherited the family printing business and, like his father, became an M.P.

[3 ]The Life of David Hume, Esq; Written by Himself was published in London, together with a preface by Strahan and Smith’s letter to Strahan of 9 Nov. 1776 (No. 178), on 11 Mar. 1777 and went through three eds.

[4 ]David Hume the Younger.