Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow 239.: To [THOMAS CADELL] - Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence Vol. 6 Correspondence of Adam Smith

Return to Title Page for Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence Vol. 6 Correspondence of Adam Smith

Search this Title:

239.: To [THOMAS CADELL] - 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.


239.

To [THOMAS CADELL]

MS., NYPL Berg Collection; unpubl.

Custom–house, Edinburgh, 19 June 1784

Dear Sir

I received your very obliging letter in due course, and the Edition of my book now goes on in a manner that is most agreable to me; for which I consider myself as much beholden to you.1

I understand that the Abbé Morellet has translated my Book into french and has published it in Holland in four or six octavo Volumes with large notes.2 I should be much obliged to you if you could procure me a copy of this translation and send it to me by the first convenient opportunity.

As a Member of the Royal Society I am entitled to the annual transactions. I have been negligent in making good this right. I became in a member in 1767. I have the transactions for 1766 which were sent me by Dr Morton soon after my election: but I want those for 1767 and 1768, that is, I want the 57th and 58th Volumes. I have the 59th, 60th, 61st, 62nd, 63rd, and the first part of the 64th volume; but I want the second part of the 64th volume and all that has been published since. May I beg the favour of you to endeavour to procure me these imperfections, and if I am out of time in making this demand for any part of them, as I suspect I am, may I beg the favour of you to buy them for me;3 and when you let me know the price I shall remit you the money by return of Post.

When I was last in London I bought at your Shop Maty’s Edition of Chesterfields miscellaneous works. The third volume wants the last page; viz; page 401. It is, indeed, an imperfection of very small consequence; it being only the french original of the conclusion of a letter from Voltaire, of which the English translation is on the opposite page. If you could, however, make up to me this small imperfection, I should be much obliged to you.

You see how dangerous it is to do one favour to a troublesome man. It brings many other requests upon you. Let me advise you, therefore, to be cautious in time coming and this counsel I look upon as well worth at least part of the trouble.

It gives me great concern to learn from Strahan that his health and spirits are not what they used to be. Remember me most affectionately to him and likewise to Rose and Griffiths;4 and believe me to be

Dear Sir most faithfully and affectionately ever yours

Adam Smith

[1 ]Not traced but presumably dealing with WN ed. 3; see Letter 237, n. 1.

[2 ]Morellet did translate WN but did not publish his work (Mémoires, 1823, 243). A French trans. of WN had appeared in Holland: Recherches sur la nature et les causes de la richesse des nations . . . traduit de l’Anglois de M. Adam Smith, par M***. [4 t.] (The Hague, 1778–9).

[3 ]There is a note on the letter, ? in Cadell’s hand, to the effect that Smith was intitled to the Transactions of the Royal Soc. for 1780, 1781, 1782, 1783, but had forfeited the rest because members had to demand the vols. every four years. Among its holdings of Smith’s books, New College, Edinburgh University, has from the 56th to the 76th vol. of the Transactions, covering the years 1766–86 (Mizuta 46).

[4 ]William Rose and Ralph Griffiths.