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Senate House Library, University of London

Smith, Adam: letter, 20 Dec 1777


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0096 AL110

Held at: Senate House Library, University of London

Title: Smith, Adam: letter, 20 Dec 1777

Date(s): 1777

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 2 leaves

Name of creator(s): Smith | Adam | 1723-1790 | economist and moral philosopher

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Adam Smith was born in Fifeshire and studied at the University of Glasgow and Balliol College, Oxford. During 1751-1763 he was a Professor of at Glasgow, teaching logic and moral philosophy, and subsquently worked a private tutor and independent scholar before becoming Commissioner of Customs for Scotland in 1788. His friends and associates included the philosopher David Hume, the scientist Joseph Black and the geologist James Hutton. Smith's academic work helped to create the discipline of economics in its modern form and provided an intellectual rationale for capitalism and free-market economics. His best known works are The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and The Wealth of Nations (1776).

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Letter from Adam Smith to William Strahan, Esq, MP, 20 Dec 1777, address: Edinburgh, New Street, Shoe Lane, London. Asks for information on the delay in his appointment as a Commissioner of Customs for Scotland. A postscript states: 'Neither you nor Mr [Thomas] Cadell have wrote me anything concerning the new Edition of My Book, is it Published? does it sell well? does it sell ill? does it sell at all?' Autograph, with signature.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

See hard copy catalogue.

Conditions governing access:

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Catalogue of the manuscripts and autograph letters in the University Library at the central building of the University of London (1921). A copy is available in the Library's Palaeography Room.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

See archivist

Immediate source of acquisition:

Found inside a copy of John Phipps's 'A guide to the commerce of Bengal' - classmark: [G.L.] 1823.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

On negative microfilm - reference: MIC 242/2

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Entry compiled by Sarah Drewery.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: Jun 2008


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Books | Publications | Communications media | Information sciences
Customs policy | Finance

Personal names
Cadell | Thomas | 1742-1802 | bookseller
Smith | Adam | 1723-1790 | political economist
Strahan | William | 1715-1785 | printer and publisher

Corporate names

Places