Fonds GB 0096 AL111 - Smith, Adam: letter, 5 Feb 1778

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0096 AL111

Title

Smith, Adam: letter, 5 Feb 1778

Date(s)

  • 1778 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 sheet

Context area

Name of creator

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).

Archival history

See archivist

GB 0096 AL111 1778 fonds 1 sheet Smith , Adam , 1723-1790 , economist and moral philosopher

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).

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

Letter from Adam Smith, 5 Feb 1778. Address: Edinburgh. Acknowledging the receipt of his commission as Commissioner of Customs for Scotland. 'I received the Commission on Monday the 2d ist: four days after my name had appeared in the Gazette: I am assured there is scarce an example of any such commissions coming to Edinburgh in less than four weeks after that publication'.

Autograph, with signature.

See hard copy catalogue

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.

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.

English

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.

On negative microfilm - reference: MIC 242/2

Entry compiled by Sarah Drewery.
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.

Jun 2008 Finance Customs policy Smith , Adam , 1723-1790 , political economist

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

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

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Letter from Adam Smith, 5 Feb 1778. Address: Edinburgh. Acknowledging the receipt of his commission as Commissioner of Customs for Scotland. 'I received the Commission on Monday the 2d ist: four days after my name had appeared in the Gazette: I am assured there is scarce an example of any such commissions coming to Edinburgh in less than four weeks after that publication'.

Autograph, with signature.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

See hard copy catalogue

Conditions of access and use area

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.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

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.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

On negative microfilm - reference: MIC 242/2

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Senate House Library, University of London

Rules and/or conventions used

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.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area