Scottish moral professor and a respected pioneer of political economy (1723-1790) whose magnum opus, The Wealth of Nations, is considered the first modern work of economics. ALS, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 7.25 x 9, March 10, 1760. Letter to the 1st Earl of Shelburne regarding the health of his son Thomas, then Smith's student and lodger, in part: "I think it my Duty to inform your Lordship that Mr. Fitzmaurice has been for some days past ill of a slight fever, from which, however, he never appeared to be in the least danger and from which I hope he is now in a fair way of recovery. He was seized with it on Wednesday last. I missed him that forenoon from the Class, which I had never done before and upon my return to my own house, I found him lying upon his bed and complaining of a headache. I immediately sent for a Physician who ordered him to be blooded. He was a good deal relieved by the bleeding, but became very feverish that evening. He continued so all next day but the day following found himself greatly relieved in consequence of a sweat and a sound Sleep. I should have written to your Lordship that evening, that is by Fridays post, for I could have written no sooner, but he appeared to be so much better and Dr. Black assured me positively that all danger was now over, and that he would probably be quite well next day, that I resolved to wait one other post before I wrote anything that could possibly alarm your Lordship…
Your Lordship, perhaps, may think that as I ventured to delay writing to you by last post, I ought not to have written by this: and I shall readily acknowledge that my behaviour in this respect is not very consistent. But when Mr. Fitzmaurice had a slight relapse on Saturday evening I felt so much uneasiness for not having written to your Lordship the day before that I resolved never to expose myself to the like; your Lordship my depend upon his being treated with the utmost care and attention." In fine condition, with partial splitting along the hinge and a bit of smudging to the closing sentiment.
During his tenure as a professor of logic and moral philosophy at Glasgow University, Smith graciously offered to share his residence with students who sought both housing and scholastic supervision, a tender he would uphold over the course of thirteen years. Beginning in 1759, Thomas Petty-Fitzmaurice, the youngest son of the 1st Earl of Shelburne, lodged and studied with Smith for two years before eventually moving on and becoming a Member of Parliament in 1761. Published in April of 1759, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Smith's landmark book of ethical philosophy, embodied many of his Glasgow lectures, which in turn enhanced the standing of both the institution and Smith, whose noted genius and influential teachings attracted a generation of young minds to transfer to Glasgow. Representative of the unique concern Smith relayed to his students, this is an exceptionally rare and considerate letter penned less than a year after the publication of his classic work of sentiment and sympathy, The Theory of Moral Sentiments.
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