ABSTRACT
In spite of all the points which appear today as an unfortunate lack of precision, if not as a series of philosophical misinterpretations, the Marquise de Condorcet’s translation remained as a reference in France for two centuries. Until the very last years of the twentieth century, it was the only translation of Smith’s Theory available, being republished three times during this period: in 1830, in 1860, and lastly in 1982.49 Considering what I could pleasantly call the long reign of the Marquise, three questions are to be asked. First, why did this translation so easily overshadow the preceding ones? Second, why did it satisfy for so long the French public? Third, what motivated the publication of a new translation? As to the first question, it can be answered that the Marquise was the only
translator who came late enough in the eighteenth century to have the opportunity to work on the sixth and last edition of the Theory, that of 1790. Considering the importance of the revisions that Smith brought to the last edition, this simple chronological fact is enough to outdate objectively the Marquise’s predecessors.50
Moreover, Eidous and Blavet’s translations have been pointed to by several critics of their time for their lack of accuracy and elegance whereas, by comparison, the Marquise’s work benefited from a good reputation on these points as soon as it was issued.51
