ABSTRACT
From his correspondence with Robert Graham of Fintry, it is obvious that Robert Burns' reading of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations was an experience that was engaged in over several months. The division of labour, however, so far as it can be introduced, occasions, in every art, a proportionable increase of the productive powers of labour. The separation of different trades and employments from one another seems to have taken place in consequence of this advantage. Perhaps Smith's comments on the value of the contribution of the apothecary caused Burns to think of them with a greater understanding than he might have, had he only listened to the voice of Smollett. It is when Smith comes to discuss those who work on the land that we find comments that would have most caused Burns to read with appreciation and respect for the depth of his insight.
