Letter by James Burnett, Lord Monboddo, Edinburgh, 1765 July 4 [manuscript]. [1765]

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Letter by James Burnett, Lord Monboddo, Edinburgh, 1765 July 4 [manuscript]. [1765]

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/697539185

MS Acc10.108 comprises the letter written to an unknown recipient by James Burnett, Lord Monboddo, at Edinburgh, 4 July 1765. In the letter, Monboddo speculates upon his theory that humans were originally wild animals until the need to congregate for protection made them sociable humans, and from which a need for language evolved. He then wonders if any people have congregated for reasons other than protection, and notes that the inhabitants of New Holland may be regarded as almost wild, as he has heard they have very little social structure, not even language. He also expresses doubt about Baron de Lahontan's statements about native Americans. Monboddo opens the letter by thanking the recipient's acquaintances Monsieur Guynes and Monsieur Capronier for their assistance at the Bibliothèque du Roi; he closes by sending the best wishes of Dr John Hope, botanist and surgeon, and a Dr Clark (1 packet).

0.03 m. (1 packet)

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SNAC Resource ID: 7999415

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Related Entities

There are 2 Entities related to this resource.

Monboddo, James Burnett, Lord, 1714-1799

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6kk9h9m (person)

Epithet: chandler British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001030.0x000199 Epithet: Colonel British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001030.0x00019a James Burnett, Lord Monboddo, was an eighteenth century Scottish judge, scholar of linguistic evolution and philosopher. Part of the Scottish Enlightenment, he lived in Edinburgh but was well-conne...

Lahontan, Louis Armand de Lom d'Arce, baron de, 1666-1716

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qv427f (person)

Louis-Armand de Lom d'Arce was born in Lahontan, France, on June 9, 1666. He inherited the baronetcy of Lahontan after the death of his father, Isaac de Lom d'Arce, in 1674. Lahontan left France for North America around 1683. He became commander of Fort St. Joseph in 1687, traveled around the northern Great Lakes region, and claimed to have explored the Mississippi River region. Lahontan returned to France in 1690, but soon went back to North America. He fought alongside French forces near Québe...