34 
MEMOIR OF 
the compliment of translation in the following 
letter. 
Le Cte. de Buffon to Mr Smellie. 
“ Montbard in Burgundy, 18tA Feb. 1780. 
“ Sir, — Yesterday, the 17th of February, I only 
received your letter, which was dated at Edin- 
burgh on the 22d of October last. It was accom- 
panied with a prospectus of the translation of my 
work, and an engraving of the fallow deer, and 
was transmitted by my friend Mr Andrew 
Lumisden, a Scots gentleman who resides at 
Paris. He informed me that he knew not the 
name of the person who had sent this packet ; 
but undertook to transmit my answer to Scotland, 
which I begged of him to do with all possible 
expedition. This Mr Lumisden is an intimate 
friend of Mr Macgowan, who lives in Edinburgh, 
and has a friendship for me, as likewise have Mr 
Carnegie and Mr James Bruce, of both whom I 
have heard this day ; and likewise of Mr Mac- 
kenzie, whom I had the honour of receiving at 
my house. I was also some time ago, a great 
correspondent of Mr Maclaurin, Sir Murdoch, 
and some others of your learned countrymen. I 
have entered into this detail to shew you, Sir, 
that I am not entirely a stranger to your illus- 
trious country ; and I am exceedingly flattered 
by your having taken the trouble of translating 
my works. As my productions please you, I am 
certain that you understand them fully, and that 
