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There is a brief discussion in Edwin Cannan's able introduction to the Wealth of Nations
(written in 1904) about why Smith didn't title his book Political Economy. Cannan suggests
that Smith avoided the title because Steuart had in 1767 titled his book : An Inquiry into
the Principles of Political Oeconomy: Being an Essay on the Science of Domestic Policy in
Free Nations.  Cannan also points out that in Ch. IX, Book III, (p. 643 in Modern Library
edition) Smith equates political economy with the causes of the wealth of nations.  The
quote appears in a discussion of the physiocrats and runs "This sect, in their works,
which are very numerous, and which treat not only of what is properly called Political
Oeconomy, or of the nature and causes of the wealth of nations, but of every other branch
of the system of civil government, all follow implicitlyl and without any sensible
variation the doctrine of Mr. Quesnai."
 
This doesn't answer your basic question, but perhaps helps a bit.  
 
Joe Persky   
 
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