| Administrative History | Mary (Mally Beattie) (1744 - 1807), Beattie's wife. Beattie met her when he boarded with her father on first coming to Aberdeen in 1758. They married in 1767. |
| Description | Letter from Mary Beattie, Aberdeen, to the Dutchess of Gordon, mentioning Mr Beattie's letter from Banff to the Dutchess. Letter expresses hope of seeing the Duke and Dutchess of Gordon; Mrs Fordyce [probably Henrietta Cumming (1734 – 1823), governess and wife of James Fordyce (1720 - 1796), Church of Scotland minister and moralist]; the Marquis and Lady Susan and mentions the invitation for dinner the Beatties' gave to them. Mrs Beattie writes how she remembers her lonely conversation with the Dutchess and talks about the verses she wrote. Letter mentions Mrs Beattie's expectation that it will arrive at Gordon Castle just as the Duke and Dutchess are departing. Mrs Beattie writes that she missed a visit from Captain Irvine [?William Irvine (1741 - 1804), an army officer and revolutionary politician in America] and that the Duke and Dutchess will meet Mrs Grant of Carron at the Beatties' house. Letter talks about Mr Beattie's fatigue after giving a lecture a day at the College and that he has employed someone to teach the morning and evening lectures. |