| Administrative History | James Mercer [1734-1804] One of Beattie's most steadfast friends. Son of a Jacobite who had fled to France after Culloden. He was student at Marischal College from 1748 to 1752, where he was one year senior to Beattie. Against the advice of his Jacobite parents he enlisted in the British army at the outbreak of the Seven Years War. He probably became Bettie's friend around 1761-1762, when he returned briefly to Scotland. He served again in Germany in 1763 and then he was for some years in Ireland. He retired from the army in 1772. Though a professional soldier, his greatest interest was in literature, especially that of the ancient classics of France. The letters between him and Beattie reflect their shared literary interests. A book of his poems was edited by Sylvester Douglas, Lord Glenbervie. He was one of the very few friends that Beattie saw regularly in his final years |
| Description | Had hoped to visit Mercer's part of Buchan, but waters of Peterhead have disqualified him for every social duty , byt throwing multitude of pimples over head and face. Hopes it will proves health in the end. Others say it is the natural result of 'sinister' paractices, and left sided injuries - hand, chin, arm, wrist. Has come to be looked upon as scurvy fellow. Apologies to Lundie, Mr. Forbes and Ogilvie for leaving Buchan without seeing them. |