| Administrative History | Robert Arbuthnot [1728-1803] was a member of a distinguished Jacobite/ Episcopalian family. He was brought up and later owned Haddo-Rattray House, north of Peterhead. He was a merchant and then a banker in the firm of Arbuthnot and Guthrie, which failed in 1772. He then moved to Edinburgh where he bacame secretary of the Board for the Encouragement of Manufacturies and Fisheries in Scotland. He befriended Beattie after Beattie moved to Aberdeen in 1758, and became for some years his principal poetic adviser and promoter. He negotiated on Beattie's behalf and often in conjuction with Sir William Forbes, with the booksellers over several of the publications |
| Description | Received Beattie's letter of 12 September indicating that Dun is now averse of plan for servant for Mrs Beattie, and wants no change till Beattie returns to Aberdeen. Meanwhile things are quiet, and what has happened may make Mrs Ramsay treat Mrs Beattie better. Glad Laing will inscribe account of Peterhead to Merchant Maiden Hospital. Encloses estimate from Moir and his partneer for printing James Hay Beattie's book. They agree to Beattie's terms, but could not print in less than three months. Estimate from Grant and Moirs enclosed. One hundred copies of one octavo volume of 350 pages and 22 sheets for £26. To return the manuscript to Dr Beattie, send him the whole impression, and speak to no one about the work while in press |