| Administrative History | James Boswell (1740 - 1795). The friend and biographer of Samuel Johnson, who appears to have been an early friend of Beattie, though it is unclear when they first met. He is first mentioned in the Beattie correspondence in 1770. He introduced Beattie to Johnson in 1771.
James Edward Oglethorpe (1696 - 1785) was an army officer and founder of the colony of Georgia. He was closely connected to notable figures, such as Samuel Johnson, James Boswell and Hannah More.
Oliver Goldsmith (1728? - 1774), author. According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, he was known as Dr Goldsmith in his later years, even though no record exists of his having received a medical degree while abroad. |
| Description | Letter from James Boswell, London, to James Beattie, regarding 'the question Nedioccribus esse Poetics etc.'; talking about the sad news of Dr Gregory's [John Gregory [Gregorie], (1724 - 1773), born in Aberdeen, a physician and writer] death and informing Beattie about Samuel Johnson's intended visit to Scotland that year. Letter mentions Boswell's intended dinner for the next Saturday, at which General Oglethorpe, Johnson, Dr Goldsmith, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Mr Garrick will attend. Letter ends with Boswell's instruction for Beattie to send the letter undercover to George Dempster M P London [George Dempster (1732 - 1818) of Dunnichen, agriculturist and politician]. |