| Administrative History | David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes [1726-1796]. Lawyer and historian, living at Newhailes, near Edinburgh. Enthusiastic supporter of Beattie and his writings. He succesfully persuaded Beattie to be a candidate for the Chair of Moral Philosophy in Edinburgh in 1774 |
| Description | Letter from Lord Hailes, Newhailes, to Sir William Forbes, talking about a letter he received from London, which mentioned Lord Mansfield's zeal for James Beattie. Hailes writes that he will not reveal his correspondent. Letter speculates that Beattie suffers from panic attacks, caused by bad health and a vegetable diet, and says that Hailes' friend, Dr McKenzie of Drumsheugh, blamed the errors of the later Platonists on poor ?diet. ?Hailes writes that Beattie should mention names of theorists and sceptics in his lectures. Letter says that Beattie should leave his office if he dislikes it and ?post - script ?makes mention of a 'rebuff' relating to religion. |