| Administrative History | William Creech [1745-1815] Bookseller in Edinburgh. He attended Edinburgh University, and originally intended to enter medicine, but was apprenticed to bookseller Alexander Kincaid in 1764, becoming Kincaid partner when the latter's partnership with John Bell dissolved in 1771 - just after the firm had published the first edition of the first book of the Minstrel. His shop became a well-known meeting place, and he published the work of many of the Scottish literati. Beattie had a long and generally happy relationship with him from 1771, both personally and in business matters |
| Description | Apologies for not answering several letters. Everything Beattie asked for has been done. Pleased by comments on the copies delivered to their Majesties. Presents Beattie with two copies bound in a similar manner and a copy of Blair's sermons. London review speak like idiots about the Essay on Truth, but praise the other essays, particularly that on music, highly [London Review, vol. 5 (1777), pp 1-12, 81-91, 192-8]. Creech agrees with Mrs Montagu's opinion. Since the days of Addison we have had no equal style to Beattie's, and Beattie adds more correctness and deeper thinking |