Record

CollectionGB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
LevelItem
Ref NoMS 30/2/295
TitleWilliam Creech to James Beattie from Edinburgh
Date8 April 1777
Extent1 Item
Administrative HistoryWilliam 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
DescriptionThanks to Beattie for bill of £60. Is in no hurry about the payment. Does not want to interefere with Dilly about the 50 guineas due payment. He has behaved unhandsomely in supposing Creech intended any exclusive advantage to himself from the subscription. Beattie's friends Arbuthnot, Forbes and Andrew Erskine advised against Creech printing the poem 'Vicissitude' though it has a great deal of merit. Except the Minstrel, Creech never printed a small poem separately that paid the expence. All the presentation copies of Beattie's book were delivered
Access StatusOpen
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