| Administrative History | Aaron Lithgow [active 1750-1798] Master at the Writing School in Montrose, appointed there in 1754 from a previous teaching post in Pencaithland, when Montrose Town Council divided the Music School into an 'English School' and a 'Writing School'. Remained in this post until 1798, when he retired on the grounds of advancing age and ill-health. One of Beattie's early advancing age and ill-health. One of Beattie's early circle of literary-minded friends in Montrose, whom he probably first met on his visits to his sister Jean Valentine. Letters from Beattie to Llthgow starting in 1758, are the most informative source on Beattie's early poems, and show the two men sharing poetic ideas and literary jokes. The'Epithalamium Montrosianum' shows that they were were still in terms of close friendship, with Beattie sending Lithgow whimsical letters on literary matters, in 1778. As late as 1786, James Hay Beattie was impressed that Mr Lithgow approved of the handwriting of Montagu Beattie, then aged eight and staying in Montrose |