Record

CollectionGB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
LevelItem
Ref NoMS 30/2/488
TitleRobert Arbuthnot to James Beattie from Edinburgh
Date17 October 1785
Administrative HistoryRobert Arbuthnot [1728-1803] was a member of a distinguished Jacobite/ Episcopalian family. He was brought up and later owned Haddo-Rattray House, north of Peterhead. He was a merchant and then a banker in the firm of Arbuthnot and Guthrie, which failed in 1772. He then moved to Edinburgh where he bacame secretary of the Board for the Encouragement of Manufacturies and Fisheries in Scotland. He befriended Beattie after Beattie moved to Aberdeen in 1758, and became for some years his principal poetic adviser and promoter. He negotiated on Beattie's behalf and often in conjuction with Sir William Forbes, with the booksellers over several of the publications
DescriptionPraise for manuscript [of Evidences] which he has delivered to Creech, to be sent to press with all possible dispatch. Prays Beattie to send Scoticisms as soon as he can. He read Boswell's journal of tour. Likes remarks on Beattie and Arbuthnot, but disapproves comments on Mrs Montagu's book. Mercer should write more
Access StatusOpen
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