Record

CollectionGB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
LevelItem
Ref NoMS 30/2/608
TitleRobert Arbuthnot to James Beattie from Edinburgh
Date22 November 1789
Extent1 Item
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
DescriptionSibbald and Creech approve Beattie's present plan for Addison's prose works. hopes Beattie will write annotations and defend Addison against Hurd. But Arbuthnot thinks Addison overrates Blackmore on creation [Spectator 339], and Ambrose Philipds. Reference to 'Lady you mention' [Duchess of Gordon] and Freeholder No. 38. Mention to own sons
Access StatusOpen
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