Record

MS 30 - James Beattie, Professor of Moral Philosophy and Logic, poet, essayist and moral philosopher: papers
- 1 - James Beattie's copy letters

Collection	GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
Level	Item
Ref No	MS 30/1/103
Title	To Rev Dr Thomas Blacklock, Edinburgh, from Aberdeen
Date	10 December 1775
Extent	1 Item
Administrative History	Thomas Blacklock [1721-1791] Poet and writer. He was blind from smallpox at the age of 6 months, but in spite of his handicap he showed an early taste for poetry. He published his first volume of verse in 1746, and another in 1756. He became a Church of Scotland minister in 1759, but he later gave up and took pupils. He introduced himself to Beattie in 1765 by sending him a copy of his 1756 poems. For some time he was an important confidant and poetic adviser to Beattie. Beattie secured a honorary DD of Marischal College for him in 1767
Description	Everybody here has been dying with an epidemical cold and fever which he thinks has been pretty universal. Beattie's family has beeen affected in different ways. Has weighted what Blacklock says about Priestley's book and does not think Blacklock should honour it with any further notice. Seems to be going into oblivion. Blacklock writing further against it might delay this, and he should not be surprised that the Edinburgh Magazine and Review has been so little read in London. Beattie is inpatient to read Lord Hailes's History of Scotland. Is the Edinburgh Magazine and Review likely to continue? Its conductors show an unaccountable want of consideration. What has the public to do with their private quarrels? Mr Nisbet deserves a little chastisement for some things he set his name to in print, but there has been too much of that controversy.
Access Status	Open
Physical Description	1 leaf folded; seal. Hole at edge of p.3 with loss of text
Publication Note	Published in "The Correspondence of James Beattie - Letters 1758-1775", ed. Roger J. Robinson

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