| Administrative History | Sir William Forbes [1739-1806] Banker, longstanding friend and later biographer of Beattie. From an Episcopalian family, and related to Lord Forbes of Pistligo, whose estates were confiscated for his part in the 1745 rebellion. He was apprenticed to Coutt's bank, becoming a partner in Forbes, Hunter and Co in 1773. He was well-known in literary circles in Edinburgh and London. Beattie met him in Edinburgh in 1765, introduced by Robert Arbuthnot. Forbes was Beattie's banker, adviser on literary matters, and general confidant |
| Description | For the past six weeks he has been totaly engrossed with domestic oncerns but appearances now more favourable. Mrs Beattie slowly gets a little strength. Since November 1st Beattie has done the business of his class without an assistant. During his long confinement, Beattie could transcribe but was in bad state for composition. However, since March he has written 370 pages, including essays on memory, on imagination, and on dreaming. He will read them to his class soon, making about ten lectures of an hour each. At a loss to know what to do with pamphelet on church music. Printed 300 copies not intended for publication. If Creech were to publish 300 or 400 with a good type, Beattie would make some enlargements and destroy the first edition that cost a trifle. He would want to be anonymous because he does not want to give offence. |