| Administrative History | Cosmo Gordon [1735?-1800] He was at Marischal College in 1749-1753, and thus he was a contemporary of Beattie. However, they became friends only after they met at Lord Monboddo's house in Edinburgh in 1775. Beattie and Gordon shared literary tastes and often met at the latter's house at Cluny, in south Aberdeenshire. He was member of parliament in 1774-1777, and from 1777 baron of the Court of the Exchequer. From then Beattie referred to him as Baron Gordon. He was Rector of Marischal College thanks to Beattie's influence, between 1782-1788 |
| Description | Beattie has been kept in suspence about an affair which he now mentions to Gordon as Lord Rector of Marischal College. First year's payment of Beattie's nephew's exchequer bursary (which the Barons conferrd on him) became due at Martinmas [11 November, which was a Scottish quarter day]. He went to Alexander Innes, Deputy Collector of Bishop's rents with the usual certificates from the Professors of Divinity and asked for his money, which Innes refused on four separate occasions on one pretence or another. The presentation of the bursary does indeed contain impossible conditions. The conditions of the bursary cannot previously have been interpreted literally. The professors must have granted a certificate on the basis that they were satisfied upon the whole with the behaviour, attendance, learning and proficiency of the student. It would be most unfair on Beattie's nephew and a stigma on his character if the bursary were taken from him and he deserves this as little as any young man who ever attended college. Another bursar, Ralph king, is in the same predicament as Beattie's nephew and is also languishing in a consumption. |