Record

CollectionGB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
LevelItem
Ref NoMS 30/1/356
TitleTo William Laing from Aberdeen
Date20 October 1796
Extent1 Item
Administrative HistoryWilliam Laing [1742-1812]. Student at Marischal College 1762-1766 and Beattie's pupil in 1765-1766. He was Master at Aberdeen Grammar School in 1770-1771. Beattie secured his appointment as episcopal minister at Peterhead in 1771. He had studied Medicine, although he did not obtain any qualification, but in 1782, on Beattie's recommendation, he was awarded an MD degree of Marischal College. He remained a close friend of Beattie until the latter's death
DescriptionHe goes out little because of vertigo. Dislike of modern novels, but Virgil, Addison and other good authors please him. Laing need not return Smellie's philosophy of natural history. Rather too much given to theory. Smellie was not only a philosopher but considered one of the best printers in Edinburgh. But he was so slow in printing first edition of Evidences, and broke his word so often, they almost quarreled.
Access StatusOpen
Publication NotePublished in "The Correspondence of James Beattie - Letters 1758-1775", ed. Roger J. Robinson
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