| 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 | Cold, stormy and rainy for whole of last month. Beattie confined to room by deep wound on skin - miraculously escaped broken leg, but little chance of benefitting from air or water in Peterhead. Grieved at Blacklock's publication disappointment. Ruinous blow to booksellers' trade will not make it easy to bargain with them for some time. Beattie will do anything he can to promote Blacklock's scheme, and hopes he will publish his ballad. Edinburgh Magazine and Review's account of second part of Minstrel extremely flattering. What they say of want of story is just. Refers to a pamphelet, a miserable piece of work of which he cannot believe Mr. Hepburn is the author. [The pamphelet is quoted in Edinburgh Magazine and Review, June 1774, vol. 2, p. 447; it mentions Beattie, and is attributed to Thomas Hepburn.] |