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CollectionGB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
LevelItem
Ref NoMS 30/1/81A
TitleTo Dr Porteous, from Peterhead
Date4 August 1774
Extent3 Items
Administrative HistoryBeilby Porteus [1731-1809]. Rector of Lambeth and chaplain to the King in 1769. He was Bishop of Chester between 1776 and 1787 and Bishop of London in 1787-1808. He sent Beattie a copy of his sermons and expressed great admiration for Beattie's Essay on truth and The Minstrel. They met during Beattie's visit to London in 1773, and Porteus became a lifelong friend and supporter
DescriptionLong letter explaining no objection to Churh of England, and has studied for holy orders. Reasons for declining. Motivation might be misunderstood. Doing good in Aberdeen. May be more attended to if he remains a layman. [Ms 30/1/81 also has a draft in Beattie's hand dated 2 August, with a note added by Beattie that 'this is a copy of letter to Dr. Porteus, occasioned by the offer made to Beattie of a Church of England living worth £650 a year. Letter was read by King and Queen, who were pleased to approve it. King spoke to Beattie on Windsor Terrace summer 1787 expressing strong approval.' The figure of £650 arose from a conversation recorded in Beattie's diary of his 1775 London visit. Beattie was told 'the living is let by the present incumbent who farms it for £650 per annum.'].
Access StatusOpen
Physical Description1 leaf folded + 1 leaf pasted to it + 1 part leaf pasted to front leaf = 6 pages+
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