| 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 | Obliged to Blacklock for strictures on Priestley [series of unsigned articles by Blacklock, criticising Priestley's Examination, in Edinburgh Magazine and Review, beginning vol. 2 (November 1774), p. 771]. Beattie has material for a complete answer to Priestley, but in no haste because he thinks Priestley's books make little impact in England. Will leave Reid and Oswald to answer for themselves. |