| Administrative History | Edward Dilly [1732-1779]. He and his brother Charles were booksellers in The Poultry, London. The brothers were the London publishers of the Essay on Truth and The Minstrel
William Creech [1745-1815] Bookseller in Edinburgh. He attended Edinburgh University, and originally intended to enter medicine, but was apprenticed to bookseller Alexander Kincaid in 1764, becoming Kincaid partner when the latter's partnership with John Bell dissolved in 1771 - just after the firm had published the first edition of the first book of the Minstrel. His shop became a well-known meeting place, and he published the work of many of the Scottish literati. Beattie had a long and generally happy relationship with him from 1771, both personally and in business matters |
| Description | Glad to hear that Beattie safely arrived in Edinburgh. Surprised that Creech has copies of Essay in hand, and has asked him to send them to dispose of before the new edition comes out. Third edition has gone to the press. He has informed Creech of having settled with Beattie for the sencond edition of The Minstrel and written to him about corrections for the third edition. 750 copies again to be printed. Does not expect sale of third edition to be as quick as the first. Will pay Beattie fifteenth guineas as before, which is a fair and honest price. Solicits Beattie for degrees for Abraham Ludlow, surgeon of Bristol, and Henry Mayo, dissenting clergyman and friend of Calder |