Record

MS 30 - James Beattie, Professor of Moral Philosophy and Logic, poet, essayist and moral philosopher: papers
- 2 - Correspondence to James Beattie

Collection	GB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
Level	Item
Ref No	MS 30/2/671
Title	Robert Arbuthnot to James Beattie from Edinburgh
Date	29 August 1792
Extent	1 Item
Administrative History	Robert Arbuthnot [1728-1803] was a member of a distinguished Jacobite/ Episcopalian family. He was brought up and later owned Haddo-Rattray House, north of Peterhead. He was a merchant and then a banker in the firm of Arbuthnot and Guthrie, which failed in 1772. He then moved to Edinburgh where he bacame secretary of the Board for the Encouragement of Manufacturies and Fisheries in Scotland. He befriended Beattie after Beattie moved to Aberdeen in 1758, and became for some years his principal poetic adviser and promoter. He negotiated on Beattie's behalf and often in conjuction with Sir William Forbes, with the booksellers over several of the publications
Description	Encloses letter form Forbes about their dealings with Mrs Ramsay concerning Mrs Beattie. She will accept £50 for the board and lodging of both. Mrs Beattie and a maid. Arbuthnot thinks this reasonable and asks Beattie's agreement, then Mrs Arbuthnot will write to Mrs Watt asking her to come directly if she agrees. Arbuthnot is a little offended with Mrs Ramsay and wishes he did not have to trouble Beattie with this irksome business. France prsents a very awful spectacle and an instructive lesson to other nations. Arbuthnot wonders if at the proof stage of Elements Beattie might refer to the French revolution. Creech is in Perthshire but Arbuthnot called at his shop todayand they promised that a proof sheet would be sent by today's post. Glad Laing's pamphelet [on Peterhead] is in such forwardness. Suggests Laing should dedicate it to its members of the merchants Maiden Hospital who might reward him handsomely
Access Status	Open

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