| 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
Sir William Forbes [1739-1806] Banker, longstanding friend and later biographer of Beattie. From an Episcopalian family, and related to Lord Forbes of Pistligo, whose estates were confiscated for his part in the 1745 rebellion. He was apprenticed to Coutt's bank, becoming a partner in Forbes, Hunter and Co in 1773. He was well-known in literary circles in Edinburgh and London. Beattie met him in Edinburgh in 1765, introduced by Robert Arbuthnot. Forbes was Beattie's banker, adviser on literary matters, and general confidant
James Dun [1708-1798]. He was Beattie's Father-in-Law. At Marischal College 1728-1732. Under-master at Aberdeen Grammar School in 1732. Master and later Rector from 1744. LLD Marischal College 1772. He married Mary Beaton [1706-1781], who was the daughterof Kenneth Bethune Scott. The mental health of the Duns' children was said to be inherited from her. Beattie lived in Dun's house when he first came to Aberdeen in 1758 and also after he married Dun's daughter in 1767, and the families shared a house for much of Beattie's life. In the final years of Dun's life the relationshp became tensed with disagreements on the management of Mary Beattie's mental health |
| Description | This entry comprises of two letters. The first from Robert Arbuthnot to Beattie.
Received Beattie's very affecting and sorrowful letter on return from Glasgow last night. Thinks Beattie torments himself with apprehensions of events which should not happen. Beattie's conduct has been irreproachable and would stand the severest scrutiny of any rational and unprejudiced person. Dr Dun's behaviour absurd, inconsistent and unaccountable, but no surprise to Arbuthnot. Suspects, from the readiness with which Dr Stewart and Mrs Ramsay agreed, that Dun had made use of Beattie's name to persuade them, since the move was contrary to their interests. [Postscript] as suspected, dun has employed Beattie's name to serve his own purposes as the enclosed letter from him to Sir William Forbes indicates.
The second letter is from James Dun to Sir William Forbes:
Dun and Dr Beattie are satisfied most natural way for Mrs Beattie to be cared for is for Miss Bethune her cousin to take charge of. Has sent his cousin Mr Mortimer to see if she will come with him. Asks forbes to supply any money needed, and drw on Dun, and apologizes for the trouble.
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