| Administrative History | James Hay Beattie [1768-1790]. Eldest son of Beattie. Named, with permission, after Beattie's patron James Hay, Earl of Erroll. His childhood is lovingly recorded in many letters, which show that Beattie was always a deeply involved parent, and in the memoir Beattie wrote shortly after James Hay's death. His childhood and adolescence were marred by his mother's mental illness, and her total disasppearance from his life when he was aged about eleven. He attended Aberdeen Grammar School, and then Marischal College from 1781 to 1786. He considered entering the church, but Beattie secured his appointment on 28 Spetember 1787 as his own assistant and successor. James Hay sometimes taught the Arts class, but was already ill with tubercolosis, of which he died on 19 November 1790. His father assembled a substantial volume of his prose and verse, printed in an edition of 200 copies for circulation among his friends in 1794, and subsequently published with Beattie's own poems in 1799 |
| Description | Letter from James Hay Beattie, Aberdeen, to James Beattie, asking about his father's journey; telling his father he is well and his mother thinks he is a very good boy. Letter mentions Mary Beattie's health; hopes James Beattie returns home safely and in good health and asks to hear from him.
"Dear Papa
Both Mama and I Wish much to hear that your journey has agreed with you. I am perfecly [sic] well, and Mama bids me tell you that I am a Very good boy. She is as well as when you left her, but is sorry that the weather is so unfavourable. We beg of you to be very careful of yourself, that you may come home to us in good health. We expect to see you on Friday next, and wish to hear from you as often as you can before that time. Give our Comp.ts to all our friends. I ever will be your Affectionate, and most dutiful Son
[Signed] J. H. Beattie". |