To Robert Arbuthnot, Edinburgh, from Aberdeen He will introduce Matinglay to Moir and Mercer. Beattie would welcome Greenfield as a colleague, but uncertain whether he or the College have power to achieve this. Trill intends to resign, but no vacancy yet. Copland may succed as professor of Mathematics, which would leave natural philosophy chair open. The town are patrons of the mathematics professorship. Last year three candidates proposed themselves for the professorship in natural philosophy, and Beattie and colleagues agreed that if the college made any recommendation, it should be unanimous. So Beattie cannot do anything independently for Greenfield. Will send papers on chivalry when transcribed. Beattie had hard winter, and needed an assistant. 21 April 1778