To Robert Arbuthnot, Edinburgh, from Aberdeen Mrs Beattie continues to recover surprisingly well. The young man thrives and was today baptized by the name of Montagu following a promise of seven years standing. What Arbuthnot says of Sir Robert Keith gives Beattie great pleasure. Beattie spent two happy evenings with Arbuthnot son when he was in Aberdeen. Concerning monument to Thomson, Beattie explain general views on insscriptions. They should be perfectly simple, true and concise. Modern inscriptions are often a barbarous mixture of verse and prose, of Latin and English, of narration and commonplace morality. Thanks Arbutnot for candid opinion on Psalms and asks him to show this letter to Forbes. Lord Erroll's death is a great loss. Beattie owed him much and had the most sincere esteem and liking for him. 22 July 1778