[To Dr Blacklock], from Aberdeen His bad health. Thanks Blacklock for excellent poem, which he has read often and with great pleasure. Comments on and praises it in some detail. Sorry Blacklock chose such a laborius stanza, but it is harmonious and handled well [presumably referring to The Graham. An Heroic Ballad (London 1774).] Beattie's attention lately engrossed by Priestley's publication. Beattie is disappointed by what Priestley has written of him, though he didn't expect much from it having seen what he wrote in third volume of his Institutes of Religion. Priestley is passionate in admiring himself and despising his adversaries, but his reasoning and manners of thinking makes him unfit to write a book. Beattie has resolved to answer in print. Would like Blacklock's opinion of the book. Beattie will leave Reid and Oswald to answer for themselves. Had never read Oswald's first volume till after Beattie's book which Priestley believes he has borrowed from. 4 October 1774