David Robertson to James Beattie from Douglas, Isle of Man Sorry to hear of Beattie's bad state of health and afflictions. The note intended to be subjoined to Robertosn's sonnet assumed that The Minstrel was constructed on the plan seen by Gray. Mason's note on Gray's letter contributed to the mistake. Transcript of sonnet included in the letter. Robertson says it is the only poem which will be republished in the present collection ['sonnet to Dr Beattie' published in Edinburgh Weekly Magazine, vol. 57 (24 July 1783), p. 111, and in David Robertosn, Poems, (Edinburgh, 1784), p. 29] 17 November 1790