William Creech to James Beattie from Edinburgh Dilly's proposal is mean and contemptible, particularly as Dilly had recently told him that he proposed a gratuity of ten guineas to Beattie for the trouble he had taken over the fourth edition of the Essay. Creech, who only owned a quarter of the book, would have been ashamed to name so small a sun (Dilly purchased Bell's share and therefore owns all exept Creech's fourth). Creech will tell Dilly that Beattie should have thirty guineas immediately and twenty more when half the impression is gone. Creech is prepared to advance his share though he has only been concerned in the second impression and is a loser by the third edition of The Minstrel according to a class book at Oxford? 14 December 1772