Beschreibung:

Autograph letter signed by Hugh Blair, to "Dear Sir" [probably his publisher Thomas Becket, or his partner Peter Abraham De Hondt], expressing delight at the newly-published Temora which he thinks should boost sales of his own Dissertation on Ossian: "I have now Read Temora, from which I Expect Ossian will reap additional Honour & You, some profit. It is in Several respects Superior to Fingal; it is more full & particular, it is a more Complete Story, and it is Still more tender & Affecting. It is truly an Admirable performance; and by the People of Taste here very much Esteemed. Mr Macphersons Notes too are many of them very Useful & many of them amusing. You writ me, You was to send me a Copy; which Mr Macpherson did also; but through some Mistake or other Mr Balfour told me, he had none that was intended for me"; adding that he is glad to learn from his last two letters that "the Sale of my dissertation has been quicken'd by Temora. Here, it has gone off fast enough. Most of the Copies you Sent down last I am told are already disposed off. I am perfectly well Satisfied with the Treatment I have received from both the Reviews: and in general I have got Encouragement enough for a New Author"; finally, he looks forward to seeing him when he goes to London in about a fortnight's time, with the hopes that Macpherson may have returned from Holland by then: "Mr Macpherson's absence is an unlucky Circumstance for me, as I am quite a Stranger to the Town... I may have the pleasure of seeing him before I Leave London"; integral blank with recipient's endorsement, 2 pages, leaves detached, browned overall and silked, 4to, Edinburgh, 17 March 1763