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'Throughout his life Ross was fond of writing verse for his own amusement: and at length he placed in the hands of Dr. Beattie ... an number of manuscripts ... The poems which Beattie recommended for publication were 'The Fortunate Shepherdess', a pastoral tale in three cantos, and a few songs, including 'The Rock and the wee Pickle Tow' and 'Woo'd and married and a'', and these appeared at Aberdeen in 1768, by subscription. Ross obtained about 20l. profit from the book, a much larger sum than he had hoped for. Beattie contributed to the volume som0e verses to Ross in the Scottish dialect, and wrote a letter in the 'Aberdeen Journal' to draw notice to the book' [DNB] The verses by Dr Beattie have been prefixed to all the subsequent editions of 'Helenore,or the Fortunate Shepherdess' [Chambers].

ESTC1865R1.