General Note
His “Poems” include An Address intended to have been printed on the opening of the author's circulating library at Peterhead.
'I left my business, clos'd my shop, // Gave up for fancy'd solid hope; // left Aberdeen with pride elate, // But found my blunder, tho' too late. // Then round Edina's streets I wander'd, // Where for my folly I was slander'd. // With fruitless toil at last being worn, // Homeward, desponding, I return; // But ship'd again. I backward trode, // Unwillingly the same vile road. // To generous Moir I then apply'd, // Who, as he could, my wants supply'd; // And to prevent a greater evil // Gave me the honour'd post of Devil.'
'In Edinburgh my lot is cast, // I'm anchor'd there I think at last'
printer's devil to John Moir Edinburgh 1794
'The first person that I can hear of who tried bookselling as a business in Peterhead was a William Farquhar; he also kept a circulating library, and published a collection of original poems... He did not find employment and therefore left the place.' “Poems on several occasions: consisting of Elegies & Epistles, Miscellaneous & Scottish pieces”. By William Farquhar was printed at Edinburgh for the author in 1794. The printer was John Moir who was Farquhar's employer at the time. Farquhar is generous with personal information in his poems. He 'has not as yet completed his twenty-third year', so he was born about 1772.