19 April 1782

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses their brother Ralph's difficulty getting an advancement in the Navy and his plans to move. On events in America, he writes: "When a General abides the consequence of a Storm, He should resolve either to beat off his Enemies or die in the attempt. but when the success is desperate, it is more prudent to treat in time. had that been done when the News of Ld. Cornwallis's defeat arrived, He would have been in a different Situation now." Also notes the unlikelihood of peace with the Dutch. Gives a message for their father.

GLC02549.22

22 July 1782

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Writes in detail about his father's arrival and their activities. Indicates that "We are in hourly expectation of hearing something of Importance from Lord Howe." Explains that six ships have been sent to Howe to make a fleet of thirty and discusses related naval matters. Comments on their brother Ralph's difficulty getting a naval post. Comments on correspondence (and the lack of it) from their brother George and James Robertson. Notes that he can give no news of politics because it is difficulty to come by, quipping that "Self Interest is the secret spring to modern patriotism." Asks…

GLC02549.23

21 September 1782

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Indicates that their father has left and discusses his visit and health. Comments on their brother George and related matrimonial issues. Discusses their brother Ralph's problems finding a naval position, noting that "I am afraid He has no chance of being employed." Seal intact.

GLC02549.24

February 1783

Dundas, Isabella, 1747-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Informs James of their father's (her father-in-law) health, which is not good: "he endures his Situation as Life well spent enable A true Christian!" Notes that she is writing because her husband David is too busy to keep up his correspondence. Docketed twice.

GLC02549.25

January 16, 1783

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses correspondence and family matters. Explains that their brother George is planning to go to the West Indies. Discusses their brother Ralph's difficulty getting naval work, especially because of the prospect of peace. Comments on a visit from Charles Dundas, whom he had not seen in nine years.

GLC02549.26

29 April 1783

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas [fragment]

Laments their brother George's plan to marry an American woman and move there forever. It will also force him to work outside the navy, for want of subsistence for a family. There are some contemporary notes on the address leaf.

GLC02549.27

2 June 1784

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Hopes that James will visit "Now that the convulsion of Politicks is over." Mentions "contested elections" and commends "Mr. Pitt, for his Wisdom & discretion in dissolving the last Parliament." Discusses British politics, mentioning Charles Fox and Scotland. Discusses a play he saw and a concert featuring Handel's music performed by an orchestra of 513 musicians. He notes that "nothing is now more talked of but Musick, & indeed I am afraid there is too much reason to believe that we shall like the present Itallians degenerate into a race of catgut scrapers." Mentions the "…

GLC02549.28

January 28, 1785

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses their correspondence and news of family and friends.

GLC02549.29

16 May 1785

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Offers possible excuses for why James has not written and asks him to respond: "you are to set out for Scotland...perhaps you are not well. perhaps you are in Love..." Some contemporary notes on the address leaf.

GLC02549.30

21 April 1787

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Asks for correspondence and news about their father's health. Makes a very cryptic comment: "I think the Young Ladies should erect a Pillar in honor of Dr Willis...He has at last out generalled the London Doctors. but as it is a delicate subject to touch upon. I should say no more of it at present only that I am at this moment from some fortuitous circumstances placed in one of the most singular situations ever Man was. & which some Thirty or Forty years hence you & I may talk over." Comments on a letter from George and an exhibition he did not care for.

GLC02549.31

17 May 1787

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses their correspondence, his expectation of the birth of a new baby, and their father's health.

GLC02549.32

January 16, 1787

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Announces the birth of his daughter. Comments on problems he has riding horses. Seal intact.

GLC02549.33

January 25, 1788

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Mentions "pouring out Libations to Bacchus" and extends an open invitation to have a bottle of champagne with James whenever he decides to visit. Asks him to come to the capital and if he might be of "use to Mr Hastings on the approaching Trial?" Seeks James's support for Archibald Cullen, "who is now at the Bar," noting that he could use the help and commenting: "it is not every Barrister who like Erskin has a base or treacherous Commander, whom the Infatuation of the Mob demands should be skreened from Justice." Notes a visit from George and "disappointment in Mr Bolden taking to…

GLC02549.34

8 February 1788

Dundas, Isabella, 1747-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Describes in detail a fire that injured three of their friends. Notes that the newspaper exaggerated the story, "tho' dreadful as it is." Written from Lombard Street in London.

GLC02549.35

10 February 1788

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Updates James on the medical condition of their friends who were the victims of a fire (see GLC02546.35).

GLC02549.36

February 12, 1788

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Updates James on the medical condition of their friends who were the victims of a fire, noting the likelihood of at least one death (see GLC02546.35). Seal intact.

GLC02549.37

February 14, 1788

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Updates James again on the medical condition of their friends who were the victims of a fire, writing in particular of the grim prospect of recovery for Mrs. Gardiner (see GLC02546.35). Seal partially intact.

GLC02549.38

February 15, 1788

Dundas, Isabella, 1747-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Updates James again on the medical condition of their friends who were the victims of a fire, writing about the grim prospects of several people, particularly Bessy (see GLC02546.35). Explains that she is writing on behalf of her husband who could "say nothing but what adds pain to his mind." The scenes she describes "numb the Soul by the accumulation of misery."

GLC02549.39

18 February 1788

Dundas, Isabella, 1747-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Updates James again on the medical condition of their friends who were the victims of a fire, informing him of and lamenting the death of Bessy due to her injuries (see GLC02546.35). Seal partially intact.

GLC02549.41

February 21, 1788

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Offers additional updates on the medical condition of their friends who were the victims of a fire (see GLC02546.35). Discusses their treatment and the difficulty of administering care on his wife Isabella, who was already in a weakened state. Comments on their father, who was also sick.

GLC02549.42

2 March 1788

Dundas, Isabella, 1747-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses her activities and recovery of their friends in the aftermath of a fire (see GLC02546.35). Offers other local news and thanks James for the kind sentiments in his last letter.

GLC02549.43

January 24, 1789

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Of his schedule, he writes that for a time he was "going every other days to Windsor, sitting up all Night, hurrying home the next, & struggling to keep my usual business." He does not state exactly what he was doing, but does remark that "I fancy it a dream a delusion. it is so unnatural to see that Person who I was accustomed to approach with awe respect & deference in the situation He [is] now in." The dates, place, references, and letter content suggest that Dundas was caring for King George III during his outbreak of "madness" (since concluded to be the disease porphyria) from…

GLC02549.44

12 July 1790

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Mentions his hope that the upcoming marriage of Lord Graham would give James an occasion to visit. Write's very critically of their brother George's wife, Mona: "Lady I cannot call her, that I should not be surprised at any act of Barbarity She should commit." Also comments on giving George (naval) career advice. Discusses the presence of French aristocrats in England who wish to preserve their titles in the face of the French Revolution. Doubts the truthfulness of their information, likening it to false information given during the American Revolution. Describes the French Revolution: "…

GLC02549.45

12 November 1789

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Complains that it has been over six months since James last wrote. Congratulates James on positive reviews of his work as a lawyer and urges him to establish his own practice, and offers some financial assistance. Comments on a possible contribution to a public building project. Asks James to relay a message to Dr. Cochran. Gives family news. Seal partially intact.

GLC02549.46

12 May 1791

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses mutual acquaintances, including Mr. Erskine and the Duke of Roxbury, who speak highly of James and are available for recommendations. Expounds on the importance of an active life and remarks that the only people whose lives are "bearable are professional men." Uses an analogy of a schoolboy looking forward to holidays and enjoying them more because of the work in between. Notes the unhappiness of professionals who have retired from business. In an earlier letter, he had urged James to start his own legal practice (see GLC02549.48).

GLC02549.47