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

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 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

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

3 November 1790

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Informs James that he received the wine he had asked for but notes that there was an error in the amount. Comments on James's business and health. Reports no new news from George, and George's difficulty gaining a promotion. Notes sending George an "account of the American Commissioners" who awarded his wife 1,100 pounds for property lost in America; he doubts the property was worth it. Gives news of other family and friends.

GLC02549.48

28 October 1791

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses their correspondence and James's business. Urges James to visit. Discusses the illness and death of Mr. Robertson.

GLC02549.49

27 December 1791

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Sends good news about his wife's recovery, the pension received by George Robertson, and his own appointment to Sargent Surgeon by King George III. Describes his meeting with George III and the significance of the appointment. Mentions that the King "added that He never could forget my attention & attachment to Him during His illness" (see GLC02549.44). Notes the prestige and compensation the position would afford.

GLC02549.50

10 October 1792

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter

Title: to James Dundas [fragment]

Discusses sending his son William to stay with James for his schooling. More than half of the third page has been cut off.

GLC02549.51

26 October 1792

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Thanks James for his kind treatment of William Dundas (David's son). Discusses William's education at length.

GLC02549.52

10 June 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses the Gordon Riots, mentioning that there are 25,000 soldiers in London and 60-70 of the rioters were shot (and many others taken prisoner). Reports that Lord George Gordon (the rioters' leader) was questioned by the Privy Council and "sent to the Tower under a strong Guard." Criticizes the anti-Catholic mob, who desired the repeal of the 1778 Relief Act and a return to Catholic repression. Describing one night of the riots, he writes: "it appeared as if all London from one End to the other had been in flames."

GLC02549.12

26 August 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses sending his ill wife away to convalesce, referencing an essay by Montaigne in which he mentions being fonder of his wife after they have been apart. She will be "Sea Bathing, which I believe to be the most powerful restorative we have." Praises a man named George Straham. Describes the business being opened, and problems encountered, by a man named Jonathan Gardiner. Mentions other news of friends and family, and describes a letter from "J: Robertson" as "a proof what powers the fair Sex have over us poor mortals." Partial seal intact.

GLC02549.13

9 October 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Extends wishes for their mother's recovery, comments on his wife's improving health from sea bathing, and provides other family news. Reports hearing that Lord North received a message about Lord Cornwallis being attacked by General Horatio Gates. Explains news that Cornwallis repelled the attack, killed many, took 1,000 prisoners, and captured American artillery equipment. Suggests that "Gates thinking to circumvent him as he had done to Genl Burgoign [Burgoyne] had detached 1500 to attack him in the rear, they were received by Col Tarleton...who totally defeated them." The battle…

GLC02549.14

December 11, 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas [fragment]

Discusses contested parliamentary elections in the south, remarking that "from the eagerness to get into Parliament, one would think that more Patriotism prevails now than ever." Notes that there is great expectation for news from Admiral Darby and Admiral Samuel Hood, particularly "how many French Admirals are brought into Portsmouth." Discusses the potential meeting of two fleets (apparently building on earlier comments in the lost part of the letter). One of the fleets was British, which Dundas describes as "dreadfully inferior in numbers yet there are many people who...think that even…

GLC02549.15

20 July 1781

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses information about their brother George and letters he has been sending. Describes the fleets at Portsmouth and compares them to the locusts of Egypt. Asks James to obtain a "Seal Cutter two scales with our Arms Cut upon a good Cornelian, of a moderate seise, & handsomely set in Gold." Also comments on the loss of Tobago and the danger of losing Madras.

GLC02549.16

24 May 1781

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Mentions the marriage of D. Erskine and the parliamentary elections. Describes his first visit to the opera, which he detested. Compares listening to songs in foreign languages (he does not understand) to "those poor bigots who say their prayers in latin, which they know nothing at all of." Describes the performance, particularly the pantomine, which he considered an absurd spectacle.

GLC02549.17