Dundas, David, Sir, 1735-1820 [David and Isabella Dundas letters] [Decimalized]

Return to my Collection Search Results

The letters include the American Revolution (Rhode Island, Cornwallis surrender, campaign in the South), the Gordon Riots in London, and cultural life including disparaging remarks on Italian opera and Handel's music. Most letters written by David to his brother James.

GLC#
GLC02549
Type
Header Record
Date
1773/04/06-1793/05/11
Author/Creator
Dundas, David, Sir, 1735-1820
Title
[David and Isabella Dundas letters] [Decimalized]
Place Written
Richmond, England
Pagination
61 ALSs : c.100p.
Primary time period
American Revolution, 1763-1783
Sub-Era
Road to Revolution
Dundas, David, Sir, 1735-1820
Global History and US Foreign Policy
Revolutionary War
Politics
Government and Civics
Art, Music, Theater, and Film
Children and Family

Showing 20 of 61 records

See all Records
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

6 April 1773

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Offers his brother encouragement in spite of an unspecified "disagreeable situation."

GLC02549.01
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

12 May 1773

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Describes a discussion he had about his brother (the recipient) settling down, the need for assistance from "friends," and the good chances of his success.

GLC02549.02
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas [fragment]

1774

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Thanks his brother for a gift. Discusses paying part of a debt. Writing about his mother, he states: "My Mother generally speaks her mind too freely, tho she commonly means well."

GLC02549.03
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

5 April 1777

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Complains about his profession as a doctor and compares it to being a "galley slave." Describes a man abroad named William Roberts as unambitious. Mentions, and discounts, the prospect of war in India and comments on related political and military...

GLC02549.04
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

21 May 1777

Dundas, Isabella, 1747-1823

Chastises James for not writing. Gives him information about her son to be passed on to her mother-in-law. Describing the acerbic early part of the letter, she notes that she "commenced this Epistle with all the inveteray [sic] of a Paper War."...

GLC02549.05
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

19 May 1778

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Discusses their correspondence, James's last visit, which lacked in amusements because of David's "disagreeable employment," and his son. Notes receiving a letter from William Robertson in Madras, India, and discusses the death of Lord Pigot in...

GLC02549.06
Collection Item
Manuscript document

[Unattached address leaf of a letter from David Dundas to his brother Ralph Dundas]

14 October 1778

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

GLC02549.07
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas [fragment]

29 July 1779

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Indicates that he was sorry to hear about his brother's "disagreables" and offers a travelling metaphor for the difficulties of life. Regrets that they have not seen each other recently.

GLC02549.08
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas [fragment]

18 December 1779

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Describes a trip to Portsmouth. Also discusses visiting the House of Commons, where he heard a debate in which Charles Fox and Lord North spoke. North closed his speech by hoping "that the Eyes of Europe would soon be opened, & see the necessity of...

GLC02549.09
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

January 24, 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Discusses his wife Isabella, whose "proper sense of Religion joined to a firm mind" has helped her adjust to "her misfortunes." Comments on the suffering of their mother, which James had informed him of, and asks James to give their father his best...

GLC02549.10
Collection Item
Autograph letter

to James Dundas

8 June 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Offers a detailed description of the Gordon Riots. Describes the mobs' activities, including the release of prisoners, lighting of fires, extortion, and assaults on members of Parliament and known Catholics. Admits his suspicion that the French...

GLC02549.11
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

10 June 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

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...

GLC02549.12
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

26 August 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

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."...

GLC02549.13
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

9 October 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

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....

GLC02549.14
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas [fragment]

December 11, 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

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...

GLC02549.15
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

20 July 1781

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

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...

GLC02549.16
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

24 May 1781

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

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...

GLC02549.17
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

20 November 1781

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Discusses some family news, commenting on his separation from his wife. Thanks James for his work on a seal (also discusses in GLC025490.16), but asks him not to send it until after the lottery, fearing it might be stolen. Comments on the status of...

GLC02549.18
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

6 December 1781

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Discusses a short visit from their brother George who was in good health but had to return to his ship after one day. Also mentions another brother named Ralph, whose "fate you have learnt four days ago" (Ralph, captain of the Bonetta, was captured...

GLC02549.19
Collection Item
Autograph letter signed

to James Dundas

8 January 1781

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Notes that he has not informed their mother and father about their brother Ralph, captain of the Bonetta, who had been captured by the French at the Battle of Yorktown (see GLC03676.05). Discusses a possibly scandal involving Ralph and his effort...

GLC02549.20