Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart (1749-1826) to James Dundas

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02549.50 Author/Creator: Dundas, David, Sir, Bart (1749-1826) Place Written: Richmond (London), England Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 December 1791 Pagination: 3 p. : address ; 22 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy

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.

Sir David Dundas, 1st Bart of Richmond, was a doctor who was appointed Sargent Surgeon to King George III in 1791.
James Dundas was a lawyer in Edinburgh, Scotland, and David's younger brother.

Richmond 27 Dec 1791
My Dear James,
I have of late sent you nothing but accounts of Misery & Distress. I have now the satisfaction to send accounts of a pleasanter nature.
In the first place my Wife is recoving from Her accouchement tolerably well altho she has suffered much with [illegible] in the stomach -
Next Mr. Gro: Robertson has got a pension of £100 a year -
& lately the King was pleased to appoint me on Sunday Serjeant Surgeon -
You will be perhaps as well as many other people astonished at the appointment, as there is no instance of any person in my [2] line of the profession holding this office, as it has been generally given to one of the oldest & first Surgeons in London - & I have all London open mouthed against me - but I do not regard that one farthing - The King conferred it on me in the handsomest manner possible, the Moment I told Him of my wish, without hesitation He replied "You can have no Competition," & added that He never could forget my attention & attachment to Him during His illness, & that this appointment need not take me from Richmond, when he understood I had a great deal of Business that I was as near Him [insert: or never] at Richmond as I should be even in London - [3] & told me He would write to Lord Salisbury the next day - I found however on Monday that He had wrote on Sunday Afternoon & sent off a messinger with it, & said in the learning of a friend of mine, that no appointment had given him more satisfaction - I need scarcely add that it has given me much, for besides the honour of the office, it being the first in the Profession, the Emoluments are between 3 & 4. hundred pounds a year - Remember me kindly to all wh You, & believe me ever
Your faiths full &
affect Brother
David Dundas

[address leaf]

Richmond twenty eighth
Decr 1791

James Dundass
Edinburgh
Onslow

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826
Dundas, James, 1752-1831

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources