Brief guide to manuscripts collections| William L. Clements Library The University of Michigan Viscounts Melville Papers |
Henry Dundas, born in Edinburgh, came from a family of distinguished lawyers. Educated at Edinburgh University, he began to practice law in 1763. Three years later he became solicitor general for Scotland. Dundas entered Parliament for Edinburghshire in 1774 and quickly proved to be a superb debater. Within a year he was appointed lord advocate and in 1777 was made joint keeper of the signet.
Although Dundas had opposed North's conciliatory proposals in both 1775 and 1778, his parliamentary skill was recognized as a valuable asset to the ministry, and Dundas' support was secured by his appointment as sole keeper of the signet in 1779. For the remainder of the North ministry Dundas was an effective spokesman, supporting the American War, arguing against any acknowledgment of American independence, and opposing economic refore. In 1781 Dundas began his long involvement in Indian affairs as chairman of the secret committee investigating the Carnatic War. In the second Rockingham ministry Dundas continued as lord advocate and was a member of the Privy Council. With the formation of the Shelburne administration, Dundas was given the signet for life and made treasurer of the navy. In 1783 he returned to the House of Commons as member of Parliament for Edinburghshire and spoke in defense of Shelburne's peace preliminaries. Having quarreled with North, Dundas joined the opposition, leading the attack on Fox's India Bill which forced the Coalition out of office.
With the creation of the Pitt ministry, Dundas' political influence reached new heights: he was Pitt's close personal friend and second to him in the House of Commons; he domianted Scottish politics in Parliament; he controlled Indian affairs; and when hostilities with France developed, he played a major role in the conduct of the war. Created Viscount Melville in 1802, he held office as treasurer of the navy, 1782-1800; lord of trade, 1784-1786; home secretary, 1791-1794; president of the board of Control for Indian Affairs, 1793-1801; secretary at war, 1794-1801; and first lord of the admiralty, 1804-1805.
Robert Saunders Dundas, Henry's only son, entered politics as private secretary to this father and in his own career continued the family's position of political and legal eminence. In 1796 he was elected to Parliament for Rye, and four years later was appointed joint keeper of the signet for Scotland. during the Portland and Perceval ministries he was a member of the Privy Council and president of the Board of Control. An able, innovative administrator, Robert Dundas made his greatest contibution as first lord of the admiralty, 1812-1830.
Papers of Henry Dundas, 1st viscount Melville, British statesman, jurist, and of his son Robert Saunders Dundas, 2d viscount Melville, first lord of the admiralty.
This collection has approximately 1,500 items of Henry Dundas and 850 items of Robert Dundas. The papers contain primarily incoming correspondence, although there are some copies of letters and drafts of memoranda by the Melvilles; they are almost entirely political in content.
The papers of Henry Dundas are concerned chiefly with his British offices and British political affairs; there is very little of purely Scottish interest. The correspondence is fullest from 1794 to 1805 and relates to his tenure as secretary at war and first lord of the admiralty. Included in the collection is valuable diplomatic correspondence, memoranda on British trade, and letters dealing with Indian and British patronage. There are intelligence reports, defense plans, and secret naval memoranda concerning the war with France; trial briefs prepared for Dundas' defense in the 1806 impeachment proceedings against him for malversation; and one volume of 35 letters from Frederick, duke of York, to Melville, 1795-1803.
The papers of Robert Dundas are primarily related to his office as first lord of the admiralty. Of American interest are items relating to the conduct of the War of 1812. Included are two bound Royal Navy lists: April 1, 1812, and July 12, 1817. These contain names of ships, statistics on their dimensions, the number of men and weapons carried, and information on construction. There is a volume of miscellaneous correspondence, 1792-1830, 146 pp. and a 'Précis of Mr. Dundas's Correspondence with the Several Departments of his Majesty's Government,' covering the Portland and Perceval ministries, 46 pp.
Canning Papers
Purchased, 1937 and 1953
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