| Administrative History | The sovereignty of the Isle of Man, previously held by the Earls of Derby, passed to James, 2nd Duke of Atholl, in 1736, as heir to his grandmother, Lady Amelia Stanley, daughter of James, 7th Earl of Derby, and wife of John, 2nd Earl and Marquis of Atholl. The sovereignty of the island was later sold to the Crown in 1765 by John, 3rd Duke of Atholl, and his wife Charlotte, Baroness Strange, his cousin, the daughter of his uncle, the 2nd Duke of Atholl, for £70,000 and an annuity of £2,000 for their joint lives. The family's remaining Manx privileges were acquired by the Crown in 1828 for £417,144. John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl, succeeded to the dukedom on the sudden death of his father on 5 November 1774.
Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742-1811), politician, was born on 28 April 1742 at Arniston House, Midlothian, fourth son among seven children of Robert Dundas, Lord Arniston (1685-1753), and his second wife, Ann (1705-1797). Educated at Edinburgh University, his early career was at the bar, before entering politics in 1774. By 1775, he became lord advocate in succession to Sir James Montgomery. Since the abolition of the post of secretary of state for Scotland after the last Jacobite rising in 1746, the lord advocate had become the country's chief officer of government. His close friendship with William Pitt saw Dundas appointed home secretary in 1791, remaining in the Cabinet until 1801. Dundas retired to Scotland and was raised to the peerage in 1802 as Viscount Melville and Baron Dunira.
William Dundas (1762-1845) was the nephew of Henry Dundas and became MP for Anstruther burghs in 1794. He was secretary at war from 1804 to 1806, and succeeded his brother Robert as keeper of the signet in 1814, eventually becoming lord clerk register in June 1821.
Alexander Shaw was Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man from 1790 to 1804. |
| Custodial History | The manuscripts were apparently bought in one lot from a bookseller (several of these documents have pencilled upon them 'Cat. 86' and are numbered in addition 56-59) and were perhaps part of the collection of books and manuscripts bequeathed to the University Library by J. M. Bulloch as they were catalogued and shelved in September 1939. |
| Source | Presented by J.M. Bulloch (1867-1938), literary critic. John Malcolm Bulloch was born in Aberdeen in 1867, the son of John Bulloch who edited 'Scottish Notes and Queries'. He contributed to 'Scottish Notes and Queries' from an early age, and graduated MA from Aberdeen in 1888. Active in student affairs, he was one of the originators of the Students’ Song Book in 1891 and worked on student magazines, thus paving the way for a career in journalism. Though he edited several illustrated papers, he eventually found his niche as a literary and theatrical critic in London, donating most of the books he reviewed to Aberdeen University Library. He also maintained his interest in the history of the North-East and produced scholarly works on the family of Gordon and the Territorial Army. He died in 1938, and his funeral took place in King’s College Chapel, Aberdeen. |
| Description | Letters and papers relating principally to the Isle of Man, mainly sent by John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl, to Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville during the period 1789 to 1807. The collection includes: memorandum from the Duke of Atholl to Henry Dundas outlining the adoption of certain measures in Scottish burghs and the county of Perth, 1789; letter from Alexander Shaw to Henry Dundas reporting on matters concerning the Duke of Atholl and the Isle of Man, 1791; letter from the Duke of Atholl to Henry Dundas with regard to receiving some mark of royal favour, 1792; letter from Henry Dundas to the Duke of Atholl relating to alterations in the laws governing the Isle of Man, 1792; letter written by the Duke of Atholl to Henry Dundas in which he is anxious to learn of the government's response to his requests, 1795; memorandum written by the Duke of Atholl summarising propositions regarding Manx affairs which he believes Pitt has agreed to, 1795; memorandum by the Duke of Atholl containing alternative proposals if the bill of relief for the Isle of Man is not passed by Parliament, c. 1795; letter from the Duke of Atholl to Henry Dundas recommending candidate for the post of Attorney General in the Isle of Man and new appointment to the post of Lieutenant Governor, 1795; letter from the Duke of Atholl to William Dundas (nephew of Henry Dundas) enclosing MS 2013/10 which is to be shown to Henry Dundas and commenting on various matters relating to the Isle of Man, 1795; extracts made by the Duke of Atholl from a letter received by him from Alexander Shaw (enclosed with letter addressed to William Dundas (MS 2013/9)), 1795; letter written by the Duke of Atholl to Henry Dundas concerning matters referred to in correspondence sent to William Dundas and requesting that they be dealt with urgently, 1795; letter written by the Duke of Atholl to Henry Dundas regarding travel arrangements, requesting assistance in obtaining writership for the son of the sheriff clerk of Perthshire, and discussing matters relating to the Isle of Man, 1807. 12 items. |