Henry Dundas

“ Mcmillan the Writer.
[184] Thomas Hay of Huntington, East Lothian, advocate; Keeper of the Signet, 1742-46; raised to the Bench as Lord Huntington 1754. His brother, John Hay of Restalrig, W.S., succeeded John Murray as Secretary to Prince Charles on Murray’s falling ill at Inverness, in 1746.
[185] Robert Dundas of Arniston, first President Dundas; born 1685; was Lord Advocate, 1720-25; raised to the Bench as Lord Arniston 1737; became Lord President on the death of Duncan Forbes of Culloden 1748; died 1753. He was the father of Henry (Dundas) , 1st Lord Melville. ”

“ He was appointed quartermaster-general in Ireland in 1778, promoted colonel in 1781, and made lieutenant-colonel of the 2nd Irish horse in 1782, when he again had leisure to study the military systems of the continent. He attended the Prussian autumn manœuvres in Pomerania, Silesia, and Magdeburg in 1785, 1786, and 1787, and in 1788 he brought out the results of his long study in his great work, 'The Principles of Military Movements, chiefly applicable to Infantry.' The publication of this book made his reputation, and for the next ten years Dundas was constantly employed. ”

“ The higher relative rank of the king's officers, and their conseauent absorption of staff appointments, had filled the company's officers with resentment, and the prospect of the abolition of the company's European troops, which would drive many of them into the king's service, had caused them to form a powerful secret association. Affairs looked so threatening that Dundas urged Cornwallis to go again to India, and on 1 Feb. 1797 he was sworn in as governor-general and commander- in-chief. ”

“ When Lord Harcourt returned to England with the infantry in April 1795, Dundas was left in command of twenty-four squadrons of cavalry, with which he served in Westphalia until the final recall of the troops from the continent in January 1796. He was largely rewarded for his great services, being appointed colonel of the 7th light dragoons on 23 Dec. 1795, made quartermaster-general at the Horse Guards in 1796, and promoted lieutenant-general and made governor of Landguard fort in 1797. ”

“ Robert Dundas, son of the last, successively Solicitor-General and Lord Advocate, M.P. for the county of Edinburgh, judge of the Court of Session 1737, Lord President 1748, died in 1753 (father of Henry, Viscount Melville) ; Robert Dundas, son of the last, successively Solicitor-General and Lord Advocate, and member for the county, Lord President from 1760 to 1787; Robert Dundas, son of the last, successively Solicitor-General and Lord Advocate, Lord Chief Baron from 1801 to 1819; all these judges, except the Chief Baron, had been known in Scotland by the title of Lord Arniston. ”

“ He commanded a brigade of cavalry at the battle of Tournay on 22 May 1794, and when the Duke of York returned to England he received the command of the troops on the lower Waal, amounting to eight thousand men. With this force he fought the battle of Geldermalsen, and on 30 Dec. the battle of Tuyl, when, in spite of his inferiority of numbers, he drove the French back across the Waal. But it was impossible to hold the Waal for long, and Dundas had, in spite of his victories, to cover the disastrous retreat of the British army on Bremen with his cavalry. ”

“ As the intimate friend and trusted lieutenant of Pitt, Dundas fills an important place in the political history of the age in which he lived. Without any gift of eloquence, and in spite of his broad Scotch accent and ungraceful manner, he was a steady debater and a lucid and argumentative speaker. Deficient alike in refinement and in literary taste, he was possessed of great political sagacity and of indefatigable industry. In his private life he was frank and straightforward in character, convivial in his habits, and utterly indifferent about money. ”

“ The good Baron may yet be alive; but if not, we will do our best. Yes," she added, clasping the little one in her arms, "you shall be in the place of my little Francis."
"Dear wife!" exclaimed Gaspard, interrupting her, "I ought not to have doubted you; but I felt half-afraid I had added to your cares and troubles by bringing this poor little one to you."
"No, no," cried Katherine, "we must never repent of doing a good action;—our adopted child may yet bring us a blessing." ”

“ His mother was his father's second wife, Janet, daughter of Charles Maitland, sixth earl of Lauderdale. He was called to the bar, but devoted himself to a political life. He first sat for the borough of Richmond in 1774, then for Orkney and Shetland (1781-4) , again for Richmond, and finally for Berkshire, which he represented in ten successive parliaments (1794-1832) . He was finally the second eldest member in the house. Dundas was a liberal in politics. ”

“ Gaspard, smiling, pointed to the child on his mother's lap. "John, John!" cried the boy, "father has brought back our little brother!"
John, having embraced his good father, ran to look as Michael desired.
"Yes, yes," said he, "our little Francis is come back; the good God has given him to us again. Oh, what pretty blue eyes and curling hair!"
The two boys kissed the child, thus offering to it the love they had for their little brother. Poor Katherine's tears fell fast as the loss of her little one was thus recalled to her. ”

“ Katherine placed her hand fondly on the bright curls, though her tears still fell fast.
It was not long before Gaspard and his two boys returned; they had luckily obtained shelter during the storm.
On learning the cause of his wife's distress, the poor man, though equally fearing the consequences which might result from what had occurred, at once re-assured her by saying,—
"Dear wife, whatever may happen, you have done right; we must keep that cap. It alone can ever lead to any discovery of the parents of our little Francis. We should do wrong to part with it." ”

“ Launce Blake knows her a great deal better, or thinks he does. In his own way he is almost as handsome as she is; a tall fair man, with eyes so dark a gray that they look black under their thick lashes and a smile as sweet as a woman's. But, as he sits in Mrs. Dundas's pretty room to-night, he is not smiling—he has come here from Colonel Frenche's, as his father guessed he would—he is looking very stern indeed, and "altogether unmanageable," as Kate Dundas says to herself. ”

“ No one knew what had become of her, and no one knew where to look for her; for the sole information gathered by the scared neighbors was, that Leam Dundas was missing and no one had seen her go.
She was thought by some to have simply run away after the manner of undisciplined youth aiming at mock heroism; but where, or with whom? for, said the keen-eyed women and large-mouthed men, incredulous of maiden meditation fancy free, a pretty young thing of nineteen would never have left her comfortable home, her father, friends and good name, without some lover stirring in the matter. ”

“ Katherine seemed unable to reply, but leant against her husband, who had seated himself by her, as if to support her; whilst poor little Francis put his cold hands round her neck, and kissed away the tears which now fell fast, saying as he did so, "Do not cry, dear, good mother; we shall soon get home. God will lead us there."
"Yes, yes, dear child," exclaimed Gaspard, raising his eyes to heaven, "you are right. It is six years this very day since I saved you from death. To-morrow is your poor mother's birthday. Oh let us still hope that God will be merciful to us now, as He was then." ”

“ Little now remained to be told or learnt, save that the "little cap," which had so providentially led to the recovery of the lost child, had been sent by the wife of the steward of Feldsberg to her sister at Sternfelden, as a gift to her firstborn. That which the unfeeling woman had so eagerly coveted, and which she had obtained by such unjustifiable means, may possibly have become a source of trouble instead of gratification to her. She could, it may be supposed, scarcely look at the little cap, so prized by those from whom she had torn it, without some feelings of self-reproach ”

“ Dundass and confessed his crime, the heart of the old man was moved to pity. He generously advanced the necessary funds, and wrenched the Cascade from the clutches of Perozzi. Touched by such unmerited goodness and generosity, Mr. Donaldson resolved to become a better man, and to repair by his future conduct the errors of the past.
At Mount Dundass, whither the whole family accompanied its venerable proprietor, Rupert received the hand of the happy Mildred, and after the death of Mr. Dundass, which took place only a few months later, took his beautiful young bride to England. ”

“ Fair and lovely as she had always been to the eyes of Sebastian Dundas, never had she looked so grand as now. Her yellow hair was lying spread out on the pillow like a glory: one white arm was flung above her head, the other hung down from the bed. Her pale face, with her mouth half open as if in a smile at the happy things she dreamt, peaceful and pure as a saint's, seemed to him the very embodiment of all womanly truth and sweetness. He leaned over her with a yearning rapture that was almost ecstasy. This noble, loving woman was his own, his life, his future. ”

“ Winter had now set in, snow was already whitening the ground, and he knew not where or how to provide a shelter for them. He returned with a heavy heart to Katherine. The poor woman bore the intelligence better than he expected; she had dreaded being separated from her husband, and, but for her children, would never have consented to being so. There seemed now no alternative; and in reply to her husband's inquiry as to what was to be done, she said, firmly and resolutely—"Dear Gaspard, I will go with you; we will not be separated; we have shared every danger, we will share this one." ”

“ Katherine quickly left what she was doing to help her husband, and whilst so engaged, she asked him by what name they should call their adopted child.
"Shall we call it 'Francis,' after our little one," said he, "and try to look upon it as indeed our own?"
The good woman, with tears in her eyes, readily assented; and taking the infant in her arms, she tenderly kissed it, saying as she did so,—"Poor little one! I will love you for my little Francis' sake."
Gaspard was soon ready, and hastened away to his post, desiring his two boys to help their mother in his absence. ”

“ I will seek the Count, were it even to the end of the world, and demand justice I will denounce the man who so cruelly oppresses all over whom he has any power."
Poor Katherine wept silently on her husband's shoulder.
"Oh, Gaspard," said she, "what will become of us, without a home, without bread, almost without clothes, winter approaching, and no one to befriend us?"
Gaspard was now more composed.
"Dear wife," said he, putting his arm fondly around her, "take courage; we must not despair. Amidst the dangers and horrors of war, God has always protected us. He will do so still. ”

“ By a daughter of Dundas of Dundas he had two sons—Sir James Livingstone of Callendar, and Alexander, ancestor of the Livingstones of Dunipace—and two daughters, Janet, married to Sir James Hamilton of Cadzow, and Elizabeth to James Dundas of Dundas. ”

“ After docking and refitting his ship at Plymouth, Captain Dundas proceeded to North Yarmouth, from whence he conveyed the Duke d’Angouleme to Gottenburg. On the 11th June, 1808, the boats of the Euryalus, assisted by those of the Cruiser sloop of war, burnt two Danish transports, and captured a gun-vessel, mounting two long 18-pounders, with a complement of 64 men, moored within half pistol-shot of a 3-gun battery, near the entrance of the Naskon, in the Great Belt. Although the enemy’s troops lined the beach, the British had only 1 man wounded. ”

“ It was near Metz that you were taken from us. You wore this little cap the day we lost you. Oh! you will try and love us, now you are restored to us."
Then, taking the astonished child by the hand, the Countess approached the altar, and, kneeling on the steps, appeared to be engaged in silent prayer. Gaspard and his wife followed her example at a little distance; their hearts were also overflowing with thankfulness.
On rising from this act of devotion, the Countess turned to the good soldier, saying, as she did so—
"May heaven reward you, and your good wife! I cannot ”

“ Wraxall, while admitting Dundas’s appearance to be “manly and advantageous,” avers that his conviviality was part of a deep-laid scheme for managing men and tightening his grip on the Administration; for “never did any man conceal deeper views of every kind under the appearance of careless inattention to self-interest.” The same insinuation is wittily conveyed by the authors of “The Rolliad” in a skit on the Cabinet Meetings which Dundas was supposed to hold in his villa. ”

“ Harrowby ever allowed it, and why, if Mr. Dundas must marry again (but they thought he might be quiet now) , he had not taken a stranger, instead of one who had been mixed up as it were with his other wives—but seeing that her day was passed, the majority, as has been said, held that she was in the right to take what she could get, and to marry even as a third wife was better than not to marry at all. And then the neighborhood knew Sebastian Dundas, and knew that although he had been foolish and unfortunate in his former affairs, there was no harm in him. ”

“ Near the house, or rather cottage, ran a clear stream, which bounded some meadows, also belonging to Gaspard.
Full of hope and thankfulness, the good soldier and his family took possession of their new home. With the little money Gaspard had saved, a cow was bought; the horse was likely to be too useful to be parted with.
Michael and John were old enough to help their father in cultivating the land and garden, whilst Katherine undertook the care of the poultry-yard, an occupation in which the little Francis was her constant companion. ”