Six Autograph Letters Signed by Hume-Campbell (all 'A: Hume-Campbell') to his 'Couzin' (a member of the Tonyn family).

Author: 
Alexander Hume-Campbell (1708-1760), Member of Parliament and Lord Clerk Register from 1756 to 1760 [Hugh Hume-Campbell, 3rd Earl of Marchmont]
Publication details: 
All six letters dated from London in 1759.
£450.00
SKU: 7179

All six letters in quarto; good, on aged paper; and with text neatly-written, clear and entire. Letter One: 3 May 1759. 2 pp. 40 lines of text. Giving advice regarding a will to be drawn up by a Mrs Robertson. 'As to the place where Mrs. Robertson makes the Disposition it is absolutely immaterial, [...] and then her will wrote in her own hand writing without witnesses will be as good as with twenty witnesses [...]'. Valediction from 'your affectionate friend & Cousin'. Letter Two: 30 June 1759. 1 pp. 24 lines. It is unfortunate that a trial should be 'put off [...] to so long a day, but it may turn out for the better as it will give people time to Cool'. He is 'sorry the man [Bell] should be so ignorant & weak to think it can tend to his character to commit Perjury & willfull murder, if his testimony as he gave it could take away Capt. Goddard or the Serjeants lives, to save his character of consistency. But the Character is alas too Common - many more fear men than fear God'. Gives advice on how Goddard should proceed: 'then he [Bell] must be ask'd if he did not say so & so to you & to Mr Jefferys or one of you - if he denies that than [sic] you & Mr Jeffererys [sic] must confront him [...]'. Letter Three: 10 July 1759. 1 p. 19 lines. He is worried that Letter Two may have miscarried, and repeats the advice contained within it. 'I hope Mr Goddard will have some English Councel [sic] as well as Mr Lockhart, because our method of proceeding is very far different from the Scots method.' Letter Four: 15 November 1759. 17 lines of text. He is glad his correspondent is 'safely return'd to Berwick from your Statfordshire [sic] expedition. Discusses speaking to 'the Colonel' about 'Jack'. Letter Five: 14 November 1759. 2 pp. 45 lines. Concerning a fatal attack on 'Mr Paterson' of the 66th Regiment of Foot by brother officers. 'I am glad you said so little to my Brother [Hugh Hume Campbell, 3rd Earl of Marchmont] about those who attack'd & abused Mr Patterson. [...] If the officers or any of them should be Broke, which I think unavoidable - they must think it is better to be broke than hanged. [...] Mr Wright prayed for, if he did not revenge, as he call'd it, an enormous offence in which he partook. as to the excuse of being in liquor, it will be of no use, an officer drunk, should still be a Gentleman [...] this has been perpetrated by officers of the same Corps, and in the same place; where a young officer was tried for murder, and I was happily instrumental in assisting him [...] Every body here whom I have consulted , cry out shame [...] My best wishes attend all at the Pallace. Again be cautious, you cannot medle [sic] too little in this business.' Letter Six: 29 December 1759. 3 pp. 61 lines of text. He is glad that his correspondent 'ceas'd speaking upon the subject' at Marchmont House, 'when [he] perceiv'd the state of things. I wish your sister & Miss Grizie Carre had been as cautious [...] it is a subject I can say little upon till the Captain comes over [...] I fear whatever may be the Event of the Court martial as to Mr Wright - (I much apprehend) obloquy will follow it'. He hopes to see Mrs Tonyn when the Captain (who is 'a slave by trade & calling') comes.