Item 28: Letter from H[enry] Mackenzie to James Chalmers, 1806 May 5
Item — Box: 4, Folder: 28
Dates
- Created: 1806 May 5
Creator
- Mackenzie, Henry, 1745-1831 (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter
Condition Note:
Okay; first page has slight tearing at the seam of the left-hand side. Vinegar smell.
Measurements:
9 ⅞ in. x 7 ⅞ in. (closed); 19 ¾ in. x 7/3 in. (open)
Description:
The letter is authored on May 5, 1806 by Scottish lawyer, novelist and writer, Henry Mackenzie, to James Chalmer on the impeachment of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount of Melville, in 1806. He then continues on to speak of Lord William Grenville's plans to introduce a change in the current court system employed within Scottish Parliament. Grenville introduced the Foreign Slave Trade Bill two days after the letter is dated. More information on Henry Mackenzie’s political life may be found in his book, The Anecdotes and Egotisms of Henry Mackenzie.
Location:
Abingdon Street, Westminster
Transcription:
My dear sir Jan office Edin[burgh]
5 May 1806
I take an early opportunity of returning your thanks for your very distinct Acco[unt] of Mr. Whitbread’s Opening Speech in the Impeachment, the more valuable, as for(?) are cut off from the usual channel of Information. I bow with deference to so anjust(?) a Body as your Ho[use] of Lords, yet I confess I do not perceive much reason on(?) Expending in prohibiting a more correct Information of what 3000 people must be giving all the world less correct accounts of.
I heard from and of Lo[rd] Melville’s friends a very candid Commend[ation] of Mr W[hitbread]’s opening as being clear & distinct, + at and have moderate + faith man like, not containing any of that Bitter & sometimes gross Inertion(?), which Mr Burke (equally in my mind against good Taste an[d] Humanity) found out ag[ains]t Mr Hastings on a similar occasion. I have heard the same anytime(?) & confident(?) Reports on — — which you mention. The partiality of Friends & partisans will always entertain such; but I have understood that your Acquaintance Mr. Adams was equally e—(?) in his opinion in favor of his client, & his I consider as better Authority. Nous venons, as the French say, when the whole Trial is before the public. I have been so much of an Invalid of late, + consequently so little in the world, that I know very little of what is said here on the subject.
I saw in the Newspapers, but with an equal to and of bitter Information, a plan announced by Lo[rd] Greenville for a change in a Court of Session. You are probably well acquainted with the Detail of what is prepared to be done. I heard a good while ago of a proposal of dividing the Court into two parts a Chambers, & giving jurisdiction in some such matters, rather of Discretion than Law, such as the [Trials/Friends], to our Court of Exchequer; but for Lo[rd] Grenville’s speech, if rightly reported, there seemed to be something deeper in contemplation; because he spoke of the mad(?) peaceful system of the Law & practice of the English Courts: which could hardly apply to the Parlielans(?) I have mentioned. I would be much obliged to you to let me know, if you can, what the scope of the Resolutions ------ to be [hopeful/helpful] in by Lo[rd] Grenville is.
I hope Mr. Chalmer has been g–t(?) stout this season, & that the rest of your family are well. Here I do not remember one so unhealthy, & the present bitter N. Easter will not tend to re-establish delicate people. We are now arrived at the 5th of may & for(?) had snow for several(?) hour(?) two days ago.
I give you joy of having been(?), if I have overheard rightly, very successful in Appeals this session. How does your new Chancellor do in that Department? Among other Reports during the — session here, was our(?) of a plan for having some eminent Scotch Lawyer in your(?) Ho[use] of Lords, to enlighten it on the Law of Scotland.
Mrs M[a]ck[enzie] + my Daughter — in best respects to Mrs and Miss(?) Chalmer. I am always, with such regard, my dear sir, Your faithful + old Serv[an]t H. Mackenzie
Your letter to Mr Tail was immediately sent him.
{Address}
James Chalmer Esq[uire] Abingdon Street Westminster
{Address}
James Chalmer Esq[uire] Abingdon Street Westminster
Creator
- Mackenzie, Henry, 1745-1831 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu