Letters from John Grant to his son Alan, [1861]-1872
Item
Shelfmark: MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 12, fols. 305-373
Held at the Weston Library
From Kilgraston, unless otherwise stated. Chiefly about family events, social life, country pursuits, and the English political scene. Other topics are noted:
- (fol. 305) note [by Admiral Basil Brooke] about the contents of the letters, n.d.
- (fols. 306-307) from Bloxholm about news of Alaric in the Navy; events in Syria; the break-up of the USA and the possible advantage to British trade, 28 Mar [1861]
- (fols. 308-309) John Brooke Brooke's offer to make Alan his Secretary at £200 a year, and plans for him to leave for Sarawak in Feb, 15 Dec 1862
- (fols. 310-315) two letters about Alan's awkward position in Sarawak without an appointment owing to the Rajah's return and his disinheritance of John Brooke Brooke; advice to Alan on his behaviour in these circumstances; the death of Mrs Hay [Matilda Grant's mother], and news of the Grant family; and the American Civil War, 12 Jun and 1 Aug 1863
- (fols. 316-317) advice to Alan to try to obtain an appointment at a fixed salary, but not to place himself under obligation to the Rajah, 15 Sep 1863
- (fols. 318-319) page 2 of letter about John Brooke Brooke and his son Hope visiting Kilgraston; Mrs McDougall's letter about precautions to prevent John Brooke Brooke's return to Sarawak; and Charles Grant's post in London as Secretary of a Bank, n.d.
- (fols. 320-323) Alan's appointment under the Sarawak Government, and the requirement that he should sign a pledge of loyalty to Sir James Brooke as Rajah; draft of a suitable pledge (fol. 323); and the death of Lord Elgin, 12 Dec 1863
- (fols. 324-325) Alan's new post [on a tea plantation] in India, 25 Aug 1864
- (fols. 326-329) Alan's liking for his new way of life; Bismarck's acquisition of a sea-board for Prussia; progress of the American Civil War; and Lincoln's election as President, 7 Dec 1864
- (fols. 330-333) visits to the Lascelles at Harewood House and to Lord Feilding at Downing, North Wales; additions to Archerfield; Mary Grant's work as sculptor; and Sir Hope Grant superseded in India by General Mansfield, 1 Mar 1865
- (fols. 334-337) Charles Grant's post at the Bank and his home at Belvedere [in Kent], 2 May 1865
- (fols. 338-341) Alan's attacks of fever; and Lucy Grant's marriage to Charles Feilding, 2 Nov 1866
- (fols. 342-345) Alan's new situation; Lucy's still-born child; and news of Charles Grant's family, 11 May 1868
- (fols. 346-347) Alan's work and prospects; and the death of Charles Grant's baby son, 24 Sep 1868
- (fols. 348-351) letter from London about Alan's appointment gazetted; Mary Grant's commission to execute busts of the Queen and the late Prince Consort for an Indian Rajah; Margaret Grant's title of Lady Grey; news of the Charles Grants; Sir Francis Grant, President of the Royal Academy; and the birth of Lucy's son, 17 May 1869
- (fols. 352-355) scarcity of food in the region to which Alan had been sent, 23 Jul 1869
- (fols. 356-357) Lady Lucy Grant's health restored by homeopathy, 13 Dec 1869
- (fols. 358-359) Charles Grant's children on a visit to Kilgraston; and Mary Grant's busts of the Queen and others to be exhibited in the Royal Academy Exhibition, 18 Jan 1870
- (fols. 360-363) Alan's meeting in India with his brother Harry, and the latter's new Staff appointment with Lord Mayo; and an account of Hope Brooke, at Kilgraston for his holidays, 9 Sep 1871
- (fols. 364-367) the assassination of Lord Mayo in one of the Andaman Islands; and Harry's new appointment in Alahabad, 13 Mar 1872
- (fols. 368-373) two letters from the Bridge of Earn, about the burning down of Kilgraston and plans for its restoration, 8 May and 20 Jun 1872.
Dates
- Creation: [1861]-1872
Extent
69 Leaves
Language of Materials
- English
Shelfmark
MSS. Pac. s. 90 Vol. 12, fols. 305-373
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk