Bundle of miscellaneous correspondence
- Reference:GB 254 MS 102/12/22
- Dates of Creation:1870
- Physical Description:1 bundle
Scope and Content
Correspondents and contents include: Bundle of correspondence (about sending a parcel to Florence); Walter Duncan, 5 Queen Street, Arbroath (Offers to give him use of an instrument to rid him of ‘an old enemy’; thinks PC has made a mistake in having nine teeth extracted and notes he is in royal company as Queen [Victoria] is suffering from same ailment [neuralgia] ); Mary Ann Baxter, Ellengowan (Concern about sale of Thornbank to contractor who would turn it into housing for working people); J & J Millar, Chambers, Blackfriars Street, Perth (Fornature at Bonhard, with copy reply from PC); Sir David Baxter, Murray Place, Edinburgh and Kilmaron, Cupar, Fife (discusses business matters; Discusses extension of [Baxter Bros] jute operations, notes revival in linen trade and costs of weaving and makes some proposals – edited copy reply from PC reacting to this; replies to PC’s response to his proposals; offer for farm; advise on purchase of West Ardler by PC, with copy replies from PC) Reverend R. H. Irvine,* 166 Cemetery Road, Sheffield (repaying PC £1 and telling him that he believes he can best fulfil his ministry by working in a school); Dr Combie, Manse, Scone (Thanking PC for donation he has made to his parishioners and notes offer to return it, which he realises PC will reject); Alex Monfries, Hillside [Montrose] (Gives details of Mr Wilson Watson of Montrose who was injured about two years earlier) ; M. H. Baxter, Princess Street, Dundee (Gives Carmichael names of possible occupants for cottages at Springhill); D. Bruce Peebles, Fountain Bridge Works, Edinburgh (Records his regret at death of Mr James Carmichael and gives other news, including that Mr [Robert William] Thomson, developer of road steamer, has lost the use of his limbs; adivises PC to advertise for lodging for Willie in The Scotsman); John Dempster, 49 Castle Street St Andrews (Asks for funds to clear his expenses at the University of St Andrews; has failed scholarship exam) James Lyell (Sorry to hear of his aunt [PC’s wife]’s illness, has sent present from Delhi and indicates he his remaining in India; glad present has reached PC and describes his life in India) Dr Nairne, Perth (Intends to take a wife) Thomas Thow, Dundee (encloses paper relating for election of children to Scottish National Institution for the Education of Imbecile Children at Larbert and urges PC to vote for a child he mentions; thanks PC for his support); Beatrice Lyell, Tay Street, [Dundee] (Discusses sending silver to James [Lyell] and ‘his young wife); James Gibb, Kettins ( Poor of the parish; statement of accounts); Lord Kinnaird (Invites PC to accept nomination as a Justice of the Peace for the County of Perth, copy reply from PC declining due to limited time he has available; Queries Mr Lowden’s business plans, with copy reply from PC); David Cruickshank , Southampton (Informs PC that James changing his course from engineering and going in for teaching as another son also plans to do, requires money; reply from PC with £100, but expressing displeasure with DC and his sons’ actions; acknowledges PC’s last letter and declines to reply to his remarks; thanks PC for letter with Bill, reports ‘our town is crowded with French refugees who have escaped from the war’ , and reacts in detail to letter PC sent him in the summer in attempt to repair their relationship); Ann Mc Robbie, Torryburn (Needs urgent assistance to pay her rent); Dr Schaefer, St Andrews (Updates PC on Willie [Carmichael]’s health and studies; sends PC bill); James Carmichael Jr [PC’s Nephew], Ailly (Updates his Uncle on his role in the family business and his income); James Spence, Wm. Hood & Co., Printing Court Buildings, Akenside Hill, Newcastle on Tyne (Comments on his visit to Arthurstone and encloses money): G Armitstead [MP], 1 Cloaston Place, Queen’s Gate, London (Invited PC to give evidence to committee on steam boiler explosions and is sorry to hear he is unable to come at present – copy reply from PC states he is unable to attend, but welcomes enquiry and mentions Rob. Longridge of Manchester) John Hick [MP for Bolton], 57 Queen’s Gate [Westminster] (Invites PC to attend select committee on steam boiler explosions, copy reply from PC declines invitation); Provost Yeaman (requests subscription for repair of old steeple, annotation indicates PC gifted £60; thanks PC for his subscription) D. O. Dalgleish, 35 Manchester Street, London (Is in London for an operation and does not find it a favourable place to convalesce, mentions Franco-Prussian War); James Carmichael, À Ailly-sur-Somme France (Updates PC on family and informs him of proposal to conscript children of ‘strangers’ born in France into army and speaks of British neutrality; talks about gloomy situation and states he was in Paris and found it ‘unlike the Gay City’; States ‘By this time you will have seen the horrible disaster arrived to this Country’ – outbreak of Franco-Prussian War; Prussians are 2/3 of the way to Ameins, gives account of war and his own plans should the Prussians arrive; ‘the enemy is not far from here’ and reports of war including fact Interior minister has left Paris in a balloon; reports fighting in Department of Somme, but ‘all quite here’ since last letter; Prussians just 7 leagues away, mentions Committee of International Society which involves a Colonel Cox who has advised JC his family are safe to remain where they are; has sent away his stock portfolio and reports a bridge on the Somme is to be broken up; Prussians have withdrawn in area; contradictorily reports of the fall of Metz; Maggie is coming with Robert to Dundee; events at Orleans; decries war; many soldiers lodging in the village; communications may have been cut off and has had letter from M. Buoquet, prospects of Russian intervention; Does not know if PC is getting his letters, would be happy to receive the Baron’s aid as will run out of coal and material by 18th January, states ‘if we could end) this horror in 2 months we might get through, but what if it goes on month after month?’; Copy letter from PC to James Smithells, Caledonian Railway (Asks if his servants can use seats owned by railway in Meigle Church) David Small, J. P. Clerk’s Office (Letters relating to PC’s appointment as a JP) J. D[rummond]. Carmichael (PC’s son), Arthurstone (Expresses desire for greater independence and speaks about his education and health); Caledonian Railway (Seats in Meigle church with copy replies from PC); Mrs Robert Baxter, Lille (relates to Franco-Prussian War; Thanks PC for gift and informs him Mr Baxter in London is trying to get equipment for the troops in the North) Rev J. Mackintosh, 28 Walker Street, Edinburgh (letters discuss finding a tutor for Willie); William B Carmichael [PC’s son] (Describes his life and studies in Edinburgh** and is planning to go to football match at Merchiston; updates his father on his proposed programme of study; thanks his father for his cheque); Hon John Rollo, Perth (delivery of cask of whiskey); Isaac Donald, Erichtside Works, Blairgowrie (thanks PC for his kindness); Andrew Hutton, Belmont Estate Office (Rejects PC’s bid for West Ardler, copy reply from PC indicates he is withdrawing his interest in the purchase) (95 items)
*Rev. R. H. Irvine (d. 1905) Founder and Principal of Montgomery College Sheffield
** Probably at the University of EdinburghAccess Information
Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.
Archivist's Note
Description compiled by Kenneth Baxter, April 2011
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Additional Information
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