Description
Over 100 letters, many sent to Mrs Seton of Mounie, resident at 9 Brighton Place, Portobello, Edinburgh, and David Seton Esq., discussing family matters, including: Lugard, Sir Edward 8pp. letter, each page 20 x 12cm, writing to Alexander Seton from Jellalabad, 1842, he writes: "...nothing but the obstinate madness of our Chief keeps us here - inhaling putrid air, & contracting disease...Akbar Khan who is as clever a scoundrel as ever lived, is in my opinion is merely awaiting us until the day for going (possibility) to Caubul..."; [Idem] a leaf of manuscript text Private Memoirs for furnishing Guards and Escorts, ascending to the latest orders on those subjects and a letter in another hand to Alexander Seton, dated 1847; HMS Birkenhead - Napier, W. 7 pp. letter, each page 18 x 11cm, dated 1852, from William Napier to David Seton, relating to the death of Colonel Alexander Seton in the wreck of the HMS Birkenhead in 1852; and several other similar letters; and a large collection of others, many notices of marriages and deaths, the majority in franked addressed envelopes
Footnote
Note: An interesting collection of letters, the most notable story told throughout the correspondence being that of Colonel Alexander Seton (1814-1852). in 1832, Alexander Seton joined the 21st (Royal North British) Fusiliers, and headed to India in 1842. Lugard's letter from Afghanistan speaks of a longing to head back to India and rejoin Seton. In 1851, after a spell in Ireland, Alexander Seton was appointed to command the drafts of soldiers heading for the Cape of Good Hope. He was dispatched on the doomed ship. the HMS Birkenhead. On 26th February 1852, the ship struck a rock and began to sink. Seton calmly organised all women and children on the ship into the lifeboats, but the boats could not take the men onboard. Alexander Seton went down with the ship, and has subsequently been seen as a hero, commemorated in poems such as Sir Francis Doyle's The Loss of the Birkenhead. The collection not only includes letters to Alexander's brother, David, and his mother, honouring his memory, but also letters from Alexander whilst sailing. One such letter of the 5th January 1852 is written to his mother: "The Birkenhead has not yet arrived...I hear good accounts of her in every way...I never felt leaving you so much before..." and letter of 29th January 1852 from Sierra Leone, describes the scenery and people. Alongside important letters regarding marriages, deaths and correspondence from family, it appeared Mrs Seton kept these final letters safe, as a memorial of her son.