To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Oswald, 26 November 1782
From Richard Oswald
ALS: Library of Congress
Paris 26 Novr 1782
By a Letter from Mr Dundass, Lord Advocate of Scotland, dated 12th Novemr, he writes that a Nephew of his, Son of the Lord presedent of the Court of Session, Francis Dundas a Captain of the 1st Regimt of Guards is now at London a Prisoner upon his Parole, having Served in Lord Cornwallis Army.1 And wishes much to be discharged under any Obligations or Conditions of Exchange that may be thought proper, & may in the Interim Restore him to his freedom in his Rank of Service— I should consider this as a particular Obligation on my part
RO
1. Francis Dundas’ father was Robert Dundas, Lord Arniston (1713–1787), lord president of the court of session since 1760. Francis’ uncle Henry Dundas (later Viscount Melville) became lord advocate of Scotland in 1775. Francis’ maternal grandfather William Grant, Lord Prestongrange, also had been lord advocate, serving from 1746 to 1754. See the DNB (under Dundas and Grant) and E. B. Fryde et al., eds., Handbook of British Chronology (3rd ed., London, 1986), pp. 199, 202.