Alexander Robert Charles Dallas

Written 2010 by Will Johnson Email me at wjhonson@aol.com or post your comments for public view far below. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License

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Alexander's father R.C. Dallas, Esq, wrote a book "Recollections of the Life of Lord Byron From the Year 1808 to the End of 1814", published in 1824 by Charles Knight, London.  Alex states in a letter dated 3 Jul 1824 that he has been "...charged by my father with the entire arrangement of this publication...." which is to say it's arrangement, which possibly would include editing but not authorship.  The publication was held up by an injunction dated 7 Jul 1824 from a Bill in Chancery, claiming that the letters were private and should not be published without the approval of the Byron family, and also that ownership of those letters, both those written by Byron to his mother, and those written by Byron to R.C. Dallas, should come to the executors of the estate, not to R.C. Dallas, who therefore should have no ownership interest in order to publish them.  On page lii of the Introduction, he calls himself "the Editor".  The introduction goes into long and excruciating detail over eighty pages regarding the ins and outs of this litigation.  Because of this litigation, the actual letters were not printed at this time, but rather, a new book was created which extracted the main ideas from the letters and also quoted from Dallas' replies.  The main part of that book without this enormous introduction starts on this page.

The case is mentioned at some extent, in the 14 Jul 1824 "Dublin Journal".  The Lord Chancellor gives his opinion on part of this case on page lxxx, when he states : "... if A writes a letter to B, B has the property in that letter, for the purpose of reading and keeping it, but no property in it to publish it...."

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The Dallas family were close connections to Lord Byron, as R.C. Dallas' sister Henrietta was Lord Byron's aunt.  Henrietta however had died in 1793 at the age of 29, and her husband George Anson Byron died just three months later.  A long letter from R.C. Dallas to Lord Byron, which I suppose must mark their first correspondence, dated 6 Jan 1808, commences on page three, and then R.C. first meets him a few days later on the 27th of that month.  From that point, Dallas acted as Byron's publication agent to shepherd his satire through multiple editions, while Byron himself took a Grand Tour through parts of Europe and the Middle East, which was the basis of his most successful poem "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage".  Again it was Dallas who acted as Byron's publication agent.

Returning to genealogical items of note in his biography:

• He is made vicar of Yardley Aug 1827 (page 233), inducted 22 Sep 1827 (page 234)
• He is offered the rectory of Wonston Aug 1828 (page 239)
  

A letter written and dated "Havre, 28 Oct 1845" in The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle, Volume 24 states : "In 1828, the Rev Mr Dallas now rector of Wonston Hants came on a visit to his mother and sisters then residing in a rural village in this vicinity but since removed to the world of spirits He had but a short time previous to his visit been the ornament of every brilliant circle in which he moved Perfect in the dance in song and instrumental music possessing the enthusiasm of chivalry and the dignified but winning politeness of a thorough military gentleman endowed with superior natural perceptions and enjoying the benefits of a superior classical education graced with modern belles lettres and consolidated by a knowledge of man in various countries he was peculiarly adapted to shine in the best European society Havre had been often on former occasions witness to his varied accomplishments and the recipient of pleasures which talents like his diffuse through the circle they adorn But now he comes another man Paul himself was not more changed His presence now produced a most unaccountable wonder in the society which had expected to welcome the gay officer as it had done before But his spirit breathes another element He now feels a sympathy for the immortal in his fellows which is hidden even from themselves He publicly announces his change and with the book of God in his hand first convinces his own family and familiar friends of their need of salvation by faith in Christ Long did he pray and labour that light might dawn on their self righteous spirits that the grace of God would subdue and lead them like children to the Saviour Such efforts were crowned with joyful success and he went forth in the strength of answered prayer and with the co operation of his converted household and friends to the more public witness of the power of God in the gospel of his Son Some who then believed are reaping the fruits of the Spirit in the kingdom of glory others are with us still in possession of all the life and activity of their first love The English population was moved and the light broke upon some French families At length however becoming too ardent and methodistical for the spiritual thermometer of the clergyman here he was not permitted to minister in the church His missionary spirit still found means of diffusing itself to the joy of the few believers and to the wonder of the ungodly until the time for his return to England He has visited Havre since that time but not of late years His devotedness success and discipline as a pastor have been long known beyond his own humble locality and beyond the limits of his own sect His practised and powerful pen has often addressed comfort to the humble believer and alarm to the sinner and thrown light upon the pathway of the more public servants of Christ His Commentary for Cottagers is a beautiful proof of his adaptation to the labouring classes My Churchyard developes most fearfully the workings of the soul under his masterly applications of truth and his works on prophecy though not in harmony with the prevailing views of our theological champions discover an acute discernment and a profound knowledge of Scripture and of history About the time of the visit mentioned above an evangelical French minister laboured with great success among the native population He formed a church on the Dissenting principle This still exists and under the ministry of Mr Vivian an eloquent preacher and independent thinker prospers beyond its former experience The English French and Americans here have enjoyed successively the ministrations of the Rev Mr Harbottle of England and Rev Messrs Mines Ely and Sawtell from America These men preached the gospel and left a saving influence in the city In the French Evangelical Church and my own are about eighty members who attend as many as understand the two languages both services which are conducted in the American chapel The two sabbath schools contain about fifty pupils Christians of various denominations in France Great Britain and America have long felt a deep interest in our prosperity May they have reason from year to year to bless God for his goodness and his grace to the churches of Christ in France and on the whole continent" The letter is signed "E.E.A."