Fonds consists of material copied relating to Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres (1721-1824). Photocopies, 68 pages. It may be described as follows: Statement of account, 1784, between the government and Lieutenant Governor DesBarres (Add.Ms. 37890, ff. 22v-23); lengthy letter, 15 February 1793, from DesBarres to the Home Secretary, Henry Dundas (1742-1811), regarding vindication of his governorship in Cape Breton and reimbursement of his expenses in publishing the Atlantic Neptune (Add.Ms. 37890, ff. 160-168); memorial, 10 May 1793, of Lieutenant Governor DesBarres to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury giving a long account of his services, complaints and a statement of what the government owed him (Add.Ms. 37890, ff. 13-21v); correspondence between DesBarres and Windham, 1795-1796, on various matters (Add.Ms. 37890, ff. 100, 108, 133-133v, 135-136v); a printed summary, 1796, of DesBarres' claims with table of money received and disbursed by him (Add.Ms. 37890, ff. 113-114); and a small note, n.d. (Add.Ms. 37890, f. 174), 48 pages.
In addition there is a report, 16 June 1801, of Thomas Steele (1753-1823), joint paymaster-general, to the Home Secretary, the Duke of Portland (1738-1809), on DesBarres' memorial (Add.Ms. 37845, ff. 96-100v), 10 pages; a letter, 4 July 1801, from DesBarres to the Duke of Portland, regretting that Mr. Steele's award had not been accepted, but rejoicing that he had vindicated his conduct, and claiming that he should be reinstated and compensated (Add.Ms. 37880, ff. 160-160v); letters, 21 and 23 September 1801, from DesBarres to Windham, soliciting his recommendation for obtaining a post and asking him to press for the payment of those parts of his claims that had been admitted (Add.Ms. 37880, ff. 158-159, 164), 16 pages.
Finally, there is a letter, 17 December 1806, from DesBarres to Windham transmitting a memorial of Mrs. Holland, widow of an old brother officer, in whose case the Duke of Kent had interested himself, 1 page (Add.Ms 37885, f.14); and a letter, 5 March 1807, from DesBarres to Windham, refunding money lent and hoping that some provision might be made to assist him (Add.Ms. 37886, ff. 153-154), 3 pages.
