Sir J. Herschel
Lacock Abbey, Chippenham
Nov. 27/50
Dear Sir,
Allow me to offer my congratulations on your appointment to the Mastership of the Mint which as a recognition of the claims of science on the part of government is an event of national interest, and the recollection that the same office was formerly held by Newton <1> makes it doubly gratifying.
Believe me yours ever truly
H. F. Talbot
Notes:
1. Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727), mathematician, was appointed Master of Mint in 1699 and remained so until his death.
2. Henry Petty Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780–1863), MP, WHFT’s uncle.
3. Herschel was a member of the Royal Commission appointed in 1850 to review the courses of study at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.