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Document number: 4811
Date: 24 Oct 1865
Dating: year by reply 09036
Recipient: PLAYFAIR Lyon
Author: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Collection: Imperial College Archives London
Last updated: 1st September 2003

Profr Playfair

Lacock Abbey
Chippenham

Oct. 24

My Dear Sir

The university of Edinburgh is about to elect a Professor of Music, and I have been requested by my relative the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe <1> to solicit votes in favor of his particular friend Mr Herbert Oakeley <2>

I believe you are acquainted with Ld Mt E. and know how much reliance may be placed on his judgment – and he may have written to you himself, in which case I beg you will excuse the trouble of this letter – but as I rather think he is now on the Continent, I have thought it best to write these few lines.

Mr O. has an extraordinary genius for Music: and wishes to devote his life to it. He is a graduate of Christ Church. He is a man of family & a relative of the Duke of Atholl, <3> a very amiable and clever man, & would be I am assured a great acquisition to Edinburgh Society –

Therefore if you have not engaged your vote I hope you will give a favorable consideration to Mr Oakleys claims, in whose success I feel much interested, from what Ld Mt E. has told me.

Believe me
Dr Sir
Yours very truly

H. Fox Talbot


Notes:

1. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.

2. Herbert Oakeley (1830–1903) composer, was elected to this post in 1865. See Playfair’s response to this recommendation in Doc. No: 09036.

3. John Murray, 5th Duke of Atholl (1778–1846).

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