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).