TALBOT4811

Prof^r 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 M^t Edgcumbe ¹ to solicit votes in favor of his particular friend M^r Herbert Oakeley ² –

I believe you are acquainted with L^d M^t 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.

M^r 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 M^r Oakleys claims, in whose success I feel much interested, from what L^d M^t E. has told me.

Believe me
D^r Sir
Yours very truly

H. Fox Talbot