Letter from Sir Walter Scott to Professor Josiah Walker, 18 December [1819]
Scope and Contents
Letter from Sir Walter Scott to Professor Josiah Walker, 18 December 1819. Scott declines to provide Walker with a reference for an academic position in a classical field at a university - presumably Chair of Humanity and Laws at the University of Edinburgh. Scott asserts that he is unqualified to pass judgement between Walker and another able candidate, James Pillans. As Scott knows Pillans socially, he fears that he will also be asked to endorse Pillans' application, and would prefer to instead remain neutral.
The year is not given on the letter, and both 1815 and 1820 are suggested in the accompanying transcript. 1819 is inferred as Pillans was elected Chair of Humanity and Laws in 1820. He held the position for over 50 years.
Dates
- Creation: 18 December [1819]
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Open. Please contact the repository in advance.
Full Extent
1 folio
Language of Materials
English
Previous references
Dk.3.814
Dk.3.8/14 previously catalogued under the reference "Coll-343" (Papers of Professor James Pillans).
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Accession number: E67/10
Processing Information
Catalogued by Elin Crotty in April 2026.
Cultural context
Genre / Form
Topical
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
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