[ Sir William Palin Elderton, actuary. ] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'W. Palin Elderton'), the first to the mathematician W. H. Besant and the second to Sir Henry Trueman Wood, Secretary, Royal Society of Arts

Author: 
Sir William Palin Elderton (1877-1962), actuary, President of the Institute of Actuaries [ William Henry Besant (1828-1917), mathematician; Royal Society of Arts, London ]
Publication details: 
Both on letterhead of Quill Hall Cottage, Amersham Common, Bucks, with the address of the lettter to Besant amended to Mansion House Street, E.C. [ London ] Both 23 January 1916.
£80.00
SKU: 19527

Both items in good condition, on lightly aged paper, and both docketed in blue pencil. The letter to Wood with the oval date stamp of the Society. ONE: ALS to Sir H. T. Wood, 23 January 1916. 1p., 12mo. Reads: 'I hear that my friend Mr. Besant has very kindly recommended that I might be able to review Major MacMahon's new book for you but I am afraid just at present I am so frightfully full up with work that I dare not undertake anything else – Even if I had time I fear the book would be beyond me. I am very sorry I cannot help.' TWO: ALS to 'My dear Besant', 23 January 1916. 1p., 4to. He explains that he has written to the Society 'to say I am sorry but cannot. - I daren't take on anything else as I am at present staying at the beastly office till 10 at night to help the remnants of the staff with what they are pleased to call “balance” & with valuation. But even if I had time I should be a bit frightened of trying my hand on MacMahon – he is a most exalted authority on the particular business & my knowledge of it is simply “nil”. - I should think that the Henry Smith refrence of Sir H. T. Wood is fairly descriptive of it. I wish I could have said “yes” but it had to be “no.”' A final paragraph refers to Besant's holiday in Torquay, and how 'other people's work & an ill brother' prevent him from 'taking the holiday that everyone ought to have as a matter of principle at this time of the year!'