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Two letters about two Sellés |
[The first letter appears to be research for
this newspaper article, allowing us perhaps to conclude that Barkas is the author of that brief report on the opening celebrations at the Richmond Mechanics' Institute. Henry was the youngest brother of William Christian]|
Parish of Kew |
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AW Bowden, |
Assistant Overseer's office |
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25th October 1907 Dear Sir, In reply to your letter of the 12th inst I find that the late Mr Henry Sellé was appointed organist at Kew Church on 24th March 1845 and resigned on 22nd October, 1884 thus having held the appointment just over 29 years. Yours faithfully AW Bowden |
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Albert A Barkas Esq. |
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[The second letter, apparently from a Mr Murnhay, seems to confirm that Barkas is the author of
the newspaper report and perhaps implies that he was connected with the Mechanics' Institute. The author appears to have a low opinion of Sellé; he also appears not to be well-informed. Sellé did have one daughter (Emily Blanche) whom the 1871 census described as 'Imbecile from birth' but this author seems to know nothing of the four other children who survived into adulthood. It would be very interesting to find the Athenaeum article. This letter was written in haste, presumably from a Kentish holiday? I have added some full-stops here and there.]|
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16 Union Street, Deal |
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Dear Mr Barkas Accept my best thanks for valuable report of your noble institution representing an incalculable amount of both physical and mental labour also for your very interesting contribution to the R+TT [Richmond and Twickenham Times]. It comes home to me very closely for I was more or less intimately acquainted with many of the actors on the drama one of the most esteemed was Mr James Etherington the excellent portrait of the veteran seems to bring back the reality he was the musician born not made and many a merry meeting we have had concerts in my own house of the most refined character one I remember particularly Harp Mr Etherington The music selected was a composition of Pleyel a very eccentric movement all gloriously galloping at one pace then a sudden pause of a quaver then on again with a modulation linked sweetness long drawn out so on till the grand finale. Mr E was delighted the performance was perfect. The object was a concert for some benefit but my dear wife was of so retiring disposition that she declined all entreaties to perform in public so the opportunity was lost. Dr Sellé was the only enemy the amiable old gentleman had his degree was not one of Merit but a divine distinction conferred by the Abp of Canterbury whether there had been any friction I don't know but he wrote a Cantata wh was performed at the Albert Hall a critique in the Athenaeum cut it up unmercifully remarking 'if Dr Sellé had understood the principles of harmony &c what a downfall'. He was an expert violinist and played the organ at Hampton Court but he cherished a grudge; and at a concert at the Castle rooms Mrs E was put down as a soloist in the Chough and Crow (I was in the chorus) Sellé could not hit his superior so he arranged a plot loudly encoring the Lady and when she came on again, dead silence from his partizans consequently a small response from the audience. To the infinite credit of the man of talent, he took no notice of the vile insult but ever afterwards treated the mongrel doctor with silent contempt. The public drew the moral Sellé was not without his troubles from an idiotic daughter his only child (a pitiable condition of existence) What a contrast is this watery health resort |
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Web-page created 23 October 2001