7 So. Charlotte St. Edinburgh
13th May 1870
My Dear Professor Schaarschmidt,
A son of Mr Maclaren[2] , Member of Parliament for the City of Edinburgh is about to go to Bonn mainly to study philosophy. I drop this line to ask leave to give him a letter of introduction to you.
I ask this partly because I hope he will attend your lectures; but mainly because Mr McLaren is very anxious that his son should live in a Professor’s house and it has struck me that perhaps you might be willing to receive him. He is a young man of ability.
Of course I do not ask at present whether you are disposed to receive Mr McLaren (Junior) into your house — but only whether you will allow me to give him a note for you so that you may see him and judge for yourself.
I hope you will excuse my writing on such a subject, and will allow me also to add, that when a Member of Parliament is anxious that his son should live with a Professor, he is able to pay well for the privilege.[3]
My own matter is not yet settled but the election will I think be over in a fortnight. I have still but a vague idea of my chances.
Pray let me have an answer to my question about Mr McL. as soon as convenient, as he leaves for Bonn in a few days.
With kindest regards to Mrs. Schaarschmidt and the children.
Believe me
Yours most sincerely
Wm Robertson Smith
[1] ULB Bonn Autographensammlung
[2] McLaren, Duncan (1800–1886): at the age of twelve, McLaren began work as a draper’s apprentice in Dunbar, later opening his own shop in Edinburgh, opposite St Giles Cathedral. He became a town councillor in 1833, progressing to the office of Treasurer and finally Provost from 1851–54. In 1865 he was elected M.P. for Edinburgh and for the next sixteen years showed such authority on Scottish matters that he earned the title “member for Scotland” [DNB]. Smith’s letter of introduction concerns McLaren’s eldest son, Charles (1850–1934) who became a barrister before following in his father’s footsteps as a Liberal politician from 1880 to 1910, when he received a peerage from Asquith as Baron Aberconway, having achieved distinction and wealth as a business tycoon whose many interests included chairmanship of the John Brown shipyards on Clydeside. The link with WRS stems from the fact that he had graduated in 1870 from Edinburgh University with first class honours in philosophy (winning the Ferguson and Hamilton scholarships) and went on to complete his education at Bonn and Heidelberg.
[3] Clearly WRS felt this would be a significant consideration for Schaarschmidt.