In 1908 Bantock succeeded Edward Elgar as Peyton Professor of Music at the University of Birmingham. His comedy overture The Pierrot of the Minute was premiered at the Worcester Festival, and there were publications of his Elegaic Poem for cello and orchestra and the cello and piano arrangement of the Sapphic Poem. He also conducted the British premiere of Sibelius's Third Symphony (dedicated to Bantock) in Liverpool on 21 November, and continued to work with Delius over the membership of the Musical League committee. Newman's book Richard Strauss was published, as was Wallace's The Threshold of Music and his ballad setting of his own text for baritone and orchestra, The Outlaw.

227 GRANVILLE BANTOCK TO ERNEST NEWMAN

Dear Ali Wali

I am very sorry to hear that you suggest postponing your Lectures until next Session, though your reasons appear to me amply sufficient to justify such a course. There will be a good deal of disappointment, but I can quite understand how you are placed, and will let Hayes & the Committee know the real reason. I think it would be good policy to write Hayes a friendly letter on the subject, and explain your present position to him, so that he can treat your communication as official. You can leave me to soothe him down, if there is any need for it. This would be the proper course, and we can announce that your Lectures have been unavoidably postponed until next Session. I think too that we ought to give a reason, as it may be regarded in some quarters as a slight on you personally, & some people may think that things are not what they are, or seem to be.

I will come & see you about the matter & talk it over with you when I come back from Sheffield on Tuesday.

Regarding Dr. Carroll's letter, which I return to you enclosed, I have thought the matter over, and would be prepared to assist Miss Robinson with her composition, if she could come here regularly one morning a week, and at a fee of a guinea an hour. I would not care to commit myself to any statement regarding the 2nd query in Dr. Carroll's letter.