Scott-Gatty writes thanking his correspondent for an invitation and apologizing for being unable to accompany his wife owing to the pressure of work in his new office. "Alas! in my newly acquired elevation I find myself more tied by the leg to my work than I was formerly and having only just returned from my holiday I find a [-----?] of work to be got through."
Sir Alfred Scott Scott-Gatty [1847-1918] began his heraldic career with his appointment to the office of York Herald of Arms in Ordinary. He held two other posts in the early 1900s and in 1904 he was appointed Garter Principal King of Arms, holding that office until his death in 1918. In 1911 he was knighted for his services when he was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order [KCVO], an honor personally bestowed by the King. Scott-Gatty was also a composer. Although an amateur, his work was popular and highly regarded in his time. Among his compositions were hundreds of songs, two operettas and three musical plays for children with words written by his sister, the noted children's author Mrs. Ewing. Very good .
Keywords: MUSIC; COMPOSERS; HERALDRY; AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY AMATEUR COMPOSER AND NEWLY APPOINTED GARTER PRINCIPAL KING OF ARMS OF THE COLLEGE OF ARMS ALFRED SCOTT-GATTY; ALS; A.L.S.; SIGNATURE; YORK HERALD OF ARMS ORDINARY; KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE ROYAL VICTOR