Cotmania. Vol. XI. 1935-6

things & in my first reading I have of course passed eagerly from one to another. Do you want me to do more? I have so far only noted occasional points, mostly in wording, where a modification might - I don't say need - be made. I am quite ready to read it again, still more carefully, from the point of view of the public & with knowledge of the whole before I criticise in detail. Would you like me to do that? Or shall I send the MS back to Milford? His note simply said (I think) that he sent the MS to me at your request. Was he to have it set up before you returned?
Of one thing, I think, you can feel perfectly secure. You have not maligned Dawson Turner on the whole; in fact on the first reading the faults seem to be more on Cotman's side & I almost feel that Cotman was the keener of the two on antiquarianism that led him astray from painting... But I am going into detail, for which I am not yet ready. I only mention this because I know that you had qualms. Your book is so good that I would not make any remark about it without reading the passages again. I don't even dare to note a miss-type without a query!
Thank you very much for letting me read it - and thank you too for a little note of appreciation at the end.
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We have had a violent thaw after the cold. It rains & rains. We motored down on Tuesday in a thick fog & had we come by train might not have reached here at all. [?Dingo?] + I had a good ride on the downs in mist & showers this morning. Valentine has gone back to London to clear up after her last week's activities & then goes to Overy Staithe for a week or so. Armide is in Scotland. I bought (out of Plaistow Place) a fine Millet drawing of trees last week. That is our news. I hope that yours is good & that you have no fog or rain. Remember me to your cousin Bob & convey all our messages to Barbara.
Yours ever
Paul Oppé.