Cotmania. Vol. III. 1928-9

16 CHEYNE GARDENS,
CHELSEA, S.W.
May 27th, 1929
Dear Sydney,
I gather that you are spending tonight in London. It is a warm night. I am writing this on my balcony enjoying the smell from neighbours chimneys & the sounds from passing motor cars. If it weren't that my feet upon the railings obstruct the view, I should be gazing upon the river which the late lamented Mr Cotman perpetuated by means of his drawing Cheyne Walk (late Twickenham).
I am glad that you rejoice in Port Aberglaslyn (payment for which should be sent to Clayton who will deduct his share & send balance to me who will deduct again & transmit to Coles!) I thought it a very fine drawing, rather more fruity than my Llangollen, but executed rather more bigly. As I intimated in my last, the suggestion at the moment is that after the death of Mr Girtin, Mr Cotman was seduced into the picturesque pettinesses of P. S. Munn. Munn was at his best when working with the all but miniaturist Underwood. This isn't by any means the whole story & I should like to know, in this connection, how the Bulwer Carnarvon (sic [Caernarfon]) struck you. Is it slimy & mean like the Duke version of Barmouth & the Girtin Bristol? The latter has been cleaned