The Cotman Letters 1804-1833

Addressed to Mr. John Sell Cotman (Postmark, “York”).
at Mr. Cotman’s
Norwich.
July 14th. <1806>

My dear Cotty. I am going to make you what I fear you will think but a shabby return for your last copious and interesting dispatch; but I am really so full of business just at present that you must take the Will for ye deed and be content with a shabbier letter than my inclination prompts me to send you. - We got Francis home safe and well last Friday Night. Doddy went to meet him at York where he had arrived ye same Morning after passing his time very pleasantly at Lord Dormers and ye neighbourhood, for one of his Visits there was to his old School at Oscott. He is in excellent spirits and I hope will continue to amuse himself tolerably with us till ye return of Winter summons him back to ye laborious Studies and lighter pleasures of London - - The assizes begin next Saturday and we are all to adjourn to York on Sunday for ye ensuing week. The young Roscius appears on Monday in Barbarossa, in which play I am very desirous of seeing him. I have engaged four places for every Night and he acts Six, in which time, if ye weather is hot, I think we shall have pretty well enough of any good thing in a close theatre. Mr. Charlton and Michael Ann are to meet us at York and the former to return home with us, and as soon as he leaves us we shall all (please God) go to Rokeby. These are our present plans. Very gay ones for ye young People and I only grieve to feel how much rather I had stay quietly at home and feed my Chickens than do any thing else - Your last sheet raised my Expectations so high of some eminent good fortune having befallen you that on ye whole I was disappointed. Not but that I think and hope you may find your very pleasing invitation to Trentham not only agreeable but beneficial to you. How much so, time alone can prove, for, God knows, experience every day