The Cotman Collection | 171

The Cotman Letters 1804-1833

Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/3/1/2
Page: 171


  • Description

    The interview for King's College - letter from J. S. Cotman to his wife Ann Cotman (nee Miles); 26 Dec 1833.

    Letter from J. S. Cotman to his wife Ann Cotman (nee Miles); 26 Dec 1833.

    Date: 26 Dec 1833

  • Transcription

    137
    December 26th 1833.

    My dearest Wife & Children,
    I would if I could give you a methodical history of myself since I left, but I cannot. The excitement and the pleasure of seeing as many, yes, so many kind friends overpowers every other feeling. At the same time don't let this account of myself alarm you, for with all this I am calm and collected, working my way with the assistance of my many friends for your and my own good. But it is intoxicating nevertheless to one of late so little accustomed to the smiles of strangers. The Palgraves are a Host. Nothing has been neglected by them for my benefit. Mr. Phillips is enlisted in my service, who is a friend of Sir Robert Smirke, who is the Umpire. Sir Francis Palgrave speaks to Sir R. Smirke also for me. Mr. Harriott as usual most kind and would have had me at his House which I declined to be more independent and to be near Sir Fras. Palgrave's at least until the business part was over. I must however yield at the last. On Christmas day I had invitations to dine with the Palgraves and Harriots, both giving me up shd business interfere. After service at st. Martin's Church I called on the Revd. J. Bulwer. He was so delighted to see me that he insisted I should dine and make his House my Home whilst in London. He wanted to know how he could serve me. I called upon my aforementioned friends. Lady Palgrave yielded most handsomely, seeing the necessity of the case. Harriot gave me the choice of all my Drawings in his Collection to select my specimens from, and I dined with Bulwer and the Rev. Mr. Shannon, an amateur artist, a most benevolent man, who has travelled in the Pyrenees, and Bulwer engages to send a few of his own Drawings, should I approve it, and to say they were the fruits of my instruction, but in all this I shall be ruled by the opinion

The interview for King's College - letter from J. S. Cotman to his wife Ann Cotman (nee Miles); 26 Dec 1833.