The Cotman Letters 1804-1833

16
(Postmark "York").
Addressed to Mr. John Sell Cotman, Wymer Street, Norwich.
Brnadsby (sic), Oct.r 14th 1810.

My dear Cotman,
I know not whether you will already have heard the sad news I have to communicate to you, I know few who will feel it more deeply than yourself, and I ought to have written sooner to you, but indeed writing was so very painful to me that I am sure you will forgive me. My Mother is no more. She expired Wed.y Oct.r 3d of a gradual apoplectic attack promised by degreed insensibility and deep sleep, and therefore was, I trust a very easy dissolution. You know she never recovered the shock of my poor Father's long illness and death, you saw the state she was in when in London, and so she has continued sometimes better and sometimes worse. Latterly however her spirits grew more even and more resign'd, and I bless God that for some months previous to her end she had no disputes or uneasiness with any human being. We had no idea of her being in danger till three or four days before it happen'd, tho' she had been worse than usual for about a fortnight. The sort of seizure that proved fatal her physicians had long thought she had had a tendency too, but it was of that nature that it might happen any day or not for years. The fact is that a slight paralytic attack last may and palsy and apoplexy are nearly allied. I was in York at the time and brought Mary and Harriet hither with me. They bear it as well I could hope. Anny join'd us on Sunday last from North.d Kath.e I am glad to find is very resign'd and they do not now apprehend any unpleasant consequences from the shock tho' she is very near her time. I will not trust myself