The Cotman Letters 1804-1833

(Postmark “York 24 Fe”).
Addressed to Mr. John Sell Cotman
St. Andrews Street
Norwich.

Brandsby February 24th 1811.

My dear Cotman,
You will, I fear imagine that I have quite forgotten and neglected you, but though I can give no substantial reason for putting off writing so long be assured that that is by no means the case, and I hope my endeavours in your favour have not proved wholly without success. I received your specimens very safe and as I was going to York soon after, I took them to Todd’s January 22nd last. He is much the first bookseller in York in the line of the fine Arts, as well as in every other. He readily undertook to do all he could for you, admired them much, and said (what I should suppose he was a better judge of, than their merits) that he thought the work uncommonly cheap. When I took them I had not got you any more subscribers, but when in York 3 or 4 days ago I was glad to find fifteen names added to the list, so that if the first No. is ready Todd says you may send him sixteen. I wrote to Miss Wickham begging her to make the work known to the Markhams her great friends, but I do not recollect seeing any of their names down. I sent a prospectus to Mr. Jasburgh (Mic Ann) who tells me in a very kind reply he has said all he could in your favour to his neighbours and has ordered his Wife’s name to be put down. We mentioned the Work to Phil Cayley who called here one morning. She has engaged in the cause with great zeal, and I believe it is to her exertions you owe many of the names set down at York, such as Lord Grantham and the Dean of Ripon. Dr. Goldie an old Edinburgh Colleague of mine was here for a few days on his