The Cotman Letters 1804-1833

Scotland to the list of your subscribers. I believe Phil Cayley is the great cause of these, though perhaps my little friend Dr. Goldie may have done some good. Todd told me the public objected to the names being written in pencil as being liable to be effaced and not tidy. They would prefer them in ink if not engraved on the plates. I also gathered from him that they did not like the view in Duncombe Park, because it might have been anywhere. Two thirds of mankind, you know, mind more what is represented than how it is done. By the bye when I recommend skies to you I do not mean that I liked that in the spoilt plate of a street for I do not. I hope your eyes plague you no more. We are quite well and little Francis improves rapidly. He is very lively and good tempered, and though the lower part of his face is like his popa I find he is reckoned a very pretty baby. He has large blue eyes and dark brown hair. We have had a lovely spring and the garden promised abundance, but on Palm Sunday there came a cruel frost 13 degrees below freezing which completely destroyed outer wall fruit peas &c. If you go to town next month pray write me word how the arts go on without me, the Exhibitions are now almost all that I regret of London. Ahould (sic) your steps afterwards take a northerly direction I need not add how I should rejoice to see you here. For my own sake I should be tempted to preach to you the necessity of not forsaking nature that you might revisit the Yorkshire homes and ruins. Adieu.
Yours’ ever most truly
Francis James Cholmeley.

Old Todd is dead. The firm is now Messrs Todd instead of Messrs Todd & Sons.