The Cotman Letters 1804-1833

Dec 6. 1811.
(pencil notes) [To D.T.] [Norwich]
Dear Sir
I should have answered your obliging letter before this had my ? been a little easier as as to the fate of what I am about to bring before the public. I now have a reputation to lose, even as an engraver, and six subjects cannot, without they are very susperior, hold even this proper plan against a greater numberseen altogether. What they may turn out I dare not ask myself, for feeling myself so little against the first rate Piranesi, I expect everyone may do so too. I try to follow but feel myself further & further behind. At every labour I expect to gain the summits, but wake to dejection by finding myself & ?oat grovelling where I began - resting like all distressed speculators in hope for the future. I have seen but one impression, and that happens to be the very subject of all others I had wished, and, be assured, it would have dedicated to you - the south side of the South Gates. My dear Sir, had you thus favoured me with your Arms, I should have known what I ought to have done and what I most sincerely wished, and, be assured, it would have added reprints to my needle, not to have disgraced you. From the conversation we had, and by you not giving me your Arms, I gave up all thoughts of dedication - supposing you thought it was incompatable (sic) with the Dedication of the whole. All this I most sincerely regret. If you think I can revive this plan I shall be ready to adopt it, as it will give me the pleasure & opportunity of paying those who have anyway been kind to me - a complimentary acknowledgement. The North side of the South Gate and the North Gate still remain undone. Either I shall be happy to inscribe to you. Mr Robert Cony Junior has an original drawing of the latter, and Mr [Homfays] promised to ask that gentleman for the loan of it for the work, but I have not yet seen it! Should this be correct I will answer to make a tolerable thing of it, for, being no more, I shall have a greater field for the imagination. Still I cannot but lament it was un-fortunate, for what I saw of the South Gate (an unfinished Plate) I thought it promised well and the subject is really good. Crome I think, is acting very wrong every way, and at some