The Cotman Letters 1834

To/ Dawson Turner Esq.
Yarmo[uth]
March 31, 1834.
St. Martin’s at Palace
Norwich.

My dear Sir,
I received your letter to-day – too late to be able to accept your kind invitation for Tuesday morning – but time enough to assure you I accept for Wednesday morning, with pleasure. We are all well & very happy. I must (I regret to say) leave Yarmouth on Thursday afternoon, for I am all bustle, packing up, and accept no invitations from anyone, saving yourself.
I shall now endeavour to make my Hay whilst the sun shines, and to prove I can, if I choose, be a man of business, and further endeavour by the best means to deserve by God’s help his continuance of the blessings I now enjoy, for I must ever feel it deeply engraved on my soul that in me He has wonderfully shewn that “Man’s extremity is His opportunity.” I am much obliged to Mrs Brightwen for the quotation – it can never be forgotten by me. He has thought proper to save us at the eleventh hour. Tears of joy and of hope are frequently at my eyes, and my heart is at times bursting with gladness. And I feel, if possible, more sensitive than ever – alive to everything & calm & collected in the midst of all the extreme bustle of a London life, or the folly of a Tombland fair – now upon our St. Martin’s Plain – and where I have never seen more company, booths & shows.
I should like to know Mr Douce much (?), if possible. Mrs Cotman presents her respects to Mrs Turner, with her thanks for her kind invitation, to which he most respectfully adds his own.
I am, my dear Sir,
Your very obliged Serv[an]t
John Sell Cotman.