The Cotman Letters 1834
Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/3/1/3
Page: 195
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Description
Copy of letter from Miles Edmund Cotman to John Joseph Cotman, 19 October 1834
Miles Edmund describes the scene in the Cotman’s new house in Newmarket Road. He tells of some recent activities, including going to a Haydn concert with Ann and singing at Morgan’s. Miles Edmund is glad to hear that John Joseph is happy, and he asks what he is doing. He is working on two old drawings, one a landscape, the other a seascape. He requests some razor strops and a working coat. A check on which bills his father has been paying. He asks if John can lend him his greatcoat for riding.
Date: 19/10/1834
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Transcription
Addressed to Mr. J. J. Cotman
43, Gerrard St.
Soho.No. 3 Terrace
Newmarket Road
Oct[obe]r 19: /34.My dear John/
I now sit down with the determination of spinning you a long yarn to make up for the shortness of the last, as far as I can. To make it as long as possible I shall just tell you where we all are, how we all are, and what we all are about.
First then we are in our best parlour (being Sunday) a comfortable little room as you know, with a nice fire within and a drizly rain without Tis the first day of our living in it!!!!
The dinner is just cleared away, Mother and Ann lying on the Sofa, the former going quietly to sleep, the latter amusing herself with a book until her eyes can hold open no longer.
Alfred is, mumble! D[itt]o!! D[itt]o!!, studying his lessons and “I mighty I, so immortal, omnipotent” am scribbling away at an enormous rate, sipping a glass of rum and water – “cold without” and in my mightyness am compelling clouds (you know how they call Your cloud compelling). Walter is not yet returned from Hanworth. So much for our present occupation. As to what has been done lately I can not say so exactly this much though. I have been to Daniels’ to tea, have dine[d] once at Morgan’s and have taken Ann to the Choral Concert to hear the Creation. The music was very fine, the singing only tolerable, the company good and the only thing I really disliked was that the performance was in the morning. I did not
