The Cotman Collection | 127

The Cotman Letters 1834

Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/3/1/3
Page: 223


  • Description

    Copy of letter from Ann Cotman to John Joseph Cotman, undated

    Ann reassures her brother that his letter was not a jumble. She is not surprised that he enjoyed visiting Mrs Reeves. Ann would like to hear the Rev. William Otter. Dr Lubbock gives good news of their mother’s health.

    Date: Undated

  • Transcription

    Addressed to Mr. J. J. Cotman,
    27 Charlotte Street,
    Bloomsbury,
    London.

    Sunday afternoon ½ past 4.

    My dear John,
    Mr. Dixon has just left us, after having read your letter at which he was very much affected, and tells me that he shall send a parcel to London this evening so I thought I would not let this opportunity slip without thanking you for your kind letter. Why my dear John do you think your note was a sad jumble? I can assure you I did not think it was, the kind and brotherly language you made use of were very pleasing to me, and as to the preaching part I do not know where to find it you say you felt what you wrote and when you say that it is all I can require, or even wish from you to tell me what you really mean in your letters will make them doubly valuable.
    I have no doubt my dear John of your enjoying yourself at Mrs. Reeve’s, indeed it must have been a very delightful party, how much I should have enjoyed being with you, although, to have been with you, and papa, would have been as delightful, at least, just <now/u>, for really it seems a most unconscionable time since I saw you and the company would have been rather troublesome when you are the only persons I care about seeing, however I think I should like visiting with Mrs. Reeves very much for I have no doubt of her being a very clever woman.
    I was very much pleased with the description you gave of Our clergyman Mr. Otter (I think I may say so our rightly) it makes me very desirous of hearing him. Dr. Lubbock called upon Mama yesterday and says that Mama is very well and that soon she will lose her lameness but I think his intention is to write to Papa. We are going to spend this afternoon with Mrs. Roe and really I ought to have been

Copy of letter from Ann Cotman to John Joseph Cotman, undated