The Cotman Letters 1834

good society and orders pouring in. Who could not be happy with all these adjuncts, independent of my beautiful lamp, the lamp of Aladdin. I send you a Sketch of my beauty. [Sketch inserted, labelled: A. The shade, for work. B. Ground glass for reading & for Visitors.] It has done wonders already & even I am pleased with my exertions!!! A thing very uncommon in me, I assure you, for I am but rarely pleased with my own efforts, but I suppose it arises from the novelty of once more working again, my [?] play to me, my enjoyment, my happiness. ‘What?’ – you will say. It does. The world is lost to me with it and I roam in regions of fancy. I recollect the time when I had a horror of such an opinion. I wish the man who is my Friend to know the worse side of me, for his opinion cannot be a just one without it. A delicious bunch of grapes at my elbow (what a mixture) & this Cigar have finished for me three sketches this evening which I shall work into drawings. My room begins to look like my room in Yarmouth or Norwich – full of Books, Sketches & Color Boxes, and I all day long in old Morning gown & my green shade as usual. Such is my present portrait. If you will come & see it, no one can be more welcome. I have dressed myself at your glass oftener than you may give me credit for – which is the best proof how much I have valued you. If you can forgive all this lightness of conduct and will see me, how happy shall I be, once more, my dear Friend, to shake you by the hand & to see my best & ever kindest Friend, Mrs Dawson Turner – at Yarmouth for two days – a fortnight being all the time I shall be able to give to Norwich this Xmas time. The first fortnight I shall be getting my House in order against the bringing up my family. This house is No. 42 Hunter St, Brunswick Square, in a very airy part of the Town, in a broad street, fronting the N. E. (Yarmouth taught me the points of the compass, amongst many other good things) The back, of course, S. W - will open to the Sun &