The Cotman Letters 1834

you write to him, and his Father too.
I feel convinced a few hours will bring me a letter from you, my children, at least I hope so. If I happen to be mistaken, write me a long one, for I wish to hear from you about your mother’s health. Spare nothing to get me – and to keep her – well, for nothing will damp me so much as to find her ill on my return, and to know she has been suffering. Don’t suffer it together. When I visit – should I visit – Mr Gunn’s I shall drive round to Hanworth & South Repps.
Much as I have ever loved London I have never trod its gold paved streets so such a man of business & felt so much to belong to it, as now. Remember the early part of the letter: do as I have instructed you to do, and God bless you all. Here’s a yarn for you to unravel. Never in all my life have I, I think, ever spun one out to such a length or to such a purpose. Your most affectionate Husband & Father, Son & Brother* – for I fly, my Dove, to you all.
J. S. Cotman, P[rofessor of] D[rawing] – K[ing’s] C[ollege]

• I was going to add ‘Sister’, but stopt in time.

[Sketch of King’s College area]
[to south] Southwark Side of the Thames
[to east] St Paul’s | Blackfriars’ Bridge
[to west] London Bridge | Westminster Abbey
This part all new Terrace
King’s College | Entrance
Somerset House
The Court of Somerset House, almost equal in size to Norwich Market Place.
The Strand
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Saint Paul’s & Westminster Abbey are at about equal distance from our College – say from a mile to a mile & a half, if not two miles from it.
[Each distant barely 7 furlongs. Ed:]
(? M. E. C. or Editor)