The Cotman Letters 1834

kindness & Mr Brightwen’s to the family is well known, & may still be shewn in favour of Mrs Crome – who has just published her Husband’s etchings[* added in pencil] (about 30 in number) for the benefit of herself. Her success at present is but very small – I think under 30 copies subscribed for. We have all known her to have been a most kind & affectionate Wife & Mother. In this Hour of her need may she find that support the talent & genius of her Husband merit – from his once many friends. Crome has not canvassed the ground my son is about to take. Not so the other artists of Norwich! Even without the least communication to me on the subject!!!!! Shame be to them!
With the greatest respect to yourself & the family, believe me to be my dear Sir,
Your most obliged
J. S. Cotman.

P.S. * Mr Barwell told me the other evening that I related to him more than a year back this termination to my dream; substituting, as I did, “one of the members of my body” for the actual name of Crome.
Mr J. Geldart Jun[io]r has seen & watched me narrowly two or three times a day since I have been in Norwich, dreading the effects of good prospects. He yesterday pronounced me sane & that I had only gained my equilibrium. I have seen Miss E. Rigby’s [note in pencil in margin: Lady Eastlake] very masterly portraits, many of which I think most excellent.
John goes with me, by the Magnet, on Saturday evening. My address in Town may be, till I have again the pleasure to write to you — No. 7 Old Burlington St.
[added in pencil:]

* In 1834 Mrs Crome pub[lishe]d ‘31 Etchings of Norfolk Picturesque Scenery’. Cotman subscribed for a set & received 25% discount.
In 1838 Dawson Turner published ‘Etchings of Views in N[or]f[ol]k by the late John Crome (17) See ‘Crome’s Etchings’ by Theobald p49.