The Cotman Letters 1834

To Dawson Turner Esq
Yarmouth.
Feb: 1, 1834.
Norwich.

My dear Sir,
I yesterday received your kind letter for which I thank you. The Sketches need not be forwarded to Mrs Cotman; but, at your pleasure, bring them up with you to Town, as that arrangement w[oul]d be more convenient. Mr Harriott has sketches at Bruges, Ghent, Hidelberg, Manheim, Cologne, Haarlem.
(1) More, I believe, at Ostend, Darmstede, Minegem, Zuida.
(2) More than doubtful, at the Hague & Rotterdam. Independent of those under the head of Nos 1 & 2, a fine harvest may be looked for.
Our House is the House of Joys & happiness, content and ease, with a firm reliance upon the great & Almighty God, who has so wonderfully taken us out of a state of wretchedness & despair. My prayers have, I trust, been heard, and I pray daily that I may be grateful for the blessing he has in his great mercy bestowed upon us all. This feeling is uppermost with me in spite of everything else, for I do feel that all man can do without his help turns to naught. This, my dear Sir, must not be considered cant. It is no such thing. I am sincere – never more so, and wish to be considered so by my friends.
I think I put up for you Harriott’s two etchings – but that you did not find them out – for you say you have not found them in the folio.
I remain, dear Sir,
Your obliged & faithful servant
John S. Cotman.
I have called on all my friends and thanked them for their Testimonials. Testimonials I value so highly & which have done me so much good in the hour of need —