The Cotman Letters 1835-1837

42, Hunter Street,
Brunswick Square
May 4th. (1835)

My dear John
At last, after repeatedly asking me to write to you, you have gained a few lines from me, which can scarcely be worth the trouble of your perusal as you have asked for them so often, but I hope that as I have now broken the ice, I shall not again be accused of such neglect. London, my dear John is certainly a large place, with many very fine buildings in it, fine streets, and such like, but with all these I must think I rather prefer the country, for here, I cannot say I will just put on my hat, and take a walk on the road, or if I do I find it thronged like a street, but still I could live here very happily for all this, if I could but find Papa comfortable. With respect to the London people I can say but little about them, as I have scarcely seen any of them, the Mortons we have not seen now for more than a month, when Mamma and I called on them, I think I might like Miss Morton very well were I to know a little more of her, but of the few ladies I have at present seen, I must say I like the Miss Sharps the best, whom I met last Friday at Mr. Bulwers, they were the Artists whose drawings you remember at our Norwich Exhibition, they are by no means young, but the most lively, kind, and conversant persons I have ever seen, they have travelled about a good deal and apparently have seen very good company and could I choose a companion for myself I think I should venture to do it here, although I feel they would be acquaintances rather higher than I ought to aspire to. I don't know the reason, but it is now a long time since we saw the X , more than three weeks have passed since we received a note from him to say he could not be at home to receive us on the day he invited