The Cotman Letters 1835-1837

{Handwritten transcript}
Dec: 16. 1836

J.S.C to D.T.

Mr dear Sir,
I beg to return you my sincere thanks to you for your kind letter respecting my son, Miles Edmund Cotman. Mr. Brightwen’s & your offer to assist him I accept with pleasure, and I am afraid by the thing not having been suggested by you I must have omitted the principle (sic) point on which you both could assist him most [illegible 1 word], could you do it, truly and conscientiously. And that is your testimonials to his ability, conduct & character as an artist & as a teacher. As the first, his works to you & Mr. Brightwen may be known for the latter capacity he has been out with many of your family, sketching. Mr. Brightwen has two if not more drawings by him, and I trust & hope he may have executed others since better – therefore on the first point I think he may stand in that rank. On the second, that of ability to teach may be inferred from the very sound & powerful testimonials from the late Principal Otter, Bishop of Chichester – the Rev: H. Rose, Principal first & second masters & all the other masters & Sir Francis Palgrave with all his interest form a host – to say nothing of the interest of the almost founder or suggester of the school Mr. Warren Stormes Hale, 21 Cateaton Street, and of the Revd. John Allen Giles, head master of this new establishment (who told but I must not tell. I beg your pardon for not proceeding further, for it is a secret)
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I have had so much good advise that I have been [illegible 1 word] in my steerage – but my helm now is hard over to the only tack I shall make – by order of Sir F. Palgrave (to drop metaphor) to get all & the best tesimonials we can - The master of K College & Mr. Giles said those of the college & Sir F. Palgrave were quite sufficient. Sir F. Palgrave advises I shall abide by to the end. Therefore I beg again to entreat you & Mr. Brightwen would serve us so far in this matter as to grant your support in the form of testimonials upon the heads given – Will Mr. Preston, as Mayor of Yarmouth, be of weight if so on your advice I will either write to him or no. (if he is the Gentleman who lives at the house of some of Cromwell’s family I can do so) – I understand 600 boys are already entered, and all are to taught drawing. It is taken up with the greatest ardour by the citizens of London. I have a letter to the Lord Mayor from a most intimate friend of his Lordship’s. The late Ld Mayor I can call upon & shall. He is a great donor to K.C. & I had with the rest of the Professors & Council (this shd have stood first) the honor of dining with him & the Bishop of Lond at the opening of the College Hall.

The room given us is all I can wish for & shall be our exhibition one. For the visitors, Casts, Models, Drawings & Prints on all subjects to raise the character of my department, even should I be obliged to be at the Sole expense – but this will not be suffered by the Council. I have given all my Works, large paper ([except my?] Brasses) to the College Library. I only want my Portrait, & shd like to add yours to the Vols of Normandy. Can these be obtained & given to me for that purpose?