Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/3/1/5
Page: 185
Description
Letter of John Sell Cotman to Dawson Turner, 3 September 1841
Date:
Transcription
(3. 9. '41)
(3) 185
mind overwhelmed at this moment with the dire calamity, that I am
eager to fly from it to the arms of a tried friend for a little ease. Yrs truly & affectionately
J. S. Cotman.
P.S. I forgot the [ ] of this letter. I began this namely to {crossed out – say} thank you for your
present & to ask you by letter what I mentioned to the Revd. John Gunn, viz. To
trust me with the title page of your “Norfolk”, your “Catalogue” & “A Day
in India”- & I will do my very best to illuminate them for you & with the
greatest pleasure. The first in particular, as I feel as a Godfather to
that, & will use it as such. My kindest regards to your family & thanks
to Mrs. Turner for her obliging acknowledgement of my little Nothing.
The tall paper copy of the last two works, if you please (the title pages only)
for such you have, or I know you not yet -- J.S.C.
This blow in all its violence has struck me, amidst my harvest, &
disabled my power for a time, only - I trust. As I appear to myself at least to rise
with every blast that is sent by a wise God, to desire the chaff from my stubborn
& bad nature & make me a more worthy sacrifice - at the Altar of his
bounty & ultimate goodness. To pass to fifty nine years of age to think other-
wise would prove me fool indeed. For your ease, for my late appointment
be at rest. I never lose sight of my duty to the College or to my family. For
the former my gauge is already full, from former harvests. How
entirely does this confirm your philosophy & words. “Go on. Work will
sooner or later turn to its account. How completely have my thousand
upon thousand drawings proved this, & made it a fact past all
contradiction. Numbers wise necessary, and I had them, and
am always adding to them. Subjects that I only hear my
Boys whisper or wish to go with. Whether Houses, Dogs,
Men in Armour, Classical figures, Coats of Arms - anything &
everything.
To yourself by this time I am almost a Naked figure. If not,
ask me to show you any part & I will expose it to you.
After this, my friend, Benvenuto Callini is as nothing.
For two more vain simpletons never existed.
J.S.C.
Alfred was the other day taken up by the police & arrested, as being