The Cotman Collection | 185

The Cotman Letters 1838-1864

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