Page:The letters of William Blake (1906).djvu/221

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LETTERS OF WILLIAM BLAKE.
155

Exhibition, which I have not yet seen. I mentioned the pictures from Sterne to Mr. Walker. He says that there were several; one, a garden scene, with Uncle Toby and Obadiah planting in the garden; but that of "Le Fevre's Death"[1] he speaks of as incomparable, but cannot tell where it now is, as they were scattered abroad, being disposed of by means of a raffle. He supposes it is in Westmoreland; promises to make every inquiry about it. Accept, also, of my thanks for Cowper's third volume, which I got, as you directed, of Mr. Johnson. I have seen Mr. Rose; he looks, though not so well as I have seen him, yet tolerably, considering the terrible storm he has been through! He says that the last session was a severe labour; indeed it must be so to a man just out of so dreadful a fever. I also thank you for your very beautiful little poem on the king's recovery; it is one of the prettiest things I ever read, and I hope the king will live to fulfil the prophecy and die in peace: but at present, poor man, I understand he is poorly indeed, and times threaten worse than ever. I must now express my sorrow and my hopes for our good Miss Poole, and so take my leave for the present, with the joint love of my good woman,

  1. "The Death of Le Fèvre" (see Ward and Roberts' Romney, vol. ii. p. 200, where Adam Walker's own description of the picture is quoted).