John Ruskin (1819-1900)

a group of fourteen signed letters, recipients to include Dr Attwell, Mr Learoyd, Butler, Miss Miller, Woodd, Dixon, Mr Stowe, with subjects to include discussing agates, pearls, and Christmas, together with six envelopes addressed to Samuel Learoyd, and an envelope addressed to Mrs S H Holder (qty.)

For a comprehensive transcription, please see the condition report.

Condition Report

Transcription of letters:

'Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire

Dear Dr Attwell

I was so much interested in looking out those stones for you that I’m ready to lend you another lot directly – if you’ve room and care for them. I hope the new lot sent you yesterday are better than those sent to Whiteland’s – but these others won’t be lost, there either.

That’s so interesting and so right – about the moral of monsters – but I hav’nt'

'Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire. Ambleside

Dear Mr Learoyd

Please let the agates be sent here, and with thanks for your care and best Christmas wishes believe me your faithful servant John Ruskin Samuel Learoyd Esq.'

'Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire.

28th April 83

My dear Sir

I am so ashamed of myself for not having answered your kind letters of question about showing the agates – but I have been thinking of several things about them. It seems to me that with your good help, they might be arranged for a loan collection, belonging to the Sheffield Museum, and – when long enough at one place taken to another.

You will at once see at looking over them that all have separate phenomena. Several are ,(in my experience unique) and all are chosen for things which need notice in each specimen ‐ If you will at present number and shortly describe each – and show just as you think best. I would afterwards consult with you on what more might be said, with secure basis of science, of the possible mode of production of each – and print the catalogue so settled.

This cannot be till after our Oxford work is done – but for the present exhibition please take all authority. I think my stones usually look best on white silk or deep red or purple velvet – in which when the collection is finally arranged you might have niched places for each stone Ever most truly Yours J Ruskin'

'Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire.

27th Dec. 84

Dear Mr. Learoyd

No. I could not take up pearls. – they are a result of disease. And would never interest me, but I should like to see an exhaustive book on them – Silica is more than ever I shall manage, ‐ but please tell me of any points of new interest that occur to you in it at any time Ever faithfully yours J Ruskin'

'Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire.

3rd May

Dear Butler,

I’m quite delighted with all the small silvers ‐ and all the besicas – and the rest are very nice I return a pound’s worth of what I don’t want – see accounts and enclose cheque for £5 with hearty thanks. The 15/‐ chlorite is superb – quite worth £1 to me – the largest indescent Madagascar, the best I ever saw.

I’m not well, stomach out of sorts – or that metal‐book would have been done by this time – I Don’t know what you could have got out of my talk – you said you should like to know things – And I said – so should I! I think that was about all. But I’ll write and print the catalogue of collections for you directly. Ever affectionately yours JR'

'Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire.

17th April 83

My dear Sir

I will look out the stones directly – but your own arrangement will be entirely satisfactory to me – it will be a delight to think of your seeing them. – I will wait on Col. R; the moment I’m in town again

Ever faithfully yours

J Ruskin'

'Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire

18th May 86

My dear Sir

I accept your Companionship very gladly, having at last given up the idea of the Guild’s being a monied power; and contenting myself with making it a bond and an influence for assured good.

Do not hasten to leave your position under Dr. Gore. You could not be in a more useful one that of a practical experimental philosopher – as you grow in years – holding yet the faith you have now signed Ever faithfully yours John Ruskin'

'Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire. Christmas 86

My dear Sir

I find nothing so uselessly wasteful of my time as lending either drawings or minerals, and have vowed to trouble myself no more, in that kind – but if I would – assuredly not for Manchester. Even at Xmas time I forgive them not their Thirlmere theft. Ever faithfully yours John Ruskin'

'Herne Hill, S.E. London

20th June 77

Dear Miss Miller,

I have been twenty times of the edge – never yet well over the edge –of answering your most

valuable letters – but you will see in next days I have not forgotten them.

Is Eastover House an established and permanent school – and would its trustees like me to lend Some agates and other stones for her pupils to play with and think of? Ever gratefully Yours J. Ruskin'

'Brantwood, Coniston, Lancashire.

12th Feb. 85

Dear Woodd,

Many thanks. The Phots are beautiful. I had taken good ones myself, of course; but these beat them considerably. I’ve ordered a report of St. George to be sent to you. I shall expect a grand subscription to my Museum. Ever affectionately yours J Ruskin Charles H. Woodd, Esq.'

'I have not read the slips yet they seem most interesting.

Venice, 6th May

Dear Dixon

I have been terribly neglectful of you. I was very glad to see your hand today, but what to know how you are.

I must really organize this St. George’s company by drawing up some legal documents myself which the Companions shall sign. I am sick of the lawyers’ delays and the Trustees are shy of acting for want of clearly knowing to whom they are responsible.

‐ So you will have to declare that you they have no business with the matter – but that you only hold the Master responsible for the management. Ever affectionately yours J Ruskin'

'Denmark Hill

23rd April

My dear Mr Stowe

I’ve had this returned letter by me ever so long and always forgotten to ask you to forward it – and now I’m leaving town – but I shall be back D.V. early in the summer – and most happy then to see your friend. Yours very truly J Ruskin'

'Denmark Hill, Camberwell

Monday 1st October

My dear Sir

I could not earlier reply to your letter – having left several days of this week open to choice to different friends whom I wanted to see – having only just come home from Switzerland – I have no forenoon time open just now – could you & Mr. Gregory favour me by coming some evening? Friday or Saturday? If not I shall have forenoon time next week. Truly yours, J Ruskin It is a long way for you to come – if Mr Gregory could be at Queen Sq. on Saturday, or Friday at one o’clock, I would come there.'

'Denmark Hill, S.

7th Oct.

My dear Sir.

In this fine weather I am out all day my business goes to the dogs. I am heartily obliged to you for your letters and for the kindness of sending me an account of Mr. Stevenson – Forgive me, as well as him, the trouble we have caused you and believe me yours faithfully and obliged J Ruskin'