Birthday Toast to John Ruskin, place not specified, to Thomas Richmond, 1865 March 17 : autograph manuscript signed.

Appearing to be a fair copy of a birthday toast to John Ruskin delivered on February 8, 1861 with an inscription at the end "For Thomas Richmond Esq / with the Spouter's affectionate Regard / 17 March 1865;" the manuscript is dated "Denmark Hill 8 Feb'y 1861;" celebrating the success of the completion of "Modern Painters" "...in which we feel that we have raised a pyramid to our fame, which, as long as the sun rises and sets, will fling its vast shadow across the wide plain of letters and guard our memory into the end of time!;" referring to its detractors and its supporters; adding "We know, however, that we are not popular with artists in general we stand to them in the same relative position as did the Duke of Wellington to his soldiers : They didn't like him; but they followed him anywhere. We expect to say that a member of our firm has serious intentions of retiring from business; putting up the shutters and disposing of our stock in trade. The fact is as we have art warehouse room enough for our imaginations; and our stock of fireworks is so large as to endanger the safety of the premises. We have a quantity of loose thoughts which we intend to dispose of, in homeopathic parcels by private contract to small poets; and judging by the freedom with which they have appropriated our printed thoughts, we anticipate an extensive sale...I have, Gentlemen to propose to you the health of Mr. John Ruskin - and you will rejoice with me to see him looking so well and able to respond to the toast in which I will venture to include the health of Mrs. Ruskin and our wishes for her speedy recovery;" listing, under his signature those in attendance at the dinner.