Letter from Eliza Cook, Birmingham, to an unidentified recipient, 1846 November 6 : autograph manuscript signed with initials.

Relating news of friends, her impressions of Birmingham, and a recently completed portrait of her that her brother had just seen; saying "Now in the first place will you make it an item in your tablet of memory to consider me as "li"(?) rather than as Miss Cook for to tell truth my dear Juli(?) I am so unused to the latter that I ever entertain a suspicion the person so addressing me (after such a happy association as ours) has an intention of cutting my throat or turning traitor to fair friendship in some invidious form or other. I grant there is a little satisfaction at being missed yet I would rather it should be mentally experienced than autographically expressed so just please to [illegible] me to your kind thoughts for the future. Here I am in dirty drizzling, dingy, drabbling, dense Birmingham (I hope you admire alliteration) I cannot keep even a clean conscience here and though I cultivate a most close familiarity with the jugged water - not [illegible]) and 'Best Brown Windsor' my digits are ever in a most unequivocal state of colour, approaching the tinge of the 'old Gentleman's' favourite soot (suit). I hope you appreciate my attempts in this way for it is seldom I can muster up courage to commit such villanies. I need not say I am very happy with my companion, we agree passing well and spend our time most rationally between sentiment and mutton chops, morality and 'Dorney's(?) Best Pickles'. Now I thank you, high time you will say, for your kind and very nice letter. It will ever be a pleasure to find myself stuck on the point of your pen and most punctually will I acknowledge the favour. Will you tell the artist (I am frightened to death of his name and will not venture nigh it) that I had a letter from my brother yesterday written when he had seen my picture. He says 'You know I am not given to strong expressions of admiration but you will believe my power of estimation to be none the less - I [illegible] the artist for his genius, it is yourself - and delighted me". This is much for my heavy headed, short-tongued fraternal professor to commit to paper and I am sure his perception of the likeness is honest. He tells me he will inform me how it is received by the others and I will immediately communicate with some of you touching it;" sending her regards to the Muspratt family; saying "...let them accept my kindest and warmest thoughts - every man I ask and woman [illegible] of them for the generous flow of blood circulating through Seaforth Walls tells of health and happiness whose echoes must find a response in every decent heart. I shall expect to hear from some of you soon;" sending her regards to a mutual friend.