Letter from John Ruskin, Brantwood, Coniston, to W.A. Burrow, 1875 January 19 : autograph manuscript signed.

Heartily wishes that he could accept Burrow's kind invitation to speak at the Manchester Athenaeum, especially on account of the liberality with which they leave his choice of subject. But he has been working more than anybody notices lately ("I fancy because they think my writing costs me no trouble") and is compelled to refuse all public engagements beyond his duties at Oxford. He should have extreme difficulty in speaking at any manufacturing centres without saying what would necessarily be offensive to the audience.