Letter from John Ruskin, London, to John Jaffray, 1853 January 4 : autograph manuscript signed.

Ruskin explains that it is not the immediate loss of time that he dreads [presumably in accepting Jaffray's invitation], but the diversion of his thoughts from the subject with which he is presently occupied. He has such a dull and unmanagable a mind that every interruption of the matter at hand costs a week before he recovers himself. He must at present not indulge in such enjoyable recreation as that with which Jaffray tempts him. Asks Jaffray to express his regrets to W. Birch and all of his kind friends-Mr. Payton's kind invitation he has specially answered. In postscript, says that he fears that he cannot get the post order that day but that it will arrive on Monday.