Typed copy of a portion of an autograph letter : 7 Billister Street, to W.H. Harrison, 1860 Oct. 6.

Thanking him for his inquiry about Mrs. Ruskin's accident [a broken hip at age 79]. He has been kept busy by reading to her and answering king letters of inquiry. He was just interrupted by George Smith, who despite an immense weight of business, always has time to chat pleasantly with friends. The Cornhill "flourishes & promises never to fad." Sunday, every month he grows more indolent, especially about writing letters. Mrs. Ruskin gets on well, the doctor giving her assurance that thus far "the recovery is so favourable a one... as he every saw." Here "Constitution is good and her patience great," and his own peace of mind is restored. His alarm over the accident brought back complains from which he had been suffering since last August, but now he too is recovering." Mrs. Ruskin's improvement under God is affected no doubt by her happy state of mind--she is as full of thankfulness, suffering from this fractured limb, as some people would be at escaping one." Ruskin has once more heard Spurgeon, "& seems more than ever struck with his Power." A little book from Mrs. Spurgeon has pleased Mrs. Ruskin. "After hourx of this [book] & John Newton & Boston's fourfold State & Cowper we indulge in a little light reading." They are all delighted "--John especially--" by the Ladies of Beaver Hollow, by a lady who wrote the Life of Mary Powell... Mr. Harrison is doubtless right about Pickwick, "but I cannot help remaining Mr. Dickens' most grateful admirer--there are some few touches also in Thackeray's Georges that soften me towards him. But he must stop if this letter is not to have the fate of some now in his pocket. [P.S.]: tomorrow John goes to Tunbridge Wells for the wedding of Dr. Richardson's eldest daughter, now 22.