Autograph letter signed : London, to Mr. Gray, 1848 Mar. 28.

Saying he feels much for Mr. and Mrs. Gray and trusts Mr. Gray to bear his difficulties with fortitude and trusts Mr. Gray to apply his "great good sense & fine energies" to the preservation of his business--"a property which can never leave you." George's "application and steadiness are now of immense importance," though Mr. Ruskin has always thought his education "too much varied and interrupted by pleasure for a man of business." Mr. Gray is like thousands who have been ruined by the speculations of the day. The danger is his not having enough vigor of mind and body to prosecute his daily affairs; it he preserves his vigor, he may yet be wealthy. His creditors would benefit if a public exposure could be avoided because there would be less injury to his business. He does not blame Mr. Gray individually for bold speculations: the Scotch are speculative and like getting rich without labor. Mr. Gray will be all right if he closes accounts and does not try to retrieve his fortune through further speculation. Let him now try to see how much can be made out of a law business in Perth. Even if his speculations had succeeded, what would he have gained? His children smile as sweetly on £500 a year as on £5000. His son will doubtless be in Perth directly, and he does not object to the marriage taking place during Lent, if more convenient. He and Mrs. Ruskin leave it all to the Grays.