Autograph letter signed : London, to Mr. Gray, 1848 Aug. 24.

Saying there is no need to regret "our Son and Daughter being in France." They are well and happy, and Mrs. Ruskin "would have suffered rather more by their being at home for she fears annoying any one..." It is vain to discuss railroads. If Mr. Burns is the agent of a bank, he will lose his position, but if he is willing to wait and lose, Mr. Gray should do everything possible to preserve his strength and power of mind, which are much more important than the price of shares. He should stop worrying about shares and push his law business. If he has to lose his "present mansion," he will be more loved in a smaller house, and should not lose sleep over it. As to George, Mr. Gray should expect nothing from J. J. Ruskin--though he will do all he can for Phemy. If Mr. Gray follows the advice of his well known friends, he should make sure that George is not coming to London for pleasure. George's education has been more of pleasure and excitement than of work. George's life in London will be lonely, for his sister will either be away or absorbed by society to which she cannot gain him entrée, and at Denmark Hill the Ruskins can promise no more than an occasional Sunday dinner. About George's chances of success Mr. Ruskin is not sanguine: George's virtues and amiability are not sufficient; there must be "an unconquerable will and power" to seize what a hundred competitors desire. In Mr. Ruskin's opinion, George is leaving a certainty for an uncertainty at a time when Mr. Gray may be too much overcome to manage his business, with an immediate cost to his father of £100 to £120 a year and a possibility of ten years' labour with very small pay. Nor does Mr. Ruskin like a change in profession. Though Mr. Gray is sanguine about George, Mr. Ruskin is so doubtful about what his own son with his good talents could do that he keeps him out of the city. P. S. It does not seem right for George to leave home at a time like this. "His pride will meet with more mortifications as a London clerk than at Perth under the worst mishaps." P. S. Mr. Ruskin will probably part with his own house before Mr. Gray parts with his: "it is an enormous expense and Burthen on Mrs. R & me & besides without business John could not keep it."