Autograph letter signed : London, to William Allingham, 1854 Aug. [1].

Stating that his work looks "hopelessly beastly" that morning, and that he will try to revive himself by answering Allingham's letter. Mentioning that Cayley visited the previous evening and discussing his translations [of Italian poetry]. Praising two of Allingham's ballads, noting that one is "one of the very few really fine things of the kind written in our day," and that the other is beautiful except for the last couplet, which is "a little in the broadsheet-song style." Stating that "the subject you propose for my woodcut from it is a first rate one," and reporting that he has "already made some scratches for its arrangement." Asking for his opinion on some revised lines of poetry (the last lines of "Lost on Both Sides") and copying out two sonnets: "The Hill Summit" (first line: "The feast-day of the sun, his alter there") and "The Birth-bond" (first line: "Have you noted, in some family"). Thanking Allingham for praising his poetry, but noting that he is reluctant to publish because "the fact is I think well of very little I have written, & am afraid of people agreeing with me," and mentioning that "I believe my poetry & painting prevented each other from doing much good for a long while -- & now I think I could do better in either, but I can't write for then I shant paint." Discussing designs for the Folio, mentioning ones by Millais, Barbara S[mith] and A. M. H[owitt]. Imagining a lengthy conversation (written out as a play) between Millais, Halliday, Collins and Stephens concerning their and Rossetti's designs for the Folio. Enclosing (not present) an extract about Woolner, promising to send a Hunt letter with his manuscript, mentioning Sutton's poetry and worrying that MacCracken, who has been again in town, is "taking to wild habits."