Letter from Dante Rossetti, London, to Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon, 1870 August 29 : autograph manuscript signed.

Apologizing for the delay in writing; sharing that he lost the letter he meant to reply to, which contributed to the delay; remembering that she asked him what book he bought from Scalands, but he is quite sure he did not buy one; apologizing for the "ravages" that took place in her cellar and sharing that he is sending replacements; noting how Stillman was meant to talk over this issue with him before he left, but they both continually forgot; wondering if she has heard him and his share on the matter; sharing that he sent her sherry and champagne; noting that he has heard of her more than once from people in town, and that he had hoped to see her before now; hoping to put use to the rooms at Glottenham; thinking that his best plan is to pay and take his chance of getting them again when he really wants them, as the luxury of working after so much expected idleness has been great; hoping that he wil not be pulled up short again by a breakdown of some sort; sharing that he is getting on with his big picture, and expects to have the figures done by a fortnight hence; describing how he has started to feel better since his visit to Sussex, which contributed to his improvement; sharing that his eyes are feeling better; describing a packing disaster and asking for Barbara's advice regarding packing; guessing that Scalands and the neighborhood must be looking lovely at this time, though he has hardly seen daylight except on the surface of his canvas; guessing that she has heard from Stillman and his accident on board ship, which broke one of his ribs.