‘My dear Rogers,—As many thanks to you for encouraging me to flatter myself that the memento which I lately ventured to obtrude upon you was not unacceptable.
‘I wish that I could have had that opportunity, which you mention, of congratulating Knight. He is more to be congratulated than any other man, on any acquisition, of any sort; being gifted with such extraordinary powers of enjoyment, both intellectual and sensual; from Homer to a haunch of venison; from a drawing of Claude’s to a dish of coffee; from Venus de’ Medici to Venus de’ Meretrici.
‘But what I have most to congratulate him, and all his friends too, is on the accomplishment of my prediction. When I saw him in the beginning of November, full of blue pills and blue (not to say black) devils, I told him that he would, should, and must be himself again. And so he nearly was before I left town; at least he was then more than anyone else.
‘I thank you for telling me what Angostini’s pictures are really sold for. If I could get for mine what they are worth, I am sure that I ought not to keep them—with such a collection (that I cannot part with) of children. To all of them, great and little, I have remembered you according to your injunctions, as well as to Lady Asburnham. They all charge me to express their acknowledgments.
| 366 | ROGERS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES |
‘Your treasured tale, and legendary lore, are among their Pleasures of Memory. Believe me to be,
‘Rubens arrived safe. I know not whereto put him. You must assist at a consultation in the spring.
‘I wish you had had our present January weather when you were here last July.’
