[Bibliographical Note.—These letters have previously been reprinted in Arrows of the Chace, 1880, vol. i. pp. 127–152.

The concluding portion of the first letter (§§ 7, 8, 9) was also reprinted, with some alterations, as Appendix iv. of The Two Paths (1859). The alterations were as follows:—

§ 7, line 3, the reprint began “I must ask you …,” the words “with more diffidence” being omitted; line 5, the words “and to one omission,” were omitted; § 8, line 5, of “Mr. Kingsley's No. 3,” see p. 336 n.; Ruskin's footnotes omitted; § 9, line 1, for “have italicized,” Two Paths reads “put in italics “; §9, line 18, a footnote was added; § 9, last line, “a” substituted for “an.”

In this edition the paragraphs are numbered for convenience of reference, and in § 7, line 16, “Poems” is read for “Poems.” In the third letter a misprint has been corrected: see p. 345 n.]

THE TURNER SKETCHES AND DRAWINGS

To the Editor of the “Literary Gazette”

[1858]

1. Sir,—I do not think it generally necessary to answer criticism; yet as yours is the first sufficient notice which has been taken of the important collection of sketches at Marlborough House, and as your strictures on the arrangement proposed for the body of the collection, as well as on some statements in my catalogue, are made with such candour and good feeling, will you allow me to offer one or two observations in reply to them?