327 



it for my sake, as I have had in preparing it for 

 yours! 



We had a good journey ; and at Cambridge saw 

 the famous Ceres. Ely and its line cathedral de- 

 tained us two or three hours. The tower is noble, 

 and the west front as sharp and perfect as if just 

 now finished. The chapels are beyond any thing 

 for rich carving. 



Inclosed are two pods of Vanilla, picked up in 

 some shop when I was in Italy; — you will find their 

 perfume still very powerful. 



We saw Raphael's picture at Okeover ; 'tis an un- 

 doubted original ; — the countenances fine, colour- 

 ing dark (perhaps changed), some parts incorrect 

 in drawing. What I most wondered at is the exqui- 

 site effect of the bed-clothes and pillow of the cra- 

 dle, equal to any Dutch picture, yet not laboured in 

 the same way. It is one of those Holy Families of 

 which Raphael at one time painted many, before he 

 arrived at his last historical perfection. 



My Exotic Botany has been much more fortu- 

 nate in Baldwin's Literary Journal than your Leo ; 

 you know the fable of the Oak and the Bramble. 



Pray remember us most kindly to Mrs. Roscoe 

 and all your beloved children. I flatter myself I shall 

 always have an interest in their hearts. 



I know not how to finish my letter, for it seems 

 like taking leave again. Let us lessen the distance 

 between us as much as possible by correspondence. 



Colonel Hardwicke comes to us on Tuesday for 

 three or four days. 

 I am always, my dear Sir, with the truest esteem, 

 Yours, J. E. Smith. 



