290 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
4, Brixton Place, London, July 12th, 1821. 
My dear Johns, — Although it gives me much pleasure to write 
you, yet I am almost sorry Kogers was so careless of the letters 
I sent by him, being obliged to prepare a great deal before I 
trip it. 
Accept sincere thanks for your picture. It hangs before me at 
dinner, so that it has been well digested ; and I have the pleasure 
of saying that I conceive it most excellent in what it has, though 
I am always looking for something it has not. The distance and 
middle distance particularly is, in my opinion, exactly what it 
should be in the degree of finishing ; but what is the foreground % 
Certainly what we see most clearly, and therefore I think should 
be the most defined, and yet in your picture it only asserts in light 
and shade ; and although I should not wish to be attracted by it, 
on looking into it I expect to see something on it. Excuse this 
freedom. It may not be correct of all your pictures ; but certainly 
this one wants more foreground detail. The composition and 
arrangement are uncommonly good, and it has a pleasing harmony 
of colour, but I think a little too dark ; and this is the impression 
of many who have seen it, as they immediately exclaim, " What a 
pretty picture ; but is it not too dark, and too much like an old 
picture V 1 which is exactly what I mean. And though I cannot 
battle the subject with you, I must charge you with looking too 
much at the time-tinted masters. 
If you paint in this manner you will not put a stop to the sale 
of old pictures, and very few collectors purchase both ancient and 
modern, and certainly always there is a bias which I pray may 
very soon be altogether for the living artists to keep us alive and 
employed. 
This is saying the worst I can of you and your kind present, 
which I value very much for its merit and friendship. I knew 
you felt well, and could paint well ; but I did not expect to see so 
good a picture. I must repeat that the trees and the bank with 
the cottage are excellent ; but I will fight for the foreground, and 
by-the-by for Calcott too. Brockedon told me yesterday, although 
he admired your little picture exceedingly, he had seen better of yours 
at Plymouth. I am glad of it. I am writing hurry-scurry, not 
poetically, like my friend J ohns ; but I can add my sincere regards 
and best wishes,' in which Mrs. Prout unites, to you and Mrs. 
