[From the List of "Mr. Shepherd's Publications" printed at the end of his "The Bibliography of Dickens," 1880.]
THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RUSKIN.
I.
Brantwood, Coniston,
Sept. 30, 1878.
Dear Sir: So far from being distasteful to me, your perfect reckoning up of me not only flatters my vanity extremely, but will be in the highest degree useful to myself. But you know so much more about me than I now remember about anything, that I can't find a single thing to correct or add—glancing through at least.
I will not say that you have wasted your time; but I may at least regret the quantity of trouble the book must have given you, and am, therefore, somewhat ashamedly, but very gratefully yours,
J. Ruskin.
R. H. Shepherd, Esq.
II.
Brantwood, Coniston,
Oct. 23, 1878.
Dear Mr. Shepherd: I am very deeply grateful to you, as I am in all duty bound, for this very curious record of myself. It will be of extreme value to me in filling up what gaps I can in this patched coverlid of my life before it is draped over my coffin—if it may be.
I am especially glad to have note of the letters to newspapers, but most chiefly to have the good news of so earnest and patient a friend.
Ever gratefully yours,
J. Ruskin.