“Fire. A Vulcan forging a Thunderbolt in the attitude of striking with his anvil & Hammer, some pieces of Iron or coals or anything peculiar to a Blackmith’s Shop to be scatter’d about.
“Water. A Naiad crown’d with rushes, leaning with her arm on an urn from whence gushes out Water. In the other hand she holds a fishing Net, with Fishes enclos’d in it, the ground ornamented with rushes, shells, Fish or the Fancies peculiar to Water.
“Earth. An Husbandman digging with a spade a Baskett fill’d with Implements of Husbandry on ye Ground. The ground ornamented, with corn, acorns or Fruits.
“Air. A Winged Zephyr crown’d with Flowr’s treding on clouds, which rise naturally about him, his robes flowing & flying behind him he holds in one Hand a Branch of a Tree, if any ornaments behind are wanting, some Cherubim’s heads blowing would not be amiss.
“The Seasons
“Spring. A Nymph with a Coronet of Flow’rs on her head in Flowing Robes rather flying behind her, approaching with a smiling countenance as she advances the flow’rs appear to start up before her those at her feet higher those at a distance, which seems to be just Budding out, on the side after a Plough or Harrow, which she points to with one Hand, and with the other holds a small open Baskett fill’d with Seeds which she offers, from the Baskett falls a kind of Zone or Belt, on which are represented, the sign of the Zodiac Aries Taurus Germinæ.
“Summer. A man in the Prime of Life, loosely dress’d with a Bakt round his Body, on which are represented the Signs of the Zodiac Cancer Leo Virgo APs a shear (made use of in shearing Sheep) in one hand, and with the other Supports a Baskett of wool on his shoulders—on the Ground a scythe with Trusses of Hay schatter’d about.
“Autumn. A Matron with a kind of Coronet on her head, from whence spring Ears of Corn. Her robes not so flow as spring being of a graver Cast, in one Hand a Sickle, she leans on a Thyrsis round which are twin’d Baskett of grapes,[96] & a Zone or Belt falling from it, on which are represented the three signs of ye Zodiac, Libra, Scorpia, Sagittarius, the grounds she treads on full of Corn, & on a side of her a Baskett of fruit overturn’d.
“Winter. A Descriped old man his head bald and a Long Beard leaning a Staff under one arm a Bundle of Sticks, his robe schatter’d and clasp’d with a Belt, on which are represented The three signs of the Zodiac, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, the ground cover’d with bare branches of Trees, Frost & Snow & icicles hanging down in different Places.
“All these figures to be about 10 Inches high. After having seen the Derby Figures I did not recommend Ease & Elegance in the Shape & dress, but the latter I shall just mention as the antique Robes, are very easy and have a Propriety which is not to be met with in foreign Dresses, & as these figures are of a serious cast I think such dresses will carry woth them a greater Elegance, I shall be oblig’d to you to carry the designs into Execution as soon as possible, &c.”