you might add Wanstead, Wimbledon, Holland House, and a hundred others—many with very curious anecdotes of local and personal history connected with them.
Perhaps I overrate the interest with which such a book would be read. I certainly do not, if it would equal that, with which I myself read the account of places in the neighbourhood of Paris, remarkable in history, but the traces of which—many of which at least—are fast fading away; such as
| Maisons, | Sceaux, |
| Meudon, | Chantilli, |
| &c. | &c. |
Hampton Court, the ancient Palace at Richmond, Kew, &c. &c. might enter into the work.
Very truly yours,
Robert Peel.
The County Histories would form a substratum for the work—but every thing would depend upon the liveliness and accuracy of the details.
The late J. M. W. Turner, Esq. R.A.
Sir,—As it appears from the public Prints that the late eminent artist, J. M. W. Turner, never sat for his Portrait;—and the only likenesses of him were taken by stealth, I send you a rude sketch which I took of him in the same way, about the year 1805 or 6. He was then on a visit at Mr. Fawkes's, of Farnley, where a number of grouse shooters had assembled,—and Turner had adopted the garb of a sportsman. His appearance, as well as his exploits on the moors, were the subject of much mirth.