“Derby, Feby. 7th 1786.
To J. Daulby, Jun.
“Dear Sir,
“By the time this reaches you, I hope ‘Julia’ will be near her journey’s end. I sincerely hope she will arrive in good condition, and that ‘Abraham’ and ‘Isaac’ will not be found to have lain too hard upon her. I did everything in my power to keep her untouched and spotless. I should have sent the picture off sooner, but the week the man who I trust to pack my pictures was out, and the 2nd Shawcross, after promising me to take it, neglected it. ’Tis directed to Mr. Tate, and to go by land carrier.
“I am persuaded by my friends to take the fashionable tour of the Lakes next Autumn. I sounded my dear friend Tate upon the scheme, but have not heard from him since. If we go your company will be a happy addition, but I would have the party small, none engaged in it but draftsmen, for reasons too obvious to need mentioning.
“I am,
“Dear Sir, with much esteem,
“Yours very sincerely,
“JOSH. WRIGHT.
“Danl Daulby, Jun., Esqr
“Liverpool.”
“Derby, March 25th 1786.
“Dear Sir,
“I was sorry to be informed by our friend Tate of your indisposition, and that you are still, by your own accts. a cripple. Dr. Darwin, a very eminent physician of this town, is very much disposed to gout, and he told me while he continued in the use of wine he was affected with it. He left it off, and drank nothing but ale and small beer. Still he had fits of it, but much weakened. He then disused ale, drank nothing but small beer, still he had a little gout about him. He has for some time past drank nothing but water, and now he has no gout at all. If this practice does not coincide with your opinion, I know your good sense will excuse me taking the liberty of mentioning to you, as your well-being is the sole motive.
“To Danl Daulby, Esqr
“Liverpool.”
“Derby, Oct 5th 1786.
“Dear Sir,
“Mr. Smith gives this discription, which I have just received, of the parts of your little picture:—‘The view is on the shore of Posilipo in particular. The houses nearest in view form part of the village of Mare Chiare, a place much frequented by the lower class of people in Naples to spend the summer evenings. They generally go by water, and are regaled with hard eggs & good Falernian wine (the usual repast brought from the neighbourhood of Pozzouli). The other house or palazzo on the Hill in the distance is called the pallace of 9 windows, but is inhabited only by servants. When you see my good friend Turner make my best regards to him, and say how much I am obliged to him & his friend Mr Whiatt for his accurate account of Shakespear’s scenes. I am, dear sir, with much regards,
“Yours,
“J. WRIGHT.
“To Danl. Daulby, Esqre.”
“Derby, Sep 4th 1787.
“Dear Sir,
“How welcome are the good tidings of returning health to my dear Tate, which you have so kindly communicated to me. May heaven speedily restore him to his former health & vigour. No disease more compleatly debilitates the frame than a nervous or putrid fever; and, if I have observed right, there is none, considering the state the body is reduced to, from which it is sooner reinstated. His premeditated attack upon the cold roast beef was, I think, a very favourable presage of the above observation. I sincerely hope he made an excellent repast, and feels the good effect of it. Make my love to him with every good wish for his felicity, in which this family most cordially joins with me, and hope to have the pleasure of seeing him here when convenient to him. I am going for ten days (if it agrees with me) to Matlock. The Baths served me some time ago, but from a particular circumstance, being obliged to ride four & twenty miles the day I left, which so fatigued me, my complaints returned upon me, nor can I wear them off.
“’Tis now almost four months since I touched a pencil. Have no particular complaint but general debility, which has reduced me to so torpid a state I feel no inclination to pursue my art.
“I am, Dear Sir,
“Your most obedient servt
“JOSH WRIGHT.
“Mr Jno Leigh Philips,
“Manchester.”
“5 May, 1789.
“My Dear Sir,
“I did not intend fixing a price upon my pictures in the Exhibition till I got to Town, but having just received a letter from Mr. Heath to know if the picture of the ‘Dead Soldier’ was disengaged, and what value I set upon it, it becomes necessary at once to fix the prices of those you enquire after, and to have your answer by return of post, as I must answer Mr. Heath’s letter. The picture of the ‘Dead Soldier,’ framed, 100gs. ‘Boy and Girl with a Bladder,’ 50gs. ‘Girl with a Charcoal Stick,’ 40gs.
“I am very happy it was in my power to afford you and your friends rational entertainment while with me. The felicity was mutual, believe me; and that I am very sincerely yours,
“JOSH WRIGHT.
“St. Ellens,
“5 May, 1789.
“My best compliments attend the ‘Triumvirate,’ in which Mrs. Wright begs to join.”