Acquired with other letters from George Allen, which have been catalogued separately; see collection level record for more information (MA 2547.1-4).
Addressed from "Sunnyside, Orpington, Kent".
John Thomas Hobbs was George Allen's brother-in-law and had been Ruskin's servant.
Transcription available in the Collection File.
Reporting on Ruskin's mental health ("he is now better again but has had several serious attacks this year"); discussing the success of the "large 'Stones of Venice'", details of the re-publication that year of "Examples of the Architecture of Venice", the preparations necessary for the forthcoming publication of "Modern Painters", the sales figures for "Seven Lamps of Architecture", the progress of Ruskin's ongoing work on "Praeterita", and the terms of the agreement between Ruskin and Allen, which had been formally drawn up by Ruskin's lawyer the previous spring; quoting in full two letters from Ruskin to Alllen's daughter Grace, about his mental illness and about reviewing the proofs of his Oxford lectures; sending news of his wife, children, and other family members; promising to send parcels of books; writing of the pleasure he takes in bicycle rides, "I have my own special tricycle...I enjoy a run immensely myself and can do 30 or 40 miles without a break".