John Thomas Hobbs was George Allen's brother-in-law and had been Ruskin's servant.
Written on stationery with the embossed letterhead "Sunnyside,/ Orpington,/ Kent."
Discussing the work on "Praeterita" and a new edition of "Stones of Venice"; asking Hobbs if he recalls anything from his travels with Ruskin in Italy and Switzerland, or if he still has his journals from that time, in order to help Ruskin in writing "Praeterita"; writing that there is curiosity about how Ruskin will handle the subject of his marriage in "Praeterita"; sendings news of his wife and children, particularly about their involvement in the publishing house; giving details about the print runs and specifications for the new "Stones of Venice", as well as discussing Wedderburn's Index to it and the financial arrangements behind that; hoping that Hobbs has recived the packet of books Allen sent and promising to send more.