Bakkehussamlingen

1 21 Upper Bedford Place
London W C 25 May 1881

2 My dear M.^me Jerichau
         I yesterday received the accompanying note from M^c Millan & […?] no think in forwarding it on to you. I regret that the Firm do not see their way to avail themselves of the opportunity of publishing a work with such varied information of an artistic, social & literary nature, as I should hope would // interest a large sphere of Readers. I have also received from [Mesd?] V the 3 copies of the numbers, which I shall retain, until you let me know, whether I should return them to you or send them on to other parties; and await your instructions[.]
I hope you & all yours are quite well – my nephew Andrew Donaldson and his wife & group are all returned home. I wish you had known them in Rome. // My sister Mary (M^rs Nicholson) has been very ill all this year 1881; & we have been most anxious about her. But she is somewhat better now, & we would hope [she] may still be spared to us. My sister Jane is very well & keeps us all alive by her energy & vivacity a[l]though 82!!
I am very well in health: but I feel my faculties failing me. My memory [is] almost gone & the others as // hearing, seeing, [is?] on the wane! Have I sent you the illustrated Critique on the Academy Exhibition of this year?
Adieu adieu dear Friend
         & believe me ever
         Y^r . attached
         Tho. L: Donaldson