Thomas Woolner letter to John Frederick Lewis, 1875 January 17

"Jan 17 '75. My dear Mr Lewis, It is all very well to say "do not answer this"; but I have too good a sense of my privileges to obey such an injunction. In the "Apocrypha" I remember reading in the days of my youth - "If thou knowest a wise man let thy feet wear his doorstep"; - but as I cannot do this I may help to wear out his door-knocker. Since my return from Venice my time has been wholly taken up or I should have thanked you before for your most kind and cordial letter as to my election. I have, as I said, always had a shrinking from honours and Committees, but now I am in the charmed circle, however I may have got there, I must say that it is most gratifying to find the hearty and friendly way in which I have been welcomed by the members; indeed they could not have more clearly shown their satisfaction; with, of course, the exception of the sculptors, who looked sourly as usual, tho' to them I am always as amiable as one being can be to another in ordinary life. I must confess that if your resolution holds good of not attending any meetings at the R.A. any more one of the main attractions will be gone; and I shall feel as the Liberals now feel at losing the leadership of their beloved Gladstone. But whatever you do in withdrawing from society if it helps to get more work from you I think you may well be forgiven. - I wonder what lovely ladies and romantic slaves amid oriental gloom and splendour you are bringing into life for our delight this year! My wife brought one very little lady into life while I was away in Verona, making four daughters, as well as two sons. - So you see, I must work hard to keep all these mouths at work. Ever most truly yours, T. Woolner." See: Thomas Woolner, R.A., sculptor and poet, page 302.