'I should like much to address a song ode or sonnet to the authoress of Marriage &c and if I do it shall be to her as the sister of David Wilkie. Never was there such a painter as she is (if a she it be of which I have strong doubts) Sir W Scott's portraits are sometimes more strongly defined but they are not more unique and rarely or never so humourous [sic]. He can paint an individual well the hero of the story But can he paint a group like the family of the fairbairns? No I defy him or any [italics] man [end italics] alive save David Wilkie as for [italics] women [end italics] there's no saying what [italics] they [end italics] can do when men and children are the objects. In short if the author of MARRIAGE and THE INHERITANCE be a woman I am in love with her and I authorise you to tell her so.' [the letter has a postscript: 'You have sent the two [italics] first [end italics] vols of The Inheritance and I want the [italics] third [end italics] I return one']