'[Crabbe had sent Scott, who already had one, a set of his works - he explained later that he'd intended it for Mrs Scott. Scott responded to the present,] to say the truth the auxiliary copy arrived in good time for my original copy suffers as much by its general popularity among my young people as a popular candidate from the hugs and embraces of his democratical admirers. The cleanness and accuracy of your painting whether natural or moral renders I have often remarked your poetry generally delightful to those whose youth might render them insensible to the other poetical beauties with which they abound. There are a sort of pictures (surely the most valuable were it but for that reason) which strike the uninitiated as much as they do the connoisseur though the last alone can render the reasons for his admiration'.