Charlotte Street
Tuesday morning
Sirs,
Mr Branston has applied to me on
your account to make some designs from the Farmer's Boy and, presuming that he
has your authority for the application, I have furnished him with one to begin.
I have no doubt of his executing them very well. I write this particularly for
the purpose of advising you to reject the present frontispiece and to substitute
a new one, because the Poem all thro is a simple and faithful picture of English
scenery and English character, and the figure of the Farmer's Boy, wherever
introduced in the illustrations should be an English figure and not a piping
shepherd of Arcadia. But I doubt not you have observed further, that the present
frontispiece, tho' skilfully engraved, is not contrived for printing with
effect. I shall expect your reply on this point. [1]
The plate I designed for Mr Branston and which I understand you have purchased, is from a
manuscript of mine which I shall be glad to dispose of as soon as finished or to
publish thro' your hands and take a due share of the results.
I am sir
Yr most obedt. Servt
W.M. Craig