DILECTA 587

24. I must find room for a word or two more of Mr. Leslie’s, for the old floating castles as against steam; and then pass to matters more personal to me.

“MOIRA PLACE, Sept. 20th, 1886.

“I believe that the whole of the present depression in what is called trade is entirely due to the exaggerated estimate of the economy of steam, especially when applied to the production of real wealth upon the land; also to the idea that the wealth of the world is in any way increased by making a lawn tennis court of it, the world, and knocking goods to and fro as fast as possible across it by steam. No doubt I shall be told that I am quite out of my depth in this matter, and that France (a really selfsupporting country) is at least five hundred years behind the times. I won’t apologize for sending you enclosed, which, for the animal’s sake alone, I fear is true. The cutting is from the Times of the 18th:-

“A writer in the Revue Scientifique affirms that, from a comparison of animal and steam power, the former is the cheaper power in France, whatever may be the case in other countries. In the conversion of chemical to mechanical energy, 90 per cent. is lost in the machine, against 68 in the animal. M. Sanson, the writer above referred to, finds that the steam horse-power, contrary to what is generally believed, is often materially exceeded by the horse. The cost of traction on the Mount Parnasse-Bastille line of railway he found to be for each car, daily, 57 f., while the same work done by the horse cost only 47f.; and he believes that for moderate powers the conversion of chemical into mechanical energy is more economically effected through animals than through steam engines.”

25. The following two letters from Turner to Mr. W.B. Cooke,¹ which I find among various papers relating to his work given to me at various times, are of great interest in showing the number of points Turner used to take into consideration before determining on anything, and his strict sense of duty and courtesy. The blank line, of which we are left to conjecture the meaning, is much longer in the real letter:-

“Wednesday morning.

“DEAR SIR,-I have taken the earliest opportunity to return you the touched proof and corrected St. Michael’s Mount. I lament that your brother could not forward the Poole, or Mr. Bulmer the proof sheets, for if

¹ [The brothers W. B. and G. Cooke were the principal engravers, and also the publishers, of Picturesque Views on the Southern Coast of England, from drawings made principally by J. M. W. Turner, R.A. The first number, containing St. Michael’s Mount and Poole, appeared on January 1, 1814. The accompanying letterpress was by G. Combe (author of Dr. Syntax). Among the MS. material for Dilecta is a copy in Ruskin’s hand of Turner’s receipt for three of the Southern Coast drawings; the receipt is printed in The Cestus of Aglaia, § 104 (Vol. XIX. p. 148).]

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