Now this picture is just what I wanted—I was tired of a monotony of mildness: mildness of color—mildness of scenery, mildness of situation, mildness of circumstances—eternal peace, repose, comfort, absence of suffering—absence of sorrow, absence of excitement—a pallid, inane tranquility—as if that were all of life.

You have faithfully reproduced the splendid horror I had in my mind; &Ⓐemendation to me there is a satisfaction in these leaping flames & these ruddy waves, & the awful distress of these shipwrecked poor devils, which no amount of painted peace & pictured serenity can give—

This thing grows on me all the time—becomes more & more satisfying,Ⓐemendation more & more a delight to my eye—& when I say this, I can also say we instead of I—& thus speak for mother & all the household—

I should have written sooner but Xmas has been here—that busy season that comes but once a year & then tries to stay the rest of the generation—