Page:Life of William Blake, Gilchrist.djvu/215

 of his cousin and heir, Captain Godfrey, to strangers. The place was dismantled and the effects sold. Among other things, these temperas, so interesting in their original position, were dispersed. Like most of Blake's 'temperas' and 'frescoes,' they are blistered and cracked, and have not been improved by exposure to dust and gas; but they bear the unmistakable Blake impress. The head of Cowper I remember as one of the most interesting, and the accompanying vignette, with its hint of landscape, in which appears Cowper's favourite dog, as being in Blake's best manner. They are all now in the possession of Mr. William Russell.

During the execution of this congenial task Blake reports progress, in joyous mood, to Hayley, then absent on a visit to friends:—