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LEAR EDWARD: (1812-1888) English Artist, Illustrator and Poet. A.L.S., Edward Lear, four pages, 8vo, Villa Emily, Sanremo, 22nd October 1876, to 'My dear Constance'. Lear states that he should have replied to his correspondent's letter earlier although 'I saw the terrible calamity at Bangor announced in the papers, & I thought you would all have more than enough to think of without worrying over letters from this child' and continues to enquire if it was the eldest son of a mutual friend who perished, commenting 'Somehow, in our inconsistent & vague ways of thought, it seems a slight comfort that his poor Father was removed before this happened. But, coming so soon after Arthur's death, the blow to his poor widow must have been most hard to bear. If you can tell me anything about them you will do me a kindness'. He further discusses the health of his correspondent's mother and father before remarking 'No, Miss: English air would not do me no good: no, not at all. English smoke, English Eastwind, English climate of any sort - far be it from me during the now short time I have to live! I say short - for I am 65 next May - & 70 is the universal doom'. Lear also makes reference to a collection of signatures, 'And now - about the Autographs - I have heard that a family of "Hooks" are coming here this winter, & "someone said" they are Dean Hooks people. If this be so, could they carry back the 800 autographs? Though I would far rather your mother & you & any amount of you would come & fetch them' and continues to write of his garden and house and present condition, 'I weary exceedingly of living so much alone - tho' I don't see how it is to be helped, - & after all.....it seems to me that patience & waiting are what we ought most particularly to cultivate. Just now I am not especially lively, as my dear good old servant, who for 21 years has been so faithful always, - is far from well. He has never got over the dreadful blow of his wife, mother's and brother's deaths nearly at once: - & he changes much. I have let him have his 2nd son here - since all those distresses happened & that helps him: little enough for me to do to so long tried & good a man. (I say long tried advisedly:- for my temper was always abominable, though I hope less so than formerly.' Some light overall age wear and creasing, the edges of the letter a little worn and with some small tears, only very slightly affecting the text, but not the signature, G