Dear Sir

I am condemned to some weeks recumbency, lying like patience on a monument smiling on a broken knee-pan. I had the accident this day s[...] sevenight; but am calm, resigned & in most equal & good spirits. The pan, split in two, has been most skilfully reduced; & I have every prospect of a good good cure, but from the nature of the case, not a speedy recovery. I retain my ardour for our amusements & [...] employ my secretary fully & am swelling the arctic zoology to 4 M.S. volumes. may you & the Ladies¹ retain equal spirits in better health. The same wish attends M^r Storer.

Be so good as to give my son the sketch of the Lady’s head I sent to you.² He may get it, ascertaind, at I write on a portfolio on my sane knee. as the attitude is not very pleasing excuse more at present.

Adieu, D^r Sir
Y^rs most truely

T Pennant

Downing
April 13^th 1795

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Editorial notes

1. Elizabeth and Catherine Bull.
2. The sketch appears to have been one of the Hampton Court Beauties. See 1182 and 1183.

i. As in 1175, this may be a reference to Bull's efforts to illustrate his large paper Arctic zoology, vol. I, which included quadrupeds as well as birds.