Transcript: First etchings Letter
First Etchings
Arbroath
Aug 25th ‘06
My dear Mother there is absolutely no news but no doubt you would like a letter. I had a letter from Enfield the other day He sent me a print of a photograph which he took of me when I was there. I should think it is an excellent likeness and is awfully well done. Unfortunately I haven’t an envelope big enough to take it but I will send it on in the course of a day or so. I haven’t told you yet that we don’t dress for dinner so that I haven’t felt the want of my dinner coat yet. But all the same they are a long while doing it. I should like to trot off to Kilockon for a few days in the middle of the term. I expect I shall be glad of a holiday – it’s a long time from now till Xmas!! I am sending you a print of my first and (so far) only etching. It was left in the acid rather too long and is over bitten. Which accounts for the lines being thick and heavy. Only two prints were taken of it. This is the best one. The ink hasn’t been very well cleaned off the plate before printing which makes it look a bit dark. But on the other hand [the] it suits the heavy lines better. Etching is a dreadful business the drawing is the least part of it and one has to have an immense amount of paraphernalia. Lamps, screens, needles, varnishes, inks, burnishers, a press for printing, acids and baths and goodness knows what besides. I am getting more used to oils but it is slow work. Harcourt makes one get one part absolutely right before going any further. There is no hoping it will come right in the 2nd coat because there aint going to be no second coat!!
Have been playing golf this morning being Saturday and am going with the Harcourts to see a swimming match this aft. The Bishop of Brechin has invited me and H’s to tea next Tuesday aft. We are all going. We are having a good deal of wet showery weather for this part of the country. But the air is always more or less fresh and makes one ravenously hungry. Have sent uncle C. a PC of this place about a week ago. Must write to Chapman and Enfield tomorrow. With much love. I have had to be moved out of my bedroom today as it is the only spare room for visitors and one is coming tonight, so now I am about 60, or 70 feet up in the Tower, in a very nice room, very dry and airy and a fine view and prospects of plenty of exercise!! Have you got the James’s with you yet? Hope you are all right again. Your letter is up in the Tower. Hope there was nothing to be answered.
Love Brian.
PS Tell dad I am doing alright with his Jack White driver.
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