Artist Benjamin West Writes About The Deaths Of Close Family Members And Refuses Other Family Financial Aid: There Is No One On Earth That Loves Their Relations Better Than Myself But It Is High Times For Me Now To Know That Self Preservation Is The First Law Of NatureI Am In A Delicate State Of Health

BENJAMIN WEST (1738-1820). West was an American artist known for his large historical paintings, such as The Death of General Wolfe. He moved to England in 1763, and George III appointed him the court painter. He was the second president of the Royal Academy. ALS. 3pg. 8 x 12 . September 17, 1818. Newhouse. A lengthy autograph letter signed B West to Mrs. Babcock of London; this is most likely Martha Babcock, granddaughter of the American painter John Singleton Copley who lived the last decades of his life in London. The artist wrote: I am happy to find that you are arrived safe and I trust in good health. It is with great regret that I am under the painful necessity of telling you that poor Betsy and John are removed from this miserable world, the former departed this transitory life in Novbr 1817 the latter in March 1818 after three days illness in consequence of breaking a blood vessel. Poor Betsy was worn to a skeleton they both left this world with full assurance of being in a more happy state tis impossible for me to describe what I have had to undergo dear Mrs. West is inconsolable and in a very dangerous state of health she has taken a small cottage 30 miles from this place and sees no person except Lady Pole and myself. We visit her occasionally theand that part of the House is shut up as he breathed his last in that room in her Arms. His dear remains are under our Pew in Colyton Church. I can say no more at present as it brings to mind the most melancholy scene that ever was witnessed you shall know particulars in a future letter. I hope my dear Harriet will summon all her fortitude at the unfortunate event it is a debt we must all pay. I am well assured that they are in a much happier state as they has said and hope in a blessed Redeemer. After this tale of woe I am not very equal to the task of writing on business but I know it is necessary to answer your Letter relative to the American business. In the first place I must tell you that I have received Mr. Thomass letter wherein he desires me in positive terms to come to yours immediatelycan you suppose for a moment that I should post off to Town to meet a person that I do not know or ever heard of, I thought you knew me better. I shall not think of meeting or corresponding with any Person or the subject till I am well assured that the property can be sold and to be ascertained to me with precision what the value is and who is to be the purchaser and how the money is to be paid as I do not mish my name on anyBooks therefore in future I hope I shall not receive any more letters on the subject till I am fully satisfied. I am in hourly expectation of seeing an eminent lawyer from London a friend of L.P. I shall consult him and show him all my documents you know my dear Harriet that my father did not mention you in his will but left his property to his three unmarried daughters therefore what you claim was a free gift from us. My expenses have been very great payingBetsy postage of Letter attorney bill for making out Power, that were never intended that it is not in my Power to pay anything in future or can I ask my friends to assist me to pay for LettersI have a great horror of Lodgings and nothing but dire necessity would make me enter one particularly of low order thereforeThere is no one on Earth that loves their relations better than myself but it is high times for me now to know that self preservation is the first law of natureI am in a delicate state of health. The letter has mailing folds, dark ink and short fold separations; the condition is very fine.