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Memoirs and Letters of the late Thomas Seddon, Artist. By his Brother, (London: James Nisbett, 1858), p.9-10.
Letter from Thomas Seddon (1850).
Barbisson, Wednesday.
My Dear J ,—. . . The forest is now becoming most beautiful with the autumn tints, which are coming very rapidly from the hot sun. I have not had a single wet day since my arrival. We now, as it is full moon, take a walk every evening either in the forest or among the rocks. I wish you were with us. The effects are much more beautiful than during the day; among the rocks and sand especially it is most mysterious. Last night we went to a cavern about a mile and a half off. We thought we would illuminate it; so we cut branches of pine, stuck them all round, and lighted them, and began to brew a bowl of punch by torchlight; but unfortunately we forgot the smoke, and were obliged to retreat to the rocks outside. What with the torches and our outlandish costumes, we looked a most awful set of banditti; and being all armed with pikes to climb over the rocks, we were passably picturesque as we sate in a circle round the naming bowl. I must tell you the cause of our jollification. The Government intended to cut down the greater part of the Bas Breau, the oldest part of the forest, and close to the village, and to replant it with young trees. All the trees were marked, and the destruction was to have begun soon ; however, the artists represented that it was invaluable for the landscape painters of France, and authentic news arrived last night that it was to be spared. I have been painting in oil every day, and I hope making a little progress, but it is slow work.—Your affectionate brother,
Thomas Seddon.
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