UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

System Number: 12863
Date: [26 May 1883]^[1]
Author: JW
Place: [London]
Recipient: Oscar Wilde^[2]
Place: London
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler W1416
Document Type: ALS

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Impossible mon cher! -

I live but in the fields and am bitten by the sand fly of Putney^[3] -

Came to town for breath of fresh air this morning - return this evening but am back in time to receive you at breakfast [p. 2] tomorrow - Mind you are not late - every body will be charming -

[butterfly signature]

'J. McNeill Whistler to Oscar Wilde^[4]'

This document is protected by copyright.

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Envelope:

Oscar Wilde Esq
9. Charles Street
Grosvenor Square
[stamp:] POSTAGE AND INLAND REVENUE / ONE PENNY
[postmark:] CHELSEA / S. W. / 2 5 / MY 26 / 83
[postmark on verso:] LONDON - W / M 8 / MY 26 / 83

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Notes:

1.  [26 May 1883]
Dated from postmark.

2.  Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wilde (1854-1900), writer, critic and playwright [more].

3.  the sand fly of Putney
Perhaps a reference to Walter Theodore Watts (later Watts-Dunton) (1832-1914), solicitor, novelist and poet [more]. Watts lived with Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-1909), poet and critic [more] at The Pines, Putney Hill.

4.  J. McNeill Whistler to Oscar Wilde
Written at foot of letter in pencil in another hand.