The collection comprises 16 letters, which include 6 short undated notes, sent between 1835 and 1864. Leech's answer to a request for prints reveals his early contact with "Bradbury and Evans, the printers of Punch" (1835 Mar. 13). He sends Mr. Gibson a "work on the history of my country," hoping that it will not shock him "by so much absurdity in a collected form" (1848 Feb. 12); apologizes to Hall & Co. for the delay of the drawings for the "Crock of gold" (1849 Mar 28); invites Capt. F. Wilson to come with the illustrations, and he will give him "the best opinion in my power" (1853 Mar. 5); informs Mrs. Cooke that he has sent them a dinner invitation, and that Mrs. Leech will call upon her to make "the etiquette invitation" (1860 June 16) writes Arthur J. Lewis that he has another "party" for the series of "Tom Nobody," but would rather give him the preference if he wants it (1862 Jan. 25); apologizes to Mrs. Cooke for answering her letter late, because he was "pressed with work" (1862 June 14); writes to an unnamed person that he is not disposed to part with the drawings he has left, but a second sale of oil sketches is forthcoming. On the last page he sketched a woman's head and a man's head in top hat (1863 Nov. 22). The artist cannot accept a commission from Accidental Death Co. until next year, because he is "so pressingly occupied" (1863 Nov. 22); refuses another commission for same reason (1864 Feb. 24). Six short, undated notes comprise a dinner invitation to a friend; a ticket purchase for the Artists' Benevolent Fund; a note asking that his coloring instructions for the accompanying plate be respected; a request for "some wood immediately" to do his work for Punch; an excuse note for being "prostrated from influenza"; and a request for "a little drop of Poppy Oil."
