Thomas Gainsborough letter to Elizabeth Rasse.

The addressee of the letter, Elizabeth Rasse, was Gainsborough's landlady in Ipswich from 1752 to 1759. The admiral is Edward Vernon (1684-1757), of Nacton, Suffolk. Gainsborough's portrait of Vernon is now in the National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG 881).
Written in black ink.
The sheet was previously folded, with small remnants of a wax seal.
Letters of Thomas Gainsborough, edited by Mary Woodall, no. 104
Letters of Thomas Gainsborough, edited by John Hayes no. 1
Hayes, John T. The landscape paintings of Thomas Gainsborough, v. 1, p. 61
"Madam, I call'd yesterday upon a friend in hopes of borrowing money to pay you, but was disapointed & as I shall finish the admiral's picture in a week you shall have it when I go to Nacton, will call & pay you at your new abode. I'm sorry it happens so but you know I can't make money any more than yourself & when I receive it you shall surely have it before anybody. Who am, Madm. Yours to Comd., Tho. Gainsborough. Thursday morning."