1. Mr van Gogh had visited Vincent in Dordrecht on Friday, 16 February. On 19 February he wrote to Theo: ‘Last Friday I arrived home safely and found everyone well. From 2-6 o’clock I was with Vincent. He was already waiting for me at the railway station, and he was given time off for as long as I was there. Again I received a very favourable impression of
Mr Braat. He is certainly an upright and amiable man. Together we visited
Rev. Keller van Hoorn, who received us so charmingly. Then we went to his lodging-house for a little while. We also saw the museum with paintings by
Ary Scheffer, extremely beautiful. Then we walked for a bit – and ate together, steak and potatoes and a glass of beer for 1.90 guilders for two, it was really good there. Dordrecht is positively beautiful. You must also go there some time, for I fear that Vincent does not have enough money at present to go and visit you. You could do it sometime on a Sunday. But then you should write to him in advance. Then you and he would have a pleasant day. I did my best to press some money into Vincent’s hand – but he won’t have anything to do with it. He had to pay 9 guilders to have his trunk sent from England, so he won’t have anything left over for a while. He really is such a good fellow, I enjoyed his company, and at the museum he was really in his element’ (FR b2507).