One of them, whom he lectured on the shortcomings of the Renaissance, was Dean Milman.

"I am amused at your mode of ciceronizing the Dean of St.
Paul's," wrote his father, who kept up the usual close correspondence, and made himself useful in looking up books of reference and consulting authorities like Mr.James Fergusson--for these chapters of easy eloquence were not written without a world of pains.

The engravers and the business department of the new publications also required his co-operation, for they were now becoming large ventures.

During the three and a half years preceding the summer of 1851 Ruskin seems to have spent L1,680 of profits from his books, making by his writings at this period only about a third of his annual outlay; so that the estimated cost of these great illustrated volumes, some L1,200, was a matter of anxiety to his father, who, together with the publisher, deprecated large plates and technical details, and expressed some impatience to see results from this visit to Venice.

He looked eagerly for every new chapter or drawing as it was sent home for criticism.