The letter was written to a member of the Jewish family lived next door to the Burne-Jones's in Bennett's Hill, Birmingham. She had recently married and moved to London and Burne-Jones's object was to announce the safe return of an aunt who had been visiting her but scrupled to write herself on the Jewish Sabbath. The drawing shows Burne-Jones and his cat Tom, running to join the reunion. The reference to 'state affairs' and the signature - Edw. C.B. Jones Archp of Canterbury (elect)' are a joking reference to Burne-Jones's clerical ambitions at this date.

In Memorials vol I p. 43, Georgiana states "The illustration showes Edward, preceded by his faithful cat "Tom," running in to join the family welcome to Miss Lyon... The drawing in this letter is the first we have in which a sense of composition is visible. Hitherto his illustrations had been merely figures brought together without any appearance of design in their relation, but here the design is ingenious and tells it's tale. It must be remembered that he had as yet seen no beautiful drawing, and though the grotesque vigour of Cruikshank had evidently affected him, that was not the language for which he was seeking." Letter dated January 25th 1850.