Mr. Holford I wrote to a second time; this has brought him to town, and he has seen and approves, in the most satisfactory way, of the picture, and leaves me to order such a frame as I think best suited to it. Mr. Vernon I have also seen. He regrets that he did not give me an order for the Columbus; but is willing to order a picture of that size and character, and would prefer a female to be in it. Whether the Mary Stuart would do is a question, still it is new, and I am keeping it in mind.

Mr. Niewunhuys called some days ago, to give me a book he has just written and published in English, A Character of the different Masters in Art, and is remarkable for a document he has copied from the Administration Office of Insolvent Debtors at Amsterdam, anno 1556, containing an Inventory of the Paintings and Household Furniture of Rembrandt Van Rhyn, sold by order of the Commissioners to satisfy a claim for 4180 guilders advanced by Burgomaster Cornelius Witsen, on a mortgage on his property. The particulars of this affair would interest Mr. Knighton and yourself extremely, as a melancholy comment upon cotemporary rewards, reminding one of the fate of Scott, and of what Lawrence barely escaped from. Among the items of the inventory are a number of books, filled with drawings by Rembrandt.

D.W.

TO MISS WILKIE.

Ditton Park, 15th Jan. 1835.

The chaise brought us here before 11 o'clock, when the van was at the door, and all here were ready to receive me. The first thing was the choice of a room; a high light, and a tolerable size, were indispensable. I fixed on one that had not been thought of, which we found perfectly adapted ; began the picture; had two sittings yesterday, and three to-day, and in the opinion of the family successful.

If Mr. Holford has not written, you will please send the enclosed by post to him. In the cleaning of the room do take care the pictures receive no hurt by resting against one another.

D. W.

Jan. 16th.

Have had two more sittings: the head all painted in; a good-looking head, and thought like.

During the latter part of last year and the commencement of this, Wilkie had dropped or declined almost all correspondence with the pen, and applied himself most sedulously to his pencil. He executed two whole-lengths of King William and Queen Adelaide for the embassy at Paris, on which he was much embarrassed by the interposition of officials, who, it appears, were doubly dilatory in all matters of art. On the Columbus he directed all his strength;

he studied the composition with great care, wrought the whole into a clear consistent story, and, adding five other pictures to it, sent the whole six to the Exhibition. They were exhibited in the following order:-1. Christopher Columbus submitting the Chart of his Voyage for the Discovery of the New World to the Spanish Authorities: 2. The First Earring: 3. Portrait of Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington in the dress he wore on active service: 4. Sancho Panza in the days of his youth: 5. Portrait of Sir James M'Grigor, Bart., Director-General of the Army Medical Department: 6. Portrait of the late Rev. Edward Irving. Of these the Columbus, the First Ear-ring, and the Sir James M'Grigor, were the best; indeed, the artist never excelled them in truth and originality, either in character or colour. The idea of the Columbus was found in the Life of that calmest and ablest of all discoverers, by Washington Irving. "A stranger travelling on foot," says the accomplished biographer, "accompanied by a boy, stopped one day at the gate of a convent of Franciscan friars, and asked for bread and water to his child. Friar Juan Perez de Marchena, happening to pass, was struck with the appearance of the stranger, and observing, from his air and accent, that he was a foreigner, entered into conversation with him:-that stranger was Columbus." The conference which followed, remarkable for opening a brighter prospect in the fortunes of Columbus, forms the subject of the picture; he is represented seated at the convent table, with the Prior on his right, to whom he is submitting a chart of his contemplated voyage.

TO MISS WILKIE.

Ditton Park, 15th Jan. 1835.

The chaise brought us here before 11 o'clock, when the van was at the door, and all here were ready to receive me. The first thing was the choice of a room; a high light, and a tolerable size, were indispensable. I fixed on one that had not been thought of, which we found perfectly adapted; began the picture; had two sittings yesterday, and three to-day, and in the opinion of the family successful.

If Mr. Holford has not written, you will please send the enclosed by post to him. In the cleaning of the room do take care the pictures receive no hurt by resting against one another.

D. W.

Jan. 16th.

Have had two more sittings: the head all painted in; a good-looking head, and thought like.

During the latter part of last year and the commencement of this, Wilkie had dropped or declined almost all correspondence with the pen, and applied himself most sedulously to his pencil. He executed two whole-lengths of King William and Queen Adelaide for the embassy at Paris, on which he was much embarrassed by the interposition of officials, who, it appears, were doubly dilatory in all matters of art. On the Columbus he directed all his strength;

he studied the composition with great care, wrought the whole into a clear consistent story, and, adding five other pictures to it, sent the whole six to the Exhibition. They were exhibited in the following order:-1. Christopher Columbus submitting the Chart of his Voyage for the Discovery of the New World to the Spanish Authorities: 2. The First Earring: 3. Portrait of Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington in the dress he wore on active service: 4. Sancho Panza in the days of his youth: 5. Portrait of Sir James M'Grigor, Bart., Director-General of the Army Medical Department: 6. Portrait of the late Rev. Edward Irving. Of these the Columbus, the First Ear-ring, and the Sir James M'Grigor, were the best; indeed, the artist never excelled them in truth and originality, either in character or colour. The idea of the Columbus was found in the Life of that calmest and ablest of all discoverers, by Washington Irving. "A stranger travelling on foot," says the accomplished biographer, "accompanied by a boy, stopped one day at the gate of a convent of Franciscan friars, and asked for bread and water to his child. Friar Juan Perez de Marchena, happening

pass, was struck with the appearance of the stranger, and observing, from his air and accent, that he was a foreigner, entered into conversation with him:-that stranger was Columbus." The conference which followed, remarkable for opening a brighter prospect in the fortunes of Columbus, forms the subject of the picture; he is represented seated at the convent table, with the Prior on his right, to whom he is submitting a chart of his contemplated voyage.