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exhibition at Venice, and is not expected here until about January 1st. If the picture were at home, I would invite you to come here and see it before determining whether or not to purchase the portrait of Mrs. Prinsep, still, its reproduction in the Duret book will show you how much greater in strength it is than the Mrs. Prinsep. In this connection, I might add that I paid for the "Arrangement in Black and White, No. 1." more than twice the price asked for the Mrs. Prinsep. I consider the portrait worthy of almost any collection of art, but I do not feel that it represents Mr. Whistler at his best; but we must bear in mind that very few representative examples of his work are likely to come into the market again, and the finer ones will fetch in the open market, five times the price asked for the Mrs. Prinsep. I regretted very much that the quality of the picture did not appeal more keenly to me. If it had, I should have either bought it for myself, or communicated with you about it.

I thank you for your kind invitation to a call upon yourself and Mrs. Benedict at your home in New York, and I shall give myself the pleasure of doing so at the first opportunity.

After the first of the coming year, the changes now being made in my house, will be finished, and I trust that shortly thereafter, I may have the pleasure of welcoming yourself and