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For this I wrote a special catalogue, a copy of which, should you not already have it, I will send you when I unpack further. On final study in Boston I came to the conclusion that some of them had been added by Japanese hands, but that some 80 were by Chinese artists before the Ming Dynasty, the best 40 showing at least four different hands, who must all have been priestly painters of the school of Ririomin before the 13th century. These best designs were probably taken from R's own work, and possibly two or three might be from his hand. The Boston show awakened so much interest that, when they were offered for sale and we were assured that the Japanese government would allow them to be sold, we raised $10,000 in the city to buy some of the finest. The price had been set at $2000 each, but, considering the number wanted and that they were for a museum, then were obtained. Doubtless you know them. They were selected by myself and the trustees. That this picture was not among those exhibited and, possibly, among those selected, was due to an accident. In assorting for the gallery three of the finest were by mistake put in the box with the rejected, and not discovered until the show was closed and repacking begun. It was then at the last, when the agent seemed much pleased at all the museum had done, that he urged upon me a present of money, which I promptly rejected. Lastly he urged that I accept one of the remaining pictures, to be selected by myself, and this too I rejected. But afterward, when, in speaking of it to the authorities, I found that they were not averse to my accepting a picture, I wrote to the agent, acquescing in his wish, and selected the present piece. It is by a well recognizable hand that executed some 15 of the best, among them several that were selected for the museum. It is among the finest in preservation, design and color. It surely dates from 12th century. Outside the museum collection it is unique in America. I am not sure whether two or three others were sold in Europe, but all the rest at least were carried back to Japan, where they were either ransomed by the government or otherwise restored to the temple, from which they are not likely to get away again. I do not believe that you will think the price I set upon such a rarety as too high. It throws a wonderful light on the pottery and other Chinese arts of the Sung, and down the