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I heartily thank you for the honor of being permitted to place your carte-de-visite, with autograph attached, in Album - I was somewhat conversant with your portrait from engraved pictures - and was desirous for your photograph as the representation of the most truly eminent Painter among the woman artists of our country or age - and yet, did not a portrait show beauty, the beauty which envisions genius, purity & gentleness of soul, I could not indeed find it - your actual photograph fully meets my anticipation or expectation - and seems to almost whisper of those wonderous creations of beauty & thought which your hand was alone capable of tracing upon the canvas. -
 
I can indeed reciprocate the flattering wish that we were "personally acquainted" - Thereby my mind would profit from occasional apreciation with 

one so preeminently endowed with loftiest atributes of genius. I appreciate the great honor conveyed in your kind invitation to visit your studio in New York - I regret that I can not avail myself of this pleasure, as I shall most probably be at the City present season. Last Autumn I was in New York, and vicinity, for few days - had pleasant interview with several eminent literary & scientific men, Artists, etc. who were previous correspondents;- I could not presume in calling upon a person so pre-eminent in their profession as yourself to claim any portion of their valuable time - without, at least, [illegible] correspondents. - You suggest a wish that I should "criticise" a large Painting in which you are now engaged. I am fully concious that I could not criticise, or find deficiencies, in a work of yours - but I shall be gratified in seeing the picture, - what is the subject of the Painting? 

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-12-31 19:07:42 There are 4 [[?]] left. I have tried to figure them out. The rest of the words are found and make sense. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-01 14:09:17 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-01 18:58:47