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My Dear Sir
It was my intention long ere this to have answered your very kind letter, but my avocations have in a degree prevented my doing so until the present moment. I therefore embrace the present opportunity to [[thank ?]] you for the very flattering mention you made of my pictures, in your letter. I also regret that it was not in my power to send any of my works to your exhibition, as I had made a previous disposition of them if I live until next year I shall paint something especially for that purpose. I beg you to assure the gentlemen of "the National Academy," that it is not from any want of feeling toward their Interests that has influenced me in this respect; I wish them most sincerely and heartily all the success that their efforts to promote the arts deserve--you will probably hear of some disturbance in this quarter ere long. This [[underlined]] picture dealer [[/underlined]] from your City will most likely interfere with the interests of the artists in this quarter--[[underlined]] an officious Gentleman [[/underlined]]