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I have not yet done much of the artists but now as the winter brings them together I hope to see more of them. A few Evenings ago I had the pleasure of a visit from Topham, and an old friend of Mr Bryants and [[Leupps?]] in Mr Field of Hampstead. I had a pleasant chat with Pyne last sunday. and found him hard at work.
  The standard of art here I think rather low, and is very much given to Mannerism--it might be called the Megilp school or rather I would call them the Megilpites - As for the preraphaelites they are simple copyists without much feeling for grace of design or poetry. the great Millais I expect to meet soon. I had a pleasant visit from Ruskin the other day [[too ??, &c??]]. 
   We are all very well here - and me, that is myself with Mrs. C. and my children enjoy the London [[h-]][[underscore]]air[[/underscore]]-- 
I am beginning to feel myself quite an Englishman and find myself touch on that unfortunate h. occasionally [[?]] [[?]] at the Royal Academy
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soiree. Mrs. C. joins me in all good wishes, and remembrances to Mrs Durand and your family. Please remember me to our academy circle. Yesterday a drawing of [[Duiness?]] sold at a public sale [[?]] [[?]], for 225 guineas - about [[72 80]] $. Size 17 1/2 by 11 1/4. There is now about 30 pictures of his now on exhibition at the Marlborough house - some of them are very fine.
very truly 
yours
J. F. Cropsey
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