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                                   Florence Italy, July 20th 1851
My dear Humphreys
     I had hoped by the time this will reach you in Paris that the Cicero Sticks which you had the kindness to propose to [[^harden? in person]] "Old Hal," would also be at hand; - but the [[fa?]], or rather the impossibility with our materials, of cutting bassrelieve on that particular stone renders it otherwise -- Mr Powers told me that he would help me out with it, if it could be done, - he loaned me his vice and some tools to begin with, so I began might and main on Mr Clay, but found the particles in the stone so much harder that the steel, I gave it up in despair & got Mr Galt to try Ciaro, but he could do nothing with it - so I will have small dagerreotypes taken from the two busts and sent to Saulini at Roma - he is an exquisite artist in Cameo, & can cut them with emory which no one