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Philadelphia July 28th 1838
Archer B. Durand

My D^r Liv
Your little picture came safe to hand 
in due time, (I am pleased with it) and now
that I hope we are friends will you pardon
a liberty which I am about to take in the way
of a little advice. It is from one who has
had much experience, and intended in friendship,
   It is on the utility of varnish, or rather its
inutility- I consider it as the greatest curse
which the arts have ever had to complain of
It is the foundation cause of all mischief, the
mildew and kanker worm which has prayed upon and
destroyed two thirds, nay I may say nine tenths of all the best pictures in exhistance. But it is still more mischievous when applied to a new picture, as it locks up the [[searn?]] of fermentation thrown upon the surface of it while drying and which continues to blacken and viciate the whole surface so long as it remains upon it. It never dries