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-- me to undertake another picture of my own invention as a pendant to Marius. I have one or two subjects in mind. I hope & flatter myself to be able to accomplish these [[strikethrough]] projects [[/strikethrough]] views by next summer & will be anxious to return home immediately after -- I am much attached to this project & will lament my fortune if I am prevented from carrying it into effect --
   It is only a small part of the gallery that is yet arranged & where the pictures are placed & it is only a part of the Italian School that is placed the rest of the gallery may be finished this season so as to allow them to begin with placing the whole & when finished it will make a splendid figure I dare say, though not equal to the Vatican. 
   Mr. Gelston requested that I would give you some discription of the Picture of Marius but this I am little inclined to, indeed were I to attempt it I could not flatter myself with conveying correct notions & it would be foolish to attempt it, were I [[strikethrough]] more [[/strikethrough]] ever so versed in writing. all I will say is that it was very [[^badly]] placed at the exhibition here at 20 or 30 ft from the floor & in the very darkest light, but I was complimented with a medal, which however did not prevent me from remonstrating to the Director Mr. Denon, though to little effect. The picture met with more approbation in Rome [[^than]] I [[strikethrough]] could have [[/strikethrough]] expected & probably more than it deserved & I would have had courage to have undertaken a larger work if my means would have allowed me to remain