‘My dear Mr. Rogers,—I write you this letter at the request of an esteemed countryman and friend of mine, Mr. Chester Harding, who is one of our most distinguished portrait painters. Some years ago he was in London and painted the Duke of Sussex with great success. He wishes now to paint one or two persons whose portraits at the annual exhibition of the Academy would, if successful, bring him favourably before the public. He has enlisted my selfishness in his cause, by promising me the portraits after they have been exhibited. I have given him a letter for this purpose to Lord Aberdeen, and to no other person besides yourself.
‘I am, of course, aware, as is Mr. Harding, of the immense inconvenience to you of sitting for your portrait, and I assure you that neither on his own account nor my own shall I be either surprised or hurt if you promptly decline.
‘The only inducement I can hold out to you, in addition
to those motives which your kind-heartedness will suggest, is that of rendering
me, individually, an inestimable favour, and then the consideration that you
will put it into my power to enrich my countrymen with a portrait of one whose
name and fame they are spreading through the continent of America. I suppose
there is no painting of you in the United States. Are we not
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‘I am sorry to hear that Miss Rogers’s health has not been very good of late. Pray, when you see her, remember us all most kindly to her.
‘I hope there is foundation for the report in the newspapers that the plunder of your bank is to be restored. Happy the man to whom the loss and the restoration of such a sum are of so little consequence.
‘Believe me ever, my dear Mr. Rogers, with sincere affection, faithfully yours,
