“But what a damper is thrown upon my enthusiasm when I find that, the moment when all the treasures of art are before me, just within my reach; that advantages to the artist were never greater than now; Paris with all its splendid depository of the greatest works but a day or two’s journey from me, and open to my free inspection,—­what a damper, I say, is it to find that my three years’ allowance is just expired; that while all my contemporary students and companions are revelling in these enjoyments, and rapidly advancing in their noble studies, they are leaving me behind, either to return to my country, or, by painting portraits in Bristol, just to be able to live through the year.  The thought makes me melancholy, and, for the first time since I left home, have I had one of my desponding fits.  I have got over it now, for I would not write to you in that mood for the world.  My object in stating this is to request patronage from some rich individual or individuals for a year or two longer at the rate of L250 per year.  This to be advanced to me, and, if required, to be returned in money as soon as I shall be able, or by pictures to the amount when I have completed my studies....  If Uncle Salisbury or Miss Russell could do it, it would be much more grateful to me than from any others....

“The box containing my plaster cast I found, on enquiry, is still at Liverpool where it has been, to my great disappointment, now nearly a year.  I have given orders to have it sent by the first opportunity.  Mr. Wilder will tell you that he came near taking out my great picture of the Hercules to you.  It seems as though it is destined that nothing of mine shall reach you.  I packed it up at a moment’s warning and sent it to Liverpool to go by the cartel, and I found it arrived the day after she had sailed.  I hope it will not be long before both the boxes will have an opportunity of reaching you.

“I am exceedingly sorry you have forgotten a passage in one of my letters where I wished you not to feel anxious if you did not hear from me as often as you had done.  I stated the reason, that opportunities were less frequent, more circuitous, and attended with greater interruptions.  I told you that I should write at least once in three weeks, and that you must attribute it to anything but neglect on my part.

“Your last letter has hurt me considerably, for, owing to some accident or other, my letters have miscarried, and you upbraid me with neglect, and fear that I am not as industrious or correct as formerly.  I know you don’t wish to hurt me, but I cannot help feeling hurt when I think that my parents have not the confidence which I thought they had in me; that some interruptions, which all complain of and which are natural to a state of warfare, having prevented letters, which I have written, from being received; instead of making allowances for these things, to have them attribute it to a falling-off in industry and attention wounds me a great deal.  Mrs. Allston, to her great surprise, received just such a letter from her friends, and it hurt her so that she was ill in consequence....