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1832. would willingly have avoided, but without it I saw no means of utilitizing a most valuable discovery. One half of the gold, at least, is saved, and I understand twothirds of the mercury and labour, with superior effect.

"Tin can be gilded perfectly and easily by the new process, but it remains to be proved whether the heat required to volatilize the mercury will not also fuse the tin; I think it possible, but experience alone can pronounce.

"I leave here for Yorkshire to-morrow, and shall take Birmingham in my way back, when I will have the honour of paying my respects to you. If there be any respectable gilder at Birmingham whose honour could be relied on, I should be glad to treat with him.

"Are you acquainted with the newly discovered process of case-hardening iron instantaneously? If not, I shall have great pleasure in communicating it to you. "I have the honour to be,

"Yours very truly,

"I expect to be at Birmingham before the 15th inst."

"Saville Row, August 18, 1832.

"My dear Sir Edward,

"This is the first opportunity afforded me of congratulating you upon the distinction that has been so properly and so worthily bestowed on you by His Majesty, and I hope you may live long and happy in the enjoyment of it. This will be handed to you by a very dear and particular friend of mine, Mr. Moore, of York Terrace. There is a great pleasure in introducing one man of taste to another, and I am there

fore highly gratified in being able to make you acquainted 1832 with each other. I know no one better able to form a correct judgment upon, and therefore to appreciate properly, the various great works you have made; and I shall personally be obliged by any attentions you can pay him in shewing your establishment to him and his family. My family circle are taking in good air, and I hope health, on the top of Highgate Hill. Were they here, they would cordially unite with me in kindest regards to Lady T. and your circle. Believe me,

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"Neither I, nor Lady M., nor my son, have forgotten your great kindness to us in our visits to Birmingham, more particularly in the visit of my son and myself last year. You may remember that, in our conversation, I predicted what has happened, and expressed my perfect conviction that the honour you sought, and for which you had such pre-eminent claims, would be granted, when your wishes were made known in the highest quarter.

It is true I am not so much known to you as many of your numerous friends; but I beg to assure you that none of them can more sincerely rejoice than I do on the occasion of the honour and distinction recently conferred upon you by His Majesty. The conferring this distinction on you, in my humble opinion, reflects

1832. honour on those who advised it as well as on yourself, who have done so much for the arts, and done so much credit to your country. Lady M. and my son desire to join me in kindest wishes, as well as in congratulations. "And I now am,

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"I was duly honoured with your letter of the 23d of last April, and immediately made enquiries on

the subject of it.

I was very sorry to find that the death of the late Pope, and consequent retirement of Cardinal Albani from the office of Secretary of State, had been the cause of so much apparent neglect in noticing your very handsome present to His Holiness. I saw Dr. Wiseman, and also Mons. Cappaccini, and had likewise an audience of the present Pope, when I mentioned your communication to him. His Holiness expressed himself fully sensible of your attention, and of the value of your admirable productions of art, and seemed anxious to give you some mark of his sense of the same. I have been lately informed by Mons. Cappaccini that His Holiness means to request your acceptance of a curious piece of ancient mosaic, discovered during the pontificate of Leo XII., at Cacchinola, which he flatters himself may be a valuable acquisition to your museum, and which is now in the hands of an

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