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perience in our behalf, as well as all defence from injury, 1833. annoyance, or detriment, and such as we ourselves reciprocally would accord.

"In testimony whereof, and that due faith may hereunto be given, we have ordered this diploma to be registered under our own manual signature, and engraved on our Ministerial Council's rolls, with the attestation of our Minister President of the Council. "Given at Naples, the 10th day of July, 1833.

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"FERDINANDUS, MAGNUS MAGISTER.
"CAROLUS AVASTRO.

"The Knight of the Great Cross Leliria Fiscus."

Visa on the reverse.

"The 13th July, 1833, for the direct expedition of this diploma. No fees to pay.

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"I wrote to you some days ago, sending the Royal Patent of his Sicilian Majesty, my gracious Sovereign, with which he has invested you with the insignia of his Order, called Constantiniano, and of the satisfaction with which he has accepted the collection of medals you have presented to his Majesty, as I had already stated to you. The books will be sent to you as soon as they shall reach my hands. Have the kindness

1833. to acknowledge to me the receipt of my former and the

present letter.

"I remain, with sincere esteem,
"Sir,

"Your obliged servant,

Count 1. Ludoly

"Sir E. Thomason,"

"133, Salisbury Square, 6th Sept., 1833.

"Dear Sir Edward,

"You will perceive by the paper dispatched herewith that I have not been slow in appreciating the merits of your elegant present of the medallic History of England. Twenty-five years since I reproached our countrymen with this apathy, this insensi-bility; and it shall not be my fault if they be not roused to that sense of excellence which pervades even the humbler classes in other countries. I have preached in the desert these twenty-five years the vast importance of linear drawing. I would have every one who is taught to read taught to draw, for I scarcely know a single art or trade in which the arts of design do not enter; our workmen are pre-eminent in skill, but inferior in taste. Look at the heterogeneous things called ornaments; they are monstrosities which may be safely worshipped without a breach of any article of the Decalogue, for they are like nothing that is in Heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;' and it is due to you to say, that when Monsieur Danet and I visited Birmingham, yours was the only establish

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ment in which we recognised any rational attempt at 1833. purity of taste.

"In the periodical I am about to commence, I shall, in every number, endeavour to cultivate a national feeling for the higher branches of art. I will sow good seed in profusion, and some of it will be sure to germinate.

"I shall be glad to hold you out as an example of the good that may be done in this respect; but I have only very imperfect data, and if you would oblige me by letting Mr. Thomason write out, under your dictation, what you have done in medallic history, and indeed on any other subject that has occupied your attention, I will endeavour to make them known more extensively, and by thus affording at one view the precept and the example, the public will be taught how to appreciate excellence. I would have thrown into my article an account of the Shield of Faith, but the cursory view of it in an establishment in which varied excellence meets your eye on every side, I could merely refer to it. You will, perhaps, favour me with an account of the subjects, and also of the history of your cast of the Warwick Vase. The public will peruse the statement with great interest. I think, on consideration, that a medal of two inches across will be amply large enough, and the difficulties of execution and danger of the dies will be considerably diminished. You will pardon my asking you if consider that you are perfectly equal to the French mint in the composition of the bronze metal, the colouring, &c. The reason why I hint this is, that M. Danet has given me the whole process of their mint from first to last, and it is much at your service. Have you any objection to letting me have a copy translation of the Schah's letter, and trusting to my prudence as to the use I shall make of it? I congratu

VOL. II. S

you

1833. late you on your new honour. You are a star of the first magnitude in the opinion of all those whose opinions are worth having. As the occasion on which this last order was sent you cannot but be honourable to be known, perhaps you will favour me with it. I thank you sincerely for mentioning Mr. Norris's name to me; I shall write to him. I beg my most respectful compliments to Lady Thomason, and tell her she may eat fish, fruit, and vegetables as the best cholera preventives. I gained a proud victory on this ground over the wooden-headed Board of Health, and am happy to have been able to save a deserving class of the public from being ruined a second time by ignorant quackery. Eat food of easy digestion, like the proscribed articles; avoid the sudden changes of our variable atmosphere, and you will be long preserved to improve our taste, and enjoy that reputation which have so nobly attained.

"I have the honour to be,

you

"Dear Sir Edward,

"Yours most faithfully, Byerley

"Sir Edward Thomason, &c."

"Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade, Whitehall, Sept. 9, 1833.

"Sir,

"I beg to introduce to you the bearer of this letter, Monsieur Thiers, a distinguished member of the French Cabinet, and Minister for Commerce and Public Works; together with Monsieur David and Monsieur Ditmar, official gentlemen connected with the important department over which Monsieur Thiers presides, who

have arrived in this country for the purpose of visiting 1833. some of our principal manufacturing and commercial establishments.

"From respect to the public situation and high character of Monsieur Thiers, and from a knowledge of the kindness and attention shewn to persons connected with His Majesty's Government who have visited France with similar views, I am extremely anxious that every facility should be afforded to these gentlemen in the object of their visit; and I am the more induced to urge this wish on the present occasion from a conviction that the political and commercial interests of both countries will be best consulted by an intimate knowledge, on the part of men in power, of their respective condition and capabilities, and more especially by every illustration which can be given of the advantages arising from freedom in undertakings of industry, ingenuity, and commerce.

"I regret the absence of Mr. Paulett Thomson, who would, no doubt, have cordially joined with me in this request; and

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"Board of Trade, London, September 9, 1833.

My dear Sir,

"Mons. Thiers, Minister du Commerce to His Majesty the King of the French, is desirous of seeing the principal seats of British manu

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