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Beginning of Page 1 TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS "RESEMBLE, LONDON," TELEPHONE No 3551.

39B, OLD BOND STREET, LONDON. W.

9th February, 1899. Dear Sir, Your letter of the 30th ult., addressed to my firm, has been handed to me today, and I would send to you my most respectful apologies for having given instructions for the account for the picture by Sir Joshua Reynolds to be sent to you. I had not the slightest notion that you had paid for this picture, and in justice to myself I am bound to render you an explanation. When I saw W. Knoedler the first week in September last, I reminded him that I had End of Page 1 Beginning of Page 2 accepted a very low offer from you for this picture on the understanding that it was paid for on delivery. The first week in November I informed Mr. Carstairs here that I had received no notice from Messrs Knoedler as to payment for this picture; and in December I wrote to Messrs Knoedler in New York once again calling their attention to what I imagined was an omission. I have not heard from Messrs Knoedler since November, and have had no answer to my letter. I gathered from their silence that for some reason or other they were unwilling to render you the account, and I therefore gave instructions for it to be rendered from this firm. It is with the greatest regret that I am obliged to put the blame for this mistake on the shoulders of Messrs Knoedler, and I have End of Page 2