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-2- Letter from W. Robert, London.

ingly great. It belongs to Colnaglin & Co, of Pall Mall, East, who wants £300 or £400 for it, I think. They bought it on my advise from the Marquess of Townshend's collection. L. Washington's daughter was the ancestress of a Countess of Townshend. The second picture is a splendid example of Sir Joshua Reynolds with quite an extraordinary "Rembrandtesque" effect; it is of Margaret Georgiana, Countess Spencer, mother of the beautiful Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire of the "Stolen" picture now in Mr. Morgan's Collection. Its history is perfectly claer and it is described in Graves and Cronin's great book on Sir Joshua Reynolds (vol.IV.1415); it was engraved in 1772 by T. Watson and remained in the family until it was bought of Mr. Claude Posonby (her great-grandson), who came to financial grief a year or so ago, by private treaty of Mr. A. Wertheimer of 158 New Bond Street, London, who now asks £9,000 for it. I think he gave very nearly that for it and I know that he several times offered Mr. Ponsonby that price for it, but the latter would not part with it on any consideration. I saw it only a day or two ago and consider it a in graphite: superb portrait of a most interesting woman. It measures about 30 in. by 25 in. The price is high perhaps but a fine Reynolds of this type I consider is rare. I will send you next week a typewritten notice of these two pictures which you need not trouble to return. I do not