He agrees with the explanation of the fate of the miscarried letter but thinks it should be left now. He saw "young"
Mr. Towne at the
British Institution on Pall Mall, copying to half-size the famous
Claude Lorrain owned by the
Earl of Egremont.
Mr. West, "being younger (72)" is copying from the marbles lately brought to England by
Lord Elgin. The exertions of these "juveniles" shows that the zeal for art is estinguished only with life.
Westmacott's colossal statue for Russell Square has been cast with complete success. The
Duke is represented with his right hand resting on a ploughshare, and on a six foot plinth, with a naked boy at each corner representing the seasons. Spaces of the pedestal will contain plaques on various husbandry subjects. His model of
Mr. Pitt is now also completed to half size and ready for Cambridge. Both statues are a credit to his endeavours.
Beechey has completed an exquisite portrait of young
Wilkie. Also young
Smirke has been elected into the R.A., an architect of purity and promise. He dined the previous night with their friend Webber, who is "as deaf as a mill stone and nearly as dumb". They drank White's health with a bumper of excellent madeira.
The large mansion being built for the
Earl of Bridgewater by
Mr. Wyatt is not in the Grecian style, but the Gothic!